I had been to a lot of funerals in my life but I've never been to a funeral for someone that was almost 1000 years. Not to mention it was the first time someone dying actually affected Aya.
She was… quiet.
It was more unsettling than when she made threats or made the house shake to make a point.
Either way the Ancient One, former sorceress supreme and first host of the time stone whose name to this day I still did not know and Aya hadn't said a word when I asked, had asked me to speak at her funeral.
I was getting ready after trying on almost everything I owned. I wasn't sure what the protocol for a sorcerer's funeral was.
I ended choosing a white long sleeved shirt dress, with a black cape coat and over the knee suede heeled boots. I kept my hair down in natural waves. I looked down at the arc reactor necklace in my jewelry box contemplating putting it on before deciding against it and shutting the box.
I headed downstairs to check in on Wren where Aiden was currently watching him.
"Where are you heading off to? Hogwarts?" Aiden asked when he saw me.
"Pretty close, I'm going to a funeral." I said.
"Who died?" He said.
"Old friend. No one you knew." I said smiling at Wren who as soon as I put my arms out towards him teleported into my arms.
"That a normal thing now?" Aiden said.
"Only when he's happy to see me." I said.
"You sure you don't want me to watch him?" Aiden said.
"No it's okay. Steve and Bucky already said they could watch him. Besides Sam is in desperate need for a guys night out." I said. "Take him to a strip club or something."
"I've tried that, last time he told me that was someone's daughter up there and then I could only imagine Ellie all grown up and giving some fat pervert a lap dance." Aiden said.
"Well it's her body and she can do what she wants with it." I said.
"Over my cold dead body." Aiden said before groaning. "You and Sam have ruined me."
"No we just brought out the good man we always knew you were." I said. "Have fun and send me a text if you need me to bail you out or give you a lift to Vegas."
"Will do." Aiden said before I teleported to the compound.
Bucky was cooking dinner while Natasha and Clint were watching TV and Rhodey and Vision were playing chess.
"Hey Doll." Bucky said walking over and kissing me.
"Buh!" Wren cheered.
"Little man." Bucky said picking him up and gently lifting him up and down making plane sounds. Wren giggle before grabbing onto Bucky's hair. "Did someone just get up from his nap?"
"Just in time for dinner. Like always." I said opening the diaper bag and taking out the snacks and Wren's dinner to put in the fridge. "Is Steve still working?"
"He had some paperwork." Bucky said. "I was just about to call him."
"I'll get him for you." I said kissing Bucky before teleporting to Steve's office.
Even after all these months he still jumped a bit when I teleported next to him.
"You know it's called a 9 to 5 work day because it ends at five." I said making him smile.
"Just wanted to get this done so that I could take the loves of my life and my favorite little guy out without having to worry about it." Steve said. "I think that's called a work life balance."
"It is." I said smiling.
"Would it be wrong of me to say you look beautiful in the dress you're wearing to a funeral?" He said.
"Well it's better than Aiden asking me if I was on my way to Hogwarts." I said as he held my hand and pulled me closer. I sat on his lap and hugged him.
"You want us to take Wren home?" he asked.
"No I might get back late and Sam and Aiden are having a guys night. Besides don't you have an early morning team training exercise?" I asked.
"Yeah but I could maybe have you teleport me back tomorrow morning?" he asked.
"You hate teleporting." I said.
"I don't hate it. Besides if it means the three of us in the same bed and the four of us having breakfast in the morning I could learn to get used to it." Steve said. "It's kind of fun. Like riding the cyclone."
"The cyclone makes you throw up." I said.
"That was a long time ago." Steve said.
"It was last month." I said.
"Hate to interrupt this nauseating display of affection but we have somewhere to be." Aya said.
"Right." I said kissing Steve one last time before standing up. "Dinner's just about ready. Wren's snacks and dinner are in the fridge, diaper bags in the common room…"
"I set up the portable crib in our room in case you get in late, hypoallergenic organic cotton sheets, same with his diapers and no blankets in the crib I already had Friday adjust the temperature so he won't need it." Steve said.
"Wow." I said.
"We got this." Steve said.
"I bet you do." I said. "Either way I have my phone on me. Just in case."
"They know. Let's go." Aya said.
"I'll see you later." I said before Aya put a hand on my shoulder and teleported us to Kamar Taj. The place hadn't changed much since 1950. In fact while everything around it had grown and changed the temple itself was exactly the same.
I walked in and was greeted by Wong. We had crossed paths once or twice over the years mostly because the ancient one thought someone else needed to be aware of my situation in case she for whatever reason was indisposed.
Guess she really had seen this coming.
"Wong." I greeted.
"Nora? Or is it…" He started.
"Both." Aya said appearing next to me as he coughed to cover up his surprise.
"You'll get used to it." I said. "How is everything?"
"With the passing of the ancient one a new sorcerer supreme has been appointed. He should be here soon." Wong said.
"And the… Um, body? I'd like to pay my respects before the service." I said.
"In the courtyard." He said gesturing towards where everyone was headed.
"Thanks." I said heading there.
The courtyard had been magically, I'm assuming, rearranged to appear as a river with string lights and lanterns hanging around. At the center was a miniature Viking ship. The head was covered with a thin see through sheet. It was dressed in fine silk yellow robes and surrounded by offerings of flowers and other trinkets.
"Viking funeral?" I asked Aya.
"In tradition with her people, just without the animal sacrifices. She disliked that part." Aya said.
"Fitting." I said before stepping up and placing a bouquet of white assorted flowers from her native land that were held together with twine in her hands. Aya stepped up after me and after her hands glowed a chain with an intricately carved pendant replaced the twine.
After that we both stepped away to let others have their turn. We stayed out of sight not wanting to call any attention to ourselves or even worse make small talk.
"Should I plan mine?" I asked Aya after a while of silence as we watched people go about their business.
"Funerals are for the living not the dead." Aya said.
"You know what I mean." I said.
"You saw your grave and the memorials they had for you, there'd be no point in planning it." Aya said.
"I guess you're right." I said. "Even if I asked not to I doubt anyone would listen."
"They wouldn't." Aya said. "You'll be cremated. Aiden will make sure of it just like he did with Wren."
"Good." I said just as Wong entered the courtyard with a very familiar face.
They stood up front as everyone else took their seats.
"Thank you all for coming." Wong greeted. "The passing of one of our own is never expected and is never an easy thing to deal with, especial one that was the pillar of our order. But we can take solace in the fact that the Ancient One lived a long and full life. She trained us all and her impact in our lives and the world will ripple long after she or any of us are gone. Today we say goodbye to our leader, mentor, and friend. The Ancient one had many friends but here today is one of her oldest friend to say a few words."
I looked to Aya seeing if she wanted to take the lead but when she didn't make a move I teleported down next to Wong who jumped a bit before stepping back.
I could see Strange standing in the back suddenly paying attention as he scrutinized me wondering where I had come from.
"Hello, So I'm actually the Ancient one's second oldest friend but her oldest friend is not so great with words so I was asked to step up in her place. I met her back in 1950. I was going through a bit of a rough patch." I said. "One of many. My sister had died rather unexpectedly a few months before and my husband was dying. I was in denial about it. Trying to do whatever I could to find a way to save him but there are some things not even magic can fix. So when I was sent away I was so focused on the time he had left, not wanted to waste a single second of it but unfortunately there was nothing I could do and that was when I met her."
"I've met a lot of people but it's rare that I get to meet someone with some shared life experience and she had a lot of that. the one conversation we had that I will never forget happened in this courtyard a few months after we met. I was having a bad day because I felt like I wasn't getting any closer to being home. She sat me down poured me a cup of tea and just waited until I said something. I think about ten minutes later I just poured my guts out about how our mutual friend was ruining my life. Then she just smiled and asked me if that was actually true, because my husband wasn't dying right then and there. In fact he wasn't even born yet. If I had gone back as I was, I would have spent what little time we had left together trying to look for a cure that didn't exist. She then told me that death is the hardest part of life and that the reason we are so resistant to change is that it's one step closer to it but that we had to accept it. It's unrealistic to expect things to stay the same because the only permanent thing in life is it's impermanence."
"It was a bit ironic coming from someone who was almost 1000 years old but if anyone had seen a lot of things change it would be her. For over 30 years she was my mentor, a friend, confidant, and pi-sho partner. No matter what problem I came to her with she always knew just the right thing to say and what she taught me I will never forget as I'm sure none of you will either. So with that it's time for our final goodbye may we meet again in the next life old friend."
With that I turned and lifted my hand lifting up the boat up in the air as the ship disintegrated into small orbs of light that floated into the sky.
Everyone bowed their heads in a few moments of silence before we moved on to the wake. I forgot how crazy gatherings at the temple could be. Half the temple had to have their minds wiped after the feast of Lupercalia in 1950. I wasn't sure if my memory was tampered or not.
But as I kept to myself watching the celebration of the Ancient One's life unfold in front of me. Aya was somewhere watching everyone keeping to herself.
"Ah there you are…" Wong started not knowing if he was speaking to me or Aya.
"Nora." I said.
"Yes. I'd like to introduce you to Steven Strange. The new Sorcerer Supreme." Wong said and I turned to the man standing next to him.
"We've met." I said ignoring the offered hand. Was it petty of me to blame him for things he yet to do? Probably but considering the frosty greeting he gave me in the future and the condescending manner in which he talked to me while I was there I figured I had a right to.
"We have?" He asked confused.
"About thirty years from now." I said.
"What?" Steven asked confused and the only answer I gave him was glancing down at the eye of Agamotto.
"Wong get over here, it's your turn." Someone called out.
"If you excuse me they're starting my song." Wong said getting away as fast as he could.
"This is the last place I ever expected to see an avenger." Strange said.
"I'm not an avenger." I said.
"Surgeon then?" he said. "I read about the 3D printed heart, the future protocol for organ transplants."
"The kid survived, got to go camping again." I said. "Couldn't have asked for a better outcome."
"I'm… was a neurosurgeon." He said.
"I know." I said as my eyes glowed as I saw what happened to him. "Car accident a few months back. You really shouldn't text and drive. Also your bedside manner could use some work. A lot of work."
"Excuse me?" He said.
"Neurosurgeons have a tendency to come off as pompous and arrogant because they are. That doesn't go away just because you don't practice anymore. Work on that. Because if you're going to be using that," I said tapping on the Eye of Agamotto making it react and glow brighter than before surprising him. "It can't be for selfish reasons and you can't bend the rules because you're gifted and think you're above them. Actions have consequences and the consequences of using that don't just affect you."
"Nora." Aya said appearing next to me. Her eyes fell on Strange and then the eye. She shook her head before turning to me and speaking in Aramaic. "Try not to screw up the timeline."
"I'm not screwing it up, just passing on some words of wisdom." I said.
"He's an ass, nothing you say will change that. He has to figure it out on his own just like the rest of us did." Aya said.
"He has some very big shoes to fill." I said.
"He never will but he'll make do." She said.
"You're enjoying messing with him aren't you?" I said with a smirk.
"You're not the only one that thinks he's a pompous ass. Besides it's the least I can do for Wren. He has a shitty bedside manner." Aya said.
"And now the fate of reality and that…" I said looking at the eye. "Rests in his hands."
"Reality yes the eye… well there's a reason I never put all my eggs in one basket." Aya said.
"You never really explained what it is." I said.
"All in due time." Aya said. "For now let's get out of here. We need to make a stop on the way home."
"What kind of stop?" I asked.
"You'll see." She said smiling before returning into me and making my eyes glow.
"Was that an astral projection?" He asked confused.
"That's still above your paygrade." I said with a smirk. "Until Next time."
With that I started glowing and let the chills and energy flow through me before it faded and I was back at the ranch.
"This is the past…" I said recognizing the photos on the fridge and drawings the kids had put around the counter.
"Nora?" Wren said.
"Wren?" I said going to hug him.
"Are you back or is this…" He started.
"2016. About six months after you got me back from the future." I said.
"That was yesterday for me." He said hugging me. "What are you doing here?"
"I was actually just about to ask that." I said. "Aya?"
"Your eulogy got me thinking. I kept you away for over three weeks. Back then that's time you would have wasted in denial or trying to find a cure that doesn't exist yet. But now that's time I can give you back." Aya said.
"You mean?" I asked.
"I'm not leaving you here for 3 weeks, but that doesn't mean that you can't come back here occasionally to visit. We can't have this one spending his last days moping about." Aya said.
"So we'll see each other again?" I said. "We get three more weeks together."
"Not consecutively and it won't happen often only when you need them most. We've got to make them count." Aya said. "That alright with you two?"
"Wh.. Yeah!" I said.
"Yes!" Wren said. "Thank you."
"Thank you." I told Aya.
"Don't mention it. Really." Aya said. "If anyone asks this never happened."
"What happens here stays here." Wren said.
"Between us." I said.
"Good." Aya said before disappearing.
"I think she should break time more often. She's being nice." Wren said.
"Don't jinx it." I said kissing him.
"So what have I missed?" Wren asked.
"Do you really want to hear about all the spoilers?" I said.
"Just one." He said and I knew exactly which one he was talking about.
"Good cause I have a ton of photos." I said taking out my phone ready to start the slideshow.
"He's getting so big." Wren said.
"Tell me about it. He's such a fast crawler Aiden and I had to baby proof the house and I swear we have a harder time getting those things off than Wren does." I said before sliding to a photo of Aiden carrying Wren in a baby bjorn while they were both wearing matching sunglasses.
"Is that…" he started.
"Yeah, he took Wren to his baby Gymboree classes." I said.
"Really?" Wren said.
"He was trying to bang the teacher." I said.
"That makes sense." Wren said as I swiped to one with Axl curled around Wren who was lying back against him as they watched TV. "Axl's such a good boy."
"He is. He sleeps by his crib or outside his door." I said swiping to the next one of all three of the kids together at the park.
"Connor looks more and more like Sam every day." Wren said. "And Ellie looks just like Jess."
"She started toddler ballet and refused to take off her tutu." I said. "I swear Sam was chasing her up and down the house trying to grab her so he could wash it."
"I bet." He said. "How've you been doing with everything after getting back?"
"It's been… an adjustment. I saw our kids as grown ups. My sister who hasn't been born yet. I mean dad and Pepper are on a break so it kind of hard not being able to tell him I know it's all going to work out since I'm not supposed to know." I said.
"Tony can handle himself. It's time you let him deal with his own problems." Wren said.
"Oh you have no idea." I said. "But for the most part things are good. I took a step back from work and I'm focusing on the kids."
"That's good." He said. "Should I ask why you're dressed like you're on your way to Hogwarts?"
"I swear you and Aiden…" I started. "Had a funeral thing. No one you knew."
"Ah. Sorry." He said.
"Don't be, they lived a very long and full life." I said
"The dream." He said with a sad smile.
"I never really asked you how you were dealing with everything." I said.
"I had some time to process before I told you and after seeing how things end up. I'm okay. Really. Still wish I could have been there for it all but the kids are going to be okay and so are you and that's all I ever cared about." Wren said. "But that's enough of that. We have three weeks and I don't want to spend it moping. So how about a long overdue date?"
"A date?" I asked.
"We never really went on a date. I didn't get to wine and dine you." Wren said. "Or do all that rom com crap."
"Rom Com crap?" I said. "Just for that I'm going to make you do all that cheesy crap."
"Oh no, I have to buy my wife flowers and take her to Paris." Wren said. "How will I ever survive?"
"Save Paris for our anniversary date." I said.
"Okay then, give me thirty minutes and I'll put something together." He said.
"You're going to plan a date in thirty minutes?" I said.
"We planned a wedding in two weeks, a date's easy compared to that." Wren said giving me a quick kiss before teleporting away.
Meanwhile I decided to raid my closet and get dressed in something better suited for a date.
Thirty minutes to the dot later… he came back.
"Okay ready." He said. "Wow."
"Too much?" I asked looking down at my white off the shoulder midi linen dress with a blue print and a thigh high slit. I paired it with some strappy wedged sandals.
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"No you're beautiful. Like always." He said smiling. "Close your eyes."
"Really?" I asked.
"Don't ruin the surprise." He said kissing me before I did as he said. Wren held me close before I felt the telltale drop of Wren teleporting before I felt us land on a seemingly sandy floor. "And open."
I opened my eyes to see crystal blue waters and a white sandy beach. I looked around and saw a picnic set up with white umbrellas twinkle lights and paper lanterns.
"You did all of this in thirty minutes?" I asked.
"Well I didn't cook. This is all take out but I think I got most of your favorites." Wren said. "Including…"
"Mango sticky rice." I said smiling.
"So did I nail it?" He asked.
"Beyond nailed it. You keep setting the bar higher and higher." I said.
"I try." He said before we sat down and just talked.
For one afternoon it was like we were a normal couple that was from the same time and no one was dying. It was good to get away from it all but it couldn't last forever.
After the sunset we headed back to the house and I changed back into the clothes I had arrived in.
"Sure you can't stay the night?" Wren asked.
"I wish I could but I'm pretty sure it's almost time for Wren's bedtime." I said.
"Ah… Do you sing him Hey Jude?" He asked.
"I do, Normally he falls asleep when I'm reading to him. But the Beatles are my go to when he's fussy." I said. "Rarely happens though. He's such a good baby. As long as he gets his naps he's happy."
"Sounds like someone I know." Wren teased.
"I'll see you soon." I said.
"Looking forward to it." He said kissing me before I time jumped home.
It was late when I got to the compound. Natasha and Clint were asleep with the TV on. I shut it off and put a blanket over them. Vision was floating in a corner and as far as I could tell everyone else was in their rooms.
I quietly went into Steve and Bucky's room. Both of them were sound asleep softly snoring on their sides of the bed. Wren was in his portable crib happily asleep. I smiled as I brushed a few of his reddish blonde curls off his face making him smile in his sleep.
It looked like Steve and Bucky didn't have any problems putting him down for the night. They were good dads. I slipped off my boots and slipped off my coat before slipping in between the two of them in bed.
Steve didn't stir even a bit. Bucky on the other and woke up instantly. I was pretty sure he was awake the instant I walked into the room.
"Sh" I quietly shushed.
He smiled before moving a bit to lay on his side and wrap an arm around me.
It was little things like this that made it all worth it.
The months that followed were really good. Wren's baby book was filled with photos of all of us Except for one moment. The one moment I had spent months working to convince Aya to bend the rules to allow happen.
"Did you not learn anything from the last time we 'bent the rules a bit'?" She said.
"Oh come on Aya." I said. "It wouldn't even take long. One hour tops. I missed Wren's birthday the three weeks I was gone, the real one, not the fake one he told me was his birthday and it's Wren's first Christmas."
"You want to take your son into the past to visit his dead father to take Christmas card photos?" He asked.
"One photo, the only photo of him with both of his parents that will exist for at least the next thirty or so years." I said. "You know something for Wren to have."
"You mean a photo isn't supposed to exist and risks the entire timeline." Aya corrected.
"I know my expiration date which is a huge spoiler and the timeline is still in one piece." I said. "Wren knows about our son and the future and Earth is still spinning. Taking Wren, your future host, with us to see his dad one last time will not screw up the timeline. He's not even a year old Aya. He doesn't talk yet and he's not old enough to remember this."
"There are rules Nora." Aya said.
"We've broken all the rules at least once before." I said. "The rulebook is null and void at this point."
"And every single time there have been consequences. Do you really want Wren to have to deal with those consequences? That's some very questionable and irresponsible parenting." Aya said.
"It's one hour. Call it my freebie and this counts for all my birthday and Christmas presents for the rest of my life." I said.
"It's a pretty short life Nora, not sure it covers this enormous favor." She said and I was about to say the magic words. "And before you even say the words…"
"I wasn't." I said.
"You were." Aya said making her eyes glow. "I saw it…"
"I mean a purple space dinosaur…" I started.
"Uh!" Aya groaned loudly making the house shake.
"Bloody hell! I'm trying to shower!" Aiden shouted from upstairs.
"Sorry." I called out.
"You cannot keep holding that over my head just to get what you want." Aya snarled.
"I'm sorry I know it's a low blow." I said.
"The lowest. We are past that." Aya said.
"We are. And I promise not to bring it up again… That is my Christmas present to you." I said.
"Damn it Nora." Aya said.
"Oh come on Aya. Just look at this little cutie. Picture him in his little flannel and reindeer hat." I said. "He's so big already. I mean last time Wren saw him he was tiny and now he's cruising. He missed all of that and he's going to miss a lot. One Christmas themed photo that will never see the light of day except for the four of us."
"Just the four of us. No one can ever know and you get two hours not a second more." Aya said. "This is your one and only freebie. Agreed?"
"Agreed." I said smiling. "Thank you. Let's go get changed buddy."
So I dressed Wren up as well as myself in a flannel paid tunic dress. I took my hair down from the messy bun I had it in leaving it down in loose waves. My hair was starting to get long and I was definitely going to need a haircut soon.
"MA!" Wren called out from where he was sitting on the bed. Aya was sitting next to him using her powers to let harmless little green orbs of light float around him who enjoyed reaching for them.
"Did they pop?" I said poking one making Wren giggle. "Pop!"
"Pu!" Wren cheered.
"You two going somewhere?" Aiden said popping his head in.
"Yeah we were going to the park." I said.
"It's snowing." Aiden said.
"The park isn't in New York." I said. "Somewhere sunny."
"Steve and Bucky tagging along?" he asked.
"No we're just making it a Mommy and Wren day." I said smiling.
"A little dressed up for a park outing." Aiden said.
"I haven't done laundry." I said. "Any reason you're giving me the third degree?"
"No reason you've just been really… happy lately." He said.
"Why wouldn't I be happy?" I asked.
"No reason." Aiden said giving me a weird look. Almost as if he wanted to say something but decided against it.
"Haven't you heard?" I said.
"Heard what?" He said immediately on guard.
"It's the most wonderful time of the year…" I sang.
"OH not again." He groaned.
"With the kids jingle belling And everyone telling you…" I continued.
"Nope. Not doing this." He said walking out. "That song is going to be stuck in my head now."
"Your welcome." I said smiling as I picked up Wren. I held him close and gently held his head in the crook of my neck so he wouldn't get dizzy as Aya did her thing.
Seconds later we were in the ranch living room.
"Honey I'm home." I called out as Wren started getting anxious to be put down.
"Just a sec." Wren called out.
"Ma?" Wren whispered as he played with my hair.
"Sh." I said putting a finger over my lips and Wren copied me.
"Alright I…" Wren started as he walked in but the second he saw Wren in my arms he dropped the coffee mug in his hand. "Is that…"
"Look who it is monkey?" I said walking closer.
"Da!" Wren said cheered instantly reaching for Wren.
"Hey buddy." Wren said instantly taking Wren from my arms and hugging him tight. "You got so big. How did you…?"
"Let's just say this counts as my Birthday and Christmas presents from Aya until the end of time." I said. "And we only get two hours."
"Two whole hours with this little guy." Wren said kissing the top of our son's head. "Not nearly enough but I'll take it.
I used my powers to clean up the mess on the floor while Wren sat on the floor with our son. I brought out some toys from Ellie's nursery and let Wren go wild in the living room.
"He's cruising already?" Wren asked.
"You haven't seen him teleport out of his crib." I said.
"You do have gate on the stairs right?" he asked.
"And trackers on his shoes just in case he ever teleports out of the house." I said.
"Smart." He said looking at the two of us. "I'm sensing a theme here."
"It's Christmas which means it's time for Christmas photos." I said pulling out a flannel shirt from behind me and handing it to wren to put on over his black tee shirt.
"We're taking Christmas photos?" Wren asked.
"It's our baby's first Christmas." I said.
"Isn't this against the rules?" Wren asked.
"That's why this is your birthday and Christmas present." I said. "Only the four of us will ever know about this photo and you're the only one that gets to keep it."
"Thank you Aya." Wren said.
"You're welcome." She said popping in.
"Ay!" Wren cheered and smiled at her.
"Now I suggest you three start posing. I'm not going to spend all day taking photos of you three." Aya said grabbing Wren's phone.
I picked up Wren and we got together by the window. We kept the baby between us who it was almost as if he knew what we were doing kept an arm on both of us and looked right towards Aya.
"On three. One two three." Aya said immediately using her powers to create green orbs that popped and made Wren laugh giving us the perfect photo on the first try.
"This perfect." Wren said.
"Wow, can you take the actual card photo when we get back?" I asked.
"No." Aya said before disappearing.
"Love you too." I called after her as Wren blew a raspberry making us laugh. I left Wren to spend a bit of one on one time while I finished up making a light lunch for us all in the kitchen.
I came back and the three of us sat in the living room floor just eating and listening to Wren babble to his dad about everything he saw and maybe even try to climb onto Axl and ride him like a pony.
"Are we bad parents for enjoying this?" Wren said.
"He's surprisingly gentle with Axl so I'd say this is just sibling bonding." I said getting a spoonful of apple sauce and feeding Wren another bit. When a little bit dribble down to his chin Axl licked it off his face.
"Is this what they call puppy love?" Wren said.
"No idea but it's freaking adorable." I said. "And it's good for his immune system."
"Can't argue with that." he said before Aya appeared.
"It's been two hours." She said. "Time to go."
"Already?" I said.
"Yes start saying goodbye." Aya said.
"I'm sorry I couldn't get you more time." I said.
"Are you kidding? This is more than I would have gotten any other way and it's the best birthday, Christmas and father's day present I could have ever asked for." Wren said hugging me. "And I got a souvenir."
"I love you." I said.
"Love you too." He said kissing me.
While we were saying goodbye, Wren Jr had hoisted himself up to his feet with his trusted canine best friend's help. He stood there for a moment watching his mom and dad lovingly embrace each other for as long as they could and image that whole he would never truly understand completely would stay with him for the rest of his life. His first memory.
This would also be a memory that we would always remember for another reason.
"Alright bud…" Wren started. "Nora."
"Wha…" I started as I turned wiping tears off my face. "Is he…"
Wren stood there staring at us before he took a step forward and then another.
"He's walking. He's walking!" Wren said shocked as he kneeled. "Come on Wren you can do it bud."
"Da!" Wren cheered reaching out for his dad but started losing his balance. Wren was getting ready to catch him but Wren decided to surprise his dad and teleported into his arms instead.
"Oh shit!" Wren said. "He walked! I saw his first steps!"
"He took his first steps!" I cheered.
"My little man not even a year old and he already screwing the bell curve." Wren said kissing the baby's cheek making him laugh.
"He's never teleported to anyone else but me before." I said.
"Yeah?" Wren asked with a smirk.
"Yeah." I said before Aya cleared her throat.
"Tick tock people." She said and Wren sighed giving his son one last kiss before passing him over to me.
"We love you." I told him.
"You two are my world." Wren said. We smiled as everything got bright and we appeared back at the house.
"Dada." Wren said looking around the townhouse living room.
"Yeah buddy. That was dada." I said kissing the top of his head before putting him down so he could keep playing.
Elsewhere in New York…
Steve and Bucky were in the city sitting at a café not so far from the tower. Steve had picked this specific coffee place because he knew it was the one Tony always ordered coffee from. Bucky was sitting next to him bouncing his knee impatiently as they waited for Tony.
"Hey." Steve said putting a hand on Bucky's knee to stop him. "You don't have to be nervous."
"Really? You know he doesn't really like me." Bucky said.
"I wouldn't say that." Steve said. "I mean Howard used to call you bucket and he gave us his blessing."
"And I killed him." Bucky said making Steve flinch.
"That wasn't you and maybe don't mention that to Tony." Steve said.
"This is a mistake Steve. I shouldn't be here." Bucky said.
"Yes you should be. Because we both love Nora and Wren, We want to be a family. For one reason or another we've never gotten a chance to do things the way they're meant to be done and this is our chance." Steve said.
"Howard wasn't her dad." Bucky mumbled.
"Tony's a good man." Steve said.
"Some would say great." Tony said finally showing up.
"Tony." Steve said standing up and shaking his hand.
"Cap. Terminator." Tony greeted them. "I was surprised to get your call."
"Yeah we were waiting for you to get back from your work trip." Steve said.
"Well getting everything set up for the new scholarship fund and raising funds for the foundation has kept me busy." Tony said. "How's the team? Heard crossbones gave you the slip again."
"He's a slippery bastard." Bucky said clenching his fist.
"Not to mention he hates both of you." Tony said.
"We're aware." Steve said. "but that's not why we wanted to meet with you."
"It's not? Are you finally going to let me upgrade your suit and that arm?" Tony said.
"There's nothing wrong with my suit." Steve said.
"I already hate this arm, I don't need another." Bucky answered.
"There doesn't have to be anything wrong with it but there's always room for improvement." Tony said.
"We're here to talk about Nora." Steve said.
"Nora?" Tony said surprised. "Whatever's going on with me and my kid is between us. So it's none of your business."
"We're not here about that." Bucky said cutting off Tony before he started ranting.
"I mean it's been months and she hasn't called…" Tony started.
"Phones work both ways." Steve said.
"I was just trying to help and she practically bit my head off…" he continued.
"Tony!" Steve said snapping it out of it. "Not here about that."
"Then what are we doing here?" he asked.
"The three of us… Nora Bucky and I have been together for a few months now…." Steve asked. "We love her…"
"And Wren." Bucky added.
"And Wren." Steve said smiling at Bucky. "We're happy and we've come a long way the past few months and we want to take the next step in our relationship. So we'd like to ask your blessing to ask Nora to marry us."
"You're proposing to Nora? Both of you?" Tony said.
"Yes." Steve and Bucky answered.
"You're asking me for my blessing to propose to my kid who hasn't spoken to me in months." Tony said.
"The last time we did this we asked Howard because we couldn't ask you. We wanted to do it right." Bucky said.
"You know this time last year, she couldn't stand to be in the same room as you, and you were still on the lamb." Tony said.
"It's been a busy year." Steve said.
"Didn't she blast you through a wall?" Tony said.
"He deserved it." Bucky said and Steve just gave Bucky a look silently asking 'Really?'
"My point is are you sure now's the time to do this?" Tony said.
"We waited more than seventy years to be together." Steve said.
"There's always going to be another bad guy or time travel problem but we always pull through." Bucky said.
"We love her. We love our kid." Steve said. "We almost lost her once and we don't want to lose them ever so we want to make it official. Maybe not legally but for us."
"It's 2016 not the forties. You don't need my blessing. Mostly because I don't think Nora has ever cared what I think. I mean she married a former assassin to stay out of jail and keep him in the country. She lives with another assassin who at one point actually killed her. And she quit a job she loved just because." Tony said. "I don't know what to tell you. If you want to propose I say go for it, if you're lucky it'll go better than when I tried to pop the question to Pepper."
"Tony maybe you should try talking to Nora." Steve said. "It's been months you both had some time to cool off…"
Bucky snorted at that because it was obvious Tony had not cooled off at all.
"Nora knows how to reach me when she wants to." Tony said. "but seriously good luck with the proposal."
With that Tony walked away.
"That went well." Bucky said.
Back at the house…
I was just finishing up dinner when Steve and Bucky walked in.
"Doll we're here." Bucky called out.
"In the kitchen." I answered and smiled when he walked in. "hey you."
"Hi." Bucky said kissing me.
"So where should I put all of these?" Steve said coming in with an armful of bags.
"Did you buy the whole store?" I said going to help him.
"I couldn't decide on one good present so I decided to get a lot of small things to equal one big gift." Steve said.
"I'm sure the kids will love that." I said putting the gifts down before kissing him.
"And you?" Steve asked putting an arm around me keeping me close.
"I'll be happy I don't end up burning dinner." I said giving him another kiss before heading back to the kitchen where Bucky had already freed Wren from his high chair.
"What did you two do all day?" Bucky asked.
"Oh nothing much just stayed in." I said.
"I thought you went to the park?" Aiden said walking in.
"And that too." I said.
"Isn't it a bit cold for that?" Steve asked.
"I teleported somewhere warm." I said.
"Oh right." Steve said smiling as Wren kept a hand on the wall as he walked before letting go and walking. "Is he..."
"he's walking." Bucky said smiling.
"You're walking!" Steve cheered kneeled down. "You're walking buddy!"
"Look at him go." Aiden said smiling.
"Uh…" I started thinking I should tell them that those weren't his actual first steps but they were so happy and proud and I didn't want to ruin the moment. They were proud dads I couldn't take it away from them so I faked it. "Yeah he's doing it… come on monkey just a few more steps"
I was so busy trying to keep up the act that I didn't notice Aiden watching me the whole time seeing right through the act. One of the down sides of living with a someone that read people for a living and knew you so well, They almost always saw right through your bullshit.
"You did it!" Steve said picking up Wren and gently tossing him up in the air making him laugh.
"Friday send me a video of that." Bucky said smiling proudly.
"Me too." I said unconvincingly.
After dinner the guys headed back to the compound. They were on standby waiting for a surveillance team to get back to them to decide whether or not they needed to fly out or not so it was just Aiden and I watching TV.
Though I should say I was watching TV and Aiden was just staring at me probably strategizing how he was going to say what he was going to say. He had been acting weird the past two weeks but whenever I asked he just said it was a work thing.
"Okay are you going to stare at me the whole night or are you just going to say whatever it is you want to say?" I asked.
"I don't know should I Nora?" he asked.
"Yes you should." I said.
"Well I guess I should ask when did Wren actually start walking because it wasn't two hours ago with Steve and Bucky." He said.
"What gave it away?" I asked.
"Are you kidding? The first time the kid managed to blurt out a syllable you almost threw a parade." Aiden said. "He took his first steps and the most you said was a send it to me too?"
"I was a lot more convincing than that." I said.
"If those two idiots weren't so distracted by Wren walking they would have noticed it too." Aiden said.
"You're calling them idiots again? What'd they do?" I asked.
"Don't change the subject." Aiden said.
"Wren did take his first steps today. This morning when we were at the park." I said.
"And which park was that?" Aiden said.
"Small park in Dallas. The one you kidnapped Connor from that one time." I said.
"I didn't kidnap him. I bought him an ice cream." Aiden said.
"So if a random stranger takes one of the kids out of your sight to buy them ice cream…" I said.
"There won't be enough of him left to be identified." Aiden said. "How'd it happen?"
"How'd what happen?" I asked.
"Wren walking?" Aiden said.
"Well he was near the jungle gym and he was hanging onto the railing…" I started.
"Railing of the steps to climb on top of the slide." Aiden said.
"Right." I said.
"You let your child who's not a year old climb up stairs?" Aiden said.
"No he was in the sand." I said.
"He took his first steps in sand? Uneven ground that his tiny feet would sink into?" Aiden said obviously not buying it.
"Yes?" I said somehow sounding more like a question.
"Do you want to try that again?" Aiden said.
"Not really. He's really gifted baby." I said. "Way ahead of the curve."
"I know he is. I also know you better than anyone and know that's all bullshit so you want to tell me what's really going on?" Aiden said.
"You know since you started working in intel gathering you've gotten really paranoid." I said.
"Nora!" Aiden said not letting this go.
"Just tell him." Aya said.
"Fine." I said. "but you cannot tell anyone."
"I won't." he said.
"I'm serious. Not even Sam." I said.
"Not even Sam? This must be good." Aiden said.
"Aiden." I said.
"Fine. No one will know. Talk." Aiden said.
"So a few weeks ago when I went to that funeral. Aya time jumped me to see Wren back in 2015 during the three weeks I was gone. Specifically the day after he got back from rescuing me in the future. Turns out Aya decided to give me those three weeks back so occasionally she lets me visit Wren." I said.
"You've been going back in time to see Wren?" Aiden said.
"Yeah." I said. "I've only done it three times so far. Just a few hours at a time."
"That explains why you've been in such a good mood lately." Aiden said.
"It's been really good." I said. "And after begging for a few weeks I finally got Aya to agree to let me bring Wren with me to see him."
"You time traveled with Wren? I thought you couldn't do that?" Aiden said.
"One time thing. They both lived in me together for nine months so they're sort of compatible..." I said. "While we were there Wren took his first steps."
"He got to see that?" Aiden said smiling.
"Yeah. He's going to miss a lot but he got one of the big ones." I said.
"That's good." Aiden said. "You have no idea how relieved I am. I thought you were going to kick me out."
"Why would I kick you out?" I said confused.
"You three are dating. They're spending more time here. Three's a crowd… well I guess four in this case." He said.
"Aiden I'm not kicking you out ever." I said. "Yeah they're spending more time here because things are going really well but this is your home too. I know there's going to come a day where you're going to get your own place but not because I kick you out. You're always welcome here."
"That's a relief. The New York Real Estate market is not great for buyers right now." He said relieved.
"I've heard." I said.
"I'm happy for you but you do realize what you're doing right?" Aiden asked.
"I'm redeeming my time travel miles?" I asked.
"No you're having an affair with your dead husband." Aiden said.
"I am not having an affair." I said.
"So what you and Wren just sit around and watch TV?" Aiden said.
"Of course… not." I said. "I mean we went on a date. He set up a sunset picnic on a beach in Thailand. Very romantic. And we went dancing in Spain. And obviously with Wren we were just at the house spending time with our son. We took Christmas photos. Matching flannel. Very cute."
"And that's all you did?" he said not convinced.
"Yeah I mean obviously we kissed. Made out a bit…" I said before I smiled at the memory of that make out session. "Almost made it to third base but then Aya popped in…"
"That was more than I needed to hear…" Aiden said a bit grossed out. "You may not have gotten there yet but that's where it's going. It's an affair."
"It's not an affair." I said.
"Okay it's not an affair but you're in a relationship and you're spending time with someone else forming a separate relationship from the main one. There are feelings there. He makes you happy. And you use that happiness to build a relationship with Steve and Bucky. Wren's your emotional fluffer." Aiden said.
"My what?" I asked. "Is that a porn term?"
"Yes. A fluffer is a person that keeps the star up…" Aiden started.
"Nope. Nope don't need to hear more." I said.
"It's an affair." Aiden said.
"Is it though?" I said. "See right now here in 2016 I'm in a committed relationship with Steve and Bucky and Wren is dead. Back in 2015 though Steve and Bucky are somewhere else, Steve is dating Sharon and I'm married to Wren so technically I'm not cheating on anyone."
"As far as loopholes go that's a pretty good one." Aiden admitted. "So then say the past version of you found out that your husband made out and cheated on you while you were stranded in the age of disco with someone else you would be okay with that because technically you hadn't been born yet?"
"I don't think you worded that right. Because I had been born I was just away, kind of like a going on a business trip but if the person he had the affair with was a version of me be it from the past or future then it's fair game." I said.
"Okay that makes sense. Though there are holes." Aiden said.
"First rule of time travel is ignore all the holes because you'll go crazy trying to make sense of things and fill them." I said. "I know it's messy, my whole life is messy but I'm choosing to look at this as a good thing. Wren died just when we were getting started. Our anniversary date was our first real date and he died that same night."
"I get it." Aiden said. "I mean I'm not entirely sure something like that would hold up in court but for the sake of this conversation it makes sense."
"Exactly." I said.
"And I thought I was the secretive one." Aiden said.
"Your secrets don't threaten to rip a hole in the space time continuum." I said.
"Good point." He said. "Just remember. No glove no love."
"Not really something I need to worry about but thanks." I said. "And remember not a word."
"I know how to keep a secret. I do it for a living." Aiden said.
After that Aya decided to space out my visits to Wren. As much as I missed seeing him it was probably for the best. I had a limited window and I needed to save them for when I really needed it.
So I focused on The kids and getting the house ready for Christmas. Sam had fallen behind on the mandatory volunteer hours for Connor's school so I filled in sewing costumes and bringing snacks for the Christmas pageant. I sewed way too many reindeer and elf costumes but I managed to finish up all the hours Sam would need for the rest of the year and Connor enjoyed having a parent show up at school like his classmates had.
Finally Christmas day I woke up to Connor and Ellie running down the hall knocking on all the doors to wake us all up.
"Pesent!" Ellie cheered over and over again.
"Aunie it's morning!" Connor said jumping on the bed waking up Steve and Bucky as well.
"Five more minutes." Bucky mumbled.
"But it's Christmas?" Connor whined.
"You bet it is!" I cheered jumping out of bed already dressed in my Christmas PJs that matched the kids, Sam and Aiden, picking up Connor and spinning him around. "Friday play the Christmas playlist."
Instantly jingle bell rock played through the house speakers.
"Bloody hell nora!" Aiden shouted from his room.
"It's Christmas!" Connor said running to Aiden's room.
"Itmas!" Ellie cheered.
"That's right Ellie." I said. "Let's go see if Wren's up for breakfast."
"Got him." Sam said passing by carrying Wren.
"Christmas!" Connor shouted running down the hall down the stairs.
"Ah!" Wren cheered.
"So pancakes?" Sam asked.
"Do you know how to make any other breakfast food look like a reindeer?" I said heading downstairs. "Rise and shine sleepy heads."
"Too early." Bucky said.
"We have a busy day." I said following after Connor who was no doubt already sorting out the gifts.
"Santa ate the cookies! And the reindeer ate the carrots!" Connor cheered.
"He worked up an appetite." Sam said getting the kids settled while I got started on breakfast.
Once Connor calmed down he hoped onto the kitchen counter and kept me company while he drank his cocoa.
"Frosty the snowman.." I started.
"Was a jolly happy soul." Connor continued.
"With a corn cob pipe and a button nose." I seconded.
"And two eyes made out of coal." Connor finished while Aiden, Bucky and Steve just watched us.
"Wow." Steve said.
"I know. It's hard to tell who's the kid and who's the adult." Aiden said sipping his coffee.
Once the karaoke cooking marathon was done and the kids were digging into their reindeer pancakes we finally headed to the living room.
We all got our piles of gifts and opened them up.
I got some jewelry from Aiden, books and collectible Sci-Fi stuff from Sam, a photo shadow box from Steve and bucky, a scarf, framed photos of the kids, shoes, coats boots…
Once we were all done we went around saying our thank yous and were about to settle in for our movie marathon when Steve cleared his throat.
"Actually we have one more gift." Steve said.
"It's for you Doll." Bucky said holding out a small ring sized box.
I really hope that isn't what I think it is.
"Oh." Sam said.
"They're going for it." Aiden said.
"I know we asked you this once before but that was more than seventy years ago and we've grown up a lot since then." Steve started.
"We've grown up since then, and we've changed but the one thing that's never changed is how much we love you." Bucky said.
"We love you and we love Wren. We want to be a family so Nora Stark will you please marry us?" Steve and Bucky said getting down on one knee and opening the box to reveal the same ring they gave me the first time they proposed. They smiled and they're eyes were filled with so much love and joy.
But I couldn't do it.
"No."