A/N - I gave up completely on my twist off story because I couldn't do anything with it. I chased another muse and forgot what I was doing there. I need to write my plot lines earlier huh. But anyways I am jumping ship on that and giving you another story in exchange. However Erin is older in this one, and to introduce it it is best to have a few little growing up snippets because I am jumping a lot. These snippets of course will hit all the major milestone until I get to Erin's preferred age. So first Erin is little so bare with me this is more of a Clint chapter than anything else.

Disclaimer - I do not own the Avengers franchise, or Clint Barton, nor do I say I do. I also do not own Dr. Seuss who I quote in this chapter. Erin Barton however is mine so paws off. (Just joking)

Lot's Of Love

All4TheBest

First Steps

Clint sighed as he sank into his favorite chair after confiscating the toy he felt was much too advanced for the recently one year old Erin. Or at least that is what he told himself. In truth he had taken the toy away because Erin's new favorite word was 'BALL!' and that is what the toy had been. After a few long days at work he did not want to hear the word ball being screeched out in the midst of the room.

Though in truth once again he was a bit upset seeing as 'ball' beat out 'daddy' in the word world of Erin Barton. However moving the ball toy away from the year old did much less than make her more insistent for her favorite toy.

It was a ball, overly large and purple though almost completely see through. He had gotten it from a store only weeks before for her Birthday, and other than the box of her 'grow with me' toy car it was the present the small girl was most interested in.

He thought back to the small birthday, it was fun and reminiscent of birthdays he had back home. Were his parents and Barney would gather round with his grandparents. Though this time it was not his true family, rather it was Peter, May, Ben, and himself. Erin's family, or at least the one she knew.

During the Party Erin had been such a little lady she was very interested in all of her presents until they were opened and she could pull at the open box or bag, and was more interested in poking her smash cake then smashing the smash cake. He ended up having to smash it for her. Which in turn made her cry.

May and Ben had laughed so hard at that. Remembering how happily Peter dug into his cake and patting Clint on the back.

'Maybe she won't be a food thrower" Ben had said though chuckles when had made Clint chuckle too. Erin and Peter joined soon after not really understanding why they were laughing but having fun doing so anyways.

"ball, ball, ball, Dada, ball, ball, ball! Dada Ball!" Erin was practically yelling in her small high pitched way accenting every end syllable. Clint sighed and twited to see her. However he was looking at an empty spot on the floor littered on the rug. He twisted trying to catch a glymce of red around the toys close enough that she could crawl couldn't find her. Scared he jumped to his feet only to see the small one year old pushed up on her toes and reaching for the purple ball he had moved from her.

He took the ball down off the table so Erin wouldn't pull it on her head and was met with a yell of ball. Then Clint Barton did a very ungraceful thing by jumping over the one year old and running to his room to grab the small camcorder picking it up and turning it on hoping that unlike the first time she crawled Erin would continue to walk. And she was, she was ungracefully continuing to walk back to her toys when he got back to the living room. She fell one or two times but continued to smile get back up and walk again. She was gurgling words and having a grand old time.

"Erin, What do you got?" He asked in a higher pitched voice than he usually used. Wanting to get the small girl talking as well.

"Ball Dada, Ball" The one year old said walking back toward her father.

"Yes you do my baby girl. You got a ball." He smiled as he watched his baby girl continue to take her first real steps without something helping her or just going back and forth from himself and May or Ben, whichever one she was with when he picked her up for the day.

"Baby?" Erin said her voice raising four octaves as she did. "Dada Baby," She said pointing toward him.

"Yes Erin your Dada's baby." He smiled.

"Dada Baby, Dada Baby, Dada Baby," She chanted as she flopped on her butt. "Dada Ball?" She asked and Clint smiled. He tucked away the video camera and smiled at her sitting down as well and taking the ball from her and rolling it back to her. She reached out to grab it and picked it up and attempted to throw it back thought it did no more than skip across the carpet. Clint caught it and rolled it back. They did this for a while until Clint decided it was getting late and Erin needed to be getting to bed.

"Erin, come on its bed time." He said and the small girl raspberry back at him with a smile and he reached over to pull the one year old into his lap carrying her into her bed and laying her down on her crib.

"Owl" the girl said though it came out sounding more like ah-wooo than owl and Clint grabbed the small toy and handed it to his precious baby before tucking her in tightly under her pooh bear blanket.

"How about we do the story first tonight." He said grabbing the small story book from the bedside and placing it in his lap as he sunk into the rocking chair. "Now where were we, oh I know." He said using his finger to find him place. Erin turned to face him.

"They Laughed and they Laughed, Then they all ran away.

And Horton was lonely. He wanted to play

but he sat on the egg and continued to say

"I meant what I said

And I said what I meant…

An elephant's faithful

One hundred per cent!

"No matter What happens,

This egg must be tended!"

But poor Horton's troubles

Were far, far from ended

For, while Horton sat there

So faithful, so kind,

Three hunters came sneaking

Up softly behind!

He heard the men's footsteps!

He turned with a start!

Three rifles were aiming

Right straight at his heart!

Did he run?

He did not!

HORTON STAYED ON THAT NEST,

AND HE HELD HIS HEAD HIGH,

AND HE THREW OUT HIS CHEST!

And he looked at the hunters

As much as to say:

"Shoot if you must

But I won't run away!

I meant what I said

And I said what I meant…

An elephant's faithful

One hundred per cent!"

Erin's eyes were drooping from where she lay on her cot. I think that's enough for old Horton tonight don't you baby girl." He said placing the book away and tucking a stray thin curl behind Erin's small ear. He continued to run his hand through her hair while he sang her the lullaby he always had. Erin was soon out like a light. He smiled and leaned down to kiss her head.

"My big walking girl. You are growing up way too fast." He smiled before turning off her light and retiring into the living room to slouch in his chair once again with a smile. It had almost been an hour since he had sat down first but that was fine. He would put his slouching on hold for an hour if that hour meant playing with the bubbly and screeching ball of joy that was his daughter.

So there is the first chapter. I have no Idea how many of these little milestones I will write but I do have a few ideas. Anyways If any of you readers have a milestone you want me to cover I will try to if it fits where I want to go with this timeline.

So please I love reader interaction, leave suggestions in Reviews or P.M me I will do as many as I can.

Lots of Love,

All4TheBest.