AN: Sorry about the stilted updating schedule. Life is busy right now and it has to come first. I'm still here, though, and no intention of abandoning the story. Also, don't forget I'm going to be using my own creative licensing on the whole Wakanda and T'Chaka parts since I don't have a ton of experience with him.

OOOOOOOO

The airfield was almost deserted – on purpose. Obviously some people had to be there to make sure that the landing went well, and to manage all of those small details that no one really thinks of when it comes to airplanes, but there were no non-essential personnel to be found within the immediate area of where the Wakandan jet was due to land. There were, however, three large dark SUVs and a sleek limousine parked just on the edge of the tarmac when the plane came in and taxied to the area the ground crew directed the pilots to stop.

There were also plenty of security; SHIELD, local police officers, and federal agents who were tasked with the responsibility to make sure that the Wakandans who were visiting had a smooth visit with no hiccups – and definitely no security issues. These men and women weren't swarming the area, however. They were (for the most part) hidden from sight. Not to keep them from being seen by their visitors but to make sure that any potential troublemakers didn't see them coming when they intervened in whatever foolish notion might pop into their head if word of the visit reached the wrong person.

Standing in front of the closest vehicle was Natasha Romanoff, Nick Fury, and Steve Rogers, all three watching as the pilots turned off the engines and then started their post flight tasks, while a few faces looked out at them from the small windows of the plane.

"That is Natasha Romanoff," Okoye said, frowning, as she turned her attention from the waiting vehicles to her king.

T'Chaka didn't look concerned – but his security detail definitely did.

"So?"

"She is a known assassin, my king," Okoye told him.

"But she is standing next to Captain America," T'Challa said before his father could reply.

"I imagine SHIELD will use their best assets to keep our visit secure," T'Chaka said before anyone else could speak. He, too, had glanced out the window when they'd landed. The unmistakable figure of Steve Rogers hadn't been missed – and even in Wakanda the name Natasha Romanoff was known. "I expect you to coordinate with them to make sure of it."

She didn't scowl, but he knew she wanted to. T'Chaka was aware that his own security people – and the Dora Milaje to be specific – had already been in contact with SHIELD. The American State Department had assured them that SHIELD was running security and had their full backing, and (as requested) had faded into the background to avoid any kind of jurisdictional arguments from each of their agencies who would be involved in the visit. Which was all well and good, but the royal family of Wakanda was Okoye's responsibility and she took that charge seriously.

"We have spoken with Nick Fury several times," she assured him. "He is the other person waiting by the vehicles."

"Good."

"And they will take us to Shuri?" Ramonda asked.

"That is the plan as we have discussed."

T'Chaka nodded and unbuckled his seatbelt. Yes, it was a little nerve-wracking to think about the idea that the next steps that he took were going to lead his ultra-isolationist nation into a new era of change that maybe all of the people living there weren't quite ready for, but at the moment, he was more anxious to see his daughter and make sure she was safe.

"Then let us not keep them waiting."

"Yes, my king."

She bowed, slightly, and then motioned for the rest of the royal guard to move into their places.

OOOOOOO

"This should be interesting."

Fury smirked. That was an understatement, now, wasn't it?

"Indeed it will be. Everything's ready?"

"Yeah." Steve didn't need to check any notes. "We have contingency plans for whatever we do, this evening, and will make arrangements for the rest of the visit based on what they tell us they want to do."

"Nothing like winging it with a royal visit," Nick said, almost grumpily.

No big surprise since he liked things well ordered and winging it wasn't something that he enjoyed doing.

Natasha didn't shrug, but she looked annoyed, too – and for the same reason.

"They only want to see their daughter," she said. "Beyond that, they haven't told us of any plans. For all we know, they want to go to Tony's, pick up the kid, and come right back here and go home."

"They can't do that," Steve said as a wide staircase was being rolled over to the door under the watchful eye of a couple of other groundcrew who were SHIELD agents dressed otherwise. "Unless they brought spare pilots, they'll need time to rest. Wakanda isn't in Iowa, after all, and it's a long trip."

Of course, they could have brought spare pilots. They had visas for twenty-five people and their jet was big enough to hold that many people. Maybe a couple of them were pilots? Certainly several were security people. Despite the secretive nature of Wakanda, Natasha had heard of the Dora Milaje and was interested in seeing them in action.

The door to the plane opened and two women dressed in obviously ceremonial outfits walked out, first. They were holding spears, and looking around, cautiously. One turned back toward the interior of the plane and said something, and then they headed down the stairs, watching everything around them and especially the three Americans standing near at hand waiting for them.

When they reached the bottom step, more people presented themselves at the doorway and the three who were waiting straightened up, slightly, as two more security people stepped out, and were then followed by the unmistakable forms of T'Chaka and Ramonda. After them, T'Challa followed, taking advantage of the height of the staircase to look around for a moment before heading down the stairs. Behind him, more security people, but all gave way to the king and queen as they walked over to where the red carpet ended and it was Steve Rogers who spoke, first.

He gave a slight nod of the head as a gesture of respect (but a reminder that T'Chaka was not his king) and a polite smile.

"On behalf of the United States and her people, welcome to our country," he said. "I'm Steve Rogers, this is Nick Fury, and Natasha Romanoff." True, the introductions probably weren't needed, but it was expected. "We're pleased to be a part of this monumental occasion."

A nod to the fact that it was the first time royalty from Wakanda had ever been there, formally, anyway.

"It is our honor," T'Chaka assured him, also nodding rather than bowing. He turned to his wife to present her. "My wife, Ramonda. And my son, T'Challa."

Nods rather than handshakes, but the atmosphere was more relaxed than tense and that was a good start.

"It's an honor," Nick said. He turned to the limo. "We're ready to take you to your daughter," he told them. "And we have secured a penthouse suite for your use in a hotel nearby."

"Thank you."

He turned to Okoye, and she was the one who next spoke.

"We will have three security people with his majesty," she said. "The remainder will guard the plane and will see the hotel room."

"That's why we brought more than one car," Nick told her with a nod.

She didn't need to tell those with her who was going to go where. This was something that they'd already discussed. The security people separated into three groups, with Okoye and two others staying with the king and his party. Another went to stand near the base of the stairs and the other group stood slightly to the side.

Fury made a slight motion and two agents emerged from the side of the small hangar, trotting over but making sure to not seem threatening in any way. They came to a stop and waited for instructions.

"This is Agent hill," Fury said – and now he was speaking directly to Okoye, recognizing that security was her priority. "She'll handle the hotel with your people. Agent Deacon, here, will remain with your people here, at the airfield, to coordinate with anything you may need for your pilots, or your people."

"Thank you." Okoye gestured to the various teams and they moved closer to whichever agent they were going to be working with. "We are ready," she told T'Chaka.

He nodded and turned toward Fury, expectantly.

"We are eager to see our daughter," he said.

Fury's smile was genuine. He was looking forward to the meeting between Tony Stark and T'Chaka, and didn't bother to hide it. He opened the back door to the limo, himself.

"Let's go, then. I know she is eager to see you guys, too."

This was going to be interesting.