The dense jungle kept him from seeing more than a few yards ahead. He wasn't sure what he was looking for, but something drove him forward. Limbs and vines smacked across his body as he pushed further into the forest, mud caked onto his boots, slowing his progress.

Then he heard it.

"James? Where are you?" A voice called melodically.

He cocked his head to listen better.

"I can't find you, James."

He established the voice was coming from his left. "Hold on. I'm coming."

He started pushing through more underbrush searching for the owner of the voice.

"Come find me." The voice said again, this time to his right.

He changed direction and tried to pick up his speed, but the mud weighed down his feet, and the shrubbery seemed to grab at his legs to slow him down.

"Where are you?" The voice said, fading out toward the end of the question.

"I'm right here. I'm coming. Just hold on." His muscles strained against the undergrowth as he forced himself forward, but he couldn't make up ground.

"Where are you, James?"

James startled awake as the voice faded into nothingness. His eyes scanned the room, looking for the owner of the voice he had heard, though he knew it was all in his head. The dream wasn't like the nightmares he used to suffer from while under Hydra's control. After one of those, he would wake up in a cold sweat and immediately jump from the bed and into pushups to escape the empty feeling in his chest.

After this dream, he didn't wake up in a cold sweat, but the empty feeling in his chest was twice the size of what it had been. It was her in the dream. Danielle. The one person he wanted to see more than anything, and the one person he didn't think he could face. Ever since he had been freed from Hydra's control, thoughts of her consumed his mind. He would be eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch and become swept up in the memories of eating sandwiches with her in their apartments. He hadn't seen her in over a year, but he could still picture every line of her face as she teased him. James had tried to convince himself that he was better off without her. He always failed.

The bleating of goats told him he was behind on his morning chores. James hoped the manual labors he submitted himself to would push away the thoughts of her.

He started with the goats. If he didn't start by feeding them first they would follow him around grabbing at his pants and tearing small holes in the fabric. Though he could easily replace his clothes with one call to Shuri, he didn't want the embarrassment of explaining to her why he needed so many new pants.

Outside the goats were scratching at the dirt with their hooves, trying to stir up something worth chewing on. When they heard James coming, their heads shot up and their bleating grew louder. He walked toward the small shed where he kept the goat and chicken feed, along with the excess food he couldn't store in his small kitchen. As he reached through the doorway for the bag of feed, one goat grew curious and tried to duck their head inside.

"Hey, backoff." James warned, nudging the goat with his knee.

The goat let out a startled bleat as it turned and trotted away.

James smirked at the little animal flicking its tail in agitation at him. He grabbed the bag and headed toward the trough with a herd of goats kicking at his heels. Pouring the feed into the trough, James watched each little creature fight for a space to eat, with some standing in the trough to get out of the way of the others. Their little tails flicked in unison like pendulums in a clock swinging back and forth.

A bustle from across the yard clued James to the fact that the chickens were done with patiently waiting for their food. He switched bags in the shed and poured piles of food in different parts of the yard for the birds to fight over. He placed the bag back in the shed and closed it.

James completed each of his chores slowly, enjoying the idea of completing each chore on his time-except when the goats decided they took priority. Even with his mind controlled by others, he had always been chasing the simple life, hoping for a chance to be normal. He was more than thankful to Shuri and King T'Challa for giving him that chance.

A car hurried toward him from up the road, and slid to a stop near the end of his driveway. He knew it was Shuri instantly.

She jumped out of the car and waved at him. "Hello, Sergeant Barnes."

"You can call me James, Shuri." He replied from his place across the yard.

"I know, but I like how squirmy you get when I call you Sergeant." She teased.

James rolled his eyes.

Shuri seemed to be bouncing from foot to foot-more so than usual-which made James nervous. He took in her appearance making sure she wasn't holding some kind of device to scan and or electricute him.

"What brings you out here, Shuri?"

"Can't I come visit my friend in his new house?"

"You could, if I thought the only reason you came out here was to visit and not to poke and prod me with some new technology."

Shuri feigned shock. "Me? Poke and Prod you?"

James raised an eyebrow at her and she crumbled into giggles.

"Okay, you have a point. I do come bearing gifts though." Shuri gestured with her thumb to the back of the car.

James looked wary. "Is this the kind of gift I would want?"

Shuri grinned. "I think you want this gift."

Before James could question her further, the back passenger door opened. James watched as one foot and then another foot landed on the ground under the edge of the car door. The body of the person slid out of the car, but was shielded from his view by the door. He could tell the body was small, so he immediately stopped thinking of Steve. He thought it might be Natasha checking in on him, since she was more loyal to Steve than anyone else. It was only when the door closed and he got the full glimpse of the figure that he knew who it was.

"Danielle?"

Her hair was shorter and darker than it had been the last time he saw her. Her body was slim like a runner's with her cheeks slightly hollow. Her eyes were the same inviting hazel color, brown flecks dancing within a sea of green.

She let go of the car door and ran toward him. He was frozen to the spot by disbelief, all he managed to do was watch her grow closer until she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. It took him a moment to realize he wasn't dreaming, and he wrapped his arm around her torso, wishing he had two arms to hold her closer.

"It's really you," he whispered, tears threatening his eyes and choking his words.

"It's me, James." Her voice sounded just as strained to his ears.

Shuri cleared her throat to gain their attention. "So, can I leave the gift here, or do you want me to take it back?"

James pulled away to answer. "Go away, Shuri."

Danielle turned toward her. "Thank you for everything, Shuri. And tell your brother I'm sorry for causing a fight."

"What fight?" James questioned, furrowing his brows at Danielle.

She patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it.'

"You kids have fun," Shuri paused before closing herself into the car, "but not too much fun." She giggled at James' dirty look and sped off like a cheetah on the savannah.

James made sure she was gone and the cloud of dust she left behind was settled before turning back to Danielle. "How did you get here?"

"I told you I would always find you." She loosened her arms until they slid down his neck and stopped at his shoulders. Where one arm continued past her fingers, the other ended just past what would be the rotator cuff, and was covered in a small sleeve. She couldn't help but stare at what used to be his intimidating metal arm.

James stepped back, suddenly conscious of the fact that he didn't have his other arm. He cleared his throat, trying to break up the awkwardness of the situation as Danielle returned her hands to her sides.

"Do you want to go inside?"

"Sure," she agreed, waiting for him to lead the way.

James turned his back to her, glad to have a second alone to gather himself. He couldn't believe she was here. He wasn't sure what had brought Danielle here, but he was going to use whatever time they had together to make up for the past.

A/N: SHE'S BACK! It took a while, but Danielle finally appeared. Now what will happen between James and Danielle?