The Curse of Dr. Zola

Epilogue

SHIELD mopped up the last of the HYDRA base. They arrested those who were still there and rescued a female prisoner from a cell. She had bruises on her and was found naked. They kindly gave her a blanket to wrap around her, as they had no clothes. She was told she would be looked after and cared for. She nodded her head, a scared expression on her face. Her red hair was a tangled mess, and she started to cry. "They….they kept me in there…There was this man and he….he….did awful things…." She burst into tears.

Two female SHIELD members walked her to the jet and reassured her that she was safe now. "What's your name?"

"My name is…."

Steve, Bucky and Mary returned home. Agent 13, Kate, escorted them. She was going to stay 24/7 for about a month, just to make sure Mary was okay and have a female presence, in case she needed someone to talk to.

Steve's 2 bedroom cottage had been completed, but he spent most of his time at Mary and Bucky's house, and in the company of Kate.

Mary cried at the news about her older brother, and how he was targeted by HYDRA and killed. She couldn't understand why they felt so threatened that they had to kill a child. Bucky held her in a gentle embrace.

Together, they read more of Willa's journals. There were still unanswered questions even after they read them all. Tony promised that he would come up and look for hidden compartments. In different places more books would be found, but until then, they discussed all the mysteries and theories amongst themselves.

In the bedroom, Mary's teddy bear sat and kept a silent vigil, as he waited for the next child to love him and keep her company, the next child to whom he was "real". He had been loved by three generations so far, and patiently waited for the next little girl. His fur was a little threadbare, his eyes were a little loose, but a loving child would never see these things, all she would see is a friend.

Inside the bear, hidden from view, tucked safely away, was a tiny chip of orange stone glowing softly, contentedly.

Kate accompanied the threesome to the Camp Shanks museum. She took photos of them posing in front of the directional sign, and in various other spots inside and outside of the museum. Mary insisted that Kate and Steve pose together. Bucky made faces at them to get them to laugh, but Mary knew better. She could feel something more than friendship blossoming.

It took a few rounds but Mary was finally able to pick out the house she lived in. They parked across the street and took a photo discreetly.

"You lived there in the basement Bucky."

"It feels strange to look at it when I can't remember it."

Mary kissed him. "Don't worry, you were always surrounded by love."

He smiled at her, and put a hand on her expanding belly. "I certainly am now."

Mary and Bucky talked it over and they decided that the most appropriate place to get married was where Bucky's long journey began – Camp Shanks. They got permission from the Fire Department to hold a small wedding ceremony behind the firehouse.

When word had gotten round about Bucky being Captain America's best friend, and after his Medal of Honor Ceremony, they agreed to host.

Back at Camp Shanks, the firehouse now stood roughly where the telephone communication building had stood back in the 1940's. Bucky and thousands of soldiers would have passed by here on a near daily basis.

The Fire Chief presented Bucky with an honorary membership, much to Bucky's embarrassment, but he accepted it with the grace he naturally came by.

Mary insisted Bucky wear his Army uniform. It had to be re-created for the ceremony and altered slightly to accommodate his metal arm, but it was completed in time.

Bucky had cut his hair back to make the look complete, but Mary whispered in his ear that she wanted him to grow it back out. "That's an order Sergeant!"

Bucky straightened up and gave her a salute that would make any military man proud. Steve hid a smile.

Mary was showing by now, so she opted out of the traditional white dress for a simple pink dress she sewed herself. It was a knee-length handkerchief hem dress of baby pink, with a lace over lay on the bottom half. The top half was a modest scoop neck with short sleeves. It was adorned with a random pattern of tiny pearls. She opted for pink ballet slippers.

Instead of a traditional veil, she hand-made a hair clip using pink birdcage netting to represent the veil part, and made a pearl and lace bow to center it. In the back, she put lace cupping to hold her hair up off her shoulders.

She had to make all this at Steve's house so Bucky wouldn't get nosy and see it ahead of time. It wasn't easy keeping him from nosing around either! But luckily, Steve was up to the task.

On the day of the wedding, Mary arrived early and dressed in a small tent set up for that purpose. Bucky had a small tent of his own on the opposite side of the wedding awning.

All the Avengers arrived and milled around drinking non-alcoholic drinks. Mary insisted against "adult beverages" being served during the ceremony. At the nearby reception being held a scant half mile away at a local hotel, guests would have the option to purchase drinks and stay overnight.

Steve opted to wear his Army uniform in his role as Best Man.

Mary didn't have any close female friends to fill the role as Maid of Honor, so she chose Kate. It seemed fitting as Steve would be walking together with her anyway.

Mary dismissed the traditional role of having someone "give her away." Instead, she asked her mother's oldest friend and attorney to act as escort. The old man accepted graciously. Mary swore she saw tears in his eyes at the honor.

There a few attending that were not in the Avengers circle; retired Detective Collins, who had returned her teddy bear, among others.

They decided on a Justice of the Peace as their officiant, who called the attendees to be seated. He spoke a few words while Steve escorted Bucky to the front of the tent and left to escort the attorney to Mary's tent.

He offered Kate his arm, and she took it to walk down between the two sections of chairs. Kate stood to one side and Steve took his place next to Bucky. "You remembered the ring, right?"

Bucky patted his pockets frantically until Steve pulled the ring out of his pocket. Steve turned beet red trying not to laugh at Bucky's panicked search. Bucky cuffed him on the back of his head. "Jerk."

Steve smiled. "Punk."

They all watched for the tent flap to move, and when it did, all of the guests rose.

Mary trembled the whole way down the short aisle; pink carnations in her left hand and a tissue in the right to catch tears of nervousness and joy.

Bucky had opted to wear a black fingerless glove on his metal hand, and unbeknownst to Bucky, Mary adorned her left hand with a pink fingerless glove.

They completed the short walk, and Willa's old friend gave Mary a short bow, before he let go.

Bucky extended his left hand to her, and she accepted, wiggling her left fingers to catch his eye. He looked on in surprise and chuckled to himself.

They decided on a simple and brief ceremony, with an equally simple exchange of vows.

Since Bucky couldn't wear a ring on his left hand, Mary surprised him by tugging at his dog tag chain and securing his ring onto it. Then it was his turn.

Bucky struggled to remove her glove, and she giggled at his dilemma. "Couldn't make it easy for me, could you?" Her giggle turned into a laugh, and those in attendance began to chuckle in response. Bucky turned red with embarrassment.

As he was about to put her ring on her finger, the firehouse whistle blared. Mary cracked up laughing. Then Steve started to laugh. Everyone followed suit til the whole place was roaring with laughter.

They had to wait until the trucks left to continue, and Mary composed herself.

Finally, with the ring on, they were declared husband and wife.

"You may kiss the bride, Sergeant, and that's an order."

Bucky sharply saluted the man. "Yes, sir!"

Bucky brushed Mary's veil up, gently took her in his arms and kissed her sweetly. Everyone rose from their seats and applauded. Bucky and Mary made their way to the car that would transport them to the reception down the road.

Across the street, sitting in a stolen car, sat Shawn Murphy. He couldn't recall her name, but he recognized the blond bride, and remembered a small blond haired boy, so full of energy. He remembered the trusting look on his tiny face, even as he snapped his neck. "I'm so sorry, little one, I'm so very sorry." He whispered to no one as a single tear rolled down his cheek.

The End