Archive of Our Own ^beta

The world is in chaos.    

Even five years after the return, there are fires to extinguish all over the world and the Avengers are, mostly, nonexistent.  Those that are still around live in other places, but keep an apartment at the Compound for emergencies. The only permanent resident of the Compound is Commander Steve Rogers. He’s spent most of his time overseeing training and the construction of the new structures, but even he isn’t sure who would answer if they sounded an Avengers alarm. They don’t keep a roster anymore; it seems pointless to put names on a list when he can’t be sure if they want to be part of the team.  

There are those that he knows he can count on, but those he can count on one hand. Sam, Captain America, will always come when called on. Thor, who returned to Earth with his daughter, lives in Georgetown, teaching a new course in Asgardian Culture. He has an apartment that he shares with his daughter, Love, and seems content. Scott and Hope have let Steve know that he can call anytime, no matter the circumstances, and they’ll help. Beyond that, there’s just Shuri, who is still dealing with the fallout from the war in Wakanda.  

The Compound is rebuilt, mostly, but not many people call it home or even homebase.  Pepper has filled it with trusted people, some former SHIELD agents, some just there to run the day-to-day operations.  According to the CEO of Stark Industries, “the heroes will always need a place to gather, and that space will be provided just as my husband wanted.”  Steve thinks it shows character that even though avenging killed her husband, she’s still wanting to help those that Tony cared about.  It can’t be easy though and that’s why he and the others stay out of her way and haven’t reached out to drag her into everyday workings.  

He’s also aware that they keep Tony’s satellites and drones around the planet because he was never one to do things halfway. Because of his forethought, they are able to surveille the planet without hacking into anyone else’s tech. Nothing up there, by any government, is anything like what Tony created. Steve is thankful for the man’s vision, even when they fought about it before Thanos.  

Steve thinks it’s a sad state of affairs because this was Tony’s vision and he’s gone.  Natasha ran things during the five years of the blip, and she’s gone too.  Clint doesn’t want to do any of this anymore because of the loss he suffered during that time: both his family and himself.  And Vision and Wanda are...gone.  All that Steve has been able to glean, from Strange, is that she’s probably not coming back.  He never used the word ‘dead,’ but Steve’s pretty sure that’s what he meant. It all fills him with sadness and he’s not sure it’s ever going away. There are days, in the quiet of his apartment, that he feels he isn’t really needed anymore. But if he’s not doing this, he has nothing.  

The only one he’s in semi-regular contact with is Shuri.  As the new Black Panther, they keep her in the loop.  He still has a hard time believing that T’Challa is gone too.  He doesn’t understand how Wakanda couldn’t cure whatever took him.  As advanced as they are, even they can’t stop certain realities. Then, Ramonda, the Queen Mother, was killed.  It’s all too much to think about sometimes and Steve’s tired of dealing with loss and never feeling that he’s done something good. There’s so much guilt over things he can’t change.    

He knows that Shuri took on the mantle, of Blank Panther, because she had to protect her country.  He also knows that she disappeared after M’Baku became king.  Wherever she went, when she first disappeared, she’s not talking about it, only saying that it’s personal. She supports M’Baku’s rule, never wanting it herself, but needed time away to process and grieve.  Steve knows that she, somehow, ended up in a little European country that keeps to itself, much like Wakanda.  She doesn’t volunteer information on that, and Steve doesn’t ask. It isn’t his place to know her business.  

All of that is bad enough, but the thing that gets under Steve’s skin most is Rhodey.  Sam came back from a DC trip, after the new President was elected, and told Steve to stop sending reports to Rhodey.  When questioned, Sam simply stated that he’s not sure Rhodey is seeing what’s best for the Avengers or enhanced individuals.  Sitting at his computer that night, Steve started an email to ask Rhodey what was going on, but, in the end, trusted Sam and deleted what he’d written.  Because of that, Steve doesn’t feel that they have any support in Washington anymore.  They probably never had any, but he doesn’t like to think that way.  

They do work closely with Wakanda’s new outreach program.  M’Baku, didn’t like the idea of outsiders being part of it, at first, but Shuri made him understand that their country could help without giving away what is rightfully theirs.  They use their advanced technology and medicine to help where they can, but their borders have stayed closed to anyone that’s not Wakandan.  She did also remind the new king that those wanting to help weren’t really outsiders, since they stood with Wakanda when Thanos came. Steve understands and does what he can from the outside when Shuri calls for assistance.  She’s not the same person he remembers from all those years ago.  She still smiles, but there’s a cloud over her now that wasn’t there before. Thanos caused many people to grow up in ways that wasn’t fair.  

Steve’s standing in the command center with Sam and Thor.  Thor’s daughter is on the training field with a few of the agents and they’re playing a game of ‘catch me if you can.’  But Steve’s attention is on the information coming in from Europe.  “Any idea who the invading force is?”  

Steve looks over his shoulder, shaking his head at Sam. “Everything, from uniforms to tanks, are scrubbed of identifying markings.  At least that’s what it seems like.”  

“Do they wish our help?”  Steve looks back at the screen, watching the invasion.  Right now, the best they can do is satellite images because the European nation of Elisia has closed borders to outsiders. When the satellites picked up the invasion, outside the borders, the Compound got an alert.  They’re on standby right now, just in case they’re asked to come and help. The United Nations doesn’t get in the way if the Avengers are invited somewhere, but if a situation comes up, that needs the team, they will sometimes reach out to Commander Rogers and ask that they go help.  

“Thor, we sent word, but they say they don’t need our help.” Thor nods and Steve can see it in the reflection of the screen.  With Love, Thor doesn’t seem to want to go into a useless fight, unless it’s needed.  

The door opens and one of the agents comes in, carrying Love, who’s grinning.  “Daddy, they didn’t catch me!”  She giggles and Thor takes her from the agents, kissing her cheek.  

“I am very proud of you.  Did you have fun?”  She nods and Steve can’t help smiling and shaking his head.  Thor has a daughter and for someone so big and booming, he’s so gentle with her.  He even got up this morning and found that Thor had cooked breakfast.  He’s apparently become quite good at making pancakes, Love’s favorite.  

Turning, Steve crosses his arms over his chest.  “I want us to be ready, just in case they put a call out for help. They’re a farming nation. I don’t know if they understand the trouble, they’re in.” He gets nods from the other two, who leave the command center.  Looking over at the communications agent, Steve adds, “Put a call into Shuri and make sure she knows what’s going on.  We might need her help.”  That gets a nod. Steve goes back to watching.   

For a week the small principality of Elisia has been under attack.  It’s no bigger than Wakanda, probably smaller, but they’ve never crumbled under an invasion attempt.  Of course, the last invasion attempt was nearly four decades ago, and weapons have advanced in recent years. He knows nothing about the country, just that it has very strict border laws and no one has ever been able to bring back any intel on their tech, not that some haven’t tried.  Steve thinks that’s what this is.  Without solid intelligence, outsiders sometimes make assumptions, and since everyone came back five years ago, some countries have become more aggressive.  There have been rumors that Elisia is like Wakanda, without the vibranium.  There are a few pictures from Steve’s war, when the country did give aid to allied soldiers.  

Those pictures show a place out of a fairy story.  If there is tech there, it’s well hidden. According to those allied soldiers, the people are kind and giving, and the, then, Crown Prince, Edgar Barnes, came to spend time with them, assuring them they were safe.  Words like magical were used.  Since then, Edgar passed away, and was replaced by his son, George, who also passed in an unfortunate riding mishap.  The principality is now under the rule of Crowned Prince James, of the House of Barnes, who leads his army against an unnamed invader.  

It isn’t the first time the country has been invaded, but none of the invasions ever succeed.  Steve would like to know why.  For this tiny country to defeat every invasion, they must have some kind of security or weapons unknown to him.  Over the last week, since the world became aware the invasion was going to happen, and in the days since it started, there have been videos of Prince James, in uniform, leading his troops against the enemy forces. Steve can’t put his finger on what it is, but the prince seems to be waiting for something. He’s careful and calculating in everything that’s happened, from what Steve can tell from the images, but he’s not engaging like Steve would in this situation.  

The problem is, none of the videos are clear, they’re grainy and taken from too far away to get a good look at anyone, other than their uniforms.  So, Steve had the agents, in the command center, use Tony’s satellites to see what’s happening, after gaining permission from Happy at Stark Industries.  The Compound has been given access to the Stark drones, too, that will help if this becomes an Avenger situation. Tony’s still helping, even from beyond the grave.  

The surprising thing is that they haven’t heard from Washington.  Steve feels that they should have, at least, been contacted, but that didn’t happen. Everything about this invasion seems off, but Steve can’t put his finger on why. He’s always trusted his gut and right now it’s saying there’s too many things that don’t add up. Elisia is doing what any country would do: defending itself, but his country, which always jumps in to help others when they can, is silent.  

Steve had one of the agents on duty check and the leaked videos were being transmitted from inside the tiny nation.  They don’t know who is sending them out, but it seems to be someone attached to the Elisian Army.  Without much information, Steve is sure they aren’t aware that someone is leaking anything to the outside world.  Or maybe they do and it’s a quiet call for help, but Steve thinks it’s a warning. There’s a reason why they aren’t asking for help and Steve is willing to bet it has something to do with whatever weapons they have.  

He wants to know what Elisia is hiding.  

It’s not that Steve wants to go fight, they’ve been all over the world, putting out fires, with the approval from the UN, when necessary, but he also doesn’t want this little country to be so arrogant that they don’t call for help if they need it.  He looks over at the other agents.  “Call me immediately if anything changes.”  He gets a nod and leaves the command center.  

“General, do we have the schematics on those tanks, yet?”  Prince James is on a hill, overlooking the armies, both his and the enemy. So far, the enemy army seems to be trying to judge how much resistance they’re going to get from the Elisian people. For the first week, Prince James stayed with his troops, but once the Elisian tactical spies provided certain information on the invaders, James decided it was time to take his position as sniper. He hasn’t moved in three days and doesn’t plan on going anywhere until this is over.  He’s camouflaged and unless someone knows exactly where he is, they’ll never find him.  Being a sniper is what he’s good at, so he stays put.    

When the invaders came over the border, and the alarm sounded, Prince James made sure he was with his troops.  It isn’t the first invasion of his country, but he hopes that it will be the last, once the videos are leaked. The videos that DEXTER put out were to show the invasion and the initial response of the principality’s troops. He’s sure that whoever this is, they didn’t think there would be much resistance and that’s why they sent such a small unit.  Elisia is known as a farming country, which is true, but what they have hidden in and around the country, for generations, will be a definite surprise.  

Prince James hasn’t called for the security field because he doesn’t want to give away more than they have to until they know if there is more to this invasion than what they’re seeing.  The general understood the order, but asked the prince to consider it if more show themselves. With that agreement, James took up his weapons and headed out with his army. They aren’t large, but they don’t have to be.  His father saw a minor invasion, early in his reign. It was small enough that it didn’t even make the newspapers. It was a devastating loss, not because they couldn’t defend themselves, but because his mother was lost in that incursion.   

He’s only allowed one foreigner into the kingdom, since he took the crown, and that’s only because they share something special.  Loss brings people together and when a person is in a position of power, there aren’t many people that can understand.  James understands all too well the loss of the most important person and for his friend, she understands it twofold. Being royal means being lonely in ways that others can’t comprehend. Since Bucky does, he invited her. Keeping the borders closed is just how they’ve always done things.  Only on very specific occasions have they let foreigners in and those were important to keep the allies alive.  

“Your Highness, we just got them.  Don’t ask how, you don’t want to know.”  Prince James laughs, knowing that means DEXTER hacked something back at the command center in the palace.  

“Transmit to me.”  The goggles that James is wearing display the information he needs.  “Switching out rifles.” Now that he knows what he’s firing on, James knows what he needs to use.  With the help of his family's legacy, James can take out the tanks, the armored vehicles and supply trucks.  He won’t fire on the soldiers, not with this weapon.    

This could have been a much quicker battle if certain government agencies hadn’t changed their security software.  James can’t do his job without information and before the blip, hacking any government hadn’t been a problem, but everyone has been on high alert since the return, five years ago.  

It would also help if the U.S. would stop selling tanks and weapons to anyone with enough money. The only other option is that this is the U.S. invading and James truly hopes that isn’t the case. “Copy that, Your Highness.”  

Laying his MK11 down, James slides it away and repositions with the Protectorate.  It’s his own creation with the ammunition needed to end this and send these guys packing.  “Firing on tank one.”  Using the schematics from his goggles, he shoots into the tank where he knows the driver is located, taking out the guidance system.  The tank comes to an abrupt stop.  James fires again, taking out the gunner’s radar, then Prince James fires into the commander’s chair, and the loader’s arsenal.  He does the same with the other three tanks. Waiting until the men crawl out of the tanks, then he fires into each one, blowing it.  Once done with the biggest threats, he starts on the trucks carrying supplies and soldiers.  “General, have the units secure the prisoners. Remember, take them alive, we need to know who this is.”  As much as he doesn’t like to kill, he has a responsibility to his people and country.  Sitting the gun to the side, he waits, knowing the ammunition will return to him within a few seconds.  He pats the gun, that used to be a sword many, many years ago and before that, an ax. Now, it’s morphed into the thing that James uses to keep his people safe.  

“Copy that, Your Highness.”  Those that still try to fight, are wounded, those that surrender, are taken into custody.    

James sits up on the hill, still in his ghillie suit.  He doesn’t like killing people, but he’s also going to protect this special place in one of the only ways that he can.  Like generations before him, Elisia is his birthright, and no one is going to come in and take away what they’ve built here.  He can’t have anyone finding out just how special this place is. All the way back to its beginning, even before the gift was given to his ancestors, it was special.  

He just sits and watches as the enemy soldiers' march into the city.  They never got further than the outlying villages, where they were met with farmers willing to shoot to kill to protect the principality.  James loves his country more than anything else.  He just wishes that people would stop trying to invade every few decades or so.    

The big question is, who did this?  

The soldiers will be taken care of until their return to their own country can be negotiated.  The fact that they came in unmarked means whoever this is, it’s going to get messy.  Getting up, James heads down to the truck.  It will be good to go home and sleep in his own bed, but first, he’ll have to debrief the troops, the commanders, and finally, the council.  Once that’s done, he’s going to shower and then sit in a bath until he feels human again.  Maybe he’ll sit in a bath and eat his weight in food that isn’t out of a package.  Their rations are good, but nothing like a homecooked meal.  

Once back in the city and the debrief is done, Prince James talks with the general.  “Any idea where they’re from?”  

“None of them are talking.”  The general looks over at the prisoners.  “Did they really think it would take so few of them?”  The biggest misconception, about Elisia, is that it has no real army.  The other misconception is that they’re always passive.  The Elisian army is one of the most highly trained, with the most advanced weapons, like the one that James uses. Each weapon is forged by the prince himself. Each soldier in his army knows that Prince James is always with them, both in person and in the weapons they carry to defend the honor of a prince that cares so deeply about them.  

Snorting a laugh, James follows his line of sight.  “They obviously think we’re a backward country with no defense.”  He doesn’t like that they came in unmarked.  It makes him think that it’s someone he thought they could trust, not that Bucky trusts many world governments right now.  “Find one of the younger soldiers, give him a hot meal and see if he’ll talk.”  Heading back to his house, James puts the weapon away in the secure vault.  It’s been in his family for too many generations to count and is always kept within arm's reach of the Crowned Prince.  The connection he has to the Protectorate is different from the weapons he forges for his soldiers. This one was the first weapon, starting as an ax, then into a sword, and now a rifle.  

The following week, the soldiers are still being housed in the barracks prison unit, and Prince James is overseeing the clean-up from the battle.  He’s angry now because the invading army is a country, they thought they could trust.  The soldiers are talking, at least some of them, and what the council is finding out is the invading army was following orders.  He’s sitting with his advisory council, listening to the President of the United States laud them for their perseverance and determination.  He wants to throw something at the screen, but refrains from doing so.  

Looking around at all the angry faces, James knows they have a problem.  “We’re going to have to address this.”  There are nods around the room.  “Carol, do we have the video of the prisoners' confessions?”  

“Of course.  They’ve been filed in DEXTER.”  Nodding, the prince taps the table. When the door opens, James smiles.    

“DEX, I want you to organize the confessions from the enemy soldiers into a short video.  No more than four minutes, including their name, rank and confession of affiliation.”  The android smirks and the room fills with sniggers.  When James designed DEXTER, he never imagined the android would end up evolving into such a snarky son-of-a-bitch.  He should have seen it coming though.  

“Sir, I assume you want this to be damning evidence against the invading country.”  

“I do, indeed, my friend.”  DEXTER leaves the room, shutting the door behind him.  “Now, we have to be ready for the fallout from this.”  

Carol looks over, giving her own smirk.  “It’s not like we need them for our economy or protection.  They crossed a line, and it can’t go unanswered.”  

“Damn right it can’t.”  The prince gets up, heading out the door.  The people in the room stand.  As he makes his way to the kitchen, James changes directions and heads to the hospital wing.  There may be a better way to handle his anger than eating.  He needs to process what he’s thinking, so he’s going to take some time in the pediatric wing.  

When he was crowned, His Royal Highness, Prince James, gave up the palace to the city school and the hospital.  The center complex is still used for diplomatic needs, but the west wing is the hospital, and the east wing is the school.  Bucky lives in a small cottage on the property, near the stables.  He never thought he’d have to take the crown so young, but then he didn’t expect to lose his father as suddenly as he did.  They may be technologically ahead of the rest of the world, and they may have the most cutting-edge medical facility, but when the Crowned Prince falls from his horse, breaking his neck, there isn’t much anyone can do.  Shaking his head, Bucky knows that he needs to sit with the kids in the pediatric ward for a few hours.  Hanging out with them, painting or reading, always makes him feel better.  

As he’s taking the stairs up, the bead on his wrist chirps.  Smiling, he waves a hand over it, looking into the smiling face of his friend.  “Shuri, it’s good to see you.”  

“I was suited up and ready to help you defend your country, my friend, but it seems I was not needed.”    

“No, we did fine.”  He stops, sitting on the stairs.  He’s tired and angry.  

“Did you discover the identity of the invading country?”  

Giving a heavy sigh, Bucky looks at his friend.  She can see that it’s bad.  “Yeah, we did.  We still have the soldiers here, and after being treated for injuries and getting food into them that wasn’t from 1975 MRE’s, some of them started talking.”  He looks into her face, wondering what she’ll say to this.  “It was the U.S.”  

There’s silence, then her brain starts putting together the issue.  “You believe this is the new president’s doing.”  

“I do and I think he’s bitten off more than he can chew.  He’s looking for a stronghold in Europe and thought we could be taken easily.”  Dragging his hand down his face, Bucky sighs again.  

“What will you do with the prisoners?”  

Huffing a laugh, Bucky shakes his head.  “Right now, I have no plans.  I need to see how far this goes.  I need to know who knew about this.”  

She smirks at him, and he sees that she has an idea. Whether he likes the idea or not is yet to be seen.  “I think I know how to handle this.  If you are willing to trust me.”  Giving a nod, she lays out the plan.  

It’s been nearly two months since the invasion in Elisia and Steve’s heard nothing about it.  There’s been speculation from all over the world, but nothing concrete has come out of the little principality.  He’s headed into New York, to the United Nations General Assembly, with very vague instructions.  Sam is with him, but neither of them have been able to find out why they’re being summoned. They usually don’t hear from the UN unless their help has been requested in an Avengers level threat and those orders always come directly to the Compound.  Steve doesn’t like doing the bidding for the UN, but since the return, it’s the only thing that keeps everyone informed.  All international threats go through the new security council, housed at the UN, so it’s a necessary evil. Steve, with the help of Sam and Happy, approved the new security council after the fiasco of the last one being part Hydra.  

“I swear, if Ross is trying to revive the Accords, I’m moving to New Zealand.”  Steve snorts and Sam grins at him.  Since the war with Thanos, the Accords were thrown out because no one could have done what the Avengers did that day.  The world seems to understand that putting a leash on them is not the best idea.  

“Then you can be Captain New Zealand.”  Sam barks with laughter, shoving at Steve’s shoulder.  

“Doesn’t have the same ring to it.”  They’re ushered into the council chamber and are surprised to see Shuri waiting for them.  “Shuri?”  

She gives Sam a fist bump and hugs Steve.  “You are about to get the chance of a lifetime.  I suggest you brush up on your manners.”  She’s looking at Steve, but they’re both confused, when Shuri turns back to the council.   

“Princess Shuri,” she waves off the title because it isn’t hers any longer, “you asked for this audience and requested that Commander Rogers and Captain Wilson be present.  We would all like to know what this is about.”  The woman speaking seems curious and at her words, the council nods.  

“I come to you today on behalf of a friend, one that is in a difficult situation and wishes the help of Commander Rogers, in his capacity as an Avenger.”  There’s whispering amongst the participants.  

“Who is this friend?”  

“His Royal Highness, Crowned Prince James of Elisia.”  Steve and Sam are stunned, and the assembly loses their collective shit.  Shuri explains that after the invasion, information was gained from the prisoners, that is disturbing, and Prince James will only speak with Steve.  She goes on to say that since Elisia is small and prefers to keep to themselves, like Wakanda, the prince only trusts Steve because he has proven himself to be honest and not political through his dealings with Wakanda.  If Steve agrees to this, he will leave the following day and be welcomed into Elisia by the prince, where everything will be explained further.  She turns, locking eyes with Steve.  “I’m asking that Commander Rogers be allowed to make this journey in keeping with the bylaws of the Wakandan Outreach Program he is a part of and as an advisor to this council.” She can see that the council is intrigued, and Steve is confused.   

Steve and Sam, along with Thor, signed an agreement to be Wakanda’s eyes and ears when people are in need. It’s Shuri’s way of keeping them in the loop when things could go very wrong in unprotected places.  The UN has no governance over Wakanda and the outreach program they created. Elisia, like Wakanda, helps when it’s needed, but for the most part keeps to themselves. The UN has invited them to join, on numerous occasions, but are refused each time.  

Permission for him to travel under the Wakandan flag is given and as they retreat from the chamber, Steve leans over, whispering to Shuri.  “Are you going to tell us what this is really about?”  

They stop outside the building. She looks up at the flags.  “No, I will leave that to Bucky or as you will refer to him, Prince James.” She hugs Steve again.  “But I will tell you that you and Sam are the only ones that will be allowed to see the information gathered.  You in Elisia and Sam, here at the Compound.”  

Once he’s on his way, aboard Shuri’s jet, Steve needs answers.  He’ll wait to see how this connects to the invasion, but he needs to get some background.  “Shuri, you’re going to have to give me something.”  

She sets the autopilot and turns in her seat.  “I will tell you what I can, but...”  

Steve waves his hand.  “I get that, but we don’t know anything about this country or the prince.  I’d like to have a little more information before we get there.  And I’d like to understand why me and why Sam.” Shuri presses the panel to connect to Sam at the Compound, so he’ll hear this information as well.  

“I was not lying to the assembly, Steven.  He asked for you because you and Sam are not political in the decisions you make.”  Sam comes on the screen in enough time to hear her last words.  “You do not decide where to go and who to defend based on your political leanings.”  

“Okay, gotcha.”  She grins and motions for Steve to sit. She waves her hand over the screen and a picture comes up of Shuri with a very attractive man. Steve just stares at him for a few seconds because the satellite images told him nothing about this man and the leaked video was too grainy to see him clearly.   

He’s striking.  

“I will tell you a story and from that, you will hopefully understand my friend a little better.”  Turning, she checks the navigation, then turns back to Steve.  Sam just listens because he needs the intel as well. “Eons ago, as you know, a meteor struck Wakanda, embedding vibranium into the earth. It permeates everything in Wakanda.”  He gives hesitant nods, not knowing where she’s going with this. “Well, almost as long ago the small area that is Elisia was struck by something as well. When the people realized how special these countries were, they were nothing more than tribes of people, governed by one chief. He was a good man, but what struck Elisia was like nothing I’ve ever seen before. In the same way that vibranium guides and protects Wakanda, this mineral did the same for Elisia. With a difference.” She’s admitting that she’s seen whatever this is and isn’t sure how she feels about sharing this information.  Looking down at the floor, Shuri scuffs her foot and Steve knows she’s weighing everything she’s saying. “For many generations they could do nothing with this resource, and it wasn’t discovered until later that the amount of heat needed to mold it was intense. The people of Elisia, such as they were then, saw the mineral as holy and refused to get too close. Then the chief, went to investigate, touching the mineral for the first time.”  

Sam has to ask.  “What are we talking about, Shuri?”  

Shuri pulls her mouth into a thin line. “What we are talking about, Sam, is a mineral that must be melted at such a high temperature that humans did not have the ability, at the time and also a mineral that is bound to that chief. He was the only one brave enough to touch it.” Steve nods for her to continue. He’s heard crazy stories since WWII, and this isn’t even the craziest. “They built their village around it, to protect it from invaders because the chief knew that it was important and would someday be useful.”  

“He sounds like a wise man.”  Steve leans forward, resting his forearms on his thighs.  

“He was the first in a long line of Barnes chiefs.” Steve sees the connection now. “It wasn’t until many, many generations later that it was found to be connected to the Barnes clan. Only they are permitted to touch the mineral and forge it. Call it an Elisian tradition.” Before they can question her, Shuri raises her hands to stop them. “They do not know why or how, but I believe it came from outside the nine realms.”  

“So, you’re saying that something outside what we know to exist, brought it here for Elisia to use?” Shuri nods.  

“I have no proof of that, but it is what I believe. Forging it into weapons took trial and error and only after that were they able to forge something useful. The Barnes clan has overseen Elisia all the way back to that original chief because only the Barnes clan is allowed to forge it and control it.  The weapon has changed forms many times and is currently a weapon that Prince James can use with effectiveness to protect his country.”  There’s something that she’s not saying, and Steve knows it. She looks at him. “All I can tell you is the Barnes clan was chosen to lead Elisia and it’s a position they take seriously. As to the why, no one knows, and by protection, I mean that if Prince James is defending his country, his gun, forged from the mineral is more deadly than most.”  Steve and Sam lock eyes and they both know what this sounds like. This sounds like magic and Steve’s experience with magic hasn’t always been good, but he does have a respect for it.  

“That’s why it took out the tanks.”  Shuri nods and Steve indicates for her to continue. They may not have been able to see everything in the satellite images, but they could plainly see the tanks being shot through.  

“As the generations passed, the Barnes family has served Elisia as the royal family, but they do not act royal.  It was always understood that they are the caretakers of Elisia.”  Steve gives a soft smile to Shuri.  

“Like the Black Panther.”  She nods.  “So, Prince James can be traced back to that chief.”  

“Yes, and he is a good man that has been put into a difficult situation, which I will let him tell you about.”    

“How do you know him?”  With that question, Shuri turns back to pilot the jet.  Sam knows he’s said something wrong, but he doesn’t know what.  

“When I took on the mantle of Black Panther, I was not ready to face the demons that haunted me.  I traveled for a time, to find my way.”  There’s a sigh.  “I received a lovely note from Prince James, inviting me to travel to his country.  I knew, like most of the world, that he does not offer his country to just anyone, so I went.”  She turns again.  “He is a good man.”  

Prince James makes his way to the landing pad, with DEXTER keeping stride with him.  “Sir, you seem nervous.”  

He’s been wringing his hands and knows that DEXTER is observant enough to pick up on it.  “I suppose I’m nervous about inviting a stranger into our home.”  He looks over to see DEX processing that.  “Is his room ready?”  

“It is, sir.  I prepared Ms. Shuri’s regular suite and Commander Rogers will be using the extra room.  I do not know if she will stay, but in case, it has been done.”  

“Good, that’s good.” Bucky hears the jet before he sees it, but notices that DEXTER is tracking it. As it touches down, Bucky takes a deep breath.  It’s not that he’s unsure of his intensions, but it does mean trusting outsiders and he’s not completely comfortable with that.  As the ramp starts to lower, he looks at his friend.  “Here we go.”  

Shuri comes off the back of the jet running into his arms.  Catching her, he spins her around, laughing.  “Bucky!”  She’s giggling like he hasn’t heard in a long time.  When T’Challa died, and he reached out, offering his home to her, it was the beginning of a great friendship.  They had both lost someone dear to them and he simply wanted the Princess of Wakanda to know that she wasn’t alone.  It became a meeting of minds and hearts that Bucky wasn’t prepared for.  He’d never had a sibling, but Shuri became that almost immediately.  

He looks over her shoulder and sees Steve Rogers, former Captain America, mouth “Bucky.”  He just watches for a few seconds and Bucky can tell that Commander Rogers is happy to see their close friendship.  There’s something soft in his eyes, but also a little sad.  Bucky suspects he understands Shuri’s loss, which makes sense, considering everything he lost, coming out of the ice, and since the mess with Thanos.  “How are you?  It’s been months since you’ve come to see me.”  

She turns, keeping an arm around his waist, and grins at the man watching.  “Black Panther has been busy in the countries surrounding Wakanda.”  She waves Steve over.  “Commander Rogers,” She winks at him because she’s never actually calls him that in any other situation, “may I present His Royal Highness, Crowned Prince James of the House of Barnes.”  There’s a throat cleared behind her and she turns to DEXTER.  “Oh, how could I forget?  This is DEXTER, personal assistant to Prince James.”  

Steve doesn’t know the protocol for this particular introduction.  Offering his hand, Steve hopes it’s not an affront to Prince James’s station.  “Your Highness, it’s a pleasure to meet you and, please, call me Steve.”  

With a grin, realizing that Steve Rogers is struggling with protocol, Bucky takes the hand.  “The pleasure is mine, Comm...Steve.  Please call me Bucky.”  There’s a look of surprise, but a nod.  DEXTER clears his throat again.  “And my...assistant is trying to tell me that we should move this inside where we can discuss why you’re here.”  Steve doesn’t miss the pause at DEXTER’s station and makes a mental note to ask Shuri about that later.  

DEXTER leads the way to the palace.  As they enter, Steve notices the guards, giving Shuri a side glance with small smiles. That indicates that she’s familiar enough in Elisia to have developed relationships with others, besides the prince.  The guards bow to the prince, and he pats the men on the shoulders.  There’s a familiarity there, not just duty.  The palace is exactly what anyone would expect.  It’s brilliantly decorated with high ceilings and the colors of the Elisian flag, with paintings of past rulers, a mosaic on the floor that seems to tell the story of Elisia and a mural on the ceiling. Steve pauses, taking in everything he’s seeing.  DEXTER leads them through hallways, past impeccably designed rooms, finally opening the door to what seems to be a boardroom.  “Welcome to the council room, Commander.  I will let the kitchen staff know to deliver lunch here.”  With that, DEXTER is gone, leaving the three staring at each other.  

Steve is staring at the prince because the picture that Shuri showed on the jet doesn’t do the man justice. He’s muscled with a chiseled jaw and brilliant, intelligent eyes. Bucky seems to be examining him as well, but Steve has no idea that Prince James is taking in everything that he’s learned about. Instead of Bucky thinking that Steve looks like Captain America or even a soldier, Bucky’s struck by how kind his eyes are, how full his lips are, and the length of his eyelashes would make most women weep. It’s definitely having an impact on Bucky.  

“He’s a straight to business kinda guy.”  Steve looks at the door, then back to Bucky.    

Bucky chuckles. “Yeah, DEX can be that way in new situations.  He’s feeling he way through this, like I am.”  Steve really wants to know why he gets a strange feeling from the assistant, something familiar, but also not anything he’s come across before.  Bucky sees that Steve is trying to work out what’s different about DEXTER.  “It might help you to know that DEXTER is an android.”  

Steve’s head whips around, shocked.  “An android?”  

“Yeah, he started as an AI when I was a teenager and as the years went on, I designed the android body for him.  My dad thought it was hilarious that I designed my own best friend.”  Bucky blushes, shoving his hands into his pockets.  He’s wearing jeans, which should have been the first indication that he isn’t what Steve expected.    

Shuri watches Steve, knowing that he’s making personal connections to a difficult situation.  “He’s...he’s like JARVIS.” When they lost JARVIS during the Ultron mess, Steve didn’t think he would miss the AI as much as he did. Vision was great, but JARVIS was a warm presence and not having him around was a blow. And it’s another reminder of everything Steve’s lost. Sighing, Steve stares down at the floor, knowing that they understand loss, but might not understand why Steve feels that way about an AI.  

Bucky doesn’t know what that means, but Shuri pats Steve on the shoulder, squeezing gently.  “Are you well, Steven?”  

Steve swallows, hard, and bobs his head.  “Yeah, yeah, I’m good.”  Looking up, he sees that Bucky doesn’t get the connection.  “I’m sorry, Your Highness, but one of my friends, that isn’t with us anymore, had someone similar in his life.  I apologize.”  

Stepping over, Bucky examines this man, realizing just how well Steve can understand loss.  “No apology is necessary, and I should remind you that I asked you to call me Bucky.”  

“Yes sir, but that’s going to be hard, considering who you are in this country.”  Shuri giggles and Bucky grins.  “I’ll do my best though.”  

“That’s all anyone can ask, isn’t it, Steve?  We all want to do our best and hope that people know, when we fail, that it wasn’t for lack of trying.”  It’s so insightful and, for Steve, the way he’s always lived his life, so it has meaning this man doesn’t know.  “Now, why don’t we sit, and I’ll explain why Shuri and I went to all this trouble.”  

“I’m Private First Class Patrick Harris.  Number 10403863.  I’m originally from St. Louis, Missouri, currently stationed at Fort Myer in Virginia.  Three units were dispatched to Elisia to take control of the country.  We were to establish a stronghold in the country to give the United States a solid presence in Europe.  It was rumored these orders came directly from the President, but I can’t be sure of that.”  

They’ve been watching all the recordings of the prisoners still being held.  Each one, saying much the same as the previous.  Steve’s sitting at the end of the table, hand over his mouth, disbelief on his face.  Not that he doesn’t believe what he’s hearing, but that the president would do something like this. He’s going to pass the list of names he’s heard over to Sam and have him run background. When the last of the recordings are done, he looks over at Shuri.  He can’t bring himself to look at the Crowned Prince of Elisia yet.  “This is an act of war.”  Steve needs to talk to Sam, but wants to get the lay of the land before conferring with him.  

Bucky speaks up about everything he’s been thinking for months.  “He sees us as weak because we have no presence on the world stage.  He believes that we can be easily conquered and give him what he wants, which, in my opinion, is a position for further invasion.  I understand that the world is in chaos right now, even though it should be more settled five years after the return, but invading countries isn’t the way to establish normalcy.”  

Getting up, Steve goes to the window, looking out at a beautiful country that’s more than it seems, if he’s to believe Shuri’s story.  Shuri watches him, like she did ten years ago, when he planned from her country, with the help and advice of her brother.  “We didn’t know.”  He turns back to Bucky.  “If we had...”  

Bucky raises his hand to stop the words.  “Why do you think I asked you here?  I know you and the Avengers, what there is of them, didn’t know.  I need your counsel, Steve.  I asked you here because I don’t know this man that leads your country.  I don’t know how to make it clear that he’s caused a war-defining moment for his...your country.  Your military can’t win against us.”  

Based on what Steve’s learned from Shuri, and what he feels being here, there’s something that isn’t being offered, something that’s still hidden.  This invasion may have come from Ross’s desk, but it could impact an already chaotic world.  “He’s let his need for control and domination lead him down a path that he’s not really prepared for.”  

“You see why I asked the greatest tactical mind alive to aid in my approach.”  Steve sees that this man, this prince, is just trying to protect his country, and those around him, to subvert a war that this world can’t withstand.  

“I’m going to talk to the prisoners.  I need to know just how involved Ross is and what they understood about the orders.”  He looks back at Bucky.  “I trust you, but I’m asking you to trust me.  Can you do that?”  

“If I didn’t trust you, to some extent, you wouldn’t be here.” The glance at Shuri tells Steve that the trust is in her, not him. He’s determined to prove himself to this man. If the feeling that Steve gets about this place is genuine and there is something being withheld, then he has his work cut out for himself because he wants Prince James to trust him too.  

“Colonel McElroy, you understand why I’m asking these questions.” The man sitting across the table, nods, but doesn’t volunteer anything else.  Steve’s been trying to get to the root of the orders.  There has to be something more than just invading a country. Ross had a bigger plan, Steve’s sure of that. The man doesn’t do anything without an end goal. Invading Elisia was the first step to something grander. The one thing that Steve’s learned about the man is he sees an opening and barrels through it without considering that he doesn’t have all the information.  

When Steve walked into the prison barracks, he was first surprised at how nice the place is.  He came in during lunch and found Bucky’s military treating the enemy soldiers better than most prisoners of war would be.  Each cell is comfortable, almost homey, and the civilians serving lunch are agreeable and chatting with the men.  There’s even laughter, which is definitely different.  If this is how Bucky treats prisoners, then he’s a better man than Steve thought at first.  

“Listen, Colonel, I understand there’s a chain of command and also, need to know, but you’ve gotten yourself and your men into a situation you can’t get out of.  There’s been no negotiations going on, no one is coming for you, so unless you want your men to sit behind bars for the rest of their lives, you need to start talking to me.  If these orders came from where I think they came from, he isn’t going to help you.  He’s out there making speeches and lauding Elisia for its defeat of an enemy army.  He’s not going to acknowledge you or take responsibility for this.”  Steve looks out through the window and thinks about the reaction when he first walked in.  

There was a consensus that Commander Rogers was here to bring them home.  He didn’t want to dash those beliefs until after they talked to the commander.  The Colonel sits across from him, not shedding any light on his current situation, and seems to be, almost, arrogant in his body language.  “You’re here to get us home, so stop trying to get information you don’t have clearance for.”  

Steve sees the opening he needs and the colonel’s position.  Sitting back in his chair, he takes on the attitude of someone a few steps ahead, and in truth, Steve is exactly that.  “Well, Colonel, I’m not here to get you and your men home.” He watches the new emotions cross the Colonel’s face. “Sorry to disappoint you, sir, but I’ve been invited as guest of Crowned Prince James, who wants answers. I’m not going to get you out of here and create an even more difficult international incident. Colonel, if you did this on your own, you just started a war.  If you didn’t do this on your own, and were just following orders, then whoever gave those orders just started a war.”  Steve lets that sink in.  “And by the looks of the satellite images, it’s a war that you’re going to lose.”  

Knowing that the colonel needs to process that, Steve gets up and leaves the interrogation room. Shuri is waiting outside to walk back with him. “What do you think he is going to do?”   

“If he’s smart, he’ll give up where the orders came from, or he’ll be court marshalled.”  Shuri nods.  

“He may be anyway.”  

As they return to the palace, they notice the prince, followed by DEXTER heading away from the opulent building.  It’s gotten dark and Steve looks up, staring at the stars.  Steve puts a call into Sam on a secure channel. “What did you find?”  He heads in the door that Shuri just entered, following her up the stairs and into their shared suite.  

Steve has a lot to process about this situation, so venting it to Sam will help.  “Nothing.  The colonel isn’t talking and thinks I’m here to bring them home.”  

Shuri’s silent for a beat.  “You will not do this?”  

Steve turns, finding her now on the sofa in their suite, biting the inside of his cheek.  “No, I’m not going to break them out and take them home.  That would go against the trust that Prince James has put in us.”  

Sam thinks about what Steve’s sharing.  Steve goes to the window, watching the prince talking to a few guards. “Hey, where is the prince going this late?”  

Shuri smiles.  “Prince James doesn’t live in the palace.  It is for diplomatic events.  When he was crowned, after his father died, he turned it over to organizations that could use it and moved into a house closer to the stables.”  

Sam starts to chuckle.  “This guy isn’t what I expected.  You said he was a good man, but he’s a prince, whose family probably built that place, but he doesn’t live in it because others, in his country, can get better use out of it?”  

“There are many things about him that I can’t share, but yes, he turned the west wing over to the hospital and the east wing over to the school.  He feels strongly that the palace is better served this way, as are his people.”  She’s watching how they react and is stunned by Steve.  

He doesn’t have a chance to cover the awe he feels, so he does the only thing he can think to do.  “I’m going to go for a walk.  I need to figure some things out.”  Leaving the communications open, he’s gone before either of them can say anything.  He hears Sam still talking to Shuri as the door closes.  

Steve checks in with the guards at the main entrance to make sure walking around the palace grounds is okay.  They assure him that he has free rein to go where he pleases.  With that, Steve starts walking.  There’s no way to cover up what happened here.  President Ross has made a mess and Steve is sure that he and his minions are trying to figure out a way to spin this if the information comes out.  Most likely he’ll throw the colonel and the soldiers under the bus and claim he knew nothing about all of this. Hell, the man has probably already picked out the fall guy for all this back in the states. Ross is going to do everything, in his power, to make sure he comes out of it spotless. And Steve is going to make sure the correct information gets out.   

He feels no allegiance to a man that put the team at odds.  In a way, Steve blames Ross for the death of Tony and Natasha.  Logically, he knows that’s not the case, but emotionally, he believes that if the team hadn’t been at odds over the Accords, they would have been together when Thanos came.  Now, five years after the return, Steve is left with a world in chaos and Ross isn’t helping by sending unmarked units into a country that seems to be as special as Wakanda.  

There’s a feeling in the air that Steve can’t place. It’s like he’s felt it before, but the memory is just out of reach, which isn’t possible with Steve’s eidetic memory. The allied soldiers from his war were right, there’s something magical here and Steve wants to know more. He is just a guest though, so asking those questions isn’t something he should be considering.  

He’s not sure how long he’s been walking and isn’t sure where he is, when he looks up and sees the stables.  Shoving his hands into his pockets, Steve heads towards the building.  When he steps inside, he isn’t expecting to see Prince James at one of the stalls.  Trying to remove himself, so not to disturb the prince, Steve starts to backtrack.  “You don’t have to leave.”  Steve looks up and Bucky is smiling.  “I come here when I need to think.  Maybe I should do less thinking and more talking.”  The soft emphasis of the vowel sounds, when he talks, tells Steve that English isn’t the prince’s first language.  He noticed it earlier.  

“I don’t want to bother you.  I just needed to think too.”  Bucky nods and motions Steve over.  

“You aren’t bothering me.”  When Steve joins Bucky at the stall, he looks where the prince is indicating.  “She’s my favorite.”  The horse in the stall is like nothing Steve’s ever seen.  He’d swear that she’s glowing.  “She was a gift.  They’re called Akhal-Teke from Turkmenistan.”  Steve can’t identify the color of this horse because of the glowing effect under the stable lights.  She has an almost golden shimmer to her coat.  

Steve’s awed by so many things he’s learned since coming here.  He watches as the horse nuzzles Bucky’s hand, taking the apple delicately from his palm.  “I’ve never seen anything like her.”  

“Not many people have.  Most people have never even heard of them. They’re believed to be the oldest breed of horse.”  Rubbing her forehead, Bucky looks over at Steve.  “What has you out walking so late?”  

Turning, Steve sighs.  “I don’t think there’s a way to make all this okay, for anyone.  The president of my country sent an invading force into your country.  There’s no way to spin that, politically, that will make it okay.”  

Bucky chuckles.  “You aren’t one to try and spin things politically, Steve.  That’s why I asked you here.”  

“True, I don’t.  In fact, I hate politics.”  They laugh together.  “I’m just...”  

Steve doesn’t continue, so Bucky asks, “Just what, Steve?”  

There’s something about the way the man says Steve’s name.  No one, since his mother, has said his name in that soft tone.  “I don’t want to protect my country from this.  It was wrong and if not for the...weapons...you have, it could have been much worse.  This place feels special, like Wakanda always did.”  

The smile he gets from Bucky is brilliant.  That’s the first time Steve sees past the prince and into the man behind the title.  That's a sobering thought because Steve’s been fighting for years to get people to see behind the shield.  Even now that he doesn’t carry it, people still see it.  “Shuri told me that she let you into my country’s secret.  I only use what was given to my family when I have to.  It was only a lump of mineral when my great-great-great-great-grandfather forged it into an ax. Then a few generations later, it was changed into a sword. Then, I changed it into a gun because I am a sniper. I only use it when I must.”  He turns fully to face Steve.  “I will do whatever it takes to protect my people.  You have been doing the same your whole life, but sometimes, we can’t protect those that go against what’s right.”  

The horse nudges towards Steve, who reaches out, petting under her head.  “I can’t protect someone that doesn’t appreciate what I’m trying to do.  Ross has never appreciated anything the Avenger tried to do.  He only saw us as tools.  He got himself into this mess and he’ll have to figure his own way out.”  

Bucky doesn’t speak and Steve looks from the horse to the prince.  Bucky’s staring off, not on anything fixed, just staring blankly.  “I don’t think that anyone has really put much thought into what the Avengers do.  Everyone focuses on what you do and not what you’ve survived.”  Turning, Bucky looks at Steve and for the first time, since Sam, Steve feels like someone actually sees him.  “I’m sorry about the loss of your friends.  It can’t be easy to always feel like you’re losing something or someone.”  

Steve wants to ask, but he doesn’t because for some, it’s deeply personal.  “It can’t be easy having the entire world think you’re one thing when you’re something different.”  

“My country has always been underestimated because we don’t allow outsiders in.” Steve thinks about the stories he heard during the war.  

“You let the allied soldiers in.” Bucky looks over, huffing a laugh.  

“Yes, but that was my grandfather’s doing, not mine.” The smile that lingers is shy and Steve knows this man is something special.  

“Now, I think you’re just deflecting.  I saw the prison barracks.  That’s not something a tyrant does.  That’s something a good man does.”  Turning away, Bucky heads to the stable door.  

“With that, I think I should get some sleep.  I promised the kids I’d come visit them in the hospital tomorrow.”  Steve watches him walk away and knows he’s embarrassed the prince.  He didn’t mean to, but as much as Steve doesn’t like taking compliments, the prince seems just as adverse.  

Instead of sleeping, Steve stays up the rest of the night, thinking about the encounter with Prince James.  He heads out in the morning to run, taking the path indicated by the guards.  When he gets back, Bucky is sitting with Shuri, having breakfast.  They’re talking about the technology of Elisia, mostly things that Steve doesn’t really understand.  Shuri and Bucky are in their own world.  Pouring a cup of coffee, Steve sits, filling his plate.  

Steve doesn’t talk, just listens.  He starts eating when Shuri looks over.  He notices that Bucky doesn’t look over and suspects the conversation last night is still lingering with him too.  “You are quiet this morning, Steven.”  

“I see no reason to enter a conversation that I don’t understand.” Shuri laughs and Prince James smirks.  “From what I can gather, Elisia has better tech than most, but not as good as Wakanda.”  Bucky glares at him. Steve raises his hands.  “I’m only relaying what I understood from the discussion.”  

Shuri grins.  “It is true, but you cannot expect to have better tech than me because you don’t have access to what I have access to.”  She grins at her friend, causing Bucky to huff. The sibling rivalry is evident, but Steve wonders if there’s something Bucky isn’t saying.   

“I’d say Elisia is doing pretty well in the tech department.” Steve smiles over the edge of his cup at the defensive posture Bucky is taking, even with an established friendship.    

Giving a half shrug, Steve can’t help defending the man that he could see becoming a friend.  “Wakanda doesn’t have a DEXTER.”  

Shuri gives an offended squawk.  “How dare you, Steven!  There will be no more shields for you.”  She’s giving a mock glare, and everyone chuckles.  

“I don’t carry a shield anymore,” He looks over at Bucky, “But Sam is definitely screwed.”  The table breaks down into a fit of laughter.  Bucky’s eyes linger on Steve and the super soldier doesn’t miss it, even if he doesn’t acknowledge it. He’s embarrassed this man enough and won’t add to that.  

When they finally settle down, Bucky does ask, “What are your next steps?”  

Steve wipes his mouth.  “I’m going to contact the president.  He’s going to have to take responsibility for this.”  

“I asked you here for advice, I didn’t expect you to take it quite so personally.”  When Steve responds, everyone at the table understands what he’s saying.  

“You feel strongly about the protection of your country, the same way I felt about mine.”  Steve locks eyes with Shuri at the use of past tense.  “There are still good people in this world, and I believe you’re one of them.  I’m not sure what I believe about the people in charge of my country.”  Without another word, Steve gets up to go shower.  

Bucky stares at his plate for a few minutes, until Shuri clears her throat.  When Bucky looks up, Shuri is sitting with a sad, dejected look.  “He lost a lot in those five years.  Those of us that were gone,” Shuri gives a deep swallow at the memory of disappearing, “we do not understand the toll it took on those left behind.  Oh, we have had people tell us, but we cannot really know what it was like to have half of everything disappear.  Steve saw it as a failure and even more so because, from what I understand, while other countries were working together, the US closed itself off and the one percenters circled the wagons, forgetting about those that needed help.”  Shuri stares at the door to Steve’s room.  “He became disillusioned with what his country stands for.  Now, five years back and things are not any better with their current leadership.”  

“A country is only as good as its leaders.  Perhaps Commander Rogers should think about running for president.”  Shuri bursts with laughter.  

“He would not do well at that job.  He would tell the right-wing conservatives to go...” Shuri stops her words, thinking it’s not a good idea to say what she’s thinking.  

“And perhaps telling the right-wing conservatives to fuck off is exactly what his country needs.”  They fall into hysterical laughter again.  

Before Steve contacts the president, he decides he needs physical proof.  They have the confession, but that’s not the same as having hard evidence that supports what the soldiers are saying.  Going to the warehouse where the tanks and trucks are being kept, he starts taking things apart.  The warehouse is in an odd place, at the base of a mountain. The building on top of the mountain looks like a mansion. Steve doesn’t ask and the guard doesn’t volunteer anything.  

Steve notices immediately that serial numbers have been removed, either through filing them down, burning them away, or bolted plates not where they should be.  He does find several secure laptops.  

He’s inside one of the tanks, physically taking things apart.  If he can find just one number, he can trace where everything came from.  “You’re good, Ross, but you have to have left something behind, you arrogant ass.”  

“Sir, might I inquire what you hope to accomplish with this?”  

Steve climbs partway out of the tank and looks down at DEXTER.  He’s not sure when the android showed up, but he might be able to help.  “DEXTER, can you access the laptops?”  

Looking over at the table, the android considers the request and considering the damage done to the computers.  “Are you giving me permission to access them, Commander?”  

“I am.”  Nodding, DEXTER goes to the table, sitting down and pulling the hardware to him.  “I’m also trying to find a serial number on this equipment, so I can trace where they came from.”  

“It seems a good place to start.”  Steve leaves DEXTER to the job and goes back to what he was doing.  

DEXTER works on the computers and listens to Commander Rogers talk to himself inside the tank.  He was unclear and unsure of the initial invitation of strangers into Elisia, but he must admit that Commander Rogers is thorough.  The council realizes that an accusation, without solid evidence, will be discounted and excuses made.  Commander Rogers seems determined to make sure that anything his country is accused of will stick.    

They gather everything they can, then DEXTER excuses himself to continue his duties.  When he returns, he finds Prince James combing over the new designs for the medical wing.  Looking up, Bucky smiles at his friend.  “How did everything go at the warehouse?”  

“Commander Rogers is quite good at his job.”  There’s more that he wants to say and Bucky nods.  “I do wonder why he would work so diligently to prove that his country is in the wrong.”  

“I wondered that too.”  Getting up, Bucky pours a glass of wine, swirling it in the glass.  “I think it’s because he wants justice.”  He looks up at DEXTER.  “Real justice, not what everyone is calling justice, around the world, these days.”  

“You find the Commander pleasing.”  Bucky takes a sip, grinning.  

“I don’t know anyone in my position that wouldn’t find his determination pleasing.”    

Steve throws himself onto the sofa, in the common area of the suite.  Shuri is sitting, back to the window, reading.  Scrolling through the information gathered, Steve knows that he’s on the brink of getting what he needs.  There’s just one issue.  “Shuri?”  She looks up.  “I need to look up a few serial numbers and see what they match up with.”  

Jumping to her feet, she goes to get the tablet he’s working on.  “Where did you find them?  According to Bucky they couldn’t find any numbers that had not been removed in some way.”  

“I took the damned thing apart until I found one.”  Shuri giggles all the way back to her own system.  “Whoever did this, really didn’t want the information found.”  

Shuri’s fingers fly over the system.  “Whoever did this, did not think about what a stubborn shit you are, Commander.”  

Steve huffs, then laughs.  “Maybe don’t use shit and commander in the same sentence.”  

Shuri’s giggling as she works.  Steve watches her and wonders if he should keep his mouth shut, but can’t do that with someone that’s proven, over and over, to be a friend.  “Shuri?”  She doesn’t look away from her work, but hums a response.  “Are you doing, okay?”  

Her hands freeze.  Steve hasn’t asked since after the funeral and the attack on her country.  As much as she would like to ignore the question, she knows why he’s asking.  “You have become a good friend to me, Steven.”  Resting her hands in her lap, she looks up, through the screen.  “I have good days and I have bad days.  I should not have lost my brother the way I did, and my mother was a causality of war. Neither can be changed, no matter how much I want to.  My country is blessed with great ability, but even Wakanda cannot change death.”  

“How is M’Baku doing?” She grins again and Steve knows she’s being as honest as she always is.  

“He is finding that being king is not what he believed.  He seems to have a new respect for my brother and mother.”  Steve laughs.  “However, he is doing well and calls on me when he needs something.”  

“That’s good.  It took me a long time to learn to ask for help.”  Nodding she goes back to work.  “In fact, I would say that it wasn’t until the snap that I had to learn that skill.”  

“How are you doing, Steve?”  He’s lying on the sofa, pillow on his chest and arms wrapped around it.  

He sighs deeply, staring at the ceiling.  “I have good days and bad days.”  Shuri chuckles.  “Some days I think that everything is okay, then I’ll have a wave of grief come over me that I can’t pull myself out of.”  His next words have her hands freezing again.  “Sometimes I think that I need to disappear because I’m not really needed anymore.”  

Getting up, Shuri goes to the sofa, sitting on the edge, and taking Steve’s hand.  “You are needed.  When my brother died, you were the first to reach out, not as Captain America, but as Steve and a friend.  You let me know that I was not alone, and you would drop everything and come if I called.  We had closed our borders and outsiders were not permitted in, and I was angry at the time because I was convinced that somehow the blame was outside my country.  Then I turned that blame inward. I blamed myself for his death, I blamed myself for the loss of the Agapanthus, I blamed myself for the war that came for Wakanda.”  

“But none of that was your fault!”  Steve sits up, holding her hands tightly.  

“I know that now, but at the time, I needed someone to blame, and I chose myself.”  She clings to him, like she might have done T’Challa.  “In the same way that you blame yourself for everything that has happened, but, like me, none of it is your fault.”  

They end up lying on the sofa together.  Steve holds her and Shuri lets herself be weak for a little while.  Since her brother’s death, she feels like someone else understands besides Bucky.  It never occurred to her that someone, like Steve, could become an important part of her life.  Bucky was different because he’d suffered his own loss, close to her own, so that friendship developed out of shared grief.  Steve, she didn’t see as someone that could ever understand.  She should have known better considering how much T’Challa trusted him.  

Steve goes out again a few nights later, walking toward the stables.  He’s not sure why, but he wants to see the horse again.  He’s also hoping that the prince is there, so he can apologize for making Bucky uncomfortable.  Steve’s sent everything he found to Sam; with orders that it’s for Sam’s eyes only.  Once they’re all on the same page, Steve’s going to release the information.  

Once in the stable, Steve isn’t expecting to see DEXTER. If Steve hadn’t been told, he would never suspect that the android is anything other than human. “Commander Rogers, what brings you here this late?”  

“Oh, I was here a few nights ago and saw the prince’s horse.  I wanted to see her again.”  They walk over to the stall together and Steve reaches up, petting her head.  “She’s incredible.”  

“Indeed, she is quite wonderous.”  Pulling apple slices out of his pocket, Steve starts giving her the treats from the bag.  “I’m impressed, Commander.”  Steve looks over confused.  “She usually doesn’t let anyone pet her or feed her except His Highness.”  

“Then I feel blessed.”  Even though DEXTER is an android, Steve feels like he wants to say more.  

It takes several minutes and a few apple slices for the android to speak up.  “Commander, may I ask a question?”  

“Of course.”  The horse puts her head over the gate and lays it on Steve’s shoulder.  He chuckles, petting her again.  

“When you have completed your mission here, what will you do?  I, and Prince James, are concerned that you will be unsafe returning to your country.”  Looking over, Steve sees a look of curiosity on DEXTER’s face.  He’s so human in his reactions.  

“I thought of that too, but the Compound is the safest place in the U.S., so I’m not really concerned.”  That gets a thoughtful look.  

“You could remain here until you are sure of your safety.  Prince James has expressed a desire to make sure you are protected.”  Steve stops, wondering if this meeting wasn’t planned.  

“I...that’s very kind of Prince James.  I’m not sure, but I’ll give it some serious thought.”  DEXTER leaves with a nod and Steve keeps petting the horse.  He’s not sure what just happened.  

“Did you relay the message?”  DEXTER nods as Prince James moves around the kitchen.  He sent DEXTER to the stable when he was alerted that Commander Rogers was headed that way.  

“It was.”  Bucky looks over his shoulder at his oldest friend, who doesn’t seem to understand he wants more information.  

“And?” Rolling his eyes, he goes back to flipping the omelet.  

“Ah, he said that he would consider the offer, once this is all over.”  Nodding, Bucky doesn’t turn again.    

This whole thing was not supposed to be this way.  He was going to invite Steve here, get the answers and counsel he wanted, then everyone would go back to their lives. He didn’t expect to want to know Steve better.  He didn’t expect to like the man.  He surely didn’t expect to get a warm feeling in his stomach every time the man was around.  

DEXTER seems to have picked up on everything.  “Sir, am I reading this situation correctly and you wish...”  

Bucky turns, glaring at his friend.  “Yes, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t bring it up to anyone else. I just want to know him better.”  

“Sir, Bucky, you understand that he’s an outsider and the council will have something to say about this.”  

Frowning, Bucky starts eating.  “I didn’t say I wanted to marry the guy.  I just want to understand him better.”  

As DEXTER leaves through the back door, he mumbles.  “If you say so.”  Bucky throws a potholder at the android’s head.  

Bucky is sitting in the council chamber, waiting for the rest of the advisors.  DEXTER is at the door, watching as Bucky looks through everything that Steve put together.  Steve is standing by the window, looking out at this gorgeous landscape.  He and Shuri have been into the city a few times, greeted by friendly people and thatched-roof buildings.  It looks like something out of a fairy tale and Steve can’t believe it exists.  Unlike Birnin Zana, in Wakanda, Auralias isn’t high-tech until you look beyond the thatched-roofs and intricately carved doors.  

The language spoken here sounds like a strange combination between Russian, Dutch, and French.  Not knowing the history of this country, Steve thinks that he needs to do some research and understand the background of his new acquaintance.  “Steve, are you sure you’re ready to go down this path?”  

Turning, Steve looks grim.  “No, but we don’t have a choice.  Those men will have to go home at some point, and they can’t go back if they’re going to be accused of anything other than following orders.”  

“I’m with you.”  Nodding to Bucky, Steve turns back to stare out the window.  When the door opens and the rest of the advisory council comes in, they look between their prince and Commander Rogers.  The air in the room is heavy, leading them to the wrong conclusion.  

“So, is Commander Rogers going to take the prisoners and go?”  Carol wasn’t sure about bringing Rogers here, no matter how fair he seems in other instances, these are Americans they’re holding.  

Steve turns, scowl still in place.  “No, but I do have to accuse my president of breaking international law, so I’m not in the best frame of mind.”  

That shuts everyone up.  Bucky motions for everyone to sit.  “Steve has put together everything he has found since coming here and it is damning for his country.  As proud as we are to be Elisian, Steve has always been proud to be American.  Today, he must confront a man that gave the order to invade.  I would hope that you would all show him the same compassion that you would show one of our people.”  

There are nods when Carol gets up, going to the window.  “I apologize for my earlier remarks.  I was assuming something you would never do.”  

“I appreciate your words.  It doesn’t make it any less difficult.”  She goes back to sit.  

Bucky brings up the information on the screen above the table.  “Steve has the confessions and Colonel McElroy finally agreed to talk, so we have that.  The secure laptops contained the orders that came from the White House.  DEXTER was able to access them with Commander Rogers okay.  The serial numbers on the tanks had been filed off, but Steve was able to find other numbers on parts inside the burned-out tanks and trucks.  He would like the council to go over his speech before he broadcasts.”  

Over the next hours, they go through the evidence and the speech.  Minor changes are made, wording reorganized, then they give their consent.  As they leave the chamber, Steve gets handshakes and pats on the shoulder.  All of them meant to be comforting, yet they don’t help Steve’s frame of mind. They don’t understand his position, but they understand he is disillusioned.  Once the door clicks closed, Bucky stands next to Steve, looking at the floor.  “Steve, I can do this.  I can make these accusations.”  

“No, you can’t.  You and I both know that they have to come from me.”  He turns, and Bucky looks up into his eyes.  “You know it has to be me, otherwise he’ll just write it off as you fabricating information to make him look bad.”  

Bucky lips pull into a thin line, giving Steve a tight nod.  “I’m going to stay with you.”  

Steve takes the seat that Bucky vacated earlier.  Straightening the papers, Steve looks up at the screen.  There’s no way to be ready to do something like this, but he doesn’t have a choice.  Cutting his eyes over to DEXTER, he gives the nod.  The screen goes blank, then lights up and Steve knows that he’s live, all over the world. After thinking through everything and talking to Sam, Steve realized that he needed to go public and not directly to the president because the man would just cover it up and call it national security.  

‘Hello, I’m Commander Steven Rogers.  Months ago, like the rest of the world, the Avengers watched as the small principality of Elisia was attacked by an unknown force.  Through satellite images the world watched in horror as tanks, trucks, and soldiers crossed the border, infiltrating a small sovereign nation with the hopes of taking it over.’   

The door opens quietly, and Shuri comes in, going to Bucky and linking her fingers with his.  She gives a grim smile to Steve, and he continues.  

‘We also watched as Elisia fought back.  Like all true heroes, this small nation never bowed, never folded, never considered giving up.  The enemy was taken, and the tanks and trucks destroyed.  I came here at the request of His Royal Highness, Crowned Prince James of the House of Barnes because he knew something was amiss.  I came, not sure what to expect.  What I found was disheartening and eventually crushing.’ Steve looks down at the paper, then over to Bucky and Shuri.  ‘What I found is that the United States of America ordered this invasion.  What I found is that for all the encouraging words coming out of the White House, President Ross ordered this invasion to have a stronghold in Europe after the chaos of the blip.  I have always been a proud American, but today I am disillusioned with what being an American means.  The world that we have now is not perfect, far from it, but it is what we have.  During the blip, borders relaxed, and people worked together to make what we had left better.  After the return, no one knew who to trust anymore because those that were left behind had changed and those that returned had not.  None of these feelings are anyone’s fault, but to use the fragile state of the world against a small independent nation, that is wrong.’  He looks over at Bucky again, locking eyes with the man.  ‘This isn’t what America is supposed to be about.  This underhanded, conniving move is not who we are.  When this broadcast ends, I will be releasing the proof of all of this, and it is my hope that the United Nations will place sanctions on the United States for what it has done.  It is my hope that Americans will see that this isn’t who we want to be.  We want to be the beacon we used to be and not the terrorist organization that the president is trying to turn it into.’  

Steve looks over at DEXTER, who cuts the feed.  There isn’t any sound; the room overtaken in deafening silence.  Steve feels like he does after a battle: exhausted with no capacity for a single thought.  Getting up, he leaves the room and doesn’t look back.  Once out of the palace, he heads towards the stable, but doesn’t stop there.  He keeps walking until he’s engulfed by trees.  He’s noticed the forest on the other side of the stable, but never ventured in. Today, he needs to disappear for a little while.  

He finds a small stream and sits against a tree to watch it flow by.  He’s not sure how long he’s been here, until a voice brings him out of his head.  “You’ve found my hiding place.”  

Looking up, Bucky is smiling at the stream.  He starts to stand, but Bucky waves him to stay seated.  “Hiding place?”  

Slipping his shoes off and rolling up his pants, Bucky wades into the water, smiling.  Steve doesn’t move, just watches him float away on a memory.  “When I was a boy, I didn’t understand why I didn’t have a second parent, like everyone else.  I was young, too young to understand what it meant for my father to be a widower.”  He stops talking, looking up at the sunlight casting beams of light through the trees.  “My mother was a soldier and died in another invasion attempt.  Their sniper got her and, from what I was told later, my father almost single-handedly destroyed the other army.”  He looks back, smiling again even though the memory can’t be pleasant.  “My father brought me here one day when I couldn’t stop crying because I just wanted my mom.”  

“How did he make you understand?”  This is as close to a personal conversation as they’ve ever had.  

“He told me what happened to my mother; that she was defending this country and me, that she was a hero.” Bucky looks over and Steve is smiling to himself.  “He told me that he loved her so much that he couldn’t be with anyone else.  Because of him, I’m the person that I am today, but I like to think that my mom is part of that too.”  

They stay silent and Bucky keeps wading around.  The water is only ankle deep and he seems to be enjoying the sensation.  “My mom is nothing but a footnote when people read about me.”  Bucky gazes at Steve with sympathy.  He huffs and continues.  “She was the strongest person I’ve ever known, and I wouldn’t be who I am without her.  I get so angry when she’s not given the credit she deserves.”  

“It seems that we were both raised by exceptional people.”  Steve sighs out a chuckle.  It’s not much, but Bucky understands that he’s overshadowed by reality.  

“I guess we were.”  The silence stretches again.  “Thank you for letting me help you with this situation.”  

Bucky practically beams at him.  “Thank you for being the man I hoped you would be.”  He winks, then adds, “I should be thanking your mother, I guess.”  

Steve barks out a laugh.  “Yes, you should thank her and her unwillingness to budge when she knew she was right.”  

“Oh, your mother and my father would have liked each other.”  Steve gets another wink.  “Or they would have fought like cats and dogs.”  Bucky hums with a thoughtful look on his face.  “Why is that a saying?  Cats and dogs don’t always fight.”  

Laughter rings around the trees again and Steve looks over.  Bucky has a very pleased look on his face, but there’s a pause in time.  It’s like everything freezes because Bucky is lit by a beam of light coming through the trees. Steve sees the man, not the prince, not the good guy trying to do the right thing, but the man.  It’s startling because he is just a man.  He has the weight of a nation on his shoulders, but he’s just a man. He’s like a beacon and now that Steve sees him, he’s not sure he can unsee.  

Steve stands, Bucky comes out of the water, picking his shoes up.  “I guess we should get back.” Bucky nods and Steve follows him out of the forest.  

Sam calls Steve, hoping his friend knows the chaos his broadcast stirred up.  Shuri’s smiling face comes on screen.  “Samuel, are you calling because the Avengers are being overrun with demands?”  

“How did you know?  It’s been nonstop since Steve made that speech two days ago.”  She laughs and Sam looks unamused.  “I don’t think you understand how bad this is getting.  Washington is calling for Steve’s head on a platter.”  

“Yes, well, if Prince James has his way, Steve will not be returning to you.”  Sam’s eyes get wide, and he leans in, ready for the gossip.  “Rumor has it,” she winks, “that the prince and Steve have been spending time together since the speech.”  

“Just spending time together?”  After years of everyone telling Steve to get a life, he seems to be finally doing it.  

“After the speech they went into the forest and were not seen for at least an hour.  Yesterday, they went to the city and shopped at the farmer’s market together.  This morning, instead of taking a run, Steven went on a horseback ride with Bucky.”  She’s saying all of this with a conspirator’s whisper.  

“Well, well, well, this is interesting.”  Sam narrows his eyes.  “Wait a minute, is the prince even gay?”  

Shuri giggles until she has tears in her eyes.  “Did I not mention that?”  

“No, you didn’t, but Steve isn’t...” Shuri falls out of her chair laughing this time.  Sam’s confused, but has to wait until she drags herself off the floor.  

Once she’s back in the chair, still giggling, she looks at Sam disappointed.  “Samuel Thomas Wilson, are you blind!  Steve has been looking at Bucky like a lost puppy since he has been here.  If he’s not gay, he is, at the very least, bisexual.”  

“Well, I’ll be damned.”  

Steve doesn’t know that he’s been looking at Bucky that way.  Shuri is sure of that.  Be that as it may, these two should be given a chance and Steve not returning to America is the way to make that happen.  “Steven, you cannot go back to a country where half want you in the White House and the other half want your head on a pike!  Unfortunately for you, the ones that want your head are the ones in power.” Bucky looks worried. He knows that Steve can take care of himself and that he has the safety of the Compound, which Shuri is going to modify for more security, but part of him wants Steve to want to stay.  “Steve?”  The man in question turns, looking over at Bucky.  “Please stay.”  

Maybe it’s something in the way he says the words, maybe it’s the way he’s looking at Steve. Since the day in the forest, Steve’s been spending time with the man and likes it.  “I don’t want to be an imposition on you or your country, Bucky.”  

Stepping closer, Bucky puts a hand on Steve’s arm.  “You will not be an imposition, Steve.  When the investigation is over, you can go home, but until then, you need to be safe.  Elisia can keep you safe.” There’s that absolute certainty again and Steve’s sure there’s something else about this country that no one is talking about.  

“I’ve never run from a fight, Buck.”  The new nickname comes out of Steve’s mouth without thought.  

“I’m not asking you to sit the fight out.  I’m asking you to wait until the UN has finished what they need to do, then you can go home and fight all you want.”  Steve snorts, shaking his head.  “Yes, I know, you don’t need me encouraging you.”  

Now Shuri snorts.  “I believe Bucky is correct.”  They both look over at her.  “Right now, there is nothing for you to fight because the United Nations needs time to complete the inquiry.  When that is done, they will call on you.”  

Part of Steve doesn’t like it, but the other part wants to stay. He’s learned since losing so many people that he cares about that sometimes we should take the little blessings along the way. “Alright.” The other two grin at each other.  “But if at any point, I’m in the way here, you have to promise me you’ll tell me.”  

Bucky’s nodding furiously.  “I can guarantee that you won’t be in the way, but if you become too much to handle, I will kick you out of my country.”  

When the UN requests that the soldiers be returned to the US, Bucky provides transportation for them. Each of them is to be interviewed by the special counsel that’s been put together.  When they are being put on the jet, Bucky is there, and Steve watches him. Once everyone is on board, Bucky lays his hand on the side of the jet, closing his eyes and whispering something that Steve can’t make out. He looks over at Shuri, who won’t meet his eyes. This is part of the bigger mystery. The jet takes off and Bucky watches until it’s out of sight.  

Shuri escorts the transport back to the United States.  President Ross tries to have the plane diverted to Andrews Air Force Base, but the pilot is Elisian and refuses the demand.  It lands in New York and Shuri makes sure they get on the right trucks to be taken to the UN Counsel Chamber. The Avengers and every agent from the Compound escort the trucks, keeping watch for attacks.  

When asked, the soldiers tell the truth and add that they were treated with the upmost respect by Prince James and all of the people of Elisia.  They explain that everyone understood they were just following the orders given to them.  They are found to be in perfect health and Elisia is lauded as an upstanding country with great morality.  

Steve reads through everything that Shuri sends back with Sam adding his two cents worth to everything.  Bucky spends his days with the advisory council, until Steve’s been in Elisia, alone, for two weeks.  In the evening, they have dinner together, Bucky usually cooks, but on days when the council runs long, Steve will go to Bucky’s house and cook.  That’s where the prince finds him tonight.  “Steve?  What is that because it smells incredible?”  

Steve turns from the stove, smiling.  “It’s a pasta dish that Natasha taught me years ago.”  

“Natasha Romanov, Black Widow, cooks?”  Steve’s face darkens, just a bit.  Bucky realizes his mistake.  “I’m sorry.”  

“No, don’t be.  It’s just hard because you referred to her in present tense and she’s gone now.”  Bucky nods and goes to Steve, putting a hand on his back, rubbing up and down in comfort.  “She was a wonderful cook.  Said it calmed her when nothing else could.”  

“I can understand that.  My dad taught me to cook because he always cooked for my mother.  He told me that it calmed him too, but also that it proved that he could provide a good home for my mom.”  Steve laughs and Bucky looks at him questioningly.  

“Your father was a prince, Bucky.  I think he could provide just fine.”  At that, Bucky sniggers, never having thought about it that way.   

“I suppose that’s true, but it makes it no less romantic.”  Steve nods and returns to stirring the pot of sauce, blushing a little from the implications of the comment.  “Tomorrow, I’m riding out to the outlying villages.  Would you like to go with me?”  

Turning, Steve seems surprised at the invitation.  “Yeah, I’d like that.  You said ride, you mean on horses?”  

“I do and you still don’t get to ride Zahra. You have your own equine friend now.” This isn’t their first ride together and each time, Steve begs to ride Zahra.  

“But, Buck, please. She likes me too.” Bucky shakes his head.  “You’re no fun.”  

“She is the prince’s horse, and you are not a prince.” Even though it’s cute that Steve wants to ride her, he isn’t allowed. Bucky knows that Steve’s aware, but this is a game they play each time.  

“I think you’re just using that as an excuse to keep her all to yourself.”  Bucky chuckles.  

“Who knew that Commander Rogers could be so whiny.”  Turning, Steve glares at his friend.  “And pouty.”  

“I’m not feeding you.  I’m going to take this back to the palace and feed the guards, but you can’t have any.”  Steve’s back is to him, but Bucky knows the man’s not serious because his shoulders begin to shake until the laughter bubbles out.  

“You’re a terrible card player, aren’t you?”  Steve turns, nodding, face red from laughter.  He hasn’t had this much fun with anyone in such a long time.  

The following morning, they meet at the stables where Zahra is saddled and ready to go.  Next to her is the large, black stallion, pawing at the ground.  Steve goes over, awed again by how beautiful he is.  His main is long and wavy and the same type of fur is on each of his legs near the hooves.  “How are you today, Elias?”  He’s the same horse that Steve always rides when he goes out with Bucky.  The horse blows out a breath as if to say, ‘let’s go, I want to run.’  

They head out and Elias keeps pace with Zahra.  They are the perfect complement to the other.  Her color and his blend into a match as unique as it is beautiful.  “Steve, you don’t really mind that you aren’t allowed to ride her, do you?”  

Steve grins. “Not at all.  I just like giving you a hard time.”  Then he heels Elias, and they take off.  Bucky laughs and takes off after them.  

Their day is spent talking to farmers and shopkeepers.  They lunch at a small café owned by a woman that reminds Steve of his mother.  She doesn’t treat Bucky like the Crowned Prince, but like a son.  Steve likes her immediately and she looks at Steve with admiration.  “What you did for my country, I am very grateful.”  

“I did what any decent person would do.”  She smirks.  

“These days, this world could use a few more decent people.”  Steve chuckles.  

As they head back to the palace stables, Steve wonders about things here.  “Buck, does everyone here speak English?”  

Bucky matches pace with Steve, so they can talk.  “Everyone here speaks at least three languages, most speak more.”  

“Is that taught at school or at home?”  Bucky gives a kind smile because Steve is truly interested in his people.  

“Mostly at school, but if the parents learn a language while way at university, then they teach their kids when they have them.”  He waits, thinking that Steve’s probably not done asking.  

“Does everyone act so familiar with you?  I mean, they respect you, but they treat you like family.”  The beaming smile that Bucky gets blooms across his face.  

“Yes, everyone treats me that way.  I carry the title and the responsibility of running the country, but we are all one people.”  Bucky’s staring off into the distance.  

“Are we friends, Buck?”  Reining his horse, Bucky stops, staring at Steve.  

“Yes, of course we are.  Why would you ask me something I was sure you were aware of?”  Steve stops, staring back at hurt eyes.  

“I just don’t want to leave here and not ever be able to come back to see you.” In truth, Steve isn’t sure he wants to leave here. Maybe it was never about disappearing because he’s not needed, maybe is was about finding a place that felt like he belonged.  

There are times when Bucky must measure his words carefully.  This is not one of those times.  “I don’t want you to leave at all, Steve.”  

Everything stops.  The light evening breeze and everything around them seems to go silent.  Steve doesn’t move, afraid that how that sounded and how it was meant aren’t the same.  But, unlike most times, Steve doesn’t think before speaking.  “I don’t wanna go either.”  

Bucky turns Zahra, bringing her up beside Elias, so that he and Steve are facing each other.  “Be clear in what you mean.”  

Steve sighs, looking down at the saddle, then back at Bucky.  “I like you.”  

The smile that graces Bucky’s face is one that Steve hasn’t seen before, but wants to see again.  It lights up everything from his eyes to his mouth.  “I like you too, Steve.” They finish the ride with the horses in a lazy walk.    

That all changes when Steve gets a communication a few mornings later. “I have to go back to the U.S.”  The request came in this morning and when Steve sees Bucky, it’s the first thing out of his mouth. They just stare at each other for a few seconds. Bucky’s looking at Steve like he’s trying to process what he’s just heard and Steve’s hoping that Bucky knows this isn’t his idea.  

Bucky puts the coffee pot down and motions for Steve to come all the way into the office.  “Why?”  

“The UN wants to talk to me about all of this.”  Before Bucky can ask, Steve volunteers.  “I’ll come back as soon as I can.” Something in the room relaxes when he says that. Bucky smiles, happy that he won’t be saying goodbye to Steve forever. Steve offers the paper to Bucky with the orders and as Bucky’s reading, their bubble of quiet is interrupted.  

The door opens, and DEXTER comes in. “Your Highness, you have received a communication from the United Nations.  They wish your presence at the special council with Commander Rogers.” He looks over at Steve, tilting his head.  “It would seem that you can return with the commander.” DEXTER filtered the message to Steve earlier that morning, so he knew that the prince would probably be requested as well. It does hold many security challenges that he’s already been working through.  

No one has come out and asked about their ‘friendship,’ but most of the people around the palace know that the two men are closer than originally thought.  The Advisory Council started to ask, but Bucky requested that they don’t until he understands it more.  Steve and Bucky eat almost every meal together, spend as much time talking as they can, but they’ve been very careful about physical contact.  Neither wants to rush into something that may be fleeting, and Steve doesn’t completely understand how Bucky’s position would play into that. Out of respect for Bucky’s position, he keeps a respectable distance.  

“If we go together, then we can return together.”  Bucky nods, understanding that Steve isn’t going to abandon him for his home country. They sit to discuss the situation and security, DEXTER keeping note of the things he’s been thinking and volunteering concerns. Once they’re satisfied with the plan, DEXTER stands.  

“I guess we should pack.” He looks over at his oldest friend. “Have you set the security detail and the vehicles?” DEXTER nods and Bucky sends him to pack and make the arrangements; Steve goes to pack his things and Bucky goes to see the council.    

Back in his suite, Steve calls Shuri. “Well Steven, how is everything in Elisia?” Her eyes sparkle, wanting to hear the details of his visit.  

“Everything’s been good, but Bucky and I have been summoned to the UN, so we’re leaving tonight for New York.” Her face becomes concerned.  

“You must protect Bucky.” The fear in her eyes and the concern in her voice is out of loss.  

“You don’t have to worry, Shuri. I won’t let anything happen to him.” She smiles, but it’s forced.  

“I am not just concerned for him. I worry for you too.” Steve’s reaction is warmth that someone cares about him. “You have made yourself an enemy of your government.”  

“Yes, and we’ll be prepared when we land.” An idea forms in his head and she sees the look.  

“What are you thinking?” Steve smirks.  

“I’m thinking that Tony may have left us protection when we’re in the air.” Shuri doesn’t understand. “I’m going to call Sam and Happy. I think the drones will help me feel better about this.”  

They disconnect and Steve calls Sam, explaining his idea and Captain America agrees that it’s a good plan. Calling Happy, Steve hopes he’s not overstepping when the man answers and doesn’t seem welcoming. “Commander, what can I do for you?”  

“Happy, it’s good to see you.” The pleasantry isn’t returned, and Steve understands how far from friends they truly are. Happy nods, so Steve continues. “I’m heading to the UN and would like permission to use some of the drones.”  

“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea, since you’ve put a target on your back.” The comment is critical of what Steve did and he wonders if something on the home front has changed, and they don’t support what he did.  

“In this day and age, it doesn’t take much to put a target on anyone’s back.” Steve reaches up to disconnect the feed. “Thanks anyway, Mr. Hogan.”  

“Whoa, whoa, Cap...Commander, the use of the drones is at the discretion of the Avengers. Feel free to use them for whatever you have planned.” Steve nods, then disconnects the call.  

When he gets Sam back on the line, he relays what just happened. “Steve, you don’t suppose Pepper supports Ross in all this, do you?”  

“That’s the way it was feeling. We may need to start looking into other bases instead of staying at the Compound.” Sam looks grim at that thought. “I’m sure if we ask, Shuri can find someplace and help us set up security, but it does make me wonder about some of the operations people.”  

“Yeah man, if she’s a Ross supporter, they could be feeding information on our missions to him, through her.” Steve hangs his head, shaking it and rubbing his temples. “Hey.”  

Steve looks up, feeling better at the friendly smile that Sam’s giving him. “Yeah?”  

“How’s everything going with your prince?” The twinkle in Sam’s eyes is enough to have Steve blushing.  

“He’s not my prince, Sam.”  

“Not yet.” They chuckle together, then Sam adds, “I’ll set up the drone escort.”  

“I’m coming home, I guess.  The UN has requested this, and they want Bucky too.  We’ll be leaving tonight.”  Sam narrows his eyes, so he sees the trepidation on Steve’s face.  

“You think Ross is going to try something, don’t you? That’s why you want these drones.”  Steve nods.  “Okay, I’m gathering the troops, and we’ll meet you in New York.”  

Carol, ever the outspoken council member, seems less than trusting.  “I don’t like that you’re being summoned like...”  

Bucky lifts an eyebrow.  “Like Steve?”  

“Sir, you can’t blame me for not putting you in the same category as an America citizen.”  Bucky smirks, but nods.  

“I understand, but this seems like the way to get answers and they are an international agency.”  

Leaning forward, she shakes her head. “One that we aren’t part of.”  

“Yes, but the United States is and if we want to know what’s going on, then I need to make this trip.” Bucky leans back in his chair, watching their faces.  

“Sir, you haven’t left this country, since you were crowned. Please be careful.” DEXTER finally speaks up because his friend is not going into this alone and his safety is paramount.  

“Nothing will happen to His Highness. I will not allow it.” There are nods and Bucky smiles at his friend.  

Bucky returns to his house, after checking in at the school and the hospital, knowing that DEXTER is already waiting.  “You will be taking your weapon, I am assuming.”  

“Yes, as much as I don’t like this, I’d like it even less if I didn’t have it with me.”  DEXTER nods.  “I’m assuming you have arranged the guards.”  

“I have and I will be joining you as well.”  Bucky stares at his friend.  “I will not allow you on foreign soil without me there.  If anything happens, you will have myself, the royal guard and Commander Rogers protecting you.”  

“How do you know that Steve isn’t a target too?”  DEXTER looks unimpressed.  

“I do not, but he will be under my protection as well.”  

The jet they take is much, much larger than Steve anticipates.  It’s large enough for vehicles and for all the guards that travel with Bucky.  Before they leave, Steve sees Bucky put his hand on the craft, whispering again. He’s going to ask this time. They have all the flight time to discuss what Steve’s seeing. Steve informs DEXTER that he’s going to see small devices on the radar and what they are. DEXTER nods impressed that Commander Rogers has thought through their safety in the air. Even though it isn’t necessary.  

DEXTER pilots the craft and Steve is given quarters across the hall from Bucky’s. Bucky requests it, but everyone, including the guards, agree that having the commander that close is good for security. That doesn’t stop him from knocking on Bucky’s door when they are supposed to be sleeping; needing answers to some of his questions.  

Steve raps lightly and the door slides open almost immediately.  Bucky doesn’t ask, just pulls Steve into the cabin and to the bed.  “You have questions?”  

They’re sitting crossed legged on the bed, facing each other. “Twice I’ve seen you do some kind of ritual to a jet, and I’d like to know what I’m seeing.”  

Bucky blushes, picking at a string on his pajama pants. “It’s necessary.” He looks up, hoping that Steve will take that at face value, but he sees that isn’t the case. “Shuri told you about the mineral, yes?” Steve nods. “Then she told you that my ancestor was the first to touch it.”  

“Bucky?” Giving a heavy sigh, Bucky looks like he’s weighing the information. “Listen, I don’t need to know if you aren’t allowed or don’t want to tell me. I’m just...I’m curious.”  

“I want to tell you, but you have to understand that some of this can’t ever leave this room. You can’t tell anyone what I’m going to say.” There’s pleading in his voice and Steve reaches over to put a hand on his arm.  

“Bucky, don’t.” Whatever this is, Steve’s starting to think it’s all connected to why he feels that something important is being held back from him. “Is this something that only Elisian’s know?”  

Bucky nods, looking back down at the blankets covering his bed. “Yes.” Dragging his eyes up, he seems teary-eyed. “No one outside of my country knows about it.”  

Holding up his hand, Steve shakes his head. “Then don’t tell me.” Bucky starts to argue. “Hey, I’m not Elisian and if this is a secret that your country has, then it isn’t my responsibility to know.” He can tell that it doesn’t sit well with Bucky, like he wants to tell Steve. “Maybe someday, when we know each other better, you’ll feel more relaxed about telling me. Until then, I don’t need to know.”  

They aren’t planning to sleep that night, but to talk about what this might all mean.  Instead, they end up falling asleep, wrapped around each other, they sleep peacefully until DEXTER comes to wake the prince.  

“Well, I suppose this means I will not have to go across the hall and wake the Commander.”  Bucky snorts and Steve reaches out, making grabby hands to get Bucky to lay back down.  “I must insist that you both get out of bed.  We will be landing in just over two hours.  You should shower and eat before that.”  

“Aren’t you a prince, Buck? Can’t you get someone to bring us breakfast in bed?”  Bucky snorts again and DEXTER looks unwavering.  

“Commander, I was unaware that you are not a morning person.”  Steve blows a raspberry and Bucky giggles all the way into the bathroom.  

“Don’t mind him, DEX.”  The android nods, leaving the cabin and Bucky comes back out of the bathroom and jumps back in bed.  

“Oh, I see how it is.  You just want to look responsible to your people, but really you’re as bad as me.” Rolling into Steve’s arms, Bucky snuggles back in.  

“I am absolutely going to get used to this, so you better be planning to come home with me.”  They’ve been so careful about physical touch, but this happened out of exhaustion and Steve’s loving everything about it.  He doesn’t want to think that this is just a fling to Bucky, but Steve has to accept that it might only be that. If it is, then Steve’s going to enjoy the company.  

They arrive at the cars with no time to spare because they stayed cuddled in bed until the last possible moment.  DEXTER looks at them accusingly causing both men to smile.  The guards are not unknowing in this development, but don’t say anything.  DEXTER, on the other hand, doesn’t have a filter for what should and shouldn’t come up in the car. As they drive off the back of the transport, Steve’s already looking around for threats.  

“If you are going to continue this affair, I would ask that you try to remember your responsibilities.”  The guard sitting next to Bucky, in the back seat, snorts, then tries to cough to cover it.  

“Sorry, Your Highness.”  Bucky grins over at the man, patting him on the shoulder.  

Steve is in the front seat, watching the traffic and the surrounding areas.  “Steve, is everything okay?”  

There’s a car in front of them, with guards, and one behind them, with more guards, but something is off.  “I can’t put my finger on it, Your Highness, but something doesn’t feel right.” He slips back into respectful distance, to clear his mind and keep focused on keeping Bucky safe.  

DEXTER pushes a button on the dashboard and a compartment opens.  Inside there are weapons.  Steve takes out two, checking them over, then taking the safety off.  “Commander, I am putting Prince James in your care.  If we are attacked, you will make sure he is safe.”  

Steve nods and Bucky turns in the seat, reaching for a case that holds his country’s Protectorate. DEXTER veers into the other lane, following the SUV in front of him.  “Sir, we are getting information on a blocked road that is not supposed to be under construction.”  

Pulling his phone out, Steve calls Sam. “Hey, we might have an issue.  We’re on 678 and we’re getting information that there’s construction, but there isn’t supposed to be.”  

“I’m on my way and I’m bringing reinforcements.”  Steve hangs up and looks back at Bucky.  

Bucky’s got the case half on the seat and half in his lap.  It’s the first time that Steve’s seen the weapon up close.  It’s a rifle, but nothing like he’s ever seen before. Besides being made of some black metal, it has intricately carved designs from hilt to barrel. It almost seems to absorb light. “How much ammunition can that thing hold?”   

Bucky looks at the guard and then at Steve.  The guard smiles.  “I don’t think you understand how she works.”    

“Then explain it to me because we don’t have a lot of time to the detour.”  Steve’s not panicked, but he is afraid for Bucky.  

“I have ten shots, then the ammo comes back to me, and I keep firing.” That’s different and Steve’s face must show his surprise.    

“It reloads itself?”  Bucky nods.  “Well, that’s something that Clint could have used more times than I can count.  Always running out of arrows.”  

Bucky’s about to reply when the SUV in front of them is sideswiped by a large, armored car.  “Brace for impact!” The guard next to Bucky throws himself at the prince, keeping him firmly in place.  Luckily, the car that Bucky’s in has been upgraded and when the impact comes, it does very little damage.  The car spins, skidding, then comes to a stop in the oncoming traffic.  Cars swerve to miss them, while DEXTER gets them righted.    

The men coming at them are in armor that doesn’t look military, so these people are being funded and equipped outside official channels.  “Once they’re close enough, DEX, I want you to open the windows”  

“Your Highness, that’s...”  

“No argument.  I don’t think regular bullets are going to pierce that armor, so I’m our only hope.” Steve does a mental rundown of what he’s seeing and knows that if he can get headshots, he can take down a few too. Bucky is backed against the door, bracing himself. His eyes close and he whispers again. This time, Steve hears that it’s his native language, but doesn’t know the words.  

He looks at the guard in the back.  “How do you feel about hanging out of windows?”  The guard nods.  “Go for the head. Don’t stop firing until he’s down!”  

Once back in the right lane, DEXTER runs over two of the men.  Steve looks around and sees a place to fight.  “DEX, when you get to that intersection, I want you to swing us around.  Put me on the side taking fire.”  

Bucky starts to argue, but knows he can fire from anywhere in the car.  DEXTER drives to the intersection and swings the car around, lowering the windows on Steve’s side of the car, who’s already hanging out, braced on the frame, firing at the men coming at them.  The guard and Steve continue firing, trying to get clean head shots.  The guard keeps Bucky behind him, but that doesn’t stop the prince from raising his rifle.  The bullets hitting the face masks crack the material, but it takes at least three more shots to take the men in black down.  Bucky fires at one, right where his heart is, and the man hits the pavement.  

“That’s a hell of a gun, Buck.”  Steve has to reload several times, but he alternates with the guard, so that one of them is always firing. Bucky takes another shot, visualizing what he wants and watches as the man in black goes down and doesn’t move. He feels, more than he sees, the ammunition come back to the gun.  

Just as Bucky’s about to take another shot, the passenger side door is wrenched from the car.  Bucky starts to fall backwards out of the missing door, when his guard grabs the front of his suit and pulls him back into the car. The man in black has some kind of implement on his hand that twists the metal from the hinges. DEXTER doesn’t hesitate and leans over the seat, while still steering the car, firing six shots into the man’s face mask. The man hits the pavement and DEXTER lowers his window and takes aim at more of them. That’s when another man walks into the middle of the street with some kind of weapon.  

Steve knows they have to get out of the car when he sees the man fire at the car. He’s seen those weapons before, and it could turn the car on its side or worse.  “Steve!” Bucky’s reaching for him, and Steve takes his hand. Propelling himself over the seat and into the back, he pulls Bucky from the opening left when the door was pulled away. The guard is right behind them, protecting Bucky’s back.  

“Out of the car!  Everyone, get out of the car!”  They don’t think and just follow his orders.  Steve ushers them around a building, when the SUV explodes. DEXTER is unfortunately not out of danger.  When the explosion happens, part of his back and right arm are damaged.  Once Bucky is safe with the guard, Steve goes back around the corner and pulls DEXTER to safety.  “DEX, are you okay?”  

“I have been better, Commander, but I will survive.”  Bucky kneels next to his friend, checking the circuitry. “I am well, Your Highness.”  Bucky breathes a sigh of relief.  Looking up at Steve, then to the SUV, he shakes his head.  

“What the hell was that?”  Steve explains the gun that fires, what amounts to, a mine that affixed itself to the bottom of a car.  The SUV lands, on its roof, in the middle of the street.  

The men, in armor, are converging on their position when someone swoops down, throwing the shield.  Steve takes a breath and pulls Bucky to him.  “We need to get out of their way.” Normally, Steve would run into the fight to help, but his job is to keep Bucky safe and he’s not taking that lightly. He looks down at DEXTER.  The android seems to be glitching if the twitching in his eyes is anything to go by. With DEXTER out of commission, it’s up to Steve to make sure Bucky is safe. The guard keeps an eye on his prince, but helps DEXTER to his feet and they wedge themselves between two buildings.  

Scott appears in the street, larger than life, stomping on the armored men.  Lightning strikes and Thor is there.  “You have some awesome friends, Steve.” Bucky’s breathing heavy, fear in his eyes and Steve can’t stop himself.  

Kissing Bucky’s temple, Steve relaxes a little.  “They come in handy in fights.” Once the Avengers step in, the fight doesn’t last much longer.  A car pulls up to the curb, and the window rolls down.  

Hope grins.  “You gentlemen need a ride?”  They get DEXTER into the car.  The guard takes the front seat and Steve puts Bucky between himself and his injured friend. They speed away and the last SUV follows them to the United Nations Headquarters with sirens wailing.    

By the time they’ve arrived at UN Headquarters, they look a little worse for wear, but they’re all alive and that’s all that matters.  They spend time explaining what happened on the way and the council wants to bring a doctor in to check Bucky over.  Sam informs them that a doctor, that’s trusted, is on his way.  When the portal opens and Dr. Strange steps through, Steve just chuckles.    

“Commander, it’s good to see you again.”  Strange checks Bucky over at Steve’s insistence.  As he’s scanning Bucky with his magic, Strange smirks.  “You must be very important to Commander Rogers.  He is only this protective over those that matter to him.” He gives Bucky a wink, who looks over at Steve, who is blushing.  

“He’s just as important to me.”  Nodding, Strange finishes up and gives Bucky a pat to the shoulder.  

“You have a few scrapes and bruises, and I think you may have sprained your ankle, but overall, you’re in good shape.” Then, leaning in for just Bucky to hear, he whispers, “Your connection is still strong.” Bucky thanks him and Strange nods to Steve and disappears through another portal. The prince knows that Strange wasn’t talking about his connection to Steve. The sorcerer is aware, somehow, that magic is part of Bucky’s life.  

“You have some really interesting friends, Steve.” Sitting down next to Bucky, Steve nods.  

“I really do.” Sam and the others check the hallways and stairwells, coming back into the foyer.  

“Everything seems clear, but we’re going to take point positions around the chamber to stop any other attacks that might happen.” Bucky looks around, nerves evident.  

“Is there anyone that can check on DEXTER for me?” Scott volunteers to go and sit with Bucky’s friend.  

Once they get the ‘all clear,’ Bucky and Steve sit with the counsel, talking through everything from the evidence that Steve sent them to the video confessions.  “Commander Rogers, you took a chance with all of this, but we understand why you did.  We appreciate how difficult this must have been for you personally, but you did the right thing.  It is the decision of this panel that sanctions will be levied against the United States.  If the legislative branch wishes to impose impeachment proceedings on the president, this information can be used at the hearings.”  There’s a gavel bang and the meeting is over. It’s been hours and Bucky looks like he’s exhausted, still cradling his rifle in his lap.   

Bucky looks over at Steve, smiling.  “Why don’t you show me New York?”  

Nodding, Steve takes his hand.  “Let’s get you to the hotel first and give DEXTER a once over.  I think we should clean up, then I’m going to take you for the best slice of pizza you’ve ever had.”  

Dinner is wonderful and as Steve looks across the table at Bucky, he can’t believe this beautiful, kind man wants to be here with him.  As they talk about what happened earlier in the day, Bucky gets more serious. Steve tries to avoid having the conversation, but it needs to be talked out.  The guard that has stepped up to be the prince’s body man, called the council back home already, informing them of the attack. They nearly demand Bucky return immediately, but he assures them that he’s fine and just having dinner.  

“I’m concerned for you and your country.” Bucky nods, but doesn’t add anything. “I’m afraid he’ll try again and depending on what he uses, it might not go as well as the last time. If Ross has access to that kind of mercenary, then he’s got deep pockets and unlimited access to people that could really be a problem.”  

“My country can and will defend itself, Steve.” Sitting back in his chair, Steve wonders if the secret that Bucky’s keeping is why he so sure they will be okay. He’s sure there’s other technology that Bucky has at his disposal that Steve doesn’t know about.  He doesn’t ask because he’s an outsider. “What will you do now that you’ve made your report?”  

“I’m not sure.  I hadn’t thought that far ahead. I do think I’m getting too old for this crap.” Bucky chuckles, and then, as if on cue, Steve’s phone goes off.  Looking down, he sees that it’s Sam. “I better take this.” Showing the screen to Bucky, the prince nods and Steve excuses himself. Standing outside on the sidewalk, Steve turns back to check on Bucky.  The guards are watching him closely. Steve wishes that DEXTER was with them, but he’s back at the hotel, running diagnostics on his systems to see what all needs to be replaced. “Sam, what’s up?”  

“Steve, you gotta get back to the Compound. Ross isn’t going quietly, and the UN is asking us to be on alert.  We’re going to need you.” Steve looks back at Bucky, who’s watching him intently. “We’ve called Shuri already and she’s on her way.”  

Closing his eyes and turning his head to the ground, Steve sighs.  “Yeah, okay.  I’ll see you soon.  I need to get Bucky back to his hotel.”  

Going back in, Bucky is standing, looking down at his own phone.  “Steve, I’ve got a problem.”  

“Yeah, I’m aware.”  Turning to the guards, Steve goes into Cap mode. “Get him back to the hotel and don’t let anyone anywhere near him.”  

Bucky looks over at DEXTER’s stand in, getting a confirming nod. “We’ll be headed back to Elisia tonight.” Reaching out, Bucky takes Steve’s arm, pulling him aside. “I want to stay, but if he’s going to try something I need to be with my people.”  

Nodding, Steve looks at Bucky with pain in his eyes.  “I know and I understand.  The UN has called all Avengers to help if it’s needed. I’m still on the roster, Buck. I have to go.” Bucky nods and starts to reach up, but stops himself. “If you need anything, you call, and we’ll be there to help.” More than anything, Steve wants to lean in and kiss this incredible man, but he doesn’t dare do something like that. With a last look, they part ways and Steve wonders if he’ll ever see Bucky again.  

The next couple of months are busy for Steve and the rest of the Avengers.  Not a day goes by that he doesn’t think about Bucky.  They keep an eye on Elisia, but no one ever invades.  Steve receives a video from DEXTER after nearly a month of Bucky training with his army.  He watches the man use the rifle again and is astounded by the precision that Bucky has with it, but also how the ammunition comes back, reloading the gun automatically. He's surprised to see Carol with them and only then realizes that she’s part of the military.   

Steve’s watching the video for the hundredth time, when Sam comes into the conference room.  “He’s pretty amazing with that gun.”  

Steve jumps, cutting the video off and turning to Sam, who’s grinning.  “Sam, is everything okay?”  

Smirking now, Sam sits down.  “All’s quiet.” Pointing at the darkened screen, Sam leans on the table. “You gonna do something about that?”  

If he wanted, Steve could play dumb, but he’s past that now and needs to talk to someone. “Nothin I can do.  He runs his own country, Sam, and I’m just a guy that isn’t even a member of his homeland.” Since being away from Elisia and Bucky, Steve’s started questioning everything that happened while he was there. He sends messages to Bucky and gets replies, but they’re both consumed with Ross being on the loose until consequences can be determined by congress. The wheels of government, Steve is finding, move slower than him before the serum.  

Sam sits back, examining his friend. “Steve, I asked you years ago what made you happy and you couldn’t tell me.  You’ve known this guy for a little while now and I’ve never seen you this happy about anything or anyone.  Whether you like it or not, you like this guy and I, for one, think you should do something about it.”  

Later that night, lying in bed, Steve grabs his phone. Turning it over and over in his hand, he thinks about what he wants to do. Scrolling through numbers, he finds the one he wants. Sitting up in bed, he stares into the darkness. DEXTER answers on the second ring. “Commander Rogers, are you well?”  

Steve tries to speak, but it gets caught in his throat.  Clearing it, Steve’s voice comes out higher than he means, so he clears it again. “Uh, yeah, yes, DEXTER.  I was just wondering if Prince James is available for a minute.” He needs to know if he imagined what was happening between them, if it was just a nice time for Prince James, or if maybe, just maybe, it really was something special.  

“Please hold, Commander.” The next voice that Steve hears relaxes everything in his body. For Steve, at least, it is definitely special.  

“Steve?” The smile that blossoms across Steve’s face is just proof of what Sam was saying earlier.  

“Buck, how are you?” Bucky’s next words are said with a smile that Steve can hear over the phone.  

“I’m good. Busy, like you are, I’m sure, but good.  Nothing is coming across our radar about invading forces.”   

“I’m glad. We’ve been keeping an eye on things too, but I wanted to check in.” There’s a chuckle on the other end, making Steve smile wider.  

Steve can hear Bucky moving around and hopes he didn’t disturb him. “I was thinking about you the other day.  I was riding and I think you’re missed in the stables.”  

Laughing, Steve nestles down, getting comfortable. “I miss being there.”  

There’s silence, then, “You could come back.  You know, if you wanted. You could call it a work trip if you needed to justify coming back.”  

“You wouldn’t mind having an outsider come visit?” There’s another laugh.  

“You stopped being an outsider when you came to the aid of my country and saved my life in New York.  I would really like it if you came back.”  

Grabbing his date book, Steve checks. “I could come as soon as a couple of days.”  

There’s more shuffling. “Really?  That would be amazing.”  

“Alright, then I’ll clear everything here and see you in a few days.” They hang up not long after and Steve starts texting Sam to let him know.    

Not knowing what might be coming, Bucky makes sure his military is in top form. He’s created more weaponry and made sure the outlying farms and businesses are equipped for anything that might come along. DEXTER’s repair is the first order of business and once that’s done, he assumes the duties he would if there were an eminent invasion. For all they know, there is and it’s just not on the radar yet.  

Shuri, who’s been watching from Wakanda, has been sending intel that she’s gathering. Everything points to something big happening, but there’s no physical proof. As he sits in bed that night, DEXTER comes in with the latest reports. “From Ms. Shuri, Your Highness.”  

Taking the reports, Bucky looks up at his friend. “I’m going to the Reserve tomorrow and testing the boundaries.”  

“Prince James, you have not...” Bucky holds his hand up, silencing his friend.  

“I’m just going to make sure I have a strong enough connection to create the shield.” DEXTER nods, knowing he isn’t going to talk the prince out of his plan.  

Bucky sleeps that night, dreaming of Steve and being held against that strong chest again. Deep in his subconscious, Bucky believes that even when Steve Rogers was nothing but skin and bones, he still had that strong chest. Had a personality so strong and true, that he could have held Bucky and made the Prince of Elisia feel safe.  

Arriving at the fountain the following morning, Bucky touches the placard, whispering the words. It opens and he heads down into the depths of the world that lives under his country. Even though the metal seems to drink up the light, there’s something still so bright about it. Once in the cavern, Bucky reaches up, touching the mineral. “I need your help.”  

The buzzing that he gets, in the back of his mind, sounds like a voice. He used to think that this is how his mother would have sounded. ‘ Tell us what you need.’  

“I believe that someone is coming for my country, and I need to know if I can hold the shield against them.” The buzzing intensifies and Bucky takes the position he knows works best, according to his father.  

Hands above his head, cupped, he feels the mineral bleed into him and out through his hands. It soars into the sky, spreading like night over the horizon.   

‘How much do you wish to cover?’  

“Just the city, for now.” The shimmering blanket settles over the city, causing people to come into the street to see.  

Not since Bucky’s grandfather has this been used and for some, they’ve never seen it before, only heard the stories. Once he pulls the shield back into the cavern, Bucky drops to one knee and looks up at DEXTER. “Are you well?”  

“Yeah, I think so.” There’s a slight buzz in the back of his mind for the rest of the day.   

When the jet lands in Elisia a few days later, Steve comes down the ramp, bowing his respect to the Crowned Prince.  Bucky smirks and goes over, hugging Steve.  Steve holds on a little longer than appropriate, but no one says anything.  

With his head buried in Steve’s neck, Bucky whispers, “I missed you.”  

Stepping back, Steve feels himself getting emotional, which he doesn’t usually do.  “I miss you too. I’ve been thinking about you, Bucky.”  

“What have you been thinking?” Steve flew halfway around the world to see this man, so he’s not going to lie.  

“I’ve been thinking about...about...” The words drift away because he doesn’t know how to finish. Clearing his throat, he goes for it. “I’ve been thinking that I want to be here.”  

He really hopes that Bucky understands. “I’ve been thinking that I want you to be here.”  

As they eat dinner later, Steve watches Bucky as he talks.  The way his mouth curves into a kind smile or when he turns to look at Steve and the smile becomes seductive.  Never, in all of his life, has Steve let himself be captivated by someone the way Bucky does.  They’re about to finish up when Steve’s mouth opens and words come out that he didn’t plan.  He always has a plan.  Instead, Steve lets himself go on instinct instead of carefully orchestrated directions.  

“I want to stay in Elisia with you.”  The carefree smile on Bucky’s face drops away and is replaced by shock.  “That is, if you want me to.”  

Nothing is said for several seconds and Steve wonders if he’s read this all wrong.  “Yes, I want that too.  I just didn’t think you would be understanding of my position.”  

“You mean the fact that you run your own country.  Or the fact that you love your life.  Or were you worried that I wouldn’t want to leave my country.”  Bucky’s bobbing his head to all of that.  “For five years I didn’t know what to do with myself.  I tried everything to make it feel okay.  It never did.  Then we fought Thanos and won, against all odds, we won and brought back everything and everyone that had been lost.”  Steve gives a mirthless chuckle.  “You’d think that I would have been okay after that. But as the next five years went by and nothing felt right, I started to think that I would never be okay.”  

Reaching over, Bucky takes Steve’s hand.  “How could you be okay, Steve?  Yes, you brought everything back, but you lost so much.  I don’t expect you to be okay, but I would like to help you find your way now.”  

“The best I’ve felt in ten years has been with you.”  Bucky blushes, smiling down at his plate.  “Getting to see you and talk to you, it just makes me feel like I have a place.”  

“You do have a place.  You’ll always have a place with me.”  The smile they share is shy, conveying meaning that they don’t want to say out loud just yet.  

The return of Commander Rogers starts the rumor mill turning, and it circulates around the two men’s relationship.  Bucky doesn’t discuss it with anyone and some of the gossip simmers down when Commander Rogers still sleeps in the palace and not at the small cottage near the stables.  The people start to think that Commander Rogers just needed a vacation and Prince James invited him back to rest in Elisia. Since Steve saved the prince’s life, he’s entitled to rest in their country.  

The guards know better though because Commander Rogers and Prince James are together unless the prince is in a meeting with the council or out training.  Today is one such day.  The guards that accompany the commander are with him at the stable and the others are with the prince at the palace with the council.  

DEXTER comes to find Steve when things with the council start to veer into uncomfortable territory.  When the situation is explained to Steve, he heads back to the palace, determination evident.  DEXTER and the guard share a smile.  

“Prince James, you understand how this looks.”  Bucky is sitting in his chair, wondering if he’s going to have to defend himself.  “We have no issue if there is more going on than just a friendship, but we should be informed if that’s the case. With the bravery that Commander Rogers has shown and his willingness to protect this country, no one would begrudge you a relationship with him.”  

He and Steve haven’t really defined what they’re doing, what they are, so this conversation is premature.  “As of now, Commander Rogers and I are friends.”  There’s a look on his face and Carol recognizes it.  

“Your Highness, if you want more from the commander, perhaps you should tell him that.”  DEXTER steps into the room, having been given orders to come to the prince’s rescue if things get uncomfortable.  Getting Steve was a judgement call on DEXTER’s part. Bucky’s first order of business, when they returned, was to repair his friend.  DEXTER is good as new and still as snarky as ever. This instance seems to be just that, but there’s more going on outside the door that the prince should know about as well.  

“Your Highness, can I speak with you for a moment?”  Getting up, Bucky goes over.  “Sir, Commander Rogers is outside and wishes to speak to you.”  

Furrowing his brow, Bucky steps out of the room to find Steve, shoulders squared and jaw set. Everything about his posture screams Commander Rogers and not Steve. “Steve?”  

“Your Highness,” Bucky looks shocked at the use of his title, “I’m here to ask you to allow me to court you, officially.”  

Stepping over, Bucky puts a hand on Steve’s chest.  “Again, I ask, Steve?”  

His shoulders slump and Steve appears embarrassed.  “DEXTER told me what’s going on and I thought if I made my intentions known, then it would make things easier on you. He also told me there’s procedure to follow, so I’m trying to do that.”  

Bucky grins.  “Are you asking to court me because you want to or because I’m having an uncomfortable conversation with the council?”  

Biting his lip, Steve scrunches up his face.  “Both?”  

Barking with laughter, Bucky kisses Steve on the cheek.  “Well, your gallantry will not go unrewarded.”  He winks at Steve.  “And if you truly want to court me, then I would be honored to have your attention.”  

Steve’s face does a number of things from surprise to joy.  “Really? I mean, you’re a prince and I’m just me, so if you’re just doing this because...”  

“Before you can say something that will probably embarrass you and annoy me, let me stop you there.”  Bucky’s hand sits on Steve’s lips.  “If you want to do this, then I’m in it with you.” Taking Steve’s hand, Bucky pulls him back into the council chamber.  “Everyone, the answer to what Commander Rogers and I are doing has been answered.  The commander has asked to court me, and I’ve given my consent.”  

The grins from everyone convey their joy.  After years of wondering when the prince would court and marry, they now have their answer.  “Congratulations, Your Highness.”  Carol can’t wait to get home and tell Maria about this.  

That night, as Bucky is working out the logistics of announcing this new development, Steve is packing a picnic dinner. Bucky understands that Prince James belongs to the country and that being so, he needs to announce this courting. The Bucky part of him wants to just enjoy it for a little while. Bucky feels, in his heart, that no one in his country will have an issue with this courting because Steve’s become a national hero to them.  

Steve’s spoken to DEXTER and the guards and planned out where he can set up the picnic, so that propriety won’t be harmed, and security will be easy.  The guard with Steve is one of the ones that traveled to the US with them, and they’ve become friendly.  

As Steve finishes up cooking and packing everything, he notices the sun is almost fully set and he can see the guard's reflection in the window.  He originally wanted to cook and pack at Bucky’s cottage, but the guard informed him that being in the royal cottage would look questionable.  So, he’s in the palace kitchen.  

“Do you think the people will object to my courting the prince?”  Steve sees the guard smile and takes that as a positive reaction.  

“Sir, the only objection that I believe the people will have is that they will have to wait for a wedding.”  Looking down at the counter, Steve lets that sink in. He talked to DEXTER about how this works and typically, the courting lasts for three to six months, then the engagement, should it go that way, lasts for a year, while the wedding is being planned. There’s only one way for this to go and that’s marriage, so Steve’s looking at a year and a half. “And perhaps that you aren’t titled.”  

Turning, he looks at the guard questioningly.  “Titled?”  

Realizing that the last part slipped out, the guard blushes.  “It’s just that royals marry other royals or those of title.”  

“Oh.” Steve hadn’t thought about that.  Truthfully, he doesn’t think of Bucky that way.  He’s the guy that Steve started out admiring and now he’s the guy that Steve lo...likes. “So, should I be worried?”  

“Oh no, sir, you are a man of principle and honor.  Everyone here knows what you did for our country and for the prince when he was attacked.”  Nodding, Steve goes back to washing up the dishes.  

He hadn’t really thought about marriage.  When he was a boy, he wasn’t supposed to live past 25.  Then he got the serum and didn’t think about it because he had a job to do.  Waking up here, the job seemed to follow him, and he pushed aside anything to do with having a personal life.  His friends pushed and Steve pushed back.  There wasn’t time.  

Now, he’s retired, sort of, and there is time.  Then, he met a prince.  Giving a quiet chuckle, Steve finds that funny.  He met a prince, fell into deep, deep like and now he’s going to court the man.  When did his life turn into a fairy tale?  And what would Tony and Natasha think about this?    

He’d catch hell for it; he’s sure.  

When Bucky comes into the kitchen, led by DEXTER.  “Steve, DEX says you want to see...what’s happening?”  

Steve’s standing by the table, basket and blanket ready.  “I’m told that picnics are a safe courting ritual and I’ve made us one for tonight.”  

The guard seems giddy at getting to witness this and Bucky looks bashful.  “You...you didn’t...this is amazing.”  

As the sky turns black and the stars start to twinkle, the guard leads them to the designated spot.  It’s not far, on the other side of the stables, and the stars and moon reflect in the water of the lake.  They eat and talk, then while they sip on the rest of the wine, Bucky leans into Steve’s chest.  He sits between Steve’s legs, looking up at the stars.    

The silence is comforting and Steve snakes his arm around Bucky’s middle.  He doesn’t hear a throat clearing, so he’s assuming this contact is acceptable.  When Bucky does speak, it’s quiet, only for Steve to hear.  “I’m sorry about the traditions.”  

Giving a humoring huff, Steve starts to kiss Bucky’s neck, but that does get a cleared throat off to side where the guard is keeping watch.  “It’s okay.  Truthfully, I think this is how things were in my time.  Not that I dated or ever courted anyone.”  

“No one special in your life?”  Bucky leans further into Steve’s chest and dares anyone to clear their throat.  

“Not back then, not now.”  The quiet lingers around them like a blanket.  

“I think I’ve waited my whole life for you.”  The sentiment is gentle, like everything else on this first night.  “When I was a boy and told my dad and grandfather I liked boys, they didn’t even blink.  They just told me to choose wisely because men could get competitive and with me being the Crowned Prince, the man I chose couldn’t see that as a threat.”  

“I don’t.” Bucky hums, having known that about Steve. “When I was a boy, my ma would tell me that someday I would meet a girl that saw me for the special man I am.  I never had to heart to tell her that I didn’t want a girl.”  

“Would she have understood?”  Steve doesn’t answer for a few minutes, thinking about that question.  

“I think so, but she would have been afraid for me.” Thinking a little more about his original time, Steve chuckles. “I never let myself think about a relationship.” Bucky looks back, and up, taking in Steve’s face. “Then I met you and all I could think is that you’re such a good man.”  

“Well, my dad would be glad to hear you say that.”  Steve laughs and throat clearing or not, he leans in, kissing Bucky’s cheek.  

“Do you mind if I ask you something?” Before he can answer, Steve adds, “A couple of something’s actually.”  

“Anything.”  

“I’d like to know more about the weapon, and I’d like to understand about titles and royal relationship.” Turning on the blanket, Bucky faces Steve.  

“I’d rather talk about the conversation I had with the council today.”  Steve figures it must be important and suspects it has to do with what he just asked, so he nods.  “As for the titles, it’s true that royals usually marry royals or people with titles.”  He glances over at the guard and knows the man has been talking to Steve.  He isn’t upset by that considering everything that happened today.  “However, there isn’t a law about it, but the council has a way of solving that issue for you.”  

“Oh, what’s that?” Steve reaches over, playing with the tips of Bucky’s fingers as they talk.  

“They want to bestow a title on you for what you did for my country.  They, in effect, want to knight you and that’s title enough.  My mother was a knight.”  It takes a minute, then Steve starts to laugh.  “I hope that’s a good laugh.”  He’s smiling though, so Steve knows Bucky understands his amusement.  

“I would be honored to be knighted by you.”  Bucky giggles, taking Steve’s hand, twisting their fingers together.  “We won’t get in trouble for holding hands, will we?”  

Bucky rolls his eyes.  “I’m the Crowned Prince, Steve, I get to do what I want.”  DEXTER clears his throat and Bucky frowns over at him.  

“Sir, might I recommend that you and Commander Rogers retire to bed.”  Bucky waggles his eyebrows at the innuendo.  “You know I didn’t mean it that way.  There will be no more sleeping in the same bed.  Plus, I refuse to try to wake you in the morning when Commander Rogers is around.”  

Both men laugh while gathering the containers and blanket.  They head back to the cottage, hand in hand, talking and laughing as they go.  Steve bows and says good night to Bucky and heads to the palace.  When he climbs in bed that night, he dreams of Bucky on the plane.  He’s going to miss getting to sleep wrapped up in the man.  

A week later, Steve needs to talk to Sam and includes Shuri in the call.  Her smiling face greets him first and when Sam finally answers, he’s not alone.  Thor, Love, Scott and Hope are in the common room with him.  

“Well, Commander Rogers, it’s good to see you.  I was wondering if you forgot about us.”  Steve smiles, knowing that Sam is yanking his chain.  

“Yes, Steve, you have left us in the dark about your current vacation choices.” Knowing that Bucky has talked to Shuri, Steve doesn’t buy into her pouting face.  

“Now that I have you all together, we should talk.” Those that were in the background at the Compound, gather around Sam to listen.  “Next month I’m being knighted here in Elisia for my help with that whole mess we dealt with.”  

There’s a cheer from everyone and Shuri is clapping.  Her next words tell Steve that Bucky has talked to her about everything.  “And what will you do once you are knighted?” Her arched eyebrow is a challenge and far be it for Steve to let that go.  

“It means that our current courting will allow us to go further, if we choose.” The common room stops chatting, looking at Steve in dismay.  

“Courting? Is that still a thing?” Hope sits next to Sam, leaning in a bit more.  

“It is when it’s royals.  We started courting about a week ago.” There are nods, but it’s Thor that makes the connection.  

“Steven, does this mean the same thing on Midgard as it did on Asgard?” Steve nods and Thor beams at him. “This is wonderful news.”  

Sam’s waving his arms around, trying to get the questions to stop long enough to get an answer.  “Whoa, whoa, whoa! Steve, are you going to marry this guy?”  

The blush and soft smile are enough of an answer.  “I haven’t told him yet, but I do love him.  I’ve been alone a long time, Sam. I want to be here, with him.”  

Sam’s laugh bursts from him.  “Well, I’ll be damned.  It’s about time.”  

In the month-long planning for the knighting ceremony, the council plans the ball that will happen afterwards.  Since it’s going to be the same night, they announce that Prince James and Commander Rogers have been officially courting for over a month, they send invites to Steve’s friends.  Knowing that he doesn’t have any living relatives means his friends are the closest thing he has to family. They arrive two days ahead of the festivities.  

Everyone is welcomed by Steve, who takes them to the palace.  Love is enthralled by the country as Thor carries her on his shoulders.  “You get to live here, Steve?”  

Steve smiles up at the little girl.  “Well, Love, I won’t actually live here when I marry Prince James.  I’ll live in his home with him.”  

“What’s the palace for then?”  She’s a curious little girl and Steve likes her quite a bit.  

“Prince James gave it to the hospital and the school.  He said they needed it more than he did.” Steve beams while he’s talking, and Sam claps him on the shoulder.  

“You’re really happy, aren’t you?” Nodding, they reach the palace doors.  The guards push them open and grin at Steve.  

“Prince James is looking for you, Commander.” Inside, DEXTER seems beside himself, which isn’t normal.  He’s even tempered under the most extreme situations.  

“Is everything okay, DEX?” Bucky comes down the stairs; he doesn’t seem any worse for wear.  

“Steve!” As he gets closer, that’s when Steve sees it.  Behind the calm exterior, Bucky’s eyes shine with unshed tears.  When he gets to Steve, he throws himself into the super soldier’s arms. It’s not typically allowed by courting couples, but considering the circumstances, DEXTER allows it.  

“Hey, hey, what’s this about?” Leaning away, Steve cups Bucky’s face in his hands, searching for answers in those iridescent blue eyes.  

Sniffling, Bucky tries to smile.  “You know I go to the hospital as many times a week as I can.  I like to talk to the patients.” Bucky takes in the group and stops.  “I’m sorry, I’m being rude to our guests.” He reaches up, wiping away the tears and trying to straighten his shirt.  

Sam shakes his head, waving off the concern.  “Don’t worry about us, Your Highness.  What’s happening?  Can we help?”  

“No, it’s too late.” A broken sob comes out of Bucky and Steve pulls him to his chest.  

“Talk to me, Buck. What happened in the hospital?”  

Looking up, Bucky seems so distraught.  “One of the young mothers died.  The placenta ruptured.  They did everything they could, but the bleeding was too bad. She left behind a little girl. She’s so small, Steve.  So helpless.”  

Steve knows it isn’t his place, but Bucky needs a moment to gather himself, so they can figure out what to do.  Elisia has an orphanage, housed in the school wing, but Bucky takes things like this as a personal failure on his part as Prince.  “DEX, can you get our guests up to their rooms.  I’m going to go with Prince James back to the hospital, so we can see what we can do to help.”  Turning to his friends, Steve looks apologetic.  “I’m sorry.  I need to take care of this.”  

Sam smirks.  “You do what you need to.”  

Back in the hospital wing, Bucky has Steve wash his hands, put on scrubs and takes him into the nursery where the little girl is swaddled and sleeping.  Looking down, Steve smiles.  She’s a really beautiful baby.  The nurse comes in, picking the little girl up and having Bucky sit in a rocking chair.  He holds her close to his chest, so she can hear his heartbeat.  Steve just watches, in awe of this man all over again.  He’s good.  Deep in his soul, he’s a good, decent man.  

“I love you.” As the words slip out, Steve doesn’t regret them.  

Bucky looks up, smiling.  “I love you too.”  Looking back down at the baby, Bucky keeps talking.  “I think I’ve loved you since that first night we talked in the stable.  Something about you was different.  I know what it is now.”  

“What?” Steve only asks because Bucky wants him to know, and he can read that in his voice.   

“You’re a decent man with a heart too big for your chest.” He hasn’t taken his eyes from the baby.  “I want to marry you, Steve.  I don’t know what I’m doing this for anymore if you aren’t next to me.”  

Steve huffs, coming over and kneeling next to the chair. “I think you and I were meant to be.”  Bucky’s eyes come up to lock with Steve’s. “I think I had to come a long way to find you and if that was a proposal, then my answer is yes.”  

“Then by royal decree, this courting is over.  We’re engaged and I’m going to kiss you like I’ve wanted to for too long.” Leaning in, Steve’s lips touch Bucky’s and his world comes into focus.  

The baby wakes with a tiny cry and the nurse comes back in with a bottle.  “Would you like to feed her, Your Highness?”  

“Yes, I would.”  

Steve goes up to the hospital the following morning, Sam and Scott in tow.  He knows that Bucky has to take care of a few things, like informing the council that he’s proposed, and Steve’s accepted.  Washing up, he slips into the scrubs while the nurse helps Sam and Scott do the same.  Once in the nursery, Steve sits in the chair.  The nurse brings in the baby and bottle.  “It’s good what you’re doin, Commander.”  

Smiling up at her, then looking down into the tiny face in his arms, Steve reaches for the bottle. “Prince James is worried about her, and I want to help if I can.”  

Nodding, the nurse leaves and Sam sits in a chair a few feet away and Scott kneels next to Steve’s chair. “She’s so little.  I remember when Cassie was born, and I thought I’d never love anything the way I love her.”  

“How is Cassie?” Scott beams up at Steve.  

“I missed so much but she’s still my little girl.” Steve nods and lets that sobering thought take up too much space in his head.  Scott sees the guilt.  “Don’t do that, Steve. Don’t think about the things we lost right now.  Look at that little face and remember all the good that’s come from what we did.”  

“He’s right.” Steve looks over at Sam. “We lost a lot.  Time, people, direction, but we’re gaining too much for you to let the losses fill up that big head of yours.”  

Chuckling, Steve watches the baby. “I know. I wish that we could have done things better, but we did what we could.”  

“And what you could do was good, Steve.” Looking up, Bucky is standing in the doorway. “I was going to come and feed her, but I guess you had the same idea.”  

“I wanted her to have someone here for her.” The two men are staring at each other and Sam knocks his foot against Scott’s.  

“You know, she’s going to need a home and this palace is pretty damned big.” Scott catches on to what Sam is saying.  

“Oh yeah, I mean, she’s all alone and no kid should be in that position.” Steve narrows his eyes and looks at his friends.  

Then he looks over at Bucky. “I think we’re being ganged up on, Buck.”  

“That does seem to be what’s happening.  I’m glad they’re your friends and not mine.” Sam barks with laughter and Scott sits on the floor chuckling. Steve looks back down at the baby and wonders if maybe they aren’t wrong.  

The day of the knighting Steve is back in the hospital wing. He’s dressed for the ceremony, but has been coming to see the little girl every day.  Looking down at her little face, Steve thinks that maybe he and Bucky could give her something permanent. He heads downstairs and into the waiting area outside the throne room.  

As a multitude of people watch, Steve marches up the aisle and kneels in front of Bucky.  The prince is wearing his uniform covered in ribbons and medals.  The only thing that isn’t military issued is the crown on his head.  Steve isn’t wearing a uniform because the only one he has is the 1940’s design.  Bucky thinks he looks like a dream in his deep blue suit and can’t take his eyes from the man at his feet.  

“You showed great determination and courage in the face of a trying situation. Commander Rogers, you are hereby dubbed, Sir Steven, of the House of Rogers, Knight Excellence of Elisia.” Steve feels the sword touch each shoulder and understands the enormity of what’s happening.  “Rise, Sir Steven.”  

Rising to his feet, Steve smiles at Bucky and turns to the applause.  Leaning in, Steve whispers, “Should we tell them now?”  

Bucky winks and raises his hands to quiet the crowd while whispering to Steve.  “I promised the council I would wait until tonight at the gala.” Then raising his voice, he addresses the crowd, “Ladies and gentlemen, there is a reception in the garden.  Please join us.”  

Bucky pulls Steve down a narrow hallway and into a small reading room.  Pushing him into a wall, Steve starts to speak. “Buck, what’s...”  

“Don’t talk.” Then Bucky’s kissing him and Steve feels everything in him calm and soften. Before long, Steve turns Bucky, pushing him to half sit on a table, lifting one of his legs to get a better position. Bucky’s hands dig into Steve’s hair, pulling just slightly causing the super soldier to moan into the kiss.  Pulling away, Bucky’s face holds a feral look, one that Steve’s never seen before.  

“If they keep me away from you for much longer, I’m going to say screw tradition and climb you like a damn tree.” Steve smirks, pulling Bucky in again.  

His lips find Bucky’s neck, wanting more than anything to suck a mark there, so everyone will know. He stops himself though. “I’ll climb down the side of this palace and sneak into your bed if you’re not careful.”  

The kissing would continue, but DEXTER opens the door, shaking his head.  “Sirs, this is most inappropriate.”  

Bucky drops his head onto Steve’s shoulder.  “It could have been a lot more inappropriate if you hadn’t interrupted.”  

“I would apologize, Your Highness, but I do have a job to do.”  

Steve whispers, “That job must be to cockblock us.”  

“Yes, Commander, that’s exactly what my job is until I can get you down the aisle.” Both men chuckle and Bucky finally looks over at his friend. “I’ve brought the sash for Commander Rogers.”  

Going over, Bucky takes the box, sitting it on a side table.  When he opens it, the sash is an elaborate design with the crest of the House of Barnes stitched into it, with crossed swords and added to the bottom is a shield.  Taking it from the box, Bucky turns to Steve.  “You’ll need to wear this at the reception and the gala tonight.”   

It’s a beautiful silk sash with a vibrant blue middle and bright gold trim.  Lifting it over Steve’s head, Bucky places it correctly.  “Thank you.”  The two men just stare at each other, until DEXTER clears his throat.  

“While we could stand here, staring at each other, there are party goers waiting.” Steve is sure that whatever Bucky meant for the original AI to be, DEXTER has exceeded expectations by being snarkier than even Tony Stark.   

“Buck, is he always going to be this much of a downer?” Bucky snorts, turning to his friend.  

“It’s a flaw in my design.”  

The gala is a white tie affair.  Thor has given Love permission to stay for the first hour, then she’s off to bed.  Steve descends the stairs, feeling slightly uncomfortable, but looks like a dream in his white tie and tails.  The sash crosses over his shoulder, showing his affiliation with the House of Barnes. Everyone turns, admiring the man that is either their friend or a defender of their country.  

Carol pulls her wife over as Steve reaches the bottom step.  “Sir Steven, I’d like to introduce you to my wife Maria.” He’s not sure he’s ever going to get used to being called Sir, so when Steve blushes, Maria doesn’t miss it.  

Offering his hand, Maria takes it, smiling. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Commander.”  

“I hope that’s a good thing.” He gives a nervous chuckle.  

Maria takes his arm and leads him to the bar. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’d like to ask you about jets you’ve flown.”  

“There haven’t been many, but I’ll answer what I can.” He takes the offered glass of champaign. “Are you a pilot?”  

“I’m the commander of the Elisia Air Force.” Steve’s about to respond when Maria turns, facing the stairs.  Steve turns too and sees Bucky coming down.  His breath catches and completely misses how Maria is watching him. “He’s quite something.”  

The words filter into Steve’s mind and without taking his eyes from Bucky, he does respond. “He’s more than that.  He’s everything I never let myself hope for.” The crown on Bucky’s head is a reminder to Steve that he’s always going to protect and care for his prince, but the man wearing the crown has Steve’s whole heart.  

Stepping away, after placing the glass on the bar, Steve goes to the stairs, bowing low to his prince. “Your Highness, I hope it’s not out of turn to comment on how beautiful you look.”  

Bucky reaches out, taking Steve’s hand. “It’s not and I thank you, but you should know that no one is looking at me.  They only have eyes for you.”  

“Yours are the only eyes that matter to me.”  

Bucky doesn’t release Steve’s hand and they make their way through the crowd, fingers linked.  As the night progresses, the two men dance together on multiple occasions and as it nears a late hour, Carol takes the stairs, gaining the attention of the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, the council has had many opportunities to share news with the people of Elisia.  Some heartbreaking,” Bucky looks at Steve, then leans into his shoulder, “but tonight we have news that will bring great joy to the people of the country we love so much. After years of waiting, His Royal Highness has finally decided to marry.” There’s excitement vibrating through the crowd and Sam bumps Steve’s shoulder. “A few days ago, Prince James proposed to Commander Rogers, and it was accepted.”  

There’s a cheer that goes up and people start to make their way to the two men to congratulate them. After a few minutes, Bucky heads to the stairs, Steve being pulled with him. Carol steps down, leaving Bucky to speak from his heart. “I remember my father talking about my mother and wondering if I would ever know what that feeling was like.” He looks over at Steve, who’s blushing. “It was not my intention to fall in love with a man that came to help protect my people, but I did. He brought with him all the best qualities of my country.  He is good, decent, kind and quite lovely to look at, if I do say so myself.”  Everyone chuckles and Steve sees Scott wink at him. “As much as I understand the desire of everyone here to plan a lavish wedding, it is my hope that the council will allow us to forgo the normal months of waiting and get this event planned quickly.” He looks at Steve, locking eyes. “I don’t think I want to wait nearly a year to call you husband.”  

Leaning in, they share a crowd appropriate kiss. Steve looks at his friends and the faces of people that will be his countrymen soon.  “Thank you for your welcome and the happiness you have about this.  I will always support my prince and love the man.”  

After three months, planning is almost finished.  Instead of the customary year, the council pushed through everything that is necessary for a royal wedding. Bucky spends his days working with the people that are contributing and fielding issues with seating and guests.  Steve spends his days as he normally would, with the added benefit of being able to spend time with the baby girl that he’s come to love like his own.  

He’s sitting under a tree, near the lake, feeding her when he hears footsteps approach. “Ah, Sir Steven, I thought I might find you here.”  

Smiling up at DEXTER, Steve looks back down when the baby grunts.  “Uh oh, I think someone is going to need a diaper change soon.” She’s at an age where she does smile and according to the social worker at the orphanage, she smiles brightest when Steve or the prince come to see her.  It’s going to get complicated, and Steve’s concerned about what he’ll say to Bucky.  

DEXTER watches the play of emotions on Steve’s face. “You have a predictable schedule these days.” Steve looks up again. “You run in the mornings, workout with the guard, breakfast with His Highness, and then go to pick up the baby for the day.”  

“Bucky’s busy these days and doesn’t have a lot of time, so I spend my days with my other favorite person.”  The baby coos up at him and Steve moves her to his shoulder to burp.  “Yep, she’s definitely going to need a diaper change.”  

Once she’s burped, Steve lays her on the blanket and digs out the diapers and wipes.  “Sir, I am hoping that we can talk.”  

Something about the words seems serious. “What’s on your mind, DEX?”  

The android sits in the grass, watching Steve change the diaper. “Prince James has,” DEXTER pauses, and Steve looks over, “I am not quite sure how to have this conversation. It is ‘out of my comfort zone.’”  

Steve laughs. “Just say what it is.”  

“You spend much time with the baby, and I am concern for what that means.” This time, Steve doesn’t look up because this is what he’s been afraid of happening. There’s a pause from DEXTER, like he’s trying to decide something important. “Steve, are you...have you been considering...do you want the baby?”  

“Yes.” He’s not going to lie and it’s better this comes out now rather than later.  

“This is good.” That’s a bit of a surprise and Steve doesn’t hide that fact. “Sir, Prince James has been trying to resolve his own feeling about this matter and how to bring it up to you. If you want her too, then it isn’t the issue that he believes it to be.”  

For a time, Steve is speechless and unsure how to ask the questions he wants.  Once the baby seems to be falling asleep on the blanket, Steve finally looks over. “What do we have to do to adopt her?”  

DEXTER freezes, computing the time restraint or so Steve thinks. When he looks back at Steve, he gives a barely there smile. “It is done.”  

DEXTER gets up, and Steve jumps up after him, grabbing the android's arm. “What do you mean, it’s done?”  

“It is quite simple, Commander, the orphanage has been waiting for the two of you to ‘get your heads out of your asses,’ as the saying goes and I have submitted the forms on your behalf” Kneeling, Steve picks the sleeping baby up, cradling her against his chest. “Now, she will need a name befitting a Princess of Elisia.”  

“Get the blanket and bag, DEX.  I need to talk to my fiancé.” Steve trusts DEXTER to get the baby’s things back to his apartment in the palace and heads straight to the council chamber.  

The guard sees him coming with the baby and opens the door.  All heads turn to him when he enters and Bucky’s face lights up.  “Steve.”  

Going straight to Bucky, Steve leans in, kissing him. “You should have told me you wanted to adopt her too.  I’ve been trying to figure out how to talk to you about it and DEXTER tells me you’ve been doing the same.”  

Looking down at the little face, Bucky smiles softly. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted her or just wanted to help.”  

“Well, she’s ours now and we have to name her.” The door opens again and DEXTER steps in. The council members watch as this situation unfolds.  Their prince and his fiancé have adopted a baby, and it creates a new problem for the wedding plans.  

“Did you just say...” Bucky looks over at DEXTER.  

“Your Royal Highness, there was no need to wait and since she’s alone in the orphanage nursery, I assumed you would want that to end as soon as possible.” Bucky’s eyes well up and looks at Steve.  

“We have a daughter, Buck, and we don’t even have a name for her yet.” Placing a soft kiss on the sleeping baby’s head, Bucky gives one to Steve as well.  

“We have a daughter.” He turns to the council, grinning and crying. “We have a daughter.”  

The session is closed for the day, so Prince James and Sir Steven can discuss a name for their beautiful little girl.    

“What was your mother’s name?” Bucky’s swaying back and forth, holding his daughter close to his heart.  He looks over at Steve, smiling.  

“Oh, uh, Winifred.  My father called her Winnie.” Steve steps in close to Bucky, cupping the baby’s head.  

“Why don’t we call her Winifred?” Bucky nods because he’ll cry if he tries to talk.  

“What about your mother?” Bucky knows what everyone knows, but has gained more knowledge through Steve about Sarah Rogers.  

“Do you have middle names here?  I know that some countries don’t.” Bucky gives a half-hearted shrug telling Steve that they don’t.  “What about you?  You have a middle name.”  

“I have one because I was given my mother’s family name and that’s where Bucky came from.” He explains that his mother didn’t want to hyphenate his last name, so they decided to use her family name in another way.  “What is your mother’s family name?”  

Saying the name in his head, Steve grins. “I think that’s a great idea.  She can be Winifred Donaghue Barnes.”  

“Barnes?” They stare at each other. “You want her to have my name?  You don’t want to hyphenate?”  

Reaching up, Steve cups Bucky’s face, caressing over his cheek.  “Buck, I’m taking your name too.” Bucky’s eyes widen in shock. “I know we haven’t really talked about it, but I’m coming into your country, marrying the Crowned Prince, so it seems the natural thing to do.”  When Bucky still doesn’t speak, Steve chuckles.  “I told you I don’t feel competitive about your position.”  

“Yes, but Steve, you’re the Steve Rogers. That name means something all over the world.” This time, Steve laughs loud enough to disturb the baby.  

Stepping behind Bucky, Steve wraps his arms around them both and rocks them back and forth to calm her. “Yes, I supposed it does, but Steve Barnes will also carry weight because I’m the husband of a prince and father to a princess.”  

“I love you more than I thought possible.” They have DEXTER update the official forms the following day.  That night, it’s everything Bucky can do to leave them when DEXTER comes for him.  The pleading look almost works and he almost leaves Bucky in Steve’s apartment.    

Almost.  

It’s a month before the wedding and Sam’s trying to clear everything, so they can all make the trip.  They’re not talking to the UN about this because they aren’t going to Elisia as the Avengers; they’re going in as friends of Steve Rogers.  Plus, Sam’s getting tired of talking things over with the UN every time they have to leave the country.  In the last few months, he’s been making those decisions himself, with the support of everyone on the team.  

This morning, before Sam even had time for coffee, he received a message from the agents in the command center. When he arrives the agent in charge pulls him into her office. “We might have a problem, Cap.”  

Sitting on the edge of the desk, Sam sighs. “What’s going on?”  

She pulls up some satellite images and communications. “For the last week I’ve had all teams monitoring something that came across my desk.”  She pulls out a file, handing it over.  Sam opens it, seeing that it came from the desk of Pepper Potts-Stark.  Looking back at Angelina, Sam gives her a questioning look. That concern that he and Steve had months ago seems to be coming back around. “Cap, you gotta understand, Mrs. Stark doesn’t want to have anything to do with this part of Stark Industries and trusts us to do this job and keep people safe.”  

“Okay, I get that, and I get why she feels that way, but this came from her directly to you, so what gives?” She nods, reaching over to flip the pages.  

“She was invited to the wedding and because she’s going to be traveling with her daughter, she wanted to do her own threat analysis.  You know how she is when it comes to Morgan.”  Sam nods and truly does understand why Pepper is so protective. “Well, her executive assistant came back with that.”   

Sam looks down, reading the assessment from Happy.  “This is not good.”  

“No sir, it’s not and we need to figure out what to do about it because Commander Rogers is going to be in the middle of this with Prince James.” Closing the file, Sam just sits for a few seconds and Angelina waits.  

“I’m going to pull the team in, including Shuri, and we’re going to fix this before it can affect the wedding.” He leaves the office running all of this information over in his head.  He wonders how Happy came across this information before they did.  When he’s back in his office, he calls the man to find out.  

“Cap, it’s good to see you.” Happy isn’t smiling.  Since Tony’s death, five years ago, Happy only smiles when he’s with Morgan.  Now that she’s almost 10, Happy is even more protective of her and Pepper.  The older Morgan gets, the more obvious it is that she’s just as smart, if not smarter, than Tony.  His life has become making sure Pepper doesn’t worry too much and that Morgan is nurtured and lives a happy life.  

“Mr. Hogan, I’m sure you know why I’m calling.” Happy gives a huff that almost turns into a smile.  

“I do and I’m sure you want to know where the information came from.” Sam nods and Happy does let a little smile cross his face. “Mrs. Stark doesn’t like to get involved with the day to day at the Compound, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t watching everyone.  We monitor all of you 24/7.”  

“Uh, Happy, you want to explain that because it sounds a bit...stalkerish.” In a rare moment of joy, Happy laughs.  

“I’m sure it does, but if Mrs. Stark can keep anything from happening to you, she’s going to.  You stand between the world and chaos. You’re all pretty important to her.” Sam always wondered if she blamed the Avengers for Tony’s death, but what he’s hearing that isn’t the case. “So, Commander Rogers, or should I say, Sir Steven of Elisia, is being monitored too.” Sam nods. “So, after the mess in Elisia with that asshat Ross, I started doing some digging.  See, Cap, I didn’t think that Ross could have pulled this off without someone’s help.  He’s smart and conniving, but he couldn’t have done it alone without anyone knowing.  I went back a year and started looking at everything and everyone that Ross had his hands in. FRIDAY has been upgraded since Morgan started messing with the algorithm and was able to dig into places that the government, meaning Ross, thinks are secure. It led me to that mission.”   

Sam opens the file again, reading through it again. “This makes it look like the wedding day is going to be a massacre.”  

“Can you think of a day when Elisia’s defenses will be down more than that day?”  

The plan is for Sam and the others to arrive in Elisia a week before the wedding.  Steve hasn’t told them about Winnie because he wants to surprise them with his daughter. She’s nearly six months old now and crawling all over the palace and cottage.  Bucky comes to Steve’s apartment before either of them are up or any chance he gets to see them during the day. In the evening, they go to the cottage and have dinner until it’s time for Winnie to go to bed. Winnie smiles all the time now and seems firmly bonded to both men, who treat her like she’s perfect.  

Today, Bucky’s making last minute changes to the seating charts because they received word that Virginia Stark, her daughter Morgan, and her executive assistant, Mr. Hogan, will be coming to the wedding.  He’s a bit surprised because she doesn’t usually travel unless necessary, but he’s guessing that Steve’s important to her.  

They are down to two weeks and Bucky will be glad when this chaos is over.  The council didn’t come in today, so that leaves him with his own thoughts.  What he wants to do is go and find Steve and their daughter, but this has to get done.    

The door opens and he looks up hoping to see Steve.  Instead, he gets DEXTER. “Prince James, we have a communication from Captain Wilson.  He and the rest of the Avengers are enroute.”  

“Wait, they’re coming here? Now?” DEXTER nods and every hair on Bucky’s body stands on end.  “This isn’t good. Get Steve.”  

The two men stand in the field waiting for the jet to land. Winnie is clinging to Bucky because the noise from the jet is new.  Bucky kisses her, whispering that everything is okay.  DEXTER stands in front of the two men and little girl. His first responsibility is to protect them.  When the ramp lowers, the team is lead off by Captain America.  “He’s in uniform, Steve.”  

“They all are, so it’s worse than we thought.” Offering his hand to Sam, Steve looks leery.  “Sam?”  

“We have a situation.” Steve looks forlorn at Bucky and Winnie. “I’m not asking you to leave, Steve. This is about your wedding.” Looking over at Bucky, Sam bows. “Your Highness, it’s good to see you and both of you are going to have to explain the baby.  That's new.”  

On the way back to the palace, Steve explains about the baby they met the last time they were here. Sam nods in all the right places, but Steve knows his mind is on something else.  Whatever this is, that brings the whole team, is bad. Once inside the council chamber, Steve turns. “Okay, what’s this about?”  

“Ross went quieter than we thought he would, still caused some issues, but he’s been saving it. He has enough followers that he’s going to attack Elisia again and this time, he’s doing it on the day of the wedding.” Bucky hands Winnie to Steve and goes to the computer.  

Prince James isn’t Bucky anymore.  He’s the leader of Elisia and the commander of the army. “I’ll call in the council while you fill me in on what’s happening.  If he’s coming into this country again, he’s going to find out what we can really do to him.”  

Shuri’s jet lands a little later that day.  She’s suited up too, but without the helmet. When they explain to her what’s happening, she looks pissed and ready to fight. A few hours after that, the general calls into the council chamber. “Sir, we have an unidentified object coming in from the west.”  

Bucky grabs his Protectorate and heads outside. Looking back at Steve, he huffs. “Keep our girl safe, Steve.”  He’s gone after that, and Steve holds his sleeping daughter close to his chest.  

Bucky’s taking aim at the object that seems to be a missile. “General, what are the sensors telling us?”  

“Sir, it doesn’t meet any schematics...wait...it can’t be.”  

“General?” Bucky barks.  

“Sir, it’s Iron Man.” Everything is being transmitted into the council chamber. Steve looks over at Sam and the rest of the team.  They run for the door, needing to see this for themselves.  

Once outside, Winnie is nearly crying from being jostled around and Steve’s trying to shush her fear. The object slows, turns 90 degrees and lowers to the ground. It isn’t Iron Man. It’s Rescue. The blue and silver suit’s thrusters power down and the helmet melts away. “It’s good to see you all.”  

They’re all stunned to see Pepper. She’s never indicated that she’d ever put the suit on again, but something brought her here. “Mrs. Stark, I have to ask why you’ve entered my country without permission.”  

Bucky doesn’t know this woman, but from everything Steve’s told him, she’s a good person. That doesn’t stop him from being unimpressed by her entrance. “There are a few threats that make putting this suit on worth it and taking down a man that has no regard for a sovereign country and even less regard for what the Avengers do, is one of those threats.” She looks over at Steve, holding a baby and smiles. “And when it involves the people that Tony cared the most about, I’ll take those odds.”  

“Mrs. Stark, it isn’t that I begrudge you the desire to be part of this, but Elisia has the capacity to care for itself.” She’s smiling with her head down, having been aware of some of the tech they use here.  

“I understand that and would never cross into your country without permission without a good reason.” She taps her chest, and the suit melts away into the plate on her sternum. She reaches into the pocket of her jeans, pulling out a small device. “I have more information about the coming attack and thought it was important enough to bring it myself.”  She looks over at Steve. “And I have a few words of council for Commander Rogers, or should I say, Sir Steven.”  

Bucky leads the group inside, keeping an eye on this situation. Steve is pulling up the rear with Pepper, watching her out of the corner of his eye. “Mrs. Stark, I’m a little confused by this and I hope you can understand why.”  

She chuckles and looks at the baby in Steve’s arms. “I’m sure you are but I have something I want to say to you and now that I see her,” she indicates the baby, “I think it’s even more important.”  

Back in the chamber, Bucky hands the small disk to DEXTER. Holding it between his fingers, the information starts filtering onto the screen. Everything has been strained since the Avengers showed up in uniform. Bucky’s on edge and Steve knows it. He’s torn between taking care of his daughter, taking care of Bucky, or taking care of this situation. Growing up with his Ma, Steve saw everything she was willing to give up for him.  There were times that she was torn between her job and his wellbeing. Now that he’s in that position, he doesn’t know what to do.  

Ross is going to attack this little country, that’s become home, because of Steve. That much is clear. This isn’t really about Elisia or Bucky; this is about Steve. Looking down into Winnie’s face, she’s looking up at her daddy with a smile. She starts to kick her legs and Steve knows she’ll want to eat soon. Using that as his excuse, he turns, leaving the room. Bucky’s been talking to the group, getting more information, but when Steve walks out, he stops.  

“I’ll be back.” Prince James moves through the halls, looking for Steve. He has an attack to plan for and having Commander Rogers there is necessary.  He needs the man’s skills and talents for this, so when Steve walked out, it alerted him that something was wrong.  

When he finds Steve, in the kitchen, with Winnie in a highchair having a snack, he stops.  For the last few hours, he’s been Prince James, not Bucky, and he’s been thinking about Steve as Commander Rogers, not his fiancé and other father to their daughter. When Steve looks over, he blushes, knowing that he’s disappointing Bucky.  “I’m sorry, but one of us has to think about her and it can’t be you.”  

Bucky’s shoulders slump and he leans on the wall.  “No, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that.”  

Winnie squeals and claps her hands. Steve looks back and offers her another bite. “You did what you had to, and I understand, but there’s something you aren’t thinking about, and you should.”  

Going over, he sits in the chair at the table, next to Steve. “What’s that?”  

“This is about me, Buck, you know that. He’s looking to take revenge on me for everything I did.” Bucky nods, but doesn’t like where this is going. “I could leave here and make it public enough that he’d leave Elisia alone and come after me.  I can lead him away from here and you’d never have to deal with this attack.”  

“Steve...” Turning to face Bucky, Steve breaks into his thoughts.  

“No, now listen, this is my home now.” Steve lets his emotions show and it’s painful. “It’s all so much.”  

“What do you mean?” Bucky reaches out, taking Steve’s hand.  

“When I made the decision to come here and stay, I knew how people were going to view it.  They see it as me abandoning America. That isn’t what I did. I came here because the America, with its hopes and dreams, isn’t the place that it is now.  Since the blip and the return, things are not good and as much as I would like to say my presence there would make a difference, it doesn’t. I’ve been disillusioned for a long time, since coming out of the ice and being manipulated into doing someone else’s bidding. I came here and what I know America could be is what Elisia already is. I’m tired of fighting for something that America can’t be anymore.  There’s so much hate,” his voice starts to trail off, “so much hate. This is a place where there was one baby in the orphanage because no child in Elisia stays there very long. This place is like magic where the people believe in good, they believe in you. I believe in you. Bringing me here, it didn’t do anything but make Elisia less safe for all the people that call this home. If I leave, then Elisia will be safe, and you and Winnie will be too.”  

They don’t see the team standing in the doorway with DEXTER, until Pepper speaks up. “All of that is why you can’t leave here.” Steve and Bucky look over. “Steve, the reason that I came myself is because you’ve been fighting this battle for a long time and when you finally find something for yourself, you’re willing to let it go to make it safe.  This time, let us make it safe for you.”  

“Why Pepper?  Why put yourself in danger for me?  We don’t even know each other except that I was there the day your husband died.” She pushes off the wall and comes into the kitchen, smiling at Winnie.  

“That’s why. For five years the only regret that Tony had was that he never fixed anything with you.  He was too proud, just like you, and that was always the problem.  His beliefs ran as deep as yours; you and Tony were just alike. In all the important ways.” She leans on the table, looking Steve dead in the eye. “Tony Stark did what he did because he believed in it.  He made mistakes that nearly cost him his life on multiple occasions, but he did it anyway. Just like you. Now, I have a chance to make sure that nothing happens to the one regret Tony died with.” She’s tearing up. “You.”  

The rest of the team comes in, staring down at their former commander and his intended husband. Winnie squeals again and everyone chuckles. “Steve, this place is where you need to be.  It doesn’t surprise me that you’re willing to walk away to keep it safe, but for once in your life, listen to the people around you. Let us help you make this place safe with you in it.” Sam looks down at Bucky. “Something tells me this guy wouldn’t let you leave anyway.”  

Bucky turns from Sam back to Steve. “My people believe in me, or I wouldn’t be on the throne. I believe in you and us and her.” He points over at Winnie. “I believe that we’re strong enough to withstand anything coming for us. I believe that when Ross comes, we’re going to show him that he has no concept of what family can do.” Looking over at DEXTER, Bucky squares his shoulders and is once more Prince James. “I will not go into this battle until Sir Steven is my husband.  You tell the council that we’re planning out our defense and they better get someone in the palace today because we’re getting married now.”  

“Buck?” The team lets the battle talk fall away and are all grinning.  

“I’m serious, Steve.  You and I are getting married today. We can do all the pomp and circumstance later, but you’ll be my husband by the time this day ends.” Reaching out, he takes Steve’s hand. Looking up at the group, he smiles. “We’ll need witnesses.  I hope all of you are planning on helping us out with that.”  

The group is led back to the small stream where Steve and Bucky first started to realize their feelings. Winnie coos at everything around her, held securely in Steve’s arms. They didn’t dress up for this because, truthfully, this is just for them. The team grins all the way and the council seems unsure. DEXTER is working through the logistics of how to explain this to the people of Elisia when the time comes for the big celebration.  

There’s an eminent attack coming, they all know it, but this moment is for two men that need the comfort of knowing they have this.  Bucky squeezes Steve’s hand, telling him that this is what he wanted, not the immense fanfare, but this.   

When they reach the stream, the sun is filtering through the trees, just like it did all those months ago. “It’s perfect.” Steve looks over at Hope, smiling.  

“Sir, we do have pressing issues, so it’s necessary to...” Bucky pats his friend on the shoulder.  

“I know, DEX.” Everyone takes their places and Carol comes to stand in front of the two men.  

“Prince James, I must ask, one last time, if you’re sure this is beneficial for Elisia.” There’s something about how she’s holding her mouth and a twinkle in her eyes that tells Steve and Bucky she’s happy to be doing this, but has to maintain the traditions.  

“Yes, I’m sure.” He looks around at his friends and peers, then at DEX, and finally back to Steve. “I know we have a battle coming and protecting my home is important, but Steve is part of my home now and with our daughter, it needs to be now.”  

Nodding, Carol indicates where the two men should stand. “Would you like to have one of your friends hold the princess, sir?”  

Bucky and Steve smile at each other.  “No, I think she should be part of this too.  I’ll hold her.”  

Steve hands her over to Bucky and Winnie gets a kiss to her head. That makes her giggle. “Well, I certainly didn’t expect to be doing this today, but it warms my heart just as it will warm the hearts of Elisia that His Royal Highness has found the love he so richly deserves.” Looking around, Carol’s eyes come back to the two men. “Join hands and I’ll make this simple and painless.” There are chuckles from everyone. “Today, His Royal Highness, Prince James of the sovereign principality of Elisia wishes to marry Sir Steven of the House of Rogers, but more importantly, Bucky and Steve want to join their lives and hearts. Today, we get to witness two good, decent men binding their lives together.” She looks at her prince. “Bucky, do you come here today, free from doubt to marry this man?”  

Bucky looks up at Steve with a blinding smile. “I do.”  

“Steve, do you come here today, free from doubt to marry this man?”  

“I do.”   

Carol looks around at the group. “There are times when we witness a marriage and it’s built on desires that have no place in wedlock.  What we witness here today is love, the purest kind, the kind that gives hope to those around it. Bucky and Steve have grown together, faced hardships together, and through all of that, they never lost sight of the other.” She looks over at DEXTER. “Do you have the rings?” Stepping to her side, DEXTER takes them from his pocket and hands them to her. “Everyone here bestows on these rings the wishes for great joy, even when the times are hard, great understanding, when you don’t see eye to eye, and great friendship because all marriages should be built on mutual respect for the other.”  She looks back at the Avengers. “It is a tradition in Elisia to charge the guests as guardians to those that are marrying. So, I charge you with this, keep these two in your hearts. Marriage can be difficult, and they will need friends that don’t choose a side and just listen. I charge you with being the guardians of their faith in each other and their faith in their positions.  Will you accept your role as guardian to these two men?”  

Everyone looks at each other, not sure what to do, so Shuri steps forward. “We will stand as guardians to them for as long as we live.”  

Carol winks at her. “Very well.” Taking a deep breath, she looks back to Steve and Bucky. “Bucky,” before she can continue, Bucky stops her.  

“I’d like to recite my own vows.” Carol nods and Bucky shifts Winnie just a little, so he can hold Steve’s hand better. “Steve, when you came here and proved that you are worthy of the praise given to you, I started to fall in love with you.  I’d heard stories about you as Captain America, then as Commander Rogers, but that isn’t why you did what you did.  You fought for Elisia because it was the right thing to do. The way you protected us and me, gave me a new perspective on life.  I realized that I could love you and still be what my country needed. I gave myself permission to love you.” Steve’s face is flushed, and Bucky can tell that his words are getting to the man he loves. “Today, I promise that everything you’ve done to protect this country and to protect me will come back to you. When I look into your eyes, I see my future and the future of our daughter. The way you love us is overwhelming and chivalrous.  The way you accept the duties of my life is humbling.  I promise that you will never doubt that you have my heart and I never want it back because I know you’ll keep it safe. I promise that no matter how busy my job is, I will not lose sight of what’s most important. I love you, down to the core of who I am.”  

Carol sniffles and she’s not the only one.  “Well, I don’t usually cry at weddings, but you got me, sir.” Bucky chuckles, but doesn’t look away from Steve.  “Steve, do you want to say something?”  

“Uh, yeah, I do.” Getting a nod, Steve hopes that he doesn’t mess this up. “Bucky, when I came here, it was just a job.  I was determined to do that job to the best of my ability.  I wasn’t expecting to be sitting under that tree, right over there, and look at you, lit by the sun, and question my reasons. For years, Tony, Natasha, even Sam, pushed me to find something I could hold onto, something I could have that’s just mine.  I didn’t listen because who was ever going to see past the shield or the title, to the man grasping for something that wasn’t duty or...cold.” Bucky starts to tear up, just like Steve.  Winnie looks between her fathers, cooing again. “Look at what you’ve given me. It started as respect, then turned to friendship. Then I looked up one day and saw what I’ve wanted since I listened to my mother talking about my father. You are the dream. I promise to make sure you know that every day. You are my dream. You’ve been holding my heart as your own for much longer than I’m willing to admit. I love you, Your Royal Highness, Prince James of Elisia, my Bucky.”  

The exchange of rings happens quickly. “Prince James, you may kiss your husband.” They kiss each other, then their daughter, who giggles. Looking at the group, Carol laughs while saying, “May I present to you, Prince James of Elisia and his husband, Prince Steven.”  

Steve stops laughing and looks at Carol, then at Bucky. “Uh...what?”  

Bucky cackles at that, hugging Steve. “Elisia is about equality, Steve. By marrying me, you made yourself a prince.”  

“But, I don’t...what does that...” Everyone laughs, including Steve’s friends.  

“It doesn’t mean you have to rule or do anything that’s my job. As long as you treat the people of Elisia with respect and love, it’s just a title. Unless...” Steve knows what he’s going to say and stops him with a kiss.  

He whispers against Bucky’s lips. “Nothing will happen to you because I won’t let it. You are my husband and my prince, so I’d give my life for you.”  

“It won’t come to that.”  

Back in the council chamber, DEXTER has food brought in and there’s a short celebration before the conversation turns back to the invasion.  Steve still feels strange, but with Winnie in his lap and Bucky holding his hand, he stays and contributes to the work. Occasionally, he looks down at his hand, seeing the ring and what they did hits him all over again.   

They got married.  

He looks over at Bucky, who is giving him a look. It’s a look that Steve’s seen before, but once they started courting, nothing could come of it. Now, they’re married and Steve’s trying to figure out why they’re still sitting here with their friends and not in a bed somewhere.  

Looking across the table, he sees Pepper and Shuri watching him, elbowing Sam. Steve knows how important this planning session is, but now that it’s on his mind, he can’t get it to stop. Giving Bucky a side glance, his husband stands. “Everyone, I think we’ve made good progress today, but I believe we are all in need of some rest.”   

Everyone at the table sees the minute that Prince James realizes that their daughter will need care. “Your Highness,…"  

Before Carol can finish speaking, Sam goes over, scooping Winnie into his arms. She giggles when he swings her up. “Now, Little Miss and I are going to get to know each other better.” He grins over at Steve. “She’s going to be in the care of the Avengers and Black Panther. I think she’ll be just fine.”  

The group heads out of the room and to the apartments they’ve been given in the palace. Bucky looks over at his advisors. Clearing his throat, he tries to be professional. “Let’s adjourn this meeting until tomorrow morning. I think we’ll all be more clear-headed at that time.”  

Carol is smirking because she’s well aware of what’s actually happening. “Your Highnesses, we will see you tomorrow...around 10?” Bucky’s nodding as Steve is pulling him out of the room.  

They pass DEXTER and Bucky grins. “It’s appropriate now, so leave us alone until tomorrow morning. No earlier than 8!” He shouts the last part because Steve’s picked him up, thrown him over his shoulder, and is heading to the cottage.  

Steve doesn’t stop until he’s in Bucky’s bedroom.  “I’ve never been in your bedroom.  It’s nice.” He throws Bucky on the bed. “Now, get your clothes off.”  

Bucky bounces on the bed, cackling at Steve. “To be clear, this is our bedroom now.”   

“Yeah, I guess it is, but I don’t care about that.” Steve leans over, helping Bucky slip his shirt off. “Seriously, get your clothes off.”  

Unbuttoning his jeans, Bucky slips them down his legs.  Steve grabs the end and yanks, throwing them across the room. “You’re acting like you’ve been impatient for this.”  

Steve stands, glaring down at Bucky. “We slept in a bed together once, and we slept, then I’m told I can’t do that anymore.  Now, I’m allowed to, not only, be in the same bed with you, but do all the things I’ve been thinking about.” He points down at Bucky, who’s just grinning. “And just so you know, I dream about you every damn night, Buck, and this is always what it’s about.”  

Bucky slips his boxers down his legs, giving Steve a sultry look, he sits up, kicking them to the floor. Reaching over, he unbuttons Steve’s jeans. Steve’s eyes have grown wide, getting to finally see everything he’s dreamed about being under Bucky’s clothes. Swallowing thickly, Steve can’t stop looking. “Is this what you’ve dreamed about, Steve?”  

Nodding, Steve’s hand slides into Bucky’s hair, leaning in, he kisses his husband, carefully laying him back out on the bed. “Let me just look at you for a little while.” He doesn’t just look though; he kisses his way across Bucky’s body, searching out all the places that excite his husband most. “So beautiful.”  

Throwing his head back, Bucky keens. “Steve...please...get your clothes off...”  

Everything about the night is slow. How Steve takes Bucky apart is slow. How they move together is slow. How he feels the love grow inside of him is slow. The realization that Bucky will always be his life comes on slow and lingers in Steve’s movements. Looking down into Bucky’s face, Steve’s breath catches at how the man is looking back at him. “Tell me you love me.”  

Steve’s rhythm faulters when Bucky reverts to his native language to answer. “ Sa oled mu armastus ja kõik, mis mu elus on ilus.”  

He has no idea what Bucky’s said, but it’s lovely. Bucky’s hands grasp at Steve’s shoulders, pulling him closer. Bucky’s mouth is slack and as his head pushes back into the pillow, Steve can tell he’s close. Just knowing that has Steve grinding into Bucky, causing the man to clinch his eyes shut and whine. “Come for me, Buck.” As Steve braces himself on one hand, starting to reach down to take Bucky in hand, his husband cries out, coming between them. Steve’s eyes roll back in his head and his body locks up as Bucky clamps down where they’re joined. “BUCKY!”  

When Steve’s mind clears of the buzz of white noise that took over his brain, he recognizes that Bucky is shaking. “Steve.” He’s collapsed on Bucky and pulls away to move, but Bucky clings to him. “Don’t go.”  

Locking eyes with his husband, Steve sees the tears.  “Oh...did I hurt you?”  

Bucky pulls him down into a kiss, then rests their foreheads together. “No, I just didn’t know it would be like that.”  

Steve rolls over, taking Bucky with him. Once Bucky’s settled on his chest, Steve rubs up and down his back. “I want it to be that way for you always. I want you to know how much I love you every time.”  

Settling into nuzzle Steve’s neck, Bucky sighs. “I’ll always know.”  

“What did you say? Earlier?”  

Bucky chuckles, then translates. “I said, you are my love and all that’s beautiful in my life.”  

“It sounds good both ways.” Bucky giggles and Steve holds him close.  

Being with Bucky is addictive and Steve can’t stop himself from sliding down Bucky’s body and taking him into his mouth. Steve can go again, but Bucky isn’t like Steve and needs encouragement. It doesn’t take long and Bucky’s pulling Steve back up. Not wanting to hurt him, Steve adds more lube and fingers Bucky for several long minutes. “Get in me already.”  

Steve smirks down at Bucky, slipping his fingers out. “You’re certainly impatient.”  

“I am your prince and I command that you fuck me again.” They break down in laughter, but Steve slides in and holds himself still.  

Bucky frowns up at him, but his next words disarm the prince. “You have given me everything I wanted and didn’t know I could ask for. I love you in all ways possible and I give my life to you.”  

“Steve.” Clinging to Steve, Bucky moves with him at a slow, languid pace.  

Sometime in the night, Steve carries Bucky to the bathroom, sitting him a warm tub of water. Taking a quick shower, he then goes to change the sheets on the bed. The kitchen is stocked, so he gets Bucky a snack and water, hoping that his new husband won’t be too sore tomorrow. Helping Bucky from the tub, he rinses off in the shower, then lets Steve dry him.   

Back in bed, Steve has Bucky drink the water and eat the light snack. “I want you to sleep now. Tomorrow we’ll have to figure out what to do about the official wedding day.”  

Sinking down into the blankets, Bucky turns on his side, staring up at Steve. “We should talk before tomorrow.”  

“It can wait.” Pulling at Steve, he slides down in the bed to face Bucky. “What is it?”  

“You’re my husband now and there are things you should know about Elisia.” Steve furrows his brow, not understanding. “There are secrets, reasons that we don’t let outsiders in.”  

“Is this about the gun?” Bucky doesn’t really know how to answer that.  

“It’s more complicated.” Nodding, Steve wants Bucky to get this out in his own way. “Auralias is the only city in Elisia, Steve. There are villages, but it’s the only city. I want you to think about that and about the other place you’ve been that is this same way.” The reality of that hits Steve and Bucky sees when it does. “There was a much larger quantity of the mineral than just what I used making the gun.”  

“But Buck, I thought it had to be forged using extreme heat. How did you...”  

“That’s one of the other secrets of Elisia. That’s what we tell people that might figure out that this place is blessed with magic. It’s easier to say the ‘metal’ has to be forged at high heat, than what we...I actually do. When the small amount of mineral was first forged, my ancestors used lightning. Once lightning struck, the mineral became moldable. He didn’t understand what had really happened. It took generations for my ancestors to figure it out. Auralias is built on top of the mineral.” He’s watching Steve closely to see if he’s upset.  

“What all in Auralias is made from this mineral?” He isn’t prepared for the answer.  

“Everything.” Reaching down, Bucky takes Steve’s left hand, placing his fingers over the ring. He starts reciting the same words that Steve witnessed on the jets. The ring morphs and changes designs. Where a plain black band once rested a silver Claddagh ring sits.  

“Bucky?” Looking up into Steve’s eyes, he sees awe. There’s no fear, no betrayal, just pure awe and love.  

“The Barnes family controls the mineral because my ancestor was the first to touch it and because he was a good man.” Leaning in, Steve kisses him.  

“I knew there was something magic about you.”   

DEXTER arrives the following morning, breakfast still warm and as he spreads it out on the table, Bucky walks in grinning. “We have known each other since my creation, Your Highness, and have shared much in our lives.” Bucky starts to chuckle. “I request that you keep your wedding night to yourself and not feel the need to share the details with me.”  

“DEX, I can’t believe you don’t want all the gory details.” When DEXTER frowns, Bucky starts to laugh. Sitting down, he looks at his friend, smile fading from his face. “I’m taking Steve to the Reserve this morning.”  

There’s no comment for a few seconds, then DEXTER looks over. “I believe that is best, Bucky. As the new prince of Elisia, he should know.”  

Steve comes in, wrapped in a robe, leaning over Bucky’s shoulder to kiss his cheek. “Morning, DEXTER.”  

“Good morning, Your Highness.” Steve stops, then shakes his head. “You will need to get used to that title.”  

“I’m not sure I ever will. I wasn’t even used to being called Sir Steven.” Bucky grabs the front of Steve’s robe, drawing him down into a kiss. “I like this part of my new position though.”  

DEXTER gets up to leave. “I will leave you to enjoy your breakfast.”  

The door closes and Steve looks into his husband’s eyes.  He knows that they need to think about the attack, but Steve doesn’t want to exit this tiny bubble of joy they’ve created. Unfortunately, he knows they have to. “What’s the Reserve, Bucky?”  

Bucky lays his head on Steve’s shoulder, giving a sigh. “You heard that, huh?”  

“Well, my hearing is a little better than most.” Bucky chuckles. “It sounds important.”  

Looking up, Bucky smiles, but it’s a strained expression. “It is important and only those that live here know about it. I told you that it wasn’t a small amount of mineral that was gifted to Elisia.” Steve nods. “What I’m going to show you after breakfast is why Elisia doesn’t fear for its safety. Everything here is made from the same substance as my rifle, Steve. In a way, we’re very much like Wakanda. There is one exception, but I think it best that I show you that and not try to explain.”  

Steve has so many questions about last night’s revelation, but he can wait until he sees what Bucky means. After breakfast, they dress casually and walk hand-in-hand to the stables. “Do I get to ride...”  

Bucky frowns over at Steve. “No, you don’t.” Steve narrows his eyes, then laughs. “You really do just want to keep her to yourself, don’t you?”  

“Just get on your horse, Steve.” Still laughing, Steve mounts Elias, patting his neck.   

The ride isn’t far, but Steve’s shocked when they stop at the center of the city at the large fountain. It’s grand and ornate, water rushing down from the mouths of the three dragons. They’ve passed it numerous times, while out together. On the side of the fountain is a placard, inscribed with something in Bucky’s language. People come out of their businesses, watching. Steve looks around, noticing they seem more serious than normal.  

“Buck, what’s happening?” He doesn’t answer. Instead, placing his hand on the placard, reciting something else in his language. Turning, Steve sees his hand, glowing in purple. “Bucky!”  

The fountain opens, revealing a platform. Bucky offers his hand and Steve takes it, being pulled onto the platform, just big enough for two people. As it begins to descend, Steve has too many questions to ask. Bucky’s hand feels warm in his own and Steve needs that comfort right now. Whatever is happening, Steve doesn’t understand it. “Normally, I would come down here alone, which is why the platform is so small.” He’s looking into Steve’s eyes, silently pleading for understanding. “When you see and know everything, I hope you understand why we can’t tell outsiders about this.”  

“No matter what this is, we’re in it together.” The platform stops and Steve looks around. The first thing he knows is this is the same as Bucky’s rifle because it’s black and seems to swallow the light. “Is this...”  

“Yes Steve, this is the mineral. It’s why the crops grow the way they do. It’s why the tech we have is advanced, it’s how Auralias was built. It spans the underground of almost the whole country. We are what we are because of this.” Steve isn’t sure he understands the big secret because it’s the same in Wakanda.  

“So, Elisia is exactly like Wakanda.” Bucky’s shaking his head and going over to one of the outcrops of mineral.  

Putting his hand on it, he closes his eyes and starts to whisper again. The outcrop changes, forming a circle, then thinning out. When Bucky takes it from the outcrop, it’s a shield, just black. Walking over, he hands it to Steve, who is having trouble with what he just saw. “No one else can do anything with the mineral. It only listens to the descendants of Chieftan Barnes.” Steve looks down at his ring. Last night, he thought it was just small things. After what he just saw, Steve understands the scope of what Bucky can do.  

Steve’s brain starts to put together everything he knows to this point. “He touched it first, so it only obeys a Barnes.”  

Bucky nods. “My ancestors didn’t understand that it wasn’t the lightning that formed the first weapon, but the desire of the Chieftan to protect his people. As long as the end result benefits the country and its people, I can form anything we need.”  

“You have magic in you then.” Bucky nods. “So, someone in your family formed the city to look like something out of fairy tale, but why?”  

“Because we look helpless and passive. There was a time when that was enough to discourage anyone from hurting Elisia. Then came the need to dominate, so my family had to get creative. When this invasion comes, I need to be down here.” Steve is trying to wrap his head around all of this. His husband is magic, bound to a mineral that no one knows exists.  

“Why?” Bucky walks away from him, standing in the center of the cavern. Raising his arms, cupping his palms, Bucky begins chanting. The room starts to glow purple, and a field of shimmering energy surrounds him. “What the hell?” By the time it’s big enough to encompass Bucky and about six feet around him, the glow fades and it becomes invisible. Steve can still feel it, but he can’t see it anymore.  

“When it’s a manageable number of people, like Ross’s first invasion attempt, I can just use my weapon, but when it’s something unknown, I can protect the country.” He looks unsure. “I’ve never done it before on a scale this large, but my grandfather did it once. It will take time to cover the whole country, so we will have to fight.” He grimaces at Steve. “But once the shield is up, anything within the energy that means harm to Elisia will burn.”  

The shield drops and Steve goes to his husband, his prince, his Bucky. “Is this dangerous for you?”  

Bucky scrunches up his face. “It will mean that I have to spend a little time in the hospital wing, recuperating from exhaustion for a few days.” Putting a hand in the middle of Steve’s chest, Bucky looks up. “You’ll have to lead the Elisian troops and the Avengers because I have to be here.”  

Steve takes the hand from his chest, kissing it with reverence. “I’ll do anything I have to do to protect our home.” Looking around, things that Steve didn’t think about make sense. “Bucky, where does the electricity come from for Elisia?”  

Bucky smiles up at Steve. “We don’t use electricity, Steve, and I think you just put that together.”  

“Power comes from here. This mineral powers an entire country?” Bucky nods. “I was right. This place is magic.”  They stand, holding each other. “Does Shuri know all of this?”  

“No, she only knows as much as she told you. Some of it I said and some of it I let her surmise and didn’t correct her.” Steve chuckles, leaning into kiss Bucky.  

Looking around, Steve is thinking tactically. Bucky sees his mind working and waits. Grinning, he looks into Bucky’s beautiful eyes. “I have a plan.”  

They sit, Steve looking around. “Why do you touch the jets?” Their previous conversation lingered in Steve’s mind, but he’s starting to understand how connected Bucky is with his country.  

“I told you; I have to.” Steve nods, reaching out to take both of Bucky’s hands.  

“You have to set the mission by chanting to the mineral. You have to let it know that it’s all to protect Elisia.” Bucky’s nodding, seeming insecure. “Why do you seem embarrassed about this?” Bucky looks up, meeting Steve’s eyes and starts to form words. “Bucky, this is an amazing gift that your family has been given. I understand that it’s a huge responsibility, but you have the ability to protect this place and its people.”  

“I wanted to explain it to you so many times, but...”  

Steve chuckles, thinking about DEXTER and the council. “But you are bound by the laws that your family’s created. I was an outsider until yesterday, even being engaged to you wasn’t enough.” He gets a nod, and the embarrassment is back. Reaching over, Steve lifts Bucky’s eyes to his own. “I understand.”  

“I love you, Steve, and I wanted to tell you. Now I don’t have to hide this from you, and you’ll understand better the obligation I have to this gift. Elisia is special, magical, if you will, but it’s a symbiotic relationship between the Barnes Family and this.” He waves his hand around, indicating the mineral.   

The use of symbiotic has Steve curious. “Bucky, is this the mineral alive?”  

Looking around, Bucky furrows his forehead, trying to grasp the words that will help Steve understand. “Yes, and no?” Grinning, Steve reaches over again, caressing Bucky’s cheek. “Okay, let me try to explain.” Steve nods, still grinning. “It feels what I feel, that protectiveness, but it doesn’t think. At least not like you and I think.”  

“So, it’s safe to say that it’s empathic to you.” Steve’s looking around, nodding in a distracted way, like he’s thinking through something. “Is there any way to get here, unseen, from the Conservatorium where the wedding is supposed to be?”  

“What are you thinking, Steve?”   

Glancing back at Bucky, Steve’s smiling and it’s calculating. “I’m thinking that we use the wedding as a cover for a counterstrike.”  

The first thing that Steve does when they get back to the palace is find DEXTER. Bucky goes in search of their daughter, finding her playing in the suite where Sam and Shuri are sipping coffee and laughing at her antics. She sees Bucky and crawls to him, giggling the whole way. Sweeping her into his arms, Bucky kisses her cheek, telling her how much he and daddy missed her.  

“Yeah, sure you did.” Bucky blushes, looking over at Sam. “You had other things going on that none of us want to know about.”  

Shuri gets up, hugging Bucky. “I do not know what Captain America is talking about. I want to know all the details.”  

Bucky snorts, causing Winnie to giggle again. “Well, that’s not going to happen.”   

He pours himself some coffee and sits with them. Sam watches him and his expression turns serious. “Have you talked with your husband about how we’re going to handle this situation?”  

“Steve is speaking with DEXTER, and he has a plan.”  

Steve finds DEXTER in the council room, all the advisors in attendance. “I have a plan.” He sits the black shield down. They’re all looking at the shield and come to the realization that Prince Steven now knows about the Reserve.  

They look up. “Please, share, Your Highness.”  

Steve shakes his head. He’s never going to get used to that. “We’re going through with the formal wedding as planned.” That seems to surprise them; knowing that it will cause chaos if people are caught in the crossfire. “DEXTER, you’ll go with Prince James and Princess Winifred to the Reserve and make sure that they’re safe.” Carol starts to ask a question about what Steve knows about the Reserve. “Bucky took me there this morning and I understand now.”  

DEXTER, who usually doesn’t, sits. “Tell me what you have planned.”  

“No matter what else happens, Bucky and Winnie have to remain safe. I don’t want him down there, trying to shield the country and something happens that he can’t focus on because he’s focused on that.” DEXTER nods for Steve to continue. “I will lead the army and the Avengers, fighting until the shield is up.”  

“You understand what the shield will do?” Carol still isn’t sold on this idea. Prince James has never shielded the entire country and she knows, from the old records, the amount of strength it takes to hold.  

“I do and so does Prince James.” Steve pokes the table with his finger; to make his point. “This is what he wants to do and it’s not my place to question my Prince’s wishes.”  

“Then continue.” Carol is willing to hear him out if he and the prince have talked this through.  

“We only need to fight until the shield is in place, then it will destroy whatever Ross sends for us. For me.” That guilt is still present, but Steve has to think outside himself now. In his years of fighting, there was always a cause, something bigger than himself, but this is different. This is a country that means everything to his husband and because of that, it means everything to Steve. “Is there a way to contact everyone in Elisia?”  

“I have the capability to send out messages to everyone.” DEXTER gets up, bringing up the screen. “My matrix is part of the country wide information system.” He shows how the messaging system works.  

“Good because on the day of the wedding, everyone needs to be prepared. We’ll house anyone here, in the palace, that can’t fight. We’re going to draw the enemy to the city center. The closer they are to the Reserve, the faster they’ll be affected by the shield.” He looks over at Carol. “I need to talk to the general and your wife.”  

She has a brief moment of hesitation, then nods at DEXTER, who contacts them both. As they wait, a steward comes in with coffee and tea. Steve gets himself a cup of coffee, thinking through what he’s going to ask this extraordinary country to do. When the door opens again, the general and Maria step into the room.  

“General, we need to talk about the invasion.” The general narrows his eyes and Maria just watches the interaction. Carol was late yesterday, but couldn’t or wouldn’t tell Maria why. Whatever that was, this is connected.  

“I believe you may be overstepping, Sir Steven. I take my orders from the prince of Elisia.” Steve pulls his lips into a thin line and holds up his left hand.  

“I am a prince of Elisia. Prince James and I married yesterday.” The general looks over at Carol, who nods. Maria shoots an accusing look at her wife, who looks ready to apologize profusely.  

Then, he bows low, crossing his right arm over his chest. “My apologies, Prince Steven, I was not aware.”  

Steve waves it off and has the man sit, so they can talk about the plan. Maria takes a seat next to Carol, leaning into whisper. “You didn’t tell me about this.”  

“I was waiting for Prince James to decide how he wanted to announce it.” She kisses her wife’s cheek. “They’re still going to have the formal wedding for the country. After this battle is won.”  

They look over at Prince Steven and the general, seeing that Steve is impressing the career military leader of Elisia. Maria is about to whisper something else to her wife, when Steve looks up. “We’re going to need the air support, Captain. Are you game?”  

Maria smirks. “Bring it on, Your Highness.”  

Sam’s holding the black shield, waiting for Steve to finish dressing for the wedding. He’s also holding Steve’s wedding ring. It was a battle in itself getting Steve to take it off. After he dropped it into Sam’s hand, he couldn’t stop frowning. When Steve comes out of the bedroom, he’s fighting with his tie. Looking over at Pepper, Sam grins and she gets up. Sam and Steve talked about Pepper’s arrival and came to the conclusion that she and Happy make the choices that they make for the benefit of Morgan. Doubting her dedication to keeping everyone safe that Tony cared about, even by extension, is actually in the forefront of her mind most days.  

Walking over, she pushes Steve’s hands out of the way. “You do know you’re already married, and this is just for show, so why are you so nervous?”  

“That little wedding in the forest is what I feel comfortable with. This is me being stared at by everyone in the country.” She finishes the tie and braces her hands on his arms.  

“Steve, you were Captain America. Everyone is always staring at you.” He huffs and looks down at the floor.  

“Yeah, but I could hide behind the persona and wasn’t really Steve then.” Giving him a soft smile, Pepper nods.  

“I get that. What I want you to remember is something Tony told me before we got married.” Steve looks up, into sad eyes. “We had been planning the wedding for months and it was getting out of hand. You know, who to invite, where do they sit, is this person going to get mad if they are put too far back or at the wrong table for the reception. Then Thanos came and half of everyone disappeared. Tony came back to me and once he was well again, he looked at me and said, let’s just find a guy and say I do.” She chuckles, but it sounds wet. “So, we found a guy and just said I do. It isn’t about who’s watching, it’s about two people. Tony told me that as long as he didn’t lose sight of me, he was always going to be fine. And Steve, you already found a guy and said I do.”  

“As long as I don’t lose sight of Bucky, I’ll be fine.” She pats his arms and steps away. “I just wish we knew when this attack was coming today. How far into the ‘ceremony’ we’ll be, can Bucky get to where he needs to be in time? There are so many variables.”   

Sam comes over, narrowing his eyes. “When would you attack?”  

Steve’s thought about this over and over. Late at night when Bucky is sleeping, Steve’s mind keeps going over and over everything. “If it were me, I’d wait until everyone is inside the building for the wedding. He could take out everyone in charge that way. He doesn’t even need to wait until the fake ceremony starts.”  

“Then that’s what we plan for.”  

Bucky is in the cottage with Winnie and DEXTER. “When this starts, you and I will go to the Reserve with Winnie.”  

“Your Highness, are you sure...” Before he can finish, Bucky’s turning.  

“The safest place for her in below ground and with you. I know you and you won’t let anything happen to her.” DEXTER nods in agreement. They head outside to the car and Bucky straps Winnie into her car seat. As they drive into the city, Bucky watches his daughter. “The Reserve needs to know that I have a daughter. This way, I can introduce them.”  

“You have never been able to fully explain your relationship with the Reserve, Your Highness. I’ll have to trust you.” Bucky gives a tight smile and watches his daughter.  

Bucky arrives at the Conservatorium first, taking Winnie from her car seat and entering to the roar of the crowd. Turning when he reaches the top of the stairs, Bucky waves to the people of his country, who are putting their faith in him. Once inside, he hands Winnie to DEXTER and heads into the wedding hall. Everything looks perfect, just as it should on his wedding day.   

The general is waiting and hands Bucky the tablet with the day's plans on it. Skimming over the plans again, Bucky hands it back and heads to the front where the arch is set up. It makes Bucky wish that he could give the people of his country this special day, but protecting them comes first. The guests are smiling and acting just as they normally would on a day like today. When he reaches the front, Bucky turns to the guests.   

“I know that this isn’t what you arrived here expecting, but Elisia’s safety and sovereignty is at stake, so I thank you for everything you’re going to do today.” He looks at the general. “Is the passageway open and unblocked?”  

“It is, Your Highness.” Nodding, Bucky looks over at the Avengers.   

“Thank you for being here. When the attack comes, I will take the passage with DEXTER and Winnie.” He looks at Shuri and Sam. “I’m sorry that I can’t tell you more about my part in this, but...”  

Shuri jumps up, going to her friend. “You need not worry about what we should or shouldn’t know. Steve has told us that it’s more important that we focus on our part of the fight.”  

They can hear the roar of the crowd again and know that Steve’s arrived. “Okay, in your places everyone.” Bucky wonders what Steve’s thoughts were when he saw his transportation to the wedding.  

Steve steps out of the palace and sees the look on Sam’s face. “What the hell is this?”  

Elias whinnies, stomping on the ground. Steve goes over, petting his neck. “Easy friend, everything is going to be okay.” He turns, grinning at Sam. “This is Elias and he’s yours for the ride over.”  

“And you didn’t think to tell me that we’d be riding horses?” Walking over to Zahra, Steve looks into her eyes.   

“I thought it would be a nice surprise and it certainly is for me.” Sam huffs and swings himself into the saddle. Looking at Bucky’s horse, Steve knows that he’s being given a special honor.  

Steve swings himself into the saddle, cooing at Zahra, leaning forward to pat her neck. Sam doesn’t look completely comfortable and Steve worries, but this is the easy part. “Then why can’t I ride the glowing horse?”  

“Because she is only to be ridden by a Prince of Elisia.” With that, he heels her and takes off.  

“Oh, I see how it is!” He screams over the beating hooves of both horses as he rides to catch up with Steve.  

When they arrive, Steve swings down from the saddle, grinning and waving at the crowd. They all received the message about today and all are playing their parts. The soldiers around the perimeter are watchful and the people, if they aren’t going to the palace, are armed. But with the traditional clothes they wear, weapons are hidden. Steve stops at the top of the steps, turning to wave with Sam, and heads into the building. Taking a quick look back, he sees the guard, taking the horses away. It’s her job to get the horses into position for Bucky and DEXTER.  

Going immediately into the chamber, Steve goes to the front where Bucky is waiting. Turning, he frowns at Sam. “Give me my damn ring.”  

Sam snorts, along with a few other people and hands the ring over. Steve takes Bucky’s from his pocket. Grabbing Bucky’s hand, Steve slips it on. “With this ring, I thee wed.”  

It’s Bucky’s turn to snort and he slides the ring onto Steve’s finger. “With this ring, I thee wed.”  

They share a kiss, then look out at their friends. Steve can’t thank this group enough for what they’re going to do here today. As he’s about to speak, there’s a noise from outside. DEXTER puts the exterior cameras up on the screen. Jets are coming into Elisian airspace.  

The Conservatorium was built by Bucky’s father, at the beginning of his reign. From the outside, it looks like a large mansion, but inside, it’s the focal point of the military base that is housed underneath. Outside, the crowd is throwing off their wraps, pulling out the hidden weapons. Those too old or too young are immediately vacated into cars to transport to the palace.  

Steve turns, taking Bucky’s hands. “Ride like you’ve never ridden before.” He turns to DEXTER. “Keep the princess safe.”  

Everyone in the room stands, loosening ties and unzipping dresses. Before too long, everyone is in uniform, and Maria and Carol are taking Bucky, DEXTER, and Winnie below where the horses are waiting.  

Steve watches them go, then turns to the general. “I need the shield.” He goes to the ‘alter’ and reaches under, pulling out the black shield. If anything is going to keep them safe, it’s a shield made by Bucky and his companion.  

“Why are they using horses? There must be a car that faster.” Pepper doesn’t understand some of the decisions that have been made, but this also isn’t her world. Her world is back home with a little girl that pouted when she found out she couldn’t come.  

Steve takes point at the doors. “Horses can cut through areas that cars can’t. In the end, it’s faster this way.”  

Bucky and DEXTER come out of the tunnel to find the horses waiting. DEXTER saddles up first and Bucky hands Winnie over to him. Swinging himself into Zahra saddle, he heels her without looking back. If he looks back, he’ll run for Steve to keep him safe. He has to remind himself that Steve has been fighting for longer than he’s been alive.  

“He will be okay, Your Highness.” Nodding, Bucky reins Zahra towards the city center.  

“Keep her safe, DEX.” DEXTER wraps his arms around Winnie tighter and rides like he’s never ridden before, following his Prince. Winnie giggles the whole time, getting to experience something new and not knowing the danger they’re all in.  

The jets that are firing on the Conservatorium keep hitting the side, but each black mark gets absorbed into the stone. “Sir, nothing we’re hitting that building with is doing any good. It’s...it’s...I can’t even explain what’s happening.”  

“Our ground assault team is on the way.” The pilots are thankful, but when the building doors open and the Avengers come out, followed by multitudes of soldiers, they aren’t as secure in this plan.  

“The Avengers are here. And a fuck ton of military.” He’s about to swing around for another pass at the building, when a massive blast door opens on the side of the hill that the building sits on. Jets stream out, having been blessed by Bucky that morning. “We’ve been set up. They knew we were coming!”  

“Keep on that building. Rogers and that prince are in there and I want them killed! Do you hear me?”  

“Yes sir, copy that.”  

“Commander, what are your orders?” Carol flies just off Maria’s right wing. She may be on the council, holding a high position, but her wife is the commander of this squadron.  

“If it’s not Elisian, down it.”  

“Copy that, Commander.” That comes from one of the other pilots and they break formation and head after the enemy jets.  

“Cap, what have we got?” Sam takes to the sky, surveying the surroundings.  

“We’ve got ground assault coming. They’re in the same gear as New York. You’re going to have to use full power to puncture that gear.” He gets a series of confirmations.  

Steve steps out of the building, dressed in black, with the shield on his arm. Bucky asked the Companion to make Steve safe and this is what it came up with. Similar to vibranium, it created a uniform that can withstand almost anything. “Captain Wilson, where do you want me?”  

“Your Highness, you’re in charge here, so you tell us.” Steve huffs, seeing the ground assault tanks and men moving up the hill towards the Conservatorium.  

“Let’s keep them busy here and give Bucky time to get where he needs to be.” Steve throws the shield, and it cuts into the side of a tank like it’s melted butter. He doesn’t know what the mineral is, and in this instance, it doesn’t matter.  

“You got it.”  

Elisian soldiers and Avengers fight side by side with civilians. If anyone gets hit, the medics in the bunker below come out for them. Steve barks orders into the comms, knowing that one of Maria’s pilots can cover them when injuries occur.  

Bucky pushes Zahra harder than he ever has. They reach the city center and find that his people have beat back the enemy and have even contained some. Reaching the fountain, Bucky slips from Zahra’s back, patting her to move to cover. DEXTER is right behind him and covers his back while he opens the Reserve. Winnie cuddles into DEXTER’s chest, feeling the anxiety from her father.  

Once the Reserve opens, Bucky and DEXTER stand on the platform, being lowered into the ground. Inside, Bucky goes to the center of the sanctuary, raising his hands, the purple glow starts again. “Keep her safe, no matter what happens.” DEXTER nods, holding Winnie close, as Bucky starts chanting.  

The shield starts to build from inside Bucky, moving out, encasing everything inside the Reserve. The chanting gets louder and seems to echo around them. Winnie and DEXTER are encased in the shield, when she starts to struggle against the hold DEXTER has on her. Unable to keep her in his arms, without holding her too tightly, DEXTER puts her on the ground at his feet.   

Bucky feels the shield cover the city, visualizing what he needs it to do. A buzzing starts in the back of his mind, and it feels like he’s floating over his country, watching the shield cover everything. He watches as it covers the city, and enemy soldiers disappear. He watches as his people, those now safe, walking toward the fountain, giving support to their prince. The shield surrounds one of the enemy jets and it blips out of existence. Unfortunately, he also feels himself being drained.  

He almost faulters, but then feels tiny hands on his pant leg. “She was insistent that she get to you, Your Highness.” DEXTER’s voice drifts into his consciousness.  

Knowing that it’s his daughter, Bucky smiles, feeling a new swell of joy overtaking him. Her tiny hands, on his leg, seem to help him focus more. Bucky sees Steve fighting like he always does, with everything he has, Bucky can feel when Steve is safely inside the shield.  

Steve freezes for a second, feeling Bucky move through him, but not just Bucky, Winnie too. “The shield is up.” He wasn’t expecting to actually feel the presence of his husband.  

No one, outside of the citizens of Elisia, have any clue what he’s talking about, but they become aware that something has changed when the enemy jets are suddenly gone. As quickly as the ground troops were upon them, they’re suddenly gone too. “What the hell is going on, Steve?”  

“My husband is what’s going on. I can’t share it, but you just need to know that he’s got our backs.” They start to move outside the city, further into the outlying farms. The shield isn’t there yet and those people need them. “We still have people to help.”  

As they make their way back towards the road, Elias and Zahra trot up. Going to the horses, Steve nuzzles against Zahra. Sam lands near him, seeing the horses. “Does everything here work on magic?”  

Steve looks over, then pats Zahra again. “Go back to the city. Bucky’s going to need you when this is all over.”  

As though she understood everything he just said, Zahra gallops back towards the city center. Steve swings himself up on Elias, turning to the team and soldiers. “The farms aren’t protected yet. We need to keep fighting.”  

Bucky’s feeling the draining effects of the shield and nearly crumbles, but Winnie reaches up, patting his leg. “Alright, Princess, I can do this if you can.” Then, like never before, the Companion swells with pride.  

‘This is your child.’  

The buzz in Bucky’s head is back. He can feel the companion. “Yes, she’s mine.”  

‘Then she will lend her strength to you.’  

Bucky’s not sure what that means and starts to call out for it to stop, but then there’s surge of power. Outside, the shield grows, faster, stronger, covering Elisia and making the enemies disappear. He knows the Companion wouldn’t drain his daughter, it isn’t malicious that way, instead, it’s like the surge comes from the Companion itself, like it is joyous at a new generation.  

Steve arrives at an outpost, set up by the invaders. Sitting atop Elias, he swings the shield, knocking down three in one go, when they blink away. Looking up at the sky, Steve can see the shimmer. “He’s almost done.”  

“Who? Who’s almost done? And what are they doing?” The questions come from all around, all of the Avengers are confused as to why their enemies keep disappearing.   

Steve’s staring at the weird shimmer in the sky and whispers, “Bucky.”  

Bucky doesn’t remember returning to the hospital wing in the palace. He doesn’t remember Zahra showing up and carrying him and Winnie back to the palace. He only knows that it’s what DEXTER told him. Coming to, in the hospital, he hears the beeping of machines and knows there’s an IV in his arm.  There’s someone next to him, holding his hand.  

“You need to come back to me now.” There’s pressure on his hand and Bucky realizes that it’s Steve, kissing his hand.  

Grumbling, Bucky tries to move. “Ste...”  

“No, don’t try to move yet.” Holding still, Bucky hears footsteps moving away and wants to reach out, but can’t. Then Steve’s back, taking Bucky’s hand again. “He’s trying to wake up.”  

The next voice is that of the doctor. “Your Highness, can you hear me?” He grumbles again and there’s a chuckle that has to be Steve. “You’re going to be just fine, Your Highness. But you need to rest. Just sleep.”  

Bucky feels a kiss to his forehead and lets sleep take him again. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”  

The next time Bucky wakes, he feels more aware. “What does the doctor say?” That voice is definitely Carol.  

“That it could be any time. I need him to wake up, Carol. Not just because I need him, but because I can’t keep running things. I don’t know how to do his job.” Those words sink in, and Bucky realizes that Steve’s the only other prince, so he’s been forced into a job he isn’t prepared to do. It makes him wonder how long he’s been out.  

“You’ve been doing just fine, Your Highness. Things take a little more explanation than with Prince James, but you’ve been doing good. And I know the farmers appreciate you helping them put the fences back up.” There’s a snort and it makes Bucky want to laugh.  

“I’m a pale imitation of the real thing.” There’s a kiss on his hand and Bucky smiles and hums. “Bucky?”  

Blinking his eyes open, Steve’s hovering over him, looking panicked. “Hey.” It’s a little slurred, but he feels like he’s finally coming out of it.  

“Oh, thank god.” Steve smiles, wide and beautiful. “I was starting to get scared.”  

Reaching up, Bucky runs a finger down Steve’s cheek. “Didn’t mean to scare you, Love.” Shifting in the bed, Bucky tries to sit up, then changes his mind. “How long?”  

Carol excuses herself and Steve sits on the side of the bed, holding Bucky’s hand against his chest. “Four days.”  

Remembering being in the Reserve and Winnie lending her strength, Bucky does sit up, panicked. “Where’s Winnie?”  

Steve chuckles. “She’s currently making Sam ride around on Elias, so she can have a ride.”  

“She wasn’t...”   

Steve pushes Bucky gently to lay back down. “She was fine. DEXTER told me what she did in the Reserve, and it doesn’t seem to have affected her at all.”  

Blowing out a breath, Bucky finally relaxes. “When I’m better, we’re going to take a honeymoon and stay secluded for about a week.”  

Lying down in the bed with his husband, Steve wraps his arms tightly around Bucky. “I think that would be good for all of us.”  

It’s been a few days since Bucky woke, but he’s still under strict instructions to take it easy and conserve his strength. He’s sitting in the garden, holding Winnie in his lab, watching Steve fly a kite. Winnie keeps clapping, squealing at Steve. “You like the kite?” She nods in an exaggerated way, grinning.  

She squeals again and Steve starts backing up. He lets the kite out a little more, then ties it off to a branch. Throwing himself on the ground, Steve lays on the blanket, watching his husband and daughter, looking up at Bucky, he smiles. “You look so much better.”  

Putting his hands over his daughter's ears, Bucky grins. “Do I look good enough to take to bed later?”  

Steve rolls onto his side, propping his head on his hand. Reaching over, he plays with Bucky’s fingers. “You did get the okay from the doctor, so if you’re up for it after Princess Winnie goes to bed, I’ll be happy to help you out with any other problems you might be having.” Steve’s face turns serious. “But before we can go away on a honeymoon, you have to deal with the rest of the world that, unfortunately, now knows that something magical is happening in Elisia.” The guilt of that still weighs on Steve and he can’t hide it from his husband.  

“I’ll deal with anything as long as my country is safe.” Bucky can see the guilt on Steve’s face, running his thumb over the furrow in his husband’s brow, smoothing it away. “You will stop taking the guilt on your shoulders.”  

Steve smiles, softly. “Is that an order from my prince or from my husband?”  

“Both.” Steve grasps Bucky’s hand, kissing the palm. “We did what was necessary and if people want to understand it better, then I will tell them enough to satisfy their curiosity.”  

Jumping up, Steve pulls his husband up, giving him a quick kiss. Then, bending down, he picks up their daughter. “Let’s get some lunch.”  

Bucky’s all healed from his exertion and sits in the council chamber, reading over the speech he’s prepared with the help of Steve and the council members. Steve’s unsure about Bucky making this statement, but also understands the necessity. The world watched as Elisia was attacked and also saw the shimmer that rose to protect the principality. There has been speculation on social media and also in the news. Now, Bucky has to address it because it’s better to meet issues head on, than let rumors fly.   

The Avengers have returned home, but communicate daily to let them know what’s being said in Washington and at the United Nations. It was that which made it evident that Bucky would have to address the issue.  

Steve holds their daughter and watches as Bucky adjust his suit. Maria stands with him, watching her wife advise the prince. “What are your feelings about this, Your Highness?”  

Steve doesn’t answer at first because he forgets his title. “Oh..uh...” she grins at him, “I trust my husband and prince to make the right decision for Elisia.”  

“That’s a very politically correct way to respond, but how does Steve feel?” Blushing, Steve chuckles.  

“I don’t want Elisia to suffer because of this. I feel that it’s my fault and now Bucky, Prince James, has to cover my ass because I fell in love with him.” Maria reaches out, placing a hand on Steve’s shoulder.  

“You know, I’m not from Elisia.” Steve is stunned by that information. “I was testing a new aircraft on a base out of France and the guidance system went down and so did I.” Steve turns to face her. “The Elisian military came out and found me. Carol found me.”  

“I didn’t know.” Maria laughs and Carol looks over, smiling at them.   

“No one did because it was top secret. I spent time in the hospital here and Carol and the council negotiated the return of the aircraft. By the time I healed, I didn’t want to leave.” She looks over at Carol, organizing the speech with Bucky. “It’s a special place with special people. I had to give up my citizenship and become Elisian. Best decision I ever made.”  

“I can relate to that.” Bucky takes his seat at the head of the table and Steve goes to join him. “You ready for this?”  

Bucky looks up, pulling Steve down to get a kiss, then tickles Winnie’s belly. She gives a full belly laugh and Bucky’s face goes soft. “I’m ready for anything with you here.”  

Steve’s suit is deep blue and matches the dress they have Winnie in. “Then let’s do this, My Prince.”  

The world sees His Royal Highness, Prince James of Elisia, his husband, Prince Steven and their daughter Princess Winifred on their screens. Steve has Winnie in his right arm and his left hand on his husband’s shoulder and Bucky feels the contentment of a man right where he should be and the love of his life supporting him. They’ve been through too much and have earned the right to the life they’ll have.   

“Good evening, I’m Prince James of Elisia. Many things have been speculated about my country and after the most recent attack, I felt it necessary to address the rumors.”  

As Bucky continues, Steve feels the love he has for this man grow. Elisia is magical and Steve feels that magic every day with his little family. He feels it every time he goes into the city. He feels it every night when he wraps Bucky in his arms and every morning when his daughter smiles at him.   

Steve Barnes is meant to be in Elisia.