Chapter 106
Hi everyone, I just finished this chapter and there are a lot of things I brushed over but I plan on including them in Time traveling Uncomplicated. Anyway here it is. Let me know what you think or if there's anything in particular you want to see in the added in Time Traveling Uncomplicated. Let me know what you think.
"Do you have any idea how worried we've been!? You stormed off and disappeared then you show up like nothing happened? What the bloody hell so wrong with you? You have any idea the countless hours I had agents looking for you how many wild goose chases we went on?!" Peggy shouted
Gramps and I were sitting down in her office enjoying some scotch completely ignoring her.
"Are you even listening to me?!" She yelled.
"I zoned out around spoiled brat? Gramps?" I asked.
"Inconsiderate moron." He answered.
"You ignored me?" She said seething.
"Hurts doesn't it?" I said. "But that's besides the point, I'm back and I'm ready to work. Put me out in the field and lets do this."
"Seriously?" Gramps asked. "You don't have any powers."
"And? I didn't have any before I went on the front lines with the commandos and I was ready then. I had a year of training, I'm ready." I said.
"Are you sure?" Gramps asked.
"Aya dropped me off here for a reason, besides what else am I supposed to do?" I said.
"You could always come work at Stark Industries?" Gramps offered.
"Yeah I don't think I'm up for that, I can't invent things that aren't supposed to be invented for another fifty years." I said. "Aya may be insane and a pain in the ass but she's right, altering the time line is a horrible idea."
'You'll have to be tested again, weapons, hand to hand, and a medical exam." Peggy said.
"Works for me but you do realize I can't die, age or get sick?" I reminded her.
"That was before Aya took all your powers." Gramps reminded me.
"Fine but I get to pick the doctor that does my physical." I said. "And Zola doesn't come near me. I may not have my powers but that doesn't mean I can't kill him with my bare hands."
"Nora…" Peggy said.
"If you trust him to work with you fine but just remember I had powers and who knows what might come out in my blood, would you trust Zola with that?" I said.
Peggy stayed quiet at that.
"I know a guy who might be able to help. We'll have to go to him though." Gramps said.
"I can live with that." I said.
"Until then follow me let's get the rest of the tests out of the way." Peggy said. I followed her out of the office and out of the building to a training field. There were targets set up and a table laid out with various weapons.
"So I use a gun and shoot testing my accuracy?" I said.
"Same as before but we want to see who good you are with different weapons. Are any of these familiar?" Peggy said.
"Oh they are more than familiar." I said I picked up a rifle disassembled it and put it back together before aiming and hitting each target. I switched guns and continued to do so until each weapon after that was done I pulled out a handful of throwing knives and hit each of the closest targets with a knife in between the eyes.
Gramps and Peggy just stared at me dumbfounded.
"Did I mention Wren was a trained assassin?" I said with a smirk.
"Ehm, onto the combat course." Peggy said. I got changed into a pair of sweats and went to the gym. "I want to see what you are capable of so, you will go up against our five best agents. You fight until someone taps out or is knocked out."
I had a feeling Peggy was still mad about my disappearance.
"Okay." I said walking to the center of the mat. "Who's first?"
I tall brunette with a smug grin stepped up first. "I can show you some moves sweetheart." He said.
"Whenever you're ready." Peggy said.
He got into a fighting stance and started walking around me gauging my movements. He threw a punch and used the momentum to dodge out of the way. He fought like a boxer made it pretty easy to predict his movements. I threw a high kick which I knew he was going to catch and used my body weight to flip him onto the ground. I punched him knocking him out.
"Next." I said.
The next one was an agent. He was a bit more hesitant to get close. I decided to get it over with and walk closer to him he started fighting back. Punched were thrown and I dodged them all. Finally I got close and he threw a punch, which I pushed away and punched him out.
"Can we just save ourselves the time, you three come at me already." I said.
They looked amongst each other and then at Peggy who nodded. Some thrown punched, a lot of dodging and flips later they were all on the ground groaning in pain.
"That it?" I asked.
"Yes, you passed with flying colors as always." Peggy said. "Get your physical done and then report to me when you get back."
"Will do boss." I said making her smirk.
"I'm gonna get out of these sweats. Gentlemen, thanks for the sparring, keep up the good work." I said walking away.
"Ah, my leg!" One of them groaned.
I got dressed again and then Gramps drove us to the airport.
"Where we going?" I asked.
"California, the only doctor in this time that you'll actually trust is across the country. Besides the plane ride will give us time to catch up." He said.
"Are you going to pull a Peggy and yell at me after we start taking off?" I asked.
"Of course not." He said.
Thirty Seconds After Takeoff-
"What were you thinking?! You storm off and disappear god knows where! I drove up and down that road so many times. I hired investigators and you couldn't once bother to call or even write a letter!" He yelled.
"I thought you weren't going to yell?" I asked.
"I changed my mind." He said. "Answer the damn question."
"I was angry and hurt so I decided to take some me time. I was going to write, I wrote the letter so many times but it never sounded right. And as for the investigators I told you I learned to live under the radar pretty early on gramps you knew they weren't going to find me." I said. It was way easier than in the future during the digital age.
"Should have waited until we landed or got to a bar." He said. "Heart to hearts are easier when we're buzzed."
"We have no filter when we're drunk." I said. "Want to pause?"
"Pause?" he said confused.
"It's this thing dad and I do when we need to have a serious talk but have a million other things we need to deal with. We say pause and come back to it when we're both ready." I explained.
"Does it work?" He asked.
"It works sometimes and other times you just have to put it all out in the open. Though considering were thousands of feet up in the air calling pause might be a good idea." I said.
"Okay then Pause." He said.
Four hours later-
We were in Gramps' study in his LA home we each finished a glass of scotch and let it all out.
"What is wrong with you!" Gramps started.
"Me you hired a fucking mass murderer who gets off on hurting people!"
"You were okay with us hiring Von Braum,"
"I though he was someone else and Von Braum didn't help almost destroy the freaking world. He was an over valued architect that took credit for his brother's work!"
"He created a murder system that helped murder thousands," Gramps retorted,
"He was a brainwashed gullible idiot that we could use as a bargaining chip later on when we want to get someone better!" I argued. "Zola can't be used because when you least expect it he'll turn on you. You saw how fast he turned on Schmidt."
"He's a means to an end!" Gramps yelled.
"Who's end?! Your's or his?!" I yelled.
"We're going in circles you have to give me something here Nora?"
"I came back and agreed to go to work for SHIELD what more do you want?" I said,
"For you to promise not to kill Zola." He said.
"I can't promise you that so I already warned you keep him away from me and we won't have an issue. I wanted you to ship him off to Siberia. This is a compromise. I compromised." I said.
"Stay out of the science division and if you need a check up, you'll be referred to Monte Reynolds. He's Pegs doctor too, close by as well." Gramps said.
"Okay." I said.
"I'm starving." He said.
"Early dinner?" I asked.
"I know a place." He said.
And just like that we were back to normal. We had dinner at a seafood place by the beach. I was Gramps' wingman. I took the car back while he went home with Cassie… Clare… Karen…or was it Candice. Whatever her name was Gramps was very happy the next morning when he walked into the kitchen doing the walk of shame.
"Good morning beautiful Granddaughter." He said kissing my temple with a dramatic 'muah'.
"You're in a good mood." I said.
"Why wouldn't I be, it's a beautiful day, you're back, you made my favorite breakfast and coffee just the way I like it, and the dancer from last night, she taught me some things, the human body is amazing." He said with a dreamy eyed look.
"Uh, I'm happy for you but we have some things to deal with, like for one what I'm supposed to wear and two this doctor we're supposed to see, when are we going to see him?" I asked.
"Haven't called him but we can stop by whenever. As for clothes, I'll have Anna pick some things out for you back in New York. I kept your room the way you left it. As for clothes for the next few days I know a place in town." He said.
"Did you sleep with the owner or any of the employees because if you did I'll just go into the first retail store I find and grab something off the rack?" I said.
"No, You don't eat where you shit." He said.
"Okay then French toast is ready." I said putting a plate in front of him.
"It taste just like Anna's." Gramps said.
"You don't say." I said.
One quick shopping trip later where gramps grabbed the first thing he said would look good on me or that was in style. That's how I ended up in a yellow dress. If I didn't stick out like a sore thumb before I did now. All I was missing was a big yellow hat.
.
"I got us snacks, a map and the radio all ready to go." Gramps said.
"Okay…" I said confused.
"I've never been on a road trip before." He said.
"Neither have I." I said. "Let's go." I put on my sunglasses before stepping into the car.
"So you and Wren…" Gramps started once we were on the road.
"Yeah, that kind of happened the morning before Aya trapped me here." I said. "On our one year wedding anniversary. We were going to go out for dinner and talk things out. Things didn't work out that way."
"You'll get your anniversary dinner." Gramps said.
"It's been a year and I haven't even seen or heard from Aya. She's very vocal gramps and she doesn't make empty threats." I said.
"That's what you thought last time and you made the best out of a bad situation." Gramps said.
"I had you and… them to keep me going. Thing is you have to live your life Gramps, you can't put it on hold for me. Maria Collins Carbonell is out there waiting for you don't you want to meet her?" I said.
"I know who she is, but I can't meet her, not yet anyway." Gramps said. "She's just a kid Nora, her birthday's in a couple of months. She's going to be six."
"So, you wait. I'm not saying be a monk and stay celibate but live your life to the fullest. Get the partying out of your system. Travel, grow the family business, help SHIELD become what you and Peggy envisioned it to be. Do all of those things so that when you finally do meet her you she'll know you were worth the wait." I said.
"I'm going to be a cradle robber aren't I?" He said.
"You really want me to answer that?" I deadpanned.
"Don't ever change kid." He said.
A few hours later we pulled up to a small house that had been converted to a clinic.
"Is this the place?" I asked.
"It is." He said leading me in. The reception area only had a few kids and some parents.
"All right ma'am that bronchitis has cleared up nicely. Try to stay out of the cold and if you're taking a swim in the lake make sure to shower in warm water before bed." A familiar voice said.
"Thank you doctor." She said before walking out with her children.
"No…" I said looking at Gramps.
"I told you you'd trust him." Gramps said with a smirk.
"Well I'll be damned, Nora Stark." Jim Morita said with a smile.
"It's actually Spencer now, It's been a while Jim or should I say Doctor Morita?" I said with a smile.
"Stick to Jim please, Jenny got over here there's someone you need to meet." He called over to a nurse. She had some of his same features and that's when I figured out who she was.
"Jenny this is Nora and Howard Stark. Nora this is my sister Jenny." He said.
"It's nice to meet you." I said and instead of shaking my hand she hugged me.
"It's so good to meet you. I had to meet the woman who got this knucklehead to hit the books." She said.
"It didn't take a lot of nagging just needed someone to show him that just because something hasn't been done yet doesn't mean its impossible." I said.
"So what brings you two all the way over here?" Jim asked.
"Nora needs a physical." Gramps said.
"Job requirement." I said with a shrug.
"Job?" he asked.
"I'm working with Peggy." I said and he understood.
"Well then follow me." He said. I followed him into an exam room and I already knew the drill. "So I have to ask, I've seen you come back from the dead and as long as I've known you any form of sickness is a side effect of your abilities. Why would Peggy make you get a physical?"
"I guess I should fill you in. I got stranded in the past again except this time no powers and no time jumps. I've been here for a year." I said.
"Whoa. Breathe in," he said. "So what have you been doing this entire time?"
"I trained in a monastery in Nepal for a year." I answered.
"Sounds… religious." He said not knowing what to say.
"Yeah I was a bit skeptical at first but the tunics were pretty comfy and the hand to hand combat training was intense." I said.
"Monks that fight?" He said surprised.
"Never said there were monks." I answered.
"Everything looks good. Heart rate and breathings good. Blood pressure is normal. You're in good shape no reason you can't get out in the field and kick ass again." He said.
"That's great," I said.
"I'll give Dum Dum a call and let him know. I'll give you a copy of your one page file to take with you." He said.
"I'd appreciate that."
After my check up I figured I owed Gramps some quality time together so we spent the week in LA partying and getting back into the swing of things. When we showed up on Monday morning I put my medical file on her desk and reported for duty.
"Your first assignment Agent Stark." She said.
"Thank you Director Carter, I'll get right on it." I said.
"Oh and Nora, you'll be needing this." She said passing me a badge.
"Thanks boss." I said walking out of her office and sitting down at my desk.
Six Months Later-
My first case had turned out to be a bust. Just a simple bank robbery. It had a similar pattern as the one Dottie Underwood had done a few years back but there was nothing of value and nothing but cash stolen. As it turned out one of the tellers and her boyfriend they wanted to pretend to be Bonnie and Clyde and start going on cross country heist spree. Both of them were arrested, but not before they tried it again and tried to rob a small town bank where they died in a halo of gunfire.
I was assigned to investigate a mysterious organization that had recently started buying shares in weapons and oil corporations. They invested them in religious organizations and had built compounds around the country where they recruited people.
Peggy gave me the case but it was under the radar. I was to go in and find out what I could about them. As it turns out their leader didn't live in the compound but in a mansion. I can't say I was surprised. I snuck in and saw plans for a museum heist. Apparently there was a rare emerald that had recently been recovered in an excavation somewhere in Egypt was going to be displayed at the New York City Museum of Natural History.
I looked over the plans and saw that the Museum was hosting an event to celebrate the opening of the new exhibit. Lucky for me I managed to score myself an invite to this event and by me I mean Gramps got invited and I'm going as his plus one.
"Nora can you hurry up, I want to get there on time before it's slim pickings." He said.
"Have I mentioned how much I'm looking forward to being able to wear jeans again?" I said.
"Almost everyday." He said. "Do you need a hand?"
"No I think I got it. Just need to finish strapping the holster onto me. I wore my hair parted to the side with it down and curled. It had actually gotten pretty long recently and was dreading having to cut it considering the trending hairstyles.
When I was finally done I walked out of my room wearing the red dress with an off the shoulder velvet bodice and a satin skirt. I was wearing matching red velvet heels.
.
"I have good taste." Gramps said. "I told you it would fit."
"I said it looked uncomfortable not that it wouldn't fit. It was hard to hide a gun and knives under here without making it obvious." I said.
"You look great and how are you going to get anything out from under there?" He asked.
"Anna helped me make some alterations." I said. "Shall we?"
"Let's go already." He said offering me his arm.
We got to the museum and the event was in full swing. There was a live band and Hor D'Oeuvres being offered. The show room was open to all the guests. There was no one in particular that stuck out to me. I went around with Gramps and greeted some of the guests that he was familiar with.
I noticed a woman being escorted by an elderly gentleman and she seemed familiar from somewhere.
"Excuse me, I need to go powder my nose." I said letting go of Gramps' arm and giving him the signal we had agreed upon the signal that he was free to find someone for the night and go home without me.
I went to the desert table and grabbed a chocolate covered strawberry while keeping an eye on the mystery blonde. All of a sudden the power went out. I ran through the crowd and made my way over to the show room where I saw the mystery blonde from before breaking through the glass case.
"Hands where I can see them." I said pointing a gun at her.
"You?" She said.
"You?" I said recognizing her.
"You're supposed to be dead?" Dottie said.
"Well that's one more thing you failed at. Step away from the glass." I ordered.
"You're not going to shoot me." She said with a smirk.
I shot her in the arm grazing her a bit.
"You shot me?!" She shrieked.
"You've done worse to me. Hands where I can see them." I said getting closer.
Suddenly we were surrounded by people wearing tunics and black masks and hoods.
"Friends of yours?" I asked.
"No." She said. They started shooting darts at us she was hit and passed out. I didn't notice but there was a dart sticking out of my arm. I blacked out.
When I came to I was in some sort of living room that had candles set up around it, lighting the room. I was tied up to a wooden chair and there was someone sitting behind me. I started struggling but couldn't get free.
"Don't bother I already tried that." Dottie said.
"They tied you up too?" I said.
"No I'm just sitting here be cause I want to." She retorted.
"So these guys weren't working with you?" I asked.
"Never seen them before in my life." She said.
"Ah you're finally awake." A man with a cane and a top hat said.
"Warren Vanderbilt." I said.
"I don't believe we've met." He said.
"Wouldn't expect any different from the man running a cult from behind the scenes." I answered.
"It's not a cult as you called it I call it the Order has been around for centuries our loyalty to Lord Jashin will be rewarded when he rises once more. The sacrifice of two warriors is the key to his resurrection. A warrior of light and dark." He said. "At sunrise you two shall meet your end and he shall rise."
"You want to resurrect a god?" Dottie asked.
"You're insane." I said.
"Delusional." Dottie said.
"What you think doesn't matter, you'll be to dead to care soon." He said walking away.
"There's no way I'm sticking around for that." I said looking around for anything that may help.
"Any chance I might be able to go with you?" She said.
"Why would I do that?" I said trying to see what she wanted.
"Even if you do get out of here you still have to fight your way out. You'd be outnumbered." She said.
"So you want to work together? Why should I trust you?" I asked.
"Because I also want to get out of here." She said. I weighed out my options and realized she was right. I swung my legs out and realized they didn't take all of my weapons.
"These guys are idiots." I said.
"You just noticed?" She deadpanned.
"I just noticed they didn't bother to check for weapons." I said I moved around a bit and managed to shimmy the thigh holster holding my knife down my legs and I got the knife out. I cut the ropes holding me down. I got up and untied Dottie.
"Can I trust you not to stab me with this?" I said.
"At least until we get out of here." She answered.
"I'll take what I can get," I said handing her a knife.
We walked out of the room and found all the men that had captured us were setting up some sort of alter.
"I hate religious fanatics." I said.
"Everyone worships something, money, fame, power, it's all the same." Dottie said.
"Doesn't make it any less annoying." I answered. "Let's get the hell out of here."
"Hey stop them" One of them called out.
They ran after us and we ran but then we were surrounded. We fought, lucky for us one of them was carrying my gun. I got it off of them and shot them but they disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
"We gotta go." She said.
"Yup." I said running after her. We ended up in a bedroom and barricaded ourselves in there.
I looked around and found my purse along with another pistol. I kept looking and found the emerald. I put it in the handbag when Dottie wasn't looking.
"I think we can make a break for it if we go out through the window." I said.
"Wouldn't be the first time I jumped out a window." Dottie said.
We jumped out and then were surrounded again.
"I'm tired of this." Warren said. "We're doing the ritual now."
They tried putting us both in chains but before they could Dottie fired at Warren and blew his brains out. All the grunts vanished into a cloud of smoke.
"Whoa." I said.
"I've never seen that before." Dottie said.
"Let's get the hell out of here." I said. "I could go for a burger."
"Milkshake sounds good." Dottie answered.
And that's how at three in the morning we ended up in a diner somewhere in New York. We were still dressed in our gowns and our hair was messed up. We got some weird looks from the waitress but she served us nonetheless.
"Who hired you to steal the emerald?" I asked.
"Some guy who had a thing for rare jewels. A girl has to make a living." She said with a shrug. "What about you?"
"Warren was buying out massive shares in Oil companies and investing them in a church. I investigated and found they were after the diamond. I thought you were hired by them." I said.
"Nope, most rich guys that hire me mostly want to know what their competitors are planning or want someone killed." She said.
"Sounds about right." I said. "You live in the city or just passing through?"
"Passing through for now." She said.
"Hm, So When did you start training? It was pretty early on right? My husband started training at three." I said.
"I don't remember, never really mattered." She said.
"You ever considered a change in career?" I asked.
"I don't really get much of a say in that." She said. "It's not like I have much of a legal resume."
"Maybe not, or maybe you just need the right employer." I said.
"That'll never happen." She said.
"Never say never. I once said I'll never work on the same side as the man responsible for my soulmate's death and what do you think I'm doing now?" I said.
"Is this a job interview?" She said.
"That's all up to you. I don't think you're employer is going to be happy about you showing up empty handed let alone that you're here having a late dinner with me. SHIELD does have good benefits. Three weeks vacation, competitive salary, health insurance and dental…" I said.
"And what makes you think that I'm even remotely interested in working with you?"
"That fact that we're out of that mansion and you haven't tried to kill me." I said. "Just think about it." I took my wallet out and put some money on the table. I put the bag on the table in front of her and said, "You know where to find me if you change your mind."
I walked out of the diner and hailed a cab. I saw her open the bag I left in front of her and her eyes widened in surprise when she saw the emerald. I was probably going to get yelled at by Peggy for losing it but I had a hunch this was the right call.
The next morning I walked out to the car with Gramps and saw someone I was not expecting to see so soon.
"You forgot this." She said handing me the purse. "Is that offer still on the table?"
"If we stop by donuts for Rose in HR it is." I said. "Peggy might take the news better if this comes from you." I handed her back the purse.
"You knew I was going to give it back." She said.
"Course not, I'm not a fortune teller." I said.
"What is she doing here?" Gramps asked.
"I recruited her." I said.
"You what?" He said.
"You all can recruit people why can't I." I said opening the door.
One awkward car ride later-
"No, absolutely not." Peggy said.
"I wasn't asking. I've read the fine print of my contract I am allowed to recruit agents if I feel they are an asset to SHIELD. She's an asset and a damn good one at that." I defended.
"She's a spy." Philips said.
"A spy who's had advanced training and can take all of our agents down in under ten minutes while handcuffed. Face it whatever training regime you've implemented we are falling behind the Soviets and it's only a matter of time before they take the lead. Their intelligence community makes us look like children playing telephone. Not only would we get a skilled agent, we get connections, and someone who can bring us up to par with the Soviets. The world's changing and we have to change with it." I said.
"And Dottie Underwood is the person to do that?" Peggy said. "You do remember how she's tried to kill at least half of the people in this room at least once, you included?"
"We're an intelligence agency, our alliances change everyday if I can get past my grudges and let the weasel downstairs live why can't you?" I said. "I'll be in HR getting her orientation started."
And with that I also found someone to continue my training.
"I won't do it." Dottie said.
"What?" Peggy said.
"I won't train your men, but I'll train her." She said looking at me.
"Me?" I asked.
"You recruited volunteers from the army. Those morons are hard headed and me training them won't work. They're as good as they'll ever be. I'd just be wasting our time. If you want agents have to recruit the best of the best. Go to the army and special forces and take the best batch they have in basic training, Mold them to what you need. You already have grunts you need spies, widen your field, recruit from other agencies. She on the other hand had similar training to what I had she still has hope." Dottie said.
"She is right. I took down your top five in under ten minutes." I pointed out.
"Fine then but you'll need a partner there's no way you are going out in the field on your own, not while your loyalty is still in question." Peggy said.
"Okay," She said.
"Congratulations Nora I just found you a partner." Peggy said with a smirk.
"Finally someone who won't try to get me to sleep with him." I retorted making her groan.
"You will have to be under twenty four hour surveillance until you are off probation the time of which will be determined by me. Until then you will be staying at the bunks here." Peggy said.
"Free room and Board yay." Dottie said sarcastically.
"You are not to leave the premises unsupervised." Peggy said.
"Don't really have anywhere to go so not a problem." Dottie retorted.
"I have a feeling you will both get along stupendously." Peggy said.
Eight Years Later-
It's been nine years since I got sent to past, nine years since I left Wren and Nine years since I've seen or even heard from Aya. Gramps had been working hard and has expanded Stark industries tremendously. He hasn't lost his playboy personality and I'm selfishly wishing it will always be that way but I know it won't.
I haven't aged a day since I arrived in 1950.
"I'm thinking of moving." Gramps said.
"Oh yeah where to?" I asked.
"Long Island, found a mansion close to the beach, close enough to work but far away enough from the city to relax." He said.
"You already bought it didn't you?" I said.
"Real estate's a good investment." He said.
"Sounds good." I said.
"That means you'd be alone in the penthouse, that is until the weekends when I need a place to spend the night after a party." He said.
"That's good actually Peggy wants to send me to out in the field for a couple of months, Europe. Coordinating the new satellite office in Berlin." I said.
"Wow Germany that's pretty far." Gramps said.
"Or a plane ride away if you ever decide to visit and we can drunkenly stumble into another country." I joked.
"Just like old times." He said sadly.
"No matter what happens you know I'm with you right?" I asked, "It doesn't matter how far I am, one phone call and I'm on the first plane or boat out back here."
"Yeah, I know. It's the end of an era." He said.
"No It's just a bit of change besides this way you won't have a roommate to wake up when you drunkenly stumble in with a blonde who's name you don't even remember." I said smiling.
"Fine but no matter what if we're in the city we have Sunday brunch at the Plaza or if not a phone call." He said.
"Deal." I said.
March 1969-
"I met her." Gramps said. We both happened to be in New York and unlike Dad he actually kept his half of the agreement, we met up for Sunday Brunch.
"Wait you mean… You met Grams, Maria Collins Carbonell?" I asked.
"I did, I was at an art gallery opening a friend wanted me to go see and there she was." Gramps said with a giant smile.
"That's great." I said.
"We're getting married in June. Will you be my best man?" He asked.
"You just met her." I said.
"I actually met her a couple of months ago, I just didn't want to rush anything." He said.
"How is this rushing it?" I said and I saw him eying the hostess table. "She's meeting us here isn't she?"
"Surprise." He said.
"I still don't get why you didn't tell me." I said.
"You were in the middle of a war zone and you didn't need the distraction. I see the news I know how bad things are over there." Gramps said.
"Okay so volunteering to go to Vietnam was not one of my finest moments but after Dottie died I needed a distraction. They needed all the surgeons they could get." I said. "Besides Peggy needed someone she could trust over there and I wasn't going to risk you going there in search of an adventure"
"One time." He said.
"You know what I mean." I said.
"Yeah I do, smile." He said standing up. "I'm so glad you could make it." He said kissing her cheek.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world the chance to meet the famous Nora Stark." She said. "Howard talks about you all the time.
"It's great to meet you, I've heard great things about you." I said. I used to think that I got all my looks from Mom but I was wrong I was a carbon copy of grams. The only difference was my dark brown hair. "I heard the good news, congrats. Welcome to the family."
"Aw thank you." She said.
"I'm gonna go say hi to friend really quick." Gramps said leaving us.
"So tell me about the big day." I said.
A few hours later I was in the car watching as Gramps dropped of Grams. When he came back he had the biggest smile on his face.
"So…" He started.
"Wow, Now I know where I got my good looks from." I said.
"Hey!" He said.
"Admit it." I said.
"okay there may be some slight similarities." He said.
"Slight?" I said.
"You could be her brunette twin." Gramps finally admitted.
"I'm happy for you two, about damn time you settle down." I said. "Also you break her heart or cheat on her I'll cut your pride and joy off. Well after you conceive dad."
"But I met you first!" Gramps cried out.
"And she's my Grandma, the woman who will one day carry my unborn father and give birth to him." I said.
"Fair enough." He said.
June 1968-
Officially I didn't show up on any of Gramps and Grams wedding photos but I was there.
"I can't do this." Gramps said.
"Don't you dare chicken out on me. I'm wearing a poofy dress and an updo because grandma said it would bring out my eyes. If I can do that you can make it up that to that alter." I said.
.
"I meant the tie." Gramps said "But now that you mention it…"
"Hold still." I said while I did his bow tie. "Perfect."
"I'm getting married at fifty." He said.
"You are, and tell me would you rather it be with anyone else?" I asked.
"No, she's the one." He said with a smile.
"Good now let's go get you hitched." I said.
After the wedding ceremony the reception was everything I'd imagine a party thrown by Gramps would be.
"Nora there's someone I'd like you to meet." He said interrupting the chat I was having with Daniel and Peggy.
"Oh, excuse me." I said getting up and following Gramps.
"I'd like you to meet Obadiah Stane." Gramps said. "Obie meet Nora my cousin."
"Miss Stark, pleasure to meet you." He said shaking my hand. He isn't even the total douche he will be and he's already giving me the creeps.
"Mr. Stane." I said smiling politely.
"Excuse me, the wife's calling." Gramps said going over to Grams.
"Howard tells me you're a nurse." Stane said.
"Surgeon actually." I said. "Just got back from Vietnam. Learned a lot of interesting things."
"Oh really like what?" he said with a smirk.
"Like how many bamboo splinters you can stick under a man's finger nails before he cries out for his mother and shits himself." I said and the smirk slipped off his face.
"I'm sorry?" He said feinting confusion.
"I'm going to be frank, Howard trusts you and I'm sure you're a great businessman but if you so much as step a hair out of line I'll make you regret ever being born. Good talk, enjoy your night." I sat giving him a hard slap on the shoulder before going back to Peggy and Daniel.
"What did you say to him?" Daniel said.
"Something I had to get off my chest." I said. "Who said I needed powers to be terrifying?"
"The thought never crossed my mind." Peggy said with a smirk.
May 29th 1970-
I got a call in the middle of the night from Grandma saying she was in the hospital I rushed to meet her there.
At 5:36am Anthony Edward Stark was born. I stayed with Grams until she fell asleep then I marched to the lab at Stark industries in New York. I grabbed Gramps by the ear and dragged him out.
"OW! Nora what the hell?" He said.
"Your wife you know the woman who you married and promised to be with her in sickness and in health while she was wearing that big white dress, any of this sounding familiar to you? Yeah she's in the hospital." I said.
"Is she okay?" He said.
"She just gave birth to your seven pounds six ounce son, what do you think?" I said pulling him out of the car.
"Howard how is the prototype…" Stane started.
"Go away he has to go see his wife and beg for forgiveness." I said dragging Gramps out of the building and into the car.
"Nora I'm sorry." Gramps said.
"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to." I said angrily. "If I was pregnant and the father didn't show up to the hospital I would kill them, I'm very tempted to do that right now."
"Please don't." Gramps said.
"I'm not going to but Grams might and if she does I'm not going to stop her." I said.
"Oh boy." He said.
"Here, these might save your life." I said handing him a bouquet of lilies, Grams favorite flowers.
"I knew you couldn't let me die." He said.
"Life would be so much quieter. Give them back." I said.
"I'm a dad." He said. "That's going to take some getting used to."
"You have responsibilities now. Be a dad, show up. Family isn't just the most important thing it's everything. Don't fuck up my Dad." I said giving him a glare.
"I know what I'm doing." Gramps said.
1972-
I walked into the hospital oncology room and walked into the patient room. There he was the man who's been at the center of my nightmares since Steve saved Bucky and I in Azzano. He was lying in bed wasting away.
"Terminal Lung Cancer, that's brutal." I said taking a look at his charts. "They have you on self administered morphine."
"Fraulien, after all this years you've finally come to see me." He said with a pathetic chuckle.
"You remember what I told you when you had me and Bucky tied down and you started injecting? Well, revenge is a dish best served cold." I said getting closer to his IV.
"Please." He said.
"I got bored of field work and started toying around with proteins, you know what that is right? Of course you do. See Proteins are how the body functions, metabolism, immunity etc. I decided to work on something that would give immunity to all poisons and toxins except as it turns out it didn't work for poisons, it makes it impossible for the body to process any pain relief medicine and best of all the effects are permanent." I said injecting him with the syringe I had prepared.
"Why?" He said.
"This is for what you did to me and for what you've done to Bucky for the last twenty seven odd years and for what he's going to have to keep suffering." I said and that made his eyes opened wide. "Oh I know about that," I said as he started whimpering.
"Enjoy the last of your days." I said walking out of his room. As I was walking out I heard his screams.
1974-
"Tony put that down!" Gramps yelled at a four year old Tony Stark. "Can someone get him out of here?"
"So much for being patient." I said walking in ignoring Gramps. "Hey buddy, I'm your Aunt Nora. I'm your dad's cousin."
"Hi." He said.
"Are you bored?" I asked him and he nodded.
"How about we get out of here and go get some ice cream down the street? Let the cranky old man finish talking about the future huh?" I asked.
"Can I dad?" Dad asked gramps.
"Yeah sure." He said not even bothering to look at him.
"Come on, your Dad told me you built a circuit board." I said.
"Yeah, I won the science fair at my school." He said happily.
"That's awesome, how'd you build it?" I said and dad happily chattered away.
1977-
Peggy needed Gramps to sign some forms and I volunteered to take them with me. We had a dinner meeting set up to catch up.
"But dad, you promised." I heard dad whine.
"Tony not now!" Gramps yelled.
"Hey what's going on?" I asked.
"Aunt Nora!" Dad shouted before jumping into my arms.
"Hi Buddy, you're so big." I said ruffling his hair.
"Nora, I wasn;t expecting you." Gramps said frustrated.
"We had that dinner, we scheduled it on Monday?" I said.
"Oh, crap it completely slipped my mind I have a meeting tonight with the board." Gramps said.
"Oh, I said.
"He was supposed to take me to see Star Wars." Dad moped.
"It's okay Tony, I'm sure…" I started.
"Jarvis is busy too." Dad said sadly.
"Can you wait outside for a sec?" I said.
"Are you going to yell at dad like Mom did?" dad started.
"Tony!" Gramps yelled and dad hid behind me.
"Hey bud, we're just going to talk really quick okay?" I pulled a few quarters out of my pocket. "How about you grab us a snack from the vending machine?"
"Okay!" He said happily.
"Peggy needs you to sign these." I said putting the papers on his desk where he took a look at them.
"I'll have a messenger take them over." Gramps said.
"So about Tony…" I started.
"Nora he's my son I'll raise him the way I feel is right. The only reason he's here is because the nanny came down with the flu. Just hand him off to the secretary when he comes back." He said.
I walked over and closed the door. I threw all the papers off his desk.
"What are you doing?!" Gramps yelled
"Getting your damn attention. I get you're busy and that you have a company to run but that is no excuse to talk to Tony the way you are right now. He's not some invention you tinker with him when you feel like it, he's your son. A human being with feelings. Not someone to use for good press but your son. You're his father act like it!" I yelled. "You're busy and I want to go see Star Wars and so does Tony, I'll take him for the night I'll drop him off tomorrow morning. Don't ever let me hear you talk to him like that again."
"Or what?" Gramps dared me.
"Miami." I said and he froze.
I opened his door and standing down there was Dad handing a candy bar to Gramps Secretary.
"Hey buddy grab your jacket you're spending the night at my place." I said.
"Really?" He asked.
"Yeah, don't forget to wish your dad luck on his meeting." I said.
I took dad to the theater closest to us and got us two tickets to the movie. When Princess Leia came on Dad's eyes were wide open.
"She's so pretty." Dad said.
"Wait till you see her in a bikini." I said.
"SH!" Dad shushed me.
After the movie I took dad to grab pizza and then back to my apartment. We watched a bit of TV before I put him down.
"Auntie Nora?" He asked.
"Yeah Tony?" I asked.
"Why does Dad hate me?" Dad asked.
"Sweetheart your Dad doesn't hate you, he's just really busy and he forgets what's really important." I said.
"Auntie Nora?" He said.
"Yes?" I asked.
"Thank you for taking me to see Star Wars." He said.
"Thanks for going with me." I said.
May 1980-
"But how? Darth Vadar can't be …" Dad started but I covered his mouth.
"Sweetie let's not tell people the biggest plot twist in movie history before they get a chance to see it." I said and he nodded.
"Can we go see the next one when it comes out?" He asked.
"Of course, I'll put it on my calendar and we can make a day out of it." I said.
"Miss Stark." Jarvis called out.
"Jarvis, you have to see the movie." Dad said.
"I'll take Anna this weekend." He said. "Buckle up sir."
"Bye Aunt Nora." He said.
"Bye Tony." I said.
"Miss Stark, Sir and Miss carter would like to see you at once at SHIELD headquarters." Jarvis said.
"Have to go turn in a report while I'm there anyway." I said. "Have a good day Jarvis."
Three Days Later-
It was the beginning of the US interfering in Middle Eastern Affairs, the Iranian Coup. To make matters worse I just found a giant stockpile of Chemical and Biological weapons.
"How bad is it?" Peggy said.
"Pegs, there's enough to take our a country here." I said.
"Then we have to destroy the weapons." She said.
"That's going to be a problem." I said.
"Why?" She said not liking where this was going.
"The stockpile is under the city." I said.
"What?" Peggy said.
"If I try to bury everything the entire city comes down along with everyone in it, if we wait until we evacuate then they'll know we found it and that we're here causing…I said.
"The US to go to War with Russia, everything we've worked to avoid will have been for nothing." She finished. "Nora…"
"The lives of millions versus the lives of thousands." I said.
"I never wanted to have to make this choice." Peggy said.
"Then don't, I'll do what has to be done." I said ending the call. My team and I planted the explosives and got in our chopper and as we flew away to safety we watched as the city crumbled to the ground. We saw the lights go off and dust fill the sir. I saw a bright light put of the corner of my.
For the first time in thirty years Aya appeared.
"You're ready." She said and put two fingers on my forehead and there was a bright light.