A/N: Hey guys! Hope you liked the last chapter :) Let me know if you like this one! And a special shoutout to my most frequent reviewer, Jo! You are consistent with almost every chapter. I really appreciate your enthusiasm and dedication to reading what I write. Anyways, enjoy everyone!

Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel, Disney, ABC or the Avengers. Just Sera and the chaos I create.


The party was in full swing by mid morning. Steve and Pietro were setting up a rough game of American football for the men for the afternoon after cake, and I was carefully icing said cake. Bucky was entertaining everyone with stories about the Howling Commandos and pre-serum Steve in the common room, as I laughed along at the right spots from the kitchen. I had already read about most of their adventures back when I found out about my grandfather and to brush up on Steve when they found him in the ice. There were barely any pictures of them, so I wasn't surprised I hadn't clued in to Bucky/Yasha's connection to my life earlier.

So as I placed the candles on the cake, and took one last look at my work, I heard my phone go off.

"How's my bestie?" I joked, as I answered.

"Currently, on my way to you." T'Challa said wryly.

"Really? I didn't think you could make it. I know you wanted to see your sister this weekend."

"I can fly home every other weekend. This is not something I would miss."

"You're gonna make me cry. How's your father?"

"Great. He did go home, but sent presents with me. Anything I should let my pilot know?"

"Do you have vertical landing?" I asked, concerned. We didn't really have a runway.

"Well, it's our version of a Quinjet, so I would assume so," He sassed. I rolled my eyes and said, "Our tower is AVSH01, and I'll let them know to expect you. Call sign?"

"WARAF 03," he mentioned as I shot a text off to the tower through ARSENAL. I was sure Cameron was up there today.

"Okay, you've got clearance, and they should ask you to wait for an escort in. If not, come in through the hangar, and I can meet you there for a tour."

"Sounds perfect. I may need some help with the boxes though," He chuckled, "Since you are an invalid."

"Just for that, I won't let you have cake," I said, laughing good-naturedly. I knew he wasn't being mean, but joking aside, he was a little shit sometimes.

"Be there in 5," He said and hung up. Rolling my eyes once more, I took a quick picture of the cake and yelled for help. Bucky came skidding into the kitchen, saying, "Where?"

"I need you to move the cake to the walk in fridge for me, please?" I smiled, batting my eyelashes at him. He sighed, relieved that I hadn't fallen, or was trapped.

"Well, thank you for the heart attack," He puffed, before kissing my cheek and carefully picking up the cake. I opened the door to the walk in, pointing to the free spot I cleared for it to sit on, and he nodded. After it was in place and the door closed tightly, Bucky said, "I know today is about the kids, but I grew up watching my Dad shower my mother in love, and gifts when they could afford it, on my birthday. It didn't really make sense to me when I was young, cause I wanted gifts," He chuckled, making me smile.

"But I realized why he did that. My mom had to go through carrying me for 9 months, and birthing me, which was a scary thing back then. Sometimes women didn't make it. So when you gave birth to our kids last year, I told Steve that I wanted to do something for you each birthday. He thinks it's a great idea, but I have a feeling you will protest if you weren't given warning," He said, looking nervous. I stayed quiet for a moment, realizing, I wasn't the easiest person to surprise, or buy gifts for. I did put the children first, especially because this was their first birthday, but I knew this was dear to his heart, so I smiled softly, and gently placed my hand on his cheek.

"I will love and accept any gift you choose to give me. This means a lot to you, and I can see that. I won't get upset. It's actually extremely sweet of you to think of me, today of all days."

"You gave Steve and I the greatest gift, we just want to show you how grateful we are. We don't always, and since you've been away, and it's been hard on us all, we realize how much you do around here. Cook, clean, deal with the media, basically make sure everything runs without incident, make sure our food order is in on time and take care of our children without a single complaint. So from Steve and I, we are going to give you something later. It's not much, and it's definitely not enough for everything you do, but it's from the heart. Natasha and Bruce chipped in on it too," He said, watching my reaction slowly.

"Bucky, darling, it's okay. This is so unexpected, but it's nice that you guys keep surprising me with your 40's traditions. They make you, well you. And I would be a monster to deny you something that is so near to your heart. I promise I won' be mad. I love you," I smiled sweetly up at him. He gave a nervous smile, and let out a breath saying, "Thank God."

"Now, I have to met our surprise guest in the hangar, so I will see you later." I said, kissing him sweetly and walking out the door. I walked past our whole dysfunctional family, playing a new video game my Dad got for the kids against my wishes. It was just one and we were gonna limit it very carefully, but I still wasn't happy about it. Cameron texted me back saying that T'Challa's jet was making its landing, so I walked a tiny bit faster, Joey running from the common room to catch up with me.

Using the elevator instead of the treacherous stairs, I hoped Steve was down in the hangar. He said he wanted to see how far he could throw the football to Pietro. As the doors opened, I watched as T'Challa stepped out of his jet, and pointed him out to Joey. My doggo was excited to meet another person, so he ran to greet T'Challa.

"Well hello there," T'Challa said, bending down to shake Joey's paw. I had to give the SSR credit. They chose and trained a polite dog.

"Good boy Joey," I smiled as I saw a blur approaching us from the other end of the field.

"Sera, how's the cake?" The Sokovian grinned. I chuckled as I kept walking towards the Wakandan jet and said, "Waiting for after lunch. I'll whistle when that's ready too. But for now, can you help us. I can't exactly lift boxes."

"Heya bestie," I smiled to T'Challa as he greeted me with a hug.

"I will never get used to your strange American slang," He teased, pulling me into his side.

"Pietro, this is T'Challa, Crown Prince of Wakanda and a new ally. T'Challa, this is Pietro Maximoff, our resident Road Runner."

"Nice to meet you," Pietro said, extending a hand.

"And you as well," T'Challa nodded, shaking Pietro's hand.

"T'Challa!" Steve shouted as he jogged over, I started laughing as I realized his pants were covered in mud.

"You okay Darling?" I teased Steve as he made it over.

"Ha Ha. I slipped," He sighed, "We've set up some warning tape around the mud pit in the northeast corner."

"Ah, next to the stream," I giggled.

"What brings you here?" Steve asked, shaking T'Challa's hand.

"I got an invitation a few weeks ago from your lovely wife to the twin's first birthday. I felt as both an ambassador for Wakanda and a future teammate, I will be in their lives and should be here for all 'family events' as Sera has put it. And I thought this a good time to meet your team, as we will be working closely together in the future. It was a surprise for her that I was coming until maybe 5 minutes ago." He explained as he brought us to the jet's opening.

"Well, that makes a lot of sense. I'm glad you could make it," Steve said, smiling at me.

"Now boys, think you can manage the presents?" I smirked.

"Sure thing babe," Steve said, kissing my cheek and motioning to Pietro to help him with the presents. T'Challa pulled out his suitcase and I chuckled, "Let me guess, you flew yourself today."

"I had to sneak around the Dora Milaje to get to the plane, but yes," He chuckled as we all walked into the hangar.

"One of these days, those girls are going to catch onto your antics," I smiled as I showed him our training room slash hangar.

"And that other building is SHIELD, correct?" He said motioning in the general direction of the new SHIELD base.

"Yes. You'll meet the SHIELD agents at lunch."

"So, we can drop your stuff of first in your room, and then show you around. Guys, can you put those upstairs with the rest?" I said to Steve and Pietro, who nodded and split off from our tour guide.

"ARSENAL," I said as we walked.

"Yes Ma'am."

"Prince T'Challa is our guest for the weekend. Please ready the biometric scanner on Guest Room One."

"Ready Ma'am," She said as we stood outside the door to T'Challa's room. I motioned for him to place his hand on the hand scanner. After doing so and the scan completing, ARSENAL replied, "Welcome Prince T'Challa. Should you require anything, please let me know."

"I knew you had an AI, but not to this degree," He exclaimed, impressed.

"She runs the base, I just fine tune certain things," I smiled as he opened the door.

"There should be fresh towels in the bathroom, and ARSENAL can set the water temperature for you. Your neighbors down the hallway are Wanda and Brock and on the left is Maria and Loki."

"Is this the same Loki that brought the Chitauri invasion to New York?" He said, skeptically.

"He was under the effects of the Mind Stone. Thanos tortured him until he decided to give up and control Loki through one of the Infinity Stones," I explained, "He's really great when you get to know him. He' been taking care of my horses since I've been away and pregnant."

"If you're sure," He said, almost amused by the situation. I rolled my eyes and said, "On with the tour, and then I have to start our salads for lunch."