SIX MONTHS LATER

WILSON

"Welcome to Wakanda." Sam wanted to laugh at the blatant surprise on Sharon's face as she took in the quickly passing surroundings. She was aware that it wasn't all grasslands, tribes, and huts in Wakanda, but he knew from experience that nothing could quite prepare you for seeing it for the first time. Sharon stood at the large windows of the jet and openly stared in wonder at the views.

Their pilot and escort ushered them off the jet once they landed to find Shuri and T'Challa waiting for them. Shuri was her usual eccentric self as she greeted them with an enthusiastic smile. Sam kept turning to scan the area, only half listening to what T'Challa was saying and Sharon was discreetly doing the same. Bucky seemed to be absent from the group who met them on the tarmac. Both him and Sharon were surprised to find him missing, they expected to be mauled by their friend once they stepped off the jet.

"Oh, Sergeant Barnes thinks you are landing tomorrow." The pair eyed each other at Shuri's casual statement. "We-"
"You." T'Challa corrected her with a smile.

"Fine." She rolled her eyes."I thought it would be fun to surprise him so I told him the wrong day. But before we go find him though, we'll get you settled in the city and I'm sure you both would like a tour."

They were led to the private suites they would be staying in that Shuri personally arranged. Sam let out a low whistle when they stepped into their temporary living space. Sharon was stunned speechless at the wall of glass that looked out into the jungle. His room was the exact same but next door to hers. Shuri assured them that the walls were soundproof so they wouldn't have to worry about disturbing the other. She had winked at Sharon when she said it causing Sharon to go bright red. She shoved Sam when he wiggled his eyebrows at her.

"I assumed you would prefer to stay here instead of the hut." Shuri scrunched her nose at the thought of staying in Bucky's hut. Sam laughed and Sharon just thanked her for the hospitality. They toured Shuri's lab and the medical facility all before lunch. By the end of it, Sam's head was spinning along with Sharon's from the sheer magnitude and impressiveness of it all. The last time he was in Wakanda he was being ushered onto the battlefield as fast as possible and then waking up and stepping through a portal to upstate New York. He hadn't gotten the opportunity to enjoy the beauty and technological advances of the secretive country. Now he understood why Bucky loved his time in Wakanda.

"So how is he?" Sharon finally asked as they sat down to eat with T'Challa, Shuri, and Okoye.

"He is free." Sharon's gaze met Sam's at T'Challa's confident words. He could see her eyes glassing over with tears. He could feel his own unshed tears prickling at the corner of his eyes at the magnitude of those three words. He reached out under the table and caught her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. Hearing the words spoken aloud was better than he imagined. The Winter Soldier was no more. Hydra was officially gone from his mind. Their friend was free.

He blew out a long slow breath and turned back to their hosts. "Thank you."

CARTER

Sharon stared at the hut before her. To say she was nervous would be an understatement. Her palms were sweating and it wasn't from the heat of the sun. She was silently cursing Shuri for telling Bucky they were coming the next day so that she didn't have to be the one to surprise him. Yes, they had talked and even video chatted over the last six months, but it wasn't the same as actually being with him in person. And she knew Bucky was not keen on surprises, even if it was a good one. She did not like the idea of sneaking up on him in his home.

"Are you okay?" Sam asked quietly from beside her. He was warily eyeing the place just like her. They both didn't like the idea of just popping their head into his place.

She couldn't look away from the fabric blowing in the breeze at the entrance of the shelter. "It feels wrong to just go in there." She finally tore her eyes away to look at Sam. "This place is sacred to him. It's where he came to heal and find peace and I don't think I can go in there. This is his safe space and I can't just invite myself in let alone surprise him."

Sam nodded in understanding. "I get it. Boundaries."

"Oh for goodness sake. Sergeant Barnes!" Shuri sighed and stomped her way to the hut and threw back the cloth. "He's not even in here." Shuri frowned and put her hands on her hips. Of course he wasn't, because why would he be? He didn't know they were coming so why would he just be hanging out in there in the middle of the day? He was probably off working in the fields or tending to the goats or something. Sam shook his head as if he was thinking the same thing as Sharon.

Sharon turned to stare out at the lake behind her. Her eyes scanned the edge, hoping to find Bucky. It really was beautiful here. She could see how he finally found peace and calm before Thanos took it all away. She wondered if he would have ever left if Thanos hadn't shown up. Shuri was muttering to herself under her breath and fiddling with the beads on her wrist. Sharon tuned her out and lost herself in the view. How many times had Bucky stood here and just enjoyed the beauty of it all like she was now?

"Share." Sam was standing with his hands in his pockets and a large smile on his face. He gestured with his head for her to follow him. He was walking over the small hill toward the village that Shuri said was just on the other side. There was something in his eye that told her to follow him without question.

"Wait for us!" Shuri and her guard were hurrying after them. Sharon could hear the tell-tale signs of kids playing. She stopped next to Sam when they reached the crest of the small hill. "Ah, I should have known." Shuri gestured as if this is where she should have led them all along.

Sharon couldn't hold back the smile that spread across her face at the scene before her. A dozen or so village kids were playing some sort of soccer game and there, in the thick of them, was Bucky. The pure joy on his face was an absolute wonder to behold. He looked so happy and carefree as he kicked the ball up and bounced it off his knee much to the delight of the kids.

His hair was longer, almost as long as when he was arrested in Berlin all those years ago, and up in a bun at the back of his head. A few strands of hair were loose and tucked behind his ears and his scruff was bordering the line of a full-blown beard. His vibranium arm was missing and Sharon could see a beaded bracelet that matched Shuri's on his only wrist along with the friendship bracelet she recognized from his case. He was wearing some sort of navy Wakandan wrap to cover the missing appendage. She looked down at the wrap Shuri had thrown around her and tied in a knot at her waist hours ago. Sharon's head turned to Shuri who gave her a knowing smirk as Sharon realized she had given it to her to match Bucky. Ah, so Shuri was a sneaky meddler.

The kids were cheering and grabbing at Bucky as he laughed and kicked the ball up in the air again. "What are they saying?" Sharon asked as they repeatedly cheered something in Wakandan.

"White Wolf." Shuri responded with a smile. "That's what we call him." Sam raised an eyebrow at Sharon who just shrugged. White Wolf. Her eyes drifted back to Bucky. It suited him.

A few of the kids had finally taken notice to their small party watching and were gesturing wildly at them. Bucky's head finally turned in their direction and his eyes caught hers from across the field. If she thought he looked happy before, it was nothing to the way his face lit up in surprise and wonder to see them standing there. His eyes locked in on her as he made his way over to them. The way he was looking at her was holding her in place and taking her breath away.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Sam step forward to greet Bucky, but Bucky just sidestepped him to get to her. She opened her mouth to say something, but he cut her off as his hand wrapped around the back of her neck and his lips came crashing down to hers.

His kiss was everything.

Her arms wrapped tightly around him and pulled him in. She was dizzy with love, happiness, and disbelief that she was finally back in his arms. Or well… arm, but who cared about details at this point? She certainly didn't. For all she knew, it was just the two of them standing there under the yellow rays of the Wakandan sun. The world faded and in that moment it was just them. Just James and Sharon.

She could hear the kids laughing and screaming at their kiss to which Shuri joined in. "GET A ROOM!" Her joking shout brought them back to reality.

She pulled back from Bucky with a laugh and slightly rosy cheeks. His hand had curved to cup her cheek as he stared down at her. His eyes were bright with love and his smile was infectious as his thumb stroked along her skin.

"I missed you Carter." His forehead met hers softly and she watched his eyes slip shut as he grounded himself to her for the first time in half a year. She savored the feeling.

"I missed you too Barnes." His lips met hers again softly.

"Alright you two, there's plenty of time for that later." Shuri was waving her arms at them to separate. They shared one last long look before they stepped back from each other. Bucky finally turned to Sam who pulled him in for hug.

"It's good to see you Buck."

BARNES

It was a bittersweet feeling to be standing in the doorway of his hut for hopefully the last time. It was his home in some of the darkest and most peaceful times in his life. When he stepped over the threshold six months ago to move back in, it felt like both a blessing and curse. He knew what was ahead of him in his journey of healing and the hut was just a reminder of the darkness that was to come. But at the same time, he was flooded with relief to be back here where he knew he was safe and on the road to recovery again.

"Are you ready to go?" Shuri was patiently waiting for him. She'd agreed to stay with him while he packed his few possessions and escort him back to the city. He was going miss her sharp wit and plucky personality. He'd be forever thankful for everything she did to free his mind and make him smile through the solemn process. He owed her his life.

"Yeah." He couldn't pull his eyes away from the empty structure.

"It'll be here in case you ever wish to stay again. It's yours." Shuri was next to him now, looking up at him with soft eyes. "Although I think Agent Carter would prefer to stay in the city if you ever visit. And I don't blame her. Indoor plumbing is a gift. You kind of stink White Wolf." There was that mischievous twinkle in her eye that Bucky had come to know.

Bucky smiled. "Yeah well, I would have showered this morning if someone hadn't surprised me with guests a day early."

She bumped her shoulder into his. "Yes, but that's no fun. Did you like your surprise? Or should I say love your surprise?" She wiggled her eyebrows at him and made a heart with her hands which she pressed to her own chest. He laughed at the gesture.

"Yes. Thank you. Thank you for everything."

"No need to get sentimental." Her voice was joking, but she still wrapped an arm around his middle for a side-hug. "You're welcome. Now come on, you need to wash up before dinner." He took one last look at his Wakandan home before following after her.

The ride back to the city was a quiet one. Bucky lost himself completely in his thoughts after Shuri not-so-sublty remarked on Sharon's matching attire. "Agent Carter looks good in navy, doesn't she?" He rolled his eyes at her. It was good to know Shuri was a quiet matchmaker.

Bucky couldn't stop replaying that moment in the field in his mind. When he saw Sharon standing there, watching him with the most radiant smile on her face, it made his heart stop. He lost all awareness of everything and everyone around him as he stared at the woman he loved. He almost didn't believe it was real. She was absolutely glowing under the warm sun and vast blue sky. His eyes soaked her in: white shirt, army green shorts, black tennis shoes, and a navy wrap that matched his tied at her waist and flowing down her long toned legs. She had the signature Wakandan beads around her wrist along with a plethora of other bangles that Shuri must have coaxed her into.

She was looking at him like he was the whole world and he wondered how he had lived without her beside him for half a year. His heart ached with loneliness before it swelled with love to the point where it felt like it would burst forth from his chest. He almost felt bad for ignoring Sam, but then he bending to kiss Sharon and he didn't care. Sam could wait. Sharon was here and kissing her was even better than he remembered. It felt like home. She was home.

And as if he couldn't love her more, she had told him no when he asked her to help him pack the rest of his space. He was confused and a little hurt at first, but then she explained it was his safe space and she wanted to keep it that way. They were a day early and she wanted him to properly make peace with his space and his leaving without her and Sam. Boundaries, she had said. This was one boundary she wasn't going to cross lightly.

"I hope that lovesick smile is because you are thinking about Sharon and not Sam otherwise your sleeping arrangements are going to be very awkward." Shuri was teasing him again. Bucky would have playfully punched her arm, but he knew it would only result in a threatening spear jab by her guard.

"Ha ha, very funny Princess." She stuck her tongue out at the title.

After trimming his beard, a long hot shower, dinner filled with laughter, and a round of drinks, Bucky was ready to wrap Sharon up in his arms and go to bed. So when Sam and Sharon walked him to where T'Challa, Shuri, Okoye, and Ayo were waiting instead of back to their suites he was thoroughly confused.

"We have one more surprise for you White Wolf." Shuri was smiling wide with that mischievous glint in her eye again. Okoye opened the door to the SUV and gestured for him to get in. He stepped forward, but stopped when he realized his friends weren't following.

"This is something you need to do alone." Sam responded to Bucky's questioning gaze.

"We'll see you when you get back." Sharon gave him a reassuring smile.

They drove him just outside of the city and to a waiting bonfire. He still had no idea what was going on and was just about to ask when T'Challa pulled something from his bag and handed it to him. Bucky's hand faltered over the red book with a black star on the cover. His mouth went dry at the sight of it. His hand recoiled and his eyes met T'Challa's. A surge of fear coursed through his veins.

"You have been burdened by this book for long enough. You are free now James. You have been for a while now." Tears sprung to his eyes at T'Challa's words. It was true, Shuri removed Hydra almost four months ago. He still remembered it like it was yesterday when they confidently spoke the trigger words to him only for nothing to happen. His mind replayed every cruel moment of his past as he listened to the horrid words once more. And instead of the familiar feeling of his brain clicking into compliance, he felt nothing. He only felt himself. He couldn't believe it.

And then Shuri took him back to her lab and ran a million tests, mostly by his request and disbelief, and proved once again that his mind was fully his. He'd never felt so relieved and free in his life. The burden of the Winter Soldier finally lifted from his shoulders and he felt physically lighter. He had been a blubbering mess at the realization that he was finally free. He could finally put it all behind him and live his life knowing it was done and he was fully himself again. Then he spent the next four months healing and recovering through hard work and therapy.

"The choice is yours. You can either burn this book or we will see to it that it is secure and never used again." Bucky stared at the book that had caused him so much pain. His hand trembled as he slowly gripped the leather binding. Everything that made him a monster was written on the pages in his hand. Without a second thought he stepped forward and tossed it into the fire. T'Challa gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. Bucky's eyes didn't look away from the flames until the last page was mere dust in the wind.