This chapter takes place after the fade to black from the season finale of Captain America and the Winter Soldier
Bucky and Sam head back over to the pier pavilion passing by Sarah laughing and talking with some friends.
The sun begins its slow descent into the Wilmington River when Sam pats Bucky's shoulder proudly, "I'm gonna go and thank Tommy and Carlos one more time before they leave. I'll catch up with you in a few."
Before lightly jogging away Sam turns back around, "I'm really glad you decided to come down here celebrate with us Bucky."
Bucky chuckles at Sam's acknowledgment, "Well, I'm glad I decided to come too."
"Hey Tommy, Carols wait up," Sam jogs over to the two-family friends.
Bucky's feeling a little nervous as Sam leaves him behind to fend for himself amongst the locals.
He looks around the Wilson Family Seafood Restaurant in awe at how close-knit the Delcroix people were when gathering together.
Sam said the community was very welcoming but Bucky's wary about approaching any of them and starting a conversation.
When it came to fighting for the fate of the world or universe, he had no hesitation about putting his life on the line but, this?
Functioning like a regular person scared the shit out of him.
Still feeling out of place, he decides it's probably time for him to go even though he really doesn't want to leave.
Just as he's heading towards his jacket and sunglasses, he hears a voice loudly calling his name.
"Hey, Bucky? I know you're not thinking of leaving without helping me clean up around here, are you?"
Bucky turns around and sees Sarah walking toward him only turning back to wave goodbye to her friends.
"So…I-I hope you enjoyed yourself today."
Suddenly, Bucky has no interest in leaving.
"I did. I really did," he smiles, "I've never been to a seafood boil before."
The two begin walking toward the pavilion, "Well back in the day my parents use to throw these boils about once a month in the summer. I suppose it's the equivalent to the block parties I've heard about up north."
"Well, the last block party I attended was back in 1943, and let's just say the food wasn't nearly as good as the food that was on display today," he laughs.
Sarah leans in with a sly smile, "Well I'm hoping that the food was so good that you wouldn't mind helping me clean up around here before it gets too dark."
"With pleasure," he happily smiles.
There's an awkward pause as they head over to the pavilion.
Bucky clears his throat, "I really love that color blue on you."
Sarah peaks at what she's wearing, "Oh…," she smiles at the unexpected compliment, "Thank you."
They finally reach the pavilion tables, he rubs his hands together, "So what do you need help with?"
"Well first…," she walks over to the Bluetooth tailgate speakers to connect her phone, "We have to put on a cleanup playlist."
He scans the immediate area for potential threats, an old assassin habit that's he yet to break especially since he's not very familiar with the surroundings and because he really doesn't want to.
Masking his mild surveillance tick, "This was a real hell of a turn out for the new Captain America.
Sarah looks around briefly nodding her head yes.
The speakers begin playing "Don't stop the music," by Yarbrough and Peoples.
Sarah does a quick two-step over to a large heavy-duty plastic bin and pulls out a box of latex gloves and trash bags.
Her hips and shoulders sway in fluid opposites of one another to the music, sometimes doubling up from one side to the next according to the bass.
Bucky observes as she makes her way back over to him, lost in the feeling of the music.
One corner of his mouth starts to curve upwards with the other side following suit.
He can't remember the last time he'd witnessed someone so free.
She was light in spirit and it was odd or foreign to him to know someone who controlled their own agency and wasn't afraid to show it.
But what he's seeing in Sarah right now in her unrestricted autonomy was irresistible and hopeful.
It was a feeling he decided long ago was no longer available to him but seeing her made him think otherwise.
Bucky snaps out of his admiration when she finally reaches him.
"Here, put these on and start cleaning off the tables, anything you perceive as trash most likely is."
Bucky smiles taking the gloves and trash bag from her.
The pair get to the task of cleaning up the outdoor restaurant pier.
The sun's shimmer off the river is nearly gone so Sarah turns on the pier floodlights.
The last of the locals have left for the evening and Sam's on the mainland with AJ and Cass throwing around a football under the parking lot lights.
Sarah catches Bucky bopping his head and stepping to the rhythm of the music as he cleans.
She smiles to herself, never expecting him to dance in time to R&B.
Suddenly, the music stops abruptly.
Bucky looks up only to see that she's been staring at him for the last minute.
"Oh," she points to her phone, "it's probably buffering."
She removes her gloves, "You want a beer?" She walks over to the floor cooler
"Yeah sure," removing his gloves as well.
She grabs a couple of beers from the cooler, handing him one as they meet in the middle of the pavilion.
The buffering continues when the two of them sit straddle style on the long seat of the picnic table.
Sarah begins fumbling around in her pockets looking for her keys with the bottle opener.
Bucky sets his beer on top of the table and gently removes the beer from her hand and opens it with his left hand, spilling out the foam before handing it back to her.
She chuckles at the ease of Bucky's bottle top removal technic.
Once he removes the bottle cap from his beer, they lightly tap each other bottle to one another and drink.
The awkward silence is broken by the lullaby of the river rippling while the next song struggles to play.
Bucky looks down into his beer bottle stirring it a bit, "Living here…," he pauses, "I can see why Sam has the faith that he has in people." He takes in a sip of beer.
Sarah looks at him with a soothing smile, "I guess it's hard for you to believe that there are people in the world who don't have an agenda, isn't it?"
He silently agrees with a nod of his head and another sip of his beer.
"Well…," she takes a sip as well, "…truth is that most people do have an agenda whether they know it or not. It's the knowing or not knowing their agenda that makes us uneasy."
Bucky takes another sip of his beer furrowing his brow at the depth of what she just said.
He stands in playful defiance, "How did you become so wise. I've got at least 75-80 years' worth of life experience on you."
The buffering finally cease, and a new song begins to play.
It's the rhythmic but subtle intro of "Ain't Nobody," by Chaka Kahn.
Sarah stands lifting her leg out from under the table, "My life experiences are completely different from yours."
She starts dancing away from the table as she did earlier, "Oh, that is my jam."
Her hips start swaying again, her moves reminded Bucky of the Dora Milaje whenever they did in a ceremonial dance.
They always used their hip as the guiding vehicle for every dance.
For some odd reason watching the music take hold of her made Bucky feel at ease.
Like having her in a trance to the music would ward off any ill will in their vicinity.
After throwing her empty beer bottle in the trash bag she two steps her way back to Bucky.
Forgetting herself she attempts to engage Bucky in a two-step by taking his right hand.
"Oh…," she stops, "I'm sorry. You probably don't like dancing to music like this."
Bucky downs the rest of his beer then sets it upon the pavilion table.
"Well, you're definitely wrong on that presumption."
He takes her hand and moves in time with her simple two-step.
"I would've never have guessed that you were aware of the two-step."
Bucky grins rolling his eyes at her jab. He places his left arm around the small of her back causing her to take notice of his proper dance position.
They were no longer two-stepping, they were dancing together.
He knew he was a pretty good dancer in 1943 but, living in Wakanda for a few years only made him that much better.
Sarah's amazed at how skilled he is as a dance partner.
He knows how to suggestively move her in time with his body so he can lead her in their dance.
The pair are delighted with each other's dance skills however, Bucky steps it up a notch, "Ok, you ready?" He removes his left hand from her back and spins her once with his right hand.
A joyous laugh bellows from Sarah's spirit as she spins right back into him only this time they are closer than they were before.
He places his left hand behind her back once more, making sure that the little bit of space between them doesn't grow.
"Well, I guess you showed me who's the real dance partner here."
With a quick right shoulder tilt-up, "What can I say…back in the forties music was one of two ways to escape so…I took full advantage."
The song begins fading away their dance begins to slow down.
Seconds before pulling away from one another the next song starts to play.
The piano solo for "Head over Heels" by Tears for Fears begins.
Instantly, Bucky renews his grip around the small of Sarah's back and hand.
She feels his reluctance of letting her go which catches her off-guard.
Staring into his aqua blues this close nearly renders her entire body afloat. Sarah never really noticed them before, her eyes begin wandering towards the light gold tee that's perfectly framing his lips.
Sarah acquiesces as Bucky bites down on his bottom lip in his victory for another dance.
She's nervous but not about the dance, she nervous about the intimacy their sharing and how she accepted the loss of this feeling forever when her husband passed away.
Bucky wasn't sure how her dark brown eyes were sparkling under the floodlights but, they were.
Somehow, he manages to utter the soft words, "I hope this isn't too close for you," he searches her face for reassurance.
Sarah's not ready for this intimacy but she's also sure that she doesn't want to leave this dance.
The feeling of sharing this space with him grows, "No…it's not," she smiles looking away from his stare.
She wants to lay her head on his shoulder but doesn't want to step past this platonic yet personal dance she's enjoying.
Bucky takes a leap of faith by moving his left hand from the small of her back up towards the middle, instinctively knowing that their dance is far more special than either wanted to admit.
Once he moves his hand to the upper part of Sarah's back he absorbs the remaining space between them. She far too nervous to talk, being this close and talking would require her to look at his face. So she chickens out by resting her head upon his shoulder.
The relief Bucky feels when she lays her head on his shoulder is intoxicating, he cradles her into his chest his entire body could expand and engulf her like fitted body armor.
Sarah had no idea that she needed this dance and she didn't know that this need would come from the Winter Soldier.