The Wedding Singer

14. A New Beginning?

Edited for spelling

"We have somewhere for you to go" Okoye smiled as she walked beside Nancys wheelchair. "Once your out of your chariot I will be teaching you to control your temper and to use your new hand. You are not the only piano player around here. It is very good for dexterity." She explained as Nancy looked at her left hand. She hadn't really played any music since she was shot because her heart wasn't in it anymore. "I have left your small music box in your room so you can practice. When Shuri says you are well enough you can tell us what you want not what other people want for you." Nancy bit her lip to stop herself saying she wanted her baby back.

Nancy muttered a thank you as the attendant parked her by the table and explained he would be back in the evening passing her a small communications device. She was well enough to look after her basic needs but he would return with her meals and medications. If she needed anything, all she had to do was press the button and someone would be there within a minute. Carefully before he left he disconnected her drip and reminded her that she would be getting more iv drugs in the late afternoon and to be careful of the port they were leaving in her arm. Thanking him again Nancy watched him leave and closed her eyes. Feeling physically alone for the first time for months she gingerly stood out of the chair. Carefully she moved around the single room spotting her bags piled against the wall. Slowly she moved to the bags and found a clean pair of shorts and t shirt, as she pulled them out she spotted something she hadn't seen for over a year the squeeze box Okaye had mentioned. Nancy sat and looked at it for a while before reluctantly picking it up to put outside. As she did so it let out a squeek and she automatically ran through the scales with it returning to the only chair in the room,  her wheelchair. Sitting by the table she checked it's condition tightening a couple of bolts to improve its sound before taking a ragged breath and starting to play.

Bucky Barnes walked through the goats paddock to his old home and was slightly surprised to see a new hanging across the door. He had planned, on Shuris suggestion, to visit his home before he left, he doubted he would be visiting Wakanda again while Nancy was here, the temptation to throw himself at her feet and beg her to forgive him and love him was too much.  He didn't want to put her in the position where she tried to kill him again because he might just let her do it just to end the pain. As he approached the hut he realised he could hear a familiar tune. Wordlessly he pushed back the hanging and saw a familiar figure sitting at his table, a concertina moving in her hands. From what Pepper had told him Nancy had stopped playing music all together yet here she was sitting in his home with her battered concertina.

"When we were lovers
I loved you with all my heart
But now it's gettin' late
And the moon is climbin' high
I want to celebrate
See it shinin' in your eye
Because I'm still in love with you
I want to see you dance again
Because I'm still in love with you
On this harvest moon"

As she sang he stepped backwards not wanting to intrude and unsure of what he should do. Then he heard a sob in her voice and he couldn't help himself as he moved into the hut and knelt beside her. Her eyes were red and full of tears. Nancys eyes fixed on his and as her voice hitched she continued singing.

"Because I'm still in love with you
I want to see you dance again
Because I'm still in love with you
On this harvest moon" She continued looking him in the eyes and the tears falling as he laid a hand on her knee, taking in the fact that she was still sat in a wheelchair.
"Still unable to kick my ass huh?" He smiled softly moving her hair out of her eyes. "I love you Doll and I don't care if you hate me. I'll never let anyone hurt you or part us again. Just know I love you even if you do want me dead".

"I don't want you dead James," She admitted letting go of the musical instrument and twisting her fingers together to stop herself reaching for him. "I just want my baby, our baby back, and that can't happen so I'm trying to grieve for her knowing the truth of everything." She stalled, trying to speak sensibly without crying. "Tony should have told me when he found out about the Winter Soldier. Maria and Howard were the only family I really knew and they were really kind and loving to me when my own father didn't want me." She rambled her reply "you shouldn't have let him part us but you did." Bucky let her feelings spill out knowing she was right, smiling to himself as she sat there her eyes dazed and she slowly, unconsciously,  gripped his shirt in exactly the same way she had in the motel room all those months ago. "I don't know where this will lead James but" smiling he used his thumb to wipe away her tears and kissed her forehead softly leaning into her.

"When your better we'll go see her together." He promised.
"You've been?" Nancy asked sounding shocked and grimacing  at how high and pathetic her voice sounded.
"Every time I'm in New York I go see her. She's not alone doll, she's with Maria and Howard." Nancy nodded and began crying silently again biting her lip to stop herself saying anything because she didn't want to drive him away.

"No" She gasped "I can't" As Bucky began to kiss her. He felt crushed, but to his surprise she shook her head,  gasping and holding her chest. "James I physically can't, its making my heart beat too fast". She coughed. Realising what she meant he just shook his head and settled for holding on to her.

Very carefully Bucky picked her out of the chair and helped her lay on the bed moving pillows so she would be more comfortable. He carefully lay next to her and wrapped the pale woman in his arms and breathed as she lay against him. It didn't matter how long it took her heart to heal he would be waiting.  A little while later, he realised she was snoring softly as she leant on him in one hand she held her locket, the other hand tightly gripping his shirt.