Separate Universe (HP/MCU)

Chapter Sixty Three

Over the next two weeks, Nanala would let Henry invite Bucky over for dinner. During that time, Nanala would explain her world to Bucky and answer any questions he may have had. He would ask about the food, the drinks, the world itself, and some of the things that happened while she was alive there. She explained her family and her trauma—or part of it, since she didn't want to tell him too much and scare him away.

He had actually been around for a couple of Henry's magic lessons, and he was a bit mesmerized by the magic he was seeing. After a while, Nanala had offered to teach Bucky about some of the history she had learned while in this world. He had missed quite a bit of it, so what she learned helped her teach him some stuff as well.

Bucky continued to train a bit to keep up his stamina, just in case something happened, but he refused to get his new arm from Shuri. Nanala understood why though, so she never pushed him to get the arm unless he absolutely wanted it. She wanted him to feel comfortable in his own skin, and it seemed the arm made him feel uncomfortable with himself.

"Next week is Henry's fourth birthday," Nanala commented, as she prepared lunch for herself, Bucky, and Henry.

Henry was finishing his studying. He was reading a small book that told him his ABCs and gave him one word and picture that went with the letter. In a week, Nanala would be teaching him how to write the letters, then she would teach him how to spell his name.

"Are you going to visit your family?" Bucky asked, causing Nanala to bite her lip.

"I was thinking about visiting them for the weekend, then coming back here to also have a party and allow Shuri to organize it. She's been asking about it for weeks," Nanala answered, and Bucky nodded.

"What does he want for his birthday?" Bucky asked, glancing back at the boy for a moment.

"He's really into cars and action figures right now. Clint and Laura have been supplying him with new toys everytime we visit, and those seem to be his favorites," Nanala said, causing Bucky to chuckle.

Bucky made a mental note to ask Shuri to help him get things for Henry's birthday. He knew she and T'Challa would help him, since he knew they were getting the boy quite a bit if Shuri was organizing the little boy's party.

"I have a feeling this birthday party is going to be extra crazy," Nanala commented,"All of his other birthdays were rather normal, but with Shuri as the coordinator, I know it'll be big," She added, causing Bucky to nod and laugh.

Over the time that Bucky had been seeing Nanala and Henry, he had been happier and laughed more often. He swore he hadn't felt this good since the forties, before HYDRA had grabbed him. He couldn't be happy when HYDRA was in his head, but now he could be a bit happy and they couldn't ruin it.

Obviously, he couldn't be completely happy, because he was still racked with guilt over all of his victims, but it wasn't as bad as before. His nightmares were still there, but now he didn't have to worry about the nightmares triggering the Winter Soldier and causing him to hurt anyone. He knew if he hurt anyone in Wakanda, he would hate himself forever.

Nanala could tell when Bucky was feeling down on himself, since she knew the feeling well. She knew there wasn't much she could do to help him, so she only gave him a little support that she thought would get his spirits up again. Sometimes the simple support was leaving a plate of cookies on the table near the entrance of his hut. In the mornings when he'd wake up to homemade cookies after a night full of nightmares, he would feel a slight warmth grow in his chest.

This woman was amazing, and he didn't know how he got through life before without her. She made him smile and made him feel happy when he was sad. If he was honest, he knew he was growing feelings for her, but he didn't know how to express them. It had been years since he had even talked to a woman for a long period of time, but talking to Nanala seemed almost like a second nature.

He wanted to tell her how he felt. He wanted to tell her that he thought she was the prettiest girl he had ever seen. He wanted to tell her that he thought she was the most amazing woman he had ever met. She was a shooting star after a night full of rain. She was a rainbow after a storm. She was the hidden cherry at the bottom of the milkshake. He wanted her to be his, but he was out of practice.

He wondered if T'Challa had any tips for him to talk to Nanala about his feelings. T'Challa and Nanala were close, so Bucky figured the man would have an idea on how to approach the subject. T'Challa was a good man, and Bucky had a feeling he knew more about women than Bucky did.

Actually, Bucky wasn't even sure if Nanala felt the same about him or not. For all he knew, Nanala could be this nice of a girl to everyone. He hoped that wasn't the truth, but he could never be sure. The girl's kindness attracted him, as did her beauty and her motherly instincts. Seeing the woman with her son made his heart flutter.

He wanted to have a family, and have a happy ending. He dreamed of his family before, but in the dreams his family was Nanala and Henry. Even in his dreams, his subconscious was telling him that he wanted Nanala to be his girl. He just wasn't sure if it would work, or if anyone could care for him after everything he had done as the Winter Soldier...