Chapter 34

Elizabeth's POV

Time Skip... A Couple Days Later...

  It's time for me to go in for my next surgery. I'm a bit nervous but mainly thrilled to get yet another one out of the way. After this surgery, I should only have one more left. I'm just hoping when all of this is said and done, I'll finally begin to be on the road to recovery. I want to walk again. I know it'll take time, but I need to know that I'll eventually be able to stand on my own two feet without any help. I want to feel normal again. Lying in this hospital bed with very little movement allowed makes me feel weak and useless, which I am anything but normally.

   Bruce walks with me all the way to the doors that lead to the operating rooms. He has been squeezing my hand so tightly... I've almost lost blood circulation in it. I know he's afraid and I don't want him to be. I'm going to be okay, at least I'm going to keep telling myself that. I look up at him lovingly. "Bruce, I love you. Everything is going to be okay. I'm not going to lie, I'm terrified every time I have to go under the knife, but I know it's going to help me in the end. I'll see you when I come out." I peck him gently on the lips. He smiles softly at me and tears up. "I love you too Liz. I'll see you when you come out."

     Without another word being said, I get wheeled into the hospital room. They lift me onto a rather uncomfortable, cool metal table. They do their usual surgical prep before putting me under. The surgery lasts for quite a while but I come out of it okay thankfully. I feel a bit groggier than last time, but that's nothing that won't pass. When I'm alert enough, Bruce and the rest of the Avengers come into the room. T'Challa, Shuri, and Okoye are all behind them, which surprises me a bit. I smile politely at them, trying to contain my excitement. I love all of them, especially Shuri. The girl is a genius and someone I only dream of being friends with.

       Steve introduces them to me. All of them are super friendly especially Shuri. I end up gushing to her about how great she is. She blushes and hugs me. "Liz, we're going to be very good friends. When you're feeling better, how about a road trip to Wakanda?" I light up instantly and look at Bruce pleadingly and he chuckles. "Yes Liz, we'll go on a road trip to Wakanda when you're feeling better." I squeal and everyone laughs at me but not in a bad way. I've done a lot of research on Wakanda and it truly is the most advanced nation in the world, mainly thanks to Shuri. I can't help but wonder what it would be like for us to join forces on a future project. That would be girl power at its finest.

       Speaking of another great idea... what if Tony, Bruce, Shuri, and I all collaborated on a project. Now that's a dream team. We'd be unstoppable. I'm definitely going to suggest that sometime, when everyone's in a better state of mind. I can tell I've put my dearest friends and loved ones under a lot of stress lately and that makes me sad. Like I said before, I don't like when people worry about me so much. I'm just me, nothing special. I'll be fine, I tell everyone that repeatedly throughout the evening. Bruce also doesn't leave my side again, which is the absolute best thing in the world.

Hoped that you guys liked this chapter! :) -Mary