THE FADING FALLEN ● Bucky Barnes X OC ● 18+ ● ENGLISH [COMPLETE]

Chapter 63

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Delacroix, Louisana

Almost exactly four weeks had passed since Emilia left the beautiful little familiar village.

Sarah was quite surprised to see her. Especially after what she heard from her brother. Neither of them knew where she had gone.

"What the hell were you thinking just disappearing like that? We were worried about you!"

She was finishing her homemade jambalaya at the newly renovated 'Wilson Family Seafood' stand. Emilia could clearly see the rather reproachful look on her friend's face through the rising steam.

Her mouth was watering, since she actually didn't eat anything in the last few hours. Now, as the delicious aroma drifted through her nose, her stomach complained.

"I thought you guys knew. After all, I had left him more than one message."

It was still early afternoon when she landed in New Orleans. The guests weren't there yet. As Emilia looked around unobtrusively for Bucky, she spotted only a few of the residents. They were still attaching the last strings of lights, setting up the benches, or helping the musicians with their instruments.

At some distance from the harbor edge stood the small covered stage, from which she could hear the greying "Big Mouth Bobbie" and his harmonica. With a quick glance in his direction, she recognized how his comrades were also tuning their instruments and playing in a bit.

Through the soft sound of the bass, a saxophone and a banjo, she could still hear Sarah's voice as she continued searching the area.

"What? He didn't say a word to us. Are you sure he got it? I mean, the esteemed sergeant only recently lost his..."

"MUM! EMILIA! Look! Garfield's back!"

AJ's loud joyful voice drowned out everything as he pointed one arm in the air. The pelican was just taking off and landed a little ways away on the edge of the harbor. AJ and Cass had come up with the name a few weeks ago.

The orange feather color reminded Emilia of the same-named cartoon character at that moment, too. The sight of the bird brought something to mind. Smirking, she looked back at her friend.

"Say, where is Sam? Wasn't he going to help?"

Stirring in the big pot, Sarah snorted out audibly annoyed: "Tz... I thought so too. But when the United States President calls, it's hard for Captain America to say no."

"Oh, come on. You're really proud of him too, aren't you? Even if he does have a pretty good reason for avoiding work."

Teasingly, Emilia crossed her arms and saw the approving eye roll on Sarah's face."Yeah... I'm more than proud of him."

The suddenly raised index finger was meant to emphasize the seriousness of her following words: "That doesn't mean I'm doing everything here on my own. Just because he's Best Buddy with Mr. President now."

Only seconds later, she joined in the laughter that escaped Emilia's lips at this vehement objection.

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After borrowing the key and Sarah's car, Emilia took her few belongings to her house.

There she freshened up a bit after the long, yet somewhat exhausting trip halfway around the world and slipped into her dress, which she had bought especially for Carlo's birthday.