After giving her thirty minutes to herself, James went looking for Danielle. He followed her tracks toward the lake that spread out to the left of the hut, and found her sitting in the pebbles on the bank. Her eyes stared blankly ahead at the water waving up and down as the breeze blew across it. He didn't think she had heard him until she spoke.

"I didn't mean what I said." She didn't turn toward him.

"Yes, you did." James replied, simply.

Danielle nodded. "You're right. I did."

James lowered himself to the ground beside her, leaving enough space between them to keep her comfortable. "You need to know I'm sorry that I left you like that."

Danielle faced him for the first time. "I understand why you did it. I just didn't like how you did it."

James nodded, knowing she didn't want to hear any explanations he could come up with, or apologies that didn't encompass how he felt.

They stared at the water for a few moments before Danielle flipped the switch and became the easygoing girl he remembered. "It's early in the day. What other chores do you have?"

James shrugged. "I need to carry water to the troughs for the goats and the chickens. It might go faster having two extra hands."

Danielle rolled her eyes. "You need to work on your one arm humor."

She got to her feet first and reached out a hand to James. He took it and she hoisted him to his feet in one strong pull. She looked him up and down.

"You weigh a lot less without the metallic paperweight attached to your shoulder."

"Paperweight?" He questioned.

Danielle smirked. "I mean your metal arm was pretty useless."

It was his turn to roll his eyes at her attempt at humor as he walked off toward the water buckets. Danielle stepped quickly after him, laughing at his obvious annoyance.

The day grew hotter the longer they were outside. Sweat dripped from Danielle's face like a faucet had been left on at the top of her head. She wiped her face with her shirt, only to feel how soaked it was already. She didn't dare say anything about the temperature, not wanting to encourage James to say anything about her being weak.

Of course with his super soldier enhancement, he worked at an advanced pace, barely earning a bead of sweat on the end of his nose. His shirt barely stuck to his skin and his hair was barely damp in the late afternoon sun. James finished placing the last bag of feed in the shed, then turned to face her.

"I think that's it," said James.

"Really?" Danielle wiped her forehead nonchalantly. "That was pretty easy."

"Is that why you're sweating so bad?" James cracked a smile.

Danielle scoffed. "Well, not all of us have enhanced cells that keep us from sweating like a pig in a hundred degree heat."

"Fair enough," James conceded. "We're done for the day if you want to go inside and shower. I need to make sure the chickens are near their coop before I come in."

"Are you sure? Because if you need help, just ask."

"I'm sure. Go inside and clean up." James walked off toward the chickens.

Danielle sighed in relief and hurried to the hut for a shower. She kicked off her boots at the front door, dug in the trunk for extra clothes, then locked herself in the bathroom to take a shower. She kept the water cool to soothe her sunburnt skin, though it was less red than she thought it would be, considering she had been in the sun for so long. The water washed the dirt from her body, collecting on the floor of the shower before disappearing down the drain like driftwood over a waterfall. She scrubbed her body twice, hoping it removed all the dirt, then she stepped out of the shower and dried off.

With a new set of clothes on and her hair wrapped up in the towel on her head, Danielle ventured out of the bedroom to see James entering the hut.

"Perfect timing," he said, closing the door behind him.

"The shower is open, if you want it." Danielle said, lamely.

James looked down at his dirty clothes. "I would like to clean up a bit."

Danielle moved to the kitchen. "Okay, good. I'll make dinner."

"Don't worry about that. Shuri usually brings something."

"It'll keep me busy," she looked at him, "go shower."

James gave her one more look before deciding it wasn't worth starting an argument over what she did while he was in the shower. He entered the bedroom and took his clothes out of the dresser, then shut himself in the bathroom.

Danielle was thankful for the distraction of preparing a meal without James hovering around her. Their earlier argument was the proof she needed that her staying here was going to be a problem. She had other places she could go–most of them unsavory–but better than being this close to James. His presence did something to her, and she hated that about herself and about him. She began formulating a plan of when and how to leave.

She was pulling the chicken out of the pan when he emerged from the bedroom, freshly washed and glistening from the remnants of water on his face and in his hair.

"I made chicken and mashed potatoes. You didn't have much, but I made do." Danielle removed the towel from her hair, then organized everything on the table and took a seat.

James glanced over the spread. "This looks great." He sat down and began eating and Danielle followed suit. They didn't speak much and when they were finished, James started grabbing the plates.

Danielle put away the dishes she had already washed, using any reason not to look at James in all his domestic glory. When she was done, she finally looked over at him. He closed the cabinet he was in and faced her.

Danielle panicked under his easy gaze. "I'm going to bed. I'll see you in the morning." She hurried away to the bedroom.

"Goodnight," he called after her as she disappeared into the bedroom.

He was awake as soon as he heard the click of the door. James cracked his eyes open to search the room, scanning as best as he could in the dark. The only light came from the glow of the clock on the oven, but that was all he needed to see the figure moving across the room.

"Where are you going?"

Danielle stopped in the middle of the room, halfway between the bedroom and the front door. "I don't know."

"Then why are you leaving?" James remained still, thinking if he moved toward her it might scare her off.

Danielle looked ahead at the door. "I shouldn't be here. This was a mistake."

Before she could take one step, James jumped from the couch and planted himself between her and the door. She stopped short, but avoided eye contact with him.

"Don't go." He said, barely above a whisper.

"Why?" She forced herself to meet his eyes.

James took a breath. "Because I'm asking you to stay."

She knew her mistake before he finished his sentence. When she met his eyes, the sadness and sincerity hidden within the deep pools of blue poured from his eyes, and found their way into her own. Danielle didn't want to trust him. She didn't want to fall for it all over again, but his eyes locked her into place, and she couldn't tell him no.

"I'll stay for now." She stared back at him with a firm look.

"Okay," he replied.

Danielle adjusted her bag on her shoulder. "Goodnight, James."

He watched her walk most of the way back to the bedroom before he spoke. "I'll see you in the morning, right, Danielle?"

She paused in the doorway and looked back at him. "See you in the morning."

The door to the bedroom closed behind her, leaving James alone.

A/N: How long is Danielle going to stay? Are they going to talk about the problems between them? I hope if you're still reading this you are liking this story. I appreciate you for reading! Favorite/Follow/Review