CHAPTER 12 IS REPOSTED!

I didn't realize there was a problem with Chapter 12, but it has been fixed.

A/N: We are starting to get more into the action of this story. I tried to be as detailed as possible with the events of Infinity War and include Danielle in ways that made sense. Hopefully you like what I've done. I appreciate you for reading my story.

The birds were just starting to chirp in the early morning light, the tendrils beginning to stretch across the sky like streamers blowing in the wind. None of the lights in the hut were on, and the shadows were a reminder of the dark day ahead.

Danielle laid awake running her fingers along the ridges of James' new metal arm. She could feel the difference between this one and the one he had. The vibranium was sleeker and darker than the other metal. She liked the gold Shuri had weaved into the design better than the red star that used to adorn it.

"How long have you been awake?" James asked without stirring.

"Couple hours." She continued tracing his arm. "How long have you been watching me?"

"Couple hours," he replied.

She smoothed her finger down the ridge of his metal arm. "How does it feel?"

James looked from the top of her head to his metal arm lying by his side. "Normal."

He raised his hand, stopping her motion, and he flexed the metal fingers individually and then all together. "It feels like I got a piece of myself back, but not a bad piece like I thought it would feel like. This arm radiates energy while the other used to drain it from me. I feel complete."

Danielle raised her hand to meet his and intertwined their fingers. "I like it, too. It gives you back that sexiness."

He chuckled. "What do you mean?"

"Well," she looked up to see his eyes, "you were always cute with the blue eyes and the long, dark hair, but the metal arm was a game changer. Very sexy."

"You only like me for my metal arm?" He asked, eyebrows raised.

"Pretty much."

"You liar." James accused before tickling her sides as he rolled on top of her.

Danielle giggled and tried to fight him off with little to no effort. She enjoyed the domestic bliss they pretended to have. She liked waking up next to him and not worrying about a war.

That was until she looked up into his blue eyes and saw the storm building in his mind.

"What's wrong?" She asked, cupping his cheek with her hand.

"I love you so much." He said, simply.

Danielle's eyes burned with tears. "I love you too."

He pressed his lips to hers in a long, slow kiss that hoped for many, many more moments just like this. Danielle held onto him as tightly as she could, until her lungs began to scream for air. They broke the kiss, panting and breathing each other in.

As much as she didn't want to, Danielle cut the moment short. "We should get ready. Steve will be here soon."

"Yeah, you're right." James got up from the bed and went to the door. "I'll make us some breakfast. You can have the shower first."

He disappeared through the door, but not before Danielle saw a tear fall down his cheek. She remained in bed a few moments longer, thinking about the upcoming battle. Although Danielle had been in many gun fights and fist fights, she had never been in a battle, especially one of this scale. She hoped her instincts kicked in, but she didn't know who or what she would be fighting, and that made it all the more unsettling.

"You haven't moved." James said from the doorway.

Danielle, startled from her thoughts, sat up. "No, not yet. What's that?"

She pointed to the package in his hands. He walked toward her and sat on the edge of the bed. He handed her the package as he spoke.

"Shuri made you a gift. She must have dropped it off sometime in the night."

Danielle opened the box and pulled the contents free. First, was a black long sleeve shirt with a crew neck. Under that was a pair of tactical pants. Both articles were made from a fabric Danielle couldn't identify. The material was stretchy and tough, like yoga pants made from kevlar. At the bottom of the package was a new pair of tactical boots, made from the lightest materials Danielle had ever felt in a boot.

"I guess she thought I needed a new outfit." Danielle shrugged, holding up the clothes.

James nodded, but she knew the look on his face meant there was more to the clothes Shuri had given her. If Shuri had made these for her, she could assume they were strong and durable, and it made her question what they would be fighting that she would need clothes like this.

"Did she bring you anything?" Danielle asked.

James pointed with his thumb over his shoulder. "There's a whole crate of things at the door. She gave me a new tactical suit, and all the weapons we can carry."

"Good," she patted his leg, "at least we'll be prepared."

"Yeah." James leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Take a shower and put on your new clothes. I'll have breakfast for you when you're done."

"Sir, yes sir." She teased.

James cracked a small smile as he stood and walked out of the bedroom once more.

Danielle decided it was now or never, and got up from the bed to take a shower.

—-

James didn't know how they would get to the palace, but he hadn't expected Shuri to pick them up personally. She skidded the SUV to a stop, opened the door, and stood on the step of the vehicle to yell.

"Come on, lovebirds. My brother is waiting."

James had been ready for a while, finding it easy to slip back into soldier mode as soon as he started putting on the uniform. The tactical gear fit perfectly with the right sleeve of the shirt protecting him down to the wrist and the left sleeve completely removed giving him full range of motion. His pants tapered down into the top of his boots, the two articles meeting midway down his shin. Strapped to his legs and his hips were the magazines for the M249 machine gun Shuri had included in his box of gear.

The door to the bedroom opened behind him, and he turned to see Danielle standing in her tactical gear.

She wore boots like his to the middle of her shin. Her pants tapered down her leg into the top of her boots. The shirt clung to her body like the suit T'Challa wore, and he could tell the material was the same. James silently thanked Shuri for giving Danielle the best protection available. A Copperhead submachine gun was clipped to the strap across her body, strapped to each thigh was a SIG Sauer M17, and around her hips was a tactical belt with extra clips.

Danielle approached him, throwing the end of her braid over her shoulder. "I'm ready."

James grabbed her by the waist and pulled her in. "I'm not." He kissed her harder than he intended, but he needed her to know how much he loved her.

They pulled back from the kiss, needing a breath.

"Do you think it's too late to go back to bed and never get out?" Danielle teased.

James smiled. "I think it might be."

The door to the hut flew open as Shuri appeared like a tornado into the room. "Did you not hear me? My brother is waiting. And I will not be blamed for you not being there on time."

"We're coming, Shuri." James let go of Danielle and shouldered his weapon.

They followed Shuri out to the SUV and listened to her babble about what was to come. She mentioned aliens and synthezoids and magic stones, but neither Danielle nor James were paying much attention. Instead, they held hands in the back seat. James rubbed his thumb along the back of her hand, and Danielle realized he was drawing hearts. She squeezed his hand as she looked out the window to see the palace coming into view.

The Dora Milaje were everywhere as their SUV rolled to a stop. Each warrior held their signature staff and looked like the most intimidating army Danielle had ever seen. She continued to hold hands with James as they followed Shuri in the palace. Unlike James, Danielle had never been in the palace, and she stared in awe at the technology and the architecture.

"This is amazing," said Danielle.

"Yeah," agreed James. "No wonder they never let me in here."

Danielle looked at him. "They didn't let you in here?"

"I was accused of killing their king and I had proven to be a threat multiple times. Not many people trusted T'Challa's judgment in bringing me back here."

"That makes sense."

Shuri turned off into a room and they followed.

"You can put your weapons here for now. You will have to meet our guests first." She pointed toward a door that led to a courtyard big enough for a soccer field.

James and Danielle removed their machine guns and placed them on the table before walking out to the courtyard. Some Dora Milaje were standing near another door guarding the entrance. As Danielle was taking in the sight, she heard the familiar sound of a quinjet. She scanned the sky until she watched the jet pass through a shield and come into view.

She couldn't help the excitement that leapt up inside her followed by complete dread. Danielle was excited because the quinjet meant Steve was here, but she was filled with dread knowing the threat that had been just an idea she and James could pretend was fake, was real.