Hey everyone. I had my Calculus exam and I finally had time to write again. Slightly shorter than the last two but that's what happens when you cram so much of Iron man three in one chapter. Anyway let me know what you think and I'll try to have the next one up as soon as I'm done with it. Enjoy :)
Third Person's POV-
Tony walked past a news van and snuck into one of them. He grabbed a phone and dialed Rhodey.
"Hello?" Rhodey greeted as he picked up the phone.
"You ever have a chick straddling you and you look up and suddenly she's glowing from the inside out, kind of a bright orange?" Tony said.
"Yeah, I've had that. Who is this?" Rhodey said confused.
"It's me, pal. Now, last time I went missing, if I remember correctly, you came looking for me. Nora locked herself in a lab for three months until she tracked me down. What are you doing?" Tony said pretending he was upset.
"A little knock-and-talk, making friends in Pakistan. What are you doing?" Rhodey said.
"Your redesign, your big rebrand, that was AIM, right?" Tony said messing around with the van's tech settings.
"Yeah." Rhodey answered a bit confused as to why he was asking.
"I'm gonna find a heavy-duty comm sat right now, I need your login." Tony said moving the van's satellite.
"It's the same as it's always been, "WarMachine68."" Rhodey said.
"And password, please." Tony said typing in the username.
"Well, look, I gotta change it every time you hack in, Tony." Rhodey said. "It's not the '80s, nobody says "hack" any more. Give me your login." Tony nagged.
""WAR MACHINE ROX" with an "X," all caps." Rhodey begrudgingly said.
That made Tony laugh. "Yeah, okay. That is so much better than "lron Patriot."" Tony said as he typed it in. "And I'm in. Talk to you later."
"Yeah oh by the way, I got a text message and you'll never guess from who." Rhodey said.
"That girl that turned out to be a guy from spring break junior year?" Tony joked.
"No but it was from a girl. It was from Nora, asking me to keep an eye on you because you're getting reckless."Rhodey said.
"She texted you? She didn't say anything." Tony said.
"What do you mean she didn't say anything?" Rhodey said.
"She's currently asleep in the car. You'll never guess where she's been the past six months?" Tony said still a bit hurt about her disappearance.
"I think this is something we should talk about later, I gotta go man. Be careful and tell Nora I expect a phone call." Rhodey said.
"Will do." Tony said before hanging up. "Now let's see what we've got." Tony found a file in the AIM database.
"What would you regard as the defining moment of your life?" Aldrich Killian asked the woman that had tried to kill Tony a few hours ago.
"Well, uh, I think that would be the day I decided not to let my injury beat me." She answered and the camera focused on her amputation scar on her arm.
"Will you please state your name for the camera?" He asked.
"Ellen Brandt." She answered.
"Okay. So, the injections are administered periodically. Addiction will not be tolerated. And those who cannot regulate will be out from the programme." They explained.
"Once misfits, cripples... You are the next iteration of human evolution." Aldrich Killian narrated.
"Everybody, before we start... I promise you, looking back at your life, there will be nothing as bitter as the memory of that glorious risk you prudently elected to forego. Today is your glory- Let's begin." He told them as they were restrained and the treatment was administered.
Everyone was groaning or screaming in pain. Then suddenly one of the male patients started glowing bright orange.
"We gotta get out of here! We gotta get out of here! Get her out! Get them out of here!" One of the scientists yelled out as the assistants started moving the patients out.
"A bomb is not a bomb when it's a misfire. The stuff doesn't always work. Right, pal? It's faulty, but you found a buyer, didn't you? Sold it to the Mandarin. Got you, pal." Tony said shutting everything off and walking back to the car.
Nora's POV-
I woke up a few hours later to the sound of Dad getting in the car.
"Where'd you go?" I said stretching out.
"Stretched my legs, hacked into AIM main server and found where we're going. Rhodey want you to call him by the way. Says he got your message." Dad said.
"Texted him a few days ago after I saw you challenge the Mandarin outside that hospital." I said.
"Right."
"By the way, why would you give a terrorist your address?" I asked.
"I was kind of pissed off kid. Didn't really think that one through. Didn't think he was going to blow my house up." Dad answered.
"So where are we off to?" I asked.
"Florida." Dad said turning on the car and driving
"What's in Florida?" I said confused.
A few hours later-
"Check in with Jarvis." Dad said. I pulled my phone out and activated Friday.
"Friday connect with the Mark 42's interface." I said.
"Mark 42 is connected, power levels recharging slower than anticipated." Friday said.
"Link with Jarvis." I said.
"Jarvis, how are we?" Dad asked.
"It's totally fine, sir. I seem to do quite well for a stretch, and then at the end of the sentence I say the wrong cranberry. And, sir, you were right. Once I factored in available AIM downlink facilities I was able to pinpoint the Mandarin's broadcast signal." Jarvis said glitching.
"What are we talking? Far East, Europe, North Africa, Iran, Pakistan, Syria?" dad said. "Where is it?"
"Actually, sir, it's in Miami." Jarvis said.
"Miami?" I said confused. "Friday, What's the location?"
"It does actually say Miami, Florida." Friday confirmed.
"Okay, first things first, I need the armour." Dad said.
"What are it's current power levels?" I asked.
"Five percent, boss." Friday said. Dad slammed the breaks on the car.
"Sir, it is charging, but the power source is questionable. It may not succeed in revitalising the Mark 42." Jarvis added.
"What's questionable about electricity? All right? It's my suit, and I can't... I'm not gonna... I don't wanna..." Dad said gasping. "Oh, God, not again."
"Dad it's okay. It's not that bad." I said trying to calm him down.
"God, what am I gonna do?" dad said panicking.
"Just breathe. Really, just breathe." I said. "you built a suit while you were held hostage out of just scraps. You created a new element to cure yourself. This is nothing compared to that. You've faced worse odds. You have more resources and you have something you didn't have before."
"And what's that?" He said.
"You have me. Our IQ's together add up to about 400. If anyone can solve it it's us." I said.
"Right." Dad said taking a deep breath.
"We're mechanics right, so let's build something." I said.
"Okay. Let's do it." He said.
December 24th, 2012- Miami, Florida
Dad and I drove all the way to Miami to find Aldrich Killian's Mansion. As we approached Dad improvised some weapons.
"I think we should go in through the west side of the compound." I say.
"I'll do that, You're staying here." Dad said.
"What? No I'm going with you." I said.
"Nora, this isn't like Dallas, this is the main boss. Stay." Dad said giving me a look that meant no arguing."
"This sucks." I said as he got out.
I waited until Dad was far away enough to get out of the car and sneak into the opposite side of the compound as dad. I could've caught up to him but then I wouldn't be able to use my powers. The stone said dad couldn't find out about them not that I couldn't use them.
I climbed over the gate and hid behind the bushes. I managed to sneak into the house but there were guards everywhere. Now wasn't the time to kick butt. It was recon time, Look around the place and find out what the big plan is.
I walked down a hallway but heard a guard walking down. I ran into one of the rooms and closed the door. I thought it was a supply closet of some sort but it looked like some sort of indoor greenhouse. I looked around and saw that the serum being giving to the human torches that were blowing up around the world was being tested on plants. I looked around and grabbed a file. I started reading through them to make notes on the chemical structure of the compounds being used. I noticed where why the compound was so unstable and realized what had to be done to stabilize it. I grabbed my phone and started taking pictures of all the files.
After I was done I snuck out of the greenhouse and started snooping around. It was pretty quiet until I heard groaning and grunts of anger. I wonder what's going on over there. I walked closer but there were two guards standing watch at the door. I could've just walked away but something told me that I had to get in there. I took a deep breath before projecting energy around them up in the air and pushing them together making their heads butt against each other knocking them out.
That was surprisingly easier than I expected.
I cracked the door open a bit and took a peek inside. There was a guard right next to the door but he was too distracted by what was going on inside to even notice. I looked down and saw Rhodey's armor. One of the guards was touching the suit. His hand was glowing bright orange. Crap, he was raising the internal temperature of the suit so the failsafe's would force Rhodey out.
"Do not open. Do not open. Don't open. Don't open." I heard Rhodey say. There was a beep and I knew the suit was at its limit. "All right. Let's go." Rhodey jumped at the guard in front of him and punched him, knocking him out. The guard at the door started glowing. He walked closer to the ledge and started breathing fire. "You... You breathe fire? Okay." Rhodey said running to avoid getting burned. I took that as my cue and walked in quietly. There was a metal crowbar near the door, probably what they used to try and pry the suit open. I grabbed it and swung it at the guard head. That knocked him out and threw him over the ledge.
"That was fun. Hey Rhodey." I greeted.
"Nora?" Rhodey said.
"I was going to give you a call but thought this might be better." I answer. Rhodey ran up the stairs and grabbed me into a hug.
"Where the hell have you been?!" He said letting go of me.
"I joined the army." I said. "We got to go."
"Yeah, why the hell are you here? Where's your Dad?" He asked as he grabbed the guard's gun.
"Well dad wanted me to wait in the car…"
"You should've stayed in the car. It's dangerous" Rhodey said.
"I did just save you from a fire breathing dragon person." I said. At that moment Rhodey's phone started ringing.
"Rhodey, tell me that was you in the suit." Dad asked sounding a bit out of breath.
"No. You got yours'?" Rhodey asked.
"Uh... Mmm. Kind of. Main house, as fast as you can. There's somebody I'd like you to meet." Dad said before hanging up.
"Come on kid, let's see what your Dad found." Rhodey said as we ran across the compound.
Eventually we found Dad waiting outside a room. "I thought I told you to stay in the car?" Dad said a bit annoyed.
"You did but I got bored. Saved Rhodey though" I answered.
"What'd you find?" Rhodey asked.
"You, you, you! Move! Get out!" Rhodey said clearing the room. "The room is secure. I have eyes on the Mandarin."
"What's this? I had winners." Some guy in a bathrobe and long hair said. "What have you come as? You make a move, and I break your face. I never thought people had been hurt. They lied to me."
"This is the Mandarin?" I asked not expecting this guy.
"Yeah, I know, it's... It's embarrassing." Dad said.
"Hi, Trevor. Trevor Slattery. I know I'm shorter in person. A bit smaller. Everyone says that. But, um, hey, if you're here to arrest me, there's some people I'd like to roll on." Trevor said.
"Here's how it works, Meryl Streep. You tell him where Pepper is and he'll stop doing it." Rhodey said not putting the gun down.
"Doing what?" He said before dad put a piece of hot metal on his arm. "Oh! I get it! Ow! That hurt. I get it! I get it! I don't know about any Pepper, but I know about the plan."
"Spill." Dad said.
"Do you know what they did to my suit?" Rhodey asked.
"What? No. But I do know it's happening off the coast. Something to do with a big boat. I can take you there." Trevor said quickly before he started chanting.
"Ole', ole', ole', ole'..."
"Tony, I swear to God, I'm gonna blow his face off." Rhodeyu said losing his patience.
"Not if I do it first." I muttered.
"Oh, and this next bit may include the vice president as well. Is that... Is that important?" Trevor said casually.
"No Shit" I said.
"Somewhat." Rhodey added
"Yeah, a little bit." Dad said.
After fake Mandarin spilled the beans we regrouped and planned out what we were doing. "So?
"What are we gonna do? I mean, we don't have any transport." Rhodey said
"Right." Dad said before he remembered something. "Hey, Ringo. Didn't you say something about a "lovely speedboat"?"
Dad grabbed the keys and we were off. We got in the car and drove to the local Marina. I followed Dad but he stopped when we reached the boat. "You're not coming with us."
"What? Why not?" I said.
"Because its dangerous and its about to get a lot more public." Dad said.
"So what am I supposed to do?" I ask.
"Go home, I'll call you when it's all over or you can stay here and babysit Ringo until the authorities get here." Dad offers.
"I think I'm going home. If I miss Christmas Jess will kill me." I said.
"Good choice. Drive safe and answer your phone, I think I've talked to your voice mail more than enough times for a lifetime." Dad said.
"I will. Be careful." I say before dad gets on the boat with Rhodey and they drive away. I pulled my phone out and snapped picture of the marina before sending it to Wren.
I'm in Miami can you come get me please?
Wren didn't answer instead he appeared right in front of me.
"Hey." He greeted.
"Hi" I said.
"Where's your Dad?" Wren asked looking around.
"He left, had to go rescue the President and his girlfriend." I answered.
"Should I even ask?" Wren said.
"You can but you'll probably just hear about it on the news, That's how I normally find out." I said.
"Okay close your eyes." He said and he did. Wren put a hand on my shoulder and I had the same sinking feeling as before. When it stopped I opened my eyes and we were back at the house.
I looked around and saw that the oven was on and most of the food was already heated up and packed to go.
"Thanks Wren and thanks for taking over kitchen duty." I said.
"Anytime, it was nice to cook or at least heat food up that didn't come from a can. Don't really get a chance to do that." He said. "Go shower and get dressed. We're supposed to be there in a few hours and I've seen how long it takes for you to shower."
"It doesn't take long for me to shower I just take my time in there." I said.
"Nora it's like you're giving yourself a baptism in there. How the hell did you survive on the base with five minute showers?" He asked.
"I'm not that bad." I said.
"You're probably the reason for your state's drought."
"Haha very funny. I'll be down in a bit." I said leaving the kitchen. I walked upstairs and hopping in the shower. After I was done I got dressed in a short red A line skirt and a fitted beige scoop neck long sleeve. I wore my arc reactor necklace and my pocket watch necklace. My hair was up in a ponytail with my bang, which had grown out, framing my face. I put on black tights under my skirt before putting on my black Louboutins. I grabbed a black wool A line double breasted coat with antique gold colored buttons. I walked downstairs where Wren was pulling out the last pie from the oven.
"You ready?" He said with his back turned to me.
"Yeah, just about." I said putting on gold stud earrings.
"Wow, I've never seen you so…"
"What? Bad outfit?" I said.
"No you look great. I feel underdressed now." Wren said.
"You look great Wren. Navy suits you." I said. "We should start loading all of this into the car."
"Car? I can just teleport us there. Easier than having to decide who's designated driver." He said.
"Are you sure? Can you even teleport drunk?" I asked.
"Nora I can teleport in my sleep now stack all of these so I can do it all in one trip." He said.
One very fun and potentially dangerous game of dish jenga later we made it to Jess and Sam's house.
I guess I wasn't the only one that went overboard with Christmas shopping, we couldn't even walk into the living room without tripping on a box.
"So, we got all of your gifts," Jess said casually.
"Yeah, quiet the haul isn't it." I said.
"Did you buy the entire store or something?" Sam said.
"It wasn't that much." I said shrugging off my coat." I said.
"Oh it wasn't until Wren's gifts showed up." Jess said. Wren looked away with a slight look of embarrassment.
"It's Christmas, you know how I get." I said.
"Next year we're setting a gift limit." Sam said. Connor climbed onto the boxes set around the tree with the biggest smile.
"Okay, if you don't want something I gave you just return it for store credit." I said.
"That's the problem Nora, we love all of your gifts." Jess whined.
"How is that a problem?" Wren said.
"Oh god there's two of them." Sam said grabbing Connor before he tried using one of the gifts as a slide.
"Okay maybe we went overboard, so how about we agree that these gifts also cover your birthdays and mother's and father's day." I compromised.
"You promise." Jess said in a playfully scolding voice.
"Cross my heart." I said while crossing my fingers behind my back.
"That includes you too Wren, I expect Skype calls while you're gone and you coming over for birthdays." Jess said.
"You want me to come over?" Wren said. "Why?"
"Because you're our friend." Sam said.
"Oh," Wren said not expecting that answer.
"Need help setting the table?" I asked Jess.
"Always, Wren there's beer in the fridge, help yourself." Jess said walking back to the kitchen.
"Thanks." Wren said.
I followed Jess into the kitchen and grabbed the plates.
"Nora, is Wren okay?" Jess asked.
"Yeah, why wouldn't he be?" I said.
"He just got really serious." Jess said.
"He's kind of not used to all of this." I said.
"All of what?"
"Not spending the holidays alone." I answered.
"What do you mean?"
"Um, I probably shouldn't be telling you but Wren kind of doesn't spend the holidays with family he just travels and eats Christmas dinner at whatever hotel he ends up staying at." I say. "Last year he was stuck in Afghanistan so you can probably guess what that's like."
"Oh, Aww." Jess said. "He needs a hug." Jess said as she started walking over to the living room.
I stopped her before she got too far. "Uh sweetie I think we should ease him into the friendly hugs. I don't think he's used to them." I said.
"Oh right." She said.
"It's Christmas you'll get to hug him at some point." I said placing the placemats on the table.
Dinner was nice. We talked and laughed. At some point we turned on the TV and saw the news headline that the president had been kidnapped but that Iron Man and Iron Patriot had saved him. Wren just turned to look at me and gave me a look, which I answered with a smile and a nod.
Jess and Sam put Connor to bed and then the real fun started.
"Guess what I bought." Jess said reaching into one of the cabinets.
"Before you pull anything out, I'm going to remind you your son is in the other room." I said.
"Well lucky for us Connor sleeps through the night and takes after his father who sleeps like the dead." She said pulling out four beer glasses and places a six pack of Guinness, a bottle of whiskey and a bottle of baileys in front of us.
"Oh boy." I said.
"What's going on?" Wren asked Sam.
"Were about to see Jess and Nora unleash their inner sorority girl." Sam said.
"You remember how to do this?" Jess asked me with a smirk.
"I do, can you still hang?" I said smirking back.
"Remember who you're talking to." Jess said with a scoff.
"Bring it on." I said. Jess poured us each a glass half full of beer before preparing the shots of whiskey and Baileys.
"Cheers." Jess said raising her glass.
"Cheers." I said clinking my glass with hers. We dunked the shot glass and chugged. We slammed our glasses down at the same time.
"Aww, did it always taste that awful." Jess said groaning.
"The Guinness they sell here isn't as great as the one back in Dublin." I said.
"Another?" She said.
"Sure." I said with a shrug.
At some point we finished the beer and stuck to whiskey. When will I ever learn?
"So random question," Sam said slurring a bit. "Are you two dating?"
Wren and I just looked at each other before breaking out in laughter. "My dad asked the same thing."
"Oh my gosh! You met Nora's phantom father?!" Jess said shocked.
"Phantom Father?" I said giggling.
"I've known you for four years and I've never met him. I've only heard you speak of him. I don't even know what the guy looks like." Jess said.
"Well, I can tell you where Nora get's her snark from." Wren said. I shot him a look telling him to shut it.
"Spill!" Sam and jess demanded at the same time.
"Guys there's not really much to tell. He was just passing through. Literally just walked into to use the bathroom before he left. He had to go meet up with his girlfriend." I said.
"Your Dad has a girlfriend?" Jess said. "Have you met your future mommy?" She teased making all of us snort.
"First of all, I'm twenty, I already had a mom her name was Anna. May not have given birth to me but she raised me to be the awesome human being I am today. Second of all, whoever my dad decides to date is none of my business. As long as he's happy I'm happy." I said.
"That's really mature of you Nora." Sam said.
"But if she breaks his heart there won't be a place on Earth she'll be safe from me." I said taking another shot.
"You were saying?" Wren told Sam who just shook his head while smiling.
About three shots later my phone started ringing. I lifted it up and saw it was Dad calling.
"Oh my gosh it's my dad. Guys shush." I was a little drunk.
"Daddy!" I greeted. Okay, a lot drunk. I really should stop drinking whiskey.
"Uh, hi…" dad said awkwardly.
"You so awesome!" I shouted.
"Are you drunk?"
"Psst No." I said incredulously.
"What's the derivative of two x squared over e to the x?" He said.
"Uh, Pie!" I said looking at the pie on the counter.
"Yup you're drunk. Nora put Wren on the phone." He said.
"Wreeeeeeen, dad wants to talk to you." I said throwing the phone at him.
"Father forgive me for I have sinned." Wren said when he picked up the phone. That made everyone laugh.
"Were fine it's only been like two of those things with the beer and the shots and like half a bottle of Jameson, Nora's fine. I'll send you a picture. Proof of life. Nora smile." Wren said pointing the phone at me." I grinned keeping my mouth shut as it was stuffed with pie. "And send."
"kay, bye bye tin man." Wren said hanging up. "Ooooh your in trouble."
"Nah, we good." I said eating more pie. At that moment the song Tequila started playing.
"Tequila!" Jess and I cried out.
After that the night gets fuzzy. Sam brought out an actual bottle of tequila and I don't remember anything until the next morning when Connor was poking my cheek as I was lying on the floor next to Wren and Jess.
"Pwese" Connor said.
"Huh?" I groaned. Connor just pulled my hand. "Oh present." I said rubbing my eyes.
"How about we go make coffee and get you some nom noms before huh?" I said picking him up. I felt like death but there was no way I was going to let my godson see that. "Wosh wosh" I said lifting him up and making airplane noises. I set him on his chair as I made my way around the kitchen making coffee and reheating last nights dinner. At some point Sam made his way into the kitchen. He looked like he had just gotten out of the shower but he still looked hung-over as hell.
"I feel like shit." Sam groaned.
"Join the club." Wren said walking in. "How the hell are you so functional?"
"I feel like death." I groaned pouring everyone coffee.
"Pwese." Connor babbled.
"Okay come on sweetie, let's go get your presents." Jess said lifting him up.
"Mama." He said happily.
We all walked over to the living room. Sam separated all our gifts into piles and we started opening gifts.
I got a pair of boots from Jess. A collector's editions set of Star Wars DVD's. A framed Photo of Connor and I which was going on my mantel the second I got home. Some classic rock T-shirts.
Jess got a set of diamond earrings from yours truly. A matching Necklace from Sam. And a pair of Jimmy Choo heels from Wren that made her scream and everyone else groan. She jumped out of her seat and tackled Wren into a hug.
"Jess they're just shoes." He said gently patting her back.
"They're Jimmy Choo's" She said with tears in her eyes.
"I don't think she should open the other gifts I got her." I told Sam. I got her a pair of Bedazzled Louboutins with a matching dress so she could wear to a work event that was coming up.
"Jess, sweetie. I think Wren wants to breathe." I said. She hugged him one last time before sitting back down.
"Sam open up." I said.
He grabbed a small box and opened it. It was a gift card to the university book store.
"I think that should cover any text books you might need for the next three and a half years." I said.
"Nora, I can't take this." He said.
"You're taking it because I'm not taking it back. You're going to be an awesome lawyer Sam and anything I can do to help make that a reality I'm willing to do. Besides it's good to have a lawyer on speed dial. Never know when you're going to get sued in this country." I said.
"Thank you. And all I got you was a bunch of movies." He said sadly.
"Dude you got me the collector's edition of my favorite movies. It doesn't get much better than that. It's not the gift that matters it the thought that truly counts." I said. Sam moved the gift aside and hugged me.
"You're the best sis." He said.
"You're the best big brother. Now get going you still have the rest of your pile." I said. "Wren you too." I said pointing at his pile.
"Alright." He said picking the first one up.
He opened it and gasped. "Is this…"
"Yup." I said.
"How did you…?" He said.
"I know a guy who knows a guy." I said with a shrug. I found a local auction house that was having a classic rock showing.
"Nora this is a signed copy of my favorite Led Zeppelin record signed by the entire band." Wren said.
"I know, I got a Beatles one in my lab." I said.
"You have a what?!" Sam said. "That's real? I thought it was a print."
"Of course not. It was a gift from my Dad." I said the only time he actually stuck to a price limit.
"Wren are you okay?" I said he was sitting there just staring at the album in his hand. Connor climbed onto the couch and gently slapped his cheeks trying to get his attention.
"Uh yeah it's just, the nicest thing anyone's ever given me." He said.
"Get used to it dude. She's big on giving gifts and from the looks of it you are too." Sam said opening up a gift from Wren.
"Oh shit is that a limited edition congressional law book! They don't even make these anymore!" Sam shouted making everyone groan.
"Okay new rule save all the shouts and thank you's until the end. My head is killing me." I said.
"Seconded." Jess said raising her hand.
"Okay Connor your turn. Go wild." I said and he did. Connor did not need to be told twice.
That kid was spoiled. Between Wren and I, Jess and Sam weren't going to have to buy him and clothes, shoes, or toys for at least another year. I bought him tiny Jordan's and Wren got him a tickle me Elmo along with tickets so they could go see a live sesame street show when they were in town. Yup, the kid was spoiled.
By the time we were done it was almost noon and it was decided we weren't going anywhere.
"I have this annoying feeling I was supposed to tell you something" Wren said.
"Must not have been important if you forgot." I said.
"No I'm sure it was something." He said.
"Just tell her when you remember," Jess said as she packed us lunch to go.
"Yeah. That'll work or I'll figure it out later. Let's go home my head is killing me." I said groaning.
We grabbed our packed lunches and gifts and Wren zapped us back to the house. We left our stuff at the entrance and crashed on the couch.
Wren was sitting at one end of the couch with his feet on the coffee table and I was sitting in the middle of the couch with my knees brought up to my chest.
"My parents died in a car accident when I was a kid. I didn't have any other family so I was sent to an orphanage and raised by nuns. My parents left me a huge inheritance. Kind of what happens when they own a major part of England's largest bank. Didn't find out about the inheritance until I was eighteen and on my way to Oxford. Never really celebrated Christmas at the orphanage, didn't really care for the holidays there. Never had anyone bother to get me something I liked or make my favorite kidney pie without me knowing. Never had people welcome me with open arms even though I was a complete stranger and had no reason too. Thank you." He said smiling with what I thought were tears in his eyes.
"Don't mention it." I said. "Have you figured out what happens after February?"
"I could always do another tour." He said.
"Or, hear me out, you can come over to the states. Join the adopted family. Maybe even move in…" I suggested.
"You want me to move in?" He said.
"If you want. There's a lot of empty room in this house and It's just me and Axl. It's isolated so you can teleport without anyone freaking out. And it's kind of nice having someone around. I'm sure Sam would appreciate having a bro around." I said.
"Sounds like an interesting offer." He said.
"I know it's a lot but just think about it." I said.
"I'll think about it." He said.
We sat there for a while and watched a random movie. Then the movie went off and there was an incoming video call.
"What the bloody hell?" Wren said.
"Relax I linked the TV to the server downstairs. TV works as a computer. Friday take the call." The call came thru and dad showed up on the screen.
"GOOD MORNING VIETNAM!" Dad shouted.
"AHH" Wren and I groaned.
"Dad stop it. This hangover is punishment enough." I groaned.
"I'll give you two a minute, I'm going to find paracetamol or something." Wren said getting up.
"Merry Christmas." I said.
"Merry Christmas. Late night?" He said sarcastically.
"Jess brought out Irish Car bombs. Drank whiskey and then Tequila came on and Sam pulled out a bottle of tequila and the night gets burry after that." I summarized.
"I can tell. Do you remember my call?" He said.
"Not really? You talked to Wren I think."
"I did, did he tell you I was going to call you today or the fact that I'm at your door?" He said.
"What?" I said. I stood up and walked over to the hallway where Dad was walking in. He was putting some gifts down. And Rhodey was bringing more in.
"I thought you guys were still in DC?" I said.
"We were but I own a jet remember? Christmas is our day." Dad said pulling me into a hug. "Merry Christmas kid."
"Merry Christmas dad."
"Don't I get a hug?" Rhodey said.
"Depends, are you still calling yourself Iron Patriot because that sounds very plagiarized." I said.
"haha very funny." He said. I hugged Rhodey as he walked in.
'So you guys hungry? We still have pie." I offered and Rhodey and dad headed straight for the kitchen.
"Oh I forgot about the British Invasion." Dad said when he walked into the kitchen.
"Happy Christmas to you too Tin Man." Wren said.
"Am I missing something because I feel like I am."
"Rhodey, meet Major Wren Spencer of the British Armed Forces Medical Corps. Wren meet Colonel James Rhodes of the US Air Force, my godfather." I said.
"Major." Rhodey said with a nod.
"Colonel," Wren said returning the nod.
"So how do you two know each other?" Rhodey asked.
"Army." We both answered at the same time.
"I'm sorry what?" He said.
"I told you I joined the army." I said.
"Well, army medical corps." Wren said.
"You were serious?" Rhodey asked.
"As a heart attack." I asked.
"Where were you stationed?" Rhodey asked.
"Afghanistan." We both answered again.
"What the hell is wrong with you? Are you insane? Did you forget what happened to your dad? You're last name is Stark for fuck's sake, Nora! What in the world possessed you to enlist without telling us? Do you have any idea how worried we were? You have any idea the hell you put your father through? The hell you put me through? Seriously Nora!" Rhodey said screaming his lungs out.
My head was killing me and now I felt guilty. I turned to look at dad.
"I told you to call him." He said taking a bite of his pie.
"And you," Rhodey said turning to look at him. "Challenging a known terrorist on National TV. Giving him your home address? What is wrong with you?!" Rhodey said.
"Feeling better now?" Dad said.
"Loads, Is there still pie?" Rhodey asked.
"Sure I'll grab you a slice." I said. "And for the record, I am sorry and I missed you too Uncle Rhodey."
"It's good to have you back Nora. You have no idea how hard it is to keep someone under control."
"Oh I know, Been doing it for years." I said.
"Hey, I'm right here."
"We know," I answered.
"So I have an idea for our annual Christmas lab lockdown." Dad said.
"Oooh what are we building?" I said.
"Christmas Lab Lockdown?" Wren said confused.
"Time honored tradition of locking ourselves in the basement building whatever crazy idea comes to us while watching the nightmare before Christmas or any other Sci-Fi movie we were watching." I explained.
"Don't worry you'll get used to it. By the third fire they normally have it figured out." Rhodey said.
"Fire?" Wren said looking at me.
"Relax, we have a fire extinguisher. So what are we doing?" I asked.
"Magnet, it's time to get rid of this." Dad said tapping on the reactor.
"Wow, what brought this on?" I asked.
"Fighting Killian made me see how far I've gone, how far we've gone and we still have a far way to go. SO time to take a step in that direction." He said.
"Okay, we need to find a way to keep the shrapnel in place but still make it possible to use surgical tools." I said.
"Had a few ideas for that." He said.
"That's great, we can test out the new simulation upgrade I just gave Friday." I said getting up.
"Oh can I see the coding, I've been meaning to redo Jarvis' lab software." Dad said.
"Sure." I said as we walked down to the lab.
Hours later-
The design was done and dad was going to put it together in New York.
"This probably the last time I'll see you with that thing in your chest." I said.
"Yeah, going to be weird not sleeping with a night light on." Dad retorted,
"I think you're old enough." I answered.
"I'll keep you updated." He said. "And no joining the army and if you do you call us both."
"I'm not going back." I said.
"And I'll make sure she doesn't" Wren said.
"I appreciate that." Dad said awkwardly.
"Call me when you land. And before the surgery. And after." I said.
"I will. And you,"
"I will." I said with a smile. I gave dad a hug before letting go.
"Spinster." Dad said to Wren.
"Old man." Wren answered.
"Be careful out there." Dad said.
"Always." Wren said.
And with that Dad left.
"So how long do we have?" I asked Wren.
"After New Years, got the call while you were in the lab. Everything's settled down after the showdown yesterday." Wren said.
"That's great. What are we doing?"
"We're time traveling." He said and I just raised an eyebrow.
"We teleport across time zones and try staying in 2012 for as long as possible." He said.
"Sounds fun." I said. "But for now, I need a shower and some sleep in my bed."
"We'll talk tomorrow."
"Night Wren." I said.
"Night Nora."