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I AM FLESH AND BLOOD, 
NONETHELESS 

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Spending the rest of the break in New York with her father was one of the best days Czarina had in the city. They went to tourist spots she wanted to see but they spent more time on places Bucky used to know. And in all honesty she preferred going in those parts of the city, especially seeing how the man finally found it comfortable enough to share his old life in Brooklyn. 

On the fourth day of her stay, a package from Wakanda arrived. Which led them to a surprise visit to Sam's hometown at Delacroix. It's a fishing community by the southeast of Louisiana. Czarina remembers reading about it somewhere but those written information pales in comparison how beautiful the island is. When they arrived at the Wilsons' place, it was a sweet reunion between the three of them. Czarina was glad to see her uncle safe at home in one piece. Far from the fight and dangers they fought outside the country.

As it turns out Sam's family and most of the town are working on fixing the Wilson's fishing boat. Used for their seafood business in the town. Czarina and Bucky gladly help with the job, though the girl mostly with lightweight tasks the older Barnes preferred working in heavy repairs.

"Hey, dad. Didn't you say you worked on the docks during your college years,'" she called out as he passed through carrying scrap metals.

"Yeah, it's a side job so I can get my allowances. I was mostly around Brooklyn, that was my turf." 

"So what's it like to see the Titanic dock and leave?" 

A collective chuckle sounded from the elders and other adults around their spot. Sam and Sarah included.

"C'mon, Rei. Your dad's not that old." Her uncle still had a huge smile on his face.

"Hey, Titanic was from the UK! Rina, your bad history knowledge is showing."

"Now he's gonna give us a history lesson." Czarina groans in a joking manner. 

Bucky tries to answer but his voice is drowned in a roar of laughter and overlapping conversations of the crowd. It didn't take long for both Barnes to be familiar with Sam's family and the people there. The community might be small but it's lively and engaging.

Every now and then others will be surprised with her physical strength and memory skills, so Czarina has to notch it down a bit but despite that the townspeople were very welcoming to her. She was surprised to feel that the fear of standing out or being in the spotlight hasn't dawned on her yet. Which made it easier for her to be more casual. The girl finds herself eagerly working with newly met people, even without Sam or her dad by the side.

Their work only stopped temporarily when the sun was almost setting in the afternoon. The three of them sat by the lower deck of the half repaired boat, Czarina had her legs dangling above the dock level water as she stared at the golden colored lake after them. The noon breeze hitting her reddening face was a relief. She took a swig of the cold Heineken beer in her hand and turned around to face the two adults with her.

"Well...," Bucky got up from his seat, the bottle on his hand clicked against Sam's. "We gotta catch our flight tomorrow. Get a hotel room for the night. Crash, you know?"

"So you're just gonna set me up like that, huh?" A slight smirk of disbelief appeared on the other man's face.

"I don't wanna make it weird for your family." 

Czarina scrunched her nose on the comment. They just got there, and her father can't be serious on finding a hotel when there's a perfectly good town to stay in.

"Just stay here," Sam gestured at the girl beside him. "Rei wants to stay."

"We're not driving back to the city at night, dad. It's nice here."

"The people in this town are the most welcoming people in the world. They don't care if you wear small T-shirts or if you have six toes or if your mom's your aunt."

It only made Bucky chuckled softly. "Okay, I get it. I mean, you know, the people are nice."

To which Sam couldn't help but smile and laugh. "But don't flirt with my sister." He countered quickly.

"No," the other's expression turned serious quickly, he shook his head in agreement.

"'Cause if you do, I'll have Carlos cut you up, feed you to fish."

Czarina laughed at Sam's warning and waved a finger in her father's direction. "Dad, you heard him. I'm not gonna help you."

"Okay," Bucky pursed his mouth and nodded in an awkward manner. He started to turn back to leave and dragged along his kid. "Let's go Rina, we still have to clean up the wheelhouse."

"But we just-,"

"You said you want help, we're not done yet."

A groan sounded from the girl but she ended up following her father to finish their work. 

They end up staying that night at the Wilsons' place. At dinner the two of them helped the siblings on cooking and preparing the family's signature seafood dishes. Sleep didn't fall quickly to her despite the long day they had, after dinner Czarina spent some time with AJ and Cass playing video games. Turns out the three had a common game they all were fixating at. Though Sarah called the two boys exactly at their bedtime and they had to pause their playthrough of the shared game.

"You sure, you're okay on the floor?" The older Barnes asked for the nth time, turning himself sideways on the couch to face his daughter.

"Yes. Do you want me to fall over you? I roll in my sleep. I want my space, dad."

"Oh-kay. Fine, you do you. I'll stay here."

As the whole house rests and the place dims, the two of them in the living room quickly drift to sleep with an ease. Czarina has trouble sleeping in new places but not there, she was sound asleep the entire night. The blonde was only woken up late morning by the sounds coming from the kitchen. 

When the girl's been fully awakened, she tidies up the spot on the floor where she slept. Her father was still sound asleep so Czarina didn't bother waking him up. Instead she heads to the kitchen where Sam, Sarah and the kids are at.

"Hey good morning, Rei." Sam greeted her, he's by the sink arranging stuff on the cabinet.

They were halfway having breakfast. It must be quarter to nine already judging by the light outside.

"Good morning."

"How's your sleep? Is your dad up too?" Sarah asked her.

"Oh, it was good. Thanks for the mattress. Dad's still asleep on the couch," she smiled back.

"Come on, get some breakfast. Omelettes are still warm and you got toast there. We have jams here if you want," her uncle invited and signaled the girl to sit on the spare chair. 

Czarina sat next to the two boys who are eating as well. She picked a couple of toast and scooped some eggs. 

"Hey Rei, Uncle Sam says you have a good memory on science. You wanna look at my project for our science fair?" Cass offered her.

"Sure. I'm in a Bio club this year, we do a lot of contest fairs. We can practice your presentation."

"Cool! I'll prepare after we eat!" The boy cheerfully nodded.

When Czarina tries to open one of the jam bottles, its lid completely snaps off under her grip. A silenced shock appeared on her face.

"Oh... I'm sorry...," 

"Wow, you are strong." AJ marveled at the broken lid on the older girl's hand.

"I- I eat a lot of greens." Czarina does an awkward smile and turns to Sarah. "I'm really sorry, I'll just fix it-"

The woman makes a light chuckle and gestures a nod. "It's okay, we have spare jar caps around. You go eat, it's alright."

Czarina goes back to eating her toast shyly and tries to avoid holding anymore fragile things around the kitchen for the rest of their breakfast. When they are done, she volunteers to clean up the plates so the two adults can go on with the work on the boat. 

"Just break anything. You'll pay for those next time!" Sam jokingly remarked as they exited the house.

"I won't! I promise!"

While she washes the dirty dishes, the two younger boys decide to play inside the house as they wait for her to finish. She can hear them playing with Sam's shield near the living room. It's only been a couple minutes when all of the sudden both kids rushed out the doorway, past Czarina. When she looks back Bucky was already awake and sitting by the couch.

"Wow, you scared my new friends." 

Her dad walked up to her only rolling his eyes. "Where's Sam and Sarah?"

"By the docks. They're continuing the work on the boat," she tells him. "There's breakfast on the table, we've already eaten. I didn't wanna walk you up since you're all snory and asleep."

"Thanks. That's okay, you didn't drive home alone so it's all good." 

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Flimsy sweat ran down on Czarina's limbs and face as she finished running the last lap around the lake near the Wilsons' house. The blonde rested herself by a wooden bench nearby, she poured cold water to her throat and the rest on her flamed cheeks. 

Noon came quick for them, while the adults continued repairs on the boat. She helped Cass with AJ in the older boy's science fair projects. Czarina only went out of the house after hearing Bucky and Sam were practicing to use the shield. She thought of joining them but her dad didn't let her, in concern of possible injuries she might get for not having a built for shield practice, so the girl decided to take a run to make up for not being able to train.

After taking a quick rest and heading to the showers for a clean up, she went back to the spot where they were practicing. Newly dressed and with her backpack this time. Czarina watches in a distance as the two older men bounced off the shield on makeshift pillars out of trees, they both end up catching it alternately.

There's quite a conversation going on between them amidst all the throws and catches. She wonders in silence if it could be that they are having the much needed conversation between them, especially from Bucky's side. He has a lot to tell Sam. It went on for some time until they both looked over to Czarina's direction. She nodded at them with a smile.

As the two men looked back at each other, smiles appeared on their faces. They got closer and shared a tight handshake that lasted for longer than a moment. 

"Hey, Czarina! Come on, let's go!" Bucky hollered to his daughter. To which she complied by slinging the bag on her shoulders and running towards them.

"You call me when you have a lead, and I'll be there," her father reminded his uncle. "Not necessarily as a team." 

"Nope." Sam wholeheartedly agreed.

"Ouch, just when I thought you two were at that level," she groaned with an exaggerated tone of sadness.

"We're not that good."

"Definitely not."

"We're professionals."

"Definitely."

"And, uh, we're partners."

"Co-workers." The other man snapped his fingers.

"But we're also a couple of guys with a mutual friend."

"Friend's now gone."

"So we're a couple of guys."

"I can live with that."

"Perfect."

Czarina didn't hide that she's laughing over the debate the two men had just so they could find a proper label on their relationship. It's like a flashback of her college dorm halls on a Friday night.

Sam stopped on his tracks to face Bucky again. "Thanks for the help, you two. Meant a lot. Both of you take care."

"Of course," the other replied. Patting back his partner on the shoulders. "Thanks for having us too."

After they said their quick goodbyes, the three parted ways once again. With Sam staying in their town and the two Barnes head back home. 

As they ride back to New York. Czarina can't help but be reminded that her semestral break is almost over. By next week she will be returning to their university. Back to Boston, back to being far from her father. It began to stir something inside the girl, her chest tightened and all of the sudden she's panicking. But Czarina didn't let herself fall too far again this time, she got ahold of herself and tried to settle.

Her mind immediately went to one thing. Doctor Greene. She opened her phone to message the woman.

Will you be able to meet me in New York? Around Brooklyn? Are you by the area? Her text says. 

After a few minutes a reply popped into her screen.

I can. I'll meet you tomorrow. 

A sigh of relief sounded from her. It's been awhile since the two of them had spoken. Their session tomorrow will be one hell of a ride that's for certain.

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 ASHA'S NOTES ! 

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Hello! I know this is a shorter chapter and only covered the fifth ep but this was so fun to write ❤ ️ I enjoy writing Czarina interact with more characters and be more sociable to others. We're nearing the finale and I can't wait to get in there because I'm so confident I can finally finish this book and move to the other fics of this series. So shout-out to everyone who's been here since day one, I hope you're still there until this book concludes!