I waited for the light to fade and for the chills to stop before opening my eyes. The walls were a light blue grey and as soon as I saw the framed photos on the mantle I knew I was home. Well the ranch and everyone was there which could only mean I was in 2015.
"Nora?" Natasha said confused.
"For fucks sake Aya!" Past me shouted.
"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning." I said crossing my arms and eying past me up and down. I looked horrible.
"I'm guessing any regards for the timeline are being thrown out the window now?" Past me said annoyed.
I almost snorted at the irony of that. I really didn't think it could get worse than this.
"Extenuating circumstances. I'm here to get us what we want." I said smiling.
"I'm guessing you're from the future?" She said eying me up and down. We have always really loved this jacket.
"Yup." I said smiling.
"How far in the future?" Dad asked.
"You'll find out." I said not giving anything away.
"You said you're here to get me what I want, you know how to get rid of Aya?" She asked.
"What? No we're not getting rid of Aya." I said realizing how stupidly shortsighted I was before. Hindsight really was 20/20.
"Do you not remember the hell she's put us through the past couple of years?" She said.
I chuckled a bit as I thought back to everything she had been through plus everything else that was to come.
"I remember them very well, but I don't agree with you." I said.
"Why? You know our lives would be better off if Aya wasn't in our lives." She said.
"You are so wrong." I said.
'Glad you finally see it that way.' Aya said. 'Are you ready for this?'
'You sure I'm ready for this? Glimpsing into alternate timelines… what If I show myself the wrong one?' I said.
'It doesn't really matter which one you show her as long as the point gets across.' Aya said. 'You can do this.'
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't try to get rid of her." She demanded.
I smirked before I said "I'll do you one better."
With that I teleported in front of past me and put two fingers on her forehead. My eyes glowed as my hands gathered temporal energy before pushing it into her mind like I had seen Wanda do a few times in training.
Past me suddenly collapsed. Steve who was standing close enough managed to catch me just in time.
"What did you do to her?!" He shouted.
"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 an hour or two. You should take her upstairs." I said before I bent down and took the baby monitor out of her pocket. She wasn't going to be needing it and my niece and nephew were my responsibility no matter what time I was in.
"Auntie Nora?" Connor asked standing in the doorway looking confused as to what was going on. The Avengers looked like a deer caught in the headlights not knowing what to say to him.
"Hey buddy what's going on?" I said standing up.
"You're not Auntie Nora." He said. That kid has always been more perceptive than he lets on. There's a reason I never bothered lying to him, just explained things in terms he could understand.
"I am, just that I'm her…" I said pointing at past me. "From the future. Other me had to take a nap so I'm taking over for a bit. That okay?"
Everyone just stayed quiet staring at Connor wondering how he would react. Connor looked at them confused before turning to me.
"Can we still build a rocket?" He asked and I remembered he was supposed to clean up his toys for the move.
'He did clean them up.' Aya said.
"Course buddy. Let's go down to the lab and get started." I said offering him my hand which he took without hesitation. I looked at Connor and he closed his eyes probably waiting for me to teleport us. Such a smart kid.
I teleported us downstairs and once he felt the change he immediately hopped up onto a stool to look at the rocket he had been decorating.
"That's looking good." I said. "Just a few finishing touches."
"The fuel?" Connor said.
"That's what makes it fly." I said moving around the lab to get the mixture for the reaction that made the rocket fly.
"Auntie, is something bad happening?" Connor asked.
"Of course not sweetie, why do you think that?" I asked.
"Because the avengers are here, and you're here but there are other yous too." He said. "Auntie Aya said you're not supposed to break the rules and that's against the rules right?"
"Normally yes." I said "but it's a little more complicated. We've seen 'Back to the Future' right?"
"Marty Mcfly." Connor said nodding.
"Exactly so there are rules to prevent people from knowing too much about the future because then we change things and that's not always a good thing." I said.
"Because people get hurt?" Connor said.
"It's more than that. It's like, when you were learning to ride a bike, you start with the training wheels and once they come off you fall a few times but every time you do you learned what not to do. And then the next time you try you go a little farther without falling and then over and over again until you finally stop falling." I said as Connor listened attentively. "Every mistake, every challenge and every heartbreak, teaches us something, builds character. It makes us who we are so if you take away one of them, we wouldn't learn and grow from that mistake. We would be a completely different person, a person that wouldn't be able to make the right choice when it really mattered."
"So who needs to make the right choice?" Connor asked. I looked at the big hazel brown eyes of my four year old nephew and then I saw his adult self-standing in his place giving me a sad smile as he said goodbye to me.
"That is a bit of a spoiler for the future." I said. "I'm not going to ruin the surprise for you."
"It's you isn't it? You're going to be a superhero." Connor said smiling.
"You are way too smart sometimes." I said. "But I'm not a superhero. In fact you are the only superhero in this room."
"Me?" Connor said confused. "I don't have any powers."
"Half the people upstairs don't either but they still fought aliens and saved the world. Superheroes come in all shapes and forms, and they all have different things that make them special but what really makes them heroes is in here." I said pointing to his heart. "Want to know a secret?"
Connor just smiled and nodded.
"You've always been my favorite superhero." I said.
"I am?" He said smiling.
"You saved me a bunch of times without even knowing it." I said.
"How?" Connor asked.
"By just being you." I said finishing up the last touches on the rocket. The very same rocket I had seen on a shelf in a glass case in Connor's future lab. I sealed it shut before noticing the markings on the wings. "These are new."
"Uncle Wren helped me make them before…" He said sadly before pointing to the scales. "That's for daddy, because he's a lawyer and he fights for what's fair. The birdie is for mommy because that was her favorite animal. The shoe with the wing is for Uncle Wren because he moved fast when he teleported and the clock is for you and Auntie Aya too because you're time travelers."
"That's really sweet buddy." I said.
"That way when the rocket is way up in the sky Mommy and Uncle Wren can see it from where ever they are and know I'm saying hi." Connor said.
"Well let's go say hi." I said taking Connor's hand and running upstairs.
"Can I fire it?" Connor asked once we were in the hallway.
"Sure but you have to stay far away enough." I said before noticing Dad and Steve. "We're going to go fire off a rocket if anyone cares."
Connor ran out ahead of me rushing to the makeshift launchpad we had set up the first time we made a rocket. It was close enough to the pool that if any fires were started I could throw some water on it.
"Alright kiddo." I said making sure to hold onto the lighter. I know I know letting a four-year-old play with a lighter is probably not the best idea but it was in the name of science. And Wren and I had gone over fire safety with Connor at least ten times so he knew he wasn't allowed to even touch a lighter or any igniter ever. "Lets do this together…"
"Should you really be letting him do that?" Dad said.
"Says the guy that helped me start a fire more than once?" I said.
"You knew what you were doing." Dad said.
"I was five." I deadpanned before turning to Connor. "Okay bud. Let's do this."
Connor put his hand over mine pushing the button and moving the lighter towards the fuse. As soon as it was lit I teleported us back a safe distance and watched as the rocket went off and flew up into the air.
"Blast OFF!" Connor cheered.
"Whoo, look at it go." I said.
"Titanium Funnel?" Dad asked. "Little much for a kids toy."
"If you're going to do something do it right." I said. "Plus this way you can use it more than once."
"Parachute's out." Connor said before the wind blew it away. "No come back!" Connor said running after it.
"Connor." I said making him stop and watch as I used my powers to teleport the rocket into my hand.
"Nora that's probably…" Dad started.
"Ow ow… that's hot." I said putting it back down on the landing pad.
"Shit wait…" Dad said.
"Dad relax I'm fine." I said.
"What no that was hot metal it's…" he said taking my hand only to see it completely healed. "What the…"
"I heal fast." I said. "One of the few perks."
"Glad there's some of those." He said. "So Rogers… really?"
"You really want to talk about him because I don't." I said.
"Trouble in paradise?" he teased.
"We're going to have a talk in the future about boundaries…" I said giving him a not so subtle hint.
"Okay then lets talk about Wren." Dad said.
"I think the time you had a chance to ask about Wren was when he was still alive and you actually had a chance to get to know him." I said.
"Oh give me a break! Nora I just found out you have not one but two soulmates, both of them are super soldiers and one of them was brainwashed into working for Nazis for more than 70 years, you married another assassin, and you apparently have a space rock that controls time living in you and… you have been living this entire double life…" he said.
"I haven't been living a double life. This is my life. I have never kept this a secret, Wren, Sam, the kids, even Aiden they all know and they know because they're actually around. They actually talk to me. After everything you've seen today how can you still not get it?" I said. "This was never a secret you were just too self-centered and selfish to ever take the time to actually remember you have a kid. If you had, you would have noticed. It's not like Aya is subtle"
"You could have said something." Tony said.
"When? You never pick up my calls, you only ever show up when your life is falling apart and you need a pep talk but have you actually taken the time to ask how I'm doing?" I said.
"I just asked you…" he started.
"Not me moron. The other me, inside having her 'It's a wonderful life' moment. The one that just became a widow and is obviously working through some complicated feelings?" I said.
"I thought you said it was a sham marriage." Tony said.
"Would I be this much of a trainwreck if it was just a sham marriage?" I said. "It's been years for me since he died and I can tell you there is not a day I don't miss him. He was my best friend and the love of my life. Right now, that girl's world is falling apart and she is barely keeping it together. And before you try to come up with some grand fix it all gesture, there is nothing you or anyone can to fix this."
"So what am I supposed to do?" Tony said.
"Get your head out of your ass, Try to be better, and maybe lie and say everything's going to be alright even if it's not." I said. "It's what I really wanted to hear even if I knew it was total BS."
"I really screwed up didn't I?" He said.
"You did but it's not the first time and it won't be the last." I said.
"So what's going to happen with you and Rogers?" Tony asked.
"Don't know." I said trying to sound coy.
"You're really not going to say anything about it?" he said.
"Spoilers, boundaries and none of your business." I said smiling.
"Auntie can we play catch?" Connor asked.
"Of course it's never too early to start working on that throwing arm." I said catching the foam football he threw at me. "Remember your grip."
I stayed with Connor who eyed the door to the house every few minutes as if someone was going to storm out any second.
"Connor, you want to go back in?" I asked.
"We don't break promises right?" He asked.
"Never." I said.
"Do you pinky promise?" Connor asked putting out his pinky.
"What am I promising?" I asked kneeling down to look my nephew in the eye.
"Promise me we're always going to be here." Connor said. "That no one is going away like mommy and Uncle Wren."
"Sweetie, the first thing they taught me in med school is that you can't make that sort of promise." I said. "Because no one in the world has that power."
"Not even Auntie Aya?" Connor asked tearing up.
"Not even her. Bud, I can't tell you a lot about the future because of the rules but I can tell you about change. A lot of things are going to happen in the next couple of days and there's going to be a lot of changes and you're probably going to be a little bit scared." I said. "And that's okay. Change is scary sometimes but it can also bring a lot of good things and we are going to get a lot of good things."
"Promise?" Connor said sticking out his pinky again.
"Promise." I said linking my pinky with his. "Now go get your rocket, it's almost time for you to go home."
"Can't I stay here with you?" Connor asked.
"Not this time buddy. I promised to take you to the beach when I get back to where I'm from and the other me is going to be a busy the next couple of days." I said.
"Superhero stuff?" Connor asked.
"Time stuff." I corrected. "But we'll have an Auntie Nephew Adventure Day real soon okay?"
"Okay." Connor said taking a few steps before running back and hugging me tight. I smiled and kissed the top of his head.
We walked in at just the right moment.
"Auntie Nora!" Connor cheered running up to past me. "Our rocket went up higher than all the trees."
Other me pulled him into a tight hug and kissed the top of his head. Then he held his face in her hands.
"As long as I'm alive You're never setting foot in a boarding school, hell you're not setting foot in England." She said before hugging him again while Connor looked at me confused. I just smiled reassuring him it was all okay.
Suddenly the baby monitor in my back pocket let out Ellie's cries.
"I'll be back." Past me said teleporting to the nursery.
"Is she… you… her okay?" Steve asked.
"We're right on schedule." I said. In a few minutes she was back with the baby in her arms. Just then her phone rang out.
"Go for Nora." She said looking at me. "I'll be right there and I swear you better not be drinking a beer when I get there or you will be smacked."
"Nailed it!" I thought to Aya.
"Hey buddy, that was your dad it's time to go." Past me said to Connor.
"Aww… Uncle Tony was going to show me how the arc reactor works and how to build one." Connor whined.
"Oh he's going to show him a lot more than that…" Aya said.
"Don't remind me. Is he at least 18 before dad lets him try out a suit?" I asked.
"That's probably the one responsible thing Tony ever did." Aya said.
"I don't know about that. Morgan didn't turn out as screwed up as me." I said.
"She was a spoiled brat." Aya said. "Practically your dad before Afghanistan."
"She's in her 20's cut her some slack." I said.
"You knew her for like five minutes." Aya said.
"How was the nap?" Other Aya said appearing interrupting our conversation.
"We need to talk, I'll be back in a minute." Past me said teleporting the kids.
"Right on schedule." I said. "This is a good intermission for a drink."
With that I headed back to the living room Steve following behind me.
"Nora, can we…" he started.
"Nope." I said. "We've done more than enough talking. In fact we're talked out."
"What does that even mean?" Steve said.
"You'll find out in a few years." I said.
"So Steve put's his foot in his mouth again?" Natasha said.
"Natasha." Steve said giving her a look.
"Yes and way more than once." I answered sipping my scotch. "That hits the spot."
"Nora can we just…" Steve started.
"Okay Spangles I'm not going to talk to you about the future or about how to fix us because it doesn't matter what I say. You never listen to me." I said.
"I listen." Steve said.
"Does Oradou-Sur-Glane ring any bells to you?" I said and Steve gulped.
"Ora… what?" Bruce asked.
"Small town in France that was destroyed in 1944 during the Nazi occupation well… at least that's what's in the history books." I said before pouring myself another glass of scotch.
"What does that have to do with…" Steve started.
"You don't listen." I repeated. "That's the whole point so I'm letting it go and its no longer my problem."
"Okay so Ultron…" Dad started.
"That's also not my problem." I said gulping down the rest of my drink as I felt past me arrive. "She is."
"Incoming." Aya said.
"We need to talk." Past me said walking into the living room.
"Who specifically?" Clint said still having a hard time following along.
"I have a lot to go through so alphabetical order. Aya you're up first." She said.
"Now you want to talk? What brought this on?" Aya asked.
"Aya just go, you've been dying to talk to her." I said cutting through her crap to speed things along
"Fine but if you try and blast me again I'm sending you to the dark ages see how you deal with the Spanish Inquisition." Past me said walking to the dining room.
"She's joking right?" Dad said.
"Nope." We both said.
We walked in to the dining room with the Avengers behind us. I sat at the head of the table in between past Aya and my other self. It was the best spot to be to stop any blasts before they caused any permanent damage. That's when I remembered something.
"Wait a second." I said getting up and grabbing a box. I walked over to Past me's side and pulled a gun out from under the table. I unloaded the clip and emptied the chamber before putting it in the box. I did the same with the two knives and guns I had under the chair past me was sitting on and the chair next to me. Then I went over and did the same thing with all the weapons on Aya's side of the table. I walked over to the chimney and reached in pulling out two grenades.
"That's a bit much don't you think?" Clint joked.
"I killed someone where you're standing." Past me deadpanned. That shut him up.
"Ehem." I said standing next to past me holding the box with one arm and the other hand out to her.
"What?" She asked. I looked down at her boots and moving my hand in the gimme motion. She sighed and put her leg up to the chair. She reached in to the boot and pulled out a Chinese ring dagger Wren had gotten us as a gag gift for Christmas. She twirled it in her hand before handing it over.
"Other boot." I said taking the knife.
She rolled her eyes and sighed but repeated the gesture.
I held the box and teleported it to the townhouse in New York. "Now where were we?" I said taking a seat at the head of the table.
"You want to talk, so talk." Aya said.
"I want to say I'm sorry." Past me said.
"What?" Everyone said.
"You're sorry?" Aya said.
"I want to negotiate our arrangement. Because this, can't continue the way it's been going. You can't just send me off into the past on one of your whims and I can't keep going on blasting myself or you for that matter. You once said I never understood what a burden you have on your shoulders and honestly I don't. I got a peak at it but I don't think that was the entire picture." She said.
"I'm an all powerful being that predates the universe, I can wipe your existence from the fabric of time in the blink of an eye. What makes you think I want to negotiate?" Aya said.
"Because you've dealt with more shit from me that you have from the ancient one, Katya and all your other previous hosts combined. You never dealt with any of their crap. Hell I had to talk you out of killing Katya for almost spilling the beans to me. I've done way worse than them yet I'm still here." Past me said.
"That doesn't mean my patience isn't wearing thin." Aya argued.
"Then go for it." Past me taunted.
"Oh boy…" I mumbled.
"What?" Aya said.
"Nora…" Steve said.
"If you're tired of dealing with me then go ahead. Get rid of me." Past me said.
"I will." Aya said eyes glowing.
"Nora stop!" dad shouted.
"Nora please don't do this." Steve begged moving closer but I quickly put up an energy field and kept them from coming any closer.
"Wait…" I mouthed to them as I let it play out.
"You should listen to them." Aya said
"Hit me with your best shot." Past me said. Aya stood there unmoving making her smile "Thought so. You've spent years telling me that I'm just a blip in time and that I was expendable but that's not true is it?"
"I thought you learned your lesson, maybe fifty years with some time during the black plague would do you some good?" Aya said eyes glowing and a hand pointed at past me.
"What is she doing?" Clint asked.
"It doesn't look good." Bruce said.
Past me shook and started to look sick.
"Oh no you don't." She said closing her eyes putting her hand on her chest as it started glowing focusing as much energy as she could and blasted herself. I quickly projected some energy to ease her movements and minimize the amount of energy she pushed into herself and more importantly our unborn son.
"You idiot, you have any idea how dangerous that is!" Aya yelled.
"Me? You wanted to send me to the dark ages Aya! What did you expect me to do?!" She yelled.
"Will you both shut up!?" Dad yelled.
"Butt out!" Aya said before pushing him and everyone else out and I closed the partitions because this was going to get messy before it got better. "I don't care what you think, you are not calling the shots, you don't get to have power over time."
"I don't want to control time I'm not cut out for that responsibility." Past me said.
"Then what do you want?" Aya asked.
"You know I could say that you need me more than I need you and make your life a living hell." Past me started.
"You already do." She spat.
"In some ways that's true but not completely." Past me said ignoring her comment. "I want to be treated as an equal. I'm not saying we make every single decision together, I'm saying we talk things out. Every time you cause a jump it's for a reason. Fine I get it, but what I don't want is to be sent into the middle of a gunfight not knowing who's shooting Who and why. You want to send me back in time do it but before you do would it kill you to say hey Nora I'm sending you here, you may want to wear a coat or a bulletproof vest."
"You want me to let you know so you can plan accordingly?" Aya said.
"It's not so much to ask." Past said. "It's not like I'm asking to go back in time and kill Hitler as a baby."
"She does have a point." I said.
"Why are you here again?" Aya asked.
"Think of me as a mediator, I'm here to make sure everyone gets a say and that you two don't kill each other." I said.
"Bang up job you're doing." Aya said sarcastically.
"Sometimes you have to let it out, and now you're both too weak to throw any punches and you wouldn't dare hurt her now would you?" I said giving Aya a look before glancing at younger me's abdomen and back to Aya.
"Why do I have a feeling I'm missing something here?" Past me said.
"You'll figure it out later." I said.
"That does nothing to reassure me." Past me said.
"I can agree to give you a heads up about where I'll sent you and even when I'll be sending you but in exchange you have to promise not to blast yourself or me when I appear. If we're angry we talk it out." Aya said.
"Agreed." Past me said.
"I'll be giving you the rest of your abilities, Temporal fields, illusions and everything else that will come with it and I'll be the one training you." Aya said.
"Really?" Past me asked surprised.
"You figured out the trick to the temporal field you just haven't perfected it. You can slow things down but you can't stop it or hold it for long. You're going to need to learn how to control that." Aya said.
"Wow, thank you." Past me said. "But why now?"
"I haven't exactly been fair to you either and I can't say that I haven't brought your hatred out on myself. This conversation would have all been easier of Wren were here he just knew how to call us both out on our crap." Aya said.
"I miss him too." Past me said. "So this is it."
"It is, you're not going to hug me are you?" Aya asked.
"Course not, handshake?" Past me asked.
"I can live with that." Aya said as we walked to the end of the table.
"Thank you, for coming into my life when you did." Past me said.
"Haven't had a reason to regret it yet." Aya said "Before I go there's something you should see." Aya put two fingers on my forehead and everything changed.
I stood there and watched as past me's face contorted in pain and horror as she watched Bucky kill our grandparents.
"That went well." Aya said.
"As well as the first time. This was a good breather." I said.
"That's not why I brought you here." Aya said.
"There's always a reason." I answered.
"You three have been through a lot. You've hurt each other a lot. Both consciously and unconsciously." Aya said.
"I'm well aware." I said. "We're pretty crappy soulmates aren't we?"
"No, you're just human." Aya said.
"We're soulmates but maybe just because we're meant to be together doesn't mean we're meant to stay together." I said. "It shouldn't be this hard."
"No but nothing that really matters ever is." She said. "You were right though, Bucky had always been his favorite."
"Yeah, it was a low blow though." I said. "Add it to the list of shitty things I've done but that's probably the only consolation I have in this whole mess. They grew up together and they were okay before me and they will be okay way after me. Dad will have Morgan who ends up being the perfect do over kid. He'll marry Pepper who he actually loves and won't cheat on. It'll work out for everyone."
"Nora that's not…" Aya started.
"Please just… let me have this one." I said. Aya looked like she was ready to get into it but Past me snapped out of it.
"Please tell me that was some alternate future that didn't happen." Past me said.
"Not this time." I said sadly.
"Why show me?" Past me asked Aya.
"In the spirit of cooperation. If this is going to work we both have to be honest." Aya said.
"What am I supposed to do? Does dad know? Steve?" Past me asked.
"You need to figure that out on your own." I said.
"I here to help you think things through but I won't run your life not anymore anyway. It's up to you how you want to handle this. You know where I'll be if you want to talk." Aya said disappearing.
"That was more painful than I remember it being." I said.
"You know you can let the force field down right?" Past me said wiping the tears away.
"Oh right." I said snapping my fingers and suddenly everyone came running in.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" dad yelled but Steve just pulled her into a hug. It hurt to see that especially knowing what came next and how it ended.
"Don't ever scare me like that again." He said.
"Steve really need you to let me go right now." Past me said looking nauseous.
He hesitated but let go and she ran to the closest bucket she could find and puked.
"Uh that's so gross." Past said.
"Yeah, don't do that again. The energy blasts don't just hurt Aya they hurt us. If you keep using them there'll be so much damage even our accelerated regeneration won't be able to heal it." I said before I felt the temporal energy around me shift.
'We're done here.' Aya said.
My eyes briefly glowed before turning back to normal. "It's time for me to get back. Past me, remember what we talked about. Dad, don't freak out. Steve talk it out dude and please think about what you're going to say before you open your mouth, you'll avoid a lot of misunderstandings that way."
"Thanks for the help and by the way love the outfit." Past me said with a smile.
"What can I say we have great taste." I said with a smirk before I started glowing and disappeared.
When I opened my eyes again I thought I was going to be home but I wasn't though this study did look really familiar.
The hard wood floors, the priceless (Expensive) Afghan rug, the dark mahogany desk. The leather chair and more importantly the very well stocked drink cart. I picked up the bottle of scotch and checked the label.
Gramps did always have the best stuff.
"Tony that better not be my good scotch." Gramps called out as he walked in.
"I'm not dad but good to know some things never change." I said smiling as I put the bottle down.
"Nora." He said genuinely surprised.
"It's been a while." I said looking at him. It had been years since I had seen him and if I was being honest I didn't want to see him again. I didn't think I could face him knowing how he and grandma were going to die.
That and over the years we had grown apart. Mostly because he had an entire life and became someone I didn't recognize anymore and I was frozen and waiting to pick up where I left off.
"Hey kid." Gramps said. I looked at him. It used to make me laugh when he called me kid considering we were pretty close in age and now he actually looked like a grandpa. The grey hair and wrinkles. The clothes he wore.
"Sorry for dropping by unannounced but I didn't actually know I was dropping in." I said.
"It's been a couple of years." He said. "You never came back from Iran but I know you made it home."
"I did." I confirmed.
"I had to tell Tony you were dead." Gramps said. "He did not take it great."
"Makes sense. I never met an Aunt Nora." I said.
"So you know you can't see him or Maria…" Gramps said.
"I'm not here to see them." I said. "Aya wouldn't have brought me to your study is that was the case."
"Still not showing her face?" Gramps said pouring us each a glass.
"Aww did you miss me?" Aya said appearing making Gramps jump.
"Are you here to lecture me about how I'm failing as a father?" Gramps said.
"I never said that." I said.
"No, you said I was being an ass and no wonder my kid didn't want to spend any time with me?" he said.
"Actually I said you were a selfish asshole and you are." I said and I could tell gramps was getting mad. "But I'm not here to fight. I'm honestly the last person that should be criticizing anyone's parenting or relationships considering how much I've screwed up lately."
"Must be pretty bad if you came to see me." He said offering me a glass.
"That's one way to put it." I said taking the glass.
"Well if it's any consolation your grandmother is away on another retreat because she caught me sleeping with my secretary." Gramps said.
"Oh grandpa." I said.
"Don't say it." He said.
"I'm not going to say it but you know I'm thinking it." She said. "I mean the mob boss' wife was one thing but a secretary Gramps? That's such a cliché."
"But she was gorgeous…with curves in all the right places…" He said.
"Down boy." I said. "What is it with everyone in this family and cheating on their spouses?"
"It's not really cheating if you're a widow Nora." Gramps said.
"I wasn't talking about me." I said.
"Ehem." Aya cleared her throat.
"That doesn't count." I said.
"What doesn't count?" Gramps said.
"Do you want to tell him or should I?" Aya said.
"Tell me what?" Gramps said.
"Oh what the hell not like you're going to tell anyone and if you do I know where all your skeletons are." I said.
"Nora." Gramps said gesturing me to hurry up and fess up already.
"So I've been seeing someone and it's… well it was pretty serious." I said.
"How serious?" He asked.
"They proposed. Twice." Aya said.
"You're getting married again?" Gramps said.
"No. I said no. Twice." I said.
"You did? So you don't really love them?" Gramps said.
"I do it's just…" I started not wanted to give more away than I was supposed to.
"They're not Steve and Bucky?" Gramps said and I had to bite my lip to stop myself from correcting him. Though he was right. Steve and Bucky weren't the same people they were in 1943. Then again I wasn't the same wide eyed 18-year old who thought love conquered all. "Or Wren?"
"They're definitely not him." I said with a sad smile.
"Steve and Bucket were a tough act to follow but Wren filled those shoes and then some…" Gramps said.
"He really did." I said. "After they were gone I thought that was it for me. That I'd never love again… but then I met him and we wasted so much time which is ironic all things considered."
"It all worked out in the end didn't it? You have a son who is the spitting image of his dad." Howard said.
"Yeah he is." I said smiling.
"When first I saw him I thought I was looking at Wren." Gramps said.
"I… Wait you saw Wren? My son Wren?" I said surprised.
"A while back." Gramps said staring at his drink with a far-off look. "I don't know how to tell you this but, your kid's going to grow up to be a time traveler."
"Yeah. He is… and he's going to be way better at it than me." I said but Gramps didn't say anything he just stared at me with a sad almost heartbroken look on his face that he was trying and failing to hide. "You know don't you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." He said. "I already said too much."
"Wren told you." I said. "He showed up here after he found out I knew."
"He may have let it slip out." Gramp said. "So it's true?"
"Yes." I said. "My expiration date is in about four years and this time it's going to stick."
"What are you going to do?" Gramps said.
"There's not really anything I can do gramps." I said.
"You're giving up? What the fuck Nora?!" He started.
"Gramps." I started.
"No, you do not get to pull this shit on me after everything we have been through? Hydra, the Soviets…" he ranted.
"Grandpa." I said a bit firmer.
"And you! You meddling witch she is just a kid. You've brought her back before and you better do it again or so help me…" Gramps said yelling at Aya who just stood there with her arms crossed watching his not amused or annoyed just blankly watching him like he was nothing.
"Howard!" I shouted getting his attention. "She can't do anything. Not this time."
"Like hell she can't you're in this mess because of her…" He said.
"Gramps, This is bigger than Aya." I said. "It's what Katya was probably trying to warn us all those years ago. This is the end of the line."
"Nora's there's got to be a way." Gramps said. "You didn't give up on Steve and Bucky."
"And look at how that turned out." I said.
"But you still tried." Gramps said.
"But in the end we still ended up here." I said. "And I can't say its okay because honestly I'm barely keeping it together but I've accepted it and I'm learning to be okay with it."
"You shouldn't be okay with it." He said. "You're going to die."
"I have to die so that my kids get to live." I said and Gramps realizing that there really was no other way this time. "I don't know the exact details but that's what it comes down to. You met your great grandson, you can't tell me he's not worth that and more. I know you and dad don't really get along but if it was you and him what would you do?"
"I don't know." Howard said drinking his scotch in one go.
"But you do." I said with a sad smile.
"The kid was a wreck Nora. How is it fair to him to have to live knowing you died for him?" Howard said.
"He's the best parts of me and Wren. I wanted to be a better parent than dad was to me. I wanted to break the cycle and do it right and I am going to do that just not the way I thought. Wren and I agreed that he comes before everything because that's what being a parent is." I said. "I might not see him grow up but he'll have dad, Sam, Aiden, Connor, Ellie, he'll even have Aya. He'll be safe, loved and he will never be alone. No matter what he'll be okay and at the end of the day that's all that matters."
"How the hell did we get here?" he said.
"We're Stark's." I said with a shrug.
"I never thought we'd end up here." Gramps said. "I'm talking about your death when you haven't even been born yet."
"To be honest, a part of me always knew Aya was going to be the death of me." I said. "or I'd end up insane but that could still happen. I still have four years."
"A lot can happen in four years." He said.
"The last 56 went by in the blink of an eye." I said.
"It's really hard to be mad at you when you're being selfless." Gramps said.
"Would it help if I told you I've been going back in time to go see Wren before he died and while I'm dating a guy that's proposed to me twice?" I said making Gramps spit out his drink.
"What?" He said.
"I'm not exactly handling things so great right now." I said.
"Uh… I think you need to start at the beginning." Gramps said so I did. I told him almost everything. Except you know for Steve and bucky being alive and him being dead.
When we got to the end…
"So technically it's not cheating." Gramps said. "I'm mean you're married to Wren and you're seeing him way before you started dating this other guy it's be different if he were still alive because technically you'd be cheating on your husband… does that make sense?"
"Well yeah I'm technically honoring my marriage vows." I said.
"You're using a technicality and look at who's advice you're taking." Aya said.
"For fucks sake Aya just let me have this one." I said.
"Do you ever think about what things would be like if Steve and bucky hadn't…" he started.
"I try not to think about the what-ifs." I said. "I'll make you go crazy."
"No just did you ever think about what you were going to do after the war?" Gramps started.
"We talked about it a few times." I said. "We were dumb."
"We're geniuses." Gramps corrected me.
"In a perfect world where everything would just magically work itself out, Steve and Bucky wanted to go back to New York. We'd get married… or well I'd marry one of them and the other would be our roommate. Eventually we'd save up and buy a house on a farm upstate, We'd have half a soccer team of kids… Of course this was before we found out I can't have kids. Bucky wanted a dog too." I said. "They wanted me to stay home with the kids while they worked the farm … they didn't really think that part through considering neither of them could keep a fern alive. We'd grow old and live to a hundred and die at home surrounded by our children and grandchildren."
"That's what they wanted?" Gramps said amused.
"It was the 40's." I said.
"And what did you want?" He asked.
"Honestly… I never let myself imagine it. I mean I wanted something like that but we were kids. Thinking back on it we got together because we never thought we'd meet and the way we met in the middle of a warzone not knowing if we were going to live to see tomorrow. It wasn't a real relationship, more of a coping mechanism." I said.
"You three had a few spats but you worked it out." Gramps said.
"Did we though? You remember when I told them I couldn't have kids?" I said. "Or when they realized I knew a lot more about the war than I was letting on? We were a great team when we had an enemy to focus on but when we were home it was just one thing after another."
"What are you saying?" He said.
"I saying I loved them but love doesn't magically solve all your problems." I said. "You were there, did you see us going the distance?"
"If you three couldn't make it work I didn't think anyone could." Gramps said. "I thought you'd go back to New York, Steve would have had a career in the military, helped start up and run Shield with Peggy. We'd work at Stark Industries starting fires in the lab… Bucket would be your housewife…"
I snorted at the thought.
"No kids but they'd eventually be okay with it…" Gramps said.
"Not too sure about that." I said. "But it all worked out in the end. I had Wren."
"He's a good kid." Gramps agreed. "Good to know he takes after you and not Tony."
"Don't be too hard on him. It may not seem like it right now but he's on the right path." I said. "And he does eventually get his act together, not completely in my lifetime but he gets there."
"You don't sound entirely convinced." Howard said.
"If there's one thing this family is cursed with it's complicated paternal relationships." I said.
"But with each generation we get slightly better." Gramps said.
"I guess you're right about that." I said as I felt the chills and my eyes glowed. "Times up."
"Surprised she let you stay this long." He said.
"She really hasn't warmed up to you even after all these years." I said giving him a sad smile before I noticed the date on the page of the planner he had opened on his desk.
November 8th, 1991
That was why Aya had brought me here.
This was it. This was the last time I was ever going to see him.
"The feeling is mutual." Gramps said looking at me and immediately understanding what this was. "This is it isn't it?"
"Yeah." I said.
"I thought we'd have at least a few more these talks." Gramps said.
"We got a lot more than we were supposed to." I said.
"Yeah but it's still not enough." Gramps said.
"And here I thought you were starting to get sick and tired of me popping up out of nowhere." I said.
"Never." Gramps said. "I know we don't always agree on everything and I know I've disappointed you but meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me kid. It's been a glorious ride, and the greatest honor of my life to see you grow up. I'm proud of you kid."
"I'm proud of us." I said crying. "We've come a long way."
"Who would have thought?" Gramps said before he hugged me. "Give'em hell kid."
"Planning on it, Grandpa" I said letting him go before in a flash of light I was back home but time was frozen as I started sobbing.
Aya appeared next to me but didn't say anything just put a hand on my shoulder in silent support.
"I left him to die Aya." I cried.
"It was going to happen one way or another." Aya said. "He had his faults but he was a better person for having known you. You redeemed him Nora and in the end you were his hope and his peace. Howard was a selfish bastard but he loved you and that's what you need to hold onto. Whatever comes next remember that."
"What do you mean whatever comes next?" I said. "I have four years."
"A lot of things can happen in four years and this is how it starts. Things are being set in motion Nora and they're going to start happening faster than you think." Aya said. "The coming days are going to be harder than anything you've faced before."
"How bad?" I asked.
"This is the beginning of the end." Aya said before disappearing and time restarted.
"Nora?" Sam said walking in.
"Uh… hey." I said standing up and wiping the tears off my face. "Kids ready to go?"
"Yeah but you okay?" Sam asked.
"Yeah just… back to back jumps are exhausting. Nothing a day at the beach can't fix." I said smiling at Sam before going to get the kids.