The next few days Clint and I tried to establish a routine again. Pops was finally able to come by and visit. His poor head almost fell off when we told him everything that happened, and he was fit to bursting when we told him we got married.

He was none too thrilled that he had been left out, but we did try to argue that we were on the run in a foreign country, so it wasn't like we could wait for him.

Beth stopped by and we had a long conversation about her and Sam and what his being on the run meant for them. Obviously, this was going to put a kink in their relationship, what with her boyfriend being a wanted fugitive and all.

Though, she still loved him. And he loved her. He had been able to get word to her after Steve broke him out of the Raft.

They were still going to try and make it work. How that was going to work-no one had any idea, but still, they were willing to try.

Sam briefly mentioned that he would come back and give himself up if that was what Beth wanted, but she quickly shot him down. She knew right now his place was by Steve's side. And besides, she would hate to have to see Sam separated from his best friend, be forced to sign the Accords and be Ross's puppet.

I still had a job-thankfully-but I was on thin ice. Jude pushed for me as much as he could but everyone now looked at me like I was an escaped criminal. Though some coworkers did privately express to me that they were on Cap's side and said what I had done was brave.

Obviously, Diana wasn't one of those people. Shocker. But somehow I managed to push through.

It seemed like things were beginning to get back to normal…until one day Clint came home and told me I had ten minutes to pack a bag.

"What where are we going now?" Asking him in bewilderment with a tiny bit of fear.

Clint smiled and said, "Wakanda."

The minute we touched down in Wakanda I could understand why Clint explained to me the country had always kept a low profile, not wanting its resources to be tapped out by colonizing powers. Being a historian, I understood that very well.

But God the country was gorgeously beautiful.

I could see why the team fled here after the Raft. That and it was nice of T'Challa to let them come. Clint had told me that after T'Challa had really learned from Zemo that he was responsible for his father's death and that what we had been saying all along-that none of this had been Bucky's fault-he granted everyone on the team asylum in Wakanda. Scott had declined however and turned himself over to Ross and the FBI because I learned he had a little girl, so he took the same deal Clint had, in order to be with his daughter.

Clint had also explained to me that by taking a quinjet and going to see our now fugitive friends in a different country we would be coping with a lot of shit from Ross and Tony, but we also figured there wasn't much they could do to us-or the team.

Not that I really cared about the consequences. When we touched down in Wakanda all I wanted to do was see the friends who had become my family. That mattered more.

Steve was waiting for us when we landed and walked off the quinjet and I ran over and wrapped him up in a big hug.

"Are you okay?" Asking him as I pulled back and studied him.

He let out a chuckle, "I'm okay Dot."

Steve and Clint hugged before Steve walked us inside.

"How's Bucky?" I asked him.

"He's okay." Steve said slowly, "They're actually going to put him back on the ice today."

"What? Why?" Questioning with panic.

"T'Challa thinks that with the help of his team, they can break the control Hydra has over Bucky's mind," Steve explained to us.

"Will it work?" Clint inquired.

Steve shrugged his shoulders, "There is a good chance. But Buck doesn't want me-us getting our hopes up."

"I know it will work." Confidently saying as I reached over and squeezed his arm. Desperately did I want them to have a chance at a real future together. God knows they both deserved it.

We walked into the lab and were greeted by T'Challa, "Mr. Barton, Miss Laurens, it is good to see you both again under calmer circumstances." There was a faint smile on his lips.

"Or should I say, Mrs. Barton? I hear congratulations are in order." He smirked at us and I felt a blush creep onto my cheeks.

"Thank you, your highness." I timidly replied, getting shy all of a sudden.

"Please do not stand on formalities with me. Not after we have debated the works of Sinclair Lewis." He charmed another smile to me and I blushed again like an idiot, "Call me T'Challa."

"Only if you call me Dorothy, or Dot, or Dottie." Smiling as rambled my signature line at him.

"It is a deal." He nodded.

There was a loud cough from the woman next to him.

"My apologizes, please allow me to introduce my sister, Shuri." T'Challa gestured to the woman next to him.

"It's a pleasure." Clint and I both shook her hand.

"Shuri is confident that she can help clear all of Hydra from Buck's mind," Steve said.

"Not confident Captain, I am certain." She beamed at us.

"You really think you can break the control over him for good?" I asked trying not to let the hope creep into my voice.

"It won't be easy, but I know I can do it. We are very advanced here." She grinned as she waved around at the lab. It was definitely way more high-tech than anything I had seen from the compound.

"Yes, my sister is very talented when she wants to be." T'Challa joked.

The door opened and a familiar face appeared.

"I thought I would find you guys here," Nat smirked as she took us in.

Clint and I made our way to her and briefly, very briefly hugged her.

"Love the blonde." Grinning at her short new hair.

"Well, the red hair was a bit of a giveaway." She joked, "Not good when you're a fugitive."

Clint snorted and patted her back.

"There they are!" Sam's voice boomed into the air and I never thought I would miss that noise but I did.

"Sam!" I exclaimed as I ran over and jumped into his arms.

"Good to see you, Dottie." Sam hugged me tight.

"Good to see you too. Beth sends her love." Smiling at him as he put me down.

"Yes, my girl is coming next week. It's all arranged." He chuckled, "We're really committed to making the long-distance thing work."

"Good." Answering with a comforting side hug.

"Where is Wanda?" Inquiring to the group.

There was a pause.

"What?" Asking as I immediately picked up on it.

"She's resting." Steve said, "The time on the Raft wore her out and she's still getting her strength back."

"She demanded I come and bring you to her when you got here." Sam joked.

"Yes, please I want to see her."

Turning back to Clint I said, "I'll let you two catch up." Nodding between him and Nat.

With a grateful look, he kissed my cheek before I went off with Sam.

Seeing Wanda was rough, but she kept telling me not to worry, and that she was already starting to feel better. And to demonstrate her point she levitated some things in her room before I scolded her to stop and rest.

With a sparkle in her eyes, she joked that I was acting like a total mom. It was so good to see that sparkle again.

"Not a mom, just an overly concerned older sister." I said as I kissed the top of her head before tucking her back into bed, "Rest." I ordered, "I will be back later."

She gave me a sleepy smile before I slipped out of her room.

Not knowing where I was going, I took my time walking around the compound. Or was it a palace since it was a royal residence?

Whatever it was it was beautiful but modern, but you could see the African aesthetics of T'Challa's heritage come through.

The home had a soul and I liked that.

I don't know how long I wandered around before I found myself on an outside balcony overlooking the Wakandan landscape.

I was alone for some time before I heard a voice behind me.

"How are you liking the view?" T'Challa asked as he stood next to me.

"It's breathtaking." Shaking my head at it all, "I haven't seen any place like it before."

It was wild and untamed. A rare thing in the world today.

"I can see why you want to protect it. As a historian, I fully understand the rough, nonexistent relationship between colonizers and the countries they've conquered."

T'Challa barked out a laugh as he rested his hands on the balcony railing, "See I knew there was a reason I enjoyed your company, Dorothy."

"That will fade quickly I promise." Quipping out with a smile of my own.

We both were quiet for some time, lost in our own thoughts as we took in the beauty before us until I spoke.

"Thank you for letting them come here. For granting them asylum."

"It was the least I could do after all that had happened. I wish I had listened to you all sooner but I let my rage consume me." T'Challa shook his head in frustration at himself.

"It's hard to focus on anything when one experiences the loss of a loved one." I softly spoke, "I am so sorry about your father." Expressing the sympathies, I had not conveyed to him yet. Through all this, I had almost forgotten that T'Challa had lost his father and had been thrust into the role of King a hell of a lot sooner than he expected.

"From the way you speak, it sounds as if you have experience in this type of pain." T'Challa gently questioned.

I nodded, "My mother." I spoke, "I was thirteen. She was in a car accident, I was in the car with her." Biting my lip, "I know what it's like to see your parent vanish before your eyes. We were trying to get away from the abusive human garbage who calls himself my father."

"I am deeply sorry for your loss." He sincerely told me.

"Some advice." I said as I felt tears welling up in my eyes, "It never gets better. It just gets more manageable, but you will get to a point where it doesn't feel like you are completely drowning." Speaking to him as wiped away a few escaped tears.

"I feel like I have not been able to take a full, deep breath since it happened," T'Challa confessed to me.

"That sounds about right." Letting out a morbid laugh, "I remember that feeling well. Sometimes it still happens. I will be going through my day and boom-it will just pop up out of nowhere."

"And you haven't lost your mind yet?" He asked me.

I let out another laugh, "Oh now that part is debatable." Giving him a half grin, "But no, I don't think so, though I have come close a few times more than I wish to acknowledge."

I didn't know if we were friends enough for this, but I reached over and squeezed T'Challa's arm, "If you ever need anything I am always here to talk. Trust me, keeping your grief bottled in will do more harm than good in the end."

"Thank you, Dorothy. I am grateful for your kindness." T'Challa gave me a sincere smile. Giving his arm one more squeeze I let my hand drop before I turned my attention back to the landscape. I had assumed the time for sad conversations had passed.

"You know I would love to get married here," I said out loud as I took in the scenery.

T'Challa gave me a quizzical look "But you're already married."

"Yes." I laughed, "But we had a whole ceremony at the botanical gardens planned with a reception. I have my dress, Clint still has his suit. Everything was basically set in stone before Lagos happened." Heaving out a small sigh.

"Don't get me wrong. I love Clint and I wouldn't change being married to him for anything in the world, but getting married in a small church in Germany while on the run from like every government agency was not how I pictured my wedding day." Instantly I began to chuckle at the craziness of it all.

"Wanda had tried to reassure me that Clint and I could have another ceremony at a later date but that doesn't seem likely now. Not when most of my family are now wanted fugitives. It's not like they can come back to the States just for a new ceremony and reception."

T'Challa was quiet for a moment before speaking, "You never know. Stranger things have happened."I snorted at his response, though he wasn't wrong, "That they have."

I wanted to say hi to Bucky before Shuri put him back under. Steve gave me a few minutes to see him. When I went into the lab where he was preparing to go back on the ice I almost had to stop myself from gaping when I saw him.

His metal arm was gone. I mean I knew it would be gone, but seeing him without was just a total trip.

"Hey." I softly said as I entered the room.

"Hey Dot." Bucky gave me a small smile in return.

"How are you feeling?" Asking him as I took a seat on a rolling stool to sit across from him.

"I'm doing alright all things considered." He graced me with a half-smirk.

"Are you nervous?"

"Terrified." He let out a breath, "I'm just not sure this will work."

"Well, Shuri is pretty damn sure it will work so I would have some faith," I said attempting to cheer him up.

"And just think of all the wonderful things that could happen if it does work."

"Like what?" He inquired.

"Like Steve." My smile slowly bloomed.

He was struck silent. I saw a nervousness come over him.

"Don't worry. No one else knows. I mean I only know because I sort of eavesdropped on you two when we were in the warehouse in Germany." Sheepishly spilling my guts.

"I just don't see anything changing," Bucky replied with a defeated tone.

"And whys that?" I gently questioned him.

"Because I'm-he-we're too different. I'm not the same person I was back in 1944."

"Well, neither is Steve." I reasoned with him, "James he really, really cares about you. He opposed 117 nations to keep you safe that's how much he cares about you! Now that's dedication!" Giving out a giggle as I tried to lighten the mood which worked to an extent-I did get a chuckle out of him.

"You two could finally be together, you guys literally have a once and million chance again at happiness. Please, please don't waste it. Or I swear to God I will come after the both of you myself." Seriously telling him.

Bucky snorted, "I am absolutely sure you would do it too."

"Damn straight." Nodding with a serious face, "Just…you both have lived such long, weird, messed up lives. Please don't deny each other happiness you both have been wanting for literally decades."

"I'm not saying that you need to slip a ring on his finger right now." I impishly said and felt some satisfaction that I could make the dreaded Winter Soldier blush like a schoolgirl, "But you won't know anything until you both give it a shot and try."

Bucky was silent for a moment before I saw some happiness play into his eyes, "Try, huh?" He smirked at me.

"Yeah, try." I grinned at him, "And if anyone gives you problems send them my way and I will kick their asses. You're not getting rid of me that easily."

Bucky just shook his head and let out another laugh, "Steve told me you were a good one."

"Well, Steve is a great judge of character. I mean he's never given up on you so." Trailing off with a smile.

"Yeah, yeah he hasn't," Bucky replied as he tried to hide a new blush popping up on his cheeks.

"So how long do you think he'll be under?" Asking Steve as we took a late-night stroll through the palace gardens, my arm tucked into his. Bucky had been put back into his frozen state a few hours before and I was trying to keep Steve occupied.

"Shuri isn't sure. She needs to get a better picture of what Hydra did to his brain first." He replied quietly as he looked down to the ground.

"Hey," Stopping us in our walk so he would look at me. When Steve looked up at me I said, "He will come back. One day soon and then for you guys, maybe it will be magic." My lips turned to form a gentle smile.

"Magic huh?" Steve blushed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Only if you guys let it be." Gently reminding him, "I did have a small chat with Bucky before he went under about all the wonderful things that could happen if this were to work. The first and foremost item being you and him together-finally."

Even though it was close to midnight I could tell Steve's blush was growing.

"All I am saying for you both is to please not kill this dream before it has had a chance to bloom." Speaking to him as I guided us to begin our walk again.

"What if it doesn't work?" Steve questioned in a dejected tone.

"But what if it does?" I spoke back in optimism, "What if it's everything the both of you ever could have wanted."

"You have to give things a chance Steve. That is exactly what Beth told me before Clint and I started getting serious, and look at me now." Letting out a laugh.

"Even with all the past craziness from the last few weeks?" Steve questioned with raised eyebrows.

"I wouldn't change anything." Firmly telling him, "I love my life, my husband, the new family I have created, the confidence I have gained, the love I have felt. No, I wouldn't change it for anything even despite what happened. Everyone is safe-in the end that's all that matters, and who knows? Maybe one day things might go back to some form of normalcy." Smirking at him. It was doubtful, but not impossible.

"Yeah, we'll see how that goes." Steve snorted in sarcasm.

"So any plans on what's next for you guys?" Asking him I changed the subject.

"Nat, Sam, Wanda, and I are going to go back out. Still, save the world where we can on the down low. Do the things the Accords wouldn't let us do. Help the people that really need it." He replied.

Of course, they were going back to work.

"How silly of me to think you might take a break." Shaking my head at him.

"You know us Dot we need to keep busy or else we'll go nuts," Steve smirked.

"Just be sure to be careful. We don't need Ross sinking his hooks into all of you a second time."

"We know Mom." Steve joked and I smacked his arm in a playful jest.

"I resent that." Joking back at him, "Someone has to watch over all you crazy kids."

"What will you do?" Steve asked me.

I shrugged my shoulders, "Continue on and live our lives as normally as we can for the moment. I'll go to work, see Pops, and hang out with Beth. Clint will work on the house, and we'll hopefully avoid Tony." Grinning at that last part.

Steve shook his head with a laugh, "Good luck on that last part. Especially after you and Clint get back from this little trip."

"Oh yes, he and Ross are going to be thrilled." My grin transformed into an evil smile.

"But I do plan to make a new friend." I casually said.

Steve eyed my expression, "What friend?"

"Shuri says she can help me track him down. I believe he's from your neck of the woods. New York City."

Steve stopped me. A serious look on his face.

"Dot. What are you planning?" He asked me.

"Like I said. I'm going to make a new friend." Giving him a causal smile and a wink.

It took me longer than I would have liked to get back up to NYC. Clint and I experienced some obvious blowback when we returned from Wakanada. Tony and Ross were less than thrilled at our little impromptu trip so now, in a new fresh layer of hell-Clint and I were being forced into mandatory visits to the compound two weekends out of every month.

Tony said in the standard line that it was for our safety and to try to attempt to rebuild relationships. But everyone knew this was just to keep an eye on me and Clint.

The plan of us avoiding Tony was not going great.

Clint and I were scheduled to go up there this weekend. Which in turn gave me a great opening of how I could get into NYC before the mandatory visit.

Feigning some work meeting in the city I fibbed to everyone, except Clint, that I was going to the city a day on Thursday and would just spend the night in the hotel before Clint came on Friday to get me and we would drive to the compound together.

Thankfully, Tony did not question it. Because he would have been pissed off if he were to find out where I was really going.

Shuri had given me all the information I needed. It was actually super easy for her to track him down and learn his schedule. She didn't even question why I was looking to track someone down-she just wanted to help snoop and break some rules.

I appreciated that.

With my information in hand that's how I came to be standing in front of the Midtown School of Science and Technology on a random Thursday afternoon a minute before the end of the day bell rang.

When the shrill bell went off signaling the end of the school day I stood outside of the high school doors off to the side as I watched kids pour from the building. My eyes scanned their faces, hoping not to miss him. Shuri had assured me, that he had no activities after school today.

After a few minutes, when most of the students had already left did he finally come out of the building, thankfully he was by himself.

"Peter!" Raising my voice to call out to him.

He raised his head from his phone and looked around to see who had called him. I watched his eyes scan the area and knew he had seen me when I saw his eyes widen comically. He obviously remembered me. Which was good, because if he didn't then this would have been so awkward.

Not that stalking a fifteen-year-old isn't awkward to begin with.

With a huge grin on my face, I walked over to him and stuck out my hand for a handshake, "Nice to formally meet you, Peter Parker."