Hey guys sorry for the delay. Here's the next chapter. It's a bit of a filler but its more of a set up for the next chapter that'll set up the beginning of Iron Man 2 and Thor. Here's a bit of character building. Also remember the necklace it'll be important in later chapters.
After my little get together with Agent Coulson everything went back to normal. Well as normal as things can get when your father fights crime in a suit of armor. I did continue to help dad out with his missions and things were going very well. We designed new suits with some amazing new features. I made some alterations to Jarvis' security protocols to make sure no one besides dad could use them. I trusted my dad but I knew he had a bit of an ego. Okay a huge ego. In the event that he was to go out of control with power and start getting reckless I made it possible for Rhodey to access the Mark II. I'm not always around and figured if anyone could smack some sense into dad it'd be him.
In my personal life not much had changed. I was still single and better off that way. Dad still didn't know about my soul marks. No one did and I decided it was better to keep it that way. I visited Peggy and Dugan a few times. They both said I should give dating a chance but for some reason it didn't feel right.
Sam and Jess got married a couple of months ago. I flew out to Dublin to fulfill my maid of honor duties. Jess tried to set me up on a few dates while I was there but they never turned out well. One guy was boring. The second guy could not stop talking about himself. By the third guy I told Jess to stop. I get that she wanted me to have a date so that I didn't feel bad when the best man showed up with his soul mate. In case you didn't already guess the best man was Dean. Jess didn't want to make things uncomfortable but I told her not to worry. I didn't have any hard feeling toward him. Life happens. By the time of the reception, Dean and I were acting like best friends again.
During my summer off from school, I put my Ph. D to some use. Doctor Selvig always had some sort of research going on so I would help out. It's always good to have someone to bounce ideas off of. I published a few papers.
Things were going good. I should've known it wouldn't last.
Nora's POV- November 7th, 2010
Dad may not always be around but there are two days a year he never misses. One is Christmas and the other is my birthday. Luckily this year my birthday falls on a long weekend so that gives us more time for whatever dad has planned. I never knew what he had planned but I did know that this year he was planning something big since it was my eighteenth birthday.
I got out of class early on Thursday so I went to the apartment, got my bags and headed to the airport. I arrived at the ranch around 8pm. I checked my phone and saw a message from dad:
Hey kid, just wanted to know if you're home. Some stuff came up so I'm going to be in a bit late. Call me when you can.
I go down to the lab and just breathe it in. There is truly no place like home.
"Friday, lights please." After dad's showdown with Stane he realized how easily Jarvis could be taken out. So he decided it was time I got my own AI. She's just as snarky as Jarvis if not more. Dad also decided to give her an Irish accent in tribute to my time in Dublin.
"Video Call Dad on the big screen please."
"Right away boss."
He picks up almost immediately. "Hey, did you just get in?"
"Got here a couple of minutes ago. What's up?"
"Nothing just checking up on you. Are you ready for tomorrow?" He says with a smile.
"I would be if I knew what to get ready for."
"Where would be the fun in that?" He says while using a screwdriver to mess with something that looked like a robotic claw. "What are you doing tonight?"
"Nothing much, might do a bit of studying or watch a movie."
"You know you can go out and do something not just stay in the house." He says.
"Says the man who locks himself in his workshop for days at a time." I retort.
"Nora I'm serious. You spend way too much time alone. Don't you get, I don't know, lonely?"
"I'm to busy to be lonely. Besides its hard to find people my age with common interests." I argue.
"Excuses." He says.
"They're not excuses if they're valid reasons."
"If you say so."
Just then I hear someone behind dad calling for him, "Got to go kid. I'll see you tomorrow bright and early."
"Night Dad." And the call ends.
I'm not lonely. Okay I spend a lot of time alone but I'm not lonely and if I was, not saying I am, I could just adopt a dog. Wait. Why does everyone keep bringing this up?
I go up to my room and change into my pajamas. I head downstairs to the study and decide to look for a good book. In my search, I found an old leather bound journal. I opened the journal and an envelope fell out. I pick up the envelope and written on it in cursive it said:
To Nora on your 18th Birthday
That's weird. It's a day early but I figured it does have my name on it. I open the letter and read it.
My Dearest Nora,
Let me start off by saying Happy 18th Birthday. And if it's still not your birthday, Put it back young lady!
I assume if you are reading this letter then for one reason or another I am no longer with you. If that is the case, I am so sorry sweetheart. I know there is not much I can say to easy the pain caused the loss of a loved one but I can tell you it will get better.
Nora when your father called me all those years ago to ask me to look after you I did not have to think about it. The first time I held you in my arms and looked into your beautiful green eyes I knew that I was meant to look after you. After Edwin, my soul mate, passed away I felt empty. From the look in your eyes after Peggy told you about Steve and James I knew that is exactly how you felt as well. The pain of his loss never did fully go away, not until you were brought to me. You gave me strength and a purpose. And for that I will always be grateful.
I have seen you grow up to be a strong and kind young woman. You have a big heart Nora, you just have a hard time letting people in. It reminds me of someone we both know. Your father and I did everything to keep you safe and in the process we isolated you from the world. But as I told you before Life is for the living and its time to start living. You are an adult now and it is time for you to make your own choices. Don't limit yourself to what is expected of you or what others want from you. Your future has not been written yet. No one's has. Your future is what you make of it so make it a good one. This may not make sense now but it will soon.
Always,
Anna
I finished reading the letter and that was when I realize that I was crying. I miss Nana so much. She always knew what to say to me. I put the letter back in the journal and placed it back where I found it. I realized how late it was and decided to go to sleep. I figured with whatever dad had planned I was going to need my energy.
The Next Morning-
I got up and the first thing I saw was my phone light blinking alerting me that I had a message. I had five new messages. The first three were from Jess, Sam, and Dean wishing me a happy birthday. The next message was from Rhodey:
Hey Nora, Happy Birthday. Sorry I couldn't make it this year but I promise I'll be there for Christmas. Anyway have fun kid, but not too much fun. Remember you will be tried as an adult now.
That message made me chuckle. The last one is from dad:
In the lab come down when you're up.
I look at the time on the alarm clock on my nightstand. It's 9am. I pull on my slippers and head downstairs. The first thing I see when I walk into the lab is dad watching a video on the big screen. I was of grandpa Howard giving some speech about innovation. Behind him was a young boy who I assume was dad. Playing on his desk. Gramps' stops speaking to scold the younger version of dad. That's when dad notices I'm behind him and he turns off the video.
"Hey sleeping beauty, you're up early. Happy Birthday." He comes up and hugs me.
"Thanks. What were you watching?" I ask him.
"Just some old home videos I found"
"Gramps would walk around the house talking about innovation?" I ask trying to get dad to cheer up. Talking about his parents always made him sad even if he didn't show it.
He chuckles. "No he wouldn't go around giving his innovation speech. The scolding though, that's another different story."
I could tell he didn't want to keep talking about it so I decided to change the mood. "So you hungry because I am craving waffles."
"Sounds good but instead of you going up stairs and burying yourself in dirty dishes how about we go out to eat."
"Sure sounds good. I'll go up and start getting ready."
"Okay, Oh and Nora, wear something blue and comfortable."
"Okay?" I said and then headed upstairs.
I headed upstairs and got dressed. I picked out a blue scoop neck top with some black skinny jeans and some boots. I put my hair up in a ponytail. When I finished getting ready I went back downstairs. Dad was in the kitchen getting what I assume was not his first cup of coffee. When he saw me he smiled.
"Your outfit is perfect plus it matches." He says
"Of course it matches, black goes with everything." I retort.
"What I meant was it matches with this." He pulls out a box with a red bow on it and hands it too me.
"Dad you didn't'-" He interrupts me.
"Yes I did. You don't turn eighteen everyday. Now stop fussing and open it."
I did what he told me and opened the box. Inside was a silver necklace with a round pendant. The pendant has a round sapphire stone in the center and diamonds surrounded it. That's when I realized what it was shaped like, the Arc Reactor.
"Dad it's beautiful. I love it." I look down at it and then I realize "Wait are those-"
"Real? Kid look who you're talking too. Of course they're real. And yes I know I went over our birthday gift price limit but it's your eighteenth birthday so-"
I interrupted him with a hug. "I love it, Thank you" He returns the hug then tells me to turn around so he can help me put it on.
"So you ready to go?" he asks
"Yeah lets go." I say.
We head to the car and I see one of dad's sports cars and I ask, "Can I drive?" He never lets me drive.
He looks at the keys then the car and lastly at me. He debates it for a minute before he says "Sure why not."
He tosses me the keys and I get in the driver's seat. I put the keys in the ignition and start the car. I drive out of the driveway and onto the private road. Dad pulls up the address of the restaurant and Jarvis navigates.
After a full course meal with all of my favorites including, French toast with strawberries, chocolate chip waffles, scrambled eggs and bacon. Oh and lets not forget coffee. Dad paid the restaurant owner and thanked him again for opening later so no one would see us.
We headed out. Dad decided to drive considering I was practically in a food coma. He drove us out of the city and into some farms outside of Dallas. We pulled up at a small farm.
"A farm? We drove all the way here for a farm? You do know you own a ranch right. We don't grow crops or raise horses but it is still technically kind of similar." I say.
"Come on kid its part of your surprise."
We go into a farmhouse and that's when I see the sign saying we're at an animal rescue.
"Are we doing what I think we're doing?"
"I never thought I'd say this but yeah I'm getting you a dog."
I let out a cry of happiness and hugged my dad, "Thank you, Thank you, Thank you."
"Nothing to be thankful for kid they are you responsibility, that includes all the clean up."
Dad talks to the receptionist and she walks us to the back yard or should I say field. Outside there are volunteers with dogs and puppies of different breeds. She walks up to the area with all the puppies. I look at them all and they are all adorable. There are some corgie husky mixes that just make my heart melt. I decided not to get a puppy since I won't have a lot of time to spend with them. I look around and I hear a really loud howl coming from the barn.
I ask our guide, "What's in the barn?"
"Oh, those are some of our more recent rescues. They are still in cages since we need to make sure they are okay or in the case of those rescued from dog fighting rings that they can be put up for adoption and not attack anyone."
"Can I go look inside?" I ask.
"Of course."
I walk into the barn and see rows of cages. Most of the dogs seem scared. I few bark when I pass by. Then at the end of the row I find the own that was howling. It was a husky. It seemed almost fully-grown. It had brown fur with a white stomach and face. Its eyes were pale green. As soon as I got near the cage it stopped howling. It just looked at me.
One of the volunteers came up to me and said, "That's the first time since he was rescued that he stopped howling."
"Can I see him?"
"I'm not sure that's a good idea, he's pretty vicious. We actually had to sedate him to bring him here. All the volunteers have been calling him Demon."
"He seems pretty sweet to me." I go near the cage and place my hand on the cage door. The dog comes up and starts to lick my hand.
"Wow he really likes you." The volunteer says surprised "here lets see what he does out of the cage." He goes up and unlocks the door.
The dog runs out and tackles me to the floor and starts licking me.
I can't stop laughing, "Stop, stop stop, I can't breathe." The dog almost immediately pulls away. I sit up and he starts nuzzling against my arm.
I scratch his head and say, "You are such a cutie, I don't know why people think you're scary."
At that point dad and the volunteer from earlier meet up with us and when dad sees me on the floor he asks "What happened to you, You look like you got mauled by a bear."
"More like a husky actually."
The receptionist from earlier comes over and immediately asks me if I'm okay and if the dog bit me. I assure them all that I'm fine.
The dog from earlier is just sitting down beside me just looking at everyone.
"I want to adopt him."
"Really, are you sure you don't want a puppy or one of the other ones? We can show you-" The receptionist starts.
"That won't be necessary. He'll make good company." I say while kneeling down and petting him.
"Okay then please follow me and we'll get started on the paperwork."
So as we are filling out paperwork I realize something I can't call him Demon. That's a horrible name.
"Uh, excuse me one thing can we change his name?"
"Oh of course, everyone's been calling him demon because of his behavior but we can change that on the paperwork. Have you decided on one?" She responds politely.
"Not sure yet I have a few I'm considering. How about Max?" the dog whines.
"Okay How about Arrow?" Another whine and he covers his eyes with his paws.
"Not that one either huh? Okay this ones a good one, How do you feel about Axl?" At that name he lifts his head up and barks while wagging his tail.
"I think you found a winner." Says dad.
"Okay then Axl it is. Just need you to sign these and you can take him home." We signed the papers and then left the shelter.
"If your dog pees in my car you're cleaning it up." Dad states before getting in.
"He won't, he's a good boy, aren't you Axl." He responds by barking and then getting in. We stopped by the pet store and pick up some supplies. Axl barked at any guy that came near me. After dad saw that he warmed up to him. I even saw him sneak Axl a hamburger patty.
I thought all the surprises were done for the day but when we got back to the ranch there was someone waiting for us. Rhodey was in the kitchen drinking coffee when all we saw was Axl tacking him to the ground.
"Oh shit, Axl down, don't eat Rhodey it'll hurt your stomach." I say.
"Hey what about me, your godfather?"
"You're a big guy you can handle it." I retort.
After Axl finally let him go Rhodey hugs me and spins me around.
"I thought you couldn't make it"
"You really thought I'd miss this? No way I put in my vacation time months ago just to make sure I would make it."
"Well I'm glad you're here Rhodey." I say and then turn to dad " So what's next?"
"How's your Spanish?" He asks.
"Perfect Why?"
"Cuz we're going to Cancun."