Welcome back! We had a resounding YES to continuing this story, I am really excited! I'll be continuing Callie's childhood here, and her teenhood in 'I Was Never Yours' I hope you all enjoy!

Tony P.O.V

I'm standing in my empty living room, the last few pieces of furniture have been loaded into the jet and I'm surveying the house one last time before we leave it for good. I lean on my crutch, satisfied that nothing seems to have been missed.

Callie is running around howling with laughter while Thor chases a few steps behind, giggling like an oversized child. I sigh, a little irritated, it's hard to be sentimental when you can't hear yourself think.

"Ready to go?" Cap comes in, "the guys packed everything up, so we're good when you are." He says, looking around at the empty room.

"I'm just trying to have a fucking moment and they won't shut up." I growl, feeling extra ornery because my broken leg is starting to ache.

"You should be glad Stark, he's kept her happy literally all day." Steve rolls his eyes at me.

"Yes but he fed her gummy bears to do it and now she's hysterical!" I retort, hobbling towards the door.

"It will be fine, the running around usually helps sort it out, if she's still wild when we get home I'll take her in the pool or something." He says, helping me with the door. "Thor we're leaving!" He calls, beckoning at the blonde man who promptly scoops up the child, tickling her ribs as he joins us.

"Ah, stop!" She giggles, "I can't breathe Uncle!" She grasps at his big fingers, but her little hand can only hold two of them at a time.

"Alright I'll stop." He chuckles, swinging her onto his back where she clings like a koala, burying her face in his hair.

We all climb up the steps into the plane, Steve turns to me, "did you have enough of a moment or do you want to go back in alone?" He looks amused at my sentimentality.

"No I'm okay," I sigh, checking that Callie is buckled in properly, most kids her age would be in a booster seat by now, but she's so tiny from years of abuse and neglect she still has to be in a 4-point harness. Of course, normally on an airplane a child would usually sit in a regular seat, but we installed the car seat because she's just so hyper it's nice to have her locked in one place.

"I want to sit with you Dada!" Callie whines, thrashing her legs against the seat in front of her, the gummy bears racing through her body like cocaine.

"Maybe after we take off okay baby?" I say, causing her to thrash harder.

"No now!" She yells, fumbling with the child locks on her seat.

I turn a glaring eye to Thor, "thank you for this." I gesture at the tantruming, escape artist hopeful.

"Sorry, it kept her happy while we were at the house." He grimaces apologetically.

"Then you can calm her down before she starts using the force n shit." I hiss angrily, unsure what lengths an angry toddler could go to on an air craft.

He's about to get up to sit with her but Steve beats him to it, "I've got this," he says sliding in beside Callie handing her her teddy bear and blanket.

She grabs onto them greedily, all of her movements more aggressive than normal due to the junk food. Nat begins to take off and Callie looks around alarmed, grasping onto Steve's hand and clutching her bear. He begins stroking her head soothingly and she calms at his touch.

"Can I take her out Tony?" He asks, reaching for the buckle.

"Go ahead bud." I tell him, reclining in my seat across the isle.

"Come cuddle with Uncle." He whispers, unclasping her and slides her over to his lap, reclining the chair so she is laying on his chest. He places her blanket over them and hands her her teddy which she wraps an arm around.

He has one hand wrapped protectively around her bottom and the other softly intertwined in her soft curls of hair. He's talking to her softly and she responds occasionally, telling him things I can't hear and he gasps in mock surprise making her giggle. I feel a pang of guilt and jealousy, it should be me holding her, instead I was cranky and just clipped her into her seat, passing her off as someone else's problem.

Suddenly Callie produces a big yawn and he says, "oh you're sleepy. You should take a nap."

She puts a pudgy little hand on his cheek and tells him that she'll only sleep if he does. He kisses her palm and says, "it's a deal." Leaning his head back he closes his eyes, pretending to sleep. She watches him for a minute before he, eyes still closed, gently pushes her head back down onto his chest and she closes her eyes.

"They're cute hey?" I turn my head to see Bruce settling down into the chair next to me.

"Yeah," I agree.

"So, how're you feeling? Leaving your home and all." He asks, his eyes creasing slightly with a gentle smile.

"I'm okay, just feeling a little remorse. Like if I had made different choices..." I trail off, not wanting to admit the truth.

"You'd still have Pepper." He says it for me, his voice understanding. "Tony, I don't know if there ever could've been a life with both of them." He says, referring to Callie and Pepper.

"Okay, but maybe a I should've let Steve adop..."

"Don't say that." He cuts me off warningly and I feel instantly guilty for even thinking it.

"Sorry. It was just the first stable relationship I've ever had." I sigh, "I mean look at them. He's so much better than I am." I motion over to Cap and the little girl, both sleeping now.

"He's not better than you, but he will be like a second father if you let him. Just let him, he needs it and you need the help." He says, nodding sagely.

"You're right, I'll try." I concede and then adding, "fuck that's cute though, I need a picture." I stand up sliding my cellphone to the camera screen, snapping a few then forward them to the sleeping man's messenger.

I sit back next to Bruce, flipping through the pictures on my phone. "I think she has ADHD Tony," he says softly, stopping my swiping finger in it's tracks.

"What? Why do you think that?"

"Well, drug exposed kids often are. And haven't you noticed that the longer we have her the more difficult she becomes?" He says tentatively, picking each word carefully.

"Well sure, but that's just because she's becoming more comfortable and is actually able to be a kid here." I say, more defensively than I meant to.

"I'm not saying anything is wrong with her Tony, but if we had a diagnosis we would know how to help her better. It's just something to think about." He raises his hands, conceding.

I wave him off and look out the window, he mumbles something about checking on Nat and leaves.

About 15 minutes later Natasha's voice comes over the intercom announcing that we're getting ready to land. I glance over at Steve and Callie, still sleeping peacefully.

We land, the plane barely kissing the ground thanks to Natasha's good piloting skills. I walk over to Steve, nudging him on the shoulder, "Steve wake up, we're home." I say softly.

He blinks open, squinting at the light, "ah shoot, I didn't mean to actually fall asleep." He yawns, rubbing his eyes before sitting up, adjusting Callie up to rest over his shoulder.

Carrying her into the house he tells me he's going to put her to bed but I stop him, "no, let me do it. Please."

Reluctantly he passes her off, kissing the top of her head, I tell him goodnight and leave to find Callie's room. When I turn the corner I glance back and see him just beginning to turn around, his hands shoved deep in his pockets. I feel a pang of sadness for him standing all alone in the hallway, watching me carry her away.