Secrets
Once I was in the club I unlocked it as it was still early no one was there yet. I walked over to the wall of pictures and looked at the one again. 'Family is the key to life.' I picked up the photo off of the wall and only saw the nail holding it. With a sigh, I went to put it back when I saw a key taped to the back of the Picture frame.
Of course, this is where they would hide it. I grabbed the key and hung the frame back up and then looked at the key.
It was an old-fashioned key. A little gold one that was a long hollow stick-looking key.
Spending the next half hour looking around trying to get any clue what it could open I sat down at the bar frustrated and confused.
That was when I started to look at the bar and a memory came to me.
It was the middle of the day and I was at the club with Peggy while she did something and I sat at the bar eating my milkshake while she was talking to the guys. I had just turned 7 and was spending the day with Peggy while mom worked. They walked out and I sat there swinging my legs and eating.
Once it was gone I looked around and didn't see them. I got down from the stool and started to look around.
I made my way behind the bar and looked on the other side of the shelves where I saw a little hole that was at eye level for me. I could see some light and went to push it open when it opened and Peggy was there.
"What are you doing?"
"I finished my shake and couldn't find you. What is that Peggy?" She led me away and the others came out before shutting and locking it.
"It is a secret so you can't tell anyone. One day when the time is right you will be able to come in as well but not today sweet girl."
"Tomorrow?" I asked excitedly.
"No, but one day when you can understand it all."
"Do I have to be a grown-up?"
"I don't know, only time will tell. Just know It is something your grandfather and I did to help you."
"Because you want the best for me right?"
"Always love." She took my hand and we all left.
I smiled as I remembered that day. Of course, it was perfect, you could not see it from anywhere in the club, only right in front of the door and unless you knew what to look for you would not be able to find the keyhole.
Walking behind the bar I followed the steps I had taken so many years before. In front of the door, I used the key to unlock the door.
When I heard the click I pushed the door open. I flipped the light on with the switch by the door. It opened into a room that had a table and chairs around it. I could tell it had been a while since anyone had been in the room. On the other side of the room was another door. I slowly pushed the door closed and walked to the other door which was locked. I tried the key but it didn't work.
"Of course just when I get so close to answers the door is locked again." I looked up at the wall next to me and saw a picture of grandpa and Peggy.
"Could it be that easy?" I asked out loud before feeling behind the picture to only feel another key. I smiled as I grabbed it and used it to open the door.
Walking in I saw a desk and filing cabinets. Plus I saw a projector and a film roll next to it. It was too dark to see much so I turned on the light and opened one of the drawers.
Pulling it open I was met with files and a lot of them. Opening a few more I saw more files. Grabbing one I went to set down when one of the film canisters caught my eye.
I could tell it was grandpa's handwriting and all it said was 'Rebekah'.
I pulled it out and got it ready before flipping the light off and starting it.
Then on the screen was grandpa. I could tell it was filmed in the room I was in now.
"Rebekah, my darling granddaughter. If you are watching this it means you are looking for some answers. Now while I can't promise you all of them I will try to help with some. As I make this for you, you are only six months old and we are getting ready to celebrate your first Christmas with us. We can't wait. Now I am sure you have grown to be very smart and beautiful just like your mother. Though I hope I can tell you all of this one day, I have a feeling that if you need to watch this it is because I have died before I can tell you. Peggy and I have been working on this for a while now. Ever since your mom overheard something that she was not meant to. S.H.I.E.L.D has been compromised.
We don't know how much or how bad it is but I know that Hydra is hiding in S.H.I.E.L.D now. I don't know what it is like when you are seeing this but I have a feeling they will do whatever it takes to keep this from coming out. That is where all of this comes in.
We have a copy of everything you might need to know here. We set up a secret place for S.H.I.E.L.D so that we could take Hydra down once and for all. What better way than to spy on them while they think they are spying on us. I know I don't have the time to tell you everything but I know you are smart and will figure this all out.
I do hope I get to see you all grown up and tell you all of this in person but I can't be sure. Just know that I love you. You have been the greatest gift to us all and I am so grateful that I get to call you my granddaughter. Be safe sweet girl, know that you are never alone, you have people there at every step."
"Howard, Marie is waiting."
"Pegs I'm making this for Rebekah come to say hi."
Peggy then walked on screen.
"Hello, Rebekah. I do hope we can watch this together one day and enjoy your grandfather trying to make this. Your grandfather is right though, we are here every step of the way for you and we love you."
"Anything you want her to know about Hydra and S.H.I.E.L.D?"
'Be safe and be wise. All the answers are at your fingertips and we will teach it all to you. You will just have to figure out the best way to use it for you."
"We have you, sweetie. I love you and I always will. Be safe and show them all they messed with the wrong family."
Then it ended. I stared in shock with a few tears that had escaped.
Hydra was in S.H.I.E.L.D and I had to figure out how to take it down. I also had to figure out how without tipping them off that I knew. Then I realized something. If they were preparing for my first Christmas that meant he filmed this right before he died.
It was his last thing to me and I was not about to let it go to waste. He could have told anyone but he told me and I was going to make sure I made them all proud of me.
I did a little cleaning before pulling out files and going over them. There were a lot so I knew there was no way that I would be able to read them all right now but I was going to go over some of them.
I spent the next hour reading file after file starting with the beginning of S.H.I.E.L.D. I could tell that Peggy and grandpa had put a lot of work into getting this all put together. She had it organized by year and all. Putting away the stack of files I had and making a note of where I was I turned the light back off and locked it up. Hiding the key back where it was I quietly left the secret room and locked the door behind me before turning around to the bar where I was startled to see I was not alone.
"Good afternoon Miss. Stark."
"Frank, I didn't know anyone was here."
"Came in to get things ready for tonight. I see you figured it out."
"You knew about this?"
"Of course, why do you think I have been here so long? They wanted someone they could trust to help look after things."
"Why didn't you say anything sooner to me about it?"
"It was a journey you had to take. In some things, you need to figure it out yourself. Although we have helped you along the way with clues."
"Well, not easy ones. Peggy told me about this years ago now and I'm just figuring it all out and still have so much more to learn."
"I know but you will learn. It had to be the right time. I believe in you."
"Thanks, Frank, I think I will head out though because I need to let my head wrap around all I have learned."
"Take it easy, I will see you later."
"Goodbye Frank, thank you for everything you do."
"It is my pleasure. Goodbye Miss. Stark."
Heading out I made a call to Happy.
"Hello Rebekah, what can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if you could come and pick me up?"
"Of course, I will be there in a few."
"Thank you, Happy. I sent you my location."
"See you in a moment."
"Bye, Happy." We hung up and I went into the shop and decided to get a few things so it looked like I was just out shopping.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome dear, see you soon?"
"Of course. You take care."
"You as well." I walked out to see Happy there.
"Are you ready?"
"I am, I got this for you. You should like it, the best around." I handed him the bag with the treats for him and he opened my door.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." I got in and he shut the door behind me before getting in himself and we took off.
"Where would you like to go?"
"Where are Dad and Pepper?"
"The tower."
"You can take me there. Have a lot of cleaning up that needs to happen there anyway."
We got there pretty quickly and I saw the clean-up that was already happening that dad had set up, although I'm sure Pepper took care of setting it all up.
Happy opened my door and I got out with my bag of treats.
"Thank you, Happy."
"You're welcome, will that be all?"
"Yes, go enjoy a moment before dad does something crazy again."
"Thank you, Rebekah." I waved bye and headed in. going to the labs first I found dad and Bruce working together.
"Up to anything fun?" I asked them, dad kept working while Bruce looked up to me.
"Science things."
"Sounds great, I got some treats."
"From the place you always go?" I had got dad treats there before and I'm pretty sure I got him addicted to the place.
"Don't go anywhere else." He walked over and I handed the bag that was his to him.
"Have I ever told you that you're the best daughter? My favorite daughter really."
"I'm your only daughter. Well that we know of."
"Very funny." He started to pull the treats out and eat.
"Here Bruce I got you some too. I was not sure what you liked so I got you a few different things. Some of my favorites."
"Thank you, Rebekah." I handed him the bag.
"You're welcome. Is Pepper upstairs?"
"Yes, going over some work for the tower to be fixed. I told her I would be up to help in a little while."
"Well you have fun here and I will go help some."
"Alright see you in a little while."
"See you dad, bye Bruce."
"Bye Rebekah." I walked out and heard them talk a little.
"You have an amazing daughter."
"She's the best, and it comes from her mother."
"I think some of it comes from you as well."
"I try the best that I can. Hand me that." They started to talk about other things and I went to Pepper.
Once I found her I walked up to her.
"I got you a treat. Can you sneak away to take a break?"
"For you, I can."
"Good come on." We went to the kitchen table and pulled the treats out and set to eat.
"How are you doing sweetie?"
"I'm alright, it has been a lot the last few days but I'm hanging in there."
"I know you were close to Phil."
"Yes, but I know that he did what he thought was best. That was the kind of person he was. He tried to always help people believe and see themselves the way he did."
"He will be missed."
"More than he knows."
"Maybe you can take a break from things for a little."
"I have more to do, Pepper. There is something I am working on and it could be huge in what happens in the future."
"Like what?"
"Some secrets that have passed for way too long and need to come out. It is my turn to help people and I am going to do that."
"You always amaze me."
"Really?"
"From the day I met you. That is why you deserve the world. You truly are the best person that I know."
"Thank you, Pepper."
"Just know that if you need any help I am here for you."
"I know Pepper, You always are and I know you always will be."