Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last set of text messages. Welcome to an email chapter. It's been so long that I had to look up what number this chapter should be. This is an email chapter between the timelines. Because of that, I am not going to do email addresses. This set of emails is between Pepper and Deke. The next group is between MJ and Kamala, which will be the next chapter.
Email six: Greetings from another timeline
Xxx
Dear Pepper:
Friday – sorry, Ana told me that I could write to you. Friday is now Stark's synthetic teenage daughter. She is super cool and scarily intelligent. Don't ask me how that happened. Wanda was involved. Ana suggested I write to you when I said I didn't want to talk to my Nana or her boyfriend.
Okay, Ana suggested that I write to you when I also refused to visit medical or do a deep space conversation with a therapist. Ana was worried about me, probably because of the random crying. I'm okay. It's just weird being stranded in another timeline again. At least this time, I have a chance to go home. (The Lighthouse was never home. Just the place where I survived.)
I am glad Nana is in rehab right now. I wanted that for a while but knew it wouldn't happen until she was ready. Unfortunately, I'm not in a headspace where I can have a deep conversation about that. I am not sure if she's ready for it either. I know I have to tell her how much her drinking has hurt me over the years, but I'm not in a place where I can do that right now. I am pretty much a mess presently.
How much has Morgan's father told you about the current situation? I am sure you know where I really am. (Seriously, whose idea was it to forward me all of Baker's complaints?) My grandfather didn't die but created a whole branch timeline. Good news: Nana and Bobo are happily married and pregnant with their first child. Not my mom because circumstances are very different, and it's at least four years early, more like an aunt or uncle.
Bad news is the Bobo from your timeline is a bozo. He is married to Hunter, which makes my Nana's choice in boyfriend make 100% more sense. Obviously, he's not coming back. Considering I didn't go back to my own timeline, I am the last person who can criticize that. Although I did yell at him for leaving me to deal with alcoholic Nana. Dealing with an alcoholic parent is difficult, even if you actually are older than them. I am angry that I have had to deal with that for the last five years when he's been frolicking around with the new husband.
I ended up going on a mission with Bobo, the bozo, and it went badly. The good news is that we retrieved what we needed to. The bad news is we lost their May. She knew what she had to do to retrieve it. We should've realized that a sacrifice was required, considering that's how the guardians lost their Gomorra. But we didn't. May did, though. She knocked us out with Icers to get what we needed to bring everybody back.
The flight back to the ship was awful. Me and Bobo the bozo fought the entire time. Things were said that we probably shouldn't have said. We were madder at ourselves than each other. I know I'm mad at myself, so Bobo the bozo obviously is.
This entire timeline was created to keep Thanos from happening. Maybe I shouldn't be so harsh with Bobo, but I am angry because I've had to deal with everything with Nana for the last five years. Coming to your timeline was supposed to be a second chance at living a life outside of the dystopia. Instead, I've been dealing with a sick grandparent, and it's exhausting.
Bobo was sent back to Earth to help get me back to your timeline. Or to get him away from the ship. He's a mess. I stayed behind because it's probably best I'm on a completely different planet than Bobo the bozo. And they need somebody with space experience.
I'm working with Hunter's ex-wife on a secret mission I can't discuss. We were worried that the purple one would intercept our messages so we're on a near communications blackout. Working with Bobbi has been an experience. I think I understand why Hunter is the way that he is. Although at least she doesn't think I'm a fuck up and wants me as part of her team.
That's an improvement over Bobo. He still thinks I am the person he met the first time who sold Daisy out to the Kree. I'm not. I've matured beyond that. Also, being away from that environment made me a better person.
I just want to go home. This world is exhausting, but I want to see this through. I think Rocket would like his friends alive in this timeline. At least I've done something good in this reality. I'm so tired of watching my people die. That's all I did before.
I miss you. Give the munchkin a hug for me. I hope Bobo the bozo has a breakthrough so I can get back to you guys.
Maybe Ana was right; I needed to talk to somebody about this. I feel a little better. I'm going to try to get some sleep before the big mission tomorrow. I'll see you soon. Give the munchkin a hug for me. I miss you both.
Xxxx
"Friday, how did I just get an email from Deke?" Pepper asked the AI as she read her emails while drinking her coffee.
"Occasionally, we can receive messages from the other timeline. Kamala also received messages from the other timeline from the cousin of her mother's lost daughter." Friday answered.
"You're talking about Daisy, right?" Pepper asked for clarification.
"Yes."
"She has a cousin?" Pepper question.
"Yes, but I believe both were unaware of their relationship before they were victims of the decimation," Friday responded.
"This is unfortunately not surprising. Am I able to access these letters?"
"Unfortunately, no. However, Kamala might be willing to let you read the content." Pepper doubts that but will still ask.
"Am I able to respond?"
"Yes, but it will be several hours before I can forward the message."
"That's fine. I think it would be beneficial if Deke heard from a friend. Obviously, he's dealing with a lot right now."
Xx
Dear Deke:
I am happy to hear from you. I was very worried about you when you disappeared. I haven't heard much from Tony except that you're safe in the other timeline. I'm grateful for that. Be careful with your secret mission. We would all miss you if you didn't come back.
Most of the boards still think you're looking for colleges for your doctorate. We might actually have to do that when you get back. (And you better come back. Do not be a martyr.) Baker wants you to have a doctorate despite the guy never finishing college and inheriting all his wealth. He is a hypocritical jackass.
I'm sure you know that from your missed correspondence that was obviously forwarded to you in the other timeline. I think Friday was responsible for that. Or possibly Tony. None of us have the patience to deal with Baker. Again, he's a jackass.
I missed when his mother was still on the board before him. Unfortunately, Baker and his lawyers put her under a conservatorship and shipped her off to a nursing home who knows where. I'm sure they paid a doctor off to declare her incompetent. I doubt the man actually visits her. Maybe things will get better when this is all over and everybody is back. We had some great board members before the decimation.
Melinda is a little more forthcoming than Tony. Because of her, I know that your disappearance and everything else is related to trying to undo what happened five years ago. I assume the other Melinda died to get one of the [redacted.] Even though she's not your May, I am sure that hurt you, especially because Bobo is hurt. You had too much loss in your life and don't need more.
Give that version of your grandfather time to realize that you aren't who you were when he first met you. The rest of us have had nearly 6 years to see that you aren't who you were in the Lighthouse. You are a very compassionate person who has done everything you can for those you care about. There's a reason why you're on a secret mission right now.
Be safe. Come back to me. Don't do anything stupid or reckless. I was terrified when you disappeared. I thought I was done worrying about this sort of thing when Tony and I broke up for good, but obviously not. You have a lot of your grandparents in you. That's not a bad thing.
Anyway, I'm glad Tony's AI made you write to me. I'm always here to listen.
Xxxxx
Just as Pepper hit the send button on the email to Deke, Friday alerted her that an unknown person had just materialized in the purple guest bedroom.
To be continued…