Marvel Short Stories

Epilogue

It's been a week, and while my neck has healed thanks to Wakandan technology, and Steve is back on the field, I can't leave without James. The entire reason I even came searching for him was so that I could tell him, and give him the chance to meet Azraelle. Thankfully, Wakanda is generous and they've given me a room to stay in with James while he recovers. Now, the only thing I can think of is how my daughter is doing back in Louisiana.

There's a knock on my bedroom door, and when I go to open it, I see Steve holding a car seat. "Oh, my god, Steve," I laugh, hugging him.

"Hey, Emmie, sorry I'm late." He hands me the car seat, and I look in to see my little girl. "I had to make a pit stop."

Ready to cry, I see Azraelle laughing holding her hands out to me. "Mama!" She yells, and I laugh, setting the carseat down on the table so I can pick her up.

"Azzie!" I reply with just as much excitement, brushing my fingers over her face before picking her up. "Have you been a good girl to Aunt Sarah?" I ask, but she just starts playing with my hair, giggling.

"You sound better," Steve says, and I nod.

"Everything's healed, thanks to the amazing doctors here. Even James is doing better." Setting Azzie down, I hold her hands as we practice her walking, which it seems she's doing better. Still definitely waddling, though.

"Where is Bucky, anyway?" He asks, and I sigh.

"Getting ready for cryo," I answer, slightly upset. "I was just getting ready to go down and meet with him. Do you want to come?"

Steve nods. "Sure." We walk down together, and at the last second I pause, the little girl in my hands curious as to what's on the other side of the door. "What's wrong?"

Nervous, I take a shaky breath. "He doesn't know about Azraelle. What if he doesn't want her?"

"Don't worry," Steve reassures. "As his oldest friend, I can assure you that he's wanted a daughter since before World War II." Relaxing only slightly, I nod.

"You first, then. I'm going to take a moment, build up my courage." Steve shakes his head, opening the door and waving me through, closing the door behind me and he waits outside. Damn you, Steve. Looking around, I see the doctors finishing up the prepping, James staring at the chamber he'll live in for who knows how long.

Stepping forward, the nerves are almost too much. Almost. "James?" I call out, gaining his attention. He turns his head to me, smiling at me until he sees the girl, confusion writing itself on his face. "I want you to meet someone." I walk up to him, the girl staring at him curiously and James's breath hitches, his eyes staring back at the little girl.

"Is that...?" He looks back up at me, terrified and I nod, looking back at Azraelle.

"Azraelle, say hi to Daddy," I murmur, pointing at the man sitting on the hospital bed. She looks up at me, then back at him, and opens her arms towards him.

"Azraelle?" James asks, and I nod, walking up close so he can get a good look at her. "She's beautiful," he murmurs, watching her with adoration. "Just like her mother." He looks at me, wonder in his eyes and the butterflies hit my chest again as I remember that I'm in love with this perfect man, and he's in love with me.

"She's also a pain in the butt," I mutter. "Just like her father." James laughs at this, pulling me in with his waist and I lean into him, my man adoring our daughter.

She brings her hand up, wiping it down his face and he smiles at the rough movement, but we both know what she's doing. She's saying hello. He lets go of me and does the same for her and she giggles, grabbing his hand and playing with it. "I would do anything for our baby," he murmurs, and I almost cry at the mention of "our," only to have Steve walk in, smiling at the scenery he's walking into. He reaches us, looking at the chamber then back at James.

"You sure about this?" he asks, and James looks between the chamber and Azraelle.

"I can't trust my own mind," James eventually answers, still playing with Azzie. "So until they figure out how to get this stuff out of my head," James sighs, kissing Azzie on her forehead. "I think going under is the best thing." He looks up at me and I'm memorizing his eyes, ingraining into my head the color. "For everybody." I won't see him for who knows how long, and until then, I will have to use my own memory of him. He cups my cheek with his hand, and Azzie start playing with his hair instead of his hand and I lean my forehead onto his, closing my eyes.

"I'll miss you," I murmur.

"I'll see you in a minute," he murmurs back, and I chuckle a little at the joke. Rude.

He stands up then, walking to the chamber and the doctors strap him in while I stand next to Steve, Azzie wanting to go into James's arms. I distract her with her favorite rattle, and I watch as they put him under. I finally get to introduce him to Azzie, and she loses him just as fast.

Until you wake up, my love.