All American Dad

It's Complicated

Laura got all the kids up to say goodbye to Clint, even Lillian. They all stood on the porch sadly, watching their dad pack the van.

"Why do you have to go now?" Cooper whined as he bounced Lillian on his hip, trying to stay awake.

"Yeah, Dad." Lila yawned. "It's the middle of the night."

"Sadly this can't wait another hour." Clint grunted as he loaded up some more junk into the van. "You know that's how this usually goes." Cooper muttered a reply under his breath and Lila groaned.

"Daddy..." Nathaniel yawned as he laid on Laura's shoulder. "Daddy leaving?"

"Yes, baby." Laura whispered as she rocked him.

"I'll be back soon." Clint grunted as he shut the door. He smiled and looked back at everyone. Tears filled just about everyone's eyes as they hugged him.

"Be careful. We love you!" Lila and Cooper said as they held Clint tight. Lily gently joined, but stepped back quickly and shyly watched. Clint smiled at her before turning to Laura and Nathaniel. He held Nathaniel while he hugged Laura.

"It's only one day." Clint whispered.

"I've heard that before." Laura breathed and wiped her eyes. "Just be careful. Please." Clint nodded and kissed her before he climbed into the van. He waved as he drove off into the distance. The sad, makeshift family watched until he was out of sight.

"Mom!!!" Lila screamed from the bedroom.

"Yes, Lila?" Laura yelled from where she was feeding Nathaniel and Lillian lunch. Both toddler's eyes went wide and stared at Laura.

"Cooper stuck a caterpillar in my sock drawer!!!!" Lila continued to yell.

"Then throw it in the butterfly habitat." Laura yelled and she wiped Nathaniel's face.

"Butterfly!" Lily raised her hands in excitement. "I wanna see."

"Another day." Laura chuckled. It had been three days since Clint left. Nothing. She hadn't heard a word from him. She tried not to worry. She tried to remember everything always worked out.

But the fear. The terror. The horror. The lingering voice in the back of her head saying oh my word what if this is the time something goes wrong. That voice screamed from it's pit she tried to keep it in.

Her worry was interrupted by Nathaniel throwing his banana on the floor.

"Nathaniel!" Lily scolded. "Daddy told me never to do that." Lillian shook her head the mess.

"But I all done." Nathaniel replied as he mushed his hands in the stickiness left on his plate.

"Then tell me, baby." Laura sighed as she bent down the wipe up the splattered mess. As soon as she was done, another yell interrupted the peace.

"Mom!" Cooper yelled as he ran into the room, mud tracking his every step.

"Cooper! Watch your boots!" she scolded.

"Sorry, but the mower broke down in the middle of me mowing." Cooper shrugged. "I can't fix it."

"I'll worry about that later, just push it into the shed." Laura rolled her eyes and threw Cooper a rag. "And wipe up your muddy mess when you're done." Cooper nodded and ran back out to the mower. Laura ran through her to-do list. Laundry, dishes, garden, sink leak, toilet clog, and now the mower.

"Mommy, I go play?" Nathaniel asked from his highchair.

"Me too, pwease!!" Lillian squealed.

"Yes, yes." Laura smiled weakly and let them out into the living room. She was about to start the dishes when she heard a knock at the door.

"Uncle Tony!" She heard Lillian yell. Tony? Laura went pale. She looked out the window and saw a Stark helicopter.

"LILA!" Laura screamed. Lila ran into the room. "Take Nathaniel and Lillian and hide in the basement. Lock the door and don't come out unless I, and only I tell you to, understand?" Lila nodded and ran off with the children. Laura took a deep breath as she answered the door.

"Mr. Stark." She nodded. "What brings you here?"

"I did a thing." He spat out. "I'm sorry." Laura went pale once again.

"Where's my husband?!" She yelled.

"I don't technically know yet. Some super secure prison thing..." Tony muttered.

"Excuse me?! And you find it totally appropriate to come here and tell me this and don't you dare tell me for a second you're totally innocent cause I know better than to think you didn't put him there!!!" Laura exploded.

"Okay, yeah, this is technically my fault, yes. I just came here so you would know and not worry."

"Oh, not worry. I see. You wouldn't be worried if it was YOUR life partner would you? If this was the person that meant more than anything in the entire world to you, would you worry? Someone knocking on your door saying something happened is supposed to make it better, but it doesn't. Until he is home, HERE, with ME, this will never be okay!" Laura yelled, and finally took a breath. Tony nodded and stared at the ground.

"He's alive." Tony muttered. "I don't know anything else I'm trying to find out. But, I can guarantee he is alive." Laura nodded. "I'll leave you alone then." Tony turned and went back to the helicopter.

"Where do you think you're going?" Laura asked.

Tony shrugged. "I'm gonna find him. And Steve." Tony shook his head. "I'm gonna try to fix some of this."