Chapter 99
Hey everyone I managed to finish another one this week. It picks up right where the last left off. I'm expecting some mixed reviews on this one so I'm just going to say it'll make sense in the long run. So let me know what you think. As for the Romanian used later on google it because posting the translation myself would spoil the chapter. So here it is enjoy.
I woke up and I hugged my pillow tighter. It felt a lot harder than I remember. Then I felt it move and I opened my eyes. I wasn't hugging a pillow I was hugging Bucky and my head was on his chest. I looked up and he was looking at me with a small grin.
"Morning sunshine." He said.
"Morning sweetheart." I said leaning up to kiss him. "Can't believe I didn't get sent back yet."
"You had a bad day, maybe Aya thought you needed a day off." Bucky said.
"Aya being considerate?" I said laughing. "Next you're going to tell me pigs can fly."
"Aren't you full of sass this morning." He said with a grin.
"Yeah and you love it." I said.
"Yeah I do." He said flipping us over and kissing me. Just as we were about to get started again there was a knock at the door.
"Uh." We groaned.
"Buck, we're back. Clint's making waffles. Can you open up, I want to change?" Steve sounded.
"Uh, I'm kind of in the middle of something." Bucky said. I hid my face in his shoulder to muffle a laugh.
"Come on Buck, I know you're mad I didn't let you come on the mission but it was a dead end anyway. Please let me in so I can apologize." Steve pleaded.
"Punk I'll be out in a minute. Use the gym shower." Bucky said.
"But I need…"
"Steve we're in bed and we're both naked. Read the room dude." I called out. I heard him walking away and I went back to making out with Bucky. Well we did until my stomach started growling,
"You really want waffles now don't you?' bucky asked.
"Yeah sorry." I said shyly.
"I'm hungry too. Raincheck?" He asked.
"Or we can have a quicky?" I suggested.
"God I love you." He said pouncing on me.
After another round of sex we finally got out of bed. My dress was a bit wrinkled but luckily future me left a change of clothes in Bucky and apparently Steve's bathroom. There were a pair of olive tie shorts and a relaxed fit white tee and a pair or brown braided strap sandals. Good to know I stick to the same fashion choices. I left my hair down in a loose side braid.
.
I walked out and saw that Bucky was already dressed.
"How do I look?" I said.
"Beautiful as always." He said kissing me.
"Let's go get waffles." I said. We walked down the hall and up a flight of stairs to the common room.
Everyone was sitting down at the counter. When Sam saw us walk in he dropped his fork.
"Nora?" Sam said and everyone turned around.
"I'm from 2014. Waffle me." I said sitting down.
"How long have you been here?" Rhodey asked.
"Last night." I said as Clint put a waffle in front of me. "Thank you."
"How's life guys?" I asked.
"You're in a good mood." Clint said.
"Why wouldn't I be? Sure my soulmate is about to disappear again and apparently I'm facing my impending doom sometime in the next nine months. But we're all safe and sound and about to enjoy this great breakfast. So thanks for that." I said.
"that's good to know." Sam said exchanging a look with Bucky.
"Please tell me there's still waffles." Steve said as he walked in.
"Take a seat." Clint said. Everyone went quiet.
"Who wants mimosas?" Natasha finally said.
"That sounds great." I said. She got up and walked to the bar. Three minutes later I had a mimosa in my hand and everyone else was back to being chatty.
"You rang?" Dad said walking in. "Spawn!" he yelled happily when he saw me.
"Sperm Donor!" I cheered happily.
"I need you." He said.
"I'm from 2014." I pointed out.
"That's okay, I'm calling a no questions asked." He said.
"Seriously?" I said.
"I need a wing man to a lunch meeting to seal this one business deal. Please please please." He begged.
"Won't this interfere in the timeline?" I said.
"Uh." He said rubbing the back of his neck them Aya appeared.
"No you're good to go. Keep her out of the public eye." Aya said.
"You're agreeing with him?" I said surprised. I sighed. "Dammit what's the deal?"
"I'll explain on the way." He said ushering me out of my seat.
"Shouldn't I change?" I asked.
"No it's casual." He said leading me to the garage.
"So what's the business deal? More green tech buildings? Biomedical? Aeronautics?" I asked.
"It's not exactly of a business, business deal than an actual personal business deal." Dad said.
"Come again?" I said.
"I need you to play wing man." He said.
"Dude you're in a committed relationship to pepper. The woman who you've described as one of the best things that's ever happened to you. How can you cheat on her!?" I said outraged.
"I'm not cheating on Pepper I'm proposing!" He yelled.
"What!?" I said happily. Dad pulled out a ring box and handed it to me. "Wow that's a big diamond. You're actually doing this."
"Life is short, and I think I've made her wait long enough." Dad said.
"Aww, my little guy's all grown up." I said.
"Shouldn't I be the one saying that?" He said.
"You do have to admit I've parented both of us." I said.
"You're my spawn." Dad retorted.
"I give you advice." I said.
"Okay here's advice, in the wise words of someone near and dear to my heart get your head out of your ass and own up to your feelings. Denial's not just a river in Egypt and you'll save your self from a lot of heartbreak if you do." Dad said.
"Why do you keep saying that? I love Steve and Bucky end of discussion." I said.
"No not end of discussion. A year ago your time you and Wren got in a fight and you didn't talk for a month. I remember because you drunk texted me and left me a drunk voicemail where you and Jess sang yesterday by the Beatles. You don't do that for someone that's just a friend. Even your best friend." Dad said.
"We were very close, practically family." I said.
"You got married."
"I was trying to avoid jail time." I argued.
"You could have called me." Dad said.
"I would have but then Wren would have gotten deported. The guys at the state department hate your guts." I reminded him.
"They do not." Dad argues.
"Secretary of state said you were what was wrong with our country." I said.
"We worked it out after a round of golf." Dad said.
"Point is, I wanted to solve my own problems and I did. Of course that later led to Wren's brother killing me but over all it made us closer than ever. We have no secrets from each other. I accepted his past and he accepted me and the neurotic time stone that happens to be inside of me." I said, "Things are good."
"Are they Nora? Are they really?" he said.
"Okay I've hit a bump in the road but thing's will work out. Future me was probably exaggerating. Right dad?" I asked but he just had a grim look on his face. "Dad?"
"I need you to listen to me, and don't argue. The next couple of months will make the past three years look like a cakewalk in comparison. You are going to go through hell kid. So these next few months. Don't take them for granted and fucking tell Wren you have feelings for him."
"I don't have feelings for Wren! Dad you hate Wren. Why are you so damn determined to get us together?" I said.
"Because I saw you hit rock bottom and go dark side Nora and it scared the crap out of me kid! I saw you at you lowest, you tried offing yourself Nora!" dad started.
"I told you about it?" I said.
"What?!" Dad shouted. "It already happened!"
"Yeah, back in 2011." I said.
"You tried to kill yourself in 2011?!"
"Oh not the time you were talking about. Good to know." I said.
"Okay, I'm pulling over. I need a minute." He said. "I'm calling pause on you 2011 suicide attempt."
"Technically attempts…" I said and dad pinched his eyebrows together and sighed.
"Okay, we're going to talk about this next time you show up." Dad said.
"Yeah we do, I really don't show up in a straight order. This conversation really explains that outburst." I said. "Why do you think I have feelings for Wren or hell why is this so important to you?"
"It's not for me. My mom once said that as a parent we only want our kids to have better than what we had. I've tried and as I've recently come to see I failed miserably."
"Stop being so dramatic. You didn't have it easy and I didn't either but if I had to do it all over again I wouldn't change a damn thing." I said.
"You're kidding right?" he said.
"The past few years haven't been easy but I got to meet Grandpa and Peggy freaking Carter. I got to see Nana be a badass and I got to try her goulash again. I got to meet Mom. I met my best friend years in the future so I would give him a chance even if he was being a jerk. It isn't easy but it's never boring and everything that happened brought us closer together. Even without everything else just that is enough to deal Aya's tantrums." I said. "Besides I've met future me and now I know how bad it gets I can prevent it from happening. I'll go to therapy. I'll make sure to keep a heart monitor on me at all times so if I even skip a beat you'll know."
"I'm taking you up on that offer." He said.
"Okay now lets go get you engaged." I said.
"Let's hope she says yes." Dad said.
"Of course she'll say yes, she loves you. So what do you have planned?" I said.
"You'll see." He said. We drove into midtown and walked into the restaurant dad had rented out.
"I'll coordinate everything from the back room." I said.
"Don't you want to be here?" dad said.
"I am here but if you're proposing it's better if it's just you two. I'll be watching everything and I'll be the first person to congratulate you two. I'm your best man you know." I said with a smirk.
"Oh you and Rhodey may have to flip a coin." Dad said.
"Ah!' I said putting a hand over my heart in mock horror. "the betrayal. You hurt me father."
"Mr Stark, would you like to review the menu?" the chef said holding out the menu.
"The wine on reserve and the Chicken Piccada is her favorite. The strawberry shortcake is perfect." Dad said.
"No, No strawberries. She's allergic remember?" I said.
"Oh crap right. Peach cobbler." Dad said.
"Excellent choice sir." The chef said. "Ma'am, would you like anything while you wait?"
"I'll have the salmon in lemon wine reduction please. And I'll also have a glass of red. As for desert anything chocolate." I said.
"I'll bring out your usual." He said with a smile.
"Excuse me I need someone to sign for some flowers?" Someone called out.
"I got it." I told Dad.
"Hi, I'll sign for those." I said.
"Oh my god you're Nora Stark!" The deliveryman said when he said me.
"Uh…" I said confused. How did he know me? "I'll take that."
"Yeah sorry it's just I'm a huge fan." He said.
"You are?" I said confused.
"Of course you're a hero"
"I am?" I said.
"Can I get a picture?" he said pulling out his phone.
"Uh sure." I said. He got close and he took a selfie before handing me the flowers.
"Thank you so much." He said.
"Don't mention it. Oh here's your tip." I said handing him a twenty.
"thank you." He said before walking away.
"That was weird." I said walking back to dad.
"What was weird?" dad said.
"The delivery guy called me Nora Stark and asked to take a picture with me. He called me a hero." I said chuckling.
"Oh yeah, he probably read about your work while in the army and community service." Dad said.
"I was just doing my job." I said with a shrug. "So we got two dozen roses. We got a ring, we got champagne. Flowers are all set up. One last thing."
"What did I forget?" dad said.
"Pep talk." I said. I put my hands on either side of dad's face and made him focus on me. "You are Anthony Edward Stark. You have been to hell and back. You fought tooth and nail to save yourself from terrorists and through everything Pepper has stood by your side. She was there when you were passed out drunk on holiday's, screwing blonde bimbos and just being an idiot, Those six month we weren't talking. The six months I went missing. That woman has nerves of steel dad. She's your happy ending now go make an honest woman out of her." I said.
"I love you kid." Dad said hugging me.
"Love you too dad." I said. "I'll be back there coordinating everything."
I walked into the back room and I waited. There were cameras set up so I could watch the entire thing. I watched as Pepper walked in and dad got up and greeted her with a kiss. He pulled out her chair and they started talking. It was normal chatter. Dad saying how much he missed her. She agreed. They talked about work and the company. Dad talked about his recent lab projects. And then things took a turn for the worse.
"Is that all you have to say?" She said.
"Well I know the Iron Legion needs a total reboot after…"
"No tony, I haven't seen you in weeks and all you can talk about is your suit. Haven't you learned anything?"
"Pep, I'm taking a step back. The Avengers are under Cap's watch. The facility is all set up. That's all behind me." Dad said. Wow dad retired.
"Really cause all you've talked about the past half hour is your suits and whatever new upgrade you're adding." Pepper said.
"I can't sleep and when I can't sleep I tinker that's it." dad argued.
"That's what you said last time. You blew up all your suits and you just built them again. It's never going to end Tony not until you just can't do it anymore or worse. You don't change and we can't keep doing this." Pepper said.
"What are you saying?" dad said.
"I think we should take a break." Pepper said. Ah fuck.
"What?"
"We can't keep doing this. We're going in circles. We're in a never ending loop. I love you but I can't keep doing this Tony. I need some time." She said.
"Uh, yeah." Dad said. I could hear his voice cracking.
"If you want me to step down as CEO…"
"No, the job's always been yours. You've done a better job than I ever did." Dad said. "We'll keep things professional."
"okay." Pepper said. "I have to get going. See you next week Mr. Stark."
"Keep up the good work Ms Potts." Dad said as Pepper walked out. I walked out of the room and took the seat next to him.
"You heard everything?" he asked.
"Stark tech never fails." I said. "What now?"
"I'll get you back to the compound. Barnes and Rogers are probably waiting for you." Dad said.
"No." I said.
"Nora, You don't know when you'll get to see them again." Dad said.
"I waited seventy years for them, they can wait until the next time I show up. Us against the world right?" I said.
"Right." He said.
"Where to?" I asked.
"Kid you don't have to do this. I'm fine." Dad said.
"You were about to propose to the love of your life and got dumped instead. You're not okay." I said. "So whatever you want to do I'm here. You want to go get wasted I'm here. You want to go to Vegas and have a night out on the town I will do it. You want to go on the rebound and party the night out I will find a slutty dress and be the best damn wing man I can be. So name it and I'll make it happen."
"I want to go back to the Tower and work." He said.
"That works too." I said. "Let's go."
"After we finish that bottle of wine." Dad said.
"Which one of us is driving?" I said.
"You're a teleporter and all my cars have auto pilot." Dad said.
"Right, top up my glass?" I asked.
"Yeah." He said.
We finished the bottle and went back to the tower. We went straight to the lab and got to work. I started fixing up one of the Iron legion. Dad and I were working and music was blasting in the background. We were making progress until Dad finally snapped and started beating the suit with a wrench.
I probably should have stopped him but Stark's aren't good with emotions. He wasn't going to talk to me about it and he needed to vent. When he was finally done bashing the suit's faceplate in he sat down on the ground and was sobbing. I walked over and sat down next to him. I put a hand on his shoulder to let him know he wasn't alone.
When he finally calmed down he said, "I need a drink."
"Okay." I said. I put a hand on his shoulder and teleported us upstairs to the bar. I poured him a scotch and got one for himself.
"Last time I said I needed a drink you called me an alcoholic." Dad said.
"You're only an alcoholic if you drink alone." I said talking a sip of my drink. "Besides, we've both had shitty days."
"That's one word for it." He said.
"Heartbreak sucks, trust me I've had more than my fair share." I said.
"Yet you keep giving Spangles and Frosty a chance." Dad said. "Why?"
I sighed. "That's kind of a hard question. You remember when you told me about grandma you said that she always saw the good in you no matter how much you screwed up? It's kind of like that. They've made mistakes some of them willingly and others forced on them but at the end of the day I still love them."
"I have a feeling you weren't only talking about Flag boy and Tin man." Dad said.
"You're also included in that statement." I said.
"Touche." Dad said. "To the broken hearts club at least we still have each other." He said raising a glass.
"Us against the world." I said clinking our glasses.
The rest of the night after that was a blur we woke up the next morning hung over as hell.
"Ah god that's painful." I groaned. As I sat up. I fell asleep with my head on dad's shoulder. My neck was killing me.
"I haven't been this hungover since I thought I was going to die." Dad groaned.
"Not so loud." I groaned.
"We need carbs." Dad said.
"And coffee." I added.
"I know a place, you okay to zap us there?" He said.
"I need to know where we're going first." I said.
"Friday pull up an image of Randy's donuts." Dad said.
"There you go boss." She answered.
"Aww too bright." I groaned.
"Here you go, shades for the sensitivity to light the morning after." Dad said handing me a pair of sunglasses.
"Ah better. California huh? I could go for a bear claw." I said with a shrug.
"Yay." Dad said. I put a hand on his shoulder and we were off.
We got a dozen donuts then I zapped us to the top of the building and sat down on the donut.
"My phone hasn't stopped buzzing all morning." Dad said. I looked over his shoulder and saw he had twenty missed calls, forty text messages and over a dozen voicemails.
"Who leaves voicemails anymore?" Dad said.
"This coming from the guy that left me forty voice mails when I was in Afghanistan." I retorted.
"Message one, Tony where are you man? Friday said Nora's still with you and cap's getting worried. Call me back." Rhodey said.
"Next message, Stark, you were supposed to be back hours ago. I want to spend time with Nora too. Get your ass back here now. So help me if anything happens to her… No Steve let me finish. Tony just call us." Bucky and Steve said.
When the third message started there was an incoming call.
"You've reached the life model decoy…." Dad started.
"Bring Nora back already!" Steve said.
"Sorry… bad … ectio… ah… ter ccccaaww." I said before hanging up.
"Did you just hang up on your soulmate?" dad said.
"It's Father daughter time." I said.
Then there was a whooshing sound and Rhodey was in front of us fully decked out in the War machine suit.
"What is wrong with you two?" He said annoyed.
"Donut?" I offered.
"Are you two drunk?!" he yelled.
"Ah too loud." Dad groaned.
"You're hungover!" Rhodey yelled.
"Dad lower the volume." I pleaded.
"Are thought you were past this!?" he yelled. "What would pepper think if she saw you right now?"
"Wouldn't know we're on a break." Dad answered.
"What?" Rhodey said shocked.
"Yeah, got the whole thing on video." I said.
'What happened?" he said.
"Apparently we're in a never ending loop." Dad said.
"Is this about…" Rhodey started but stopped when he looked at me.
"No well yeah… kind of." Dad said.
"Don't look at me, I have no idea what you two are talking about." I said.
"Okay then. How about we head back to the compound and we can have an actual breakfast?" Rhodey suggested.
"Nah." Dad said.
"Seconded." I said.
"Seriously?" Rhodey asked. "Tony you have responsibilities and Nora you can't keep avoiding Cap forever."
"I waited seventy years for them they can wait until the next time I show up." I said. "Come on dad when was the last time it was just us? Dad needs us right now."
Rhodey sighed. He pulled his phone out and took a picture of dad and I lounging on a giant donut. "I just sent proof of life so that'll hold them back for a while."
"What now?" I asked dad.
"I miss Pepper. Should I call her?" dad asked.
"No!" Rhodey and I said at the same time.
"Dad she said she needed space. Calling her is the exact opposite of it. Give her time and for now just focus on you." I said.
"She's right Tony. How are you doing right now?" dad said.
"Kind of hungry. I could go for a burger." Dad said. "Nora?"
"A burger sounds really good right now." I said.
"You two just ate a dozen donuts." Rhodey said.
"So?" We both answered at the same time.
"I'll get us there." I said. "Just say where."
"You two are unbelievable. You can't keep doing this." Rhodey said.
"Rhodey she's from 2014." Dad said giving him a pointed look.
"Right, look I know you're both going through a lot but this picking up and teleporting away from your problems isn't the solution." Rhodey argued.
"I'm not running away from my problems. All of my problems are in 2014. The Steve and Bucky here are future me's jurisdiction." I said.
"Really? Because that wasn't a problem when you slept with Bucky last night." Rhodey said making me blush.
"It was that obvious?" I said.
"After years of knowing your dad and meeting his one night stands the morning after it was pretty obvious." Rhodey said.
"That explains why you were in such a good mood yesterday. You were practically glowing." Dad said.
"Does it count as cheating if Bucky sleeps with a past version of myself?" I ask.
"No but it does count if you're married to someone else." Dad said looking at my left hand.
"Oh fuck." I said "I need a drink."
"Yes!" dad said.
"No!" Rhodey yelled "There will be no more drinking. It's not even after five."
"It is in Ireland." I said.
"Nora!" Rhodey said.
"She does have a point. And Nora does tend to be more open to talking when she's drunk." Dad said.
"No, there is no way in hell we are going to Dublin." Rhodey said.
One teleportation and many drinks later-
"And and and then you know, the suit can take the weight, right? So I take the tank, fly it right up to the General's palace, drop it at his feet, I'm like, "Boom! You looking for this?" Rhodey drunkenly tells the story.
Dad and I just stare at him waiting for the funny part.
"Boom you looking for this? Seriously, how are you not laughing?" Rhodey said.
"How is collateral damage funny?" I slur.
"Selfie!" dad calls out and we huddle together for the photo.
"Guys I'm a fuck up. I cheated on Wren." I said.
"I thought you said it was a fake marriage?" dad said sarcastically.
"Would a fake husband stage my dream wedding, give me a family heirloom and unconditionally stay by my side and even try to help my brainwashed assassin soulmate? Who the fuck am I kidding I'm in a committed relationship with my best friend and I cheated on him. I broke our celibacy pact. I'm a horrible human being." I cried.
"Okay time to cut you off." Dad said. "Kid you're not a horrible human being, you're human you make mistakes."
"I fucked up big time dad. Wren deserves better than me." I said crying.
"He's a former assassin and he knew what he was getting into. He stuck by you when he found out about the time traveling, about your real name, and he picked you over his girlfriend because he loved you more. He'll understand." Dad said.
"But I feel so guilty." I said as I started getting the chills. "Oh shit."
"What?" dad said.
"It's starting." I said.
"Crap, follow me." Dad said leading me out of the pub and into an alley. "Look before you go remember what we talked about and promise me that if you start having feelings for someone, it doesn't have to be Wren you'll go for it. You put your life on hold for years and it almost destroyed you. I just want you to be happy kid. If Spangles and Tin man really love you they'll understand."
"Love you Dad." I said as I started glowing. When I finally opened my eyes I was back home. Bucky and Wren were in the kitchen having what looked like dinner.
"You're back!" Wren said.
"Yeah, how long was I gone?" I asked.
"A few hours." Wren said. "How long was it for you?"
"About a day and a half maybe more." I said walking over to the table but swaying a bit.
"You all right?" He asked.
"Kinda went to a pub with my dads and had a couple of drinks." I said.
"Okay sit down, I'm gonna make you something to sober you up." Wren said sitting me down.
"Okie dokie." I said. "I don't deserve you."
"What?" Wren said.
"I'm sorry." I cried.
"Nora it's okay. You got drunk, you had a rough day it happens. Just don't make it a habit or I'll send you to rehab." Wren said with a chuckle.
"I cheated on you." I cried.
"Huh?" Wren and Bucky said confused.
"I'm gonna give you two a minute. I have to finish packing." Bucky said walking out of the kitchen.
"What's going on?" Wren asked.
"I slept with Bucky." I said.
"You did? About damn time two and a half almost three years without sex I was starting to get worried about you." Wren said. "Though I don't see why he's still so damn moody."
"Not this Bucky future Bucky." I said.
"So Bucky comes back in the future. That's good right?" Wren said.
"But I cheated on you." I cried.
"Nora we're in a fake marriage and the only reason you made a celibacy pact with me was in solidarity. If it makes you feel any better you were in a different time so you were technically out of bounds. Kind of like killing someone in international waters anything goes. And if you really feel bad you can make me brownies and we'll call it even."
"You're too nice." I said crying and pulling him into a hug.
"Tony got you truth serum drunk didn't he?"
"Uh huh." I agreed.
"Okay, how about you go upstairs and shower while I make you a greasy breakfast for dinner huh?" he offered.
"With pancakes?" I asked.
"With chocolate chips just the way you like it." He said.
"Okie dokie." I said before teleporting upstairs.
Third Person's POV-
Wren watched Nora teleport upstairs and got started on her dinner.
"Is she okay?" Bucky asked.
"Not sure. I have a feeling something else is going on." Wren said.
"At least she didn't end up in Scotland this time." Bucky said.
"What did you just say?" Wren asked.
"In 1944 she and Howard went out and ended up in Scotland." Bucky said.
"You remembered that?" Wren said.
"I remember reading the paper on the couch and seeing her come in. Steve asked her how she ended up in Scotland and she said she and Howard got drunk and took the wrong train." Bucky explained.
"Huh, you remember anything else?" Wren asked.
"Just that." Bucky said.
"That's something though." Wren said.
"Still not enough." Bucky muttered.
"Have you though about where you want to go?" Wren asked.
"Italy, I want to try and retrace any memories I may have." Bucky asked.
"You want to go to Azzano?"
"To start. Nora gave me a journal and she named a few places we went to during the war. Can't stay in one place for too long anyway." Bucky said.
"It won't be like that forever. The Avengers are working on taking down what's left of Hydra." Wren said.
"I know." He said.
"Here." Wren said handing him a flip phone.
"I can't use this." Bucky said.
"Yeah you can. It's like the one Nora and I use. There's a scrambler integrated into it so you can make calls without being tracked. My number and Nora's are already programmed in. You can call us in an emergency, if you need anything or I don't know if you change your mind and want to come back." Wren suggested.
"Does Nora know?" Bucky asked.
"I don't keep secrets from my wife. I'll tell her after you leave." Wren said.
"Don't tell her." Bucky said.
"Why not?"
"She'll hold herself back waiting for me to call. She shouldn't have to. I don't know how long I'm going to be gone for but she has to move on. Don't tell her about the phone." Bucky said.
"Bucky…" Wren started but Nora teleported in.
Nora's POV-
I got out of the shower and put on some dark wash skinny jeans and a black top with shoulder cut outs. Normally I would have changed into my pjs and sleep this hangover off but we still needed to drop Bucky of where ever he wanted to go.
images/p4/n/z/BCB-WS222_
I may not like that he's leaving but at least I know he'll come back eventually. Doesn't make it any easier but at least I'll sleep better at night. At least I think I will.
This is the beginning of the nine months from hell. If this is just the beginning I'm almost afraid of what's to come.
I teleported downstairs and sat down. Wren and Bucky were talking about something. I'm not sure what.
"So, when do you want to go?" I asked Bucky.
"Tonight." Bucky said. "Wren said you could take me anywhere in the world. I think Leaving the country would be the best option. Strategically speaking."
"Okay. Are the documents ready?" I asked Wren.
"He memorized everything and came up with a backstory." Wren said. "He's backpacking through Europe after a bad break up."
"I thought you weren't paying attention to Eat Pray Love when we were watching it." I asked.
"I may have identified with Julia Roberts a bit. Naples does have the best pizza."
"Is that all?" I asked
"We should stop by for gelato in Rome." Wren added.
"Pisa has better gelato." I countered.
"The Fata Morgana is creamier." Wren said.
"Pisa has more flavors."
"Not the same quality."
"Yes it does." I said. "The guy's been making gelato since he was five."
"He's lost his touch, Fata morgana is more traditional." Wren argued.
"It's a hipster death trap." I argued.
"It's a hook, they change with the times and it's less fattening than Pisa."
"Are you calling me fat?" I said.
"What no I mean… uh redo?" Wren said.
"You get a warning." I said.
"So back to the main topic… do you have everything?" Wren asked.
"Yes." Bucky said.
"I have a safe house in the countryside. Haven't used it in years. It might be a bit dusty and it's isolated" Wren said.
"I'll find a way around. It's summer I could walk if I have to." Bucky said.
"Did you eat dinner?" I asked.
"Yes, while you were away." Bucky answered.
"You want to go don't you?" I asked.
"The sooner I'm gone the quicker they'll stop searching for me here. You two have done enough, I don't want to get you in trouble." Bucky said.
"Okay then. Let's go." I said standing up.
"You sure you're okay to go? You were a bit tipsy twenty minutes ago." Wren said.
"I'll manage." I said.
"Alright then. Close your eyes." Wren said. He put a hand on our shoulders and we were off. "Here we are."
"You weren't kidding about it being isolated." I said. The safe house was a small cabin in the middle of an empty field. It was so far away from the city I could see so many stars in the sky.
We walked in and everything was covered in a thick layer of dust.
"The kitchens stocked with army rations that are still good." Wren said.
"The generator still works." I said turning the lights on.
"Thank you." Bucky told Wren offering him his hand.
Wren took his hand and shook it. "Any time remember what we talked about."
"I will." Bucky said. "Ai grija de ea. Știu că o iubești și e în regulă. O face fericita"
Wren just nodded. What did he say?
"Be careful." Wren said. "I'll give you two a minute." He said walking outside.
"I wrote down some numbers for you. It's every number I own and it's the number to Friday's direct line. Dial it and she'll either find me or she'll get you whatever you need." I said handing him the paper.
"Thank you. About before…" He started.
"It's okay. We both had a bad day." I said.
"No, I was rude and you were right I didn't consider what you were feeling. It doesn't change the fact that I have to go. But there's something I need to say. You're one of the bravest and kindest people I've ever known but I've also seen how you've held yourself back waiting for Steve and after you found out I was alive for me. Don't put your life on hold for us. Be happy Nora. You deserve it." he said.
"You sure you haven't gotten your memories back because that's a very 1940's you thing to say?" I said with a smile.
"It's just an observation. It's time." He said.
"Right." I said. Without thinking about it I pulled him into a hug. I kissed his cheek and let him go. "I love you Bucky." I said walking out.
Third person's POV-
"Right." Nora said. Suddenly she pulled Bucky into a hug. She kissed his cheek and let him go. "I love you Bucky." She said before walking out.
"Love you too Doll." Bucky said.
Nora's POV-
I walked out of the cabin heartbroken and tearing up. I wiped the tears before walking over next to Wren.
"Time to go." I said.
"You all right?" He asked.
"No but I'll deal." I said. "I could use some gelato."
"Pisa it is." He said.
"Make its Rome. Fata Morgana's tiramisu gelato sounds good." I said.
"Told you," he said. Without another word we arrived in Rome. Wren got me the biggest cup of gelato the offered and then I teleported us to Paris. I needed a walk. We walked along the Seine, while eating. Wren was chatting away at something and I wasn't paying attention.
"You haven't heard a single thing I've said in the past half hour have you?" Wren asked.
"Uh Sorry." I said throwing my cup into a bin.
"What's going on? You've been distracted since you got back. Where'd you go?" Wren asked.
"Which time?" I asked.
"Both."
"The future." I said leaning against the edge of the bridge we were on. "Specifically the first time Nine months from now. The second time farther than that."
"You were with your dad. Only person in the future who would probably try and get you drunk. Still don't see why that'd make you so glum." Wren said.
"Dad isn't the only person I saw nine months from now. I saw myself."
"I thought you weren't allowed to do that?" Wren said.
"Normally yes but Aya gave us a freebie. She wanted me to see that. Dad showed up at the house with the rest of the Avengers and Future me was so dark and resentful. Dad was barely holding himself together and she didn't care. Steve was there. I went off on him. Clint was the only one that seemed like himself. Connor was there lecturing me on how ripping a hole in the universe was a horrible idea. That kid's going to be smart." I said.
"Did you figure anything else out?" Wren said.
"She warned me she said that the next nine months were going to be utter hell. She said that they would make the last three years look like a dream in comparison and that I should make the most out if everything because she would give it all up to bring it all back. At first I thought she was over reacting and then the second jump happened. I saw dad and he kind of gave me a bit more insight as to how bad it got."
"How bad?" Wren asked.
"He said I tried to off myself again." I said. "And this is how it starts."
"But now we know and we can stop it."
"I don't know if we can." I said. "In the beginning Aya used to say that you can't fight fate and future me said the same thing she said that the conversation we had was always going to happen. So here we are, nine months to my impending doom. Countdown starts now."
"Nora you're the impossible girl. You have fought Nazis and assassin. Traveled through time and met your super soldier soulmates. I've seen you do the impossible before and you'll do it again. Fate can go fuck itself. You're Nora fucking Stark whatever the next nine months bring you'll be ready. And you're not going to be alone. So buck up." Wren said.
"What would I do without you?" I said.
"Wallow in self pity." He said.
"Possibly, or I'd be crying it out in bed while cuddling with Axl." I said.
"That too. Come on, you have five am training tomorrow and you are definitely going to feel that hangover." Wren said putting an arm around me.
"Is there any chance we could push it back a couple of hours…"
"You should have thought of that when you were taking shots with your father." He said.
"Aww man." I complained.