Separate Universe (HP/MCU)

Chapter Sixty

"Mummy, who's that?" Henry asked, pulling her from her thoughts.

She looked to where her son was pointing, and she seen that he was talking about Bucky.

"That's Bucky Barnes. He's a friend of Steve's," She answered, making him frown.

"What's this?" He asked, as he touched the freezer carefully.

"That's a cryogenic freezer. He's inside of it until I can fix his mind and help he get better," Shuri answered for Nanala, and Henry nodded.

"Why?" He asked, his eyes full of child-like curiosity.

"He's sick, and he has to stay inside to feel better," T'Challa answered, causing Henry to frown.

"I hope he feels better," Henry commented, causing the others to smile.

"I have a couple of hours until I have other things to handle. Would you like a tour of Wakanda, little Henry?" T'Challa asked, and Henry grinned.

"Can I, Mummy?" Henry asked, causing the woman to nod.

"Yes, but mind your manners and listen to T'Challa," She replied, causing him to quickly nod.

Henry took T'Challa's hand once more and followed the man out of the lab, but this time the two were followed by Okoye. When Henry had asked about the woman following them, T'Challa explained to him that she was protecting them, and that she was a strong warrior. Henry greeted her with a smile, and though she didn't always smile and was very serious most of the time, Okoye smiled and shook his little hand.

"Your son is adorable," Shuri commented, as Nanala watched Henry with T'Challa outside the window.

"Thank you," Nanala answered, barely glancing away from the window.

"You're a good mother. Henry's lucky to have you," She said, making Nanala turn completely to look at her.

"I try very hard to be a good mother, even when I'm at my wits end. I didn't have a good mother or father growing up. My brother was showered with affection, but I was punished for absolutely nothing at times," Nanala began, sighing lightly,"When I first landed here, I wanted to try and figure out a way to get back to my world, my time, but then I slowly realized that I shouldn't go back. I was treated horribly there, but here I have a family and Henry is happy. If we went back, his father would leave him, and he'd lose his father because of the Dark Lord. I just—I never know what I'm supposed to do at times, but I'm trying my hardest to be the mother Henry needs," Nanala explained, and Shuri smiled at her.

"You're the perfect mother, Nanala. Henry is well-behaved, and you're raising him just the way he needs to be raised. You'll be doing more for him than he'll ever realize," Shuri said,"You're a good woman. You helped out Captain Rogers, when you knew anything could go wrong. You protected Sargent Barnes, and you stayed behind to watch over and care for the man as well. Your son seeing that will make him want to be as selfless as you are, and that makes you a great mother," Shuri added, causing Nanala to smile.

"I hope he and Bucky get along. I would hate to have to break my promise to Steve about helping Bucky if Henry doesn't like him," Nanala commented, making Shuri laugh.

"I doubt that'll be an issue. Once your son sees how smitten you are over this man, he will begin to love him as well," Shuri replied, causing Nanala to blush lightly.

"I'm not smitten, I just think he might be a little attractive, but that's it," She retorted, and Shuri smirked.

"Sure," Shuri murmured,"you only find him attractive. I have a feeling you two will be married in a year's time," She said, causing Nanala to quickly shake her head.

"Shuri! That will not happen! You are kidding yourself!" She exclaimed, making Shuri laugh.

"Oh, Nala, once you realize you're holding yourself back, you'll be coming to me to hear me say 'I told you so,'" Shuri replied, and Nanala simply scoffed, as she glared at the younger girl playfully.

Nanala wouldn't deny that she thought Bucky was attractive. She thought he was attractive the moment she met him at the airport, but over time he just seemed to be more and more attractive to her. Obviously she wouldn't tell Steve or anyone else that she found him to be very attractive, but she felt like Shuri was the one person she could kind of tell without feeling too embarrassed.

Nanala doubted that Bucky would ever feel the same way about her, especially after he learned she had a child. Once he knew she had a child, he would never look at her the same way again, and she was sure of it. He was a nice guy, that much she truly believed, but she doubted he'd want to be tied down to a woman with a child, especially a woman who was dumb enough to get pregnant while she was still in school.

She often put herself down over it, but she didn't want anyone to know that she did. She didn't want Henry to ever believe that he was the reason she was ever down on her self-confidence. She loved him with all of her heart. He was the only reason she was happy, especially after what Dumbledore had done to her, and she was thankful he hadn't hurt Henry.

Henry was a great little boy. He was so smart and full of life. Honestly, he kept everyone on their toes, even the children at the Barton home. Clint and Laura loved him as their own grandchild, and they loved Nanala as their own daughter. She was happy here, in this universe where she was sent, but she doubted she'd ever find herself with someone to love. She would gladly be happy with just having her new family and her little boy, but she did kind of want someone to love her. She wanted a happy ending, but to her, it seemed her happy ending would only be her, her son, and her new family...