A/n: I only own Ellie, Grant, Beckie and Kasie, and Sarah; all other characters that you recognize are property of Marvel.
a/n2: I know, I feel horrible. It's been way too long since I updated. Life got in the way of writing, plus I was sick. Thankfully not Covid sick but enough to slow me down. Took a weekend getaway and I need to do it more because this last week was amazing. Plus the creative juices really started flowing. So much that the end of this chapter will now be on the next chapter. Thank you to everyone who has stuck around. Please keep reading and reviewing! I appreciate each and every one of you.
Special thanks to the new followers: Jromero1103, and Katestarlight25
I know I'm not the only one
Who regrets the things they've done
Sometimes I just feel it's only me
Who can't stand the reflection that they see
I wish I could live a little more
Look up to the sky, not just the floor
I feel like my life is flashing by
And all I can do is watch and cry
I miss the air, I miss my friends
I miss my mother, I miss it when
Life was a party to be thrown
But that was a million years ago
~ A Million Years Ago by Adele
*~*~* July 4, 2020- Irvington, New York *~*~*
Ellie stood on the balcony of the second floor of her house, looking out over her backyard. In the distance, she could see the moonlight sparkling on the Hudson beyond the tree line at the bottom of the hill. In the distance, people were celebrating by setting off fireworks of various types. Occasionally in the far distance, you could see one crest over the horizon.
Glancing back as she heard footsteps behind her, she saw Rose as she walked up behind her, "Heading home?" Ellie asked her.
Rose leaned on the balcony, "Soon, Ronnie is sitting with my father, so I better get home."
Ellie frowned, "Is he doing alright?"
Rose chuckled, "He is excellent, stubborn as always. With the virus, I basically have him on lockdown at my house. I bought him a treadmill. He has never been one to stay home, other than when he raised us."
Ellie smiled, "He raised you? What about your mother?"
Rose gave her a small smile, "My mother died when I was young. My parents already separated at the time, but Dad loved her still. Things back then, when it didn't work out, you just stayed together."
Ellie nodded, "Divorce was strictly frowned upon back then."
"When she died, Dad got back in touch with an old friend. Deep down, they always had feelings for each other. She stepped up and became my Mom. Raised me as if I was her own, because to her I was," Rose told her as she trailed off, "God, I miss her."
"I wasn't young, young when I lost my Mother, but I sure did not feel grown at the time," Ellie told her as she walked over and sat on the porch swing, "All these years later, I still miss her."
Rose sat in a chair near her, "It never gets easier."
"Nope," Ellie said as she bit her lip, "My biggest regret in life was that I wasn't there for her more in the end."
Rose laid her hand on Ellie's knee, "As a mother myself, she knew that you loved her until her last breath."
Ellie sat back against the back of the swing, "I know it, and deep down I know it. I just wish that I hadn't gone to school so far away. Being a mother now, it would kill me if my kids moved away like that."
"Ellie, a car is at the gate. Were you expecting anyone?" FRIDAY asked.
Ellie sat up as she frowned, "No, ask Steve immediately."
Rose stood up when Ellie did. "Rose, no offense, but stay here and watch the kids for me. Just in case," Ellie said as Natasha appeared, placing a gun in the back of her pants.
Rose nodded as she went into the TV room.
Natasha walked over to the front door as Ellie followed, "Steve went to the gate to check them out."
Ellie opened the door to see Steve leading the expensive car down the drive. Beside her, she heard the cocking of Natasha's pistol, "Put that away. Steve wouldn't be escorting them if they weren't friendlys."
"Everything okay?" Rose asked from the door to the kitchen.
"Possibly, stay with the kids just in case," Ellie said as Steve ran up the steps as the car stopped at the stairs.
"One thing I can say about them is that they are persistent," Steve said as he stood at the top of the stairs, "It's Oscar de la Renta's people."
The driver got out of the car and opened the backdoor. A woman stepped out of the back of the car and smoothed down her suit. With a smile, she walked up, maintaining her distance, "In person, you are just as gorgeous as in pictures."
Ellie was thankful for the darkness cast over them as she felt her cheeks heat up and cleared her throat, "Beg your pardon?"
"My apologies, I am Eliza Bolen, executive vice president of Oscar de la Renta," The woman said as she walked up closer into the light of the porch, "I know my people have been in touch."
Ellie nodded, "I'm sorry you came out here, but I'm not interested."
Eliza sighed, "I understand that, but we need you, Mrs. Barnes."
"Ellie," Ellie told her shaking her head, "I'm no more special than probably a million other ladies out there."
"I beg to differ. You have the old-world charm. You are what I am looking for in a model. Also," Eliza said as she stepped closer, "Is it true that most illnesses you are immune to?"
Ellie sighed when she realized why they had a sudden push for her, "We do not know for sure about this illness. With my children, I do not want to chance it."
Eliza nodded, "Understandable, I get it I do. I just want you to understand the brevity of our situation. You are what we as a company have been looking for in a model for many years. We have been unable to find someone with your body type and look."
"Well, I am a mother of three," Ellie frowned, "I'm too short to be a model too."
"I'm sorry if that came out as an insult because it was not. To me, I see you as a smaller, more feminine Marilyn Monroe," Eliza told her.
Natasha looked at Ellie, "She was a model and actress in the 60s."
The driver spoke up behind Eliza, "I think you could be a Jean Harlow myself."
Steve looked at the man, "You know who Jean Harlow is, well was?"
"The most beautiful woman of that time, only Ginger Rogers could have held a candle to her. My grandfather was in love with them both," The man said.
"They were no Grace Kelly's, I'm sure," Eliza stated.
"Grace Kelly was after our time," Steve informed her.
Ellie sat down on the stairs as Steve and the driver started talking about stars of their time.
Eliza looked at Ellie and knelt to her knees on the sidewalk, "Ellie, I know you don't believe in yourself, but I believe in you. Give me six months. A month of training and a show. We will do the Spring fashion catalog, and we will reevaluate after that."
"I'm helping run Stark Industries. I don't have time to be a model," Ellie told her honestly.
"Talk to Ms. Potts. Give me Friday through Mondays for the next few months for training, our show, and shoots. I can compensate you well-"
Ellie held her hand up, "Money is not the issue," Shaking her head, she bit her lip, "Let me talk to Pepper. See what we can work out, and I'll be in touch. How about that?"
"I can agree to that," Eliza nodded.
Ellie smelt something faint and sniffed at the air, "Steve, do you smell that?"
Steve took a big breath, "Smoke. I'm going to run the perimeter."
"I'll check the house," Ellie said as she ran inside, "FRIDAY report. I smell fire."
"The house across the way from your driveway is currently sending a fire alarm to the alarm company. The local fire company is two minutes out," Friday informed her as Ellie heard sirens in the distance.
"Thank you, FRIDAY, oh also FRIDAY, schedule a call for Pepper tomorrow earliest at her convenience," Ellie notified.
"8:20 in the morning, I have you on her calendar," FRIDAY stated as the sirens grew closer.
"Thank you," Ellie said as Rose came over, "It's the house across the way."
"I'm going to go check on my Dad. Thank you for dinner," Rose said.
"Thank you for coming," Ellie said as she walked her to the front door and saw Eliza had already left.
Natasha handed Ellie a card, "She said this was her direct line."
Ellie looked at the glow beyond their trees as Rose hurried off through their yard, then glanced at the card, "Should I do this?"
Natasha put her arm through Ellie's, "Do what makes you happy."
*~*~* August 1, 2020- Cabo San Lucas, Mexico *~*~*
"That is perfect. Just angle yourself a little more this way, please."
Ellie turned her body as instructed. Warm sand flowed against her knees as she knelt by the edge of the ocean.
"Marvelous," The Photographer said as he looked at the screen on his camera, "Just what we need."
The personal assistant walked over to her and handed Ellie's mask to her as the other assistant and the photographer started packing up the equipment, "We have everything we need. Feel free to keep the bathing suit," She told Ellie as she glanced over where Steve had the kids playing in the sand, "Go enjoy your family."
"Thank you," Ellie said as she smiled behind her mask. Walking over to grab her coverup from the chair and her shoes, she walked with the warm sand beneath her toes over to her family.
Steve looked up over his sunglasses, "Finished?"
Ellie sighed as she sat on the large beach towel and watched the girls playing with their toys as Grant tried to build a sandcastle with Sarah, "Yes, thank you, Steve."
Steve smiled at her as she took her mask off, "Trip to the beach? Why would I say no? Like I'd let you be alone on your birthday."
Ellie snapped her head from where she was looking at the kids, "No, it's not," Ellie paused, "Shit, is it August already?"
Steve chuckled, "Time flies when you are having fun. Happy Birthday, sis."
Ellie laid back in the sand, "Fuck."
"Fuck."
Ellie sat up, "No, Kasie, don't say that."
"Fuck," Kasie said as she giggled.
Ellie groaned, "Shit!"
"Shit!" Beckie yelled.
"Fuck!" Kasie laughed.
Steve snorted as he looked at Sarah and Grant, "Those are grownup words, don't you dare."
Ellie yawned, "So what have you guys been up to this morning?"
"Just taking in the beautiful buildings and environment. The architecture of these buildings is amazing, El. The lines and the old colors still showing through." Steve said as he droned on about buildings and the periods they had been built as she struggled with her eyes.
Her eyes snapped open as he shook her, "Sorry, what?"
"Here, I'll set up the umbrella. Take a nap. You got up early for even you. Take a nap. The kids and I are going to go down to the water," Steve told her as he opened the umbrella that was stuck into the sand, "Nothing but sun, sea air, and us on this beach now that they left. No one will bother you."
Ellie smiled, "Thanks, Steve."
Lying back in the sand, which hugged her body like a warm hug as she sunk her toes deep into it. Listening to Steve and the kids laughing in the distance as the birds chattered around her, she relaxed the first time in a long time.
Suddenly a warm pair of arms were around her body, one cooler than the other as she shifted her body to look up at Bucky, "Hey babe," Ellie said, taking in his beautiful face.
"Hey Angel," Bucky said as she stretched up her neck to kiss him, "When are you visiting from?"
"Hey, hey. It's my birthday, August 2020. Steve is watching Grant," Ellie said as she moved to look at the sleeping baby across from them and swallowed hard, "God, I miss these moments. He was so little."
"How is he?" Bucky asked as he ran his hand over her face.
"He is 2 ½ going on 20," Ellie joked as she looked back at him, "His favorite question is 'Why?' Everything is a "Why Mommy?" He has learned to get away with stuff, too, by questioning it. At least with Steve," She said with a smile, "He loves to draw and is attempting to make letters. He knows all his colors and is potty trained finally. Dresses himself, well mostly," She chuckled, thinking of his inside out and backward pants, mismatched shoes on the wrong feet, and a shirt that showed his belly that he had worn the other day, "He forgot his underwear the other day. Sings and dances, he is a little you."
"Sounds amazing," Bucky told her with a smile as he pulled her closer.
"He wants to be a fireman when he grows up," Ellie told him, taking in the freckles on his face.
"Good profession to be," Bucky said, "How are you?"
Ellie tried not to bit her lip as she smiled at him, "Same as usual. I was missing you every moment of the day but keeping busy. We are actually in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, right now. Steve brought me here for my birthday," Ellie told him as she laced her fingers in his, "It's so beautiful here, Buck. I am currently lying on the beach while Steve plays with Grant and builds a castle. I honestly would have fallen asleep if I wasn't planning on visiting anyways because he started going on and on about the architecture of historic buildings. I love art, but that was where he lost me."
Bucky laughed as he moved to his head to kiss her again.
Ellie moved her fingers over his chest, and he took her hand is his own then kissed it.
"What's on your mind?" Bucky asked as he ran his fingers through her hair.
Ellie bit her lip, "I went to an event for Pepper, and someone came up to me at it… they want me to model for them. They are very persistent and came to the house too. Came down with us to Cabo and had me do a little photoshoot even."
"Modeling?" Bucky asked, surprised.
"Yeah… but I don't know… should I?" Ellie asked him as she bit her lip.
"What do you feel about it?" Bucky asked.
Ellie lied back, "I'm bored. I mean, yes, I have my job of helping Pepper, but I don't feel," Ellie paused, "Like I am doing anything." Ellie said sadly.
"If you think it's going to make you happy… go for it, Angel," Bucky told her, leaning on his arm.
Ellie looked over at him, "It's Oscar de la freaking Renta though Buck," Ellie told him, "I would be totally over my head in this situation."
Bucky smiled, "Just because I died… doesn't mean you should die with me."
With those words, Ellie lost it. The pain and the heartache that had built up since he had left her cascaded all at the same time as he acknowledged his future passing.
Ellie struggled to breathe as she sobbed, "I miss you so much, Buck… the nights are the hardest. I thought it would get easier by now, but it never does."
Bucky held her closer, "I'm not there, but I am always with you. Never forget that," He said as he kissed her hair.
"When will it get easier? When will it not hurt to breathe? To not look over on the other side of the bed in the morning, and you aren't there?" Ellie sobbed, "I don't ever want that day to come, but… at the same time, I crave it."
Ellie heard the apartment door open, and Ellie quickly wiped at her tears.
"Careful… slow"
"Lay off Steve," Natasha said as she slowly walked into the common area and sat down on the recliner, "Ok, Ellie… you didn't say anything about the soreness."
"Sorry, you'll forget about it in a few weeks," Ellie told her with a sniff.
"What's wron-g. Where are you from?" Steve asked, noticing her eyes.
"What do you mean?" Ellie asked, glancing at Bucky.
"Steve and Nat know, remember?" Bucky reminded her.
Ellie sighed, "August 2020," Ellie admitted.
"God, two years from now?" Natasha said as she looked at Sarah in Steve's arms, "She is doing well?"
"Yes… growing like a weed," Ellie said with a smile, "She and Grant…they surprise us so much."
Ellie looked at Bucky sadly, "I better be going. Grant is going to get bored with the beach soon. So I better enjoy it while I can."
Bucky took her face in his hands and kissed her, "I love you."
"I love you too," Ellie said as she laid back down on the couch.
Bucky rubbed her back as she drifted back to sleep.
Grant's squealing made her open her eyes. She raised her head to see Sarah and the girls throwing sand on him as they buried him in the sand.
Lying back on the sand, she sighed as she bit her lip, "I can do this."
*~*~* September 19, 2020- New York City *~*~*
Ellie stood in front of the mirror in the hotel room at the Ritz Carlton in New York City, "Why am I doing this?"
"Because you are gorgeous, darling," The stylist told her as he tied her into the dress.
Ellie scoffed, "While your confidence boost is nice, I am not gorgeous."
Jason walked around and looked at her, "Darling, do you think that you are not drop-dead gorgeous? Why do you think that this month has been such a whirlwind for you? People love you."
Ellie swallowed hard, "I'm not. My husband is the only one who ever told me that but, he was my husband."
Jason smiled behind his face shield, "Oh, just wait, today you will see it for yourself. They are going to love you."
Ellie looked back at her reflection and did not recognize herself beneath the heavy dress and the thick makeup.
Ellie let out a slow breath as she stood backstage at the New York Library in a gown that was worth more than their first apartment with all the contents inside.
"You look smashing doll," Jason said as he straightened out her dress, "There are a limited number of attendees. They've all been tested, so everyone is safe."
Ellie nodded, "I can do this."
"Don't bite that pretty lip," Jason said as he took her hand, "Let me have the honor of escorting the Queen."
Ellie scoffed, "Definitely nowhere near a queen," She told him as she picked up her dress, and they started walking towards the staging area.
After so few instructions that Ellie felt lost, Ellie went to the staging area with a shaky breath as instructed.
The sound system was quiet, even her enhanced ears were having a hard time hearing the cues for the ladies in front of her to go. Slowly the ladies in front of her disappeared through the door.
She took a large breath as she felt her anxiety taking over. Maybe she could still back out, she thought as the assistant motioned for her to go. After her cue, she walked out to quiet music, photo flashes and followed the girl in front of her. Before she knew it, she was backstage, and Jason was there to help her change into the next outfit.
"See, you did amazing," Jason told her as he untied the dress.
"It was so fast," Ellie said, overwhelmed as he started untying her dress, "Did I do okay? It was such a blur I couldn't even process it."
"Darling, you did great. Now only six more outfits to go," Jason told her as he slid the dress from her body.
The actual event itself was more calming than the 'after party' for Ellie. At the after-party, multiple people wanted a moment of her time, and she was starting to feel so overwhelmed that the lights occasionally were blinking as she tried to control her powers. Oh, how she wished that someone she knew had been able to come, but Steve was busy with the kids, who were hopefully asleep. Natasha was chasing a lead on the newest 'bad guy.' Pepper had a sick Morgan at home. It was just Ellie and the hundreds of people wanting a moment of her time.
Ellie smiled at the man who was speaking to her from behind her face shield, "Excuse me, sir, but I need to step away for a moment."
"Do you need an escort, ma'am?" He asked, giving her a look.
'What a sleazeball,' Ellie thought as she shook her head and put on a fake smile.
"No, I am fine. Thank you for the offer," Ellie said as she walked away towards the bathrooms.
Instead of walking to the bathroom, she entered the hallway to take her to the actual library.
Once entering the library, she breathed in the scent of real books. Smiling at the woman behind the desk, she looked around to find the adult section. Her heels clicked on the floor beneath her as she walked down to the appropriate section that she was looking to find. Once she found the humanities section, she could find books to help her catch up on the areas she missed out on in the past.
Finding the row on the sixties, she ran her finger over the books browsing the titles. Kneeling, she found a few books on the space race.
"It's overwhelming, isn't it?"
Ellie looked up and fell to the ground as she gasped, a feeling rushing over her as if someone dumped an ice-cold bucket of water over her head.
"Sorry! I didn't mean to scare you," The man said as her heart raced as it thumped in her ears.
Ellie swallowed hard as she took in the man in front of her as he walked closer to her.
"I'd help you up, but with everything going on, I'm not sure if you'd want me to," He said as she barely heard him through the pounding of her heart in her ears, "I'm Sebastian, Sebastian Stan."
Sebastian took his mask off to flash her a smile, then replaced it on his face as she stared up at him.
Jason came around the corner of the stacks, "Good! You found her first, Ellie meet Sebastian. Girl, what are you doing on the floor?"
Ellie swallowed hard as Jason held out his hand and pulled her to her feet, "We've met."
"Sebastian works for a rival, but he was just signed onto a new movie," Jason said as he smiled at her, then looked at Sebastian, "So I thought I'd introduce you two. He is playing your husband in the new movie."
Ellie nodded, "I've heard."
"I just thought, maybe you could share a few tips with him," Jason told her.
Ellie smoothed down her dress then looked at his face. Her heart was beating out of her chest and stomach-clenching so tight that she felt as if she was going to be sick."My husband was so much more than what anyone has heard from the reels or the books. Appearances were deceiving with him."
Sebastian leaned against the shelf next to him, "How so?"
Ellie smiled, "Most soldiers on their last days before shipping out would go out on the town, would party it up," Ellie shook her head, "Not Bucky," Ellie bit her lip beneath her shield, "We went to the Stark Expo, went dancing, and to the bookstore so that he would have extra books during his free time. You see, Mr. Stan, my husband, was a major geek. When he," Ellie closed her eyes then swallowed hard, "Passed away, he was reading the Harry Potter series." Ellie looked down then back up at him, "So many people, hear of him," Ellie said as she struggled with her words, "All they think of is the newsreels of the Winter Soldier. My husband was so much more. When I was 11 years old, he was the sweet boy who saved me and my skinny too big for his britches brother from bullies, then never left our side after. I want people to know the man who sat by my side for two weeks in the TB ward of the hospital as my mother died. If you can do that, bring that side of him to the world. I give my blessing. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to the party."
Ellie hurried past them, trying not to trip or slip on the tiles as she left the stacks. Tucking into a different section, she rested her head on the books as she heard footsteps leaving the library, who she assumed were Jason and Sebastian. With a sigh, Ellie pulled out her cell phone. Sending a quick text, she slid her phone back into the pocket of her dress then left the library, throwing a quick smile at the librarian as she left.
*~*~* October 10, 2020- Wakanda *~*~*
Ellie stepped off the Dragon Flyer and stepped out onto the palace's landing pad. Ayo was standing guard as she stepped up to the palace doors, "Hello Ayo."
"Hello, Phoenix," Ayo stated, "It is good to see you back."
Ellie shook her head, "I'm not the Phoenix, turns out that there is an actual superhero by that name."
Ayo gave Ellie a small smile, "You miss understood us, Miss Ellie. We did not call you the phoenix for your superhero name in your old life. The elders have passed down a prophecy, have you heard it?"
Ellie shook her head, "That the Phoenix will rise from the dust and save your country. I don't think your country needs to be saved, Ayo. You are doing pretty well on your own."
Ayo shook her head, "No, the prophesy states that Bast picked one of his Angels from the ancestors to bless us here on Earth. That Angel would rise from the ashes of war and would heal the country and would help bring peace."
Ellie frowned, "Shuri never told me that part."
Ayo nodded, "Because it is the only mention of Angels at all in Bast's teachings. Many don't mention it as it is too similar to Christianity."
The palace door opened, and the new lead researcher that had taken over when Kasi and Shuri disappeared, Doctor Kitsch, walked onto the landing pad.
"Hello Princess," Doctor Kitsch greeted with a warm smile as the setting sun warmed his olive skin.
Ellie could not help but ball her fists to calm the surge of anxiety as she shook her head, "Please don't call me that. Call me Ellie."
He nodded, "Please, walk with me."
Ellie followed him through the palace doors towards the new lab.
"I appreciate you coming down," Doctor Kitsch told her, "We had a few samples of yours and Mr. Barnes blood. We tested it against a sample of the Coronavirus that we had, with some great results. The problem is that the blood was in the lab that was destroyed in the war. The label is unreadable."
Ellie let out a breath, "So you don't know if it was my blood or Bucky's?"
"No, ma'am," Doctor Kitsch stated as he opened the door to the new lab for her.
Ellie walked through and looked around. Compared to Shuri's lab, this one seemed more clinical and cold, "The lab looks nice. I like what you've done with the place."
Doctor Kitsch leaned back against a desk as he pulled a file over, "I just tried to resemble Kasi and Shuri's work as much as I could."
Ellie looked at the computer next to her, trying to make sense of all the numbers and percentages on the screen, "When I talk to Mother, she hasn't mentioned how Covid has hit Wakanda."
Dr. Kitsch sighed as he took off his glasses, "We haven't been immune. We were doing great with quarantines and keeping those who have traveled distanced. Recently it has hit the villages hard, the farming village the worst."
Ellie sucked in a breath as she felt like someone punched her in the gut. Thinking of the small community that had become part of their family while they had stayed in the hut, she felt her heart hurt, "Has there been any deaths?"
"A few of our older farmers. We did all that we could, but it was too powerful. It has started to spread here in the city," Dr. Kitsch admitted.
"Shit," Ellie swore, shaking her head, "In the States, there hasn't been a medication that we've found that has been completely beneficial to those who are suffering yet. Have you had much success here?"
Dr. Kitsch nodded, "More holistic than chemical, but we have a herb here that people who have made teas with it while having symptoms have had beneficial results compared to those who don't."
Ellie nodded, "Could it be shared with the world?"
Dr. Kitsch sighed as he sat down at his desk, "It is rare even here. It has to grow in the perfect conditions."
Ellie cleared her throat as she crossed her arms over her chest, "Well, I am here to help. Just tell me what to do."
Dr. Kitsch got up after making a call and grabbed his supplies to draw blood. After taking three vials of her blood, Dr. Kitsch handed them off to his assistant, who had popped in, "How long do you plan to stay?" He asked her as his assistant left.
"I want to get back to my kids," Ellie told him as she watched the tiny spot on her arm where the needle had been disappearing. She pulled her cardigan back on her body, "But if you guys need me, I would only do this for Wakanda. I have to be in Paris for an event on Saturday, so if need be, I can stay until then." Ellie looked around at some more documents, "How is Mother?"
"Symptoms are getting worse, but she has not had to have breathing care," Dr. Kitsch told her as he went over to his computer.
Ellie froze then looked over at him, "Wait, Mother has it?"
He looked back at her, "She didn't tell you?"
"Fuck," Ellie said as she walked to the door.
Dr. Kitsch put his hand on her elbow as she passed him, "Calmly talk to her. Here," He handed her a mask, "Just in case, until we get the results in."
Ellie nodded as she left the lab. Walking down the remodeled but familiar halls of the palace towards the royal suites, memories overlapped reality as she saw ghost images of Wanda, Sam, and Bucky in different areas she passed. Reaching the royal suites, she smiled at the Dora, who was covering the door.
"Mholweni Yama, unjani namhlanje (Hello Yama, how are you today?)" Ellie asked.
Yama nodded, "Hello Princess Ellie, it is a pleasure to see you. The Queen is in quarantine."
Ellie swallowed hard, "How is she?"
Yama glanced back at the door then to Ellie, "I am sworn to keep my Queen's secrets, but," Yama leaned forward, "I am concerned."
Ellie nodded, "I'm going in."
Yama frowned as she reached out to Ellie's arm as she went to place her hand on the sensor, "Ellie, I highly advise against that."
Ellie looked at her, "Look, the one blessing of this curse of the serum is I don't get sick. I have been exposed to a few people who have come down with it, and I haven't gotten it. Is she in there on her own?"
Yama slowly nodded, "Yes."
Ellie swallowed hard, "Other than my family that is in New York. She is the only family I have left, and I can be with her, and I will be."
Yama withdrew her hand and let Ellie touch her hand to the pad to open the door.
Walking into Mother's suite, she noticed the silence. On the couch taking a nap was Okoye, who sat up when the door closed behind her.
"Ellie," Okoye said as she stood up, "The Queen is ill. You should not be here."
Ellie held her hand up, "The serum provides me a lot of immunities. While we do not know if this illness is one of them, she is worth the risk," Ellie said, holding up the mask as she slid it on her face, "How is she?"
Okoye shook her head, "Not well. Pneumonia has started to set in."
Ellie let out a breath as she swallowed hard, "What does the doctor say?"
Okoye paused as she pulled herself together, "He wants her at the hospital, but she doesn't want to appear weak. Now that she is the Queen, if she were," Okoye gathered herself, "If something were to happen to her, there is no more of the Panther tribe left."
"So, she is pretending that she is fine for the country," Ellie stated as Okoye nodded.
"Maybe you can talk to her and get her to go before it gets worse," Okoye told her.
Ellie nodded as she walked back to the bedroom that she had never been inside. Mother's suite had a similar setup to Steve and Natasha's apartment, so Ellie walked to the master bedroom to see the door was partially open.
"Mother?" Ellie said quietly as she heard a cough.
"Ellie?"
Ellie walked into the darkroom, and thanks to her enhanced vision, saw Ramonda sit up.
Coughing hard, Ramonda sagged against the headboard as she struggled to sit up, "No, don't come close," Ramonda said as Ellie rushed over.
Ellie sat on the edge of her bed, "Mother, I have the serum. I don't get sick."
"I'm not worth the risk," Ramonda struggled to speak.
Ellie laid her hand on Ramonda's arm, "Yes, you are. I'm here for a week. How long has this been happening?"
"Three days," Ramonda said as she wilted back against the headboard.
Ellie swallowed hard as she heard the rasp in Ramonda's lungs, "Mother, you need to be in the hospital."
She took a shaky breath, "If I go, there is no one to run the country."
"The country will be fine until you are fine," Ellie told her.
Ramonda grabbed Ellie's arm, "You."
"Me what?" Ellie asked, confused.
"You, you are legally part of our Panther tribe," Ramonda told her.
Ellie sat back wide-eyed, "Mother, you can't be serious. I'm not Wakandan. I'm 100% American. Not blood."
Ramonda smiled at her, "Family is deeper than blood."
*~*~* October 11, 2020- Wakanda *~*~*
"Princess?"
Ellie turned from looking out the window of the throne room to look at one of the elders, "I'm sorry, what was that?"
"My apologies, this is a hard time, but you are acting Queen," Masu, the leader of the merchant tribe, stated.
Ellie let out a shaky breath, "I know," Ellie said, holding back tears, "Order everything you can. If you need help, let me know. I know people in America that can help us if we need them to."
"Yes, Princess," Masu stated as he bowed his head, "I will notify you at once when the medication is delivered here to the Citadel."
"Thank you," Ellie said as Masu bowed again and walked out of the throne room.
Ayo walked in and stood firm at the door, "My Queen-"
"Please, Ayo," Ellie said as she tried to hold back her tears, "Please do not call me that. My hand was forced when Mother had to go on the ventilator. This was not meant for me."
Ayo walked over to her, "He would be proud," Ayo told her.
A tear rolled down her cheek, "I have no clue what I am doing."
"Neither does the Queen, but she does it because the country needs her," Ayo told her, "James, when tasked with the responsibility bestrode upon him once he was free, was scared as well. I was there when he realized that he was finally free."
Ellie wiped her eyes and looked at her, "You were?"
Ayo nodded, "Shuri tasked me with the code words, and we went to the forest. He did not want to do it. He didn't trust himself. Just as we trust you now, I trusted the Golden Tribe's belief in redemption and people. The Queen Mother trusts you. Wakanda is behind you. They pray to Bast for the Queen, but they pray for you as well."
Ellie licked her lips then pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, "I'm a white American woman, albeit temporarily, but sitting on the throne of an African country. I don't feel worthy."
"You are," Ayo assured her, "Because you stepped up. Did you refuse?"
Ellie shook her head, "No, Mother asked me, and I could not tell her no."
"Exactly, and that is what makes you right for this. Until the Queen can serve again, you are doing what is best for your country. You are a citizen. You are part of the Golden Tribe," Ayo told her as she gave Ellie a small smile, "I will go check on lunch."
Ellie nodded as she tried to swallow down the lump in her throat.
Ayo turned and waved her spear as the door opened for her. She nodded to another Dora Miljaie, who took her position as the doors closed behind her leaving Ellie alone for the first time since she had landed.
Ellie walked up the risers to the window overlooking the city below. Reaching into her dress, she pulled her phone out of the pocket and called Steve.
"Hey, I was just about to call you before the kids woke up. How are things in Wakanda?" Steve answered.
"Steve," Ellie said as her voice broke.
"What's wrong?" Steve asked, concerned.
"I'm the fucking Queen of Wakanda right now," Ellie said as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"What?" Steve asked, confused.
"Mother, she has it. She has Coronavirus. She was refusing care because there is no one left of the Golden Tribe to take care of the country if she were sick," Ellie told him as she wiped her eyes, "When I got here, she gave me temporary reign and finally went to the hospital. She is on a ventilator."
"Oh, Ellie," Steve sighed, "Is it bad there?"
"Our village, our neighbors around the hut. We lost one of them. So many other farmers have caught it, and they are too proud to ask for help. After the battle, they were already struggling, and now this? I don't know if they will recover for years," Ellie told him, sadly looking at the battle site in the distance.
"Do you need me to come?" Steve asked.
"No, no, don't come," Ellie said as she rested her forehead against the glass in front of her, "I've been exposed for sure. They are testing my blood to make sure I may be immune. If I'm not, well," Ellie let out a breath, "We will know for sure now."
"Fuck Ellie," Steve groaned.
"I know," Ellie said as she swallowed hard, "This is not what I imagined my life being. I knew I knew when I inherited the title through Bucky that it would carry weight. Expectations. I just never thought," Ellie trailed off.
"No one could have expected all this to happen, Ellie," Steve told her, "The virus, the deaths."
The weight of the world was suddenly on her chest, weighing on her heart, "I could have. I could change all of this, Steve."
"Shit, El, how? How without possibly making all this worse?" Steve asked.
"How could any of this get worse?" Ellie asked, "Worse than it already is? Bucky is gone, T'Challa and Shuri are gone. Mother is sick and is critical. Sam, Wanda, and so many others."
"Yes, but if you warn us. More people could die. This virus will still come," Steve told her.
"I hate this, Steve," Ellie said sadly.
"I do too, but we can't do anything but our best," Steve told her, "Just be there for her. If you need me, call me."
"Thank you, Steve. I'll call later to talk to the kids," Ellie said as the door to the throne room opened.
"Love you," Steve told her.
"I love you too," Ellie said as she hung up and looked at Ayo, "Sorry, I was just checking in back at home."
"I want to see pictures of the children, but first, the leaders want to meet with you. I have the chef making food," Ayo told her.
"Let's get to work," Ellie said.
*~*~* October 11, 2020- Wakanda- Evening *~*~*
Ellie landed the Dragon Flyer that she was piloting on the grassy surface at the forest's edge. Shutting off the engine, Ellie looked at the trees beyond her. She gathered her energy and left the Flyer. Walking out onto the grass, she took in the sun setting in the distance as she entered the trees.
Rays of the setting sun filtered through the trees as she walked deeper into the tree line to where the new memorial was set up, honoring the warriors and Avengers who were lost. Walking over to the plague Ellie ran her fingers over Sam and Wanda's names at the top of the warriors' list that had fought alongside them during the Battle of Wakanda. Searching for Bucky's name, she was surprised to find it not listed. Neither was T'Challa or Shuri.
Walking around to the other side, she instantly got the familiar lump in her throat as she saw T'Challa's picture engraved on it, alongside Shuri's. Beneath both of their pictures was Bucky. Above their pictures were the words "The Golden Tribe." Taking a seat beneath their pictures, she stared up at them.
"Mother is sick," Ellie stated as she spun her wedding rings around her finger, "It's not good either, guys." She closed her eyes and sighed, "She is on a ventilator to help her breathe and in a medicated coma."
Turning around, she rested her back against the marble behind her, "I'm the only one left besides Mother of the Panther or Golden tribe, so the honor falls to me. I'm an American white girl who is the current Queen of Wakanda."
Lying her head back, she closed her eyes and listened to the calm around her as the birds, and other animals sang.
"It's so relaxing here."
Ellie opened her eyes and looked in front of her, "Hey Buck."
"You are pulling yourself too thin, Angel," Bucky told her as he shimmered in front of her, sitting on the ground.
Ellie gave him a small smile, "Hey."
"So Queen Ellie," Bucky said with a smile.
Ellie scoffed, "I don't deserve this. It is all wrong, Buck."
"Mother needed you, and you were there. That is what matters," Bucky told her as he reached out for her, and Ellie closed her eyes as his hand fell through hers.
"This sucks, Buck," Ellie said, drawing her knees up to her chest, "I want everything back to normal."
"I know you do. I wish I could be there with you every day. Fate had other plans, though, Angel. We have to have faith," Bucky told her.
Ellie let out a breath looking at him, "I guess I need to come here to Wakanda more often."
Bucky smiled at her, "I'm always with you, El. You might not see me, but I'm always with you. I can't let you go."
Ellie bit her lip, "But I want you to get rest."
"Heaven isn't so far away, doll," Bucky told her.
"Too far away for me," Ellie told him, shaking her head, "I wish I brought the kids."
"I see them. I can't believe how big they are getting," Bucky told her as he grinned, "Kasie is you all over again."
Ellie giggled, "I don't know about that. Grant is you, though. Caring, loves to learn."
"Then we have Beckie," Bucky stated.
Ellie snorted, "Beckie is her own person. She is a female version of Steve. Grant will probably have to pull her out of a fight when she grows up."
"Lord, that is all we need," Bucky said.
Ellie's Kimoyo bead lit up, "Looks like they are paging me back."
"You better get back in case Mother needs you," Bucky told her.
Ellie frowned, "Why do I never see anyone else here?"
Bucky shrugged, "I never see anyone else either."
Ellie stood up, and her heart skipped a beat as she looked at him, "I love you, Buck. So much."
"I love you more, Angel. Never forget that," Bucky said as he disappeared.
*~*~* October 24, 2020- New York *~*~*
"Ellie."
Ellie looked from the mirror in front of her to Jason as she stood in one of Oscar's outfits, "Sorry Jason, what was that?"
"I said, Sebastian was just here asking about you. I hope you didn't mind, but I gave him your number," Jason told her.
Ellie looked at him, "Jason, I don't want you giving my number to just anyone."
Jason walked over to her, "I know, and I apologize for not asking first. I have never given it out to anyone else."
Ellie's phone went off, and she grabbed it to see an unknown number.
(212) 332-6469 Hello Ellie, I hope you don't mind, but this is Sebastian. Jason gave me your number. I was wondering if you would like to meet at Starbucks?
Ellie bit her lip as she stared at the message.
"He asked to meet with you to speak more about Bucky," Jason told her softly.
Ellie thought back to just two weeks prior when she had seen Bucky and the fresh wound reopened.
*~*~* October 24, 2020- Manhattan *~*~*
Stepping out of the cab in downtown Manhattan, Ellie looked at the Starbucks that looked thankfully mostly empty. Opening the door, she walked inside to see only the baristas and a few people.
"Ellie!"
Ellie looked over at one of the booths and saw Sebastian sliding out as he walked over to her. Her heart skipped another beat, "Hi."
"What would you like? My treat," Sebastian said as his eyes showed his smile behind his mask.
Ellie swallowed hard as they walked over towards the counter, "I have no clue what to get. I'm not a coffee drinker. That was Bucky. I've only been at one of these twice. Once with him. He joked that this was Starbuckys."
Sebastian chuckled, "So he had a good sense of humor?"
Ellie bit her lip, "With me. He could be so serious too. He was always so different with Grant and me."
"Grant is your son, right?" Sebastian asked.
Ellie nodded as she saw a Strawberry Lemonade drink that looked good, "I'll get the Strawberry Lemonade ah–kahi or whatever that word is."
"Welcome to Starbucks. How can I help you?" The barista said.
"She will have a Venti Starberry Lemonade Acai Refresher," Sebastian said as he scanned his phone.
"Coming right up."
Ellie followed him to the waiting area and stood waiting as she took in the place around her.
"If you don't mind me asking, how tall was Bucky?" Sebastian asked.
Ellie looked at him, "A little under six foot. He said six-foot, but it was more 5'11. Why? Is it because I'm only 5'2?"
Sebastian nodded, "You don't look short in pictures."
"Because until recently, there weren't many pictures of me. Steve and Bucky wanted me in the shadows," Ellie sighed as the barista set her to drink down, "Thank you."
Sebastian led her back to his table, and she sat down opposite of him.
"So you said you met as children?" Sebastian asked as they settled in at the table, and she took off her mask.
"Yeah, he saved Steve and me from a group of bullies, decided the stick around. Until he graduated, I tended to follow him and Steve around. They were a year in age difference, but Bucky was in Steve's grade in school. I was a year behind them," Ellie told him as she took a drink, and the taste overwhelmed her, "God, this is good." Ellie covered her mouth as she looked at the drink.
"When did the two of you get together?" Sebastian asked.
Ellie bit her lip, "That's complicated. We were always with each other, but he did court many other girls in high school. I was jealous of all of them," Ellie told him honestly, "My 18th birthday changed everything, though."
"How so?"
Ellie looked out at one of the artworks on the wall of the Brooklyn bridge. "My Ma, for my birthday, took me to a spa. Not anything like current spas, but I had my hair done and a full face of makeup for the first time. I came home, and he had picked a bouquet. He knocks on the door, and I opened it. Suddenly the flowers are pushed into my chest, and he rushes past me thinking he was going to throw up."
Sebastian chuckled, "Did he throw up?"
"No, but he said he saw me, and his stomach went into knots," Ellie told him with a smile as she took a drink.
"So you started dating when you were 18?" Sebastian asked.
"Nope," Ellie said as she shook her head, "I was clueless. I had feelings, but I had them since I met him. This dormant thing had always been in the back of my mind, but I never thought feelings would be returned. I went off to college, an all-girls school, of course. The SSR discovered me, and they started training me while I was in college. When I graduated, they gave me the summer to get my affairs in order. I came home, and that was when things changed."
"How so?" He asked.
Ellie smiled as she bit her lip, remembering coming out of the bathroom in a towel and how she hadn't even given it a second thought at the time. "I had gone to an all-girls school. So I came out of the bathroom after my shower in just a towel. I ran into Bucky in the hallway. I thought his eyes were going to blow out of his head."
Sebastian laughed, "I could imagine, poor guy pinning after you for all those years."
Ellie scratched her eyebrow, "Then we went dancing. Buck was an amazing dancer back then. I kissed him on the dance floor then freaked out. I ran back home literally, and Bucky had to pull Steve out of a fight. They came back to the house, and I told him not to pity my crush, and he laughed. The damn bastard laughed," Ellie shook her head, "Admitted he also had feelings for me. That was the best three months of my life until Wakanda."
"What happened after those three months?" Sebastian asked.
"I shipped out to Washington DC, then Europe with the SSR as the war started to rage. We got engaged during that time, then married, then he was shipped out himself. You see, most historians have something wrong. They said he enlisted. He didn't. Steve enlisted. Bucky was drafted. He didn't want to follow in his father's footsteps. George was a flawed man that was troubled by his time in the war. Bucky didn't want himself to be that way," Ellie told him as she sighed, "He rose through the ranks faster than just about anyone else. Made a name for himself for his marksmanship. He admitted that it was because, as a sniper, he wouldn't have to be down in the mud as much. He was in the mud, though, when they were ambushed."
"Azzano, right?" Sebastian asked.
Ellie nodded, "The Nazis and by default Hydra captured him. He was a Sergeant already and wanted to protect his men. He gave them lip, and they pulled him in to experiment on him, made him a super-soldier without him knowing," Ellie told him sadly, "I don't know if it will be in your script or not, but they started the torture on him back then. The electroshock therapy and the drugs. They would kill him and bring him back. He had at least one heart attack that he had remembered."
"Oh shit," Sebastian breathed out.
"My man was a fighter. That's what I want you to show the world. Can you do that?" Ellie asked him honestly.
Sebastian nodded, "I'll do my best."
"That's all I ask," Ellie said.
"Oh, they cast the actress to play you, by the way," Sebastian told her as he showed her his phone.
"She does look a lot like me," Ellie said, amazed.
"Her name is Blake Lively. She and I used to work together. She is a great girl," Sebastian told her.
"I can't see her having a large part. Peggy did more for them than me back then. It was rare that I went out with them," Ellie said, stirring her drink.
Sebastian sat back, looking at her, "I've been to the Smithsonian, I've seen the footage. You were there more than anyone thought you were."
Ellie looked at him, "I'm in the Smithsonian?"
Sebastian nodded, "When I found out, I went there to see what it had to show about Bucky and you, Steve too."
Ellie slowly took another sip, "Have you ever been to our old apartment? I mean the Howling Commandoes museum."
"Was it your apartment?" Sebastian asked, surprised.
Ellie nodded, "Yeah, all the stuff in it was ours or close representations of it. There is also one in Indiana where Bucky was born."
"Wait, he wasn't from Brooklyn?" Sebastian asked, confused.
"No, he was born in Indiana. Shelbyville, Indiana. His distant relatives put together a museum there. If you have the time to get there, you should check it out," Ellie said as she looked at her phone, "Shit, I better head home. The subway doesn't go all the way north any later than this."
Sebastian frowned, "Are you sure you will be safe on your own on the subway this late at night?"
Ellie laughed, "I appreciate the concern, you sound like Bucky, but I'll be alright. I'm always packing power." Ellie held out her hand, and it glowed as the tendrils of her power played between her fingers, "Do you live close?"
"Yeah, just about five stops away," Sebastian told her, "Only to the south to your north."
Ellie slid out of the booth and put her mask on, "Thank you for the drink."
"We should do this again," Sebastian said as he opened the door for her.
"It was nice. If you want to know anything else, just let me know," Ellie told him as she stopped on the sidewalk and looked around.
"At least let me walk you to the subway entrance," Sebastian stated.
Ellie smiled beneath her mask, "Sure, but it is safe. The police station is right there," Ellie told him as they crossed 43rd to walk down Broadway towards 42nd.
Ellie put her hands in her pockets as they walked together, "Bucky hated the city," She told Sebastian, "The only time we would come here was if we had to and Christmas."
"My favorite time of the year here," Sebastian told her as they walked around the corner to the Broadway and 42nd Street entrance to the subway.
"Here is my stop," Ellie said.
Sebastian pointed to the sign, "I have to take the 1," He told her as he opened the door.
They both walked in and went through the turnstiles and the metal detectors.
"I was wondering, with his metal arm-"
Ellie laughed as she turned to look back at him, "Here is a little secret. Swear not to tell?"
He nodded, "I swear."
"Vibranium doesn't set off metal detectors. It was a problem with the old arm, though," Ellie told him as they rode down the escalator, "Well, here is where we part."
"Thanks for meeting me today," Sebastian told her.
"No problem, have a good night," Ellie said as she followed the sign for the S train to track one.
After walking a little ways away, she glanced back to see him walking towards the 1, and someone had already stopped him to ask him for an autograph.
*~*~* October 24, 2020- Irvington *~*~*
Getting into the car at the Irvington station, Natasha looked over at her as she put the car into drive, "You look happy."
Ellie laid her head back on the seat, "I had a surprisingly good time tonight."
"Who did you get coffee with?" Natasha asked as she turned.
"Sebastian Stan," Ellie told her as she looked over at her.
"The actor that looks like Bucky?" Natasha asked, surprised, "He contacted you again?"
Ellie nodded, "He is nice and wants to make sure he portrays Bucky the right way."
Natasha turned the radio down, "Are you sure that is all there is to it?"
Ellie looked over at her, "Yes, why?"
"Just, don't set yourself up for heartache," Natasha told her.
"It's just him wanting to know about Bucky. That is it, Nat," Ellie defended.
Natasha nodded, then turned the radio back on.
Ellie sighed as she laid her head against the cold window taking in the Halloween decorations around her. She was mentally cursing Natasha as her overactive brain took over. What if it was more? What if the reason she was feeling so happy was that he looked like Bucky. Did he want more than information?
Ellie groaned, "Nat, I hate you."
"You know you love me," Natasha told her, "Don't overthink things now."
"Easy for you to say," Ellie mumbled as they got closer to home.
a/n3: The next chapter is going to be big. I have had it written for a while because there is a pretty big scene within it. So I should have it within two weeks. Just with the outline and the parts I have already written, it is only 3K words less than this chapter. So keep your eyes out in two weeks for that. Again, thank you all as always.
Now to the reviews:
PrettyRecklessLaura- Thank you for reading and reviewing. I hope this chapter met your expectations!
Guest- Thank you for reading and reviewing. As much as we don't want it to Covid is a real part of life. While yes these stories are fiction, I try to make them as real as possible.
Guest- Yes Sebastian! He will be back again
Preview of Chapter 110- Knockin on Heaven's Door
Ellie gasped as a wave rolled off her, "What was that?"
"They are trying to bring you back" Bucky explained, "Its part of why you won't remember any of this… your brain has been low on oxygen. You should be dead but you are a fighter Angel. Don't forget that"
"Am… am I going to be okay?" Ellie asked.
"Not for awhile but you can't see me but I see you and I'm here for you" Bucky told her as he kissed her, "Fight"
Ellie gasped as she felt herself being pulled away, "Buck!"
"I love you!" Bucky called as she was sucked into the darkness.