Casey sat alone in the basement workshop of the Miami beach house. Tony was still in New York overseeing the finishing touches on Stark Tower and Pepper was at Stark Industries in meetings all day. Not that the young adult wasn't content to have the house to herself. Nor could she actually tell she was alone, between the music and JARVIS' company.

A half finished project Tony had been working on before they had left for New York to start construction on the tower sat before her. Welding mask on and sparks flying, it was hard to hear much of anything as she grinded the rough edges of the metal down.

"CASEY!"

Casey jumped at the intrusion of JARVIS' voice as he cut power to the grinder so she would hear him. She shed the mask, grinder, and thick gloves angrily.

"Yes, Jarvis?" The red head demanded as she shot the nearest computer screen an annoyed look.

"Your phone is ringing," The AI responded.

"Thank-you," Casey nodded as she walked over to the desk to pick up her cell phone.

"This is Casey."

"Took you long enough, Dove," Clint chuckled from the other end. Casey smiled at the endearment.

Little Dove or just Dove had long ago become Clint's nickname for her as he saw Casey as pure and fragile compared to himself and Natasha.

"Sorry, dad, I was grinding something for Tony. Is something wrong? It's like 3 am there isn't it?"

"SHIELD never sleeps. Nothing's wrong, not yet anyway. I just have one of those impending doom feelings," Clint sighed hard, "I almost tried your mother but I was afraid I might not of had enough time to get both calls in. Or that she wouldn't answer." Casey could hear his smirk.

"Where is mom by the way? I haven't seen her since she worked for Pepper those few weeks last year," Casey inquired.

"I'm not sure actually. I last talked to her just after she completed that mission."

"Well she's obviously still alive because no one's come knocking on the door. That and you're the only person who calls me outside of Tony, Pepper, Happy, and Rodey," she joked half heartedly.

"That can't be true. Your mom doesn't call you?" Clint demanded, suddenly serious and almost angry.

"Never. Dad, the last time she had spoken to me before her "Tony mission" was when I came home after I was kidnapped. I don't even think I'd know her voice if she called."

Clint sighed and Casey could picture him massaging his temples.

"Nat, what are you doing?"

"It's alright, Dad. She's busy, I get that. I was in the way, that's why I was sent to live with Tony. Then I got rescued a freak, I get that too."

"You were not and are not in the way. We sent you to live with Tony because it was too dangerous to keep you close to us. And what happened to you was not your fault. Casey we love you no matter what."

Casey regretted her words. It wasn't Clint's fault she had lived the life she had. It was for the greater good.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean too-" Casey sighed and let her head fall in shame, "Sometimes it just feels that way."

"I understand. And remember you can always talk to me. Call me anytime, unless I'm dead or without my phone I'll always answer for you."

"YA lyublyu tebya, papa," Casey whispered, smiling fondly despite herself.

Casey could hear her father smile, "YA tozhe lyublyu tebya-"

The line cut.

"I'm sorry, Casey. It appears it came from your father's end," JARVIS apologized as the music faded back in.

"He'll be fine. He always is," Casey replied, her tone unconvincing, "Play me some AC/DC."

JARVIS accommodated her request with Highway To Hell and an electronic sigh, "Sometimes I do forget that you are not Mr. Stark's daughter."

The comment was ignored as Casey brushed a few falling pieces of hair out of her eyes and put the welding mask back on. Sparks flew seconds later as she turned her attention back to the project before her.

TRANSLATIONS

YA lyublyu tebya, papa.

I love you, dad.

YA tozhe lyublyu tebya-

I love you too-