Nat and Sam both ran to Lyla's bedside, taking in her form. Bucky backed away reluctantly, allowing them to hold her in their arms as they surveyed her body, not quite believing she was back.

"Lyla. You're here. How?" Nat questioned. Looking between Wanda, Bucky, Bruce and Shuri for answers.

All FRIDAY could reveal to Sam and Nat was that the jet had been taken and was currently enroute to Wakanda. Sam had tried to contact T'Challa but he wasn't available and no one could tell him what was happening. He had his suspicions and so he and Nat had departed as quickly as they could. They received news of the 'process' when they bumped into the Dora Milaje, shortly after landing.

Nat looked to Wanda, her face awash with relief but also anger.

"What if this had gone horribly wrong?" She said, her hands waving in the air. "We could have lost more than one life today." Her anger didn't last long though, she pulled Wanda into a tight hug, grateful she had helped bring Lyla back to them, to Bucky. "But thank you." She whispered into her ear.

"It wasn't all me. You can blame Bruce too. I'm sorry to have scared you both but we had to do something. Time was running out."

Nat nodded in understanding. Her eyes traveled to Bruce who backed away in defence. Nat pursed her lips as she made her way over to him.

Sam held onto Lyla for a while, his eyes closed.

"You're gonna have to let me go at some point." Lyla spoke, a croak to her voice.

"I'm so glad you're... back. I've missed you, we all have."

Bucky eyed their exchange. Lyla reached out a hand for him to take, reassuring him. He relaxed at the contact, smiling at the two. Sam felt protective over Lyla, in a similar way a parent would over their child.

"I'm sorry for everything. I just..."

"It's okay, you don't have to explain. I get it, I understand." Sam said, letting her go.

"Just please talk to me. I'm always going to be here for you, we all are." Sam smiled.

"I promise." Lyla replied, squeezing Bucky's hand in hers. She wouldn't leave them ever again. Besides, she'd found her peace, all who had wronged her were gone.

"Come, we have lots to talk about." Shuri says, escorting everyone from the room, giving Bucky and Lyla time together. "I shall explain everything."

✧

It took over a month for Lyla to fully recover, both mentally and physically. Bucky was by her side the whole time, never letting her out of his sight. He felt he was trying to make up for lost time.

Being out of it for months took its toll physically on Lyla's body, she hadn't used her muscles in so long and her legs had become weak. She didn't feel strong enough, walking took a great effort the first couple of weeks. The people of Wakanda used their technology to aid her recovery.

Bucky would massage life back into Lyla's lower limbs at the end of day, he would lie on the bed with her for hours, her legs draped across his; his fingers working her muscles, telling her stories of his past. Lyla enjoyed the contact and hearing about Bucky and his old friend Steve's adventures.

"Once, I made Steve ride the Cyclone at Coney Island. He threw up everywhere." Bucky laughed, whole heartedly at the memory. "You would've liked Steve." Bucky added sadly.

"It sounds like I would have. Can we go? To Coney Island I mean? Maybe we could see if the Cyclone is still there?" She replied.

"It's a date." Bucky grinned, suddenly excited for their future plans.

Bucky had been helping Lyla get fit again and trained with her when she had started feeling stronger and fitter. "Hit me with all you've got." He baited one afternoon.

Lyla ran at Bucky, drawing her fist back, ready to hit; he grabbed her wrist, a massive grin eating up his face as he anticipated her every move. Spinning her around, Bucky held his arms around her from behind, his fingers splayed across her stomach as his breath tickled her neck.

"Try again." He whispered into her ear, a tinge of seduction in his voice. Lyla huffed in frustration as he moved away, she wanted his hands back on her.

This time she stayed rooted to the spot, ready and loaded. Bucky's eyes were trained on hers. She didn't give anything away as she waited for him to make the first move. Bucky took a couple of long strides towards her, his muscles flexed as he moved forwards. Lyla's lips pulled up as she smiled slightly.

Bringing his arm up, Bucky hit out, Lyla moved quickly to the side, she ducked down; grabbing one of his legs, using this as leverage to slide herself between him. She came up behind him, crouched and ready, her fists raised in defence. She was lightning fast and kicked the back of his knee, sending Bucky to the floor. He knelt in shock as his hands touched the ground in front of him to keep himself steady. Lyla jumped onto his shoulders then, thighs wrapped tightly around his neck. He placed his hands on her without hesitation, his fingers working their way up her thighs, she shivered at his touch, sucking in a breath. It was all Bucky needed from her, one small lapse in concentration, her defences fell and he flipped her over, Lyla was laying on her back, Bucky hovering over her, one of his legs between hers, pinning her to the ground. His face was inches from hers.

"Good job. You were so fast." Bucky said, grinning at the girl beneath him. Lyla placed her hands on his chest as a blush crept up from her neck to her cheeks. Bucky reached down then; pecking her delicately on the tip of her nose. He moved away slowly, holding out his hand to help her up, which she took gladly, but wishing he had kissed her elsewhere.

"Thanks. Again." She replied biting her lip, slightly out of breath, not just from the exercise but from Bucky being so close to her.

Sam had continued to hover over Lyla like a fatherly figure. As Bucky and Lyla were still in Wakanda, he would video call everyday when he finally went back home, to check up on her.

"How are you doing today? Much improvement?"

"Actually, Bucky and I both sparred today. I kicked his ass." She exclaimed, giggling lightly, Bucky was on the other side of the room stuck in a book from the Wakandan archives, he shook his head and rolled his eyes.

Sam noticed the look in her eye. And held back a sarcastic comment. "Send my love to everyone. I don't know when I'll be back. It's so beautiful here." Lyla exclaimed.

"I'll be sure to do that. Rest up Lyla. Your room is ready and waiting for you." Sam ended the call, he wanted her back home.

✧

Lyla came to the decision that she needed to show Bucky everything. Everything she couldn't show him or get him to feel before. Wanda had helped, before she too left for home.

Placing a hand on Bucky's forehead; sitting opposite the two, Wanda placed her other to Lyla's temple. Lyla's eyes flickered as Wanda entered her mind, a brief flash of the familiar purple covering her irises.

"Be careful Wanda, I can feel it building. I don't want to hurt you."

"It's okay. I trust you to control it." She smiled at her friend.

"Just concentrate on me." Bucky added as he took Lyla's small hand in his, rubbing his thumb over her skin to soothe the tension he could feel. With heightened senses he had become attuned to the way her body reacted, sometimes before she did.

Pulling Lyla's memories wasn't easy. This could set Lyla back, but she wanted to show Bucky, to let him in. He smelt the memory before it entered his mind. Metal and damp and burning. He almost gagged, but held it back, conscious of Lyla's unease.

As if watching from the sidelines, Bucky saw the torture and torment Lyla had to endure. The tests and procedures they performed on her. Bucky tensed as he saw them cuff and manhandle her. He stiffened, wanting to also seek vengeance, as she was electrocuted with her own force.

Bucky watched on, unable to help, as the life left her eyes. He had to hold back a grunt as he witnessed the death of her mother and sister, his eyes glazed over with tears as their bodies crumpled to the floor. The sound of gunshots made him flinch, memories from his own past leaking into his consciousness. Lyla was overcome with images of War, an unfamiliar man hovering above her, but it wasn't her body, a metal arm alongside a flesh one was brought into her field of vision. This was Bucky's memory. The memory was fleeting, yet it allowed her a peek into Bucky's past.

Bucky's eyes stung at the sound of Lyla's guttural screams, he wanted so much to help and protect the woman in his mind, he wished he had been there to comfort and hold her.

Bucky's vision was soon overcome with flashes of bright violet light, it over took Lyla's form, it crackled and flicked up her arms like lightning. He watched as the unimaginable rage bubbled from and over took the woman he had come to love. In the present he winced at the bright light in his subconscious mind.

Nat and Sam entered the memory then and he smiled fondly as they interacted with and calmed Lyla. He was grateful they had gotten to her, although he wished he had been present. That day Bucky had other matters to attend, at least that's what he'd told Sam.

Wanda pulled them from the memory. Lyla panted as she came back to the present, reliving the memories had hurt. But she had escaped.

"I needed you to see." She said, looking up at Bucky through her lashes. "I don't remember much before the facility where they held me captive, I don't know how long I stayed there." Lyla thought for a moment. "Sometimes memories come back, but I'm not sure if they are real or I'm just imagining them. I mainly just remember the faces of my Mom and Sister...and their... deaths." Bucky nodded.

"I'm grateful Sam has seen something in me, instead of locking me up again, even though I've caused a lot of trouble, which I'm probably going to have to answer for." Lyla sat twiddling her fingers, sure she would eventually have to pay a price for her past felonies.

Sam had noticed the trauma as soon as he locked eyes with Lyla that day. He knew he had to help her, much like he had before with his group sessions aiding veterans.

"They were making you into some kind of bomb Lyla." Wanda whispered. "The implant in your neck." She gestured. "Was to keep you in line, after you tried to stop your captors. It wasn't successful, obviously."

"Lyla. I'm sorry for everything you've been through, I only wish I was with you sooner. I promise nothing like this will ever happen to you again and if you have to answer for your... actions... we will all be here to stand behind you." Bucky said kindly and softly as he leaned into her, holding her to his side. "If anyone comes for you, I will keep safe. You can seek refuge here, in Wakanada, T'Challa would protect you."

"I accept my fate, whatever that may be." She says shaking her head. Bucky bites his tongue.

Wanda nodded before discreetly leaving the two. She turned to watch them embrace as she left the room, silently closing the door quietly behind her.