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

Chapter 72

∼⋄∼⋄∼ ○❖○ ∽⋄∽⋄∽

In the weeks that followed, Emilia tried in some way to find out who was really behind the threatening letters, but came to no real conclusion.

Not even with the person she suspected.

Her nerves were wracked by the lack of knowledge about it. And this didn't escape Bucky's notice.

Neither did the constant fatigue from her. He watched how eagerly she was searching for something, withdrawing further and further from him. Not physically, but in terms of her other behavior. When he spoke to her about it, she reacted quite irritably for no reason.

All this seemed rather suspicious to him, but he couldn't make any sense of it.

At first he wasn't worried any more than usual. He believed that it was as she said: the aftermath of hard work and many sleepless nights before.

But when he took her out to a small restaurant in Brooklyn on Valentine's Day, he knew something was very wrong. Emilia refused to sit at a favorite table on one of the exposed rooftop terraces. From there, they had the most beautiful view of Prospect Park's greenery.

Before they even made it to the small table, she insisted on sitting in one of the seating corners in the back. Her reasoning that they would be undisturbed there didn't really convince him.

Nevertheless, he wanted her to have a relaxed evening. And so she did.

With each passing day without a new letter, Emilia hoped that maybe all the threats were just a bad dream.

She felt relieved when Bucky traveled to Delacroix now and then to continue working with Sam on the old farmhouse or helped his friend break up a criminal ring on short notice. It meant he was out of town and therefore not in any perceived danger.

Because that's what Emilia assumed: that it was right in the middle of New York.

And that wasn't the only thing that was hitting her tense nerves by now.

Already since the morning of Bucky's birthday she seemed to be avoiding something. Until the evening, however, they were both too busy to sort out this unspoken matter.

Only the ups and downs of emotions that day triggered something in Emilia which she would have loved to nip in the bud with every hour that passed - or at least could have seen in a premonition four weeks earlier.

Neither of them knew what was in store as they met up with Sam over brunch at a Manhattan restaurant. He was in town at the time, so he didn't miss the opportunity to congratulate Bucky on his 108th birthday himself.

Only a short time later, Shuri and even Ramonda reached out via video. This was the best opportunity to ask a favor, about which Emilia and he talked. The idea of celebrating the wedding in Wakanda was met with more than just approval.

The King's Mother insisted on taking care of everything. She had adopted Bucky like a son during the time of his regeneration. And with no marriage of her own two children in sight in the near future, Ramonda was more than happy to help them both.

The gushing call distracted Emilia a bit. They talked a little longer about some small details and agreed on a simple ambience and no too extravagant festivities.

After they said goodbye to Shuri and hung up, they wanted to let the rest of the day end in cosy togetherness.

In the early evening they therefore settled down in front of the television.

Everything seemed perfect, while on the screen the brown bear was talking to the dog. It was supposed to be a little bit of a surprise for Bucky, since he still hadn't seen 'Dr. Dolittle' yet.