Miss America: The Daughter of Steve Rogers

Chapter 5

My eyes flutter open and I take a long, deep breathe of fresh air. Then I notice three children with painted faces looming directly over me, start with curiosity. I move to sit up, which startles the children and they flee the hut I'm in.

I look around. It's small, a glass of water sits on a table next to me. I grab it and take a long drink. Then I hear a familiar voice outside.

"Are you playing around with them again?" Shuri asks the children.

"No. No!" They deny their actions which puts a small smile on my face. I stand up and open the curtain of the hut. Stepping out into the bright sunlight, the fall breeze. I close my eyes and take it all in.

"You're teasing them again?" She asks the children once more. I look around and see a beautiful Waksman lakeside.

"Emhlophe Ingcuka and Ukubulala Ukumkanikazi." The children say. (White Wolf and Killer Queen)

I settle next to Shuri taking in her view of the lake.

"Good morning, Miss Rogers." Shuri says and I let out a laugh.

"I do not ever want to hear another person call my Miss Rogers." I open my arms and let the sunshine warm my skin. She giggles.

"Yes, of course, Emerson."

"That's better." I turn to her and give her a hug, thanking her for what she's done. Because of Shuri, I'm free from Hydra. For good.

Then I hear the grass tussling behind me and I turn to see Bucky walking towards us. I turn and run to him, engulfing him in a tight embrace.

"Nice to see you too, Em." He says with a chuckle.

"Good morning , Sgt . Barnes ." Shuri says as we both walk over to her.

"Bucky." He says.

"How are you both feeling?" She asks us.

"Good." We both say.

"Thank you." He adds. Shuri smiles.

"Come. Much more for you two to learn." Then we follow Shuri towards the other huts.

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The next few months went by so fast. I learned so much from Shuri and we became close friends. She's the smartest person I've ever known, and she likes to help me pull pranks on the boys.

I turned 72 shortly after Bucky and I woke up. Shuri and T'Challa were nice enough to throw a party for me. They were all calling it my "Sweet Sixteen" because that's about how old I look.

Steve came to visit, along with a few of his friends he was on the run with.

I learned soon after that the hero team known as the Avengers were in shambles. There was a disagreement on the Accords and then after everything that happened in Siberia a few months ago, they're not on speaking terms.

"Guys, this is my daughter, Emerson." Steve introduced me to three previous members of the team. Natasha Romanoff, Wanda Maximoff, and Sam Wilson.

"Hey everyone." I say, standing their awkwardly and giving them a little wave. Wanda immediately engulfs next in a hug.

"It's so nice to finally meet you." She says, pulling me in tighter and tighter, then finally releases me.

"Steve never shuts up about you." Natasha says with a smirk, glancing back at Steve and then quickly embraces me. I smile and then look to Sam. He extends his hand and I reach out and shake it.

"So you're the famous daughter of Captain America." He laughs. "You're smaller than I'd thought you be." I smirk, still shaking his hand. My grip tightens and I use some of my super human strength to squeeze it. "Ow, ow, ow. And stronger."

"I wouldn't get on her bad side, she packs a hell of a punch." Bucky states, holding back a laugh.

"Nice to meet you to Wanda, Natasha," I pause, "Wilson."

"Oh, I like her." Nat whispers to Steve. He smiles proudly at me.

We stayed up all night talking, getting to know each other better. Eventually the boys went to bed and the girls and I stayed up.

"Does Steve really talk about me?" I ask curiously, wanting to know more about my father.

"Are you kidding? You're all he talks about." Wanda says.

"He can't wait for the day we can stop running and he can settle down and be with you." Nat adds.

I smile at the thought. It would be nice to live with him someday. Do all the things a father and daughter normally do. "That'll be the day, huh?"

"I have a question for you." Wanda says. I look at her, letting her know I'm all ears. "Why do you call him Steve? Why not call him dad?"

I was not prepared for that question.

"You don't have to answer that." Nat says quickly, giving Wanda a look as if to say "don't go there."

"No, it's okay." I say, taking in a deep breathe. "I guess it's just that, well, I don't really know him well enough to call him that yet."

"What'd you mean?" Wanda asks.

"If you think about it, this is only the second time I've seen him. And the first time we didn't really have time to talk about anything before I had to go back under." I say, looking down. It's not that I don't want to call him dad, I guess I just don't feel worthy enough to call him dad.

"Em, it's alright." Nat puts her hand under my chin and lifts it up to make eye contact with me. "He understands."

"I just want the chance to get to know him." I say softly. The girls both gaze at me, placing a hand on mine in an attempt to comfort me.

"So do I." A voice says. And then my father peers around the corner of the room. I look up at him with tears forming in my eyes. Nat moves to wipe my cheek as one falls, then stands up and looks to Wanda.

"Well give you two some privacy."

The two powerful women walk out of the room and head to bed, leaving me with Steve.

"I want that too." He says, sitting down next to me and wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

"I know it's impossible with everything that's going on right now." I say, wiping my eyes. "I wish things were different."

"It won't be like this forever. We just have to look forward to the future. A future where you and I can live in peace, without any interruptions." He looks off ahead of him. His eyes are glassy.

I close my eyes and imagine a small house in a secluded area. Nothing but trees, grass, and the open air surrounding us.

I sit on a wooden porch swing that he and I made ourselves. He walks out of the house and takes a seat next to me, handing me a glass of lemonade. He puts his arm around me as we watch fireworks off in the distance. And I wish him a happy birthday.

"That'd be something, wouldn't it?" I smile and look up at him.