Tony P.O.V

"Where we going?" Callie asks Steve who is carrying her out to the car as I load her bag into it.

"You're going to visit your friends pumpkin. Remember Uncle Clint and Cooper?" Steve says with a smile, but his voice wavers slightly and I can tell that this is incredibly hard for him.

"I like Coopa. Uncle coming?" She asks, pushing her face into his.

"No, not this time." Steve whispers, looking at me with a pained expression. We decided ahead that him coming for the drive wouldn't be a great idea in case Callie cries about being left, or Steve for that matter.

"Just Daddy?"

"Actually sweetheart, you're going to have a sleepover with Cooper and Lila." I tell her, slamming the trunk shut.

"Not Lila, just Coopa."

"You need to be nice to Lila too Callie." Steve says, putting her in the car seat.

Callie pouts but says nothing. "Okay, don't forget your blanket and teddy." He tucks them in beside her, his hands shaking. "I love you, I'll see you in two days." He hugs and kisses her and for the first time since being told about the sleepover Callie looks uncertain.

He turns away from her, leaning against the car and hanging his head and pressing his fist to his forehead. I step around the side of the car and put my hand on his shoulder, "hey, it will be fine. And if we have to get her tomorrow we will." I tell him and to my surprise he steps into me, resting his head on my shoulder so I hug him briefly. "I'll check on you when I get back okay?" He nods and steps back, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

I get in the car and begin to pull out, and he forces a smile, waving at the toddler in the backseat, but when I glance at the rear view mirror, I see his face crumple as he watches us leave and it hits my gut like a brick.

I hope he'll be able to recover at some point, I don't want to spend the evening dealing with an emotional Steve. What I really want is to go to a party and get laid, maybe I should bring him.

I begin to imagine what that might be like, Steve would probably jizz his pants if I introduced him to someone who overtly wanted sex. Maybe I won't then...

I'm pulled out of my imaginings by Callie singing along to 'highway to hell' making me laugh. I turn it up and sing with her, Cap would lose his shit if he saw her singing this song.

We sing along to several songs before the baby falls asleep and I'm left to drive the rest of the way in silence.

It's about a 2 hour drive and by the time I pull up to their property Callie has started to stir. "We're here baby!" I announce, parking the car.

She rubs her eyes and looks around in confusion, I pull her out of the car and she clings tightly to my shirt with one hand and her blanket and bear with the other. I walk to the front door, kid in one hand, suitcase in the other, I'm about to put the suitcase down to knock but Clint flings it open before I have the chance.

"Hey Tony!" He beams, grabbing Callie from me, "and my favourite niece." He tickles her tummy making her giggle.

We walk in and I look around the small house, it's quaint and cozy. There are some toys in the corner of the living room, and pictures drawn in crayon hanging from the fridge. And I find myself thinking that this is what a childhood should be like.

"Callie, Cooper is upstairs building LEGOS, why don't you go up and see?" He puts her on the ground and she runs and hands me her blanket and teddy, she clearly doesn't understand that I'm leaving.

Once she's upstairs Clint turns to me, "I'm surprised Steve didn't come. How are his balls?" He grins cheekily.

"They're good, he's not limping anymore." I laugh. "And I told him he couldn't come, he's really emotional right now, even if Callie doesn't cry about being left here, he definitely would have." I chuckle softly, and then I add more seriously, "he is terrified that I'm going to decide to leave her here for good. I told him that isn't going to happen but I'm not sure he believes me."

"Ah, poor kid." Clint sighs. "Okay, before you go, what do I need to know?"

"Well for starters... she may end up in your bed, she rarely sleeps alone."

"Which is why you need a break," Clint nods understandingly.

"Yes exactly. I want to get my dick wet, like so bad." I admit and he buckles over laughing.

"Jesus Tony, you're so vulgar. It's no wonder your kid curses like a sailor."

"I know, it's bad," I cringe. "But seriously, I need it."

"Are you going to bring Steve?" He smirks.

"I don't know, I don't think he'd follow through then I'd end up just being a babysitter, ya know?" Clint nods thoughtfully, "anyways, teddy bear and blanket, both very important." I hand the objects to him. "She's potty trained but wears pull-ups at night, there are some in there. And the biggest thing, if she becomes irrational, like you can't calm her down? There are a couple Xanax in her bag, just mild ones, and Bruce cuts them in half, but it zonks her out in like 3 minutes."

"Oh, that seems... healthy..."

"You have no idea how bad she can get, Steve is the only one that can calm her down." I say defensively.

"Well, I'll try not to use it but good to know."

Just then Laura walks in with a baby in her arms. "Hi Tony, I thought I heard you. Want to stay for a coffee?"

"Hey there Laura," I greet her with a hug. "No, I'm gonna jet, I'll just go say goodbye and then I'll be off. I left a pretty devastated Stevie at home so I better get back there."

I run up the stairs and find Callie and Cooper sitting on the floor of his room with a pile of LEGO between them. Callie has built an amazing looking airplane that looks similar to the Quinnjet and my heart bursts with pride. Cooper is staring at her in amazement, the instructions he was following laying limp across his knee. Note to self, get some LEGO.

"Callie baby, Daddy is going now." I say, making them aware of my presence.

Her smile instantly flips and she frowns at me, "no, Daddy stay."

"No, Daddy is going home. Callie is staying to play with Cooper, okay? I'll be back though." I tell her, picking her up and squeezing her tight.

"Daddy come back?" She grabs my face earnestly, obvious fear in her eyes.

"Yes Callie, I will always come back." I kiss her forehead and she looks reassured.

I set her on the ground and she waves me goodbye and as I walk back down the stairs I feel a sudden pang of sadness, the unwelcome emotion a surprise to me.

I tell Clint to call me if I need to come get her and then escape to my car. I choke up slightly when I glance back at the empty seat, "she'll be fine." I say to no one.