Hey everyone, I just finished this chapter and I have to say it's a doozy. Anyway it picks up right where the last one left off. I just wanted to say thank you again for all the support and ask if you can please send me ideas for what you want for the series of one shots for this story. I'm dying to start on one. Anyway that's all for now. Please let me know what you think., thanks again, enjoy. :)
When I regained consciousness I wasn't in the kitchen, I was in the in a bedroom. It wasn't mine. I looked around and didn't recognize any of the décor. The walls were a pale green color and the bed frame was white with gold accents. I sat up and realized I was hooked up to an IV. I gently took the needles out of my arm and turned off the machine. Then I got out of bed slowly. I was still a bit light headed from getting up too fast but not as bad as before. As I got closer to the door I heard people talking. One of them was Wren but the other voice I didn't recognize. It sounded familiar. I opened the door and walked down the hallway that led to the living room. I walked across the room to the kitchen and what I saw surprised me. Sitting at the table were Wren and Sam drinking beer. Sam was older. He had stubble and his hair was really long, like shampoo commercial long.
"Sam?" I said surprised.
Both of them stopped their conversation and turned to look at me.
"Hey Nora." Sam greeted he stood up and came over to give me a hug. "Wow, I forgot how young you were when we met."
"Haha very funny sasquatch. What's with the hair?" I said making him laugh.
"What's wrong with my hair?" Sam asked.
"Well it's kind of bordering the bowl cut meets 80's mullet rocker look." I said.
"And I forgot how sarcastic you were too." He said with a small smile.
"Just saying dude, sleep with one eye open cause one day Jess is going to get jealous and shave your head in your sleep." I said with a chuckle. Sam visibly tensed and let out a nervous laugh.
"Uh, why don't you sit down Nora, I'll make you something to eat. You're probably starving." Wren said getting up.
I sat down at the table and then asked, "So why did I wake up in what I remember being a storage room hooked up to an IV?"
"You don't remember?" Wren said.
"I remember a time jump, saying hi and then nothing." I said.
"You showed up in the kitchen, said hi then passed out. I managed to catch you before you hit the ground." Wren explained.
"Yeah, that's the second time that happens." I said.
"Seriously? Have you been to a doctor?" Sam said concerned.
"I can't exactly go to a doctor in 1944 tell them I'm from the future. Not to mention diagnostic medicine in the 1940's kind of sucks." I said.
"I wouldn't recommend doing that, you'll either get a lot of unwanted attention or get sent to the nut house." Wren said, pouring a cup of orange juice and handing it to me.
"Tell me about it. The past few days have been hell. First I get turned into a toddler, then I end up in the future and I see future me. Then…" I start before Sam interrupts me.
"Wait can you repeat that?" Sam asked.
"Gramps tried triggering a time jump and the stone was mad so it turned me into a toddler to teach me a lesson. Then I had another time jump and got sent to the future where I got turned back to my adult self and then before I got sent back I saw a future version of me." I explained.
"God your life is complicated." Sam muttered drinking his beer.
"Trust me when I say you don't know the half of it." Wren said putting a grilled cheese and tomato soup in front of me. "Eat" he said taking a seat.
I dug in and wow he knew how to make a grilled cheese. "Mhm that is good"
"Had a feeling you'd like it." He said smiling. "What date did you get back from?"
"October 26th 1944." I answered. He got up and went to look through the notebook.
"That explains a lot." Wren said. "I know what's wrong with you. Not only did you try to trigger a time jump but you're also starting to show telekinetic abilities. How's that going by the way?"
"I keep shattering glass and get massive headaches." I said annoyed.
"Lucky for you I know why." Wren says with a grin.
"Don't keep it to yourself spill!" I say.
"Besides fainting have you been getting light headed, tired, and your appetite is 'insatiable'" He said reading from the journal.
"Yeah." I said slowly.
"You have a glucose and protein deficiency brought on by the stone using your energy." He said.
"What?" Sam said.
"I'm with Sam on this one, how is the stone causing a nutrient deficiency?" I said.
"I'm surprised you haven't noticed already. You've lost about ten pounds since the last time I saw you." Wren said. Gramps had mentioned it but I never thought much of it. "The stone is it's own energy source but when you use its abilities it siphons some of yours as well. The time jumps are actually a mix of both. The stone takes its energy and mixes it with yours then moves it around your body and poof, time jump."
"But I haven't been using my powers." I said.
"It doesn't matter. You triggering a time jump and turning into a toddler caused an energy imbalance inside of you. The stone's probably trying to compensate for it by using up any stores you have which is causing all of your problems. You're losing weight because you're stores are running out." Wren explained.
"So I need to increase my calorie intake? I already eat like six times a day and I'm tired all the time." I say frustrated.
"Lucky for you, you're not the first person with this problem." He walked over to the kitchen cabinet and placed something that looked like a candy bar in silver wrapping in front of me.
"A granola bar?" I said confused.
"It's a lot more than that, it's a glucose and protein condensed bar. One of those is the equivalent of all the nutrients a normal person would eat in a day. I developed them for underweight patients in rural Africa to gain weight. In your case one of these when you wake up, in between meals, and before bed should do the trick." He said.
"Awesome, I'm gonna try it." I said unwrapping it.
"Nora you may want to take a small…" Sam started but I took a giant bit instead.
I chewed it and gagged. I forced what was in my mouth down and gagged a bit more. The nutrient bar Wren gave me was sweet, so sweet the taste made me sick. "Bleh, what was in that thing?!"
"Yeah, I made that mistake the first time when I thought it was just a granola bar." Sam said with a chuckle.
"It takes a while to get used to it but once you do its not that bad." Wren said.
"Have you tried this thing?" I asked.
"Yes, part of the reason I developed it was to help with the glucose fluctuations I get when I over exert myself." He said.
"Can you pass on the recipe, I don't think I can carry all the bars I need." I said.
"Yeah, I'll write it down but finish the one in your hand. You don't want to pass out again." He lectured.
"Yes Dad," I taunted making Sam laugh.
"So did I interrupt guys night?" I asked. Sam turned to look at Wren. Wren just chuckled a bit.
"We were just going to play a round of pool in the game room and watch the fight." Wren said.
"Oh fight, Boxing or UFC," I asked.
"Boxing" Sam said.
"UFC" Wren said at the same time.
I raised an eyebrow at both of them.
"What we meant to say is that we're watching both. There's a boxing match and Wren recorded the UFC fight from yesterday." Sam said.
"I thought you hated watching prerecorded fights. You said and I quote 'they were unauthentic'" I said remembering a discussion we had a few years ago.
"Not this one. It was epic." Sam said giving me a thumbs up.
"Okay…" I turned to look at Wren and he gave me a tense smile. "I'm going to go out on a limb here and say you were trying to keep this meeting a secret from future me so lets pretend this never happened agreed?" I said even though I was kind of dying to know how these two became friends or how Sam found out about me time traveling.
"You're starting to get the hang of time traveling." Wren said smirking.
"Not really, I just learned that sometimes its easier not to ask questions." I said with a shrug. I took another bite of the nutrient bar and I have to admit it did get better, slightly better.
As soon as I swallowed the last bite I got the chills again. "I think its time for me to go back." I said standing up. "Sam it was nice seeing you, I have to say the scruffy look is starting to grow on me, I might ask Bucky to try it out. Wren thanks for everything." I started glowing. "Enjoy the rest of guys night." I said with a wave before I was gone.
I appeared back in the living room of the apartment. Bucky and Steve were in the kitchen and turned around happy as can be.
"Nora!" They said stopping what they were doing.
"Hey guys, how long was I gone for this time?" I asked.
"Not long, you made it back in time for lunch." Steve said.
"Awesome." I said and they looked at me like I was insane. I realized what I said and then explained myself "I mean that's great." I said smiling.
"I found out what was causing me to faint and everything else." I said smiling.
"Really? What was it?" Bucky asked.
"Apparently I wasn't taking in enough calories and nutrients to deal with the stone's increasing energy demands and it caused an energy imbalance. I got a 'prescription'" I said pulling out the paper with the recipe for the nutrient bars out of my sweater pocket and showing it to the guys.
"This is medicine?" Steve said.
"Well not exactly, it's a recipe for nutrient bars that I have to eat in between meals and before and after I sleep to get enough calories in me. I ate one before I came back and I feel great." I said tasting some of the food Steve was cooking. "Even better they're long lasting so I can pack them up before missions."
"We can get all of these ingredients after lunch." Bucky said reading the recipe.
"Great." I said.
"Speaking of, Howard stopped by while you were gone. He said something about you owing him a night out on the town? He'll be by around six." Steve said and Bucky made a face.
"Oh right, I said we needed to go out and celebrate his birthday. Why don't you guys come with us? We can use a night out." I said. I thought that the more time the three of them spent together then maybe they'll start getting along.
"Uh," Steve said looking at Bucky then at me rubbing the back of his neck with his hand.
"Doll, I don't think that's a good idea." Bucky said.
"Guys come on, I know you two aren't Gramps' biggest fans and I admit he can be a bit much but he's a good guy. You just need to get to know him a bit more." I said vouching for him. I don't think it was working so I had to go with plan B. "Please, you don't have to drink if you don't want to. Think of it as chaperoning us to make sure we don't end up in another country."
"She has a point Buck, whenever they end up going out alone Nora either ends up a toddler or having a time jump or they both end up in another country." Steve reminded him.
Bucky sighed, "Fine we'll go."
"Yay" I said smiling.
Later that day-
I got dressed in a simple red A-line dress with black heels. I put my hair up in a braided messy bun and had simple gold colored stud earrings and my necklace. Before I left I remembered to eat the nutrient bars so I wouldn't pass out at dinner. By the third time I ate it the taste wasn't so bad. I think my taste buds might have died.
I was in the living room waiting for Bucky and Steve to come out of the room. It amazes me how long it takes the two of them to get ready. I was reading that morning's paper when there was a knock at the door.
I opened it and there was Gramps. "Hey kid, you got my message. Lets go."
"Actually Gramps, there's a slight change of plans." I said.
"What change?" He said getting serious.
"Hey Doll is Howard here we're ready to go." Bucky said as he and Steve walked out of the room.
Gramps just turned to look at me. He gave me an unreadable look.
"Bucky and Steve are tagging along." I said smiling.
"Oh, That's great," He said lying through his teeth.
"Be nice." I muttered. Bucky and Steve just stood next to each other staring at Gramps.
"Howard." Steve greeted.
"Rogers" Gramps said.
"Stark" Bucky said.
"Bucket" Gramps says with a smirk I elbowed him to make him stop.
"Shall we go?" I asked. Bucky comes over to my side and wraps his arms around before kissing me. It wasn't a quick peck on the lips, it was a deep long kiss. I put a hand on the side of his neck and another on the back of his head. He pressed his tongue on my lips making me gasp. He took advantage of it and deepened the kiss.
"Ehem" Gramps said clearing his throat loudly.
That snapped me out of it. I broke the kiss and took a step back. "I'm good to go whenever you want Babydoll." He said with a smirk. Oh great, they're having a pissing match and its only been five minutes.
"Let's go then." I said walking out the door.
We walked downstairs and Jarvis was there with the car. The ride to the restaurant was quiet. I was sitting in the back squished in between Steve and Bucky. Gramps was sitting in the front with Jarvis. I had never been so thankful to get out of the car. I looked around and something about the area looked familiar, I just couldn't figure out why.
We walked into the restaurant and I was hit with a strong sense of déjà vu. The hostess took us to our table. I looked around the round table and saw that there was an extra table setting. I was about to ask Gramps about it when I heard it. A very familiar high pitch voice.
"Howie, you're here!" She cheered. I saw Sally Mae run over and hug Gramps from behind. Gramps just shot me a pleading look and looked terrified.
"Sweetheart, what a surprise." Gramps said with a huge fake smile.
"I heard you made a reservation and I just couldn't help but pop in for a surprise. Are you surprised?" She said too cheerful for it to be natural.
"Oh boy am I." He said through his teeth. "Sally, you remember my cousin, Nora." He said taking the attention away from himself.
She turned to look at me and threw me a dirty look but quickly looked away to look at Steve and Bucky. She gave Bucky a quick once over but then her eyes landed on Steve.
"And who might this be?" She said in her best impersonation of a sultry flirty voice.
"Oh these are my s-" I was about to say soulmates but lucky for me gramps cut in just in time
"That's Sergeant James Barnes and that's Captain Steve Rogers." Gramps says.
"Hello captain." She said giving Steve a flirty smile. This girl was crossing the line. She better keep her hands off my Steve. Wait my Steve? Oh fuck I've turned into that girl. Then she put a hand on his arm and I was pissed. I was about to stand up and claw her eyes out but Bucky put a hand on my knee and snapped me out of it.
"Ma'am." Steve said stoically, with a nod.
"How are you liking the food?" She asked.
"Uh, we haven't been served…" Steve said awkwardly.
"We can't have that now can we? I'll go get your server this is completely unacceptable. Making a war hero wait so long." She said walking away.
Once she was out of hearing distance. I turned to Gramps and glared at him. "What the hell Gramps?" I said in a low, harsh voice.
"I didn't know she would be here I was just craving steak and a good drink." He said quickly in a low voice.
"Gramps do you not remember what a pain in the ass she was last time or how her dad banned us from this place?" I said in a low voice looking out to make sure she wasn't around.
"What?!" Steve and Bucky said at the same time.
"Shhhh!" Gramps and I told them.
"I don't care how you do this but you need to end this Gramps. You had to switch hotels last time. You faked a relative's death the time before that." I reminded him.
"Fine just let me enjoy the last martini my favorite bartender will ever make me." He said taking a sip of the drink the waiter had just left him.
I sat back and took a sip of my own drink. Sally Mae came back with a server who took our order.
"So Captain," She said flirting with Steve. I through a glare at the back of her head and then looked at gramps letting him know he better do something now.
"Sally we need to…" But she interrupted him.
"I'm going to powder my nose," She says standing up and looking at me.
I just looked at her wondering why she was staring at me. "Ehem." She said.
"You're excused." I said.
"Aren't you going to come with me?" She said pretentiously.
"You're a grown woman, I think you can figure it out on your own." I retorted taking another sip from my drink. She took the drink from my hand and then pulling me up to follow her.
"We'll be back." She told Steve smiling. I looked back at them with a pleading look.
She dragged me to the ladies room and then open her purse to take out a compact. "That captain is something else isn't he?" She said while looking at the mirror and touching up her makeup.
"Yeah Steve's a great guy." I said just standing there awkwardly.
"Is he seeing anyone?" She asked. Now I get why she wanted me to come with her.
I could tell her I'm seeing him but Philips and senator what's his face wanted Captain America to be single, something about getting female support back in the states, so we agreed that in public I would only be seeing Bucky. Lucky for me she didn't know Steve was Captain America, and I could lie to her.
"He is, he has someone back in Brooklyn, they've known each other since they were kids. Been together for years." I said. It was kind of true. Bucky and Steve had known each other for years.
"Shame all the good ones are taken. I guess that Sergeant isn't too bad, A bit too scruffy for my taste but I could settle." With that she walked out of the restroom. Oh hell no.
I walked behind her and sped up to walk past her bumping her shoulder before she tried to take my seat next to Bucky.
"Doll everything…" I cut him off by pulling him closer to me and kissing him. After about a minute we broke apart.
"I love how you look with stubble." I said with a flirty smile before turning back to Gramps and Sally who looked furious.
"I think I'll get the steak." I said looking at the menu.
"Steak sounds good." Bucky said.
"Really good." Steve said going along with the conversation
"It's my favorite." Gramps said as well.
Dinner was quiet, like awkwardly quiet. Gramps started gazing over at another blonde at the table across from us. Sally was trying and failing to get his attention until she saw what Gramps was looking at.
"Howard!" She shouted.
Gramps jumped up surprised, "I wasn't looking at her." I just covered my eyes and pinched my eyebrows together.
"Howard Stark you we're looking at that floosy!" She shouted making everyone in the restaurant turn and look at us.
"Who you calling a floosy you no good tramp?!" the woman Gramps was eying.
"Tramp?! You can't talk to me like that, bottle blonde moron."
"You Bitch!" and then Sally Mae lunged at her.
They were tussling on the floor rolling around, making a mess. Fights were breaking out all over the restaurant.
"I think its time to go." Gramps said pulling out his wallet and putting enough money on the table to cover our bill.
"Yup." I said standing up and running out with him. Steve and Bucky followed our lead and ran out after us.
As soon as we were outside Gramps and I just turn to look at each other and break out laughing uncontrollably.
"What the hell happened in there?" Bucky asked a bit mad.
"Sally is insane, but being with Gramps makes her even more insane. Hence that" I said pointing at the restaurant.
"And you were acting like a brat because…" Steve said.
"She was looking at you like a piece of meat and she was belittling Bucky." I said.
"You were jealous." Gramps said.
"Was not." I said looking away.
"You were." Gramps said.
"Is that Sally?" I said looking behind Gramps.
"Ah! Where?" he said hiding behind me.
The three of us just laughed.
"Very funny." Gramps said sarcastically.
"It was, well the night's still young, I could still go for drinks." I said.
"The pub across the street lets go." Gramps said crossing the street.
We walked in and started drinking. Steve couldn't get drunk so he was designated babysitter. Bucky and Gramps started talking smack to each other and decided to try and out drink each other. Gramps and I out drank him. He could handle is liquor but Gramps and I were on another level. That didn't mean I didn't get drunk. I was drunk.
"Grandpa," I slurred out.
"uhuh." He answered.
"You da man." I say.
"No you da man." He answered.
I cracked up, "I'm a girl."
"Yeah you are. No-noraaaa. You're the bessss wing man."
"uhuh, grandpa." I say.
"Yaaaa"
"Leave salad alone." I said.
"Okay. Noraaa, where's flag boy and Bucket?" Gramps asked.
"I don know I wanna go home." I say probably sounding like a four year old.
I turn over to Bucky who was leaning over the bar resting his head. "Buuuuuckeeeeee." I said poking his stomach. He was out cold and Steve was probably in the restroom.
"You know what sounds good, crepes. Claire makes the best crepes," Gramps said.
"Mhm Crepes." I said.
"Let's go!" Gramps said.
"Yeah." I said standing up.
"Finish your whiskey first." Gramps reprimanded.
"Okay." I downed a glass and then everything went dark.
The next morning I woke up with a massive headache, in bed with Bucky hugging my stomach and resting his head on my chest. I looked around and saw that we were in the spare room of the apartment. I moved around trying to get Bucky off of me without waking him up. I felt light headed and remembered I didn't have a nutrient bar before bed so I walked over to the kitchen and pulled one out of the cabinet.
I was munching on one when Steve walked into the apartment. "Morning sleepy head." He said really loud making my head hurt.
"Uh, not so loud please." I groaned. In response Steve handed me a coffee he'd bought. "You're a saint." I said kissing him. "You're up early." I said.
"I had a meeting with Colonel Philips." Steve said. Well that explains the uniform.
"What about?" I asked curious.
"About our next mission. We still can't take down the base in Poland so he's giving us another target. He wants us to go after Zola." He said staying quite afterwards to gauge my reaction.
"When do we leave?" I ask.
"At the end of the week, but there's something else." He says.
"What?"
"You can't save him." Steve said.
"What did you just say?" I asked again.
"you can't save Bucky. He's going to fall from the train and there's nothing you can do about it."
"No, that's not going to happen. I won't let it." I said.
"Who said it was up to you?" He said and then his eyes started glowing green.
"No, no" I said.
"Nora," I heard a voice echoing.
"This can't happen." I said.
"Nora!" I heard louder and I woke up gasping. I was in bed and Bucky was sitting up look down at me looking worried. "Doll it's Okay, It was just a nightmare." He said. I sat up and hugged him.
"Shh, it's okay, everything's okay. You're safe, Steve's safe, I'm safe. Everything's going to be okay." He said rocking me and rubbing my back.
Will it really?