Chapter 103
Hey everyone Just finished this one up. It's a bit light hearted and may seem like a filler but it's building up. I thought you'd all need to start off the weekend with something fun. Let me know what you think :)
December 2014-
"Why are we staying here Auntie?" Connor asked.
"Cuz, don't you want to be closer to the city so we don't have to drive so far?" I said.
"But you and Uncle teleport us." Connor said.
"Think of it as a mini vacation. Besides this will make it easier for Santa to find us." I said.
"But there's no chimney." Connor pointed out.
"But there's a balcony so he won't have to squeeze through." I said.
"Okay but can I grab my toys?" He asked.
"Course sweetheart." I said. I put a hand on him and teleported the three of us the house. "Grab what you need."
Connor ran up to his room and Wren teleported next to me.
"How did he take it?" Wren asked.
"He asked a lot of questions mostly about if Santa was going to know where to find him but he took it well." I said. "How's out guest?"
"Woke up about an hour ago, he's still trying to find a way out of the sweatbox." Wren said.
"That things is holding up right?" I asked.
"Of course and either way I had Friday lock down the lab. He can't get in or out without my approval." Wren said.
"Good, how are you feeling?" I said.
"I'm fine stop worrying." Wren said.
"You had a seizure, of course I'm worried I made you an appointment for tomorrow with Doctor Benson, you're going." I said.
"Nora…"
"If you want to keep doing this then your going, end of discussion." I said.
"I don't want chemo or radiation,"
"I know I just want you to get some anti seizure meds to make sure you don't have one when I'm not around. What would have happened if I hadn't shown up Wren or worse if you had one and Aiden regain consciousness?" I said Wren didn't know how to answer that. "Exactly."
"At what time?" he asked.
"12:30 don't be late." I said.
"Uncle are you coming with us?" Connor asked.
"No bugger but I'll be there tomorrow." Wren answered.
"Why aren't you coming?" He asked.
"It's a surprise." Wren said.
"Okay." Connor agreed.
"Let's get going. Call me if anything." I said.
"I know." He said
The next few days were a blur of us running around doing last minute shopping trips and mailing cards out.
I got an email from Sam, he said he was okay and saying Thanks for all the pictures and videos of the kids I had sent him. Told me to tell Connor he loved him and Merry Christmas. No word on where he was or when he was coming back. Almost two months since he left and this was the first I was hearing from him. I didn't know if I should be happy or concerned. I knew I could find Sam if I wanted to but I knew he wasn't ready.
I told Connor his dad sent a message and he thought that meant he was coming back but after three days he realized that wasn't the case.
By Christmas Eve he was brooding around the condo and snapping at everything I said. I decided to give him some room and just focus on cooking. The living room was filled with presents and the table was set and decorated but it didn't feel like Christmas. I called Wren and he said Aiden still hadn't uttered a single word in days.
So I decided to give it a try. I packed a plate and teleported to the ranch.
"Nora what are you doing here." He said. I put Ellie in his arms and put the plate down.
"Your nephew's locked in his room and nothing I've done is working so I figured we'd switch." I said.
"Nora that's not a good idea." Wren said.
"He's locked up and Connor is too. You need a break, go talk to him eat and I'll stay here and babysit Aiden." I said.
"You're not taking not for an answer are you?" He said.
"I made three different types of pie, get started." I said.
"I'll be back in an hour." He said before teleporting back to the condo.
I grabbed the food and teleported down to the lab. Wren had set it up so that the only way anyone could get in or out was to teleport. Aiden was there in his sweat box cell. He was wearing a black tee shirt and a pair of sweats. Wren must have given him a change of clothes. No way the button up and suit we caught him in would be anyway comfortable.
"Merry Christmas." I greeted. I put the food in the slot Wren used to give him food along with some plastic cutlery. "I didn't know what you liked so I served you a bit of everything and a minced meat pie Wren likes those. Said he ate a lot of those growing up, thought you probably did too."
"Is this you trying to be the good cop, the friend who's on my side." He said making me laugh.
"If after all this time you still think I'd be the good cop you are truly insane. I was ready to have you decapitated. You went after my niece and nephew. You can do to me whatever you want but you don't mess with family. I didn't want to call of the hit but Wren did and that's the only reason you're still alive." I said.
"So you're trying to poison me now?" He said.
"If I wanted you dead I'd do it myself, if you're scared I'll taste your food for you." I said.
"You love him." Aiden said. "And that will be your downfall."
"Wouldn't be the first time loving someone almost destroyed me and I have a feeling it won't be the last." I said. "This place is depressing Friday could you put on a movie something festive."
"The Grinch it is boss." She answered.
"Good to know dad programmed you with a sense of humor." I said.
"Is this supposed to be some bonding sleepover?" Aiden said.
"Don't have the right hair length for braiding so no. It's called being a considerate human being, speaking of you like pie? I have a slice of pumpkin or apple your choice." I said.
He didn't say anything. "You're not his soulmate, and I know your marriage was a farce, what I still don't understand is why you are so loyal to a man that is no more virtuous than I am."
"You know that saying Wren says, love is for children, loyalty is better? Do you believe in that?" I asked.
"Love is weakness and the only person you should be loyal to is yourself." Aiden answered.
"So Beth was your weakness, and if that's true then that makes you Wren's." I said.
"Wren cares for no one but himself." Aiden said.
"After he killed your soulmate he was supposed to bring you in but he didn't he told me you got away but the thing is how could you have been faster than a teleporter? I know you're not. So that begs the question if Wren truly hated your guts why did he save you?" I said. "And for that matter you could have killed me so many time before you came to the house but you didn't why?"
"Are you telling me I still care for my brother?" Aiden asked.
"You still call him your brother and so does Wren." I said. I got a text message from Wren saying he was ready to come back.
"It's time for me to go, Hope you like turkey sandwiches because that's all we're going to be eating for a while." I said before teleporting upstairs.
"He say anything?" Wren asked.
"A bit." I said. "Nothing important but he did eat so that's something. You get Connor out of his room?"
"I did, but he's waiting for you to tuck him in, he said he wanted you to continue your story?" Wren said with a smirk.
"Relax I'm keeping it PG." I said.
"I'd hope so." He said, "I'll be by for breakfast tomorrow."
"Good cause a lot of those gifts are yours." I said. "Won't take us as long as last year but it's still tradition."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world." He said.
"Merry Christmas." I said before teleporting back to the condo.
Ellie was already asleep in her crib I peaked into Connor's room and saw he was still wide awake staring at the ceiling.
"Hey bud, Uncle Wren told me you wanted to here more of the story." I said.
"Yes what happened to the princess? She met her soulmates, the strongest and bravest knights in the whole wide world, they beat the red headed and escaped saving all the soldiers." Connor said happily.
"Well the princess and her knights made it back to the camp where the knights and the princess got to know each other. Then the princess ended up meeting her Grandfather. They didn't know what to say to each other but they became really good friends. One day they wanted to see how the magical weapons their enemies were using worked and the princess started glowing….
The enemy soldier threw a knife at the princess but the mystical force protected her by putting up a glowing green shield around her. The knights were so happy she was safe but then she started glowing again and got sent back to her home. She was relieved to be back but confused as to why she came back. Then a man with reddish blonde hair appeared.
The princess was scared and quickly pulled out a knife to defend herself with. The man called her by her name and told her to calm down. He told her about her life and the princess was shocked. How could a stranger know so much about her? Then a little boy dressed in his pajamas walked in to the kitchen and called her his auntie. The princess was shocked because when she last saw her sister she had found out her sister was going to have a baby but the little boy was about three and a half. That's when she realized that while she may have been in her own house she was not back in her own time, she was in her future." I said.
"You're the princess?!" Connor shouted.
"Surprise." I said awkwardly.
"b-but how?" Connor said.
"That's a story for tomorrow night." I said. "Get some sleep or else Santa isn't going to come."
"Okay." Connor said solemnly.
I walked out of the room and into mine. I was surprised to see Wren there.
"Hey, I thought you were spending the night at the house?" I asked.
"I was but I wanted to show you your surprise." Wren said.
"My surprise? I thought this was all a cover?" I said.
"It was but I figured why not." Wren said putting a hand on my shoulder and teleporting to the house. "Okay close your eyes."
I did as he said and waited. I felt the familiar sinking feeling of teleporting and then a chill.
"Open your eyes." He said. I looked and saw a giant pool.
"Oh wow." I said.
"You always said we have enough room and considered getting one I figured this would be better than having to go all the way to the lake." Wren said.
"It's perfect." I said, "Thank you."
"It'll be great in the summer, you could teach Connor how to swim and Ellie when she's older." Wren said.
"Soak our feet after a long day." I said.
"You mean like today?" Wren said.
"Finally got to the good part of the story." I said.
"And which part is that?" He asked.
"The part where the princess goes to war and ends up meeting a red headed man in her kitchen." I said.
"Did he figure it out?" He asked.
"Pretty fast actually." I said "Sharp kid."
"Think I should start teaching himself defense?"
"I don't know, maybe wait till he's a bit older." I said.
"Going to have to find another teacher then." Wren said sadly.
"Teach him the basics, that's the important part right?" I asked.
"Right, He's going to be tall like Sam but he's going to have Jess' curls I can tell already. Ellie has Jess's eyes." I said.
"Connor's going to lean more toward science, I've seen the way his eyes light up whenever you're explaining something in the lab and he has Jess's heart. He cares so damn much." Wren said making me tear up.
"Whoever he ends up with is going to have their hands full." I said.
"Give whoever Ellie ends up with the shovel talk for me, though all things considered I think you've got it covered." Wren said.
"Don't do this Wren." I said.
"I have to Nora because we both know I might not get the chance to do this later on."
"I'm not ready to hear this, I can't okay." I said crying. "Because I'm barely keeping myself together and after you're gone I'm going to have to figure this shit out on my own and it's going to be like last time all over again except I won't have two of my best friends to snap me out of it."
"Nora." Wren said pulling me into a hug and I cried it out. "You're going to be okay. It may not seem like it now but it will be. I promise but I need you to promise me something. No matter what happens you won't run away and join the army again, that's not an option for us. We're fighters but we have enough on our plate without being the pawns of other people. You know what I'm talking about right?"
I could never forget, I had pissed off a certain general who still had connections in the army. Getting Ross pulled out of the front lines hadn't damaged his career at all, He had actually just been nominated Secretary of state following a cabinet member's resignation.
"I know." I said.
"It's time to stop running Nora." He said.
"I won't join the army, I don't think they'll take me back anyway." I said.
"They would but you'd be working under some sexist idiot who can barely stitch properly." Wren said.
"It's getting late, I have to set up the presents for tomorrow morning." I said taking my feet out of the pool.
"I should probably check on Aiden." Wren said.
"How much longer are you going to keep him in the sweat box?" I asked.
"Not sure, Don't know how potent the drugs they were giving him were and he was on them longer than I was plus the narcotics." Wren said.
"If you decide Cognitive Recalibration is an option I'm more than happy to help." I offered.
"You'll be the first to know." He said. "Night Nora."
"Night Wren." I said, teleporting away.
Christmas day was weird to say the least. Especially when Wren showed up with Aiden. They both looked pretty beat up but were oddly enough getting along. I asked Wren about it and he just said they worked things out.
Connor was a bit skeptical at first. This had to be the first time I saw my nephew be so awkward around a complete stranger, It got even more confusing when Aiden and Wren called each other brothers. Awkward family dinners didn't hold a candle to this. After that Wren decided it was time we all went back to the house. Friday could notify us if anything was wrong with anyone. Either way I was sleeping in Connor's room even though Wren assured me Aiden wouldn't try to hurt them.
Only problem was I kept stepping or rolling onto toys. After stepping on a lego I took a break and walked into the kitchen to make myself some warm cocoa.
I was so lost in thought I didn't notice when Aiden walked in.
"Ah!" I said dropping the mug.
"Sorry, I heard someone in here and I thought it was Wren." Aiden said.
"It's fine, I was just making myself some cocoa." I said.
"Little late for sugar isn't it?" He said.
"Have a bit of a sweet tooth." I answered. "What are you doing up so late?"
"Couldn't sleep, too many things on my mind." He said.
I didn't know what to say so I just got another two mugs out and poured some milk before getting the mix in.
I put one in front of Aiden and we sat in silence.
"I want to apologize for … well everything I did." He said.
"How are you doing? With the withdrawal and flashes?" I asked.
"I'm not craving anything and as for the flashed, it's like one minute I think I remember everything and the next I just see something else." He said.
"It'll get easier." I said.
"That's what Wren said." He said. "Speaking of what's going on with him and you for that matter?"
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"You two haven't been to the hospital in weeks." Aiden pointed out.
"Wren hasn't told you?" I asked.
"Told me what?" Aiden asked.
"We quit our jobs. With everything going on it was just better to take some time off and figure everything out." I said.
"You quit your jobs because of me?" he said. "I think I'm flattered."
"You were a part of it the rest you'll have to ask Wren." I said.
"And what does my brother need to tell me that you can't?" He asked.
"Why don't you ask him?" I said. Getting up and pouring cocoa in another cup as Wren teleported in.
"Can't sleep?" He asked us.
"No." Aiden and I answered at the same time.
"Guess this is a good a time as any to tell you, I'm dying." Wren said.
"I'm sorry?" Aiden said thinking he misheard.
"I have an inoperable brain tumor in my head that's killing me. Doctors gave me six months although it's very likely that it's less." Wren said "Sorry, I don't really see the point of wasting time by beating around the bush. I've gotten very blunt."
"Y-you're dying?" Aiden finally said.
"Yup." He said.
"Oh." Aiden said speechless.
"So, what can you tell us about your bosses." Wren said.
"Why do you want to know?" Aiden asked.
"To take them down, why else?" Wren said. Death really had made him blunt.
"You just told me you're dying and you only have months to live but the only thing you want me to say is what I know about the bastards who brainwashed us?" Aidan said raising his voice.
"Essentially?" Wren said.
"For fucks sake Wren you have months to live a wife and kids who adore you and you want to waste the last months of your life fighting instead of enjoying yourself? What the bloody hell is wrong with you?" Aiden shouted.
"Keep your voice own." I said.
"What am I supposed to do Aiden just keel over and die knowing those assholes are still out there?" Wren said.
"Of course not what do you take me for brother a coward?" Aiden said.
"What?" Wren said.
"You heard me." Aiden said. "You know what I am capable of and lets face it you've gone soft in retirement. I know how they run I have contacts and money. I know where to go and how to take them down. I'll do it. You've done enough. It's my turn to make amends so let me."
"If you go back they'll just brainwash you again." Wren pointed out.
"No they won't, I've analyzed Aiden's blood if they don't; give him a dose regularly it looses effect. As long as he doesn't get another dose in him before the last traces of the drug disappear he'll be immune." I said
"I want to do this." Aiden reiterated.
"You're not going to drop this are you?" He said.
"I didn't stop trying to kill you until you got the drugs out of my system. If that's what I'm like under their control imagine what I can do stone cold sober?" Aiden said.
"I would hate to be your former bosses." I said.
"You agree with him?" Wren said.
"Full disclosure, you're losing weight, you're tired all the time and don't think I haven't noticed that you aren't eating and when you do you throw up. Let's face it, you're in no shape to fight anyone. The only reason you beat Aiden was because he was pretty out of it." I said.
"Wow, no tact for your dying husband." Wren said.
"What can I say death has made me blunt." I retorted making Wren sigh.
"Where would you go?" Wren asked.
"Not sure yet. I'm staying in the states for a while, at least until I'm back in fighting shape. I have grown rather fond of New York." He said.
"It is a pretty great city." I said. "I think I'm going back to bed. Night"
"Night" Wren called out behind me.
Third Person's POV-
Wren watched as Nora walked out of the kitchen and into Connor's room.
"You are one lucky bastard." Aiden said.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Wren said.
"I'm talking about that gorgeous brunette that you happen to be married to?" Aiden deadpanned.
"She's a good friend." Wren said.
"Friend? Seriously? You are just as oblivious as I remembered you being. You are head over heels in love with that girl. The way you look after her or look for any excuse to give her a side hug." Aiden said.
"We're very good friends." I said.
"You two don't act like it. you don't give family heirlooms to a fake wife you bloody oaf." Aiden said. "Have you told her yet?"
"Aiden drop it please." Wren said pinching his eyebrows together. "It's been a long night and I'm going to bed."
"She feels the same way at least that what it looked like though I'm fairly sure she's just as oblivious as you are." Aiden said.
"Goodnight brother." Wren said before teleporting to his room.
New Years Eve-
Connor had been invited to a friend's house for a sleepover and he really wanted to go stating that everyone in his class was going. We dropped him off and then Wren surprised me saying that he had hired a Nanny for the night. After the last time I was really hesitant to trust her with my niece but Wren finally talked me into it. He said that after the past couple of shitty weeks we deserved a night out.
I hadn't gone out shopping in months not without…Jess so I pulled out an old dress I never had the chance to wear before. It was white babydoll dress with gold and black embellishments. I put on some black Louboutin heels and grabbed a black coat.
.
I walked down stairs to the sweet elderly nanny Wren had hired to stay overnight because apparently we were getting hammered tonight. Wren hadn't uttered a word as to where we were going just to dress up. I curled by hair and left it loose.
We took the car and parked it in a hidden shed at the end of the property before Wren teleported us to Vegas.
We checked in at Caesar's palace. Apparently he had book the penthouse suite in advance thinking of bringing Jess and Sam with us. We left our personal belongings before heading off to the strip. Wren challenged me to a drink off. We would take one drink or at least a shot in every hotel bar. Half way through the strip we stopped at the Bellagio water fountain. We stopped and admired the show before Wren pulled something out of his pocket.
"So After Aiden left I got to thinking about what you said about the symptoms and I popped over to Amsterdam for a treat." He said pulling out a pot brownie. "I'll only take my half if you take the other."
"Hand it over Spencer." I said and Wren handed the pot brownie I broke it in half and ate my half. Wren took his and that's where the night really got interesting. Somehow we ended up walking into a nightclub. We danced until people started counting down and we looked into each other's eyes. We couldn't stop laughing. When they finally reached zero Wren pulled me close and kissed me as he dipped me.
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When he finally pulled me back up we both laughed. Then left to the next bar. I don't know what happened later but we ended up back in our hotel room. We both threw ourselves onto the bed.
We couldn't stop laughing.
"I don't think I've ever seen you this drunk." I said chuckling.
"I don't think I've ever been this drunk." Wren said laughing.
"Oooh fireworks." I said looking out the window.
"I never noticed the tiny flecks of brown in your eyes." He said.
"You're eyes are just blue." I said laughing. I put a hair on the back of his head "I do love your hair color though, I'd consider dying it but I wouldn't pull it off."
"You could wear a potato sack and it would be trending." Wren said.
"You're flirty when you're drunk." I said.
"No flirting it it's the truth." He said.
"Fine, no flirting you're a good kisser." I said.
"Same goes to you." He said tucking a lock of hair behind my ear before leaning over to kiss me. When we finally split we were both laughing.
"Fuck we're really drunk.' I said as we both started laughing.
"Why are we in bed, it's the last New Years I'll be alive for." He said.
"Let's get the hell out there then." I said getting up.
The Next Morning-
I thought the worst hangover of my life was when Jess took me out drinking for the first time but this, this was ten times worse. I woke up in bed still wearing last night's clothes. I was using Wren's chest as a pillow and I may have drooled on him. Gross. I got out of bed and walked into the kitchenette for a glass of water when I noticed there were people laying all over the place wearing greek letters.
What the hell happened last night?
I ran back to the room where Wren was waking up.
"Wren why is there an entire fraternity lying around the living room of our suite?" I asked.
"What?" He said getting up with a groan. "Oh shit."
"Uh, last night got a bit out of hand." He said.
"You think oh crap we have to go relieve the nanny." I said looking at the time.
"Fuck, we need to get these people out." Wren said.
"How do you suggest we do that?" I said.
"Or we could just leave." He suggested.
"Deal with the hung over brothers of Sigma Delta Epsilon or ditch them and go home? I know what I pick." I said grabbing my bag before walking out.
"They're alive!" One of them cheered making us groan.
"To our honorary Brother and sister, Wren and Nora!" They cheered.
"Hi." I said awkwardly.
"Gentlemen," Wren said awkwardly.
"You guys are couple goals." One of them said.
"I want to meet my Nora." One of them who was obviously still drunk said before puking into a garbage bin he was hugging.
"Guys as nice as you all are we kind of have to go." I said.
"At least let us buy you breakfast. Please." They said.
"They have bottomless mimosas." One of them said.
"Well" Wren and I looked at each other.
And that is how Wren and I started the new year, by going to and all you can eat breakfast brunch buffet with bottomless mimosas with the Entire University of Austin chapter of Sigma Delta Epsilon. We talked with some of the guys and they filled us in on a few of the things that happened last night apparently Wren teleported us to a cupcake ATM where we ran into the leader of the frat who was smoking a blunt. We passed it around and they told us that their reservations fell through and that they had nowhere to stay. We drunkenly told them to crash at our place. Then the night got fuzzy. Apparently they all shared a google doc and forwarded both of us all the pictures of last night.
After getting drunk again we said our goodbyes. They did their salute and we were off. The babysitter was a bit annoyed but after Wren paid her an extra five hundred dollars she was pretty happy again. Ellie was still asleep and Connor was picked up and occupied watching tv and coloring. As soon as we were all in the house I started glowing.
"Shit" I said before I was gone.
When I opened my eyes I was at Stark Tower.
"That's the last of it boss." I heard someone say.
"Good, Maria will know where to move it."
"Dadsters!" I cheered happily.
"Nora?" dad said confused.
"I miss you you jerk, you didn't call for my birthday or Christmas." I said punching his arm.
"Are you drunk?" he said.
I laughed, "Just dat much." I said pinching my fingers.
"Crap, Happy, I got one more thing for you to load up." Dad said.
"But Daddy." I whined. "I missed you."
"I missed you too kid but I have a meeting with future you in five minutes that you'll kill me if I miss so I need you to go with Happy." He said walking me and holding me steady before sitting me down and buckling me up.
"But I'm sure Cap and Tin man an hell even Romanoff will be happy to see you."
"Okay." I said.
"Behave." He said making me laugh.
"You're funny." I said.
"Happy don't let her out of your sight until you land." Dad said before walking off.
"So where'd you come from?" Happy asked.
"New years eve 2014, Vegas. I had a sleepover with a frat!" I said cheerfully.
"Oh boy." He said.