I still don't know why I agreed to help dad build the suit. I wasn't entirely comfortable with the thought that my dad would be wearing a suit of weaponized armor to track down and take out terrorists. I didn't even want to think about what would happen if the suit were to fall into the wrong hands. I had doubts but at the same time I knew that the suit in the right hands could do a lot of good. This was dad's chance at redemption. Everyone deserves a second chance. I just hope he doesn't get himself killed in the process.

Nora's POV- Two weeks later

Once we got to work, it was like nothing had ever changed. We were in sync. I focused on increasing the energy output of the reactor without compromising stability. Dad focused on integrating the repulsor technology from the missiles to the flight stabilizers. After two weeks dad had figured out not only how to add the flight stabilizers but also what metal to make the suit out of so that it wouldn't be too bulky and add additional weight, compromising flight capabilities. I worked out a computer algorithm that would allow me to install Jarvis into the suit. By the end of the two weeks, all the plans for the suit and the programming are done. The ARC reactor is done just needs to be installed. I offered to do it as soon as it was done but dad said he wanted to fix the electromagnet in his chest and the lab in Malibu was better equipped to handle any mishaps. By mishaps he means he accidentally sends himself into cardiac arrest. You can see why I have doubts.

Dad was set to leave the next morning so we decided to have a movie night like old times. After debating for thirty minutes which movie we were going to watch, we settled on AI: Artificial Intelligence. About thirty minutes into the movie the Skype ringtone starts to go off I check my phone and see its Dean.

"I have to take this," I tell dad.

"The boy toy?" dad asks.

"Yup," I respond.

I walked into the kitchen and answered the phone.

"Hey you," I greet with a smile.

"Hey Nora, haven't heard from you in a couple of weeks. How you been?"

"Everything's good. Things with the family finally settled down so that's good. How about you? How are Sam and Jess? How's Dublin?"

"Well its starting to cool down a bit but honestly at this point I can't really tell the difference between cold and colder." He says with a chuckle. "Sam and Jess finally moved in together."

"Wow about damn time. They practically lived together anyway."

"I know right." He chuckles a bit before he gets serious and a bit tense. "So I have news," he starts. "I met someone."

I feel my smile fall a bit but I stay strong even though I can feel what's coming. "Really? That's good. Who is she?"

"Her name's Lisa. Met her at the coffee shop on campus." He says.

"Is she your…" I start.

He nods and says "Yeah she's my soul mate."

"Oh wow, that's, that's great Dean. I'm happy for you." I say even though I feel like I've been punched in the gut and slightly jealous. Okay not slightly, full on green eyed monster jealous.

"Nora, I'm sorry, I-"

"Don't be it was bound to happen. I'm happy for you. Honest, I wish you both the best." I say with the biggest smile I could fake even though I could feel myself tearing up. "Well I got to go, dad's calling me, Say Hi to Sam and Jess for me."

"Nora, I'm-" And I hung up on him.

I turn around and I see dad standing in the doorway. "How much of that did you hear?"

"Not much." He says.

"So pretty much everything?" I retort.

"Yeah, Want to talk about it?" He asks.

"No lets just get back to the movie." I say trying to pretend the last ten minutes didn't just happen.

Dad looks like he wants to make me talk about it for a minute but decides against it.

We finish watching the movie and call it a night. I was in bed staring at the ceiling for a few hours trying to fall asleep with no luck. I turned on my side and saw the picture of Bucky and Steve. "You guys suck, you lived your lives and had each other. What the hell do I have to look forward to, a future all alone?" I grab the frame and put it inside the drawer and close it. My phone rings and the light blinks showing I have a text. Its from Jess:

So I heard Dean told you the big news. How are you feeling? And tell the truth I can tell when you're lying.

I sigh, she does know me better than anyone else.

Pretty crappy. I knew ahead of time that there was a possibility of this happening I just didn't expect it this soon. Dean's a lucky bastard.

She answered pretty fast even for Jess.

He feels bad you know. He's been trying to find the right words to tell you for the past few days. I get you feel bad he was your first in a lot of things but it will get better sweetie.

I reply:

Of course he feels bad, he's a great guy and it isn't his fault. It just wasn't meant to be. It sucks but I'll get over it, just need time. One door closes another one opens right? Going to go to sleep ttyl.

I'm fairly sure Jess forgot about the time difference. I roll around on my bed for a few minutes before I give up. I figure if I'm not going to get any sleep I may as well get some work done. I go down to the lab and I see dad there going over the suit blueprints.

"Can't sleep either?" I ask.

"I've always been an insomniac, now I just can't sleep on a mattress, too soft."

"What are you working on?"

"Some stuff for the company. How to make the arc reactor seem like a viable business plan to pitch the board. Boring business stuff." He says. "What has you up?"

"Too wired to get sleep. That and friends from Dublin who keep forgetting about the time difference. Figured since I couldn't sleep I'd come down here and work or see if there's anything I need to pack." I say.

"I've been working on making sure the electromagnet won't interfere with the suit and I need a second opinion. I was thinking of adding a side chamber to make the magnet be a part of the reactor instead of having that one piece just dangling in there."

"That's a good idea just have to find a way to make sure the magnet doesn't bump into the socket or it'll shock you every time you move." Saying that reminded me of the man from the barn. Wonder what his story is.

I zoned out for a bit because the next thing I hear is. "Nora did you hear what I just said?"

"Um no, sorry dad. You were saying?"

"It really got to you didn't it, the whole lover boy finding his soul mate thing?"

"Yeah but its no big deal I'll get over it eventually." I say with a small smile.

"You know you don't have to keep things bottled up. You can talk about it."

"I know I'm fine dad. Just need time."

"I could stay a few extra days if you need me too." He offers.

"As awesome as it would be to have more father daughter time, I have to get to Boston for orientation in a few days and you need to figure out who at Stark industries is dealing under the table." I said. "Speaking of which where are you going to start looking?"

"I figured I'd look at the numbers see if anything looks off, but seeing as whoever is dealing with these guys is probably doing a good job of covering their tracks I don't think its going to be that easy."

"I think that the longer you keep the weapons division closed down the more pressured that person is going to be and they'll slip up." I say.

"So you think I should wait it out?"

"Normally I'd say yes but considering that the longer you wait the more lives are at stake I think you need a better plan."

"Yeah you're right." He gets lost in thought before he shakes it off and says, "I'll think of something."

We each work on our own thing until the next morning. We eat breakfast before dad has to leave.

"Text me when you land." I say.

"Of course, Text me when you leave for Boston."

"I will." We hug and then he drives off. I have a really bad feeling in my gut. I could almost swear I'm being watched. I head back inside and get to that laundry I've been putting off.