October 2013-
After our night of drunken Karaoke things went back to normal, well as normal as they could get for a time traveler and a teleporter. Wren kept his promise and resumed training me but this time it was more intensive. I don't know what was going on with him but he was even more on guard than when we were in Afghanistan.
Outside of training Wren was still living with Kate but that didn't mean he didn't stop by the house more often than I thought he would. Apparently Kate was really bad at cooking and lived off fruit, yogurt and take out. Wren had actually gained a few pounds and was enjoying an edible home cooked meal.
Lunch at the hospital went back to what it had been before. The two groups went back to being one but at least I now knew who was really my friend. Kate acted polite and friendly when Wren was around but when he wasn't she would just glare at me. Wren and I acted like we normally did. He'd make sure I ate without putting too much salt or we'd trade plates. If Wren and Kate were having problems Wren never told me about it.
Around Mid October I was called back to Asgard. Another group was trying to take over Niflheim again and since I was probably the only person ever to befriend a dragon they needed me.
I showed up and there was no sign of Nighug. It wasn't until we heard a loud roar and the ground shake that we saw him. He was chained and being held down by dwarves. Walt Disney did not get them right. These guys were vicious with sharp teeth. I was definitely getting a tetanus shot when I got back. We fought and held them back but we were out numbered and they were closing in on us fast.
"Thor! Free Nighug and get away from here." I said.
"We're not leaving you." He said.
"You won't, just do it." I said pushing a dwarf away.
"You heard her." Thor said. All the remaining warriors broke the chains holding Nighug down.
Nighug roared.
"Nighug go, now." I said. He looked like he hesitated but did so anyway.
"Aya can I do it?" I asked.
'It's not a good idea.' She said.
"I don't really have much of a choice. It's us or them and I've made my choice." I said.
'Do it' She said.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I projected all the energy I could into a field around me. I could feel it try to push back into me but I kept it out. My ears were ringing and I was starting to feel light headed.
'Nora let it go, they're close enough' Aya said.
"AH!" I shouted pushing it out as much as I could. I couldn't see anything. All I saw was a bright green light. I heard shouts and grunts followed by silence. When it finally faded all I could see was a giant crater and I was right at the center.
I was panting and felt really lightheaded. My ears were still ringing when I fell to my knees.
Just before I hit the ground something caught me. I hear a roar followed by footsteps before everything went black.
I opened my eyes and I was in some sort of bank vault. A man wearing a grey suit was talking to a man dressed in a black tactical suit. He was wearing a mask and goggles.
"One target level ten. I want confirmed death in sixteen hours." The man in the grey suit said. "Is that understood."
"Da" Yes, He said in Russian.
Then everything faded away into darkness. I couldn't breath. I felt like something was holding me down. I pushed it off and sat up gasping for air.
I looked around and I wasn't in the vault anymore.
"Nora, calm down." I heard Frigga say.
"W-Where am I?" I asked.
"In the palace infirmary." She said.
"Is everyone Okay?" I asked.
"Everyone is safe because of you." She said.
"It was nothing." I said.
"It was an energy wave that destroyed and entire army of elves." Heimdall said walking in.
"Hey buddy," I greeted,
"Hello as well old friend." Heimdall said. "I'm glad to see you are doing well."
"Yeah, thanks. That energy blast knocked me out. I don't think I'm going to be doing that again anytime soon." I said.
"That would be a good idea." Frigga said. "How are you feeling?"
"I feel fine. Well rested, a bit hungry." I said.
"That is good, It's almost time for the feast." Frigga said.
"Feast?"
"To celebrate everyone's safe return." Frigga said. "I have picked out a dress for the occasion." It was beige with gold accents.
"Wow that's a big dress." I said.
"Is it not to your liking?" Frigga asked.
"No I love it. Thank you." I said.
"It was my pleasure. I never had daughter to help pick out dresses for feast. It was a good experience." Frigga said smiling. "I didn't know which colors you favored. It is customary on Asgard to wear the colors of your family but it might spark Thor's memories. It is also customary to wear the colors of your betrothed but I see you are no longer wearing a ring and I didn't want to bring up any bad memories."
"The dress is perfect. Simple and elegant." I said with a smile.
"Come now we mustn't keep them waiting." She said.
The feast was a blast. I didn't drink too much this time I was trying to abstain until my birthday. It was kind of hard considering people kept toasting to me but I snuck all my drinks to Volstagg who was more than happy to take shots for me.
At the end of the feast I got dressed in the clothes I arrived in Asgard with and did some reading in the library. Later I met Heimdall at the stables and rode back to the Aesir.
I said my goodbyes and went back home. I walked into the kitchen and saw a note on the counter.
Gnocci from Rome and Gelato in the Freezer- Wren
I smiled. It had been a few hours since the feast ended and I was hungry. I grabbed my phone and texted Wren:
Thanks for dinner (
He replied right away:
Anytime. Just got off of work?
I texted back:
Went to visit Nighug the Dragon and fought dwarves. Not as cute as the ones from Snow White. Side note remind me to get a tetanus shot tomorrow.
He texted back:
Don't worry, I made sure they gave you one when you got your flu shot.
I had to laugh:
Thanks
He replied.
Anytime, I'll see you tomorrow, night.
Third Person's POV-
Steve and Sharon had been dating for six months. Sharon had decided to surprise Steve by taking him out to an old drive in. Steve enjoyed the movie but it was pretty obvious Sharon wanted to do something other than just watch a movie.
They had taken it slow. They had dates here and there. Steve took her out to eat and to the movies but she never seemed truly happy. She wanted more. In the six months since they had dated they hadn't done more than kiss. After Natasha found out she had teased him to no end.
It had been six months and he finally felt ready to take the next step. They got home and Steve took the initiative. He kissed her like he'd never kissed her before but the only thing he could think of was Nora and Bucky. He kissed down her neck and slowly slipped his hands under her shirt.
"Steve." She moaned. She wrapped her legs around his waist and Steve carried her to her bed.
They were getting to it and Steve was doing what he normally did but it didn't feel right. He kept imagining it was Nora underneath him.
He was getting close and right as Sharon came Steve came with a shout and said, "Nora!"
When they were done and lying in bed Sharon wouldn't look at him.
"Who's Nora?" She asked.
Steve was shocked to here her ask and didn't know how to answer.
November 8th, 2013- Nora's Twenty First Birthday
I woke up to a text message from dad apologizing for not being here today. I had no idea what he was talking about but I told him not to worry since I had to work today anyways.
I got dressed and drove to work. It was a pretty normal day. I got to work and a factory explosion had the ER flooded. I was treating burns and bone fractures for hours after that settled down I got called up to cardiology to do an angioplasty that turned out to be more complicated and I had to go in and operate. Then the patient coded and died on the table.
Lunch starts and I had to deal with Kate's looks and her all but pissing on Wren to mark him as hers. I ate my salad and went back to the ER to check if they needed any help. It was pretty slow and I got sent back upstairs to repair a hole in a baby's heart. I was in surgery until 8:30pm. I got out and went to notify the parents that their baby was doing fine. Then I went up to the nurses' station and got started updating the charts and post op notes.
"Hey" Wren said as he popped in behind me.
"Oh shit, you scared the crap out of me." I said.
"What are you still doing in scrubs?" Wren asked.
"I just got out of surgery. I'm updating the charts." I said.
"Just have one of the residents do it that's how they learn." Wren said.
"But I like doing them." I said.
"Nora you set a record for how many hours in the OR a fellow had done half way through their year. Take a break. Come on." HE said leading me out.
"Where are we going?" I said.
"You're going to get dressed. I'll meet you in the lobby."
I'm lucky I went casual today. I slipped into my black skinny jeans and a navy lace long sleeved peplum top. I put on my necklaces and my heels before grabbing my jacket and going over to meet Wren.
I saw him talking to Kate. She looked a bit upset but either way when she saw me coming she pulled Wren in for a kiss and smiled.
"Hey Nora." She greeted with a fake smile.
"Hi Kate, you coming too?" I asked.
"No I can't lives to save... you know how that is. Hope you two have fun." She said before walking upstairs.
"Everything Okay?" I asked.
"Yeah, why wouldn't it be?" Wren said.
"No reason let's go." I said.
"Sure give me your keys I'm driving." Wren said.
"You drive?" I said. In the year and a half I had known Wren I had never seen him drive.
"Just because I don't normally drive doesn't mean I can't Nora." Wren scoffed.
"Fine here are my keys but please don't crash my car." I said.
"Don't worry it'll be fine." He said opening my door for me before getting in the drivers seat.
We drove for a few minutes before I dozed off. Next thing I know Wren is shaking my shoulder waking me up.
"Mhm What?" I said startled.
"We're here." Wren said getting out of the car. I opened the door and walked out. "Cheer up, you love this place. They sell the potatoes with the skins still on that you like so much."
"Sorry just had a long day." I said.
"Well it's about to get a lot longer." Wren said opening the door. We walked in and the hostess seated us in the back booth. When we got there I was surprised to see Jess and Sam there.
"Happy Birthday!" They said at the same time pulling me into a hug. When they let me got Jess put on a head band on my head that '21 bitches'.
"It's my birthday?" I said confused.
"You didn't know?" Jess said surprised.
"This actually explains my Dad's text this morning." I said.
"Well take out your ID and go order us drinks." Jess said.
"Okay lets go try that bad boy out." I said.
I ordered us the traditional Irish Carbombs to start off with before we ordered dinner.
"So I want to propose a toast, To Nora, twenty one years and you've already accomplished more than people do in fifty years. I look forward to seeing what adventures we get into next." Jess said.
"Looking forward to it sis." I said.
We drank and laughed and talked about pretty much everything. We even managed to get Wren drunk again. Apparently he went behind my back to the chief of surgery to ask for tomorrow off for both of us. Doctor Matthews was more than understanding and actually insisted on me taking the weekend off something about me being too young to be working so many hours. It also helped that I exceeded my work hours last week.
We drank and then we called it an early night since everyone else had work the next day.
I was a bit buzzed and Wren hadn't had more than a sip. So we got in the car and he teleported us and the car to the ranch.
"Thanks for the ride." I said.
"Night's not over yet." Wren said.
"Okay what's left."
"This unbelievably expensive bottle of wine." Wren said pulling it out of the back seat.
"Don't you have to go home?"
"We both got the weekend off remember?"
"How did you manage to swing that?" I asked.
"Matthews assigned me to keeping you out of the hospital until Monday."
"Oh come on I wasn't that bad."
"You worked nearly a hundred hours last week. You aren't sleeping more than four hours a night. You're at risk for a law suit or even losing your license Nora."
"This is my intervention isn't it?" I said.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't concerned." Wren said popping open the wine bottle.
"Well stop worrying, I'm fine." I said.
"That's what you say. Are you having trouble sleeping?" Wren asked.
"No I just don't get tired." I said.
"You fell asleep in the car." Wren said.
"And that was all the sleep I need. I'm wired right now." I said.
"How long has this been going on?"
"Not sure a few weeks." I said taking a glass.
"Huh, any black outs or time unaccounted for?"
"Are you diagnosing me?" I asked.
"Maybe, I have an idea but you have to hear me out."
"Okay…" I said skeptically.
"I think you're either really stressed out or it's a side effect from the giant energy blast you released last time you were called to Asgard. I want to test it out but it's risky."
"Risky in what way?" I asked
"It's kind of illegal unless you have a license or you're in Amsterdam." Wren said.
"Weed?" I said.
"You've read the studies and it would only be a one time thing." Wren said.
"I'm not going to smoke that stuff stinks." I said.
"How about an edible?"
"Wren…"
"Nora most people your age have tried it at least once, it's part of the college experience. I need you to relax because if you keep this up you're going to get suspended and then who's going to keep me from going off on the interns or getting of on people's bad side." Wren said.
"If I were to do this, I wouldn't want to do it on my own." I said.
"Well you're only supposed to have half of this so..." Wren said pulling out a brownie.
"You already bought it? Where did you even get it?" I asked.
"Amsterdam." Wren said. "Stopped by this morning"
"Nice, so we just eat half and wait?"
"That's the idea, Take of you're shoes and get comfortable." Wren said. He split the brownie in half and handed me one before eating the other. We sat down and waited.
"How did you know I was going to say yes?" I asked.
"Why do you think we took you out for drinks?" He said.
"Jess and Sam were in on this?"
"Yeah we all agreed you needed to relax. Jess' idea was that you needed to get laid. I figured you'd prefer this idea." Wren said.
"The laid thing would have been great but I can't exactly call Steve and ask for a booty call now can I." I said taking a sip of the wine.
"You could always hook up with someone." Wren suggested.
"I don't think that's going to work for me. I can't really enjoy sex unless I have a connection with that other person so a one night stand's not an option." I said sadly.
I started laughing.
"What's so funny?" He said laughing a bit.
"I just realized Steve thinks I'm dead." I said chuckling.
"You just noticed?" He said laughing.
"Aya said that hallucination I had, the one where I showed up in that apartment where he was before l left to Afghanistan was actually real. He's not looking for me and chances are that any day now the tabloids are going to be filled with pictures of him and some random girl. I'm going to end up alone with like twenty dogs in this big ass house." I said.
"No you're not," Wren said. "Nora you have so many people that care about you. You'll have godkids all over the place and you have me. You're not going to end up alone."
"Wren I can't put that on you." I said.
"You're not, I'm willingly enlisting to save you from becoming the crazy cat lady from the Simpsons." He said.
"Can you imagine that? The crazy hair, the throwing cats everywhere." I said laughing.
"I've seen you in the mornings and it's not that big of a leap." He said laughing. "I'll make you a deal,"
"A deal?"
"More like a pact, If by the time you're forty you're still single and I'm still single I'll marry you or be you're sperm donor, whatever you're biological clock makes you want in nineteen years." He said.
"Seriously?"
"My current relationship with Kate is the longest relationship I've ever been in." Wren said.
"You're joking." I said.
"Nope, It's always been meet a girl go home with her and leave before she wakes up." Wren said.
"And how do you feel now that you're in a relationship?"
"It's a lot of work. Has its ups and downs but I like that it's going somewhere."
"When are you going to tell her?" I asked.
"Tell her what?" Wren said.
"That you can teleport." I said.
"I'm building up to it." Wren said.
"Really?"
"Okay I kind of forgot about it. Not sure how to bring it up." He said.
"Just wait for the right moment. You're good at that."
"I thought time was your forte." He said laughing a bit.
"That would imply I actually have some control over it which we both know I don't." I said.
"How you feeling?"
"Lighter? A bit sleepy. Let's watch TV." I said turning on the television. The first thing I saw which ended up being South Park.
The next morning-
"Nora wake up." I felt someone shaking my shoulder.
"Mhm, no." I said nuzzling into my pillow, which was actually a lot firmer than I remembered. I felt someone wrap their arms around me and I realized I wasn't nuzzling a pillow, I was curled into Wren's side.
"Morning." I saw Dad sitting on the love seat.
"Oh shit." I said jumping up a bit.
"Mhm no, too cold." Wren complained.
"Wren you need to wake up." I said.
"Day off go back to sleep." He muttered.
"My dad's on the other couch looking like he's about to put on his suit and blast you out of here." I said that woke him up.
"Um, morning. Oh shit its morning. I have to go." He said standing up. And grabbing his phone before teleporting out.
"What the hell?" Dad said standing up shocked.
"Oh right,"
"How did he…" dad said.
"Wren can teleport." I said.
"Teleport as in.."
"As in one minute he's here next he's half way across the world." I said.
"And this has been going on how long?" dad asked.
"I don't know, since before I met him."
"I thought we weren't keeping secrets from each other?" dad said raising his voice.
"It wasn't my secret to tell Dad." I said.
He just sighed and shook his head. He put a hand on my head and took off the head band. "I'm guessing you went out last night?"
"I did. It was my birthday slash intervention."
"That ended with you falling asleep in your ex housemate's arms. I thought you two weren't talking?"
"We worked things out." I said.
"Go get dressed and pack a bag for a few days," dad said.
"Where we going?" I said.
"We're going to celebrate you're birthday. If anyone asks I'm trying to talk you into accepting a job at Stark Industries." He said.
"Okay, why would anyone ask?" I said.
"I'll explain on the way."
I went upstairs and put on a white babydoll top with dark denim jeans. And a pair of tan flats. I grabbed a tan hooded coat for later and decided to pack clothes for the weekend.
I went downstairs and Dad was in the kitchen drinking a cup of coffee.
"I'm ready." I said. "Are you going to tell me where we're going?"
"Not until we get there." He said.
"Okay." I said. "Can we stop by and get breakfast?"
"We'll eat on the plane. I got the whole weekend planned out." Dad said.
"You planned a weekend?"
"Yeah, got to make the most out of the time we do have." Dad said.
"I trust you but I'm just going to remind you I have work at 9am Monday."
"You'll be back by then." Dad said rolling his eyes.
We walked to the car, a BMW M3. I had only seen this one in pictures of the Frankfurt Auto show.
"BMW, that's a nice change. I like it." I said.
"It was the only sports car they had at the rental place." Dad said annoyed.
"You could have just gotten normal sedan." I countered.
"Ew.." Dad said making me laugh. On out way to the air field Jess called.
"Hello." I answered.
"Hey Nora."
"Hey Jess what's up?"
"I kinda need a favor." She said.
"What's going on?"
"I was wondering if you could watch Connor for a few hours, I have to go out for work and Sam had a paper due and an exam on Monday." She said.
"Crap I can't, my Dad's kidnapping me for the weekend." I said, "But call Wren he has the entire weekend off too." I said.
"Oh shit that's right I'll call him right now. Thanks Nora and have fun with your phantom father." She said.
'Thanks and I will." I said before hanging up.
"Spinster Babysits?" dad asked.
'Yeah he does sometimes. He spoils Connor." I said.
"Uhuh" dad said.
"What?" I said knowing he was holding back.
"No nothing just wasn't expecting that." He said.
"Right." I said.
We got on the plane and the stewardess brought us out a full course breakfast Dad had someone pick up.
"What's going on with you and Wren? Last time we talked you two weren't speaking." Dad said.
"We worked things out. Simple as that." I said.
"I can see that. How long have you two been together?" Dad said.
"We're not together. We just fell asleep after we ate that pot brownie." I said casually until I realized what I had just said. "Shit."
"You did what!?" dad said.
"Oh shit" I said.
"How'd that happen?" dad asked.
"It was kind of my intervention." I said.
"Intervention?"
"You remember when I told you that its law that surgeons can only work up to eighty hours a week? Well I've kind of been overdoing it and people were concerned. It probably didn't help that I've only been sleeping four hours a night." I said.
"When you say overdoing it…" Dad said.
"Almost a hundred hours last week." I said.
"Whoa…" Dad said.
"Yeah."
"What's going on?"
"No idea I just don't get tired. I do my job and I'm good at it. That's all. I only sleep four hours and that's all I need." I said.
"I know what that's like but how does that lead to you eating a pot brownie?"
"Wren thought that maybe my insomnia was caused by stress or anxiety and that maybe it would help alleviate the symptoms. I said I wouldn't do it unless he did so he pulled out a brownie he got from Amsterdam and we split it. Watched a bit of TV talked about stuff and we knocked out. That's all."
"Are you sure?" dad said.
"Dad there is nothing going on between Wren and I. We're just friends. Anything we feel towards each other is strictly platonic and will never be more than that." I said.
"That's not what I saw." He said.
"We were crossfaded... it meant nothing." I said.
"If you say so…" He said in a sing song voice.
"Dad…" I said in a warning voice.
"Would it be the worst thing if…"
"He has a girlfriend." I said shutting him up.
"He does?"
"Yeah I told you this last time, Neurosurgeon from the hospital." I answered.
"Right… Karla."
"Kate." I corrected.
"Nevermind then." Dad said switching topics.
The rest of the flight was pretty quiet dad was on his phone while I was also on my phone checking emails and reading some ebooks I had downloaded. I finished two books by the time we had to land.
We were greeted at the airport by Happy.
"Boss, Doctor Martell, good to see you again."
"Good to see you to Happy how you been?" I asked.
"Pretty awesome. I have a girlfriend I'm in Vegas…" Happy said
"We're in Vegas?!" I said turning to look at Dad.
"Surprise." Dad said with a smile. "Come on we have lunch reservations."
To say we were under dressed was an understatement but since dad was pretty well known around here no one bothered to say anything. We went to some restaurant at one of the newer hotels on the Strip. I didn't order because apparently Dad called ahead so no one would come up and over hear us. For desert they brought over a flower planter with sparklers in it.
"I thought I asked for chocolate cake?" I asked confused.
"It is, it's just a very realistic cake. Happy birthday he said pulling out a gift. Out of his pocket. It was a small gift box.
"Aww," I said.
"Wait a sec," He pulled out the headband from before. "Need one to send to Rhodey." He snapped a picture of me smiling wearing the headband.
"Okay open it." He said.
I opened it and inside was a set of keys with a BMW logo key chain. "Dad…"
"Its for the car I picked you up in and yes it goes over the price limit but I don't care you either take the car or you leave it in the garage."
"I already have two cars." I said.
"And I have an even dozen at each property I own except the tower, I have fifteen there." Dad said. "Take the car." He said
We ate the cake and then walked around the strip. Saw some of the landmarks and even went zip lining. By dinnertime I was beat but we just had to go get dinner. I got dressed in a blue V-neck sequin dress with some nude heels.
"You know I'd be okay with just some pizza and a movie right?" I called out to dad who took longer than I did to get ready.
"It's a big birthday. You're finally twenty-one. We're going to party." Dad said.
"And how are we going to do that without anyone taking pictures of us?" I said.
"I may have tipped off the paparazzi that I was going to be in the Hamptons at an old friends bachelor party." Dad said walking out. "As for anyone who may take pictures, I have Jarvis on it."
"Nice." I said. Then my phone rang. It was Wren. I picked up and put it on speaker.
"Hello?" I said.
"AHHG!" I heard Connor cry.
"Connor?" I said.
"Nora could use a hand over here." Wren said.
"Well that's going to be hard considering I'm in Vegas."
"Where I'll come and get you." He said.
"No you won't." dad answered. "Her weekend off remember? My weekend"
"But he won't stop crying and he keeps asking for you and Jess." Wren complained.
"Give Connor the phone Wren." I said.
"I don't think…"
"Aunie Nora!" I heard Connor cry out.
"Hey Buddy what's going on?" I said.
"I miss you. Kat mean." He cried.
"It's okay sweetie, you have uncle Wren and your mommy will be there soon." I said.
"Doggie." He said sniffling.
"Axl's not home bud but how about after I get home you and I take him to the park so he can play?" I offered
"Ice ceem?" he said making it sound like a question.
"Yes sweetie we'll get ice cream." I said chuckling. "But you have to be good for you're uncle. I can read you a story." I said standing up and grabbing my black coat. I signaled to dad that we could go.
"Moon."
"Good night moon it is." I said. I had this story memorized already.
"In the great green room
There was a telephone
And a red balloon And a picture of- …."
"Goodnight stars
Goodnight air
Good night noises everywhere" I finished by the time we got to the lobby.
"He's out, Thanks Nora." Wren said.
"Anything for the little guy. I got to go." I said.
"Okay, have fun." Wren said
"Thanks I will." I said ending the night. "Sorry about that." I told dad.
"No, it's fine just remembering when it was me reading you stories over the phone." Dad said with a smile and I think tears in his eyes.
"Yeah, Used to fall asleep with phone in my hand." I said.
"You still do." Dad said laughing. "You're going to be a great Mom one day."
"Doubt that's ever going to happen." I said.
"That's what I used to say." Dad said laughing.
He got in the limo and drove us to the convention center.
"So don't freak out." Dad said handing me my own sunglasses even though it was after dark.
"Why would I freak out?"
"I got us back stage passes to the last concert ACDC and Bon Jovi are doing in the US."
"AH!" I shouted. "Sorry… I'm fan girling pretty hard right now."
"Yeah well get it out of your system now. It was a last minute thing and we're watching the concert from back stage so no one will see us. Press doesn't even know about this."
"I think I might cry." I said.
"Hence the glasses."
"This is the best birthday ever." I said.
"Just remember this later." He said.
"Why?"
"Oh nothing." He said with a smile.
"I'm a little afraid now." I said.
"ACDC and Bon Jovi." He said before opening the door.
"Okay." I said getting out. We got inside and enjoyed the show. We left early to avoid drawing attention to ourselves and went to catch a late dinner followed by drinks and by drinks I mean a giant Eiffel tower cup filled with a long Island iced tea. We stood out in front of the Bellagio fountain watching the water show. It was pretty empty since it was after three in the morning.
"I want to talk about something and it's probably not the best time and you can say no, no pressure." Dad said a bit nervous.
"Dad calm down, you need one of my kidneys or something." I said joking around but he just turned and looked at me very serious. "Oh crap do you actually need one?"
"I want to tell Pepper you're my daughter." Dad blurted out.
"Oh, Wow… Okay, kind of wish you needed a kidney now." I said shocked.
"So…"
"So…" I said before taking a sip of my drink. "Kinda see why you said I was going to need a big drink later."
"Nora."
"Tony." I said.
"I'm not saying we tell the world, Just Pepper." Dad said.
"Okay." I said.
"And I know this is a big step…"
"Dad."
"I've thought about it a lot…"
"Okay." I said.
"And it's time, She's it for me and I know you'll…"
"Dad!" I exclaimed shutting him up. "Okay."
"Okay as in…"
"You can tell her. You have my blessing." I said.
"Really?" He said giving me a giant smile.
"Really." I said nodding. "She makes you happy and with everything that's happened the past few years she's been at you're side unconditionally. It's time."
He pulled me into a hug and spun me around. People that walked by must've thought we were insane.
"Thank you you're the best daughter in the whole world." He said.
The next day-
We had brunch by the pool at Caesar's palace. Then we were off again. I mentioned I hadn't been to the beach in a while and Dad took that as his cue to fly us out to Los Angeles.
We sat at the private beach that was part of dad's house before it was destroyed.
"I haven't been here in a year." I said.
"You've been here before?" He said.
"Yeah, last year when I was still.. Away. I got time off for my birthday and I was moping in my room. Wren zaps in and pulls me out of bed and throws some clothes at me. He said he wasn't going to let me spend my birthday in bed. We took a convoy to the closest town then he zapped us to Paris for breakfast. We moved around and then I said I hadn't been to the beach in a year and he brought me here. You're house was right there."
"Spinster has a heart and style." Dad said. "You still sure you're just friends."
"Yes" I said with a glare.
"Okay, just saying you guys say you aren't but the way you act says otherwise." He said.
"Again as platonic as it gets." I said.
"Fine, I won't mention it again."
"thank you."
"We should go, I made lunch reservations." Dad said.
"I am getting hungry." I said as my stomach started growling.
The restaurant we were at was small and hidden away but the menu was that of a five star restaurant.
"I made us dinner reservations at the Getty. I booked the place so you could have a look around."
"Didn't know they did that." I said.
"They do on special occasions."
"Like today." He said. "Don't freak out."
"Why do you keep saying that?" I said.
"Because Pepper just got here."
"What!" I whispered harshly.
"Hey." Dad said standing up and kissing her cheek.
"Hi, I feel like I haven't seen you in forever." She said.
"Two weeks." Dad said.
Se turned and looked at me. "You must be Doctor Martell. Tony's told me so much about you."
"Hi, Miss Potts. It's a pleasure to meet you. I loved the speech you gave at Harvard's commencement in June." I said.
"Thank you, please sit down. Tony's told me he's trying to convince you to come work at Stark Industries." She said.
"He has, I have to say this has been someone's tried to wine and dine me into taking a job by interviewing me in three different cities in one weekend." I said giving dad a pointed look.
"He speaks very highly of you and after seeing your resume I can see why." She said. "And I should probably apologize for him. He can be a bit much but I can't stay too mad at him. He flew all the way out here to surprise me for our anniversary."
"Anniversary?" I said turning to give him a look. Dad looked like this was the first I'm hearing of it. "You never mentioned it this entire weekend. We could have postponed."
"Oh no, I'm only in town for the day. I have to catch a red eye to Tokyo tonight." She said. "Excuse me for a second I have to take this" she said standing up. And going towards the ladies room.
I kicked dad's leg under the table. "What the hell dude?!"
"I totally forgot our anniversary." Dad said freaking out.
"And?" I whispered harshly.
"You would have tried to get out of it if you knew she was going to be here." Dad said.
"Well you can't tell her now. It's your anniversary for fucks sake." I said.
"Shit what am I supposed to do?" He said panicking.
"Take her to the Getty instead of me. I'll leave early and you two spend the rest of lunch and the day together." I said.
"What about you?" He said.
"I'll go to Disneyland or something." I said.
"Nora."
"Dad its okay. The puppet's on it's a small world freak you out anyway." I said.
"Now I feel bad."
"It's fine."
"Take Happy with you. He'll know what to do." Dad said.
"Thanks oh and dad?" I said.
"Yeah."
"Don't tell her, Not the right time."
"I figured." He said just as Pepper came back.
"Sorry about that." She said.
"Oh don't worry, I should actually be the one apologizing. I have to go." I said.
"Oh but you haven't even ordered yet." Pepper said.
"I know but that was my housemate. A pipe in our basement bursted and the place is flooded. I have to go call the insurance company and deal with this." I said.
"I'm so sorry. Is there anything we could do?" She asked genuinely concerned.
"No, I won't know until I call them but please stay, enjoy lunch." I said getting up.
"It was nice meeting you." I said shaking her hand.
"The pleasure was mine. Please let us know if there's anything we can do to help."
"Thank you." I said "And congratulations on your anniversary." .
"Thank you." Pepper said.
"Thanks for the weekend Tony." I said.
"Don't mention it kid." Dad said a bit sad.
I walked outside and there was Happy.
"So Disneyland?' He said.
"Yup, I hope you have comfortable shoes on because we are getting on every single ride we can." I said.
"Even the Tower of Terror?" He said a bit nervous.
"You kidding we're riding that thing first." I said.