Chapter 66

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Steve P.O.V

We've just finished with dinner when someone knocks at the back door.

"That's weird, who would knock?" Bruce muses as he moves to open it.

"Oh, it's my friend Sam," I say, springing past him to open it myself.

I let him in and he laughs and shakes my hand, "Rogers, nice to see you. Wow, look at the greeting party, I've never felt so important."

"Oh, yeah, we just finished dinner," I chuckle, "but this is everybody," I proceed to introduce everyone and he shakes hands with each person until finally, I snatch up Callie who has been hiding behind her Dad since the stranger entered the room.

"And this is Tony's little girl," I grin and kiss her, she grabs onto my neck and hides her face in my collarbone, "Callie, this is Uncle's friend Sam."

"And what's your name, little lady?" Sam whispers, angling himself so she can see him.

"What's your name?" I murmur into her hair and she turns to Sam, her eyes flashing blue.

"Wow, what was that?" Sam asks.

"She's just checking you out, making sure she can trust you," I explain.

"Callie Maria Stark," she interrupts.

"Good job baby," Tony chuckles and Callie scowls at him.

"Not baby, just Callie."

"Okay then, just Callie," he smirks.

Sam takes her hand and shakes it, "nice to meet you, Miss Callie."

She smiles and wriggles free from me and runs to the fridge, "Uncle, i-cweam?"

"Uh, sure. Sam, do you want ice cream with your beer?" I ask with a laugh as I open the freezer.

Sam cracks up but nods. "Yeah definitely."

"What kind of beer do you want, Sam?" Tony asks, "I'll grab some from the lounge."

"I like a dark beer if you've got it."

"Yeah for sure, anyone else want one?"

Everyone gives a resounding yes and then Tony pauses and winks at me. "You're not old enough for a beer, Stevie."

"Oh shut up, Tony."

"Wait, you're not even 21?" Sam laughs in disbelief.

"No, I will be in a few months," my cheeks flush in humiliation and I glare at Tony.

"I was just teasing, bud. I'll grab you one."

"Thanks," I roll my eyes at his back as he leaves the room. I finish scooping Callie's sugar-free ice cream into a plastic bowl and place it on the table, "here baby."

Callie glowers at me and stomps her foot, "I not baby."

"You're my baby," I chuckle.

Suddenly she runs up to me and rears back a fist, slamming it towards my crotch.

"Callie, what are you doing?" I gasp as I shield myself with my hands.

"Damn, she's mad at you," Sam snickers, and I suppose to an outsider her angry face and small tantrum might seem cute, but she's never tried to hit me before.

"Uncle ugly stupid," she growls through tears, punching my hands again. The words and her aggression leave me feeling hurt and helpless, but I also don't want to break down in front of my new friend, so I force a laugh and try my best to reprimand her.

"No hitting, baby, stop it," I say, doing my best to keep the emotion out of my voice.

"No baby," she yells as she punches me again and again. I'm successful in blocking her attempts at violence but I'm so shocked that I don't know how to react.

Bruce grabs the toddler and hoists her up into his arms, "Callie, no, you're hurting Uncle's feelings."

Callie shrieks and thrashes, "hate Uncle. F-fuck Uncle!"

Bruce removes her from the kitchen and brings her to her bedroom, her screams becoming faint. I wrap my arms around myself, unable to react, unable to move.

"You good, Steve?" Sam asks, touching my arm, "kids throw tantrums, you know? She didn't mean it."

I force myself to nod and glance up to see not only Sam but Natasha and Thor staring at me.

Tony marches into the kitchen then, a box of craft beer in his hands, "what the fuck just happened? She was fine when I left."

I'm about to reply but Thor steps up, "Cooper was making fun of her for being a baby, that's why she punched him in the nose, " he then motions to me, "and Steven just called her a baby so she got upset."

His explanation causes my focus to shift from my hurt to Callie's, "he was bullying her?"

"I guess?" Thor shrugs and looks away, "I mean, he's only five. I told him it wasn't ok, but I guess he must have started again when I ran to get the baby's clothes."

"Why didn't you tell us that when the Bartons were here? Like, they could have dealt with him and maybe he could have apologized and then she wouldn't have tried to punch me."

"I know, I should've, it was just awkward. Like, I felt it was my fault for leaving, but..."

"She tried to punch you?" Tony laughs, incredulous.

"Yeah, she was pretty vicious, " Sam chuckles.

"I'm going to go check on her," I tell him, "I'll be right back."

I jog down the hall to Callie's room and find Bruce trying to lay her down in bed to no avail, she just persists to scream and kick.

"Hey, you need some help?" I ask, sitting down on the bed.

"Maybe," Bruce sighs, "she's being irrational."

"Well, Thor said Cooper was bullying her this morning, calling her a baby," I explain.

I shush her and pull her onto my lap, "that's enough now. I'm sorry I hurt your feelings, and I'm sorry that Cooper was being mean to you. Did that make you sad?"

"Y-yeah," she sobs, finally relaxing.

"Coopa stupid," Callie sniffles and cuddles into my chest.

"He's not stupid, but he wasn't being nice. He should have said sorry," I tell her, "do you forgive Uncle though? I love you."

"I love Uncle."

"Good, do you want your ice cream now?"

Callie nods and wraps her arms around my neck so I can lift her, she's still struggling to take even breaths, but at least the crying has ceased.

As we head back to the kitchen Bruce pats my shoulder and says, "you're fucking magic," he shakes his head in bewilderment, "like seriously, the baby whisperer."

"Just the Callie whisperer," I chuckle and kiss her temple.

When we come back into the kitchen Sam smiles in relief, "everything good?"

"Yeah, she's okay," I tell him as I sit her down in front of her ice cream.

"Here buddy, an illegal beer for you," Tony winks at me and passes a cold bottle into my outstretched hands. He then leans his head into mine and murmurs, "we're going to have to watch the kids interact this weekend. I'm not going to have that boy causing our little one to doubt herself."

I nod and tap my bottle to his, "yeah definitely."

"Okay, I've got the baby. Go hang out with your friend."

"No, it's okay, we can stay here," I protest despite Sam's eager expression.

"Steven, get out of here," Tony whips a dish towel at my ass making me laugh.

"Okay, fine. Oh my god," I grab Sam's arm, "come on, let's go play pool or something?"

"Sure, I'll kick your ass, Rogers."

I laugh. "We'll see."

I lead him to the billiards room and grab some cues, handing him one, and then proceed to set up the balls.

"Your niece is really cute," Sam says as he chalks the cue. "She's what, two?"

"Huh? No, they told us she's between three and five, so Tony sort of just decided that she's five."

"There's no way that tiny child is five Steve," Sam says, looking me square in the eyes.

"Well, that's what Tony says..."

"Tony is being foolish if he wants to pretend she's older than she is but whatever."

I grit my teeth at the blight to Tony's intelligence and have to force myself not to lash out. I draw in a breath and then speak in a steady voice, "It's hard to stomach the thought that she could be even younger than five. I think that's why he does it. It's fine, she's five, she's not five, what's the difference? She's still our baby."

Sam chews on his bottom lip and shrugs, aiming his cue and striking the white ball. "Sure, buddy."

I watch as the perfect triangle I had just created scatters around the table, a striped ball sliding into the pocket. "Nice break," I tell him.

"Thanks, Stevie," he replies, shooting at another stripe and missing.

I brush past him to take my shot. "Please don't," I groan at the nickname and he laughs.

"I figured you must hate that," he snickers, "so, any girls in dear Captain America's life?"

"Uh, no, no girls." I blush as I sink a solid ball.

"What? None? You're kidding."

"No. I, I don't know what I'm doing with girls, they're so confusing."

"Wow, I'm shook. Captain America is bad with girls,"
Sam whistles and shakes his head.

"Hey, I wouldn't say I'm bad with girls, I might be amazing, I've just never been with one."

Sam barks out a laugh. "That's not how that works," he then lowers his voice, staring hard at me across the table, "so you're a virgin then?"

My face flushes, I hadn't realized I'd all as much as told him so. I break the eye contact. "Uh, yeah."

"Don't be embarrassed. I didn't lose my virginity until I was 18."

"Really? That makes me feel a lot better actually," I admit. "Tony lost his when he was, like, 15. Sometimes it feels like it's never going to happen."

"Yeah, I get that. Not everyone can be a billionaire playboy. Though I would've expected girls to throw themselves all over you, you're Captain America for fuck sakes!"

"Well, they do." I feel my face heat at the admission. "But I don't know what to do. Like, when they're aggressive I just want to get away from them."

"Rough." Sam laughs and sinks another stripe. "You're going to have to get over that. Is there someone you like? Maybe that's why you aren't open to just anyone."

"Uh, yeah. I, um, I really like Natasha," I look away when I say it, lowering my voice to a whisper over her name. I've never told anyone before.

"Oh, yeah she's hot." Sam grins. "Have you asked her out?"

"No, she's with Bruce. Besides, I've really messed up. I'm pretty sure she views me like a little kid."

"Oh, yeah I wouldn't swipe the Hulk's girl," Sam chuckles.

"I don't plan to, but it's hard when she's around all the time. And like, every time I start to get over it something happens and I'm all hung up on her again. Like today, Callie pulled her robe apart and I saw her naked, and just like that, I can't stop thinking about her."

"Oh Jesus, yeah that's tough. You need to get someone else in your head."

"That's what Tony said, it's no good though."

"Sorry, Steve. If I can help somehow let me know. I'll see if I know anyone to set you up with."

"Yeah, sure," I agree, even though I doubt I'll actually want to meet anyone he recommends.

We finish our game and Sam says it's about time for him to go so we walk back to the kitchen, which is now devoid of people. Sam begins tying up his shoe laces and he looks up to me. "Hey man, I'm sorry I had to cancel earlier. This was fun though, we should do it again. How's next week?"

"It's okay, I got over it. Sorry about the drama with the baby," I say, patting his shoulder. "Next week we're going to be on vacation at the beach. I could do the week after though, or maybe you could come visit there?"

"Okay, sounds fun," Sam stands and shakes my hand. "Text me the details."

"Will do, bye Sam," I wave him out the door and then head to my bedroom.

I walk in the door and stop abruptly at the sight of Thor in my bed watching television, his eyes widen and he sits up and mutes the volume.

"Oh, I forgot," I stammer.

"It's okay," his face turns a deep shade of red, "I can leave."

"No, I'll just go to Callie's room."

I turn to leave but he clears his throat, "Steve."

"Yeah?"

"I, uh, can we talk?" He pats the edge of the bed and I look into his eyes, searching for any ill intent but am only met with genuine remorse.

I slowly sit on the bed and cross my arms. "Okay."

"I'm so sorry for biting you, I feel terrible."

"Oh, uh..."

"No, I'm not done. I shouldn't have sucked you off, you told me you didn't want me to, I should've respected that."

"Thanks," I look down at my knees, flexing my fingers against them.

"I saw Tony hugging you this afternoon and I just felt so bad. Are you okay?"

"I've been better," I admit, a lump forming in my throat, I swallow it and say, "but Bruce started me on some antidepressants so hopefully it gets better. I've just been really, um, really sad," my voice breaks and I look away.

"I'm sorry," Thor grimaces and pats my shoulder.

I sniff and stand up. "Thanks, I'm just going to grab some clothes and I'll go to Callie's room," I tell him and pull out some boxers and sweatpants.

"Is your penis okay?" He asks.

"No, not really. I can't masturbate until it heals, and I have to avoid erections which is, like, impossible." I blush and grab my cellphone charger.

"Fuck, I'm so sorry."

"Yeah, well, whatever. It's fine," I mumble before telling him goodnight and leaving the room. I don't have anything more to say to him, I still feel angry and I'm not sure I'm ready to totally forgive him yet.

I amble down the hallway to Callie's room and find both the baby and Tony's heads peeking out from the covers. I smile to myself and strip down to my boxers before climbing in on the child's other side and wrap an arm across both of them.

Tony stirs and squints an eye open at me, "Mhmm, hi," he mumbles, "g'night, love you."

"I love you too," I whisper back, smiling as his hand envelopes my cheek, "goodnight."


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