Margaret Stark: A Strong Voice for the Future on Father's Day
Jayne Vittori
06/21/2010
LA, CA - In a heartfelt tribute this Father's Day, Margaret Stark, the newly appointed CEO of Stark Industries, is not only honoring her father's legacy but also reaffirming her unwavering belief in his return. Just weeks after surviving a harrowing attack on her life, Margaret has emerged not only as a symbol of strength but also as a determined leader ready to steer the company through challenging times.
The recent attack, which involved four armed assailants—presumed to be linked to the same group responsible for Tony Stark's abduction in Afghanistan—could have shaken anyone. Yet, Margaret's quick thinking and courage in defending herself underscored her readiness to face any challenge. "I refuse to let fear dictate my life or my leadership," she stated during her press conference, when another reporter asked. "My father taught me to stand up for what's right, and that's exactly what I plan to do."
As Margaret takes the helm at Stark Industries, she finds herself navigating not only the responsibilities of her new role but also the murky waters of internal politics. Obadiah Stane, the company's COO, has been publicly vocal about pushing for a court declaration of death in absentia for Tony Stark, believing this would bolster his own chances of stepping into the CEO role permanently. However, Margaret is resolute in her conviction. "My father is out there fighting," she declared. "He is not gone, and I will not accept anything less than his return."
Margaret's Father's Day message resonated with many, serving as both a tribute to Tony and a rallying cry for the Stark family and their supporters. "Today, we honor fathers everywhere, especially those who are fighting for their families and their ideals. My father is a fighter, and I have faith that he will come back to us."
While Stane's motives may cast a shadow over the boardroom, Margaret's vision for Stark Industries shines brightly. She is determined to shift the company's focus towards innovative technologies that promote safety and sustainability, steering clear of its historical ties to the defense industry. "We are on the brink of a new era, one that will define the future of Stark Industries," she remarked. "Together, we can create a legacy of hope and progress."
With her firm stance on her father's fate and her unwavering commitment to the company's values, Margaret Stark is proving herself to be not just a leader, but a beacon of hope for those who believe in the Stark legacy. As Father's Day comes to a close, it is clear that Margaret's resolve is as strong as ever reminding us all that the spirit of family and courage runs deep within the Stark name.
As Stark Industries prepares to embark on this new chapter, one thing is certain: Margaret Stark is ready to lead with conviction, defying the odds and ensuring her father's legacy lives on. With her at the helm, the future is not just bright; it's a testament to resilience, strength, and the enduring power of family.
Margaret Stark's Father's Day Performance: An Overly Polished Display?
Marsha Smith
06/21/2010
LA, CA — Margaret Stark's Father's Day press conference, held earlier today, was a masterclass in public relations—but was it a genuine display of conviction, or just another calculated move in the ongoing drama of Stark Industries?
Standing in the shadow of her father's uncertain fate and in the midst of a power struggle with Stark Industries' COO, Obadiah Stane, Margaret delivered a speech that was undoubtedly designed to pull on the heartstrings of both the public and the media. But underneath the polish, her words seemed rehearsed, and one can't help but wonder: was this a tribute to her father or a thinly veiled attempt to cement her position as the new face of the company?
During the conference, Margaret reiterated her belief in Tony Stark's return. "My father is out there fighting," she declared, adding, "I will not accept anything less than his return." But as Margaret clung to this narrative of hope, others—including some within Stark Industries—are beginning to question whether her refusal to move on is clouding her judgment.
A Grieving Daughter or a CEO Protecting Her Interests?
It's no secret that Obadiah Stane has pushed for a declaration of death in absentia for Tony Stark, a move that many business analysts believe would bring stability to the company in the absence of its enigmatic founder. Stane's more practical approach may be rooted in ensuring the survival of Stark Industries in the wake of Tony's disappearance—a point that Margaret is either ignoring or deliberately sidestepping in her public statements. By maintaining her father's legacy in limbo, Margaret holds onto power, but at what cost to the company?
"Her emotional appeal was effective, but it's clear she's not thinking rationally," said conservative commentator Ben Shapiro. "Margaret is playing on the public's emotions, but the hard truth is that her refusal to confront the reality of the situation is dangerous for Stark Industries. The company needs strong, clear-eyed leadership right now, not blind faith."
Shapiro's comments reflect a growing sentiment that Margaret, while brave and determined, may be out of her depth when it comes to leading a global enterprise like Stark Industries. At just 19 years old, she's already facing internal political battles, with Stane reportedly maneuvering behind the scenes. Yet, Margaret continues to lean on her father's legacy, a strategy that can only last so long.
Too Good to Be True?
It's hard to ignore the carefully orchestrated nature of the Father's Day press conference. The emotional tones, the emphasis on family values, and the subtle but unmistakable push against Stane all seemed a little too perfect. Even her public comments about shifting Stark Industries away from defense and toward more sustainable technologies sound like a convenient play for public favor.
Yet, as much as Margaret positions herself as a visionary, some critics see through the façade. "Her talk of innovation and sustainability is nice, but let's not forget—Stark Industries' wealth was built on weapons," one insider pointed out. "It's going to take more than lofty ideals to turn this ship around."
A Calculated Future?
As Margaret holds on to the belief that Tony Stark will return, she faces the uphill battle of proving she can lead without him. In her press conference, she presented herself as the true successor to her father, but in the face of corporate pressure and growing doubts about her leadership, one has to ask: How long can Margaret ride the wave of public sympathy before the tide turns?
Her Father's Day tribute was indeed a powerful moment, but it's unclear if Margaret truly believes what she's selling or if she's simply following a script. Either way, the stakes are high—for her, for Stark Industries, and for anyone with a vested interest in seeing this family saga come to a resolution.
As the young Stark continues to walk the line between CEO and daughter, the question remains: Is she really the strong leader Stark Industries needs, or just a convenient figurehead playing a well-rehearsed role?
Margaret Stark's Private Business Lunch Raises Questions About Stark Industries' Future
Alice White
06/23/2010
Los Angeles, CA — Just days after her emotionally charged Father's Day press conference, newly appointed Stark Industries CEO Margaret Stark was spotted having a private lunch at the highly exclusive Sushi Kaneyoshi in Downtown Los Angeles. Joining her were three key figures in both her personal and professional life: Pepper Potts, Lt. Colonel James Rhodes, and USAF General Thomas Morrow.
While a business lunch itself may not raise eyebrows, the location certainly did. Sushi Kaneyoshi, known for its Michelin-star quality, doesn't typically offer lunch service—raising speculation that the Stark heir paid a premium for the restaurant to open its doors during midday hours.
This gathering has drawn the attention of industry insiders and government officials alike, particularly given the military presence at the table. Lt. Colonel James Rhodes, a close friend and godfather to Margaret, has long been involved in military collaborations with Stark Industries, while General Thomas Morrow serves as a U.S. military liaison with the company. Their participation has sparked speculation about the nature of the discussions, especially as Margaret aims to navigate her leadership during her father's continued absence.
What remains unclear is whether Margaret Stark's previous statements about pivoting Stark Industries away from its traditional weapons manufacturing will be reinforced or redefined. The meeting's mix of military and corporate leadership hints at the possibility of continuing defense contracts, even as Margaret seeks to reshape the company's identity in her father's shadow.
Notably absent from this gathering was COO Obadiah Stane, whose public push for a court declaration of death in absentia for Tony Stark has already created ripples of tension within the company. Stane's exclusion from the lunch has raised a few eyebrows from those aware of the relationship between Stane and Tony Stark.
Though no official statement has been released regarding the lunch, sources close to the situation suggest it may have been a strategic planning session aimed at outlining the company's future amidst the uncertainty surrounding Tony Stark's fate.
As Margaret continues to navigate her role as CEO, this private meeting serves as a reminder of the delicate balancing act she faces—steering the company in a new direction while maintaining crucial relationships with her father's closest allies and military stakeholders.
With Stark Industries at a crossroads, the decisions Margaret makes in the coming months could significantly influence not only the company's future but also its role in national security. Whether this lunch signals a continuation of traditional defense ties or a step toward new ventures remains to be seen.
Stark Family Drama: Margaret Stark's Lunch Raises Eyebrows Amid Corporate Tensions
Marsha Smith
06/23/2010
Los Angeles, CA — In a rather conspicuous display of power dynamics, Margaret Stark, the newly minted CEO of Stark Industries, was spotted enjoying a lavish lunch at Sushi Kaneyoshi—an exclusive establishment that, notably, doesn't serve lunch. Accompanying her were Pepper Potts, her father's former assistant now working for her, Lt. Colonel James Rhodes, and USAF General Thomas Morrow, a military liaison for the company.
The timing of this meeting raises more questions than it answers, especially considering the circumstances surrounding Tony Stark's disappearance. While Margaret may be aiming to showcase her leadership and strategic thinking, the choice of venue and the attendees speaks volumes about the underlying tensions within Stark Industries.
Margaret's decision to host a private lunch with military officials while excluding COO Obadiah Stane—who has made no secret of his ambitions to take control—adds yet another layer of intrigue to this already complicated scenario. The absence of Stane, a figure with considerable influence in the company, suggests a deliberate snub, raising eyebrows about the state of corporate relations at Stark Industries.
With Rhodes and General Morrow in attendance, one can't help but speculate if the discussion veered towards resuming or expanding military contracts, despite Margaret's previous hints at pivoting the company away from weapons manufacturing. It brings into question the state of the investigation into the Stark Industries weapons scandal.
While Margaret may want to present a united front with her chosen allies, her actions are likely to stir controversy among shareholders and industry insiders who are watching the power struggle unfold. "It's almost theatrical," commented Larry Elder, a local commentator known for his sharp insights. "When you have military figures at a lunch that's supposed to be about innovation and new direction, it raises questions about the actual priorities at play here."
As the daughter of a missing billionaire and now a CEO under intense scrutiny, Margaret Stark is navigating a treacherous path fraught with potential pitfalls. Whether this luncheon is a sign of a cohesive strategy or merely a band-aid over a brewing corporate storm remains to be seen.
With each move, Margaret must contend with not only the legacy of her father but also the rivalries that threaten to upend her leadership. As she steps into the role of CEO, the lunch at Sushi Kaneyoshi may be remembered as a pivotal moment—one that illustrates the ongoing drama within Stark Industries and sets the stage for the battles yet to come.
Line Break
"You're being made a mockery of in the press," Obadiah Stane bellowed as he burst into the CEO's office. Four sets of eyes met his, stopping him dead in his tracks. "What the hell was this lunch, and why the hell wasn't I involved?"
"You're being made a mockery of," Grey said coldly, as she leaned back in her seat. "Because your ambitions are no longer hidden, but a running joke. From the moment you decided to file for death in absentia, we've known what you want. And speaking personally, I've known what you want since I was like eight."
"You met with the military liaisons without your COO!"
"I had lunch with my godfather, and personal friends Pepper Potts and Tom Morrow," Grey said. "If the press wants to crucify me for that, let them waste their time and energy. Why don't you go play golf or something, and leave me to do my job, Stane. I'm busy."
Stane left, slamming the door behind him. Pepper was the first one to laugh, quickly followed by Sam and Jen. Grey just rubbed her temples and rolled her eyes.
"You're not telling him about this?" Sam asked, tapping the blueprints on the desk.
"No, the EX0-7 suits are classified," Grey said. "Morrow's engineers just sold us the blueprints and the patent. I, personally, have no idea how to move the project forward, so it's getting shelved until dad can do something with it."
"I thought you were going to fire him," Jen said, glancing at Grey.
"I had a better idea," Grey said, a sparkle in her eye that was reassuring, and also worrying. Jen and Sam said their farewells, and headed out, leaving Grey and Pepper alone.
"Ready to talk about Marvel now?" Pepper asked, settling on the couch in the office. Grey joined her, kicking off her heels as she did. "You have given it some thought, right?"
"I think we oughta just buy Marvel Entertainment outright, rather than run around chasing down shares until we have the majority." Pepper pulled up the buyout contract Sam had drafted for them to use. "That way, we already have it, and we can start with the Captain America movie in 2012. Chris Evans actually exists in this universe; I want him to play Cap."
"Do you want to buy Marvel outright just so you can choose the actors?"
"No. The sheer profit is reasons one through five, directing the narrative is reason six, and public relations scoops up everything else."
"Elaborate," Pepper said, getting used to the way Grey's mind worked.
"Perspective. The general population isn't going to have any of the backstory, they're just going to have to deal with the fact that aliens happened, and six people in funny costumes showed up and dealt with it."
"Surely there'll be inquests, right?"
"Into SHIELD? A super sketchy, very little-known intelligence agency that routinely ignores basic human rights, and is also actually Hydra in disguise?" Grey asked, pretending to judge Pepper. The redhead sighed heavily. Of course, SHIELD wouldn't allow anyone to go poking around, it was anathema to them.
"So, your response is to produce a movie about it?"
"Hey, you can learn a lot from a documentary," Grey defended. "Besides, I don't really have any better ideas to defend this. The profit alone should be a good enough reason."
"Since we're waiting until Tony's back anyway, yes, fine. We'll have to put something in the contracts for the merchandise, make sure we're also giving some profit from merchandise to the actors that are portraying them. Us?" Pepper frowned, before shrugging. It didn't matter.
"We'll need to make sure we're not accidentally giving too much money to our side of things, I don't want to be unfair to the actors," Grey said, her anxiety flaring as she considered it. "I'm sure finance can work something out. They're good at that sort of such-and-such."
"Your vocabulary sucks," Pepper complained. "Ugh, we're going to have to expand the PR department. Didn't you say you wanted PR managers to handle the Avengers?"
"I'd like everyone to have a PR manager. We're going to be public figures, whether we want to or not, and I don't have the time to do social media for a dozen superheroes, half of which aren't gonna have a clue about today's society."
"Steve, Thor, Loki, maybe Valkyrie, right?" Pepper tried to remember. Grey beamed at her and nodded.
"If everyone has a PR manager, then no one puts their foot in their mouth, and we don't end up with a political incident on our hands. Especially with people we're effectively sponsoring." Grey pulled another document up and showed Pepper a specific paragraph. "I'd really like Christine and Jayne to run it. They can handle SI, AI, and Marvel PR, keep all three on the right side of public opinion, while legal keeps us on the right side of things."
"What rabbit-hole have you fallen into this time?" Pepper asked.
"Found a downloaded field-trip fic on my drive and read it this morning," Grey admitted. "MJ is a friend of Peter's, and she's always very critical of billionaires and those who have power but don't use it to help people. I want MJ to approve of what we've done. I want all the kids like her to approve of us."
"Well, the kids are the future, I don't see what it could hurt," Pepper said, shrugging. "Is that what sparked the September Foundation idea?"
"No, that was dad," Grey admitted.
Line Break
"Is she alright?" A man's voice broke through the darkness, echoing around her. How much had she drank last night? The whole bar? She couldn't even remember where she'd gone. If she went drinking with Delia and Brennan, she was never going to do that again. "I think she's coming to."
Grey most certainly was not, and allowed sleep to drag her back down, she was tired, and sore, and she swore she was still drunk.
When Grey woke up, it was with a sore face, and ridiculous cotton mouth. She was on her bed, which was strange because she didn't remember going to bed.
"Easy now," a voice said from beside her. Grey glanced over, squinting.
"Mom?" Grey asked hopefully. She blinked a few times and realized it was Pepper sitting next to her. "Pepper. What happened?"
"I roundhouse kicked you in the face and knocked you unconscious," Pepper said in a rush, handing Grey her water cup. Grey sucked it down and waited for the rest of the explanation. "You've been out about three hours. Barnes made me do laps."
"Ouch," Grey said finally. She sat up and grabbed her phone, someone had helpfully put it on the charger for her. When she checked her front camera, Grey could see that her jaw was bruised, and slightly swollen. "Maybe we should learn to take a hit, too. Or I need to learn to dodge."
"I feel terrible," Pepper said softly. Grey snorted.
"I bet I feel worse." Grey gave a dramatic groan as she got out of bed for the second time that day. "I'm showering and heading to the lab today. I've got work to do, and I really don't want any more exercise today."
"What are you working on?"
"I have to read all I can about the intricacies of Stark Industries having private contractors licensing. And do the math on buying out Stark Industries," Grey said. "And I'm still in talks with city council in New York to get the permits for the tower, let alone keep the construction contract loose enough that we can legally power it with the mini reactor. Not to mention turning the upstate warehouse into Avengers Compound, and buying even more acreage in the area."
"Jesus, you know you can pass some of that to us, right?"
"I know. But some of it only I can do, especially with the Avengers contracts. But I tell you what I would love to pass to you," Grey said. She crossed the room and scooped up two files. "Doctor Helen Cho, and CIA whatever Everett Ross. Make friends. I really want Dr Cho to join us in New York full time."
"And Ross?"
"Chess piece, better to have him trust us now than wait until 2016," Grey said, glancing at her reflection again. "We'll need him."
"For the civil war?" Pepper asked, lining up the timeline in her mind.
"Wakanda," Grey said, glitter in her eyes.
"I don't need to know. I'll make friends, I'm sure there's a friend of a friend that can drag him to the Gala in a few months."
"Now you're playing my game," Grey said, beaming at Pepper.
"Your game scares me," Pepper said, a touch too serious, despite the smile on her face.
Line Break
"So, Mister Barnes, what brings you in today. Or rather, what brought me in today?" Lilian Foster was the best psychologist on the west coast. She was Pepper's first choice of therapist for Barnes, and she had accepted the circumstances under which she would work.
"I fought in world war two," Bucky said, looking at his hands, her tablet, her earring, anything except her face as he spoke. "And I was taken prisoner by first Hydra, then the Soviets. I was tortured, brainwashed, forced to... Forced to kill for them. I can't say it was against my will, because I had no will. I can't say it was under duress, because I was brainwashed."
"Let me ask you this. If you had had a choice, would you have done those things?"
"No. Of course not."
"Then those actions were done, against your will, weren't they?"
"But I couldn't stop myself," Bucky said in earnest. "I couldn't even try."
"Well, why don't we start at the beginning, hm? Where would the beginning be for you, Mister Barnes?"
"With the letter."
The letter was on the table when I got home from work. I knew what it was the moment I saw it, I didn't need to hear my mother sobbing in the other room, or hear from my youngest sister, Amanda, that pa was at the bar. The draft had come for me. I sank into a chair and opened the envelope.
Dear Mr. Barnes,
RE: NOTICE OF INDUCTION INTO THE ARMED FORCES
Greetings,
This letter is an official notification from the Brooklyn New York Draft regarding your conscription into the United States Armed Forces under the provisions of the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940.
Your patriotic duty to defend our great nation has been recognized, and you are hereby ordered to report for induction into the military service of the United States on the following date, time, and location:
Date: April 23, 1943
Time: 0900
Location: Brooklyn Recruiters Offices, 116 Utica Ave, Brooklyn New York 11213
Instructions:
Please bring this letter with you to the induction center.
Ensure you have the following documents:
Social Security Card
Driver's License or other form of photo identification.
Any medical records or documents specified in the medical examination notice.
Report promptly at the designated time and location.
Failure to comply with this order may result in legal consequences, as provided for under the Selective Training and Service Act.
The Guilt of the Winter Soldier
I swore my family to secrecy. They could never let Stevie know I was conscripted. We told him that his speeches inspired me to do my part. I sent Amanda, still just eleven years old, to the bar to bring pa home. Rebecca, the oldest sister, and Diana, the middle, worked to console ma.
Rebecca had to step up when I left for training. She had to be the son in my absence. She got a job as a nurse, taking care of the soldiers that were sent home, broken beyond repair. When I came home for the last time, she told me that she was more afraid I would come home, than I wouldn't.
"I think death, would be kinder to these soldiers," she said, barely above a whisper, two days before I left the join the 107th.
The day before I left for the front, I took Stevie to the Expo. We got to see Howard Stark in person. His flying car may have failed, but the man was still a genius. It was a bittersweet goodbye. I knew he resented me for being able to join where he couldn't. I made him promise he'd stay out of trouble. It would be six months before I realized he broke his promise.
The Guilt of the Winter Soldier
"I loved him," Bucky admitted to his therapist. "More than was appropriate at that time. Grey told me it's accepted now, men loving men. I wish Stevie could see that more than anything. He'd be so happy."
"Are you happy?" Lilian asked. She didn't write in a notebook; she used a tablet to take notes. "That it's accepted now?"
"I'm glad that people have stopped seeing it as a disease," Bucky said politically.
"Don't you think you deserve to be happy?"
"Grey says I do. And she's the only one that knows what I've done."
"In the war?"
"And as the Winter Soldier," Bucky added. He sighed and looked at his hands. He could see the blood he'd shed in the name of Hydra and Russia. People he killed for being in the wrong spot at the wrong time. People he killed because they were going to expose Hydra. "I killed people on Hydra's orders, and trained others to kill on Hydra's orders. I trained children. To kill. Little girls that should've been watching cartoons instead, watched me torture and kill."
"Were you given a choice?" Lilian asked, curiously. "Did Hydra ask whether or not you wanted to do those things? Were you allowed to say no to them?"
"Of course not. Any sign of dissension was met with the chair. Refusal to train the other assets, refusal of an order, leaving a witness, everything resulted in the chair. But it doesn't mean that I didn't do them." Bucky sighed, tugging his long sleeves down over his palms. "I remember too much of it, to be blameless."
"Do you want to be forgiven?" Lilian asked, tilting her head slightly.
"Grey says I'm forgiven, she says it often enough. And I guess if she, of all people, can forgive me, I should believe her, the question is, am I guilty?"
"You want to stand trial?"
"Not today, please," Bucky said, a ghost of a smile on his face. "Grey says that when I want to come back to life, legally, I'll stand a trial. It'll have to be classified, because of, well, everything, but I'd have a verdict."
"Do you want to come back to life?"
"Not right now," Bucky said. "Tony's still missing, and I believe he deserves to hear what I did, from me, before his daughter uses their money to benefit me."
Lilian nodded, making a short note on her tablet. She shifted slightly, then looked back at Bucky.
"Why don't you tell me more about the war, if you're comfortable."
The Guilt of the Winter Soldier
I remember the first time they put me in the chair. It was at Azzano, the work camp, after we got captured. Seven of us were pulled from the cages and dragged back to their labs. There were needles, so many injections. Some burned like fire, others felt like ice. Three of them died, screaming, but quickly. I didn't. I recited my service number over and over again. I breathed, slow breaths, and never screamed. Until the chair.
Another man died; I watched them tip his corpse out of the chair they were putting me in. The voltage fried his brain. I was next. They injected something in my one good arm. It was freezing, chilling my blood. As they shoved me into the chair, I could feel whatever it was, freezing my brain, like a frozen desert. A piece of the chair covered half my face, another clamped down on my arm, holding me in place as they electrocuted me. I started to forget the faces of my ma, and my baby sister Amanda. I couldn't remember Rebecca's laugh, or the exact shape of Stevie's face. I didn't scream.
I was put in the chair three times before Stevie destroyed everything at Azzano. I didn't recognize him. Whatever they did to him while I was gone, he was taller than me. His shoulders were broader than mine. He practically carried me out, the first time ever I wasn't his protector, he was mine. When we returned to safe ground, it took everything in me to not scream from the pain of Azzano, the pain of Stevie's change. Dugan asked me once, just after we got out, if this was my Stevie. I didn't actually know. It wasn't until we were safe, standing in front of Colonel Phillips, that I realized he wasn't my Stevie, he was Agent Carter's Steve. Her Captain America. I didn't scream.
Agent Carter, who I ended up liking, despite wanting to hate her, floated the idea of an elite unit, led by Captain America, working exclusively for the SSR to take down Hydra. It went bad after our third mission. The first two were fine, we scouted ahead, then we barged in.
The first mission was a factory and warehouse, operated by Hydra. The black and red uniforms with an octopus were clear giveaways that we were in the right spot. The second was another work camp like Azzano. Dugan, Morita, and Frenchie liberated the soldiers, Steve, Gabe and I worked on destroying everything.
The third mission, everything went south, fast. We were up north, in early February, it was freezing, we were all freezing. We were just outside of a factory, and Steve changed the plan. He wanted to get us back home before a blizzard hit, so we were just going to storm the castle as it were. Frenchie and I argued against it for ten minutes, but Steve was adamant. So, Gabe and I headed to a decent sniper post, me with the rifle, him with the radio.
It all looked wrong. There were civilians, even children playing in the snow in the small town near the factory. But I switched my attention to the factory. Men in blue and grey uniforms loitered outside, if I looked hard enough, I could guess they were on a smoke break.
Gabe radioed Morita; told him it didn't look right. I took my attention away from the men and looked for the rest of our team. I could see Morita's face change as Gabe echoed back my warning. And then Steve charged the gates anyway. Dugan, Frenchie, everyone dropped everything to chase after him. I watched Steve throw his shield, men were dead before Gabe, and I packed up and sprinted after them.
Thirty innocent Austrian men were murdered. Thirty people were killed before Gabe, and I could stop it. It was a car factory, completely benign, we had bad intel. Steve was read the riot act by Colonel Philips, and Frenchie was placed in charge, as the only actual officer in the group. We were put on probation, got stuck filming promotions for the USO for a few months, before we were trusted alone in the field.
We ran another dozen missions before we got the intel on Arnim Zola. And that's where everything fell apart. I fell off the train, trying to protect Steve's ass. I'd always protected him; I'd do it every time. I had no regrets as I fell.
Line Break
I think you're getting better
Even if it's slowly
We're not in a rush to get anywhere fast
But even when you start to dream
Every little piece of you
Gets a little close to the edge of darkness
I know you've been here before
Long as we're not falling off
We'll be fine
If you need a minute take a minute like it's all that you've got
Another hour doesn't matter if it helps you to stop
Counting the days that you've lost
Over and over
No one said it's easy but it's easy to forget what they say
Another hour doesn't matter if it helps you to take
Back all the days that you've lost
Anything can happen if you want it enough.
Bucky woke up slowly, feeling warm and protected. He shifted slightly to take stock of himself. Grey was sitting up in bed, reading a book with one hand, her other was tossed carelessly across his chest, as he leaned against her. She was humming under her breath, occasionally mumbling the words to the song. Bucky didn't recognize it, but it was soothing.
"Another nightmare?" Grey asked softly when she realized he was awake. He shook his head.
"Just of the war, the fall," Bucky whispered. "Expected it, it's what Lilian and I talked about yesterday."
The clock on the ceiling said it was nearly four. Bucky wasn't surprised Grey was awake. He was surprised he hadn't woken up when she did.
"You did," Grey said, always knowing what he was thinking. "When I sat up, you did too, but I don't have anywhere to be, so I shushed you back to sleep. You deserve your rest."
"Let's go to the beach today," Bucky said. "Listen to the waves and find sea glass. We could use a day off."
"We can pack a picnic, take the whole family," Grey said, lighting up with glee. "Maybe I can even make a dent in this novel."
"What are you reading?" Bucky asked, turning his head. "Anything good?"
"I've never actually finished the Lord of the Rings trilogy, so I'm rereading the first book, I think you'd like it," Grey said, "You liked the Hobbit, right?"
"The Hobbit is still around?" Bucky asked, sitting upright, excitement clear on his face. "I love that book!"
"Here's the next three in the series," Grey said, pulling a second copy of the book out of her nightstand and handing it over. "We've got a few hours before sunrise, Jarvis, could you bring the lights up so we can read until breakfast? You can tell the family today is PTO."
"Of course, Miss Stark." The lights came up, and Jarvis turned the blank wall into a virtual window, showing the east side of the property so they could watch the sun come up. "Enjoy your day off, Sir never took them, and I believe he needs to."
"Why do you have two copies of the same book?" Bucky asked as he opened to the first page.
"In case you wanted one," Grey said, turning the page. "I've been waiting for you to express an interest in books, I've got a shelf and three boxes of books worth reading."
"Where? All your stuff's here, in our room?" Bucky had spent two days in his own room, before he moved a couch into Grey's room. After a few weeks, and a few nightmares, the couch had been abandoned, and they both shared a bed.
"Happy stashed it in dad's room for me," Grey said. A bowl of grapes were moved from her nightstand to a small space between her and Bucky. "I'll have him pull them out today and we can set it up. I can't wait for you to read Harry Potter."
"You've already written me a to be read list, haven't you?" Bucky asked, wary. Grey simply shook her phone in his direction. His pinged in response. "Of course, you did. Prologue, Concerning Hobbits. Oh, yay!"
Grey couldn't help but smile at the genuine excitement surrounding Bucky as he took a few grapes and settled back against her to read. And if she spent more time glancing over at him than reading her own book, well that was between her and the hobbits, wasn't it?
Line Break
Grey felt like her head was spinning with all the people she'd met that day. All the interns had showed up for the Fourth of July picnic. She sat and spoke with all of them, taking notes on things they wanted to change in the company, policies or practices they thought were outdated, ideas to expand they had.
Pepper chatted with those she knew, subtly taking the temperature of the company. Who knew what, who was doing what, anything and everything that was going on. Jim was on the opposite side of the park, talking with the military vets that came out every year, asking what they thought Stark Industries could do better.
Happy was in his element, in charge of the team putting together all the food. His security team, watching over the biggest family in the country. It might not have been, but he knew that by next year, Stark Industries would be completely different.
Bucky hid in the shadows around the edges of the picnic, listening to the hidden grumblings, the discontent, those that might be in Stane's pocket. He took note of who said what, and when, and to whom.
By the time the sun started to set, the family had left, piling in Happy's SUV to exchange information and compare rumors. Grey took careful notes, compiling everything and uploading it to Jarvis. By the time they returned home, they had it sorted into useable and useless.
Bucky offered to set up the grill for the family, even donning an apron that said "Kill the cook, if you can" that Jarvis had fabricated him last week. Around his neck, he had a pair of brand-new noise cancelling headphones, so he could watch the fireworks without fear of PTSD.
"I brought s'mores!" Pepper said as she came out, carrying a tray. Giant marshmallows, three types of graham crackers, Hershey's bars, and Reese's cups.
"You all are trying to make me fat!" Grey exclaimed. "S'mores, a sundae bar, I've already eaten a burger, a salad, and two ears of corn. That does not mean you get to eat my ice cream James Barnes; you bring that here!"
Bucky laughed as he brought Grey's ice cream over. This was the first time the family had truly relaxed since they lost Tony. Bucky thought for certain it was the first time he had truly relaxed since the Second World War.
"A toast!" Bucky said, acting before thinking. He held up his ice cream bowl in lieu of a drink. "To Grey, for busting me out of Hydra, and just everything you do every single day to make the world better for everyone. I can't wait to see what else you do."
"To Grey!" Grey turned pink and buried her face in her hands.
"You suck, Barnes," Grey teased, snatching her ice cream from his hands. "Thank you. Hogan, how good are these fireworks supposed to be?"
"Best in the west, kid, you'll love 'em," Happy promised, twisting the top off a beer bottle. "Barnes, you're gonna want those headphones on."
Bucky took the hint and put them on. Grey hid a grin at how much he looked like just a normal person. He was relaxed, he wasn't prepared for a fight. Grey figured he was still carrying around more weapons than the state of Texas, but since he was training her and Pepper to do the same, she wasn't going to complain.
Bucky settled down on a yoga mat next to Grey's sun lounger. Pepper sat at the end of Grey's spot, while Jim and Happy sat on the retaining wall behind them. They had a wonderful view of the ocean. And after a few minutes, fireworks exploded across the sky, lighting up with reds, whites, golds, purples and greens. Grey held back a sob as she thought about her Dad, lost in Afghanistan, and then even more painful; her mom. She forced back the sad thoughts, quickly wiping away tears.
"Happy Fourth of July," Bucky said, tilting his head back to look at Grey. They shared a soft look.
"Happy Independence Day, my love." Bucky realized what she was saying and beamed, tears quickly building up in his eyes. Freedom and Love – there were no more powerful feelings.
Line Break
"How was the meeting with Stane?" Bucky asked, meeting Pepper outside of her office with a bottle of water.
"I hate that man," Pepper said viciously. "You know that the next election is two years out and that man is already talking about supporting whatever republican candidate the RNC puts forward, as if we haven't supported every democratic candidate since Clinton."
"I remember Clinton," Bucky said. "We had an agent on his staff, what was her name?"
"Please tell me it wasn't Monica?" Pepper asked, coming to a screeching halt in the hallway. She looked up at Bucky, his face screwed up in thought.
"Yeah!"
"Monica Lewinski was a Hydra Agent?" Pepper shrieked. She had the same expression as a child learning about Santa for the first time. "I feel cheated."
"Her assignment was to weaken the presidency, and she did. But now she's stuck as a semi-public figure, and they can't use her again. She's most likely just an informant now."
"Jarvis," Pepper called.
"Already on it, Miss Potts," Jarvis said, flashing the walls blue in the living room. Grey was passed out on the couch, a pen still in her hand as she cuddled with a notebook. She looked so much like Tony all the times he fell asleep working in the lab.
"Barnes, you should sit down with Grey and give her as many names as you can, and Hydra base locations."
"Did that last week after Lilian and I discussed Hydra in therapy. She knew a lot of them," Pepper couldn't tell whether Bucky was proud or annoyed that Grey already knew his intel about Hydra. "Managed to give her a few locations she didn't know about. She seemed astonished they had a base so close to Wakanda, which doesn't make sense as it's a third world country."
"That's the second time this month Grey's expressed interest in that country," Pepper said. "Think it's more than we know?"
"At this point? I wouldn't be surprised. My girlfriend is omniscient. If she guesses her Hanukkah presents, I'll shoot her."
Pepper couldn't help but laugh at Bucky's pout. There were takeout containers from the Thai place downtown. Pepper grabbed one and a fork and started to scarf it down.
"Her plans are genius, weapons that aren't weapons, green energy that could completely remove our dependence on the Middle East. With her plans and Tony's sheer brilliance, those two – I'm surprised they haven't already taken over the world."
"I think she's waiting," Bucky said, leaning against the opposite wall with a beer in his hand. "Waiting for the right moment. She mumbles in her sleep, sometimes, or talks out loud when she forgets I'm around. She's waiting, and it's killing her."
"I think she's waiting for 2012, when we don't have to hide everything, we're doing. I think that's what she hates, hiding." Pepper heaved a sigh. "And Tony's return. She hates not being able to do anything."
"She needs to relax, or she's likely to explode," Bucky warned. "She's so tense, coiled like a spring."
"I have to make an appearance up in Seattle next week, I'll take her with me, maybe that will calm her down," Pepper said. Jarvis helpfully projected her monthly calendar on the wall. "Grey put in PTO for the fifteenth, drag her down to the beach, or to the movies or something, don't let her spend that day buried in work."
"And you're in Seattle on the twentieth," Bucky said, pointing to the day. "Back the same day?"
"I'd love to stay up there longer, but there's no need other than site seeing. And if Grey gets caught doing something fun by that horrid reporter woman, she's likely to do something awful."
"That Smith woman?" Bucky asked. "I read her article when you two went for lunch downtown. Can we shut her up?"
"Not legally. And Grey doesn't think she's Hydra or anything, just a trash person."
"So, we just let her badmouth Grey? That doesn't seem right."
"We can't do much without Tony," Pepper reminded him. "Anything she does is going to get painted under grief, and her advancements would be ignored."
"And she hates being ignored," Bucky grumbled. "Stark really needs to hurry up and escape."
Pepper toasted him with her take-out. She still wasn't sure what exactly she was eating, but it was delicious, and slightly nutty. Bucky shook his head and left to carry Grey to their room so she could sleep off her work binge. She had ink on her face, and several ideas scribbled down on her arms.
"Jarvis, I think I love this woman," Bucky said, settling her under the covers. He made sure to take pictures of them on her phone in case the ink smudged.
"Quite right, too, Sergeant Barnes." Bucky traced one finger along her jaw, a soft look on his face.
Line Break
Bucky thought he was in heaven as he laid on the beach next to Grey. It was warm, eighty-four with no breeze and not a cloud in the sky.
"You okay over there?" Grey asked, tilting her head over to look at him through her sunglasses. "I can practically hear you thinking."
"It's warm," Bucky said, a smile on his face. "Hydra was always cold. It feels like… I can feel my toes again, after being cold for so long. That doesn't make sense."
"I get it. Your whole body feels warm and there's no cold anywhere and you start to wonder if you ever actually felt warmth before," Grey said, her eyes crinkling with her smile, visible even behind the shades.
"That's exactly it," Bucky said, letting his right arm fall off the lounger and into the sand, where he started tracing circles. "How's your arm?"
"After Pepper nearly yanked it out of the socket trying to throw me? Fine. Pulls a little bit when I turn, but I've got full mobility. I'm sure I'll be out of commission tomorrow morning, might have to stick with core work, but I'll live." Grey shrugged, showing her mobility. "Better than the time Pepper knocked a filling out of my tooth with a roundhouse kick to the face. I'm good to keep training, if you're willing to keep training us."
"Why wouldn't I?" Bucky asked, genuinely confused.
"Well, your therapy with Lilian is going really well, according to you, so if you decide you don't like all the fighting, that's your choice and we will respect it," Grey said, sitting upright. "We want you to heal, more than we want you to teach us to fight."
"I like teaching you and Pepper," Bucky said. "It's not the same as Hydra, or the Red Room, it doesn't cause flashbacks, maybe occasionally you say something that reminds me of Howard, or Tamara."
"Tamara?" Grey asked. That wasn't a name she'd heard before.
"She was my best student in the red room," Bucky said. His voice shifted a bit, the tiniest slip of a Russian accent. "We were sent together to take out a mark, we were using bombs to make it look like the rebels. She refused to leave the building, waited for the explosion to take her out."
"She didn't want to fight anymore," Grey said softly.
"We called her firebird," Bucky said, staring into the horizon. "She was the best with explosives and using fire. She was twelve when she died, Melina was given permission to step up her testing after that. Sometime in the late nineties."
"That was after Nat and Yelena's mission in Ohio," Grey added. "After Alexei was able to get the information from Shieldra."
"Shieldra?"
"SHEILD infested by Hydra, Shieldra," Grey said. "I didn't come up with it, I heard dad say it in the future."
"It's always your dad, is he the only person you see?"
"No," Grey said, lining up her story as she dictated it to Jarvis. "It is easier to see events I'm involved in, which is why I see a lot of my dad, and you. But I can look for things. Like the fact that Yelena is going to be freed of Melina's mind-control in 2016 and then her and Natasha are going to destroy the Red Room and free all the widows. Pepper and I have to make plans to support them."
"You won't recruit them?"
"The ones that want to help, will be made welcome, just like you were, love," Grey said, smiling up at Bucky. "But those that want a quiet life will be housed and set up doing what they want."
"Grey Stark, determined to save the world, one prisoner of war at a time," Bucky said, reaching over to take her hand. They sat in silence for a while, just enjoying the sound of the waves on the beach. "Tell me something about you that no one knows."
"I snuck in a visit to an orthopedic doctor," Grey said, absently rubbing her left leg. "I couldn't take the pain anymore and made an appointment for a consultation. Whatever's wrong with me, whatever's causing all this pain, it's not my bones. My bones are completely fine."
"Did they say what it was?" Grey's face went carefully blank, even as her hand started trembling.
"No, I'd need a lot more testing for that. But, um, he referred me to a Rheumatologist to rule somethings out," Grey said, nodding her head a little too much as she sat up fully.
"Grey, you're avoiding."
"I flat out refuse to have something else wrong with me," Grey snapped, glaring at Bucky for the first time. "I am barely handling my bi-polar diagnosis, I cannot handle another disaster. Besides, chronic is just that, chronic, what's it fucking matter?"
Grey covered her mouth with her hands and started crying. Bucky climbed off his lounger and sat next to Grey, pulling her into a hug. He felt her tremble until she fell apart in his arms, sobbing. After a while, she fell asleep, and Bucky carefully carried her back to the house.
"Is she okay?" Pepper demanded, noticing the tear tracks on Grey's face. Bucky shook his head, but didn't say anything. He brought Grey to her room and settled her under the covers. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and left again leading Pepper and Jim to the living room.
"I need you two to tell me everything you know about bi-polar disorder, and any chronic pain diseases you know about," Bucky said, gravely serious in a way that was new to Pepper and Jim.
"Sure, but why?"
"So, we can help Grey," Bucky said. Pepper was the first to understand the connection, and sighed, pulling out her tablet.