Chapter 10
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July 9th 1996
A week has passed since Daisy was born and because of the complications that occurred both Melinda and Daisy have been in hospital, but it is finally the day where they are going to be release from hospital and go home, as they have both been given a clear bill of health.
Waiting to be picked up Melinda is sitting in her hospital room holding Daisy who is wrapped in the blanket Tony gave Melinda back at Christmas when suddenly Bobbi runs into the room.
"Hey Mom." Bobbi says, with a grin.
"Bobbi? Is someone with you?" Melinda asks, as she would have expected someone to be with Bobbi.
"Uncle Tony is. We were racing." Bobbi explains, "He said I didn't have to hold back." She explains.
"He did, did he?" Melinda asks.
"He did." Tony says, as he enters the room, "Nicely done Little Bird." Tony says, smiling at her, and Melinda gives him a less than impressed look, "No one was around when she didn't hold back, I made sure of it." he explains, having been able to guess what that look meant.
"Good." Melinda says, as Bobbi climbs onto the bed next to her mother.
"Hi Daisy." Bobbi says, and as she does Melinda and Tony exchange looks as every time she sees Daisy Bobbi says hello to her.
"Are you two ready to go home?" Tony asks curious.
"Beyond ready." Melinda says, as she carefully puts Daisy into a carrier, that will be put into the car seat.
"Good." Tony says, as he picks up Melinda's bags.
"Let's go." Melinda says, once she is sure Daisy is strapped in properly, and she picks up the carrier, "Bobbi, stay close." Melinda requests.
"I know." Bobbi answers, "Can I help with anything?" Bobbi asks curious.
"Um." Melinda says, as she looks around, "No I don't think so." Melinda answers, "Just make sure you stay close." She requests, Bobbi nods, and Tony, Bobbi, and Melinda holding Daisy head out of the room a room that Melinda would be very happy to never see again.
A little while after Melinda, Tony, Bobbi and Daisy left the hospital the four of them arrive back at Melinda's house, and as they arrive Melinda notices a few more cars than usually, but as they are all cars that she recognises Melinda doesn't make a comment as she figures it's meant to be a surprise.
So instead Melinda lets Tony park the car, before they both get out and Melinda carries Daisy inside while Bobbi and Tony walk in with her. The second the group of four walk into the house they hear,
"Surprise, welcome home!" being yelled by Coulson, Clint, Richard, Rhodey, Mary, Lian, William, Peggy, Nick Fury, Sharon Carter and her parents, Antoine Triplet and his mother and grandfather, as well as some other people that Melinda trusts.
"Don't look at me this time." Tony says, as Melinda glanced over to him, "This was all Coulson." He reveals.
"Thank you, Phil." Melinda says, smiling at his friend, as she walks over to the table, where she can put the carrier down and pick up Daisy.
"You don't have to thank me." Phil says to his friend, and as he does basically everyone walks over to Melinda and Daisy, or everyone except for Tony who walks over to Bobbi who is standing back
"You okay, Little Bird?" Tony asks her.
"Yeah." Bobbi answers.
"You know loving Daisy doesn't mean any of us love you any less." Tony tells Bobbi, having known that Melinda was worried about how Bobbi was going to react to people showing Daisy so much attention.
"I know, Mom told me." Bobbi explains, "But…" Bobbi says, looking over to where Daisy is being held by Peggy and fussed over by basically everyone.
"But nothing, we love you both, equally." Tony assures her, "You're both special, both your moms girls… both my girls." Tony explains, "Never forget that." He says, and in response Bobbi just hugs her uncle.
"I love you Uncle Tony."
"Love you too, Little Bird." Tony says, as they break apart, "Let's go join the others." He suggests, and the two of them head over to where the others are.
Hours later, after a quiet enjoyable day, everyone who doesn't live at Melinda's house, with the exception of Tony, has left. As it is late-ish, Melinda has checked on Daisy, who is asleep, is walking into Bobbi's room.
"Bobbi, time for bed." Melinda says, walking over to her daughter.
"Okay, Mom." Bobbi responds.
"Have you brushed your teeth?" Melinda asks curious.
"Yep." Bobbi answers, with a nod, as Melinda sits down on the edge of her daughter's bed, "I'm glad your home."
"I'm glad I'm home too." Melinda responds, "Bobbi things are going to be different with Daisy in our lives, but I want you to know that I love you both equally, you are both my daughters, that will never change."
"I know Mom." Bobbi says, "You told me, so did Uncle Tony."
"Good." Melinda says, "You can always talk to me, Bobbi, even if it seems like a stupid thing to talk about." Melinda admits, and Bobbi nods, "Now…" Melinda says, as she tucks her daughter in, "Would you like a story?" Melinda asks curious.
"Yes!" Bobbi says with a grin, "A mission story." She says, as Melinda tells her story of previous missions, but is sure to be vague enough so that Bobbi isn't told too much.
"Okay." Melinda says, "Once Upon A Time Uncle Phil, Aunt Peggy, Nick, and I were on a mission with some other agents." Melinda says before starting to tell Bobbi a mission story for the late eighties, just before Peggy was outed from S.H.I.E.L.D.
About twenty minutes later Melinda, who is feeling pretty tired and carrying a baby monitor, walks downstairs and over to the couch where Tony is sitting.
"Are the girls asleep?" Tony asks curious.
"Yep, it took a story for Bobbi, but she's asleep, and so's Daisy." Melinda explains, as she sits on the couch right next to Tony, who without even thinking just puts his arm around her.
"Good, that's good." Tony says, "You okay?" he asks.
"A little tired… and sore, but okay." Melinda admits, doing so because it is Tony she is talking to.
"What else?" Tony asks curious, being able to tell that there is something Melinda isn't saying.
"I'm worried about Cal, what if he finds out about Daisy?" Melinda asks, feeling worried about what would happen to Daisy if that happens.
"He's been off the grid for almost a year." Tony reminds her, "The second he comes out of hiding S.H.I.E.L.D will find him, or I will, and he'll never get near Daisy, never hurt her." Tony says, trying to reassure himself as much as Melinda.
"I hope you're right." Melinda says, and as she does she knows she has to tell Tony something she's been thinking about, "I don't want Daisy to know what he did, to me or Bobbi, not until she's eighteen." Melinda explains.
"Of course, but you know she might ask questions before then." Tony points out.
"I know, I'm not going to lie to her." Melinda reveals, "I'm just not going to tell her everything until she is older." Melinda explains.
"Okay." Tony say, with a nod, knowing that is Melinda's call, "I won't say anything." He says, and Melinda is glad to hear that.
"You know more science than me, do you think Daisy could have powers too?" Melinda asks Tony.
"Truthfully, I don't know." Tony admits, "It would depend on how he got his powers, whether they are genetic, I just don't know." He admits.
"Okay." Melinda says, with a nod, "I guess we'll just have to watch her, see if she shows any signs of powers."
"And if she does you'll handle it." Tony says, knowing that.
"Yeah, we will." Melinda says, knowing that, and she and Tony drift into silence as they sit side by side, and Melinda rests her head on his shoulder.
September 24th 1996
Twelve weeks has passed since Daisy was born, eleven since she and Melinda came home, and in the past three months Melinda has felt beyond exhausted, but also beyond happy, as she knows, without a doubt, that both her daughters are the best thing in her life.
It's early morning and Melinda is going back to work for the first time since she gave work. Due to S.H.I.E.L.D protocol Melinda will be on restricted duty for a little while, until she gets used to being back and has met all the standards she needs to meet.
Trying not to show the fact that she is worried about leaving work, and leaving Daisy, Melinda is in the kitchen in her house with her father, Daisy, Bobbi, and Tony, who has been sleeping on the fold out couch in Melinda's office, for weeks.
"Mel, did you hear me?" Tony asks curious.
"Sorry, what?" Melinda asks, looking confused.
"I said I can take Bobbi to school on my way to the airport if you'd like." Tony offers.
"Yeah, that would be good. If that's okay with you, Bobbi." Melinda says, looking at her daughter, "Is it okay if Uncle Tony takes you to school?" she asks curious.
"Yep!" Bobbi says, looking happy.
"Okay, thanks Tony." Melinda says, looking relieved, and as she does she realises something, "Wait, airport, where are you going?" she asks curious.
"LA. The boards getting annoyed. I've got to handle a couple of things that I can't handle from here, I need an actual Stark Industries office to handle them." Tony explains, not looking very happy as he would much prefer to stay in DC.
"Oh okay, good luck." Melinda says.
"Thanks." Tony says, drawing out the word.
"Uncle Tony we've got to go." Bobbi says, seeing the time, "Time for school!"
"Okay Little Bird." Tony tells her, "I'll see you." Tony says, giving Melinda a hug, being careful of Daisy who she is holding, not kissing her as they still aren't officially giving them a shot yet and William is in the room.
"See you." Melinda says, as they break apart.
"Bye Tiny Toni." Tony says, kissing Daisy's head.
"Are you going to ever stop with that Nickname?" Melinda asks curious as Tony has been calling Daisy that for weeks, and she has been pretending to be annoyed, but they both know she's not really.
"Never." Tony says, with a grin, causing Bobbi to laugh, "Let's go Little Bird." Tony says, walking over to her, "Have you got your bag?" he asks.
"Yep." Bobbi answers, "And I have my homework, and my lunch, and everything I need."
"That's good Bobbi." Melinda tells her daughter, and once she does Bobbi hurries over to her daughter, "Bye Mom." Bobbi says, "By Daisy." Bobbi says to her little sister, who it is clear she completely loves and has been so happy to get to know over the past three months, "By Grandpa."
"Goodbye Bobbi, see you tonight." William tells his granddaughter.
"Okay, let's get out of here." Tony tells Bobbi, and the two of them head out of the house, Melinda watching her daughter and Tony go.
"When do you have to leave?" William asks his daughter.
"Oh, about now." Melinda admits, flashing back to the first time she had to leave Bobbi after she took her in, as she cuddles Daisy.
"Then you should go." William tells his daughter.
"I will." Melinda says, walking back and forth as she cuddles Daisy and kisses her head.
"Millie, Daisy will be fine, I will be with her all day, and you'll be home before you know it." William assures her daughter, as he walks over to her, "It's time for you to go." William says, sticking out his hands to take Daisy.
"I love you." Melinda tells her daughter, kissing her head before handing her over to William.
"We're gonna have a great day, aren't we Daisy?" William asks his granddaughter, and with one last smile at her father and youngest daughter Melinda heads out of the house, slightly forcing herself to do so.
About half an hour after Melinda left the house she walks into the little office at the Triskelion that Melinda, Clint, and Phil share, and as she walks in she finds both of them waiting.
"Mels!" Clint says, looking glad, "Welcome back." He says, smiling at her.
"Thanks Clint." Melinda says, smiling back at him.
"Glad to be back?" Phil asks curious.
"A little, but it was hard leaving Daisy." Melinda admits, "Tony took Bobbi to school, so I wasn't leaving both of them, but it was hard." Melinda admits.
"I think that's normal." Phil comments.
"Want to kick my ass to distract yourself from missing your girls?" Clint asks, causing Melinda to laugh.
"Yeah, I'd like that." Melinda admits.
"Okay, let's go." Clint says, and both he and Melinda head out of the office. Then, because he wants to make sure neither Clint or Melinda hurt each other Phil follows behind them.
Hour later Melinda is home, the only one in the house awake, as Bobbi, Daisy and William are all asleep, and having just checked on her girls Melinda is walking downstairs, heading to her office, when she hears a knock on the door.
Wondering who it can be this late Melinda heads to the door and once she checks she sees that it is Tony on the door she opens it to let him in.
"I thought you were in LA." Melinda comments.
"Never made it." Tony admits.
"Tony, the board is going to be pissed." Melinda comments.
"Not exactly… it's complicated, can I come in?" Tony asks curious.
"Of course, you can." Melinda says, letting Tony into the house, "Tony, what's going on?" Melinda asks curious, as they both subconsciously head to the living room.
"I dropped Bobbi at school this morning, and on the way to the airport I realised I didn't want to go back to LA, I don't want to be across the country form you and the girls." Tony explains as they both sit down on the couch, both sitting cross legged and facing each other.
"That's sweet." Melinda says, smiling slightly, "But you can't run the company from DC, not without time and changes. The board aren't going to like that." Melinda says, having head Tony rant about the board enough times to know that.
"You're right, I can't run the company from DC, not right now, but I can run it from New York." Tony tells Melinda, with a grin.
"You're moving to New York." Melinda realises, with a smile.
"Yep. I've already started the processes, got a penthouse apartment in Manhattan. I'm probably going to put some miles on my jet, and cars, but New York is a hell of a lot closer than LA." Tony explains.
"Yeah, it is." Melinda confirms, honestly feeling very glad that Tony will be closer, and she goes to lean forward to kiss him, but before she can the two of them hear Daisy's cry come through the baby monitor, and so they exchange an amused look before Melinda gets up and heads upstairs, so that she can comfort her daughter.
November 7th 1996
Six weeks have passed since Melinda started back at S.H.I.E.L.D and Tony moved to New York, and in that time, Tony has completed moved into his new penthouse apartment in Manhattan and Melinda has brought Daisy and Bobbi to visit his new place once, while Tony is DC often.
As of three days ago Melinda is back on normal duty at S.H.I.E.L.D and has celebrated that by completing a complicated mission with Clint and Phil, a mission that the three of them are on their way back from, but after a call from Fury they have had to land in New York.
"You're okay right, you're not dying, right?" Clint asks, looking at Melinda, who gives him a dirty look, "What? It's a fair question, you let me fly, and you never let me fly." He points out.
"Maybe I thought you needed the practice." Melinda comments.
"No, Clint's right, you are okay right? I mean that blow seemed hard, but you said you're fine." Phil comments, looking worried.
"You two worry too much." Melinda says, rolling her eyes at her friends.
"Like you wouldn't worry if one of us did something completely out of character." Clint comments, "Oh wait a minute, you have." He comments, causing Melinda to once more roll her eyes.
"Because you two clearly aren't going to drop it, I wanted to catch up on some sleep, and for once I decided to let someone else fly, now I'm wishing I didn't." Melinda admits, "When did Fury say he'll call back?" she asks curious.
"Four hours. Said he'd explain more then." Phil explains.
"Okay." Melinda says, before standing up and heading to the other end of the plan, clearly about to leave.
"Where are you going?" Clint asks curious.
"Out, I'll be back in three and a half hours." Melinda explains, before leaving, and the second she leaves Clint and Phil look at each other.
"Stark." Clint realises.
"Stark." Phil confirms.
A little while after Melinda left the airfield that Clint and Phil are at Melinda arrives at Tony's penthouse apartment. Even though she knows she could easily get into the apartment, Melinda just rings the doorbell instead.
"Please don't be blasting ACDC in the lab." Melinda mutters to herself once she has rung the bell, as she knows that if he is then she will have to break in, but to her relief the door opens about a minute after Melinda rang her bell, to reveal Tony in a tank top and pants, which tells Melinda he was in the lab.
"Mel!" Tony says, with a grin, "Did I know you were coming?" he asks curious, as he is usually pretty good about remembering his plans with Melinda, but he wouldn't be surprised if he forgot.
"Nope." Melinda says, as she walks in, "I wasn't planning to, but I've got to stay in New York for the next few hours so I thought I'd come by."
"I'm glad you did." Tony says, with a grin, "I'm assuming you're on a mission?" he asks.
"Between them, technically." Melinda admits "It's complicated, and I can't explain more."
"That's usually the case." Tony responds, as the two of them exchange amused looks, and they arrive at the living area of Tony's apartment, "How long we got until you have to be back at whenever you're supposed to be?"
"Three hours, give or take." Melinda admits, as they both sit down on the couch.
"So, a quickie then." Tony says, with a smirk.
"Absolutely." Melinda says, and Tony goes to lean forward and kiss her, but Melinda sticks out her hand, and stops him, causing him to give her a confused look, "That not yet we talked about… I think that time is now, if it's something you still want to try." Melinda says to Tony.
"Definitely." Tony says, grinning, "You said you're between missions, think you'll be done by Saturday?" he asks curious.
"I honestly don't know." Melinda admits.
"Well, I like to think you will be." Tony admits, knowing it might not happen, but he can at least plan for it to, "So Melinda I-hate-trying-to-pronounce-your-middle-name May, would you like to go on a date with me Saturday night?" he asks, causing Melinda to shake her head with an amused look on her face.
"Yeah, I would." Melinda confirms.
"I'll pick you up Saturday night, say nine?" Tony asks, knowing that Bobbi will be in bed by then as her bedtime is eight thirty.
"Sounds good." Melinda confirms, leaning forward, "But so did that quickie idea." She says, before kissing Tony, and as they kiss Melinda pushes Tony back against the couch, as things heat up.
Two days later Melinda has completed a second mission with Phil and Clint, and as both Bobbi and Daisy are in bed Melinda has gotten changed into black leather pants, a red halter top, and black boots for her date with Tony.
"So, you and Tony are finally going on a date." William says, to his daughter, with a knowing grin.
"Yeah, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone, because Tony and I haven't talked about it." Melinda explains.
"I won't." William assures his daughter, "I'm happy for you Millie, I've been waiting for years for you and Tony to finally admit that you're more than just best friends."
"You're not the first person to think that." Melinda says, as she turns around, "So Tony and I will both have phones, and so if something happens…." Melinda starts to say.
"Millie, I've got Daisy and Bobbi. They'll be fine." William assures his daughter, "But If something does happen I promise you I'll call." William says, as both he and Melinda hear the doorbell ring.
"Thanks Dad." Melinda says, before heading out of the room and downstairs.
Less than a minute later Melinda gets to the front door and opens it to reveal Tony holding a bouquet of tulips, already in a vase, wearing nice pants and a good shirt with the top couple of buttons open.
"Tulips." Melinda says, smiling and feeling touched as she knows it means that Tony remembers a conversation they had when they were teenagers, what feels like a lifetime ago, "Thank you, Tony." she says, smelling the flowers, and once she does she walks over and puts them on one of the tables.
"You ready to go?" Tony asks, Melinda nods, and they both head outside where they find one of Tony's cars, that just happens to be Melinda's favourite, waiting.
"You going to tell me where we are going?" Melinda asks curious, as they walk over to the car.
"Nope, you're going to be surprised for once." Tony explains, and Melinda gives him a look, "You're going to enjoy it, trust me."
"I do." Melinda says, as they get to the car, and both get in.
After a while of driving Tony and Melinda arrive at a spot that has an incredible view of the city.
"You always like a good view." Tony says, as he gets out of the car and heads to the trunk, "I thought about flying somewhere, but you don't like it when someone else flies, so you'd be stressed, so then I decided to try to find a place with a good view that you didn't have to fly to."
"You did good. It's incredible." Melinda says, having also gotten out of the car, as Tony gets a picnic basket and blanket out of the trunk.
"I'm glad you like it." Tony admits as he walks over to Melinda, "I know we've been doing things that could be considered dates for years, but I wanted it to be special."
"It's you and me Tony, anything we do would be special." Melinda tells him, before kissing him, and once they break apart Tony and Melinda proceed to have an amazing picnic and date night together, one they both know they will never forget.