Hey all i know this one's a bit short but after all the angst i thought we needed something a bit more lighthearted. Don't worry the drama is far from over but i thought this would give us a bit more perspective into where everyone's head is at when we last left off.
The Previous Night- Third Person's POV
Bucky gently wiped the dirt off of Steve's face. He had a big bump on the side of his head but Bucky knew Steve's had had worse.
'How the hell did things get this bad between them?' He thought.
"How's he doing?" Sam asked bringing Bucky an ice pack.
"Out cold." Bucky said. "I think I should move him to his room."
"Might be a good idea." Sam said. "Need a …"
But before he could finish his sentence Bucky had already thrown Steve over his shoulder.
"Hand." Sam finished.
"You mind showing me to his room so I can put him in bed?" Bucky asked.
"Uh sure this way." Sam said leading him down the hall, into the elevator and down another hall to Steve's room. Of course things never went as planned.
"Oh my gosh!" Sharon shouted. "What happened?"
"He's fine just got knocked out." Sam answered.
"Oh Stevie, I'll go get an ice pack." Sharon said.
"Already have one." Bucky said.
"Oh I'll just go fluff his pillows." Sharon said.
"I got it." Bucky said giving her a glare making her shiver. Bucky would normally be saddened at someone being terrified of him but he had to admit that it did come in handy sometimes.
"I'll just go… tell Stevie I want to talk to him when he wakes up." Sharon said before scurrying away.
"Wow, you and Nora really have the death stare mastered." Sam said.
"We had time to practice." Bucky said with a shrug before walking into Steve's room. He carefully put Steve on the mattress and tucked him in.
"Nora… please." Steve muttered.
"What aren't those two telling me?" Bucky asked Sam.
"Man, I'm not getting involved." Sam said.
"Nora blasted Steve through a wall. Those two used to be inseparable, we all were. I get that what Steve did was wrong but he made a mistake." Bucky said. "He's trying to make amends."
"I'm not the one that has to tell you. You missed a lot." Sam said.
"Just when I think things are getting better it all comes crashing down again." Bucky said.
"How are you doing with everything?" Sam asked.
"Fine?" Bucky answered.
Sam stayed quiet for a minute.
"I used to work with at the VA in DC before everything. I ran a support group for soldiers who had trouble adjusting when they got back." Sam said.
"I wasn't a soldier, I was an assassin." Bucky said.
"You fell off a train and were brainwashed into doing things you wouldn't have done if you had gotten a say for over seventy years. You're the longest living prisoner of war in history. I know we haven't exactly gotten off on the right foot but if you want to talk, I've been told I'm a good listener." Sam offered.
"Thanks but I don't think I'm ready to talk about… that." Bucky said.
"Well if you are you know where I'll be." Sam said before walking out of Steve's room. Bucky looked down at Steve before following Sam out.
Bucky ended up in the common room alone. Everyone was off doing their own thing. He didn't mind the quiet, it gave him time to mull things over. He picked up his cell phone and dialed someone who might be able to give him some insight on what everyone was keeping from him.
"Mathis." Aiden answered.
"It's Bucky." Bucky said.
"I know, there's this thing called caller ID that let's you know who's calling." Aiden retorted.
"We got in a fight." Bucky said.
"She finally tell you she doesn't want to do joint visitation day?" Aiden said.
"You knew?" Bucky said. "She told you before us?"
"She didn't have to, it was obvious she was only doing it for you." Aiden said.
"I thought we were okay." Bucky said.
"You two are okay. Nora and the Captain are not and have not been for a long time." Aiden said.
"Sharon's not an issue anymore!" Bucky cried out.
"There's more to the story…" Aiden said. "I have to go Sam and Nora are here."
"Wait where are…" Bucky started but the call cut off before he could finish. "Uh."
"Who was that?" Steve asked.
"Hey how are you feeling?" Bucky said standing up to check on Steve.
"Like someone used me as a battering ram. Nora packs a wallop." Steve said rubbing his temples.
"We got in a fight, she left." Bucky said.
"Buck…" Steve started.
"Why is she so angry at you Steve?" Bucky asked.
"It's just something we need to work through." Steve said avoiding Bucky's gaze.
"Why do you two keep lying to me?" Bucky asked.
"Because you have enough to deal with as is." Steve said.
"How did two people that loved each other as much as I know you two did and still do be driven to the point one gets thrown through a wall?" Bucky said.
"A lot of things happen in seventy years." Steve said.
"Especially when you don't get frozen." Bucky said.
"We're at that point where we start joking about it?" Steve asked.
"It's that or talk about the poison oak rash on your…" Bucky started.
"And who's fault is that?" Steve said.
Their laughter was interrupted by the sound of Bucky's phone ringing.
"It's Nora." Bucky said.
"Answer it." Steve said.
"Hello? Doll?" Bucky said.
"Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!" Bucky heard crowds chanting.
"WHOOOO!" Nora cheered.
"Nora?" Bucky said.
"You know what we need to do? We need a mariachi." Nora said.
"No." Sam said.
"Yes." Aiden said.
"Wh-why would we need a maria-ah-chi-chi?" Sam slurred.
"Jess said they were romantic." Nora said.
"Another!" The three of them ordered in spanish.
"I think she accidentally dialed you." Steve said.
"Is she drunk?" Bucky said.
"Senorita please of the bar." Someone with a heavy accent said.
"How's it go on Spanish? Estas son las Mananitas…" Nora sang.
"Shut up already." Someone else said.
"No you shut up it's my wife's birthday!" Sam shouted.
"Then take your skank wife and leave." The other drunk said.
"Oh hell no!" Sam said and punched a guy.
"Shit." Nora said and then there was commotion, people shouting and glasses breaking.
"Nora? Nora!" Bucky shouted before the call cut off.
"That's not good. Friday run a trace." Steve said.
"Unable to locate Doctor Stark's location." Friday said.
"Shit, I forgot Aiden and Nora have scramblers on their phones." Bucky said.
"Tony can probably find them." Steve said picking up his phone and dialing Tony. "He's not answering."
"Try Rhodes." Bucky said.
"Voicemail." Steve said.
"Nora can be in real trouble." Bucky said.
"What kind of trouble?" Natasha said as she walked in.
"There was a fight and we can't track her phone." Steve said.
"Dial Tony or even better call Aiden and Sam." Natasha said taking out her phone. "Hey where are you."
"Aiden don't do it." Nora said.
"Yeah man it's not worth it." Sam said suddenly there were gunshots.
"Oh fuck." Natasha said as the call cut off. "We need to go."
"Yeah." Steve said running to the hanger with Bucky. Everyone was already inside ready to go.
One twenty minute flight and they were back at the tower. They found Tony humming 'Back in Black' to Wren as he tried to get him to sleep.
"Stark!" Steve said running in.
"SH!" Rhodey and Tony shushed.
"He finally calmed down." Rhodey said.
"The kid's wide awake." Clint said.
"I meant Tony." Rhodey said.
"Here, I can…" Bucky started.
"No, he's mine for the night." Tony said. "What are you all doing here?"
"Nora's in trouble?" Natasha said.
"What? She's a super powered surgeon with a sentient being on her shoulder that predates the universe and She's with a lawyer and master assassin how much trouble can she be in?" Tony said.
"Sir Doctor Stark's calling you." Friday said.
"See, I'm sure she's fine. Friday put her through."
"What the hell did you do?!" Sam shouted.
"I can't believe you actually went through with it!" Nora shouted.
"Kid?" Tony said.
"Oh shit, he looks mad." Sam said.
"Yeah, go go go!" Nora said before there was more shouting and the call cut off.
"Okay, I see what you mean. Friday activate Nora's tracker." Tony said.
"You put a tracker on Nora?" Bucky said.
"On her phone." Tony said. "Uh… she's in Mexico, Cabo to be exact."
"Tony?" Pepper said walking in. "Hey what's going on."
"Oh nothing just trying to find Nora who went out drinking in Cabo and is in trouble. I have to go." Tony said. "I just uh…"
"I got him." Wanda said stepping forward and taking Wren who smiled as he saw Wanda.
"Thanks." Tony said. "Let's go."
With that they were off again but when they finally got to Cabo Nora, Sam and Aiden were gone.
"What do you mean they're gone?" Tony said.
"They destroyed the place then went to the beach and disappeared into thin air." The bouncer said.
"Teleporting." Natasha said.
"Where's her tracker say she is now?" Bucky asked.
"One second… huh." Tony said.
"What?" Steve said.
"She's in Dallas." Tony said.
"The ranch?" Rhodey asked.
"No that's the weird part she's at the cemetery." Tony said.
Everyone hopped into the plane and flew to Dallas. When they arrived at the cemetery there was a grump grounds keeper muttering about drunk ghosts.
"Excuse me?" Rhodey said.
"Oh god more of you?" he said.
"Did you happen to see a girl about this tall. Shoulder length brown hair, green eyes. A tall shaggy looking man and a man with dark hair and a British accent?" Clint asked.
"The ghosts." He said getting pale.
"Ghosts?" Bucky said confused.
"Those three ghosts were drunk and singing happy birthday while drinking tequila. When I told them to shut up they disappeared into thin air." He said.
"Which grave was it?" Steve asked.
"The one with all the flowers and lit candles." The man said. "I have to clean that mess up before it burns the grass.:
Everyone quickly started looking until they found the one they were looking for.
"Jessica Moore?" Steve said confused.
"Jess, Sam's wife." Tony said. "Nora's best friend."
"Oh…" Steve said. "She was young, how did she…"
"Aneurysm after childbirth." Tony said. "She's not here."
Tony took out his phone and ran the trace again. "You've got to be kidding me."
"Where is she?" Natasha asked.
"Malibu." Tony said taking his phone out. "Nora?"
"Daddy!" Nora cheered. "It's so pretty here!"
"Kiddo where are you?" Tony asked.
"You're house, I'm going swimming." Nora said.
"What?" Tony said.
"Last one to the bottom's a rotten egg!" Nora cheered.
"Bottom?" Tony said.
"You don't think she means…" Rhodey started.
"Whee!" They heard before a splash and the phone cut off.
"Oh shit." Tony said.
"Jet now!" Steve shouted.
Half way there the signal stopped.
"Oh not good." Tony said.
"What's not good?" Bucky said.
"Signal's gone." Tony said. "Damn it Nora."
"How can the signal be gone?" Steve said.
"She did go cliff diving." Natasha said, "Probably shorted out the phone's signal."
"Uh!" Bucky groaned.
"Buck she's fine. Drunk but fine." Steve said.
"Did you not hear the gun shots?" Bucky said.
"Stop being so dramatic." Aya said.
"Nora!" Bucky said going to hug her.
"What is it with you two idiots not being able to tell us apart? I never had this problem with Wren, Even Connor knows the difference." Aya said.
"Why are you here?" Tony said.
"To tell you slowpokes to get a handle on that brat. You're supposed to be earth's mightiest heroes and you can't even handle three drunk idiots? This planet is screwed. You have any idea what a pain she is to deal with when she's drunk and emotional?" Aya said.
"What do you think we've been trying to do all night?" Steve said.
"You are really bad at finding people." Aya said.
"Who's fault is that?!" Steve shouted.
"Who sent her on the drunken rampage?" Aya said.
"Enough!" Rhodey shouted. "I'm not sure what's going on exactly and I don't care. The only thing I care about is making sure my daughter's safe so can you tell us where she is?"
"Beach house in the Hamptons. She's pretty out of it so I think she's staying put. You three seriously need professional help." Aya said before disappearing.
"How the hell does Nora put up with her?" Tony said before his phone started ringing. "Kid I swear I'm about to pull a Howard and…"
"He's not going to do it." Aiden said.
"Yes I am." Sam said.
"Then do it." Nora said.
"I am." Sam said.
"You don't have the balls for it." Aiden said.
"Fuck you asshole." Sam said before was a clink sound.
"Oh fuck he did it!" Aiden said.
"Oh shit!" Nora said.
"I fucking did it!" Sam cheered.
"What did he do?" Natasha asked.
"I don't know." Tony said.
"Why the hell do they keep butt dialing you?" Rhodey asked.
"How should I know?" Tony said. "Barton step on it."
Present Day- Nora's POV
"What the hell?" dad said.
"Let's face it, this is not the weirdest thing you've ever walked in on." I said before puking in the mop bucket.
"Nora why are you and Aiden handcuffed to the stove door?" Rhodey asked.
"Funny story we started playing truth or dare and Aiden and Sam asked me to describe what living with Aya was like so I described it as being stuck to one person with no way to get rid of them. Then Sam dared Aiden to handcuff himself to the stove to get a better understanding I laughed and he handcuffed me to get back at me. Then he dared Sam to swallow the key and Sam just puked it out and flushed it so we're kinda stuck." I said as Sam walked in and looked around.
"I'm getting too old for this shit." Sam said.
"Sam pass me the water bottle up there." I said and he tossed it over to me. I opened it and poured it over Aiden's head.
"You'll never get me to talk!" He shouted as he woke up. "What the…"
"Morning." I said.
"Sam cough up the key mate." Aiden said.
"Key?" Sam said.
"The one you swallowed last night?" Natasha reminded him.
"I did what?" Sam said.
"Don't bother, you flushed it down with your puke." I said feeling nauseous again. I grabbed the bucket and puked again.
"Oh shit hand it over." Aiden said yanking the bucket and puking.
"Fucking tequila." I groaned.
"We should probably…" Sam Wilson said referring to the handcuffs.
"On it." Clint said steeping over to us and fiddling with the lock. Less than a minute later we were free.
"Thank you." I said standing up and feeling really lightheaded.
"Doll you okay?" Bucky said.
"Yeah just… Buah!" I puked into the kitchen sink.
"Let it out." Dad said holding my hair back and rubbing my back.
"Uh…" I groaned. "Remind me to give the maintenance crew a really good tip." I said looking around at the mess.
I walked over to the medicine cabinet and pulled out three bags of IV fluids and lines. I walked over to Sam and started feeling for a vein.
"What are you doing?" Sam said.
"Hold still you'll thank me later." I said sticking the needle in and setting up the line.
"Should you really be doing that considering you know…" Rhodey asked.
"I can set up an IV in my sleep and blindfolded, this isn't hard." I said.
"Arm" I told Aiden.
"I'll deal with the hangover thank you." He said.
"Come on, it'll help. You're probably super dehydrated." I said wiping his arm. And he grew tense. "Hey look at me." I said and he did. "You've had worse than this, it's just saline and some vitamin K to help with the exhaustion."
"Alright do it." He said.
"I already did." I said getting started on mine.
"Damn you're good." Sam Wilson said.
"I have a lot of practice." I said sticking the needle into my wrist and hooking myself up. "So not that I'm not happy you're all free and that you uncuffed us but what are you doing here?"
"You called us last night." Bucky said.
"I did? I don't remember." I said.
"Don't think you would considering." Dad said lifting up the half empty vodka bottle.
"And you wouldn't considering you butt dialed us." Rhodey said.
"Really? Huh should have installed that update yesterday. You guys can see we're good." I said.
"We heard gunshots." Steve said.
"Firecrackers. Bought some fireworks." Aiden said. "Wanted to make bottle rockets."
"And a fight." Natasha said.
"Asshole deserved it." Sam muttered.
"It also got us kicked out, didn't even get my margarita." I said.
"Cliff diving was fun." Aiden said.
"We should do it again sometime, maybe Santorini next time." I said.
"Oh, that does sound nice." Sam said.
"Why did you go to a cemetery?" Bucky asked.
"We missed our friends." I said giving Bucky a look to drop the subject before we all started crying again.
"What happened here?" Dad asked.
"Pot brownies and Vodka, not a good combo." Sam said. "Uh, shit I was supposed to be back home by now."
"Paid the nanny to stay until noon we're good." I said.
"You're the best." Sam said.
"Is this where I'm supposed to be a parent and tell you how reckless and stupid you were last night?" Dad said.
"Pot." I said pointing to him. "Kettle." I said pointing to myself. "I'm never doing this again Good talk."
"That does sum it up." Dad said with a shrug. "Come on kid, let's get you three home."
"That would be appreciated. Aya's grounding me." I said. "No teleporting or powers. And she's being really loud." I groaned.
"Actually can we talk? The three of us?" Steve asked.
Suddenly I saw a flash of light and Aya was standing next to me.
"Not yet. He'll know when it's time to talk." Aya said pointing to Bucky.
"Me?" Bucky said confused.
"Why him?" I asked.
"Time jumps." Aya said and suddenly a lot of things make sense. I had really screwed up the timeline. With a nod she disappeared.
"Being handcuffed to a stove is nowhere near as annoying as that must be." Aiden said.
"You get used to it." I said, "It's kind of nice knowing that no matter how bad things and how lonely you get you're never alone."