The one downside of the staff Val forgot to mention was the lack of sleep. My pulse was racing and I was mad at everything for no specific reason. I spent most of the night we got back in bed staring at the ceiling.
Thinking about everything.
I was pissed at Steve for being an idiot even though I knew it was an honest mistake that he didn't look for me… or you know an honest mistake he thought I was dead and chose to move on with Peggy's niece.
Don't even get me started on that bitch.
I was pissed at Bucky for forgiving the idiot. I mean I get they have history but he couldn't have given him just a bit of hell? He wasn't the least bit pissed off Steve was an idiot? I mean come on!
And then there's fucking Aya. That horrible freaking space parasite. My whole life or more specifically the last forty or so years of time traveling were a complete lie.
She put me in this position. Decades in the future away from my baby…
Why the hell did she even choose me to begin with? Anyone can die…
"Bitch…" I muttered glaring at the ceiling. "Ah! Fuck!" I shouted getting out of bed and getting dressed. The building had a swimming pool, it was heated and since it was the middle of the night no one would be there. I grabbed a swim suit and a cover up before heading upstairs.
I threw my towel and cover up onto a chair before jumping into the pool. I swam from one end to the next over and over. When that wasn't enough and started swimming to the bottom of the pool and just stayed there.
The empty… the quiet.
And all I wanted to do was scream. So I did, as loud as I could for as long as I could before swimming up gasping for air. The sun was out, time for a morning run. I dried off and went downstairs to change before running twice the usual distance.
It was around the fifth or sixth mile that my phone started ringing. I check to see who it was and saw it was Steve.
"Nope." I said rejecting the call before I kept running. My phone kept ringing and it wouldn't shut up so I threw it in the lake. I went for another mile when I saw Aiden sitting on a bench with two coffee cups.
"Thought I'd find you here." He said offering me a coffee. I took it and sat down without a word. "You get any sleep?"
"What do you think?" I retorted.
"And you're still angry." Aiden said. "Is that why you didn't answer your phone?"
"Threw it into the lake." I answered taking a sip of my coffee.
"Seriously?" He said.
"The ringing was annoying." I said.
"Woke up to Steve and Bucky almost knocking down my door." Aiden said. "Not the way I wanted to wake up this morning."
"I want to punch Steve in those perfect teeth of his…" I said making him snort.
"Just screw him already." Aiden said and I glared at him. "Why are you mad at him this time?"
"He's an idiot." I said.
"You knew that already." He said.
"And freaking Bucky forgave him, jerk." I muttered. "Don't even get me started on that bitch. Stupid space parasite."
"Are you mad at me?" Aiden said amused.
"You're okay." I said. "Brought coffee."
"You up for some sparring?" He asked.
"I threw you into a wall and cracked your ribs last time we sparred. Really want to try that again when I'm a walking rage bomb?" I said.
"Not like you're going to bash my head in with an Asgardian rage staff." He said.
"Keep talking." I said glaring at him making him laugh.
"Last time I saw you act like this was when you were pregnant with Wren and your dad was drinking coffee in front of you." Aiden said.
"What a jerk." I said. "I need to be quarantined until this passes. Last night I remembered Steve didn't look for me after I showed up at his place and I ripped a pillow in half. Still have to clean that mess up."
"Might be a good idea." He said eyeing my hand cautiously as I was squeezing the cup. "Because if Aya shows up…"
"Fucking Aya…" I said squeezing the cup too hard and spilling coffee everywhere.
"Exactly," Aiden said handing me some napkins. "Called Val said everyone reacts to the staff differently. Rage being the common factor but it tends to have a bigger hold on if the user is bottling anything bottling up."
"I'm not bottling it up, I'm working through it. Swam laps, ran over five miles, doing pull ups when I get back to the apartment." I said. "Just have to ride out the next couple of days or until we get another mission and I can punch someone."
"I'll order you a punching bag." Aiden said. "And while I'm at it a new phone."
"Thanks." I said.
"Let's head back," Aiden said standing up. "I'll order breakfast and we can work on knocking down that wall between the apartments. I can call Steve and you can kick him through it if it makes you feel better."
"Haha." I said sarcastically as I got up. "Pretty sure Bucky still hasn't forgiven me for the last time I sent Steve through a wall."
Hours Later…
"Nora you've been at this for hours." Aiden said watching me do pull ups. "Aren't you the least bit tired?"
"Not tired enough." I said letting go of the pull up bar and landing on the floor. "Think I'm going to go for another swim."
"I don't think I've ever seen you work out this much." He said. "Didn't think it was humanly possible to work out this much."
"I never used to but since I don't have work, or research, or a baby to worry about I suddenly have a lot of free time." I said annoyed as the doorbell rang.
"Friday?" Aiden asked.
"It's Sergeant Barnes." Friday answered.
"I'm doing another set." I said jumping up to catch the bar.
"Let him in." Aiden said.
"Hey doll," Bucky said walking in but stopping when he saw me doing pull ups and Aiden just standing next to me watching me. "Brought…. Lunch."
"Ah great timing." Aiden said grabbing lunch.
"Came by earlier but you were out." Bucky said.
"Uhuh." I said as I kept going. "Went for a run."
"Still jetlagged huh?" Bucky said.
"Yeah, lots of energy." I said grunting the last one.
"Want to take a break?" He asked.
"Not done with the set." I said. "Just a few more."
"Stopped by the hospital to see Wren." Bucky said. "barely got a grunt out of him. So focused on what he was doing."
"Big surgery?" I asked.
"Tumor around a heart I think." Bucky said.
"A biatrial myxoma?" I said imagining a tumor growing around a heart. Just smiling at the thought of being able to step into the operating room. Putting the patient on bypass. Holding the heart in my hand.
"I think so. He was using big doctor words I didn't know if they were real or made up." He said.
"Oh those are the best kind." I said. "And if the tumor was invading the pulmonary artery he's going to have to use a more invasive approach, maybe a humpty dumpty… literally opening up the heart and sewing it back together…."
"Oi! Want to come down now?" Aiden said interrupting me.
"Need to clean up first." I said jumping down before heading upstairs. "Be back."
I took a quick shower and changed into my pjs before heading down. I grabbed a teriyaki bowl and dug right in.
"So how was the mission?" Bucky said.
"Fine." Aiden and I answered.
"Nothing to report?" He asked.
"Wasn't an official mission." Aiden said.
"Quick easy job." I seconded. "Movie?"
"I'm actually going to go next door." Aiden said and I shot him a glare.
"You sure?" I asked
"Rather not get in the middle of you two." He said.
"Aiden." Bucky and I said.
"Thanks for dinner." He called out as he walked out.
It was quiet for about a minute before Bucky finally broke the silence.
"So what movie do you want to watch?" He said.
"Surprise me." I said sitting down on the couch.
I didn't really say anything the entire time. Just kept my eyes on some movie about space travel. Might have been star wars for all I know.
"You okay doll?" Bucky asked after the movie.
"Yeah." I said giving him a small smile. "Just tired."
"You were up early." He said.
"Time change." I said. "how's everything at the compound?"
"Good, still no leads. Connor's going crazy with the Halloween decorations." Bucky said.
"Is it still his favorite holiday?" I asked.
"Builds haunted houses in the compound for everyone that works there and their kids ever year." Bucky said.
"Houses?" I asked.
"The first time he made it too scary and made the kids cry so he builds two. One that's scary and one that's more friendly." He said.
"I can't wait until Wren's first Halloween, dad wanted to build him a tiny iron man suit until I reminded him how hard it'd be to carry him… or change his diaper." I said.
"I remember…" Bucky said smiling.
"No spoilers." I said as he got up to throw away the food containers.
"Huh, Wren does this too." Bucky said lifting up a banana I had practiced my stitching on. Just because I couldn't practice medicine didn't mean I couldn't practice.
"I was timing myself, staying sharp." I said before he walked over to the couch and sat back down.
I thought having him around I'd want to punch him, scream at him, or maybe even throw something at him but now all I want to do is hug him and fall asleep in his arms.
Maybe it wasn't the staff messing me up, so much as I was PMSing or maybe even horny….
It was kind of hard not too. He was hot. I hadn't seen him shirtless in almost thirty years but from the times we had hugged or I had fallen asleep on him he still had those rock hard chiseled abs, and those fitted jeans with his thick thighs. That sharp jaw line that could probably cut through diamonds. That stubble that made me blush when I thought about how it would feel against my skin… those cute dimples and the way his steel blue eyes twinkle when he smiles…
'Fuck me…' I thought.
"Doll?" Bucky said concerned.
Shit did I say that out loud?
"Sorry zoned out." I said. 'And got turned on.'
Bucky gently moved a lock of hair out of my face and his metal hand on my cheek. It was cold against my blushing cheek. Slowly I leaned forward.
I stopped before I kissed Bucky. What was I doing? This was a really bad idea…
Then Bucky leaned forward and kissed me softly. He stopped and started pulling away but I kissed him back. My hand on his shoulder and the other in his hair. His hands on my waist pulling me closer before he put me on his lap. He deepened the kiss as I played with his hair. Bucky's hand moving lower. I didn't even realize I was starting to rock my hips until Bucky let out a loud moan.
"Ah…." Bucky moaned starting to kiss my neck.
"Bucky…" I moaned before I froze.
"Nora?" Bucky said stopping immediately.
"Sorry," I said getting off of him. "Sorry I don't know what I was thinking."
Actually I did, I knew what I wanted to do and can't believe I stopped it.
"No it's my fault…" He said standing up. "I'm sorry I should… I should go."
"Uh no… yeah..." I said.
"I'm sorry." Bucky said practically running out of the apartment.
"Uh!" I groaned loudly. "Idiot!"
I just shouted that and Bucky has super soldier hearing.
"Fuck!" I shouted.
"Use protection!" Aiden shouted through the wall.
"Ahhhh!" I shouted into a pillow.
An Hour Later…
Bucky probably broke every speed limit getting back to the compound seeing as he made it there in record time. Not that he noticed. The only thoughts going through his head were him thinking about how big of an idiot he was for ruining things with Nora. They had made such great progress in the past couple of months and he ruined it. Then he remembered what it had felt like to hold her and kiss her again and it affected him more than he'd ever admit. Except he had to tell Steve.
Steve.
"Fuck." He groaned as he drove into the compound garage.
Bucky got off the bike and walked in dreading the conversation he was about to have.
"Hey Buck, how's…" Steve started as he saw him in the doorway.
"I kissed Nora." Bucky said.
"What?!" Steve and Connor said
"Really?" Ellie said at the same time.
"Kids!" Bucky said surprised.
"They were just planning out the haunted house…" Steve said still in shock.
"Just finished up." Connor said signaling at his sister to go.
"Gonna go… it's date night." Elle said.
"Same." Connor said before they both ran off.
"You kissed Nora…." Steve said again.
"We were watching TV and then we… weren't." Bucky said. "I'm sorry."
"Buck its okay." Steve reassured him with a hand on his shoulder.
"But it's not. I just ruined things with Nora." He said.
"What exactly happened?" Steve said.
"We got to second." Bucky said.
"I meant how she… reacted?" Steve said.
"It was good. She was good…" Bucky said smiling and feeling a bit affected. "So good, and then she stopped and got off of me. Said she was sorry. I said I was sorry and I ran and she called me an idiot."
"She did?" Steve said.
"I deserved it." Bucky said.
"Buck…" Steve started putting a hand on his shoulder going to hug him but Bucky moved away from him.
"I'll be in the gym." He said.
Meanwhile…
"So Uncle Bucky and Auntie Nora kissed." Ellie said.
"Yeah," Connor said.
"Totally saw that one coming." Ellie said taking out her phone as Connor took out his and tapped it against Elle transferring money to her.
"Thought it'd be sooner though." Connor said.
"Is it really that bad that they did?" She said.
"Would you be okay with Wren hooking up with a past or future version of you when he time jumps?" He said.
"Well…" Ellie said with a smile and blushing slightly.
"Uh… why did I ask." Connor groaned. "But this is different. Interfering with the timeline. Especially since she's… you know."
"Well she doesn't know and they have it bad for each other." She said.
"I've noticed. What do you think Uncle Steve sketches all the time?" He said.
"Aww." Ellie said smiling. "It technically wouldn't be cheating."
"They'll figure it out." Connor said. "Eventually."
"Who'll figure what out?" Wren said appearing.
"Oh nothing." Ellie said kissing Wren.
"I'm gonna go call Morgan, enjoy date night." Connor said.
"Night." Wren and Elle said.
"Did you figure it out?" She asked.
"I debulked the tumor but it's only a matter of time before it's back to the same size or bigger." He said sounding exhausted.
"Let's go home." Elle said.
"We have reservations." Wren said.
"Yeah, at home." She said. "You need sleep."
"Love you." Wren said hugging her.
"Love you too." She said as he teleported them home.
The Following Day...
I was making breakfast and meal prepping after an early morning grocery run when there was a knock at the door.
"It's open." I called out.
"Is it safe to come in?" Aiden said.
"I didn't sleep with him." I answered.
"That's not what it sounded like…" Aiden started.
"It didn't happen!" I shouted.
"And you're still angry." He said.
"No… yes…just… I fucked up." I admitted.
"Can't believe I'm asking but what happened?" Aiden said.
"I kissed Bucky." I said.
"And?" He asked.
"made out a bit…" I said.
"But you didn't sleep with him?" Aiden said.
"No we got to second and stopped." I said annoyed.
"You're mad because you stopped?" He said.
"No… yes… I'm not sure." I said. "We were sitting down and I went for it. And it was good like really good…"
"Skip to why you stopped." He said quickly.
"I remembered where we were, when we were and how long it took us to finally get to a good place and I fucked it up." Nora said.
"Technically you didn't fuck anything…" He said.
"Aiden." I said.
"There's one important thing you're forgetting here." Aiden said.
"And what would that be?" I asked.
"You were alone with him and didn't want to strangle him." He said.
"No I just tried to…" I started.
"Don't want to know." Aiden said. "Besides I don't think you were ever really angry at Bucky or even Steve."
"I'm fairly sure I was." I said.
"What about Bucky pissed you off?" Aiden asked. "Specific incident."
"I remember me time jumping and being the one to tell him all the shit Steve did and how happy and close they are even after all these years even after everything. They were holding hands after I crashed through that wall in the compound." I said hugging a couch pillow.
"And Steve?" Aiden said.
"Being sent home after asking him not to crash the plane. Time jumping to his apartment thinking it was a hallucination, Being sent away from him the first time I saw him after I found out he was alive, the pain I felt when we were in the same room and I fought Aya to stay, that heartbroken look he gives me whenever he sees me because I'm dead." I said gripping the pillow in my hands tight.
"And Aya?" Aiden continued.
"That fucking bitch, picks me up in the middle of a crisis only to send me to get captured and tortured by nazis, putting me through hell, lets me die more than once, keeps me away from my soulmates, makes me watch as I lose my best friend and husband, get my heart broken over and over again only so I can die and leave my son an orphan who that parasitic bitch lives inside of." I said not realizing I tore the couch pillow in half.
"You're not mad at Bucky and you're not mad at Steve because as it turns out you actually did forgive him for everything. You're pissed at Aya for keeping you away from them, for all the time she made you miss with them and everything you will miss after it happens." He said.
"She's made my life hell since the day I met her, and I've hated her but some of the best things in my life, Steve, Bucky, both Wren's, you, I have because she showed up that day in Geneva. It was hard but in her own way she was looking out for me but as it turns out she was just fattening me up before sending me to the slaughter house. She's going to let me die." I said tearing up. "And maybe it is for the greater good but I'm still pissed and I think after everything she's put me through I get to be pissed off."
"You more than anyone." Aiden said pouring me a drink. I didn't bother arguing and took it.
"I miss when things used to be as simple as taking down nazis. Patching up soldiers…. Not finding out about your impending doom at the hands of a space dinosaur." I said.
"And not getting past second with your own soulmate." Aiden said.
"Uh don't remind me." I said. "I really fucked things up."
"It was only a matter of time before one of you three was going to make a move." He said sipping his drink.
"I don't know what came over me." I said.
"It's pretty obvious." Aiden said finishing his drink. "Well that's not why I came over. Connor called. He's doing his annual haunted house and Halloween party…"
"yes!" I said.
"He wanted to invite you since you love Halloween." Aiden said.
"Almost as much as I love surgery." I said. "And Wren. We need costumes."
"There's a costume shop…" He started.
"No, costume shops are boring lets make our own." I said.
"You don't have to…" Aiden started.
"Yes we do. We should go out and start looking. Get some ideas. We're cutting it close since we only have a few days and I'm going to sew by hand…" I said as we headed out the door.
"Just buy one already made." Aiden said.
"No." I said.
Meanwhile
"Uh!" Wren groaned frustrated throwing a scalpel at the wall.
"Woah!" Morgan said jumping to the side.
"Shit! Sorry." Wren said.
"Rough day?" Morgan said slowly walking towards Wren.
"I have a patient, tough case." He said. "Any way I look at it I either sever the pulmonary artery or leave the heart too weak to function after. Not to mention leaving them under for that long and on bypass…"
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Morgan said.
"And that's the problem, no one does!" Wren said. "I can only look at the scans and models for so long…"
"Take a breath." Morgan said. "Start from the beginning."
"Patient 18, biatrial myxoma. It's huge and I've never seen one like it. It's a wonder she lasted so long with that things slowly getting bigger and squeezing her heart. Invading the pulmonary artery." Wren said bringing up the scans. "I went in laparoscopically but it's also growing around the aorta and starting to invade the peritineal cavity."
"Wow that's a tumor?" Morgan said.
"What did you think I was talking about?" Wren said.
"I zoned out when you started using science. I'm sorry. It's just you started talking really fast and I can't keep up." She said.
"You and everyone else here." Wren said frustrated.
"You need a sounding board." Morgan said. "Someone to bounce ideas off of."
"But first I need to find someone that actually knows what I'm talking about and doesn't have to look up every other word I say." Wren said.
"Genius problems." Morgan said.
"So what problems brought you here?" He asked.
"Can't an Aunt just stop by and say hi to her favorite nephew?" Morgan said.
"I'm your only nephew." Wren deadpanned.
"Think you need a break." Morgan said taking his hand and leading him out of the skills lab. She walked him outside to get them both a cup of coffee from the cart.
"How's the new job?" Wren asked.
"It's… I hate it." Morgan said.
"You just started." He said.
"It's so boring. It's paperwork and telling everyone what to do…" Morgan said.
"That's what a CEO does Morgan." Wren said.
"Mom and Dad both took the job and made these huge amazing changes and now everyone is looking at me expecting to do the same but I've got nothing." She said.
"You just started. Give it some time." Wren said.
"Yeah…" Morgan said.
"There's more isn't there?" He said.
"Maybe…" Morgan said.
"You called him didn't you?" Wren said. "I thought the whole point of you going away for a few months was to get over him?"
"We were together for years." Morgan said. "It's not as easy as turning off a switch. And I ran into him… and his soulmate."
"Sorry." Wren said.
"You have no idea how lucky you are you grew up with your soulmate." She said. "Dating sucks."
"I've heard." Wren said. "It won't be like that forever. You just have to find the right guy."
"Wish he would hurry up and show up already." Morgan said.
"You could always look him up." Wren said.
"Feels too… pushy. You've heard the stories of people trying to force it and ending up bitter and alone with a hundred cats." Morgan said.
"I'm going to give you the same advice my dads gave me… Just because it isn't happening right now doesn't mean it's never going to happen. It'll happen when you stop looking and least expect it." Wren said.
"So I either have to get beat up on a playground or get captured by nazis?" Morgan retorted. "Tough choice."
"Or you know, just wait like a normal person." Wren said.
"Yeah, so how is she?" She asked.
"Mom? I honestly haven't seen her in a while. Think she just got back from a mission." Wren said. "Should really go check on her more often."
"You should." Morgan said as Wren's phone started beeping.
"Shit I have to go, I'll see you at Connor's haunted house thing?" Wren said.
"Yeah." Morgan said before Wren teleported away.
Halloween Night-
"I'm shapeshifter remember?" Aiden said as I fussed over him.
"Hold still you big baby." I said putting on the last bits of fake blood on his face.
"Done."
"Well I look dead, though I think the axe in my chest gives it away." He said looking at the prop I had put on him with some small nano magnets.
"Just need to put on my dress and we can go." I said grabbing the bloody dress I had left hanging on the door. We had shopped around and somehow ended up at a second hand store. I found a bunch of awesome vintage band tees and then found an old wedding dress with a red stain one it. It was probably wine or possibly blood but it was enough to give me an idea for my costume.
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"Mind zipping me up?" I called out.
"Yeah." Aiden said zipping me up quickly.
"What do you think?" I asked.
"You look dead." Aiden deadpanned.
"Good to know I'll be a pretty corpse." I retorted.
"We're joking about it now." He said.
"Better than crying about it." I said taking my phone out. "Picture time."
"Really?" He said annoyed.
"Hey when you miss me after I'm gone and you look at this photo you'll thank me." I said pulling him close and snapping a picture of us. Aiden even smiled a bit. "Now we can go."
"Finally." He said.
At the Compound…
"Babe, come on its Halloween, you love Halloween." Ellie said wearing her skin tight skeleton costume. Wren was on call for the entire night and decided to stay in his scrubs so Ellie decided to match him. If only he'd stop reading medical research studies and actually enjoy the party.
"Sorry just… can't stop thinking about it." Wren said putting his phone away.
"You need to take a break Wren." Elle said. "Just for a bit."
"Yeah." He agreed.
"Guys can you keep an eye out for Morgan, she said she'd be here soon and one of the zombies wandered into the PG haunted house and I have to go bribe kids with candy so they don't tell their parents." Connor said.
"We'll keep an eye out." Elle said before he ran off. "Wow. Look who just got here."
"Hmm." Wren said looking up. "Mom?"
"And Uncle Aiden? He actually dressed up this year." She said.
Nora's POV-
"Wow." I said as we walked in. "That was awesome."
"Connor out did himself this year." Aiden said.
"Those zombies look amazing." I said. "Like something out of the walking dead."
"Should've been here last year, he recreated Saw." He said.
"Which one?" I asked.
"All of them." Aiden said.
"Ohhh." I said smiling. "I'll go get us some drinks while you get us seats."
"We can just sit with… ah." He said looking over at the table where Wren and Ellie were talking to Bucky and Steve both dressed in the 40's army uniforms. "You know you're going to have to face them eventually right?"
"Yup, which is why I'm going to get some liquid courage." I said heading to the bar. "Hi can I get two scotches neat and a shot of whiskey please."
"Of course ma'am." The bartender asked.
"I'll have two shots of tequila and keep them coming." A familiar voice said.
"Morgan." I said admiring her princess Leia hair buns.
"Nora, hi." She said shocked to see me and a bit surprised at my costume. "Awesome costume."
"Thanks, found an old wedding dress at a second hand shop with this stain on it. Didn't know if it was wine or actual blood but either way it works." I said making her laugh. I swear something about her smile and laugh really reminded me of Dad for some reason. "I love your princess Leia costume."
"Thanks, Luke was supposed to meet me here but turns out he was seeing another Leia." She said.
"What a douche." I said.
"Yeah." She said taking a shot.
"Well it's his loss." I said.
"Still sucks." She said as I looked behind me and quickly looked away before Bucky and Steve saw me looking at them.
"It really does." I said.
"Avoiding someone?" She asked.
"Uh… something like that." I said taking my shot. "May have ruined things with a… friend"
"It can't be that bad." Morgan said.
"We may have made out." I said.
"Oh." She said.
"There's a lot of history between us and I was just having an off day, not in my best judgement…" I said. "I messed up and he ran away."
"Guys are assholes." Morgan said.
"Not all of them." I said.
"Point me to one I'm not related to." Morgan said making me laugh.
"Just hang in there. You'll find the right guy when you least expect it. But in the meantime…" I said handing her a shot.
"Cheers." She said as we took the shot and looked at the opposite side of the bar. "oh I like a man in uniform."
"Yeah, or with a leather jacket and a motorcycle." I said smiling fondly at the memory of Bucky and Steve taking me for a ride.
"The best way to get over someone is to get over someone new… I'm going to go see if the officer over there wants to give me a citation." Morgan said.
"Have fun." I said smiling before looking down at the drinks.
"She's in a better mood." Steve said sitting next to me.
"Yeah, dating apparently hasn't gotten any easier in thirty years." I answered sipping my drink.
"Doesn't get easier after seventy years either." Steve said.
"The uniform is still working for you though." I said before regretting it immediately. I already screwed things up with Bucky and here I am flirting with Steve. Why do I do this to myself? "I'm gonna go give Aiden his drink."
"Nora it's… you…" Steve started not knowing what to say.
"Have fun." I said quickly going around a couple to avoid Bucky and heading to Aiden. "your drink."
"Thank you." Aiden said.
"Hey guys." I said hugging Ellie and Wren.
"Hey mom." Wren said hugging me though he seemed a bit off.
"Auntie!" Connor said hugging me tight and twirling me around.
"Wah!" I shrieked surprised. "Werewolf!"
"There's a full moon I figured why not." Connor said making me laugh.
"And know I get why you didn't want a haircut." I said.
"You're a…" Connor said.
"Corpse." I answered making Elle and Connor frown. Wren looked up from his phone.
"Corpse dressed up like a bride. Corpse bride." Wren said.
"Exactly." I said.
"It's cute." Ellie said while Wren kept looking at his phone.
"Want to go in the haunted house now that we're all here?" Elle suggested.
"Uh I'll just be here." Wren said. "On call."
"You sure?" Elle said.
"Yeah go have fun." Wren said kissing Ellie and giving her a smile.
"Auntie?" Connor asked.
"You guys go ahead, I'll catch up." I said.
"Okay." Connor said as they all went. I gave Aiden a look telling him to give us a minute alone.
"I'm going to call your Dad see if he's almost here." Aiden told Connor. They all walked away in separate directions.
"You okay?" I asked Wren.
"Yeah just… work." He said.
"Tough case?" I asked.
"It's…" He said before taking his phone out and projecting a model of a heart with a tumor growing around it.
"Wow. That is one gorgeous tumor." I said moving the projection to get a closer look. "It's invading the pulmonary artery and constricting the aorta."
"Yeah. Also starting to invade the peritoneal cavity." Wren said. "It was supposed to be an normal humpty dumpty but my patient decided to cross everything off her bucket list before we cut into her and it grew into that."
"Bet she's really regretting making that list so long now." I said.
"I debulked it as much as I could but all I did was buy her a few more weeks." He said.
"What about the inside of the heart?" I asked.
"That's what's bugging me. We can't really get a clear look inside but she can still walk and breath…" Wren said.
"So the growth is happening around the heart but still hasn't invaded the muscle in the atrium." I said.
"Exactly." Wren said. "I can resect this part with clean margins without any problems but the problem's the aorta and the pulmonary artery."
"The only thing that's keeping your patient alive right now is the aorta working at the exact capacity the pulmonary artery can handle." I said. "You fix either of those without fixing the other her organs will start failing faster than they are right now."
"Each on their own is no problem but together…" He said.
"You'd need a graft on the pulmonary artery and to replace the valve but you'd still have to deal with the tumor in the atrium." I said.
"Or I could stent the pulmonary artery." Wren said.
"Why not the aorta?" I said.
"Well the muscle contracts." Wren said.
"I don't mean leave it there. I mean go in and repair the artery but keep the stent in the aorta while you do it." I said.
"Do an angioplasty in the aorta while repairing the artery." He said thinking it over. "What about an angioplasty in the atrium. Instead of doing the humpty dumpty last start with it."
"With the tumor constricting the heart you'd be cutting blind." I said.
"Actually I wouldn't." He said.
Meanwhile…
Bucky watched as Nora made her way to the table.
"I really fucked up." Bucky said.
"Buck…" Steve said.
"She won't even look at me Steve." Bucky said. "She hid behind Shrek and Fiona so she wouldn't have to talk to me."
"We just have to talk to her, clear the air like we always do." Steve said smiling as he watched Wren and Nora banter about something. They were completely absorbed in what they were doing completely forgetting about the party and everything around them.
"I read the situation wrong." Bucky said.
"I would have read it wrong too." Steve admitted turning around again only to see Wren and Nora were both missing. "Uh Buck?"
"Hm?" He said turning to look for Wren and Nora but they were both gone.
"They're probably in the haunted house." Steve said.
"Yeah." Bucky said.
Hours Later…
"Okay you almost got it." I said getting the stop watch.
"Not good enough." Wren said.
"We'll you're exhausted and your hand's cramping up. Mine is too." I said.
"Everything else is good I just need to handle the partial resection but there's too much tissue and tumor." He said.
"Hard not to nick anything" I said looking at the model.
"So this is where you two have been all night?" Elle said appearing at the door with Aiden, Connor Steve and Bucky.
"Elle!" Wren said surprised to see her.
"Hey guys." I said.
"We've been looking for your two for hours." She said.
"You couldn't have picked the phone or sent a message?" Aiden said.
"We kind of got caught up with work." Wren said.
"I lost my phone again." I admitted.
"I noticed." Aiden said handing it back to me.
"There it is." I said.
"What is that?" Connor said looking over out Frankenstein looking heart and balloons with wires sticking out of it.
"We figured it out. Well mom did." Wren said.
"Oh no the partial resection was all you." I said.
"But you came up with the idea to put the stent in the aorta." He said.
"And you're the one that figured out how to use the angioplasty to do a partial humpty dumpty cutting down bypass time." I said.
"With that stitching technique, I've never stitched that fast." Wren said.
"What are they talking about?" Aiden asked Connor.
"I understood Tumor in a heart." Elle said. "They're not even speaking in complete sentences now."
"Okay, I think it might be time for you two to call it a night." Steve said.
"You pulled too many all nighters in a row." Elle said.
"But…" We started.
"Tumors still going to be in the heart tomorrow." Connor said. "Let's go get breakfast."
"I could go for waffles." Wren admitted.
"Kinda craving a milkshake right now." I said.
"Oreo shake." Wren seconded.
"Yes…" I seconded as we headed out of the lab.
The Following Night…
I had just showered after getting out the pool when there was a knock at the door. Aiden had been gone most of the day following up some leads on the first order and was due back any minute with dinner.
"It's open." I shouted from my room. I heard the door open and close. I grabbed a towel and started drying my hair as I headed down. "Did you remember to get the extra teriyaki sauce on the side? Rice on its own is too bland."
"We actually got pizza." Steve said making me drop the towel.
"It has pineapple." Bucky said.
"I think we should talk." Steve said.
"Uh…" I said looking between them and briefly considering whether making a break for the balcony and getting into Aiden's apartment was an option.
"Nora get your bag we're going to Hong Kong." Aiden said storming in.
"Got to go!" I said running to the coat closet.
"What's in Hong Kong?" Steve asked.
"First Order's money guy." Aiden said. "Got a lead."
"Well keep you guys updated, call if anything happens lock up when you're done and talk later." I said pulling Aiden out with me.
"You didn't talk yet?" Aiden asked as the elevator dinged and the doors opened.
"Nope." I said closing the doors and heading down. "Its coming though, and its not going to be pretty."
"You've faced Nazis, the KGB, aliens, killer robots and brainwashed assassins but you're afraid of a guy that runs around wearing a flag while throwing a frisbee and a little league coach." Aiden said.
"Bucky was a little league coach?" I said.
"Nora." He said.
"I've disappointed them enough okay?" I said. "I didn't save Bucky the first time, I couldn't stand to be in the same room with Steve when he came back and crushed his hopes that the three of us would ever be a thing again and oh I died! I've put them and am going to put them through hell. I was pissed at Steve for so long for leaving, turns out I'm the one that can't stick around."
"It wasn't your choice to leave them but it is your choice to avoid talking to them." Aiden said. "You three have been going in circles for over a century, for once stop running and talk to them while you still can."
"So you want me to go back upstairs?" I said.
"I didn't mean literally, after we get back." Aiden said calling his car. "We have an accountant to find."
"Works for me." I said.
Hours Later…
"So you guys finally talk to Aunt Nora?" Connor asked Steve and Bucky as he ate a slice of cold pizza.
"We were… but then Aiden showed up and they had to go." Bucky said.
"I kinda thought she was going to make a run for it." Steve said.
"She said come in without checking who was at the door, we really do have to talk to her about that." Bucky said.
"Well there's a doorman and Friday…" Connor said.
"And now we have half a pineapple pizza no one's going to eat." Steve said just as Wren teleported in.
"Oohhh pineapple." Wren said grabbing a slice. "What's going on?"
"Nothing." Steve answered quickly.
"Just filling in Connor on a lead your Uncle and Mom are checking up on." Bucky said covering for Steve. They raised a teenager together and he still hadn't figured out that answering 'nothing' was basically screaming 'there's something I don't want to tell you.'
"Hmm good timing." Wren said. "What are we doing next week?"
"Next week?" Steve asked confused.
"The eighth." Bucky said.
"Oh forgot." Steve said.
"Can't really let mom roam free that day. The parade, parties and new holiday that didn't exist thirty years ago is a big giveaway." Wren answered taking another bite of his pizza.
"Not like we can lock her up." Connor said.
"We can if she doesn't realize we're locking her up." Bucky said. "Throw a party, keep her here over night. Distract her."
"Make sure to get her phone and not let her watch the news." Wren said.
"Easy." Connor said. "I'll program Friday to run interference. Just plan everything else out."
"Elle's already on it. Speaking of…" Wren said finishing his slice and taking another. "She's cooking dinner."
"Ooooh." Everyone said grimacing.
Days Later…
"How hard is it to find a freaking accountant?" I said sitting out in a patio area of a corporate park.
"Just be patient and put on your ring." Aiden said as I slipped it back on. "Remember your story."
"Oh!" a woman exclaimed as she fell down and her bag spilled out.
"Oh I'm so sorry." A man said kneeling down to help her pick up her things.
"Thank you." She said as he helped her up.
"No problem. Peace be with you." He said.
"Have a good Nora's Day." She said.
"You too." He said.
"Nora's Day?" I said confused.
"I'll explain later." Aiden said as our accountant came over.
"Monsignor Bertran." The accountant said. "My apologies for keeping you waiting I had a client that needed to cash out last minute."
"Stock prices wait for no man Mister Waldorf." Aiden said making him chuckle.
"This must be your wife." He said. "Signora."
"Sir." I answered.
"I was told you were interested in donating to our cause." He said.
"Why yes," Aiden said. "We've had a very good year and we are looking to diversify our portfolio, set up something for the future. You know, rainy day fund and all that."
"Well there is no more certain investment than out organization. We're tax exempt which means your money is protected and we operate globally so you can access your funds on our secure devices from anywhere in the world in seconds." He said.
"And there is no way to trace it?" I asked.
"No ma'am the only record exist on our encrypted server. All of our devices are biometrically encrypted to you and the data is only monitored by myself using an external memory drive, also biometrically locked to my and our church's head. It requires both of us to open." He said.
"That's very interesting but before we can invest we'd like to know that out money is being put toward the cause." Aiden said.
"Of course. We're actually having a vigil tomorrow night in preparation for St. Nora's day." He said.
St Nora's Day?
"Other members of our church as well as our Head will be present." He said. "It will also be a good opportunity for you both to get involved."
"That'd be lovely." I answered before we did a bit of paperwork and transferred the 'funds' to the account. What they didn't know was that the bug also worked as a transmitter and transferred data on all transaction back to Friday while also making it look like they had more funds than they actually did. Connor is a genius.
When we were done we headed back to our hotel.
"So what's Nora's Day?" I asked. "Or is it St Nora's Day?"
"Depends who you asked." He said. "Nora's day is November 8th."
"My birthday?" I said.
"Yes. After you died people wanted to honor you. Your birthday was declared a holiday. A day of remembrance and peace. If one person could give up their life for an entire universe of strangers then they could at least be kind to one another. Hence…" Aiden said.
"The lady with the bag and the guy that helped her." I said. "So my birthday is an international bank holiday. That's weird."
"It's actually an intergalactic holiday." He corrected. "And as you can imagine it's a big deal for your worshipers."
"Should we be at all concerned about that?" I said.
"The First Order's been quiet, if they were planning something we'd know about it by now." He said. "Besides the bug should be online by now if they're planning something we'll know all about it"
At that moment Aiden's phone rang.
"It's Connor." He said answering the video call.
"Hey Sweetie." I greeted.
"Hey Auntie. So did you guys manage to plant the bug?" Connor Asked.
"About an hour ago." Aiden said.
"Thought so." He said with a frown.
"Everything okay?" I asked.
"It didn't work." Connor said. "I should have received something by now. The code is active but it's not transferring anything back."
"You think the encryption Waldorf kept bragging about might be blocking it?" I asked.
"Must be." Aiden said.
"What kind of encryption are we talking?" He asked.
"Biometrically locked external drive." I said.
"I can crack that easy if I can get the actual drive." Connor said.
"Looks like we're going to that party." Aiden said.
"Uh, I bet there's going to be a mass or creepy ceremony." I said.
"It's a cult, that's a given." Aiden said. "We'll keep you updated."
"I'll let the Uncles know." Connor said before hanging up.
"So what do you wear to a cult vigil that honors you?" I asked Aiden.
"It's black tie." He said handing me the invitation.
"Isn't it always." I said a bit annoyed. "Would it ever kill people to throw a quick and easy barbeque where showing up in sweats is an accepted option?"
"You mean like that barbeque we crashed a few months ago?" He said.
"Nevermind." I said remembering how I hated every second of it even though the food was great. "So what's it like?"
"What? You mean what we do on that day?" Aiden asked and I nodded. He sighed and thought for a minute probably trying to be careful about what he said. "When the kids were younger, Sam, Bucky and Steve would keep them home from school. Spend some time at the ranch or beach house. Now we have brunch, all of us. Pretty normal day other than that."
"I'm glad you guys still do brunch every week." I said.
"Yeah." Aiden said with a strange look on his face. Kind of reminded me of Wren when he got lost in his head. "We should go."
"Yeah." I said sensing he just didn't want to talk about it anymore.
The Following Night…
I got dressed in the floor length v-neck emerald backless gown we had found yesterday. It was a bit to showy for a religious event but considering it was black tie and we had 'donated' millions of dollars I doubt they cared.
product_photos/62301822/file_265c46bc5e_
"Is it just me or does it feel like we're dressing up for a St. Patrick's day party?" I called out as I started slipping knives into a holster.
"I'm wearing a green suit jacket." Aiden answered walking in.
"Be grateful you don't have to wear heels. How is it possible that technology keeps evolving but fashion can't evolve past medieval torture?" I said slipping on my shoes.
"I'm surprised you can fight in those things." Aiden said tying his tie.
"Years of practice." I said grabbing my clutch before heading out.
Of course like always, things did not go according to plan. I mean they never went according to plan but this was a shit show.
It all started when we showed up to the penthouse in the tallest building in Hong Kong. It was a great view, but it wasn't enough to distract me from the disturbing set up. Complete with the giant shrine with a giant portrait of me. There were also a bunch of other photos of me at events with Dad. Even a small section of photos of Wren when he was born, his childhood and of him now.
"This is disturbing." I said staring at the portrait.
"Let's hope the red hair is enough for them to ignore the uncanny resemblance." He said.
"Yeah." I said creeped out as we walked in.
We made the rounds and all made some small talk. Everyone talking about me and how I had somehow touched their lives. I never thought I'd say this but I really wanted to go home and face Steve and Bucky.
"I have to talk to Waldorf, think you'll be okay?" Aiden said.
"Yeah, I'll just look around." I said "Take a trip down memory road."
"Which is basically what you do when you time travel." He said.
"Work fast please." I said before he walked away. I have seen a lot of disturbing things but this shrine and the people putting up offerings at it was more disturbing than all of that and then someone just had to say something that pissed me off.
"He has her smile but other than that he is nothing like her." A woman said looking at a photo of Wren when he was in college. He was young, was wearing a cap and gown holding up a diploma binder from MIT. "Shame he turned out to be such a disappointment."
"Forever in his mother's shadow." Another agreed.
"Well I have to disagree." I said. "He's a young man that has already accomplished a lot more than most people in his room. His surgical techniques are world renown and he's grown into an amazing man his mother is… would be very proud of."
They scoffed before walking away. I wonder is Wren ever had to hear comments like that.
"Change of plans." Aiden said coming back. "Turns out this isn't just a vigil, it's an induction ceremony."
"Shit." I said.
"And we're both getting inducted." He said.
"Fuck." I said before someone rang a gong and a guy dressed in all black came out.
"Ladies and Gentlemen thank you for joining us tonight. It is almost that time of the year again, the day of Savior Nora, on the anniversary of her birth we honor her sacrifice and learn from her life. She lived to serve, to help and every year we take this time to remember how she touched each and every one of our lives in the short time she was on this earth." He said. "It is also a time to reaffirm our commitment to our cause. We have almost a dozen new members here with us tonight to ascend to our ranks. Please let's give them a warm welcome."
The room let out a round of applause.
"This is insane." I muttered to Aiden.
"At least they aren't about to ask us to make a blood pact." Aiden said as another man came out carrying a bejeweled dagger. "Spoke too soon."
"As you all know I have been touched by our saviors light, and now I pass that light onto you all." He said taking the dagger and slitting his wrist, bleeding into a chalice.
"Will our new brothers and sisters please step forward." He said nodding to Waldorf who started taking their biometrics and saving them in the external drive.
"I can get the drive just need a distraction." Aiden said just as someone shot the main guy in charge and Waldorf.
"Shit!" I said making a break for the drive.
"ah ah ah." A very familiar voice said.
"Wade?" I said surprised to see him.
"Wah!" He screamed. "Sorry just that's a really bad color on you."
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Aiden said as the security guards finally showed up.
"Crap. We need to move." I said.
"I'll take that thank you." Wade said and Aiden pulled it away.
"Not happening." He retorted.
"Actually it is." he said grabbing his sword and swinging at me. Aiden shifted quickly and blocked it from hitting me but that was the opening he needed to swipe the drive and run towards the window. The guards shot at him but ended up breaking the window giving him the chance to jump out and glide out of there on a parachute.
"What the hell?" I said.
"Nora time to go." Aiden said shooting at the guards before we ran out of there. "We need to find that bloody idiot."
"He went North." I said as we jumped into the car.
Hours Later…
"You guys get it?" Connor asked when we called.
"Change of plans we need you to help us track down Wade Wilson." I said.
"Deadpool? Why?" He asked.
"He took the drive. Someone must've hired him to steal it and we need to intercept him before he gets it to the buyer." Aiden said. "he couldn't have gotten far."
"He's on a flight to Singapore." Connor answered showing us a live feed from the airport. "The suit's a giveaway."
"We need to move fast." I said. "Thanks Connor."
On the Jet…
"Hello?" Wren answered as he walked into his office at the hospital.
"Hey sweetie." I said.
"Hey mom, how's Hong Kong?" He asked.
"Hit a small snag but we're working on it." I answered. "Today's the big day."
"Yeah, Patient's being prepped for surgery." Wren said.
"Just wanted to call and wish you luck even though you don't need it because you've got this." I said.
"Thanks mom." Wren said.
"I should be back in a few days, come over for dinner? Tell me all about it?" I asked.
"I'll be there." He said.
"Love you kid." I said.
"Love you mom." He said before hanging up. I smiled and put the phone away before taking a seat.
By the time we got a lead on the buyer he was dead. We found the warehouse and he and his guards were all dead by the time we got there.
"Looks like the deal didn't work out." Aiden said.
"And no sign of the drive." I said checking the desk. "Multiple gunshots and a decapitation. Two blade judging by the angle."
"That'd be Wade." Aiden said.
"He killed the guys that hired him?" I said.
"Wouldn't be the first time." Aiden said before sighing in frustration. "Let's go home. There's nothing left to do here. He's bound to show up in New York at some point."
And boy did he…
New York- Avenger's Compound
Since everyone knew the significance of November eighth and knew how important it was Nora never find out she died everyone decided to pitch in and throw a huge party. The old team flew in from around the world.
"Flowers are supposed to cascade down and around the wall of flowers." Elle said.
"Okay I've picked up all of mom's favorites. Desserts from around the world. Fried chicken and ribs from Dallas, donuts from Randy's…" Wren said.
"The best ale in Asgard," Thor said bringing in a barrel full of beer. "Nothing but the best."
"Thanks Thor, you sure we're not taking you away from anything important?" Steve said.
"Nothing is more important than this." Thor said.
"How far out are they?" Natasha asked Steve.
"Should be here any minute." He said anxiously.
"Uh Oh." She said.
"What?" Steve said.
"Something happened." Natasha said. "What did you do?"
"Nothing why would you…" Steve started and Natasha just gave him a look. "I'll tell you later."
"Mhmm that is good chicken." Wade said taking a bite of his chicken wing. "What's the name of the place?"
"Wilson!" Bucky said annoyed.
"Wow, dementia finally kicked in huh?" Wade said. "Talking to volleyballs now or is that your nickname for Cap's…"
"Where's the drive?!" Steve said cutting him off.
"Calm down." Wade said. "Needed a gift for the birthday girl and to apologize for spilling the beans. Vanessa said I had to apologize for being such a douche."
"What did you do to Nora?" Bucky said grabbing him by the neck.
"Wow, I just ironed this suit…" he said.
"What did you do to Nora?!" Steve said.
"I just told her about space Barney snapping her neck like a wish bone and I apparently should've had more tact and been more sensitive…" he said.
"You told Nora?!" Steve said.
"Nora knows?!" Bucky seconded.
"I know what?" Nora said walking in and then she saw Wade. "Shit."
"I'll let myself out." Wade said running to the exit passing by Nora and handed her the drive that had dried blood on it. "Happy You Day."
"Sorry about…" He started.
"Shut up and get out before I rip your head off." Aiden snarled.
"Kay." He said running out of there.
"So, I think we need to talk." Nora said looking at a room full of people who were completely frozen in shock processing what they had just heard.