chapter 16

Wakanda was the most beautiful place that Adelaide had ever seen. Green trees towering towards the sky, and rivers rushing to and fro caught her attention as they walked towards T'Challa's palace. He was apparently on their side of whatever this fight was going on about and had offered their little group shelter from the outside world. Plus, he said that he could help her father. Adelaide wanted to be able to help him herself, what with her telepathy and all, but she wasn't strong or experienced enough to do any real good.

Wanda was still nervous about her powers, and she wasn't ready to help Bucky either. T'Challa was going to replace her father's arm either way, so Adelaide decided that maybe the cat-man wasn't so bad after all. Adelaide had hardly left Bucky's side since being reunited with him. She even slept in the same bed with him, not that anybody in the team really minded. They understood that she had been through a lot and Bucky had been a much-needed constant in her life. The others were quickly turning into a part of her make-shift family, doting on her and playing with her whenever she needed entertainment. She still didn't talk to many people,

if she talked at all. Mainly, it was Bucky, Clint, and Wanda. Steve could hold her attention for a long period of time with stories of his childhood in Brooklyn, and Sam told her jokes that made her giggle, and Scott was always willing to sit and color with her if she asked. However, everyone understood that she just had a connection to the other three, one that all of them hoped to achieve some day. Two weeks after reaching Wakanda, Bucky pulled her into his lap on the couch in their little part of the castle and held her tightly. "Addie, I need to talk to you," he said a bit nervously.
"What's wrong, Daddy?" she asked, putting down her Peter Pan book.
"You remember when T'Challa told us that he could help me?" She nodded.
"Da, papa."

"Well, they haven't found a way yet, but he's working on it."
"Okay." She started to wiggle off of his lap, but he pulled her back.
"Katenok, there's more. I need you to listen." She instantly stopped and turned to fully face him.
"What is it, Daddy?"
"I don't want to hurt anyone, you know that."
"Yes, papa."
"And you know I'd do anything to keep you safe, right printsessa?"
"Yes, papa, I know."
"Do you remember the man in Berlin who said the words and turned me into the Winter Soldier again until Steve stopped me?"
"Da, papa."

"Well, I can't risk that happening again. T'Challa has a way to make sure that doesn't happen until he can find a way to get everything that Hydra did to me out of my head."
"That's good, Daddy. What are you so nervous?"
"Because, myshka, I have to go away for a little while until it gets fixed." Adelaide's heart dropped.
"No! I want you to stay here with me!"
"I know, kulka. I don't want to leave you, but I won't really be too far away." He held her tightly as she clung to his neck.
"But you said you're going away," she whimpered.
"Do you remember what Hydra did to us?" She shot up and looked at him wide-eyed.
"Cryo-freeze? You want to do that?"

"Myshka, I'm choosing to. I don't want to have to worry if I'm going to hurt you or Steve or anyone else."
"But what if they can't fix you soon? What if I'm all grown-up by the time you get out? I don't want you to miss everything! I want you to be my Daddy!" Bucky felt tears well up in his eyes.
"Oh, moya printsessa," he whispered, tucking her hair behind her ears, "I'll always be your Daddy, even when you're all grown up and as old as me and Stevie. Nothing will ever change that."
"But Daddy—"

"I trust T'Challa," he said. "He'll get me out of there as quickly as he can. I'll be back before you know it. Besides, you have to do something for me while I'm asleep."
"What is it?"
"I need you to take care of Steve and the others. Look out for them and keep them happy. Can you do that for me, katenok?" Adelaide nodded.
"Da, papa. I'll take care of them."

"There's my good little girl. I love you so much, little starlight." He hugged her against him and whispered all of his little endearments and nicknames into her ear so she'd remember them while he was asleep. He closed his eyes and memorized the feel of her held tightly to him to comfort him while he was frozen. He didn't want to miss his little girl growing up. He'd come back to her, and he'd fight off the whole world to find her again if he had to. "My little ball of sunshine," he said, kissing her forehead. "Svet v moyem temnom serdtse." (The light in my dark heart.)
"I love you, Daddy."
"I love you too, katenok."