Authors Note: Hi guys! So sorry for the long delay in the chapters. I hope this one makes up for it. I have a pretty good outline of where this story will end, and hopefully, Endgame will bring some new ideas as to how our heroines will overcome the forces of evil. Also a quick shout out to all the new followers. Thank you for reading and believing in this story. Enjoy!

The Amazon of South America was both the perfect place to hide a major operation for HYDRA and to catch any form of Ebola that was being carried by the thick swarms of mosquitos that engulfed the lower canopies. Repositioning his facemask to try and cover his face, Bucky turned on his coms as well.

"Okay, before we test if my serum is resistant to Ebola, can anyone give me an update about the truck that just went by? I could only make 3 HYDRA operatives along with a large containment unit in the back."

Okoye was stationed in a tree across the makeshift road from him. Catching her eye, she nodded in confirmation that she agreed with his assessment. Suddenly a flash of black and navy whizzed by below them.

"Eyes up people. I make two more guards around the containment unit in the back." Steve said, not even slightly out of breath.

"The algorithm that Shuri made is not presenting any vibranium within the containment unit. Either the containment unit suppresses any interference with the vibranium, or they do not have the shipment, and this is a decoy." At T'Challa's words, Okoye stood up straighter. Bucky tightened his M249 SAW within his grasp, his metal finger ghosting the safety. Several grunts and crunching sounded through the coms. A gruff "all clear" came from Steve before Okoye and Bucky jumped from their posts and ran to reach the two leaders.

Bodies littered the ground. Bucky quickly checked for pulses and opened their mouths to examine their molar teeth. Wiggling the back teeth gently, none of the teeth gave in.

"No evidence of a cyanide pill in these guys. We can transport them to a local base and hopefully get some intel out of them." Bucky commented. Okoye quickly began to round up the seven men and tied their arms behind their backs.

"I will contact the nearest war dog group in Brazil. We should be able to lock them down there until we can determine the best course of action for the intel recon and the management of these criminals. As much as I appreciate the help, I do not think it would be wise if the Captain and Sergeant Barnes should be present when I call into Tony." Vibranium gave way to the cheeky grin etched onto the king's face.

"Bucky? Are you there? It's Shuri and Izebel. I think we have something that might interest you regarding the vibranium being smuggled." Bucky's eyes rose. It was the first time Izebel had felt the need to use the personal com link that she gave to him before they left for this operation. Making eye contact with Steve quickly, he turned his back to the group before talking switching his side of the communication on.

"Hey Iz, it's me. We are just wrapping up our operation. Is everything alright with you and Shuri?" A knot formed in his stomach as he thought of the possible HYDRA operations that vibranium could be utilized in, and how much danger those two girls could be in if they stumbled upon HYDRA files on the dark web.

"Oh we are fine, I'm just trying to relay a thought we had. Shuri explained to me that it doesn't take a lot of vibranium to create the kimoyto beads and since we are utilizing the vibranium to undo your brainwashing and controlling and we think… well, since HYDRA hasn't seemed to have smuggled too much vibranium… what if this could be used for different medical testing, similar to the… ummm… treatment to you?" There was a pregnant pause as Bucky began to decipher the information just given to him.

While Bucky didn't have any true background in scientific research or medical treatment like Izebel or Shuri, he does remember his time at HYDRA. Besides the painful flashbacks to the chair and its electrical capacity, there was nothing that he could remember about the machine itself that was different than any other metal. The metal in his arm twitched. His memories of those first times in Zola's lab were muffled, between the brain soup from the chair and pneumonia; those days were mostly expunged. Fuzzy memories of Zola first putting on the arm came to the forefront of his mind.

"Shuri, did you ever get the composite count of my initial arm? Any vibranium in the initial composition?" He could feel his voice waiver while asking the question. Steve's torn star appeared in his line of vision.

"Sergeant there was not a lot to work with from the remains of your arm retrieved from the Siberian base. But from the small tests I was able to run, and the reports from your maintenance there were some obvious indications that vibranium was one of the components." Shuri explained lightly.

He could feel his muscles tighten again. Glimpses of recon missions from his HYDRA days floated to the front of his memory again. "I-well-I… I can't remember if I ever specifically was sent out to obtain a vibranium shipment. Isn't this something that would be documented in the Wakandan Government files?"

"Bucky," Izebel voice echoed softly in his ear. Squeezing his eyes shut, he took a deep breath. "Yeah, Iz?"

"Bucky," she whispered again. "We aren't asking if you did it. Because we all know what my response would be. Bucky… we are asking you if you think there is anyone still around at HYDRA who might be trying to obtain small samples of vibranium to perform similar medical…umm… treatments similar to what you had performed on you?"

"Maybe? We have a couple of goonies here with a vibranium shipment. Shuri, you could contact your brother and maybe discuss that with him?" Turning around to face the group. "Iz, I will keep the comlink muted but opened. So, if you need anything else, just let me know."

"Of course Bucky. And the same goes for you." Iz calmly stated. The line went quiet after the promise.

"Okay, so change of plans. Steve and T'Challa, how much of that did you catch?" Bucky looked between the two men. T'Challa's began speaking to Okoye clearly in Xhosa. Okoye began to drag the men into a neat circle and four Dora Mijale appeared and started to clean up.

"Buck, do we need to worrying about reinforcing the palace for the security of Princess Shuri and Dr. Anderson?" Steve asked quickly. Shaking his head, Bucky tussled his long hair quickly.

"They don't seem to be in any distress. Princess Shuri scheduled a last-minute meeting with Tony Stark in NYC, so security wise, they are all set. They are due back in Wakanda on the following day." Okoye snorted behind him. Raising an eyebrow, Steve tightened his thumbs into his belt loops and turned to the general.

"Anything you would like to add Okoye?" Steve questioned. Okoye's face broke out into a grin while she pulled a globe up from her kimoyto beads. Two small dots appeared floating over the middle of the Florida peninsula.

"While I trust the leadership of my country without question, sometimes I question your ability to lead not understanding the specific personality traits of the characters you find yourself working with. Dr. Anderson and Princess Shuri have taken a sudden trip to Arcadia, FL. This is Dr. Anderson's home town. Based on my previous knowledge of those two working together, Princess Shuri and Dr. Anderson are acquiring certain items from Dr. Anderson's childhood home to complete her move to Wakanda as a permanent resident, which makes sense considering the fact she just publicly announced her official role as Science Liaison for the American Division of the Wakandan Outreach Initiative." Closing her fist and the globe simultaneously, Okoye nodded to Steve before walking away with her Dora Mijale following suit.

"Are Dr. Anderson and Princess Shuri secure without the presence of more security in Florida?" Steve directed his question towards T'Challa this time. T'Challa only smiled politely and shrugged before following his general.

"So, I'm guessing we will be able to take a detour to Florida? Any chance you can connect back with Widow and Falcon in Florida?"

If you had asked thirteen-year-old Izebel what twenty-six-year-old Izebel's life would be like, she would never imagine saying four wanted criminals and one member of the Wakandan government would be at her table. Well, if her sister had something to do with it, maybe there would have been more than one Wakandan present at a dinner table.

Izebel never even remembered bringing home a friend from college or her residency days. The only person her parents ever met from her entire college career was Dr. Strange. And that encounter was strange enough. Her father was over the moon that her daughter had a fantastic mentor, and her mother couldn't stop fawning over Dr. Strange and Dr. Palmer beginning a courtship and flirtations. But to see her mother fawn over two super soldiers was a wholly different and anxiety provoking experience.

"Izebel, you have yet to introduce me to all of your friends here," the charming older Italian woman grinned as she began to set all the food on the long farm table. Uncomfortably, Izebel stood up from the bench and walked over to help bring more food out. Cramped on the other benches were Steve Rodgers, Bucky Barnes, Sam Wilson, Natasha Romanoff, and Princess Shuri. Well, Sam Wilson never looked uncomfortable. Being the most normal guy in the room after her father, Sam Wilson got the other head seat at the table, grinning widely at her father.

"Sorry, mamma. I just… wasn't expecting all the company. You know Princess Shuri. I introduced you to her earlier. And I'm assuming you know Steve Rodgers. His friend… Bucky… the veteran I have been working with. Sam Wilson is at the other head of the table, and Natasha is sitting next to Shuri." Hastily, Izebel threw down the last bowl of salad before regaining her empty place of the bench in between Natasha and Shuri.

"It is wonderful to have you all here. I'm glad we got word in time. So sorry about the late dinner, but we had to make enough food. Right Izzy?" Her mother pinched her cheek fondly while dancing around the abandoned uniforms on the floor to reach her husband.

"Melina, take a seat hun. We will say grace quickly so our guests can eat." Jack Anderson gruffly said a quick blessing. Instinctively, Izebel tilted her head down and grabbed the two hands on either side of her. Natasha tried to pull her hand away, but Izebel gripped tighter. To be honest, while Izebel was terrified of Natasha's stink eye she could feel on their intertwined hands, nothing scared her more than not following her daddy's orders.

After the final words were uttered from her father's mouth, she quickly released Natasha's hand and mouthed an apology. Izebel smacked Shuri under the table for the giggle that escaped. Looking up, she saw Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes trying to hide their broadening grins. Rolling her eyes, Izebel picked up the first bowl and threw a serving onto her plate.

"So, Ms. Shuri-" "Just Shuri, Daddy. Sorry," Izebel interrupted but then looked quickly back at her plate, ignoring the glare from her mother.

"As I was saying, Just Shuri, Adriana, my daughter, has been living outside of your country for quite some time. It is very beautiful where you live. My wife and I try to visit every year. The plan is to come at Christmas time this year, to see both our little girls working their hardest." Jack smiled proudly at the mention of his daughters. While the man was very gruff looking, he truly loved every little bit of his all-women family he had.

"Your daughter has done many honorable refugees works with us. One of our operative Nakita works well with your daughter. She has been a great resource to our country." Shuri said politely. Hesitantly, she scooped the noodles into her mouth after twirling them several times.

"Adriana is one of my favorite people to go and visit. Okoye, my brother's general, comes with me too. Her village that she has set up is wonderful, and the kid's artwork fills the halls of our palace. Izebel may not mention it, but she brings a new piece every week after visiting her sister. It has been a delightful addition to our usual collections." Shuri added the praise herself. Izebel noticed she was tugging on her kimoyto beads and smirked. Is the princess nervous from her parents? Now that was something to see.

Silence fell over the group for a bit, but the awkward tension tangibly went down after the complements were paid to Adriana. Izebel noticed the more enhanced individuals were already scooping seconds of the fresh polenta and meat sauce her mother had made quickly.

"Mrs. Anderson, this is wonderful. Thank you for the meal honestly. I hope it will be no trouble for you." Steve said after his second plate was cleared. Melina smiled slightly and nodded thanks. However, a dark look came over Jack Anderson's face at the comment.

"You mean your trouble won't come lookin' for us and give us trouble?" Jack scoffed. Izebel gasped loudly, causing a wry grin from Natasha to be thrown at her. The table became uncomfortably quiet before it was broken by a loud laugh from the opposite end of her father.

"You, Mr. Anderson, are the most direct person I have ever met. I appreciate that." Sam raised his water glass to him in salute before taking a swig. "Reminds me of my own father before he passed. Did you know my father was a minister in Harlem? Ended a feud between two rival gangs by stepping in-between their argument on the street. He died for his efforts, but the gangs ended up resolving a lot of their beef." John's brow pinched together at the story, and he mumbled an apology about the loss of a peacemaker. Melina glared at her husband while Steve's mouth tried to formulate a word. What's going to happen now?

"I'm so sorry Mr. Anderson. That is not what we meant. And we take very serious precautions when traveling, as you can understand. So no, our trouble shouldn't be looking for you." Steve firmly apologized. But John's raised eyebrows didn't indicate that the apology was going to be accepted.

"I don't care about your frivolous team drama Rogers. I'm concerned about my daughters and their safety being tangled up in your mess. My daughters, bless their hearts, jump into situations too fast for their own good before realizing what actually is at stake. And you are telling me that Izzy and Anna being tangled up in the Wakandan affairs is the safest thing for them to be doing?" Melina shook her head at her husband's antics while Shuri cleared his throat.

"Mr. Anderson, anything that your daughters work on are the same things I work on and my… my sister works on. I would not allow them to be in a situation that is not applicable to their skill set or would introduce any dangers into their lives." The voice of the princess rang through the small dining room. A slight smile came across Melina's face while she turned to look at her husband.

"I told you, Jack, they are good people. Get your stick out of your ass," Melina laughed. Izebel's stomach flipped. Did her parents really do what she think they did?

"Did you really just call Nakita T'Challa's wife? Oh, I can't wait to tell her that one." Izebel whispered to Shuri. Waiving her off, Izebel poked her face around to make eye contact with her mother.

"Did you seriously have to set up a fake argument just to see if you could scare an Avenger mamma?" Izebel scoffed. The matching smiles between her parents caused her to groan in frustration. "I told you not to mess with people I introduce you to. You wonder why I tell you I have no friends."

"What is happening" Izebel her Bucky whisper to Steve, who just shrugged in response.

Shuri laughed in delight at how uncomfortable everyone was getting. Jack just grinned and shoveled another forkful of pasta into his mouth. The table was filled with misfits, but Jack and Maria could not have pictured a perfect assemblage for their unique daughter to fit in. Squeezing his wife's hand quickly, Jack wiped his mouth and began a different conversation.

"I know we discussed this with Shuri when she first arrived, but I'm happy you Wakandans are reaching out to America. While we like to pride ourselves on being a first world country, I can tell you first hand a little perspective from the outside always improves the world." Shuri nodded in gratitude towards Izebel's father.

"Well, I am glad that my brother has realized how much of a positive impact our society might have on the world. Wakanda is a unique nation, and I believe we have much to offer the world." Nodding politely again, Shuri spun her noodles around her fork.

The rest of the dinner ran smoothly. Small conversations sprouted between Maria and the super soldiers over the Italian culture pre and post Mussolini, farm lifestyles between Bucky and Jack, and design between Maria and Shuri. Izebel remained quiet but hopeful about her parent's future role in her life. While she certainly wasn't raised conventionally, seeing her parents happily engaged in conversation with the most important people in her life brought a feeling of gratitude that she had the parents she did.

Dishes piled up as Steve Rodgers, and Bucky Barnes crowded around her childhood home's sink, one washing, and one drying. She smiled lightly, remembering how her mother adamantly insisted on never getting a dishwasher because it was an opportunity to bond with your family. Sam sat comfortably with Natasha at his side, discussing options for travel without raising suspicions from HYDRA and General Ross.

"Mamma, if you could help me with the rest of my packing I would appreciate that." Izebel returned her dishes to Bucky, savoring the last moments of the most unexpected dinner of her life and moved to the old creaky stairs in the middle of the farm house. Opening the door to her childhood room was like a blast from the past. Adriana and she shared this room until she moved to Nigeria. Even then, Izebel couldn't bear to part with the bunk beds and teenage posters from 2006. Old photos of the Jonas Brothers were faded from years of the Florida sun blaring through their window seat. Adrianna's old craft corner was untouched, only the occasional change in fabrics hinted at her mother using the space to make her grandchildren clothes. Izebel's side of the room was filled with a large collection of books, and the closet was completely emptied of clothes. Some boxes remained in the closet of old hammy downs traded around the church.

Izebel and Shuri had already packed the last suitcase filled with her winter clothes from New York, and any saved college papers and books that she might need to complete her office. Maria entered the room with a smile and hugged her daughter quickly.

"I am so proud of you my piccolo," her mother whispered. Quickly wiping her eyes, Maria removed herself from the hug and zipped up the final suitcase. "Do you really have to take your truck though? I'm sure the Wakandans have something sensible for you to drive."

Izebel laughed wetly, clearing her throat quickly before answering her mother. "Where is the fun in inventing if we can't fix the previous inventions? Shuri was even talking about the potential for flight for that poor old car." Maria rolled her eyes and wiped away the tear that escaped her daughter's eye. "You are supposed to be the older one. I know you don't know what that feels like most days, but you need to not convince this poor girl to do dangerous things."

Izebel threw her arms around her mom in one final hug before grabbing her suitcase. Before the two women could exit the room, Shuri busted in, panting as if she had a fight on the stairs.

"Hey, wheels up in 30 minutes. I had to tackle Barnes out of the way. Said he could help with your suitcase, but I think your father would have had an aneurysm if a boy followed you to your room. My baba was always that way…" Izebel groaned, cutting Shuri's babble midsentence.

"Oh my parents are so embarrassing. They FLEW to New York to meet the boy I had teach me how to drive. I didn't even like him!" She saw the look her mother threw at Shuri and Izebel groaned. "I promise I didn't! I was already freaking out when I had to introduce you, let alone the three of the worlds most wanted fugitives. And they crack jokes. Ugh…" Izebel threw herself down on the comforter from her teenage years. Maria just laughed at her daughter's antics while Shuri looked pleased with the new information about Izebel's childhood years.

The bunch of misfits congregated around the two aircrafts, giving hugs and handshakes to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson before saying separate goodbyes to the fugitives on the run.

"It was lovely meeting you, Natasha. I've always appreciated your work." Izebel said shyly. Bucky watched the interaction between the short redhead and the taller Italian woman in amusement. The slight biting of her lower lip gave away to the trained spies how nervous Izebel was in front of the infamous Black Widow. "Likewise Dr. Anderson. And here is something for you, if you ever need to get in contact with us regarding your new project." A half smile appeared on Natasha's face as she slid an index card into Izebel's pocket. "Come on boys, we got a young girl we need to check in with." Winking at Izebel for a final time, Natasha boarded the stolen Avengers quinjet with Sam following behind her, waving enthusiastically to the others. Steve hugged Bucky and nodded to Shuri and Izebel before boarding as well.

"Well, I think it's also time for us to depart. If we are lucky, we can arrive home in time for a full night's sleep." Shuri smiled at Bucky and Izebel and quickly boarded the jet.

"Oh, um I should warn you there is less cabin space. We kind of used the main cabin to store my truck." Izebel rolled on the balls of her feet, looking at Bucky's bewildered looked sheepishly and boarded the jet herself. Truth be told, there was the old truck, taking up most of the space where a command center would be. The furniture was moved to the side and strapped down, and the car was also fixed in place in case of turbulence.

After the fiasco of her parents being her parents, Izebel decided that the best course of action would be to just ignore that anything ever happened and sit quietly reading a book instead of engaging in any sort of conversation occurring on the Wakandan quinjet Shuri was operating. The book couldn't keep her attention though, so she kept shifting the pages after skimming half the words, keeping appearances to keep the other occupants away.

Instead of reading and dwelling on the embarrassment, Izebel thought about the reason as to why those particular people ended up at her childhood home. It was strange to think about two World War Two vets and the other disgraced Avengers requiring her insight to change the perspective on the operation they were on. Izebel wished she has done more analysis on the components of the horrible chair she disassembled in Siberia. Maybe her hunch would be more than just a hunch. Vibranium has been a known substance for quite some time, obviously known outside of Wakanda since 1941. Could it be possible Hydra knew about it longer than the Americans? It's possible. But the brainwashing techniques used on Bucky were introduced after the war. Did they learn about the vibranium through Captain America and send in operatives to Wakanda to steal some of the natural resources? Biting her lip, Izebel turned the page with a shaking hand before continuing her thought process. Hopefully, Izebel thought, Bucky would have some memories of vibranium.

In her peripheral vision she could see the man in question eying her. Adjusting her collar again to hide the growing blush, Izebel focused her attention on the words lined on the page in front of her. Bucky has been trying to catch her eye during this whole plane ride back, most likely trying to apologize for his attitude before they all had left. Rolling her eyes, Izebel shifted in her seat, bringing the book closer to her face and adjusting her hair to the right side, a curtain of curls blocking her peripheral vision. No Bucky in sight, no problem right?

A loud sigh echoed sounded from her right side, rejecting her brilliant plan of ignoring the man in question. A couple more heavy sighs sounded out before Izebel roughly closed the book, slamming it down on the chair she vacated and moved to the cockpit with Shuri.

"Boys are stupid" Izebel grumbled. A sly smile spread across Shuri's face, but the princess did not contribute to the comment. Grumbling even more, Izebel flipped open her book once again trying to actually understand the words in front of her.

The flight was long, but the Wakandan princess and technically 2 Wakandan citizens, quickly unloaded their haul into the laboratory immediately and living quarters. Izebel could feel the eyes of the super soldier on her, but she ignored it until she was about to enter her room for bedtime.

"Goodnight Bucky," Izebel said lamely. "Thanks for the help today. And sorry about the awkward conversations at my parents' house." Bucky scoffed but replied a quick 'you're welcome' and soft goodnight before hurrying into his own bedroom.

Sighing, Izebel shut her door tightly and flopped on her bed. Maybe she shouldn't get into passionate fights and then leave the continent. Looking at the obnoxious red and gold USB, Izebel scoffed. Some role model she was for normal interactions for genius kids. Well, at least tomorrow would hopefully be another day. A day where she could act like the adult she was.

In his own bedroom, Bucky methodically placed his gear away, storing everything in its proper place and unloading and locking his weapons while leaving a couple of knives situated around his pillows. The room had no life to it besides the personalized weapon's storage Shuri placed when Bucky has stated his interest in practicing with weapons again. The room had a bathroom where he freshened up before crawling into bed. While his body ached from the tensions of the day, Bucky's mind raced to try to connect the memories in his mind much like Izebel's hands often guided him. Recalling the gentle hands combing his hair, he willed his mind to connect the synapses in his neurons. Anything to remember something that could help Izebel, and not be on her shit list anymore.