Hey everyone, sorry for the delay I lent my cousin my laptop for work so I didn't have a chance to work on this story so I apologize for it being shorter and later than usual. I actually wanted to ask whether you all preferred more frequent updates but them being shorter like what I've been putting out lately or less frequent updates but longer chapters like they used to be. If someone could let me know in the comments or a PM I'd really appreciate it but for now Enjoy.
Nora's POV-
For some reason my bed was a lot softer than I remember it being. The sheets were softer too almost like they were made of silk. I opened my eyes and felt like someone was pounding a sledgehammer into my head.
"Uh!" I groaned before my stomach felt queezy. I stood up swayed a bit but managed to stay upright.
I walked into the bathroom and splashed some water on my face. I could feel last night's dinner trying to make a comeback but I managed to hold it back. I had a feeling someone had been in the room while I was asleep because there was a red tunic dress with gold embroidery hung up for me.
I took a quick shower before getting dressed.
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Once I deemed myself presentable I decided to go look for some coffee.
I walked into the dining room and saw Aiden, Valyrie, and Thor sitting down.
"Morning." I said sitting down next to Aiden. I receive a round of groans all around. I guess I wasn't the only one hungover.
"Would you like to break your fast?" One of the servants asked.
"Uh just some coffee and bacon please." I said looking at Aiden's plate.
"Right away." She said.
"Morning!" Bucky said loudly and he and Steve came in making as much noise as they could making us all groan in pain.
"Uh!" We groaned in unison.
"Voices down." Val hissed.
"Bloody hell shut it." Aiden seconded.
"How's that hangover?" Steve asked with a smirk and Aiden flipped him off.
"How are you feeling Doll?" Bucky asked.
"Like there's an elephant sitting on my head." I said just as my coffee and bacon was brought over. "Last thing I remember was round four or five of slap cup."
"Really?" Steve said sharing a look with Bucky.
"Why did I do something or find a way back?" I said perking up.
"Uh no, just the usual drunk stuff." Bucky said.
"At least we didn't wake up handcuffed to a kitchen appliance again." I said taking a sip of my coffee.
"That was a great night though." Aiden said.
"So what's next for you lot?" Val asked.
"I'm afraid there aren't any answers in any of our texts." Thor said.
"I don't suppose you have any Delorean's lying around?" I asked trying to lighten the mood.
"A what?" Val asked.
"It's a time machine, from a movie… I was kidding." I said.
"Technology has gotten better but not that much." Aiden said.
"Starting to see that." I said.
"We might know someone that might have something that can help." Steve said.
"Connor?" I asked.
"No but she did teach Connor a lot of what he knows." Bucky said.
"Guess there's nothing to lose." I said. "Where are we going?"
They all just exchanged looks.
"It'll be a few hours by quinjet." Steve said.
"I wish I could accompany you all but there is much to do here." Thor said.
"Of course. You've already done a lot Thor. Thank you." I said.
"You are a warrior and citizen of Asgard no matter what time you find yourself in you are always welcome." Thor said. "I shall go notify our friends of your visit."
"Thank you." Steve said.
"Is it someone I know?" I asked.
"Not yet." Aiden said.
"Well this has been nice and all, but I have things to do, Bars to drink dry and drunks to swindle gold out of. Aiden see you next time. Nora…" She said hesitating. "Nice meeting you."
"See you around Val." I said.
"Are you sure you don't remember anything from last night?" Steve asked.
"With how much I drank last night I'm surprised I even standing right now." I said rubbing circles on my temples.
"Eat your bacon it'll help." Bucky said.
After finishing up breakfast and helping clean up despite all the servants trying to stop me we headed out to the landing pad behind the palace.
"It has been good to see you old friend." Thor said.
"You too buddy." I said hugging him. Thor chuckled a bit and hugged me back, holding on a bit longer probably for obvious reasons.
"We'll keep you updated." Steve said.
"Safe travels." Thor said.
We all got inside the quinjet before flying off. Steve and Bucky were sitting in the front. Once we were at max altitude Aiden and I got out of our seats and went to go see the view.
"So can I ask where we're going?" I asked. Steve, Bucky and Aiden had a silent conversation exchanging looks. It felt really weird to be on the outside of this exchange. After a few nods they finally said something.
"We're going to Wakanda." Bucky said.
"Wakanda? The Third World Country?" I asked confused. "Why would we go there?"
"Because it's not a third world country." Aiden said. "In 2016 they're still very reclusive and closed off from the rest of the world but that's just a front."
"A front for what?" I asked.
"A technologically advanced rich country." Steve said.
"They also happen to be on top of the biggest and only source of vibranium in the world." Bucky said lifting his arm so I could see it.
"Wait, are you telling me that, that's…" I started.
"100 percent Wakandan Vibranium." Bucky said.
"Whoa." I said admiring the design. "All the Vibranium Gramps could find was used on your shield. He said he had gotten it all."
"All he could find." Steve said. "And who knows how he managed to get that much."
"Knowing Grandpa, through some of his less desirable contacts." I said remembering Miami.
"If they're so protective of their Vibranium why'd they give you enough for a new arm?" I asked.
"Spoilers." Aiden said.
"You think they'll have a way to send me back?" I asked.
"Maybe if not they're the ones who're more likely to figure it out." Bucky said.
"You all seem really confident about this." I said.
"They've helped us out of bigger binds before." Aiden said.
Third Person's POV-
Ever since he had woken up, Wren had been withdrawn and quiet. Elle and Connor knew that whatever Aya had shown him it hadn't been good.
"I don't think I've ever seen him like this." Elle said making some tea in the kitchen on Hers and Wren's home.
"Give him some time." Connor said.
"Shit, I have to go." Elle said. "Client wants me to make her a custom gown for a bridal shoot and she's coming by to see some of the designs I made."
"Go I'll stay with him." Connor said.
"I'll be back as soon as I'm done." Elle said before going to the couch were Wren was reading from his journal. "Hey babe I have to go. I'll be back later."
"Good luck." Wren said hugging her.
"Love you." Elle said kissing him.
"Love you too." He said with a smile before letting her go.
"I'll bring back lunch." She said before leaving. Connor grabbed the two mugs of coffee and putting them down in front of him.
"You've been reading that thing for hours now." Connor said. "Are you looking for something?"
"Just, thinking." Wren said. "Do you remember the first time I time jumped?"
"Yeah, the time we snuck out of the compound to go to Coachella?" Connor said laughing. "Aya kept nagging you to go back to the compound and you wouldn't listen so she sent you back to the nineties. You left me stranded in Joshua tree so I had to call Tony to come and get me."
"I swear he was more mad about us not inviting him than us sneaking out." Wren said with a chuckle.
"The dads were so pissed." Wren said.
"They were more scared than anything. You time jumping out of the blue like that." Connor said.
"Mom had it worse than I did. The first time she time jumped she was captured tortured and experimented on by Nazis but when she wrote about it, it didn't sound like she was afraid." Wren said. "She had people who stood by her, My dads, the three of them, great grandpa Howard, Aunt Jess, Uncle Sam, and Uncle Aiden. She has them like I had you, who's been looking out for me since day one. I'm sorry brother."
"Wren what happened?" Connor asked. "What did Aya show you?"
"The Snap." Wren said making Connor groan. "Dad, Uncle Sam, Elle, me we disappeared."
"I didn't tell you because…" Connor started.
"It's okay. I know. I saw… all of it. I saw Mom find you alone with Axl. How she fought with Aiden to make him stay, what she made you promise and how… how it happened." Wren said tearing up.
"Tough love huh?" Connor said.
"That's one word for it." Wren said.
"Aunt Nora promised that no matter what everything would turn out okay and that I'd see her again. She did always keep her promises." Connor said.
"Yeah she did…" Wren said thinking back to what he saw.
Third Person's POV-
"You are now entering Wakandan Air space, please identify yourselves." A voice sounded out.
"This is Steve Rogers, you were notified of our arrival." Steve said.
"Of course Captain Rogers, we've been expecting you. You know the way, Welcome to Wakanda." The voice said.
"You're going to want to see this." Aiden said walking towards the cockpit.
"See what?" I said I said looking out the window to see us about to fly into a tree when suddenly it disappeared and a city appeared in its place.
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"Whoa." I said.
"That never gets old." Bucky said with a grin.
"We're going to land in a minute so you may want to buckle in for the landing it can be a bit bumpy." Steve said.
"Well as long as you're not crashing into the ocean, I won't mind." I said making Steve grimace. "Joking, you guys have to lighten up." I said walking to the back.
"You did set yourself up for that one." Bucky said and Steve gave him a glare.
"So just a heads up we're going to land at the palace and probably be greeted by the King and his sister." Aiden said.
"So is this like meeting the Queen of England? Do I curtsy?" I asked.
"Well he's the King, Nora." Aiden said buckling himself in.
"Okay, not my first time meeting royalty. He can't be more intimidating Odin." I said buckling in and waiting for the plane to land.
"He is still a king and he is doing us a favor…" Aiden reminded me.
"I know the drill." I said as the plane descended and a loud thump was heard. "That was better than I expected."
"He's had a few years to practice." Aiden said. "Also Bucky takes over on the landing."
"We're good." Steve said coming over with Bucky as we started unbuckling ourselves.
"Nice landing." I said standing up as the doors opened to revel the Wakandan palace. It wasn't golden like Asgard but if I had to describe it, it'd be a mash up of Tokyo meets Star Wars. Steve and Bucky led us out with Aiden and I following behind them. I couldn't help but look up and see all the flying cars and hovering monorails in the distance.
"Nora, stay focused. We'll have time to play tourist later." Aiden said.
"Sorry it's just… this place is so cool." I said before looking up ahead of us. Looks like they sent the welcoming party to greet us. There were women lined up side-by-side around two people at the center. One was a woman that looked to be in her forties and next to her was a man who stood about six inches taller than her and was in his fifties or so. One look at them and I could tell they were related.
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"Captain." The man greeted as we approached.
"King T'Challa." Steve said shaking his hand.
"Sergeant." King T'Challa greeted shaking Bucky's hand before turning to look at me. Aiden elbowed me and I bowed my head and curtseyed.
I heard whispers and mutters before the king cleared his throat.
"That is not something we do here, Doctor Stark." He said.
"Oh. Sorry, it seems I was misinformed." I said straightening myself out before turning to Aiden who coughed to hide his grin. I shot him a glare.
"Just trying to lighten the mood." He said with a shrug.
"How has my arm been treating you?" The woman said taking Bucky's metal arm and looking it over. "You have been taking care of it right?"
"I have Connor check it out at least once a week." Bucky said trying to appease her.
"And where is my apprentice?" She asked.
"Back in New York holding down the fort" Bucky said.
"Hm, I have a few upgrades that should help with…" She started before T'Challa cleared his throat. "They can wait, I believe we have more pressing matters." She said turning to me.
"Shall we." T'Challa said leading us inside. We followed after him. As we passed the guards they all started whispering amongst each other and stared at me.
"Ignore them." Aiden whispered.
"Easier said than done." I mumbled in response as we walked into the throne room.
"Thor has sent over all of the scans and lore pertaining to Doctor…" he started.
"Actually just Nora is fine." I said.
"He has sent over all lore and scans his healers took of Nora." He corrected. As his sister threw some marbles on the ground and a projection appeared above them.
"As far as we can tell all traces of the Time Stone's gamma signature are gone." Shuri said.
"No residual energy?" I asked.
"If there was it has already disappeared." She answered.
"That was fast." I said.
"So what do we do?" Steve asked.
"We don't do anything." Shuri said making us all give her a look. "This isn't a problem that will be solved over night or with muscle. The key to the time jumps is the expansion of the gamma energy to fill an entire space, that being the host's body before being compressed through a hole in the space-time continuum. Or that's the current theory."
"So twenty five years later and the best the world's leading physicists have gotten since my time is a theory?" I asked making everyone give groan or sigh.
"You were the one that came up with that theory genius." Aiden said.
"Did I come up with anything that's actually useful?" I asked.
"You're main focus was surgery not physics." Shuri said.
"Great." I said taking a deep breath. "You said the key to the time jumps was the gamma energy with Aya's specific gamma signature, right?"
"In theory…yes." Shuri said.
"Then why don't we recreate it?" I said.
"Nora you do remember what happened the last time someone tried messing around with gamma radiation right?" Steve said.
"We already have one Hulk, I don't think creating another is going to help you get back doll." Bucky said.
"I'm not saying blast myself with gamma, just create that specific energy signature and find a way to channel it with a device or something…" I said.
"You want to build a time machine?" T'Challa said.
"I can probably think of a cooler name but essentially yes." I said.
Third Person's POV-
"I don't think I can do this." Wren said staring at the doors to the Wakandan throne room.
After his heart to heart with Connor there was only one thing left for him to do. He had to talk to his mother. The only problem, he was afraid.
"Yes you can." Connor encouraged.
"I was an ass to her and it wasn't her fault. She's not going to forgive me for that." Wren said.
"Dude she forgave Uncle Aiden for killing her, stop being a baby and suck it up, you're wasting time." Connor said.
"So I just go in there and apologize." Wren said.
"That's the idea." Connor said.
"I can do this." Wren said before there was a flash of green light and Aya appeared next to him and he was pushed forward slamming the doors open.
"He needed a push." Aya told Connor with a shrug before disappearing.
Nora's POV-
"What part of impossible is so hard for you to understand?!" Shuri shouted.
"The part where you're giving up without trying!" I shouted as the throne room door busted open and Wren fell on the floor sliding towards us.
"Wren!" Bucky and Steve said running towards him to help him up.
"Ow." He groaned.
"You okay?" Bucky asked.
"Yeah." He said rubbing his arm. "Just Aya giving me a gentle nudge."
"There was nothing gentle about that." Connor said coming in.
"Finally someone that can be reasoned with." Shuri said.
"Hey Shuri." Connor said greeting her with a hug.
"Can you explain to your Aunt that building a time machine is impossible?" Shuri said annoyed.
"The science is sound." I said.
"In theory. It's an idea, a logical guess at best." Shuri said. "Even if we could recreate the gamma signature and figure a way to channel that energy there wouldn't be a way to aim it properly. Time is infinite and constantly changing." Shuri said.
"What does that meaning?" Steve asked confused.
"When you think of time, you think of a straight line from one point to another." Connor said. "The more accurate way to put it would be the order things happen from cause to effect."
"Which is completely wrong." Wren said.
"Actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint - it's more like…" Connor started.
"A big ball of wibbly wobbly... time-y wimey... stuff." Wren and I finished at the same time.
"I know, I saw it, I wrote it, and I lived it." I said annoyed.
"We know the exact point in time she needs to get back to, how hard could it be to get there?" Aiden said.
"Imagine trying to shoot a moving bullet by…" Shuri started.
"By shooting another bullet at it." I finished making everyone give me a curious look.
"That's impossible." Bucky said.
"Impossible is just a word for something that hasn't been done yet and trust me when I say it has been done before." I said.
"Wren." Steve said.
"Your son?" T'Challa said looking at Wren.
"His father." I said looking at Wren.
"Not the same thing." Aya said. "The only reason Wren was able to do that was sheer luck. Time and Space run perpendicular to each other and are constantly intersecting. What you're trying to do, that would be moving parallel to the plane you're on."
"Should be easier then." I said.
"No, That'd be disastrous. Think of time as a giant knotted hairball." Aya said. "Now imagine taking some scissors and cutting through it. That's what you time traveling with out complete control of time would do to the universe. When I time jump I freeze everything and move you where you need to be. Without that you'd cut through to different times and spaces you have no business interfering in."
"No there is no freaking way I am going to stay stranded here." I said.
"I'm sorry Nora, I really am but there's nothing and no one in this time who can help you. If you're going to return to your time, then the answer has to come from there." Aya said before disappearing.