Clint P.O.V

Callie had a pretty good day, her and Cooper played up in his room for a good hour and then moved outside to play. Ila played with them for about half an hour before she came in wailing that she was dirty. It's now dinner time and they've both trudged in with grimy filthy hands and faces.

"Oh, come here little rascals, you need to wash up before you eat." I run and grab them, lifting one up in each arm and taking them to the bathroom. "Okay, wash your hands and faces, I'm going to grab your pajamas."

I leave the room and hear the water start running and the two of them start giggling and talking, the chatter is innocent until Callie's raspy, little voice growls, "you little cock sucker!"

I quickly grab their jammies and rush back in to try and do some damage control, "what does that mean?" Cooper asks and Callie shrugs.

"They just say that." She says, scrubbing her face with a scowl.

My stomach twists uncomfortably as I watch the little girl. Cooper catches my eye, "Daddy what is a cocksucker?"

"It's just a nasty word, we don't use that word." I look pointedly at the little girl, "What word could we use instead?" I say, taking a chapter from Thor's book.

"You silly?" Callie says, throwing her hands up in an over exaggerated shrug.

"Yep, silly is much better." I wink at her, helping them both remove their dirty clothes.

"I go home?" Callie asks as I slip her pull up on.

"No sweetie, you're sleeping here tonight." I put her pajamas on, laughing when I see they're Avenger's merch.

I bring the kids downstairs to sit at the table and Callie chews her lip nervously, suddenly quiet and sullen since I told her she wasn't going home yet.

We all eat and Laura gives each of the kids a cookie, but pauses over Callie, "sweetheart you didn't eat hardly anything!" She says, feeling the little girl's forehead, "are you okay?"

"I go home," Callie looks up at Laura, her eyes sad and full of worry.

"You're going to sleep over with Cooper!" She replies brightly.

Callie looks at Cooper and then back at Laura, "I want Uncle Steve." She whispers, a little tear sliding down her cheek.

Laura squats down, wipes the tear away gently and hands Callie a cookie, "here, have a cookie. Maybe we can call Uncle so he can say night night?" The little Stark takes the cookie and bites into it, chewing slowly and then nods.

I grimace, "I'm not sure if that's a great idea," I whisper to my wife.

"I'm not sure what else to do though, she's so sad." Laura replies.

The kids soon finish their cookies and Laura takes the baby and Lila up to bed, leaving me in charge of Callie and Cooper. "Okay monkeys, up to Coopers room." Hurrying them up the stairs.

Cooper runs up happily, but his friend lags behind, looking out the window. "Uncle, Dadda..." she whispers, little tears escaping down her cheeks.

"Come here little lady," I pick her up and she slumps against my shoulder.

"I want Uncle Steve," she whispers with a sniff.

"You know what baby?" I say, holding her up to look me in the eyes, "I know you want Uncle Steve, but Uncle can't come until tomorrow, but you can have me, Uncle Clint? Is that okay?"

"Daddy then?" She ignores me, moving on to her next desired person.

"Sorry darling, still just Uncle Clint." She begins to cry, hard, and I find myself wondering if I may need to call Tony. "Callie, I'm going to put you in Uncle's bed so I can put Cooper night night, then I'll come read you a story okay?"

She just continues to wail so I pull out my cell phone and dial Tony, "Cooper go to your room, I'll come say goodnight in a minute." I tell my son as I put Callie down in the middle of my bed.

"Hey Clint! How's it going? I hear crying, not so good?" Tony answers on the 3rd ring, sounding a little distracted.

"It's actually going okay, she was honestly awesome all day other than teacher Cooper the word cocksucker," I laugh and Tony groans.

"Jesus Christ, I'm fucking sorry."

"And there it is." I laugh harder. "I'm just calling because she's nervous about bed time, she really wants to talk to you-know-who, but I didn't think that was a great idea."

"Yeah, no, he would 100% drop our plans for the night and drive out to you so, yeah, she'll have to be happy with me." Tony says and then adding, "he's had a rough day."

"Ah okay, I'm going to give Callie the phone." I take it off my ear and turn to the little girl, "Daddy is on the phone to say goodnight, okay? I'm going to find your teddy and blanket then I'll be right back."

Callie reaches eagerly for the phone, her breath hitching from crying so hard. "Daddy," she mumbles, and I can hear Tony's voice speaking soothingly through the speaker.

I dash out of the room to put Cooper to bed, and find Callie's stuffed animal and blanket in his room, crumpled on the floor. I tuck him in and then grab a few books for Callie before turning out the light.

When I come in Laura is sitting propped up in bed reading her novel and Callie is saying goodnight, seemingly much more content. She then, somewhat reluctantly, hands me the phone and then pulls her special possessions from my hands, snuggling into them. Laura pulls the little girl back against her side and begins to stroke her hair gently as she reads her book, Callie yawns and leans in, rubbing her blanket against her nose.

"Hey Tony, that seemed to work, thanks." I tell him happily.

"Yeah, it didn't work so hot on our end. But I'm glad she's happier now." Tony sighs and then grumbles to someone on his end, "See Steve? She's happier now, relax"

I can hear what sounds like a struggle on the other end and a muffled, "I should just go get her," in Steve's emotional voice.

"No, god damn it Steven! We're going to a fucking party and I'm getting laid. And I don't know, someone's going to play with your willy or something, so suck it up and go put your shoes on." Tony barks, making me have to pull the phone away from my ear.

"Sorry Tony, that doesn't sound fun." I chuckle.

"You're not kidding. It's fine though, we'll get a few drinks into him, it will be fine."

"You sure he'll be comfortable at a party like that?" I sit on the edge of the bed, finding myself wishing I was going with them to watch this play out.

"I'm positive he won't be, I'm going to have Happy wait around," Tony laughs out loud. "Okay, we're going. Someone will be there tomorrow to pick her up. Thanks again Clint!"

"No problem man! See you tomorrow." I turn off the phone to find Callie sound asleep snuggled up to Laura. "Well damn, you're amazing!"

"It's part of the job," she shrugs, winking at me. "Move her to Cooper's room so we have the bed to ourselves?" She raises her eyebrows at me suggestively.

"I fucking love you."