Hey everyone I know it's been a while and I apologize for it. As we got closer to Civil War I started getting writer's block over how I wanted things to go especially with the whole Bucky/Steve agreement from a few chapters ago. I didn't want to put a less that great chapter out until I was completely certain it did Nora justice. I want to thank everyone for the messages of support you guys made my day during some of the right patches I've recently gone through. Though my muse has finally returned and I hope to start updating a lot more frequently, though I do have a job interview (Finally) on Thursday so that might shake up my writing schedule a bit. Rest assured this story will not be abandoned.
As for this chapter we get some of the aftermath of that dinner. Before anyone says anything, just remember she's been through a lot and she still has a lot to go through. She's bottled up a lot of things trying to keep everyone happy but as I've recently come to learn everyone has a breaking point, even fictional characters. Anyways let me know what you think. Thank you, you're all amazing. Enjoy :)
The next morning I woke up lying on top of a really lumpy mattress. I opened my eyes and smiled when I realized I wasn't actually on the mattress but on top of Bucky.
"Morning." He whispered.
"Morning." I said smiling up at him. "How'd you sleep?"
"Best night I've had in seventy years." He answered.
"Good to know." I said moving to straddle him before leaning down to kiss him.
"Ready for another round already?" Bucky asked with a smirk.
"WAH!" Wren cried from his room.
"Like clockwork." I said. "That was a hunger and dirty diaper cry." I gave Bucky another kiss before moving off of him. I looked around and slipped on his shirt from the night before.
"I'll go make coffee and get started on breakfast. Any requests?" He asked.
"Surprise me." I said before going down the hall where a crying Wren was waiting for me. "Morning kiddo." I said looking down at Wren. He stopped fussing for a bit before whimpering a bit.
"Up we go. Super baby to the rescue." I said picking him up and making sound effects. "umph, diaper change first."
I put Wren down on the changing table and quickly cleaned him up before going to feed him. I pumped out some milk and Wren drank away.
When we were done I quickly changed into some shorts and a tee before heading downstairs.
"Coffee." Bucky said placing a mug in front of me.
"Thank you." I said.
"I settled on eggs, bacon and hashbrowns." Bucky said looking for approval.
"Better make enough for Aiden too." I said.
"I don't think he's going to be back anytime soon." Bucky said just as the front door opened.
"Hello beautiful family!" he said cheerfully as he walked in. "Thank you." He said taking my coffee.
"Hello bugger." Aiden said tickling Wren's tummy making him giggle.
"Someone had a good night." I said.
"Her name was Hilary, she was a yoga instructor and she was very… limber." Aiden said with a smile.
"Are we going to be meeting Hilary anytime soon?" I asked.
"Oh hell no." Aiden said. "It's polite to get to know someone who gave you a very enjoyable night and offered to make you pancakes."
"She made you pancakes?" Bucky said.
"Offered, never stay for breakfast the morning after, gives people the wrong idea. How was your night? Work things out with the Captain?" Aiden asked.
"We did." Bucky said making Aiden turn to look at me.
"We're sharing custody." I said.
"Now I feel like a child of divorce." Bucky mumbled.
"You're sharing your soulmate?" Aiden asked.
"We're alternating days, Bucky's staying here Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at the compound Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday with Steve and Sunday is joint visitation." I said.
"Joint visitation?" Aiden said arching an eyebrow.
"We're spending the day together, the three of us." I said.
"Well that's… interesting." Aiden said. "How do you feel about this arrangement?" He asked Bucky.
"I think it's a good idea, help mend some bridges." Bucky said.
"Right, guess I'm babysitting on Sundays." Aiden said.
"If you don't mind, if not I can ask the dads or Natasha and Wanda." I said. Bucky gave Nora a look but didn't say anything.
"No it's alright, we could use some guy time." Aiden said.
"Settled then. Eat up we have a busy day ahead of us." Bucky said.
"We do?" I asked.
"It's Sunday? Joint visitation day." Bucky said.
"We had dinner together yesterday we're good until next week. If you want to spend time with Steve I can teleport you to the compound." I offered.
"Doll." Bucky said giving me a week.
"I got you to myself for almost a month and my dad's feeling a bit neglected. You guys get today and starting Monday we have our schedule." I said.
"Okay." Bucky said begrudgingly. We ate breakfast in relative silence before Bucky went upstairs to change.
"Could you be any more obvious?" Aiden said.
"Not now." I said closing my eyes.
"For fucks sake Nora…" Aiden started.
"Uh wasn't talking to you." I said as I started glowing.
"Damn." Aiden said as everything got too bright to see.
When I opened my eyes I wasn't in my house anymore, I didn't even recognize the building. It was some sort of office building.
"Aya?" I said and she appeared next to me.
"Yes." She said.
"Where are we?" I asked.
"Berlin." Aya answered.
"Why are we in Berlin?" I said confused.
"Future Berlin." Aya said.
"Nora?" I heard someone say. I turned around and saw Aiden.
"Aiden?" I said.
"You can't be here right now." He said.
"Time Jump." I said "Didn't really get a say in the matter."
"We need to move." He said putting a hand on my arm and leading me away. I heard sirens in the distance.
"What the hell is going on?" I asked.
"Not your time, you know the rules." He said. "Teleport us home."
"What?" I said.
"Nora, just do it." Aiden said.
"But…" I started.
"He's over here." Someone said.
"Nora!" Aiden said. I took his hand and zapped us to the house. "Thank you."
"Auntie Nora!" Connor said running over.
"Hey buddy." I said as he tackled me into a hug and almost knocked me down. He was older than when I last saw him. Maybe a year or two.
"Nora." Sam said.
"Hey Sammy." I said.
"Not our Nora?" Sam asked Aiden.
"Past Nora." Aiden confirmed. "Hey Bugger." Aiden said picking up Wren who was walking.
"Wren?" I said. He was walking and he was so big. His big blue eyes were just like his dad's and he had Wren's reddish blonde waves.
"Where in the timeline are you?" Aiden asked as he pulled out the familiar red journal.
"Uh Bucky and I just had dinner with Steve and came up with the arrangement. Wren's only three months old." I said.
"Ah the arrangement you're trying to flake out on." Sam said.
"Am not." I said hugging my son before hugging Ellie. I watched the two of them holding hands and running over to the living room to join Connor in watching a movie. Damn, I'm in my own near distant future.
"I need to pack stay here." Aiden said disappearing.
"Pack?" I said looking at Sam.
"Not your time." Sam said giving me a sympathetic look. "So what's going on with you?"
"Besides a time jump nothing." I said.
"I meant back in your time?" Sam said. "You finally work things out with Steve?"
"We had dinner and we came up with a schedule." I said.
"And how do you feel about it?" Sam said.
"It's a fair deal. We get equal time with Bucky." I said.
"But?" Sam said.
"There's no but." I said quickly.
"Oh there's a but." Sam said with a knowing smirk.
"But…" I admitted. "The whole group day thing that I'm not sure about."
"Not sure about or completely hate the idea all together?" Sam asked.
"Uh I don't know. If it weren't for Bucky I wouldn't have agreed to it at all but he's been through a lot and if it makes him happy I'll put up with it." I said.
"Nora that's not a reason to agree to it. Bucky's your soulmate and you love him but if you're not sure about it you shouldn't go through with it. You'll just be making yourself and them miserable if you do." Sam said.
"I hate it when you're right." I said.
"Talk it out, and be honest this time." Sam said.
"Alright time to go." Aiden said.
"It's really bad isn't it?" Sam asked him.
"Not sure, it might be Nora being paranoid but it's better to be safe than sorry." Aiden said.
"Okay what's going on?" I asked.
"Not your time." Sam and Aiden answered at the same time.
"You know they'll come to you first right?" Aiden said.
"I'm a lawyer, I know what they'll ask and what to do go." Sam said.
"Take care brother." Aiden said hugging Sam briefly before going to the living room. "Connor, be good for your Dad and look after you sister." Aiden told him.
"Why do you have to go?" Connor said tearing up.
"I have to champ. Grown up stuff." Aiden said.
"Avenger stuff?" Connor asked.
"Something like that. Your Aunt and I will visit when we can." Aiden said.
"I'll miss you." Connor said hugging Aiden.
"Miss you too champ." Aiden said hugging him back. When he let go Connor walked over to me.
"You're coming back right?" Connor asked me with tears in his eyes. I kneeled down to eye level.
"Whenever you really need me I'll be there. Pinky promise" I said offering my pinky. Connor linked his with mine before hugging me. I kissed his forehead and let go. "I love you sweetie."
"Love you Auntie." He said before going to his dad. Sam was talking to Wren and Wren looked sad. He hugged Sam and Sam hugged him back. When he let go Wren hugged Ellie and gave her a stuffed elephant plush toy. Ellie cried and hugged Wren before kissing his cheek.
Aiden picked up Wren and Wren hid his face into the crook of his neck.
What the hell is going on?
"Nora?" Aiden said getting my attention. He lifted his phone to show me a photo of a kitchen. "Take us there."
"Aiden…" I said starting to argue.
"You trusted me to be there when you show up." Aiden said giving me a pleading look. I nodded and put a hand on Aiden and Wren's shoulder and teleported us to that kitchen.
When we got there Aiden put Wren down and Wren moved to mug my legs.
"Where are we?" I asked.
"Safehouse, I set up a while ago." Aiden said.
"Why?" I asked.
"You know I can't tell you." Aiden said.
"You just said good bye to Sam and the kids like you were never going to see them again. What's going on?" I said.
"He can't tell you." Aya said appearing.
"Aya!" Wren said going to hug Aya.
"Hey kid." Aya said with a small smile as she ruffled his hair making him giggle.
"Aya." I said giving her a look.
"You'll find out eventually, it's still a bit further down your timeline." Aya said. "Speaking of it's time for you to get back."
"We'll be okay. Remember this place." Aiden said.
"Right." I said kneeling down. "Be good for you uncle okay?"
"Yes Mommy." Wren said hugging me.
"Love you little man." I said kissing his cheek.
"Love you mommy." Wren said before letting go and going to stand next to Aiden.
With that I started glowing and appeared back in my kitchen.
"You okay?" Aiden asked.
"How long was I gone?" I asked.
"Five minutes." Aiden said. "You alright?"
"Uh yeah… you have any business in Berlin?" I asked.
"Not that I know of. Why?" Aiden asked.
"No reason, let's just stay out of there for a while." I said making him give me a concerned look.
"Okay Doll I'm ready." Bucky said.
"Be back in a sec." I said taking Bucky's hand and teleporting him to the compound. Everyone was in the middle of breakfast when we showed up. "Morning." I greeted.
"Nora, Buck." Steve said getting up to greet us. He looked like he wanted to try and hug me but with the look I gave him he thought better of it.
"Hey punk." Bucky said hugging Steve.
"Ready for our day out?" Steve asked.
"I'll see you later Bucky." I said about to leave.
"Wait I thought it was going to be the three of us." Steve asked.
"I hogged Bucky for a month, you two need some quality time together. I'll see you at home." I said standing on my tiptoes and kissing him before teleporting home.
"How'd he take it?" Aiden asked.
"With open arms. Practically lifted Bucky into his arms and spun him around." I said.
"You want to talk about how you're deflecting?" Aiden said.
"You really want to talk about my relationship troubles when we could be sparring or throwing knives at each other?" I said.
"We're doing what now?" Aiden said perking up.
"Aya keeps saying I'm getting sloppy so I figured it might be time to get back into shape. So what do you say?" I offered.
"Basement twenty minutes." Aiden said getting up.
One Hour Later-
"AH!" I shouted as I got flipped onto the mat.
"You're distracted." Aiden said as I rolled on my side and started getting up.
"I'm fine." I said throwing a kick that he blocked before I used my weight to throw him off balance.
"Alright then, why did you blow off Bucky and the captain?" Aiden said.
"I didn't blow them off they needed…" I said throwing a punch which Aiden dodged "Some time to themselves."
"That's the excuse you're going with?" Aiden said.
"Not an excuse." I said.
"Sure it isn't." Aiden said.
Joint Visitation #1-
"You have our numbers." I told Aiden.
"He does." Bucky said.
"And there's extra milk…"
"Behind the regular milk." Aiden said. "Burp him for ten minutes after, use the diaper rash cream when I change him and make sure he gets some time on the ground on his stomach but monitored at all times. Go already."
"Just one thing." I said.
"Bloody hell Nora." Aiden groaned.
"Oh Mommy's going to miss you." I said blowing raspberries into Wren's cheek making him giggle. "Yes she is. Yes she is."
"He's not if you don't give him space to actually miss you." Aiden said.
"Fine." I said giving him one last kiss before handing him off to Aiden. "Ready?"
"Yes." Bucky said leaning down to kiss me. I teleported us to the restaurant we were meeting at. Steve was waiting outside and jumped up a bit surprised when he saw us.
"Hey." Steve said coming over to greet us.
"Hey Stevie." Bucky said hugging him.
"Hey beautiful." Steve said with a smile.
"Steve." I said with a nod making his smile falter.
"Let's go in." Steve said opening the door for us. I was about to walk in when my phone started ringing.
"Uh it's the hospital. I got to take this, meet you inside." I said taking a few steps back. "Stark."
"Doctor Stark we just received a call from Newark general they have a heart, a perfect Match for Jeffery Adams." One of the residents said.
"Ah! That's great. What's the ETA?" I asked. Jeffery Adams was a ten-year-old kid that had been on the waitlist for a transplant for almost a year due to a genetic congenital heart defect.
"Jeffery's already here and being prepped, the heart should be here in less than an hour." They answered.
"I'm on my way." I said. I quickly made my way inside where Steve and Bucky were sitting down. Bucky stood up and was about to pull out my chair but I stopped him. "I'm so sorry about this but I have to go."
"But we just got here?" Bucky said.
"That was the hospital, they have a heart for my patients, it's going to get there in less than an hour." I said. "I have to run."
"No it's okay go." Steve said smiling even though I could tell he was disappointed.
"I'm really sorry." I said kissing Bucky. "I'll see you later." I said before teleporting to the hospital.
Joint Visitation #2-
We were at the compound about to go out on a hike when I got another call.
"Doll." Bucky said giving me a look.
"It's Sam, I'll make it quick." I said giving him a reassuring smile.
"Sammy what's up?" I asked.
"Connor took a hit and we're at the hospital. Could really use a hand with Ellie." Sam said.
"On my way." I said. "I…" I started.
"I heard go." Bucky said.
"I'm so sorry." I said.
"Don't be I just got called away on a mission." Steve said.
"There's always next week." I said. "Need me to drop you off?"
"I guess it's going to be a guys day." Bucky said.
"Yup. Good Luck." I told Steve before zapping Bucky back to the town house before heading to the hospital.
Connor ended up with a broken arm but other than that he was fine.
Joint Visitation #3-
Steve's mission ended up being a bit longer than anticipated so this ended up being family day.
Sam, Aiden, Bucky and I decided to take the kids out to the beach house. The weather was surprisingly sunny so it was perfect.
Bucky seemed a lot more relaxed than I'd seen in a long time.
Joint visitation #4-
"Doll you can't keep doing this. You haven't even given him a chance." Bucky said.
"Buck I am, I just have a lot going on." I said.
"Really?" He said not believing me.
"Montgomery's been covering for me on Sundays but he really needs today off, it's his niece's baptism and he's the godfather." I said. It wasn't a complete lie. His niece was getting baptized today and he was the godfather, he just got the day off too.
"I know but Doll it just seems like you're avoiding spending time with us." Bucky said. Crap if he was intentionally guilt tripping me it wouldn't have been this effective. I was going to try and talk it out but then life kept throwing me getaway options and it was easier than disappointing Bucky.
"Buck I promise, next week short of an alien invasion the three of us are going out for Sunday brunch. I'll even make reservations." I said.
"Promise?" Bucky asked.
I put my arms around him and pulled him in for a kiss. He proceeded to lift me up onto the counter and deepened the kiss. I put my legs around his waist and Bucky moved his hand up and down my thigh.
"Uh, sorry." Steve said making us move apart. "Friday let me in."
"Yeah, I should probably get going." I said standing up before walking to Wren's swing. He was sound asleep and hardly fussed when I took him out.
"Aiden's watching him?" Steve asked.
"No, my Dad. Aiden's on a Intel mission and I have to go cover the ER for the other head of ER." I said grabbing the diaper bag.
"We could watch him?" Steve offered.
"No." I answered pretty quickly.
"Nora." Bucky said giving me a pleading look.
"My dad wants to spend some quality time together with Wren. He's really embracing the role of grandpa." I said. "Have fun."
With that I teleported to the Tower where dad was waiting for me.
"Hey kiddos." Dad said getting up to take Wren from me. "Little guy's knocked out." He said as he put him down in the portable crib.
"Quite the feast." I said looking at the spread put out on the table.
"Yeah had a craving. No bicentennial man today? Or is it Centennial Man?" He asked.
"Bucky's with Steve today and Aiden's away meeting with a contact." I said.
"So just us like old times." Dad said fondly.
"Marathon Lab session after breakfast?" I asked.
"Thought you'd never ask." Dad said with a smile.
Many Hours Later-
We were working on Nano technology dad wanted to integrate into the suit, which was by far the coolest thing I had ever toyed with since dad asked me to try out the remote controlled surgical robot, when he got a call.
"Boss captain Rogers is calling." Friday announced.
"Put Spangles through." Dad said before I could tell him not to mention I was here.
"Tony." Steve greeted.
"Spangles to what do I owe the pleasure." Dad answered.
"We had the lab here run some tests on some of the tech we found and they can't crack it any chance you can stop by and take a look?" Steve asked.
"Sure Nora and I just finished…" dad started and I waved at him to stop talking.
"Nora's there?" Steve asked. I signed at dad not to say anything.
"Uh got to go, the grandkid's up from his nap. Be by later." Dad said ending the call while giving me a look. "What was that about?"
"Nothing." I answered to fast for dad's liking.
"Nora." Dad said looking right into my eyes trying to get me to crack.
"Oh look at the time, little guy's tummy time." I said making Wren giggle.
"Nora Eliana Stark." Dad snapped making me freeze. "Explain. Now."
"Uh… Remember how a few weeks ago I had dinner with Steve and Bucky where we tried to figure out how things were going to work out and we came up with the schedule?" I said.
"Yeah?" dad asked.
"Well Bucky also asked that on Sundays the three of us spend the day together." I said.
"Today's Sunday." Dad said before he realized what I was getting at. "You played hooky?"
"Kind of." I said.
"You ditched the super soldiers to spend time with me. Aw I'm touched." Dad said putting his hand over his heart teasing me.
"More like I've ditched the last four joint visitation days if we count today." I said.
"Nora." Dad said in a chastising tone.
"I know, I know. Future Sam said to talk to them about how I really felt but then Bucky looks at me with those gorgeous steel blue eyes and I feel guilty saying no." I said.
"Kid, I get that you want to make him happy but you shouldn't have to sacrifice your happiness to do that." Dad said.
"Dad I am happy. He makes me really happy and he loves Wren. It's just… him." I said.
"Spangles?" dad said.
"Yes. When we first came up with the deal I thought it would be okay that I could handle it but once we actually got to it… I just couldn't." I said. "And then stuff kept happening that let me get out of it so I've been avoiding it."
"Do you love him?" Dad asked.
"Of course I love Bucky." I said.
"I meant Rogers." Dad said.
"That doesn't matter." I said.
"Obviously it does matter if not you wouldn't be such a wreck about It." dad stated.
"I have to talk to them now don't I?" I asked.
"That would be the adult thing to do." Dad said. "But that doesn't mean we can't wait until after dinner."
"Can we stop by for dessert?" I asked.
"Sure where do you want to go?" dad asked.
"There's this gelateria in Rome." I started.
"Keep it in the city." Dad said.
"I can teleport." I said.
"I could go for an authentic pasta dinner." Dad said with a smirk.
Avengers Compound- Third Person's POV
Steve and Bucky went out on a run to burn off some of the frustration they felt at hearing Nora had lied to them from Tony slipping up.
Everyone was around doing their own thing and Sam was working on something in the lounge room.
Suddenly there was a bright light and Sam had to pinch himself to make sure what he was seeing wasn't some sort of dream because standing in front of him was his best friend wearing the wedding dress she wore the day she married his now deceased best friend.
"Oh Fuck." She said.
"Nora?" Sam said getting closer. "What are you doing here?" Then he realized what was happening. "Oh crap this is where you went to before the wedding."
"No shit Sam." Nora said freaking out. "This is so bad. I just jilted my best friend at the altar."
"Relax Jess and I are taking care of that, or we did." He corrected. Time traveling was confusing. Sam had no idea how Nora managed to keep everything straight. "So you're freaking out."
"What? No I'm not…" Nora said obviously lying.
"You so are, Aya teleports you away whenever you start panicking to give you time to pull yourself together." Sam said.
"Oh…" Nora said blushing. "I wasn't panicking exactly…"
"Wow." Sam Wilson said as he walked in. "You're wearing a wedding dress."
"Yeah, I got sent here ten minutes before I was supposed to marry my best friend." Nora said with a groan.
"I need proof this happened." Natasha said sneaking in without anyone else knowing until she said that and started taking photos with her phone.
"Guys seriously not the time." Nora said freaking out.
"What's going on?" Sam Wilson asked.
"She's freaking out and she's in denial about it." Sam said.
"I'm not freaking out," Nora tried to deny. "I'm just getting married to my best friend and if this goes all wrong I go to jail and I lose my best friend." She said as she started hyperventilating.
"Nora you need to calm down." Natasha said.
Nobody had noticed but Bucky and Steve had returned from their run and were listening through the door to the entire conversation.
"I am calm, I'm very calm. I'm making a list of everything I can use to make a shiv for when my cell mate tries to kill me." Nora said.
"Okay sit down." Sam said pulling out a chair for Nora before looking for a file on his laptop. "I'm going to show you something that if Wren ever found out I showed you he'd probably kill me."
'Would have killed me." Sam corrected in his head. He really missed his best friend. Sam took his laptop and set it in front of Nora before playing the video. It was of the day of Nora and Wren's wedding, as the guys were getting ready. He remembered that day like it was yesterday.
"Did you get Nora a wedding gift like you said you were?" Sam asked.
"Yeah I did. Had to pull some strings but the look on her face will be completely worth it." Wren said wiping his face with a hand towel.
"You okay man?" Sam asked.
"Uh yeah, just marrying my best friend who so obviously deserves better and if I screw up not only do I get deported but she ends up in jail. What am I doing?" Wren said sweating bullets.
"Wren freaked out?" Nora said turning to Sam.
"Oh he freaked out." Sam said nodding with a small smile. "Keep watching."
"Wren calm down. Look whether you can admit it or not, you love Nora. You say you're not in love with her but you do love her in one form or another. It's probably why you've been obsessing that today is everything she could have ever dreamed about." Sam said.
"This is Nora we're talking about. One of the most important people in my life." Wren said.
"Okay tell me something you could have married Kate and avoided bringing Nora into your mess but you didn't. Why?" Sam asked.
"Because I tried ignoring her once and I felt like the shittiest person alive. Jess was right, I'm better off with Nora in my life. She makes everything better. When I wake up screaming in the middle of the night she gets up and makes hot cocoa and waits until I'm back asleep before going back to bed. She goes all out for my birthday even though she knows I hate celebrating because she wants to make up for all my previous birthdays and watching her go through all the time jumps and misery of her waiting for her soulmate makes me want to be a better person." Wren said.
"Aw." Nora said tearing up along with Sam and Natasha.
"Why are you friends with Wren?" Sam asked.
"Because despite the fact that he puts up a tough front he has a good heart. In Afghanistan he was the only doctor who gave up his free days to work at the clinic even though the original site got bombed. He calls me out on my bullshit and when shit hit the fan he chose me over his girlfriend. I met him when I het rock bottom and he gave me a reason to want to live again." Nora answered starting to feel her resolve strengthen at the realization that she was doing the right thing.
"Do you have any doubts now?" Sam asked already knowing the answer.
"No if there's anyone I had to scam the government with, I'm glad it's him." Nora answered making everyone chuckle.
"There you go." Sam said. Nora stood up and hugged him.
"Thanks Sammy." Nora said.
"That's what I'm here for sis." Sam said with a smile.
Nora looked startled for a second before the glowing started.
"Well if you'll excuse me I have a wedding to get to." Nora said with a smile before the light got brighter and she disappeared.
"Can't believe, it took them so long to realize they had feelings for each other." Natasha said.
"You weren't there for the rollercoaster that was their will they or won't they relationship. They were in love before they even realized it." Sam said.
"Sometimes you forget how young she really is." Sam Wilson said.
"She's been through a lot." Steve said as he and Bucky walked in.
"How much did you hear?" Natasha asked.
"All of it." Bucky said. "I always knew there was something there, just didn't realize how serious it was."
"They went through a lot together." Sam said closing his laptop. "I should get going. Have to stop by the store to grab some groceries. Night guys."
"Night." They all said.
Eventually it was just Steve and Bucky and they couldn't get what they had heard out of their heads.
"She loved him Buck." Steve said.
"Yeah she really did." Bucky said. "Hey."
"Hm?" Steve said.
"What's on your mind?" Bucky asked.
"She's never going to forgive me." Steve said.
"Steve, give her time." Bucky said.
"Things are never going to be the way they used to be are they?" Steve asked.
"We're not the same people we were in the 1940's Steve. I was brainwashed. You got frozen for seventy years. Nora's a time traveler who's spent thirty years in the past and went through hell, some of which I'm sure she hasn't told anyone. Things aren't going to be the same but there can still be an us." Bucky said.
"I hope you're right." Steve said.
One Extended Dinner Later- Nora's POV
"Alright kid, time to face the music." Dad said.
"I know, thanks for today dad." I said.
"Anytime, we should actually do this more often, I missed our lab marathons." Dad said.
"Yeah, Sundays work for you?" I asked.
"Nora." Dad said.
"Right." I said putting a hand on his shoulder and teleporting the three of us to the compound. Bucky and Steve were on the couch giving each other bedroom eyes and jumped when they saw us.
"Hey." I said.
"Spangles, Robocop." Dad greeted. "You said you had tech you needed me to look at?"
"Tony, Nora, didn't know you guys were stopping by? Hey little man." Rhodey said cooing a Wren. Wren immediately reached out for him. I handed him over and Rhodey bounced him a bit.
"We'll be in the lab." Dad said ushering Rhodey and Wren out of the common room.
"So how was your day?" I said hoping they wouldn't bring up the elephant in the room.
"We need to talk." Bucky said.
"Course we do." I said.
"You've been avoiding us." Steve said.
"No I haven't." I said.
"Doll we caught you red handed." Bucky said.
"I wasn't avoiding you both." I said.
"It's me." Steve said sadly.
"Doll I thought we were trying to work through this?" Bucky said.
"Buck pushing two people together isn't how you work things out. There are so many thing you don't understand and as much as I wish I could give you this, I just can't." I said.
"It's supposed to be the three of us together, till the end of the line." Bucky said.
"Baby look at me, we are together. You have me and you have Steve that won't change but the three of us together it's over." I said. "Maybe one day we can get to a point where we can maybe be friends but right now it's too soon."
"Nora he did everything you asked. The Carter girl isn't an issue anymore." Bucky said. I turned to Steve and he gave me a pleading look not to say anything. I couldn't break Bucky's heart anymore than I already had.
"Buck, give us a minute." I told him.
"But…" Bucky said.
"It's okay." I said and he nodded before walking out.
"Nora I…" Steve started before I signaled at him to stop and teleported us to the ranch in Dallas. "What?"
"Super Soldier hearing, I don't think you want him to hear what I'm about to say." I said.
"Nora…" Steve started.
"Shut up." I said. "You're done talking, you're going to listen. I've kept it all bottled in trying to keep everyone from picking sides and keeping Bucky focused on getting acclimated but I need to say this. You broke me, repeatedly. You crashed a plane in the Atlantic and didn't even try to find another way not bothering to consider what that would do to me. I could have gotten over that. I could have gotten over the fact that you did that because you loved Bucky more than me. Fine I understand. I love him more than I love you we're even."
Okay that was a lie. I don't have favorites though at the moment Bucky is definitely winning. I was being petty and I wanted to hurt him, to make him feel even a sliver of the hell he put me through.
"The fact that you were still alive kept me going even after I tried slitting my wrists, when I stood on the ledge of that building in Boston, and when I tried to overdose so I wouldn't have to live knowing that you chose death over me." I said and tears streamed down Steve's face.
"You don't know how much it hurt to know that I appeared in front of you and you still didn't try to look for me. I spent years waiting for you Steve. Our brainwashed amnesiac soulmate found me from fragments of memories and public records in a matter of weeks and you in three years had to wait for my dad to build a robot who wanted to destroy the world and bring you here to finally realize I was alive this entire time. What the Fuck dumbass?" I said.
"I could have gotten over Sharon. She's a bitch and probably a punishment all on it's own but that you would throw in my face the fact that I couldn't have kids the instant she told you she was pregnant? That just proved to me what a selfish asshole you really are. And the icing on the shitpile you keep throwing at me that you actually accuse me of killing an unborn baby. You have any idea what that does to a hormonal pregnant woman who already had the weight of the fucking space time continuum on her shoulders and who was facing raising a kid on her own? Who was terrified out of her fucking mind but had to put on a brave face because what else was she going to do? No you don't because you don't think. I went through hell for you. I cried all the time. There were days I didn't want to get up in the morning, hell I still have those days because of you but you know something, I'm grateful I ended up with you as a soulmate. Because of you, my dad and I have never been closer, I learned who my real friends, no family are," I corrected. "I got to meet the best person I have ever had the honor of meeting, the person who made me want to live again, who showed me what true unconditional love was, and I have a son who I love more than anything in this damn world. The only thing I wish I could change is that despite everything you've done and how much you hurt me I still love you."
"I'm so sorry." Steve sobbed.
"Yeah you should be." I said wiping the tears I hadn't even realized I had shed during my rant. "What I said before stands, Bucky is the priority. He deserves to be happy. We'll never be together again but we can keep it amicable. We share him during holidays keep the schedule going but joint visitation day, that's off the table. The three of us end up at a party or event together we keep it civil but you don't hug me and you don't try to talk to me unless we're in a group."
"No." Steve sobbed.
"This isn't a negotiation. This is how it's going to be." I said. "I'm done getting hurt by you and you don't get to play the victim card. I'm not the same girl you rescued in Azzano anymore. I grew up. Bucky doesn't find out about this conversation because I don't want him to shut you out again. He needs you, he needs us but not together."
"No." Steve said standing up and walking up to me he took my hand in his. "I made the mistake of letting you go once and I'm not doing it again. I love you. You and Bucky are it for me."
"Let go." I said and he did but not before kissing me. Damn it felt good, but then I remembered who was the one kissing me and I blasted him through a wall. "Don't ever do that again."
"Nora." He groaned before passing out.
"Dumbass." I said putting a hand on him and teleporting us back to the compound. I left him passed out on the couch before going to find my dad and son.