Chapter 109
Hey everyone, just finished up this chapters and I wanted to say thank you for all the reviews I love hearing from you all and your comments made my day so please keep commenting. This one is interesting and a bit weird to write. It's hard to navigate with multiple Nora's in the same scene. Anyway let me know what you think. Enjoy.
Third Person's POV-
Tony heard kids voices and walked closer to the kitchen to see what was going on. He saw Nora's godkids and both a past and present version of his daughter bickering followed by Aya appearing.
"Remember what I said about zipping it? This is why!" Present day Nora said before pushing Steve into the living room and closing the partition.
"Wow, I'm a bitch in the future." Past Nora said making the six month old in the high chair laugh. "At least someone's happy to see me."
"Auntie Nora, can I have juice?" Connor asked.
"Sure buddy, grape juice or apple?" She asked getting up.
"Grape, my favorite." He said cheerfully.
"You got it." I said serving the cup and putting it in front of him. "Grape juice for Connor and an apple sauce choo choo train for Ellie." She said moving the spoon into Ellie's mouth.
"Wow, you're a total mom." Tony said walking in.
"Well it takes a village," She said. "Feeling better?"
"Well my head's out of my..." Tony started but Nora cleared her throat interrupting him.
"Eh hem." She said giving him pointed look before looking at Connor.
"Out of my zone out space." He said giving Connor a smile. "I need to ask did Wren know about this from the beginning?"
"Wren found out three months after we met. He saved my life by teleporting me away from a grenade. He confronted me to tell me to keep my trap shut and I time jumped in front of him. I didn't tell him until about a year later that I met him in the future. And no he didn't know we'd end up married hell I didn't see that coming either. Wren was there thick and thin and kept me going when I wanted to give up on life. He was the one that trained me." Nora explained with a look in her eyes that Tony knew very well.
"Are you sure…" He started
"For fucks sake we're just friends!" Past Nora yelled. So she was still in denial.
"Ooooh Auntie Nora said a bad word." Connor said.
"Oops." She said. "Connor I'll give you five dollars if you don't tell your parents."
"Okay." He said sadly biting into his waffle.
'So this was before Jess..' Tony thought
"I'm just going to save you and probably Wren from nine months of tip toeing around each other. Connor here's a hundred bucks for what you're probably going to hear." Tony said sliding Connor a one hundred dollar bill. "You spent the past three years pining over two super soldiers. One happens to be in a committed relationship to a spy and the other barely knows who he is. You love them and I know spangles loves you. He doesn't deserve you but you're married to a former assassin so apparently that doesn't matter. But you know it is possible to love someone that isn't your soulmate right?" Tony said trying to give her a hint and possibly prevent Nora from becoming so dark.
"I know, I never said I didn't love Wren, I'm just not in love with him." Past Nora said making dad and Connor laugh.
"Yeah and I played center in college." Tony said sarcastically. "Point is just because you're too stubborn and oblivious to see it doesn't mean it isn't true, for Wren anyway."
"Where is Wren anyway?" She asked but before Tony could answer Present day Nora appeared in the room.
"Don't answer that. I need to talk to her." Present day Nora told Tony. She grabbed her past self's arm and teleported away.
"I'm never going to get used to that" Tony said.
"In time Connor retorted before going back to his waffle.
Nora's POV-
"Don't answer that. I need to talk to her." I said teleporting into the kitchen and grabbing Past Me's arm before teleporting to the lab.
"I don't know why Aya brought you here but I don't like it. No matter what happens don't let anything you saw here change anything. Because no matter how hard you try we can't fight fate." I said.
"What is going on with us? You're a bitch to everyone and from what I've seen you're avoiding Dad like the plague." Past me said. She was so naïve, I can't believe I was once so stupid. I guess thirty years of seeing the dark side of the world does change you.
"I told you to mind your own business." I said.
"No, you can lie to dad, you can lie to every one else but you can't lie to yourself. I know something's going on because I've seen the look you gave Steve. Even I didn't give him the angry glare and I had seventy years worth of pent up resentment stored up that disappeared the instant I spilled the beans so what is going on?" past me demanded. I guess at an even one hundred it comes back around.
"Try a hundred years of pent up resentment and the worst nine months of ours damn lives." I answered tearing up.
"We've faced some pretty incredible odds, a nazi with a red skull and we survived so how bad could it get." She said confidently.
"You'll find out soon enough." I answered. There was no point in trying to warn her. It was always going to end this way.
"Well is there anything I could do to help?" She said.
"Don't take it for granted." I said thinking back to all the time I could have spent with Wren and Jess before they died.
"Don't take what for granted?" She asked confused.
"Any of it. I would give everything up if it meant things could be what they used to be. To have them all back. I don't want to do this anymore. You have any idea how many times I've tried to go back and fix things but no matter what things always end up here. You and me having this conversation was going to happen from the beginning." I said.
"Things can't be that bad." She said not yet understanding.
"Look around Nora what do you see?" I asked hoping she'd piece the clues together.
"I see our home packed up, our god kids having lunch and our dad, friends and soulmate upstairs. That doesn't seem so bad." She said. Dottie has her work cut out for her.
"Not yet you don't, I give you nine months and you'll be exactly where I'm standing and you'll feel exactly the way I do." I said.
"Why are you so cynical and hopeless?" She asked. Because there is no hope.
"I can't tell you I'm just warning you. The coming months will change everything and if you think you're going through hell right now trust me when I say it's going to get much worse." I said.
"Then tell me what to do." She said.
"It's already too late." I said. "It's time for you to go. See you in nine months." I said putting two fingers on her forehead and releasing a bit of energy triggering a time jump. She started glowing and she was gone.
"That was a bit harsh don't you think?" Natasha said walking in to the lab.
"It had to be done." I said. "When I heard those words I thought I was over reacting but once you get to it the reality was much worse."
"Nine months from hell?" She said.
"It was more like thirty years." I said teleporting upstairs.
"Connor you finished eating?" I asked.
"Yes Auntie, can I go out and play?" Connor asked.
"Not right now buddy. I need you to pack up your room. You have a lot of toys in there and I need you to pick out which ones you still want and which ones you don't use anymore so I can put them in your room in the new house." I said.
"Can we make the new room space themed?" Connor asked.
"Of course." I said.
"Okay." He said running off to his room.
"Again total mom." Dad said.
"I'm not a mom and that's never going to happen. I'm not cut out for it." I said going to check up on Ellie. "It's time for someone's nap. You should go shower, you look like crap" I took Ellie out of her high chair and walked to her room.
"Sh sh sh, Hey Jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better
Hey Jude, don't be afraid
You were made to go out and get her
The minute you let her under your skin
Then you begin to make it better
And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain
Don't carry the world upon your shoulders
For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder
Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah
Hey Jude, don't let me down
You have found her, now go and get her
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better
So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin
You're waiting for someone to perform with
And don't you know that it's just you, hey Jude, you'll do
The movement you need is on your shoulder
Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah yeah
Hey Jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her under your skin
Then you'll begin to make it
Better better better better better better, oh
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jude
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jude
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jude
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jude
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jude"
By the end of the song Ellie was out.
"Sweet dreams sweetheart." I said kissing her head softly before putting her down in the crib. I turned on the baby monitor and grabbed the speaker before quietly walking out of the room and closing the door.
"Sure you're not mom material?" Dad said with a smirk.
"Positive." I said walking into Connor's room.
"Iron Man's your dad!" He shouted.
"Oh boy." I said.
"Can you show me how to make jet boots?" Connor happily asked Dad.
"Maybe when you're a little older." I said. "We need to pack up your toys."
"But auntie Nora…" Connor whined.
"Connor… if you pack up your toys we can go make a rocket and fly it." I offered.
"Rockets!" He shouted before quickly picking up his toys. "Keep Give Keep give…"
"I'll be in the kitchen cleaning up." I said.
"Total Mom." Dad said.
"Not talking about this." I said. I walked into the kitchen and started cleaning up when Thor came in. "Food's ready if you want to eat."
"the food looks appetizing but I cannot stay, I had a vision and I need answers." He said.
"Visions of what?" I asked.
"Heimdall warning me of destruction." Thor said. "I need answers but I shall need Eric Selvig's help."
"Last I heard Eric was in London, got a job teaching." I said.
"I can make the journey in a few hours, Thank you for your help Nora." Thor said. "I shall see you in battle."
"I don't do that anymore." I said.
"Or so you say. You may have been out of the fight but the fight is still in you." He said before walking out and flying away.
"Where'd Thor go?" Steve asked.
"He said he needed to find answers." I said cleaning up.
"Answers to what?" Steve asked.
"A vision he had, I don't know he seemed off." I said with a shrug. "You should go shower. The guest room connected to the living room isn't taken."
"Are you trying to make me go away?" He asked.
"Yeah." I said.
"What did I do now?" Steve said.
"You really have to think things through before you open your mouth." I said.
"Can you at least let me explain?" He said.
"Why should I? Quite frankly your actions speak for you and I'd rather you not waste my time you've done enough of that already." I said drying my hands.
"I made a mistake." Steve said.
"Steve getting the size diapers is a mistake, burning something in the oven is a mistake, Choosing to die because one of your soulmates died and not looking for them when they show up in your apartment delirious and suicidal because you abandoned them that's being a complete and total selfish fuck up." I said. "What did I ever do to you to deserve that?"
"Nora I'm…"
"Stop apologizing! There is literally nothing you can say or do to…" I was interrupted by Steve pulling me into a kiss. I wanted to push him away I really did but once he put his arms around my waist I couldn't help but give in. Then I remembered he had a girl friend and I pushed him away and slapped him.
"You have a girlfriend you ass." I said storming off. His girlfriend may be a total bitch but it's the principal of the thing that matters. I miss Wren, Oh crap I'm in mourning and I kissed another guy. I'm a horrible human being
I walked into the living room where everyone was sitting down where suddenly there was another glow.
"For fucks sake Aya!" I yelled.
"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning." A version of me said.
"I'm guessing any regards for the timeline are being thrown out the window now?" I said.
"Extenuating circumstances, I'm here to get us what we want." She said.
"I'm guessing you're from the future?" I said looking at her. She was wearing a black military style jacket with a white loose fitting tank and dark jeans with black suede heeled boots.
.
"Yup." Future me said.
"How far in the future?" dad asked.
"You'll find out." Future me answered.
"You said you're here to get me what I want, you know how to get rid of Aya?" I asked.
"What? No, we're not getting rid of Aya." Future me said.
"Do you not remember the hell she's put us through the past couple of years?" I said.
"I remember them very well, but I don't agree with you."
"Why? You know our life would be better off if Aya wasn't in our lives." I said.
"You are so wrong." She said with a smile.
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't try to get rid of her." I said.
She smirked. "I'll do you one better." She teleported in front of me and put two fingers on my forehead. Suddenly I saw this green mist and the world faded away.
Third Person's POV-
The future version of Nora smirked and said, "I'll do you one better." She teleported in front of her and put two fingers on her forehead.
Suddenly present day Nora collapsed. Luckily Steve was close to her and quickly caught her before she hit the ground.
"What did you do to her?!" Steve yelled.
"She's fine, I needed her to understand why she was wrong. I could have told her but she wouldn't have believed me. So I showed her. She'll be up in about an hour or two. You should take her upstairs." Future Nora said leaning down and taking out the baby monitor from Present day Nora's pocket.
"Auntie Nora?" Connor said.
"Hey buddy, what's going on?" She asked.
"You're not auntie Nora." Connor said.
"I am just that I'm her from the future. Other me had to take a nap so I'm taking over for a bit. That okay?" She asked and all the avengers just stood there waiting to see what Connor's reaction to that would be.
"Can we still build a rocket?" Connor asked.
"Course buddy, let's go down to the lab and get started she said taking his hand and teleporting them downstairs.
"Is anyone else concerned over how well adjusted those kids are to all this?" Clint said.
"They're kids, they're resilient and probably not the first time something like this happens." Natasha pointed out.
"We should take her to her room?" Steve said lifting up Nora.
"Right, follow me." Tony said. They walked in silence upstairs and into Nora's room. The walls were painted grey and there was a large king sized bed with a ruffled bed spread. There was a matching light grey frilly carpet and a seat next to the windowsill.
.
. .
Steve walked in and gently put Nora on the bed. He grabbed a red throw she had placed at the end of the bed bench.
.
He draped it over Nora and gently brushed off her hair off her face. She was older than when he last saw her.
"Never seen that before." Tony said.
"Hm?" Steve asked.
Tony nodded towards her nightstand. He looked over and saw that there was a picture frame. He lifted it up and smiled at the picture. It was a photo of him and Bucky in a side hug with huge smiles on their faces.
"Christmas 1944, Howard brought in a photographer to take pictures of everyone." Steve said.
"I think I found the rest." Tony said pulling out a shoebox from under the bed. He opened it and the first picture was of Nora and Howard.
"A picture of Howard actually smiling not smirking never thought I'd see that." Tony said putting the rest photos down and just staring at that one.
"Those two were thick as thieves. Bucky and I couldn't leave those two alone for a second without them getting in trouble." Steve said.
"She has a habit of bringing out the best in people. She's the reason I quit making weapons. She said, we keep our country safe but who keeps everyone safe from us. That kid's always been my conscious." Tony said.
"Yeah, she always saw past captain America and saw the scrawny kid from Brooklyn. When Bucky or me started doubting ourselves she always knew what to say. I don't deserve her." Steve said.
"As her father I'd have to agree," Tony said "But at the end of the day that isn't up to me. If there's one thing I know about her is that if she didn't love you she wouldn't bother yelling at you."
With that Tony got up and walked out of the room. Steve sighed. He looked through the pictures until he found one of the three of them together. What he would give to go back to that moment and knock some sense into himself. He put the pictures back and the box under the bed. He looked back the nightstand and notice there was a chain hidden behind the frame. He picked it up and saw the engagement ring he and Bucky had given to Nora.
He sighed. Steve put everything back and walked out of the room.
Back downstairs the team was sitting down in the living room waiting for One of the Nora's to show up.
Suddenly there was a scream and everyone stood up panicking.
"What was that?" Bruce said.
They followed the source of the scream until they realized it was actually Nora's phone ringing.
"She's got to change that ringtone." Tony groaned before answering the call.
"Hello." He said.
"Nora?" Someone with a British accent said.
"No its her… It's... Tony." He said hesitating to decide between Tony or Dad.
"Ah the sperm donor, where's Nora?" He asked.
"Who's this?" Tony asked.
"It's Aiden you daft idiot," Aiden said. "Why are you answering Nora's phone?"
"Nora's kind of knocked out." Tony said.
"What do you mean knocked out?" Aiden said.
"A future version of her appeared and made her pass out, something about showing her how wrong she was." Tony said.
"Oh bloody hell, I'll figure it out then." Aiden said hanging up.
"Who was it?" Steve asked.
"Aiden, apparently Nora has him on speed dial." Tony said looking through her settings.
"What are you doing?" Bruce asked.
"Activating the tracking function on her phone." Tony said.
"Stark, Don't you think you're going a bit overboard?" Natasha asked.
"She lied to me for almost ten years about not having soulmarks and four years hiding her double life, It's time I did something." Tony said.
"I don't think the tracking function's going to work if she time travels." Clint pointed out.
"Can I fire it?" Connor asked.
"Sure but you have to stay far away enough." Future Nora said. "We're going to go fire off a rocket if anyone cares."
They heard the door slam and silence.
Nora's POV-
The world faded away and suddenly I was where it all started. I was in a conference room sitting in the front row of the control center of the Hadron Super Collider.
"This is Geneva." I said. "What is going on?"
"You said your life would be better off with out Aya this is what would have happened if you had never become her host." Future me said.
"What how…" I looked down and saw I didn't have the bracelet on like before.
"Sh, it's starting." She said.
"Ladies and gentlemen thank you for joining me here today. After years of research I have finally perfected the simulation that I will allow me to measure the antineutrinos in dark matter. Without further delay we shall start." Doctor Hawking said as he flipped a switch.
The collider started up and then suddenly the lights started flickering and the room shook. Then alarms rang and red lights flashed as there was an explosion. Then everything went dark.
"What's going on?" I said as I saw a flash of green.
"Just watch." Future me said.
There was a large thud and the door opened. A figure walked in and then I heard it.
"Jarvis scan the room." Dad said.
"Dad." I said.
"He can't see or hear you, you're just here to observe." Future me said.
"Miss Stark is lying six feet ahead of you." Jarvis answered. I looked down and there I was.
Dad walked forward and kneeled down before taking my hand. "Check for vitals." He said.
"Heartbeat detected." Jarvis answered.
Dad let out a relieved breath. "Get Coulson on the line."
"Stark where are you?" Agent Coulson answered.
"I'm in the structure's supported it's safe to come in and start evac. I'm heading back now." Dad said.
"This is what happened after Aya knocked me out." I said.
"Yes and no." Future me said.
"We're heading in now." Was the answer.
"Let's get you out of here kid." Dad said before picking me up. We followed him out of the building and he walked straight to an ambulance. "I just got her out she was unconscious when I found her."
"You know her?" Coulson asked.
Dad was quiet for a minute before he answered. "She's my daughter." Dad said trying to walk out of the ambulance but the press surrounded him blocking his way.
"Mr. Stark any news as to what caused the malfunction?" One asked.
"Any updates on your relationship with Miss Potts?"
The reporters were hounded on dad and not letting up. Dad was growing more and more anxious by the second.
"Can you all leave I need to check on my daughter!?" Dad yelled before flying above them and over to the ambulance.
"Whoa." I said.
"Without Aya to keep the press at bay and healing any injuries you received in the blast Dad was worried sick and the only thing he cared about at the moment was making sure we were okay." Future me said.
"He just pulled a 2008 and blurted it out." I said.
"He may be impulsive but if there's one thing dad cares about more than himself its us." Future me said.
Suddenly everything changed and we were in the hospital.
I remember this room. Dad was sitting down next to my bed and the TV was on.
"There you have it folks straight from the source Tony Stark is a dad, I repeat Tony Stark is a dad and it's a girl. Well keep you update as soon as any new information is released." The news reporter said.
"Hey man, Pepper's freaking out." Rhodey said.
"Everything's okay just don't let her watch the news." Dad said.
"It's a little late for that." Rhodey said.
"Is that Tony? Give me the phone,
Pepper,
James Rupert Rhodes give me the phone!" I heard over the phone.
"Tony…" Pepper started.
"Hey Pep, have I told you how much I loved you?" dad started.
"Don't you dare try to change the subject. You have a daughter!" She yelled.
"Pepper it's kind of a complicated story and I'll tell you everything but now's not a good time." Dad started.
"Then when will be a good time, in another twenty years or when you blurt out some other secret to the press!?"
"I was thinking when Nora gets out of the hospital and we get back to New York?" Dad said.
I heard a sigh. "Is she okay?" Pepper asked.
"She's knocked out, minor concussion and a few bruises but other than that she's fine." Dad said.
"I'll send the jet to Geneva and I'll sent someone with clothes for you and Nora." Pepper said.
"Thank you." Dad said.
"I want an explanation." She said.
"And you'll get it, I promise." Dad said as I started to wake up. "I got to go, she's waking up." With that he hung up.
"Urg," Other me groaned.
"Nora? Kid can you hear me?" dad asked and Other me opened her eyes.
"Hi," Other me said.
"Hey." He said smiling "you feeling okay?"
"Lights are too bright and that stupid beeping is giving me a headache." Other me groaned.
"I'll call your doctor he wanted to check up on you when you woke up." He said pressing the call button.
"Doctor Stark your awake. How are you feeling?" He asked.
"Fi- wait did you just call me… dad?" Other me turned to him.
"So I might have panicked when I saw you passed out and when the press ambushed me…" He said turning up the news.
"Earlier today a malfunction at the Hadron Super Collider caused a cave in at the lower levels. Tony Stark's Iron man arrived on scene and led the rescue effort rescue effort. When asked about the cause of the explosion the billionaire had this to say." The reported said.
"Can you all leave?! I need to check on my daughter!"
"You didn't." Other me said.
"I did." Dad said.
"I'll give you two a minute." The doctor said.
"Look I know that this isn't what you wanted and we can…" dad started before other me interrupted him.
"It's okay." Other me said.
"Huh?" dad said confused.
"It's okay, After everything that's happened in the last couple of weeks I've realized life is short. You almost died and so did I and I don't want to live with regrets, No more hiding, It's time the world met Nora Stark." Other me said.
"Am I seriously going to do that?"
"There's no Aya to stop you and we've always wanted to know what would happen if we did go public." Future me said.
Everything shifted again and we were at a press conference at Stark Tower.
"After the events of last week I know a lot of you want to know what's going on with me and if I was telling the truth or having a midlife crisis. Well I should probably explain. As you all know I was previously married and a little over eighteen years ago my wife Ellie was pregnant with our daughter. It was a complicated delivery and she died but my daughter, Nora didn't. I knew what growing up in the spotlight can do to you and I wanted better for her so I kept her a secret. The past couple of weeks have been hard on both of us but they taught us that family is everything that is why after eighteen years, I'd like you all to meet my daughter Nora Eliana Stark." Dad said and I went up on the stage.
.
The reporters went crazy and they started answering questions.
"This doesn't seem so bad. It actually seems pretty great." I said.
"Actions have consequences." Future me said and everything started changing.
We were in the lobby of some hospital when I was running in. There were crowds of paparazzi at the entrance and I struggled to get in.
"What a hassle." I said.
"Not the important part." Future me said.
We followed other me into a hospital waiting room.
"Hey stranger." Dean greeted.
"Hey you, any news." Other me asked as I hugged him and he held on for a bit.
"Nothing yet." He said. Suddenly there was someone clearing their voice behind me.
"Hey Lisa, you look great." Other me said hugging her too which she awkwardly returned.
"Nora, you look, wow, amazing." She said.
"Thanks, dad hired a stylist. Don't know why I need someone to pick out an outfit to go visit a friend but who cares." Other me said.
"How are you two doing?" Other me asked.
"We're great." They both said awkwardly.
"That's great." Other me said then Sam appeared.
"Sam." Dean said.
"Sammy." Other me said.
"It's a boy.' He said with tears in his eyes.
"That's amazing." Other me said hugging him.
"Jess wants to see you." Sam said.
"Course." Other me said.
We followed them to Jess's room and Walked in.
"Hello miss best style icon of 2011." Jess said.
"Would you not, I don't get to dress myself anymore. I miss t shirts and sweats." I said making everyone laugh. "So what are you naming the little guy?"
"Like she didn't already tell you." Dean said.
"Actually we haven't talking in two months." Jess said.
"Sorry about that, School and taking over the Stark foundation have me running all over the place. Can't remember the last time I got more than four hours of sleep." I said.
"Don't worry." Jess said, "As long as you're here for the big ones."
"So name?" Lisa asked.
"Say hello to Connor Samuel Winchester." Jess said.
"yay, I bought the right one." I said taking out the beanie with the babies monogrammed.
"That's so damn cute." Jess said tearing up.
"Knock Knock it's time to feed the little guy." One of the nurses said.
"We'll give you some privacy." I said as we started leaving. My phone started ringing. "I have to take this, I'll catch up." Other me quickly went into the room and answer the call.
"This doesn't seem that different." I said.
"Wait for it…" Future me said.
My call ended and Dean walked in.
"Did anyone see you?" Other me asked.
"Course not, Lisa's downstairs getting coffee." Dean said walking closer. "You have any idea what seeing you in that skirt's doing to me?" He started kissing down my neck.
"Why don't you show me?" Other me said.
"Please tell me this is you trying to mess with me." I said.
"Nope. We are our father's daughter." Future me said as Other me and Dean started going at it.
"What about Lisa? She doesn't deserve this. What is wrong with her?" I said.
"All that fame went to our head. We weren't ready to go public and when we did we looked for any outlet to deal with the stress including…"
"Ah Dean." Other me moaned.
"Can we fast forward this please?" I said being really uncomfortable.
"Sure." Future me said.
Just as they were finishing up Sam walked in.
"What is wrong with you two!?" He yelled.
"Sam!" Other me and Dean said.
"You have a soulmate. And you seriously Nora?" Sam said outraged.
"Sam please." I said.
"No, I don't know what's going on with you but this is wrong Nora. I don't even know who you are anymore." He said.
"Sam don't talk to her that way. I love her." Dean said.
"You do?" Other me asked.
"He does?" I said getting more and more freaked out by the minute.
"Keep watching." Future me said.
"Yeah, I do. I never should have ended things between us." Dean said. "I want to give us another shot. What do you say?"
"Fuck it." Other me said pulling him in for a kiss.
"I want to slap her so badly right now." I said.
"Tell me about it." Future me said. "Since Sam and Jess didn't agree to what you and Dean did to Lisa you guys stopped talking."
"Really? But she's my sister from another mister." I said.
"Actions have consequences." Future me said
Everything changed and we were in a street. All the street signs were in German and a crowd of people were running out of a building. I saw myself dressed in a long embellished black dress.
0x0s/f2-albu-g1-M00-0C-45-rBVaGVSzHWKAGTtzAALOccOq_
"What the hell?" I said and suddenly I saw Loki appear.
"Silence, bow before your new king!" He ordered and multiple illusions of him appeared. "Kneel before me. I said... kneel! Is not this simpler? Is this not your natural state? It's the unspoken truth of humanity, that you crave subjugation. The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life's joy in a mad scramble for power, for identity. You were made to be ruled. In the end, you will always kneel."
"Not to men like you." An elderly man said.
"There are no men like me." Loki sneered.
"There are always men like you." The man said.
"Look to your elder, people. Let him be an example." Loki said before firing a blast at the man. Luckily Steve showed up and blocked the blast.
"You know, the last time I was in Germany, and saw a man standing above everybody else, we ended up disagreeing." Steve said.
"The soldier the man out of time" Loki said.
"I'm not the one that's out of time." Steve retorted.
"Loki, drop the weapon and stand down." Natasha said from the speakers of the plane.
"Kneel" Loki said as he fought with Steve.
"Not today" Steve said fighting back.
Suddenly Shoot to thrill started playing. Dad flew in and Knocked Loki down.
"Wow Dad does know how to make an entrance." I said.
"Landing could have been smoother." Future me said.
"Make your move, Reindeer Games. Good move." Dad said.
"Mr. Stark" Steve greeted.
"Captain" dad said.
"Dad?" Other me said.
"Nora? What are you doing here?" dad said taking his helmet off.
"I told you yesterday that charity art auction I got roped into going. What's going on? What's Rudolph's deal?" Other me asked.
"Kid not a good time." Dad said.
"Dad." Other me said.
"Nora." He said.
"Wait, Nora as in Nora Eliana Stark?" Steve said.
"Uh yeah." Other me said.
Steve took of his helmet and came to introduce. "Steven Grant Rogers." He said.
"Nice to oh... OH!" Other said.
"What's going on?" Dad said
"He doesn't know." Steve asked.
"Nope," I said, "So dad we need to talk but we should probably not do that here considering the crowd."
Another change of scenery later. We were in some cafeteria somewhere.
"So, We're soulmates." Other me started.
"It looks that way. I know that I'm probably not what you expect and I don't want to be rude but I don't think I have anything to offer you." Steve said. "I lost the one person I loved more than life itself and I can't betray him like that. I'm sorry."
"Thank god." Other me said.
"Huh?" I said.
"Keep listening." Future me said.
"What?" He asked.
"Look I'm sure you're a great guy but I'm kind of dating someone and things are going great right now. I don't want to ruin things. That doesn't mean we can't be friends." Other me said.
"That would be great, I don't actually know a lot of people and everything's different. I mean look at this thing. It's supposed to be a phone." Steve said.
"It is a phone but it can do a lot more than that. Do you know how to text?" Other me asked.
"I don't even know how to dial anyone. It doesn't have any buttons." Steve said.
"Well lucky for you I happen to be a tech genius." Other me said.
"So we're keeping things platonic? It could be worse." I said
"For you and let's just say that just because things look good on the surface doesn't mean that they're actually going that great." Future me said.
"What makes you say that?" I asked.
Another change of scenery. It was a hotel room and Dean was lying naked with some other girl.
"Do you need to go?" the girl asked.
"Nah, Nora's at some charity thing somewhere on the other side of the world. On the plus side she left a little something for us to enjoy." Dean said waving a wad of cash.
"What are we waiting for?" the girl said with a smirk before rolling on top of him and kissing him.
"That douchebag." I said.
"We dodged a bullet with that one." Future me said.
Another change in scenery
We were in a graveyard and Jess, Sam and Connor were dressed in black at a service. Jess was a wreck and inconsolable.
"This is Jess' mom's funeral. I'm supposed to be here." I said.
"We should have been here but remember you and Sam and Jess don't talk anymore." Future me said. "You remember how hard this was for Jess. You were at her side constantly keeping her distracted because you were the only one that understood what it was like to lose someone. Since we weren't there…"
The scene changes and we were in a bathroom and the tub was overflowing. I moved the curtain and saw that Jess was in the tub and the water was red.
"No." I said. Trying to help her but I couldn't touch her.
"You're just here to watch." Future me reminded me.
"Why?" I said sobbing. Suddenly the door opened.
"Mommy?" Connor said walking forward. "Daddy!"
"Connor what… No No! Jess!" He said crying.
"Jess and Sam kept us grounded and got us through the worst time of our life but we also did the same for them." Future me said. "And since Jess died Ellie was never born. Not only that but Sam couldn't leave Connor with you so they moved to London and sent Connor to boarding school while Sam drank himself to death."
The scenery changed and we were at the morgue where Sam's corpse was being identified.
"What about Wren?" I asked.
"Well, we didn't go to Afghanistan and never met Wren. He never became friends with Sam so he couldn't help. Things didn't turn out the way they were supposed to for him either." Future me said.
The scene changed and we were outside the clinic in Afghanistan.
"I know this place." I said. "One of my first runs outside the base."
The doors to the clinic opened and Wren walked out of there by himself.
"Wren." I said smiling. "He's so serious, hard to believe five minutes ago he was making funny faces at a two year old so he wouldn't see his shots coming."
Then the building exploded.
"You remember what happened here?" Future me said.
"Some one put explosives inside the place blew up but Aya put up a forcefield around us and … No." I said moving through the rubble. I moved rocks and pipes until finally I found him. "No, Not him." I said looking at Wren's body.
"We weren't here to shield him from the blast, Wren could only teleport away from attacks he saw coming so he died," Future me said. "But that's not all."
The scene changed again but this time we were in a morgue, the morgue at the base if I remembered correctly.
"I'm here to retrieve the body of Major Wren Spencer, I have orders to escort him back to London." I heard a familiar voice said.
I looked over and saw who it was.
"Aiden." I said.
"Wren never moved to Dallas to move in with you so Aiden never showed up and you two never got him to defect and change his ways. He still works for the organization." Future me said. "Well he did."
The scene changed and we were suddenly in a weird warehouse.
"Aiden, you did well." A man with snow-white hair said.
"Thank you sir. I'm sorry I wasn't the one to end Wren." Aiden said.
"It's of no matter, we have his body, Wren will repay his debt to us another way." The man said. "With his body we will make a new teleporter, a better one that will live to serve us. But enough of that, we need to discuss you."
"Me sir?" Aiden said.
"It'll be quite some time before the new asset will be ready to go out in the field and as such your services are no longer required. You have outlived your usefulness to us. Thank you for your years of service." The man said before shooting Aiden between the eyes.
"Shit." I said.
"Yeah, but it gets worse." Future me said. "You remember Wren saying how his former bosses recruited soldiers."
"Orphanages or hospitals." I said.
The scene changed and we were in some lab.
"These subjects shall do nicely." A man said. There were children from the ages of two to three lined up. At the end of the row was a very familiar little boy.
"Please tell me that's not…" I started.
"What's your name young man?" One of the scientists said.
"C-Connor." He said quietly and terrified.
"Well Connor, are you scared?" he asked.
"I want my daddy." Connor cried.
"There there now, you don't have to worry, I'll give you something that'll make you be stronger so you'll never scared again." The man said picking up my godson.
"Stop him." I said.
"We don't interfere, we're just here to see." Future me said.
"He's going to hurt Connor." I said crying. "We made a promise."
"Not here we didn't. Here we never became Connor's godparents." Future me said.
The scene changed and it was Connor a little older. He was at a cliff and there was a man next to him.
"Be strong or don't come back at all." He said before pushing him over the cliff.
Next thing I knew Connor teleported next to him and stabbed him in the stomach.
"Well done, you're ready." The man with white hair said.
"He did to Connor what he did to Wren and Aiden." I said.
"No, he did to Connor what Hydra did to Bucky. Wren and Aiden still had their personalities. They stripped that little boy to nothing and programmed him into a machine." Future me said.
The scene changed and Connor was strapped to a chair and they were electrocuting him.
"Change it." I said. "I don't want to see this."
"There's still more for you to see." Future me said.
"Just change it!" I yelled sobbing.
The scene changed and I was at Stark Tower again. There was a party full swing and everyone was having a good time except me.
"Kiddo, you look gorgeous where's that fiancé of yours?" Dad asked.
"He's getting ready, he should be here soon." Other me said.
"Well buck up kid, this is all for you. Can your old man throw a party or what?" he said with a smile.
"Yeah it's great dad." I said.
"but…" He said.
"there's no but." I said.
"There's always a but." Dad said.
"You ever get tired of this, When it's not work it's galas, or meetings. I mean what's the point in all of it." I said. "How do you do it?"
I turned around and saw that dad had left and was flirting with some other girl.
"Things didn't work out with Pepper. Dad was always so busy showing us a good time or fighting and locked in his workshop Pepper finally got fed up and walked away." Future me said.
"At least I still have friends right?" I said "Why else would all these people be here?"
"They're all here to network or trying to get us or dad to invest in something. Even when we're not working we're working. " Future me said.
We saw other me get up and walk out of the room.
"Where'd she go?" I said.
"Let's go see." Future me said.
We went into the elevator and down stairs to some of the rooms. We walked down the hall and into one of the rooms. It was some sort of apartment and there were clothes scattered around.
We walked down the hallway into one of the rooms and we heard screams. Followed by other me running out of the room with Dean running after me.
"Nora it's not what it looks like." Dean said.
"Why does every guy that gets caught cheating say that?" I said.
"I'll say it again we dodged a bullet with this one," Future me said.
"So what all your clothes fell off and Sharon's too? Fuck you, Get the hell out of my tower." Other me said throwing him his clothes and the engagement ring.
Other me went into my room and dragged Sharon out by her hair.
"Let me go." Sharon struggled. "It's not our fault you're such a frigid bitch."
"Go fuck yourself at least I don't have to sleep with other people's fiances to feel good about myself. You cheated on a great guy for what? You do realize Dean doesn't' have a penny to his name." I said kicking her out into the hallway where Steve happened to be at.
"Sharon?" Steve said.
"Steve it's not what it looks like." She said.
"Security's on it's way here, if you want to save face I'd put some clothes on." Other me said slamming the door.
Other me sat down and poured myself a drink. Then one drink turned into half a bottle and things got dark. Other me went and took out a hand full of what looked like anti anxiety meds.
"Anti anxiety?" I said.
"Anti depressants." Future me corrected.
Other me took out a picture of Me, Sam, and Jess at the hospital the day Connor was born.
"You were right Sammy, I don't even know who I am anymore." She said before taking the pills and washing them down with some scotch.
There was a knock at the door.
"Nora." We heard Steve call out.
"Go away." Other me said.
Next thing we know the door opens and Steve locks the door behind him.
"I'm sorry." He apologized.
"Why are you apologizing?" Other me asked. "Did you sleep with Dean?"
"I've only slept with one man my entire life and it was not Dean." Steve said sitting down next to me.
"You never talk about him." Other me said.
"It's easier that way. He was my god damn world. Even when I had nothing I had Bucky." Steve said. "At least back then."
"Sounds like a great guy. Wish I could have met him." Other me said.
"He would have loved you." Steve said.
"What makes you say that?" Other me said.
"Because you make people fall in love with you without realizing it." Steve said.
"I doubt that. I'm screwed up." Other me said. "Everything used to be so simple, I worked and did what I thought was right and it made me happy, now no matter what I do, party, work, philanthropy nothing makes me happy. It's like there's this big void inside of me, like something's missing and no matter what I do I can't find a way to fill it. I don't even recognize myself when I see myself in the mirror."
"You want to know what I see? I see my best friend. I see a strong kind hearted woman that spends every waking moment trying to make the world a better place. I see the woman that I love." Steve said.
"You don't have to lie to make me feel better." Other me said.
"I'm not lying. You know why Sharon decided to sleep with Dean? It's because she was jealous of you. Because I have your name on me and not hers. She didn't like how good friends we were. Said I didn't look at her the way I look at you. And she was right." Steve said.
"Steve don't." other me said. "We're both on the rebound right now and I don't want to ruin what we have okay, you're the one good thing I have right now and I can't lose you." She said sobbing.
"Hey, I'm not going anywhere beautiful." Steve said pulling me into a hug.
"I'm tired." I said.
"Let's get you to bed."
"Can't, Dean fucked Sharon in that bed." Other me said.
"You can sleep in my guest room." Steve said pulling me up before leading me out of the apartment. They walked across the hall to Steve's apartment and walked into the guestroom.
"I'll be next door if you need anything." Steve said.
"Steve," Other me called out.
"Yeah?"
"Can you stay with me Until I fall asleep?" Other me asked.
"Of course Doll." Steve said Curling up behind me.
"She's not going to wake up is she?" I asked.
"That's what tends to happen when you drink an entire bottle of antidepressants with half a bottle of two thousand dollar scotch." Future me said.
"What was the point of all this? To prove to me that shit could be worse?" I said.
"You said our lives would be better off without Aya in it. You just saw what would have happened if we had never become her host and you have to admit that even at our lowest it didn't come close to all of that." Future me said.
"That's cause we were never truly alone. We may not have had Dad or Steve and Bucky and we may have been miserable but we had Jess, Sam Connor, Wren, and hell we even have Aiden." I said.
"Whenever Aya makes a choice she sees every possible outcome. When she was deciding whether or not to choose us as her host she saw this and she saw our life. Aya may come off as a conniving bitch but that bitch cares enough about us to not condemn us to that hell." Future me said. "It's time."
Then everything faded away.
I woke up gasping for air in my room. It was all a dream or was it.
I teleported downstairs just as Connor and Future me were walking in.
"Auntie Nora, Our rocket went up higher than all the trees." Connor said cheerfully.
I ran up to him and pulled him into a tight hug. I kissed the top of his head and put my hands on either side of his face.
"As long as I'm alive you're never setting foot in a boarding school, hell you're not setting foot in England." I said hugging him again.
Suddenly the baby monitor went off and Ellie's cries went off.
"I'll be back." I told Connor. I teleported to the nursery and there was my beautiful six month old goddaughter. "I've never been happier to have to change your poopy diaper princess."
After I changed her diaper I went to the living room where everyone was waiting and my phone started ringing. I teleported it out of dad's hands and answered.
"Go for Nora." I said.
"Hey, just wanted to let you know I'm home so you can come and drop off the kids."
"I'll be right there and I swear you better not be drinking a beer when I get there or you will be smacked." I said hanging up.
"Hey buddy, that was your dad it's time to go." I said.
"Aww, uncle tony was going to show me how the arc reactor works and how to build one." Connor said.
"Not right now buddy but how about after I finish moving everything into the new house he gives you a tour of Avengers tower and his lab?" I said.
"Yes please, thank you uncle tony." He said hugging dad before running to get his backpack.
"I'm giving tours now?" dad said.
"You're damn right you are." I said "And call Pepper and let her know you're okay. Communication is the foundation of any good relationship."
"What?" dad said.
"Phone dial now!" I said grabbing Ellie's diaper bag.
"Okay, Okay." He said taking his phone out.
"I'm ready." Connor said.
"Okay bud say bye to everyone." I said just as Aya appeared.
"How was the nap?" She asked.
"We need to talk, I'll be back in a bit." I said. I teleported the kids to their house.
"Hey bud how was your day?" Sam asked Connor.
"I flew a rocket and I met the Avengers." Connor said.
"Wow that's awesome. Go get washed up for dinner." Sam said.
"Okay. Thank you auntie Nora." Connor said hugging me before running off.
"How's my princess?" Sam asked.
"She just woke up and she's in a good mood. Can I just say you are the best person I know and if I ever turn into a self centered bitch and start to forget who I am call me out on it." I said.
"What happened to you?" Sam said concerned.
"Future me pulled a Scrooge and show me what could have been. Needless to say you make my life better by being in it so thank you Sammy. I love you brother." I said hugging him.
"Love you too sis." Sam said hugging me. "You sure you're okay?"
"Yeah just been a weird day." I said. "I gotta go, it's time for a serious talk."
"With who? Aya, your dad or Steve?" Sam asked.
"All of them." I said before teleporting back home.
"We need to talk." I said walking into the living room.