Updates two days in a row, it's official I'm back. I wanted to say thank you to everyone that commented. I love hearing from you all. This one picks up right where the last one left off. We get more angst, some heart to heart talks and drunken antics. Without further ado here it is. Let me know what you think.
I walked down the hall and passed by Sharon who gave me a dirty look. I made my eyes glow a bit and she whimpered and flinched as I passed by her.
Maybe I was being petty, and immature, etc but she put me through hell and quite frankly I needed to get one last one in before I moved on to completely ignore her existence. Also it was pretty hilarious to freak her out. Peggy was tough as nails. Sharon… all bark no bite.
I walked into the lab where dad was poking into a weapon while Rhodey was making faces at Wren trying to get him to crack a smile.
"Come on kid, your mom was a laugh machine when she was your age." Rhodey said.
"He's trying to imitate you dad, if you wants to make him laugh, raspberries or tickles." I said. "How's the tech?"
"Nothing out of this world, just took some of my old weapons and modified it slightly." Dad said. "I'm getting ready to head out, mind giving me a lift?"
"Sure I wanted to ask, you mind taking Wren for the night?" I asked.
"You want me to take care of the kid on my own?" Dad said surprised. He had offered a few times but I always turned him down and joked about how if I did Wren would end up with a Mohawk by the time I picked him up.
"Yeah, unless you're busy I can…" I said.
"No no I'm totally free, in fact Friday clear my schedule for tomorrow too." Dad said in a rush. He really wanted to babysit.
"You sure?" I asked.
"Nora, loosen the reigns a bit. Go have fun, I got this it's not my first time taking care of a baby." Dad said.
"You left me with nana for three years." I deadpanned.
"I visited." Dad said. "Just give me a chance, Please."
"Alright but if anything…." I started.
"I have all the emergency numbers including his pediatrician and you're on speed dial." Dad said.
"Okay then. You have formula so you should be good. I'll just go tell Bucky what's going on and I'll drop you off." I said.
"Guys Night!" Dad said lifting Wren up high making Wren cheer as he chewed on his hand.
"He does have a bed time." I called over my shoulder as I walked out.
I walked into the common room and Bucky was looking over Steve.
"Doll why is Steve covered in dust and plaster?" Bucky asked.
"Steve kissed me and I blasted him through a wall." I said.
"What?!" Bucky said. "You two were supposed to talk things out!"
"We did. I got everything off my chest and made it clear we were done. Then he decided to plant one on me and I blasted him through a wall. Speaking of I should probably go fix that." I said.
"Nora what the hell?!" Bucky exclaimed.
"He kissed me when I didn't want to be kissed. No means no." I said.
"Nora, you can't do that. He has done everything you ever asked of him and you knocked him out." Bucky said.
"Bucky I love you but there are things that happened while you were gone that make it impossible for things to be fixed between the two of us." I said.
"Have you even tried?" Bucky said.
"There's no point." I said.
"How can you say that? We've been through so much together. We've fought our way back to each other time and time again. How can you just throw all of that away like it means nothing? Like we mean nothing?" Bucky said.
"I wasn't the one that threw it away Buck." I said. "Dad's taking Wren for the night are you staying or do you want to go home?"
"I'm staying." Bucky said adamantly. "I think you need some time to really think about what you want. I love you but I also love him and I know you said you didn't want me to pick sides but it doesn't feel like it."
"I'm sorry you feel that way but there's nothing I can do. I've tried Buck." I said.
"No you haven't! That's the point Nora!" Bucky said frustrated.
"Hey, calm down." Sam said coming in along with Natasha Clint and my dads.
"It's fine, I was just leaving." I said walking over to my dad's.
"Doll." Bucky said.
"I get that you love him but he didn't put you through half the crap he put me through." I said.
"He ended things with Sharon already. You got married and had a kid but he doesn't hold that against you." Bucky said.
"Barnes shut up." Natasha said giving him a glare.
"Seriously tin man not cool." Sam said.
"I'm going to leave now so you can think about it and so I don't throw you through a wall too." I said giving him a glare.
"Nora I'm…" Bucky started.
I put a hand on my dads' shoulders and teleported the four of us to the tower.
Third Person's POV-
"You are such an idiot." Clint said.
"You and Rogers need to learn to think before you open your mouths." Natasha said.
"You three need help, like professional help." Sam said.
"Nora blasted Steve through a wall for kissing her." Bucky said.
"He got off easy." Natasha said
"Yeah." Clint and Sam agreed.
"What happened to not picking sides?" Bucky asked.
"We're not but Steve has really messed up… repeatedly." Sam said.
"So he dated the Carter girl, that's done." Bucky said.
"It's a lot more than that." Clint said.
"What else is there?" Bucky asked.
"Not our place to say, it's up to them to tell you." Sam said.
"But they won't!" Bucky said.
"Give them time and lay off trying to Parent Trap them. It'll blow up in your face. Literally." Natasha said.
"Parent Trap?" Bucky asked confused.
"It's a movie." Sam said. "We really have to catch you up on those pop culture references."
Nora's POV-
We got to the tower and my dads gave me really concerned looks.
"So I'm going to head out." I started.
"You okay?" Rhodey asked.
"Hunky dory. Why wouldn't I be?" I said.
"Because you were a few seconds away from sending a super soldier through a wall for the second time in under an hour." Dad said.
"I'm fine. I feel so light, I got everything off my chest. I have closure." I said.
"Really?" dad and Rhodey said exchanging look.
"Really." I confirmed. "Well I should get going. Oh I'm going to miss you." I said hugging Wren and kissing his cheeks.
"Where you heading off to?" Rhodey asked.
"Well first I'm going home to change into some more bar appropriate clothes. Then I'm going to call a sitter so Sam can go out and after we're going to teleport to where ever Aiden is and get piss drunk. See you tomorrow." I said giving them each a kiss on the cheek before teleporting home.
I dialed a nanny and paid her extra to stay over night with Connor and Ellie before dialing Sam.
"Sammy." I said.
"Nora." Sam said sounding glum.
"Why so down?" I asked.
"Just one of those days." Sam said sadly.
"Well I know just the solution." I said.
"Really?" He said in a monotone voice.
"You, me and Aiden drinking margaritas from a beachfront bar in Cabo." I said.
"Nora…" Sam started.
"Come on, you're having a bad day, I got in a fight, and Aiden's guy came up empty handed we need this. Sammy, please." I said.
"I can work from home tomorrow. I need a sitter." Sam said.
"Nanny's on her way." I said. "I'll stop by in thirty minutes?"
"Perfect." Sam said before hanging up.
I looked through my closet and I found the red dress I wore this time last year on Wren and I's wedding anniversary. On the day he died… Fuck I really needed that drink now.
I put on a cute black lace bralette and a red flowery wrap dress with loose half sleeved. I slipped on some tan heeled sandals before grabbing a clutch and teleporting to Sam's house.
.
"Aunie!" Ellie cheered.
"Hi princess." I said picking her up.
"You pwetty." She said.
"I know you are." I said kissing her cheek before putting her down. I went down to the kitchen where Sam was helping Connor finish up his homework.
"Alright bud that's the last one." Sam said.
"Auntie Nora!" Connor cheered coming to hug me.
"Hey Buddy." I said. "How was school?"
"We're going on a field trip!" Connor cheered.
"Really? That's awesome!" I cheered.
"Where you going?" I asked.
"The aquarium!" Connor cheered.
"Awesome." I said as the doorbell rang.
"That's probably the sitter." Sam said getting up to answer the door.
"Where are you and dad going?" Connor asked.
"We're going to check up on Uncle Aiden sweetie so that's why Miss Emily is going to watch you and Ellie." I said.
"Okay," Connor said. "I'm going to put this in my backpack."
I went to join Sam in greeting the babysitter and left her half her pay. We paid her to watch the kids and go drop off Connor at school just in case we didn't come back early.
After a quick goodbye to the kids we were off. I had sent Aiden a message and he responded with a photo of a bar on a pier. I put a hand on Sam's shoulder and we appeared right by the entrance.
We walked in and found Aiden sitting at the bar saving two barstools.
"Oi, look what the cat dragged in." Aiden said hugging us.
"How many shots you had?" I asked.
"I thought the point of today was to get piss drunk?" He said.
"It is I just want to know how many shots I need to take to catch up." I said.
"Just three." He said. "Three shots of mescal for each of them please." He ordered in Spanish.
"Coming right up." The bartender said.
"Thank you." I said as he handed us each our shots. "To heartbreak, it only makes you stronger." I said taking the first shot before downing the rest back to back.
"Trouble in paradise already?" Aiden said.
"It's been a month, I thought you had the schedule worked out with Steve and everything?" Sam asked.
"Uh, I'm still to sober to talk about that." I said.
"Which means she doesn't want to tell you she'd been ditching joint visitation day for the past four weeks." Aiden said and a kicked his foot telling him to shut it.
"I figured," Sam said. "You agreed to it t make Bucky happy not because you actually wanted to."
"When I agreed I thought I could do it but I just couldn't." I said.
"Who wants to start recapping their day?" Aiden asked.
"Nora's already talking." Sam said.
"I need tequila. Let's get bottle service. Anyone want anything?" I asked.
"We're in Mexico, just keep the tequila coming." Aiden said.
A Few Shots Later-
"So I finally told them I didn't want to do joint visitation day." I said sucking on a lime trying to sooth the burn.
"How'd they take it?" Sam asked.
"How do you think, Barnes has been trying to parent trap Her and the captain for over a month." Aiden said.
"Imagine me having to tell Wren that he was never going to see one of you because we got in a huge fight. The look Bucky gave me is what I imagine that would be like." I said. "It was heartbreaking but I made it clear that he still had us just that the three of us all together was over."
"Okay." Sam said.
"Then what happened?" Aiden asked.
We all took another shot and I sighed.
"Bucky said how I was sure if I hadn't even tried." I said.
"Which you haven't." Aiden reminded me.
"I have my reasons." I defended. "Most of which he doesn't know."
"Which you should tell him as well." Aiden reiterated.
"You have your reasons but you still haven't even given it a chance." Sam said.
"Then, I asked to speak to Steve alone. Bucky left but I know him and with the super soldier hearing he would probably hear us even if he was far away so I teleported us to the ranch and I laid down the law." I said.
"Which is what exactly?" Sam asked.
"We share Bucky. We each get our days but there was no way I was doing joint visitation day. If we all ended up spending a holiday or Bucky's birthday together he doesn't speak to me unless we're having a group conversation and then I let it all out." I said.
"You let what out?" Aiden asked confused.
"Everything I've kept bottled up for the past thirty five odd years. His trying to off himself, how that messed me up and the times I tried offing myself, the Sharon thing, the trial, the not looking for me, everything." I said.
"Jesus fucking Christ Nora." Sam said just the way Jess did making me tear up.
"I ended it saying that through it all I was grateful because it showed me what a selfish asshole he truly was and that because of that I have my family and I got to meet Wren…" I said my voice cracking. We all took another shot at the mention of his name. "Suffice it to say I got through it all. He was a wreck said that he couldn't let that happen and that he was going to fight for me. I still said no and then…"
"There's more?" Aiden said.
"He kissed me." I said.
"Wow." They said at the same time.
"And I blasted him through a wall."
"Whoa!" They exclaimed at the same time.
"A bit extreme don't you think?" Sam said.
"He kissed me!" I exclaimed.
"And?" Sam said.
Aiden looked at me closely and his eyes widened.
"You kissed him back." He said.
"For like a second then I blasted him through a wall." I repeated.
"How'd Bucky take it?" Sam asked.
"Not great, we got into a fight. Said I should really think things through. Didn't understand how I could just throw it all away so easy. I said I wasn't the one who threw it away. Then he said Steve ended things with Sharon like I asked and compared it to me marrying Wren and having a kid which Steve doesn't hold against me." I said.
"Oooh." They groaned before we all took another shot.
"Suffice it to say I got out of there before I sent him flying through a wall too." I said.
"You really need to tell him everything Nora." Sam said.
"I know but last time he found out about one of Steve's fuck ups he ignored him for a month. It killed him and I don't want to put him through that again." I said.
"Nora you're my sister and I love you but you are a selfish bitch." Sam said.
"What?" I said hoping I was hearing wrong.
"You heard me." Sam said.
"Mate the captain…" Aiden started.
"Is a dumbass, I'm not defending him or Bucky, idiot." Sam said. "You spent years waiting for Steve and you thought Bucky was dead. I was there and I saw how wrecked you were. You have no idea how lucky you are. They came back from the dead. You get a second chance to be with them. You have any idea what I would do to see jess one more time and tell her I love her." Sam said tearing up.
We all took another shot.
"They're not perfect but guess what you're not either. You all went through your own hell but fought your way back to each other and you won't even try?" Sam said wiping tears off his face.
"How am I supposed to trust him after what he did Sam? It's not just me anymore its Wren too and as you've noticed by now that's obviously an issue." I said.
"How is that an issue Nora? Bucky adores Wren." Sam said.
"The man spends his free time reading baby books." Aiden said. "Not something I'd expect a former assassin to read for fun."
"Wren isn't going to meet his dad…" Sam started and we all took another shot. "But he has a lot of people in his life who love him. Would it really be so bad to have one more person who wants to be there do the same?"
"And if he walks away? How would I explain that?" I said.
"Are you worried about Wren getting hurt or you?" Aiden asked.
"I thought you hated Steve?" I asked.
"I never said that, I back your corner unconditionally you know that but I also know that despite everything you still love the daft idiot." Aiden said
"That doesn't matter." I said.
"Yes it does." Sam said. "The best part about you is also the worst Nora. You see the good in everyone despite all logic you do and you don't give up on them. What would have happened to Wren or Aiden if you had given up on them."
"Aiden was brain washed and Wren…" I said trying to take a shot but Sam stopped me.
"Wren would want you to be happy." Sam said and I started crying.
"I miss him so damn much." I cried.
"I do too sis." Sam said crying.
"This is why I hate tequila, it makes me emotional." Aiden said crying.
"I found the dress I wore on our Anniversary date… the date from the day he died when I was getting ready." I cried. "I can't believe it's been a almost a year."
"It's Jess' birthday." Sam cried.
"I miss them so much." I cried.
"I went to work at the compound today and you showed up." Sam said. "Wearing your wedding dress."
I remembered that, how nervous I was, the video of Wren saying how important I was to him.
"I found the video from the night before your wedding." I said crying. "The whole group and then it showed the scene where I offered to be Jess' getaway driver. Damn you guys were couple goals."
"So were you and Wren." Sam cried.
"I'm never going to have that." Aiden said.
"Yes you will." I said.
"Beth was it for me, just like Jess was it for Sam." Aiden said.
"Your soulmates aren't the only people you can love Aiden. You saw what happened with me and Wren." I said crying again. "Don't close yourself off to it, everyone deserves a chance to be happy. Same goes for you Sammy."
"Shouldn't you take your own advice?" Sam asked slurring a bit.
"Drunk me is smarter than sober me. I love the idiots I just don't think I'm ready to forgive the spangly one." I said wiping the tears off my face.
"Then at least give him a chance to redeem himself. Where would I be if you didn't give me a chance? Nora I literally killed you and you found a way to move past that, doesn't he deserve at least the possibility of redemption?" Aiden said.
"We live really fucked up lives." Sam said with a laugh.
"Yeah we really do." I said laughing. "We need to get happy again."
"Vodka?" Aiden asked.
"Vodka!" Sam and I cheered.
The Next Morning-
I woke up the next morning to an annoying bright light hitting my face. That's when I realized I wasn't lying on a mattress. I was lying on the floor and my arm was being held up by my wrist.
I opened my eyes and noticed Aiden was lying down on the ground next to me. My head was pounding and I felt queasy. I looked around and realized we were at the Hampton's beach house. The place was a mess, there was an empty pan of brownies and wrappers everywhere.
How did we go from Cabo to the Hamptons?
"You're a teleporter dumbass." Aya said appearing in front of me.
"Uh not so loud." I groaned.
"Buah!" I heard someone from the bathroom.
"Sounds like Sam's up." Aya said. "Hope he can get you out of those because I'm not helping you."
"Out of what?" I asked before looking at what she was talking about. Aiden and I were handcuffed to the stove door.
"Shit." I said as a flushing toilet sounded through the house.
"Sounds like Sam just flushed the only key. Have fun," Aya said disappearing.
I put my hand up and tried blasting free from the handcuffs but nothing worked.
"Aya you sadistic bitch get back here!" I shouted.
"Mh keep it down." Aiden mumbled in his sleep.
"Aiden wake up we're handcuffed." I said.
"uh, go to sleep it'll make the torture go by faster." He mumbled.
"This can't get any worse." I said before someone kicked the door down and in came Steve and Bucky followed by everyone else including my dads.
"What the hell?" Dad said.
"Let's be honest this isn't the weirdest thing you've walked in on." I said before I threw up in the mop bucket that I'm guessing Sam left by me before going to the bathroom.
I'm never drinking tequila again.