I Was Never Yours

Chapter 48

Tony P.O.V

I finished eating and told everyone I was going to check on the kid, but I also really want to set a date with her for talking to Pepper, I just want to do it without the rest of the family watching, so I'm standing outside Callie's door deciding if I should knock or just enter. I finally decide on a combination and do a quick knock then swing the door open without waiting for an answer.

"Uh, knock much?" She says moodily from her spot at the couch. She's clicking away on Fortnight, she glances up and, seeing it's me, holds out the spare controller, "want to play?"

"Yeah sure." I take it and sit down beside her, waiting as she cues up a new game. "So that was... aggressive." I say casually.

"Yeah... sorry about the bowl," she sighs.

"No worries." I tell her genuinely, "so, your birthday is this weekend, I figured we'd have the Barton's over? Maybe Rhody, Sam and Happy? You want to invite some friends?"

"Uh, maybe? I don't know... it might be weird to have my friends with the family," she says distractedly, tapping the buttons on her controller.

"Okay, well we can do something with your friends another day?" I tell her, pausing the game.

"Hey!"

"No, listen, I want you to look at me when we talk." I take the controller from her hands and she rolls her eyes but turns to me. "Do you want anything specific for your birthday?"

"No," she shrugs, "I don't need anything." I feel a surge of pride--at her age I was so entitled and she just isn't.

I reach out for her and she leans into my arms, sighing, "you're a good kid."

"Really? I feel like a pretty shitty kid most of the time."

"No,you may have stolen and wrecked my car, but you did it for an honourable reason. You did it knowing you'd get caught, I'm actually really proud of you Callie." I kiss her head, "I know you're having a hard time in school, whenever you're ready to talk about it I'm here, your Uncles, you Auntie, we're all here."

She shrugs and squeezes me around the belly but says nothing. "I'm sorry about Harry, I know you're disappointed." I tell her, rubbing her back.

"Yeah, Uncle did say he probably wouldn't get to stay, I just didn't think it would be so instant. It's also kind of awkward since Peter and I broke up."

"What? I had no idea!"

"Just happened yesterday," she sighs.

"What a fucking idiot!" I blurt, genuinely offended on her behalf.

Callie simply laughs and then sits up, "was there anything else you wanted?" She looks at me meaningfully and I'm struck by how insightful she is, the damn kid picks up on everything.

"Yeah actually," I scratch my head awkwardly, "I want you to talk to Pepper, like, within the next two weeks? I just have to figure out when works for her."

"Uh, yeah sure, whenever is fine... it's not like I'm doing much." She mumbles, picking up her controller again. "And since you're asking me a favour..." she says slowly, "could my friend Mary Jane come over tomorrow after decathlon?"

"Uh, hm... you're supposed to be grounded because of the car fiasco..." I say, looking at her hard.

"I know but she asked if we could hang out and I really want to," she begs.

"I'll need to talk to the Uncles and Auntie and report back," I wink at her and she sighs dramatically.

"Uncle Steve won't say yes," she groans, "can't you just say yes?"