chapter 20

"Ladie, we're leaving in an hour!" Scott called.
"Okay! I'll be there!" She hurried off down the hallway and into the room again. "Hi, Daddy. I won't be visiting you so much anymore. Uncle Steve is being allowed back into the States. All of us are going back to Washington, D.C. today. I'll be good, I promise, and I'll make you proud. I love you, Daddy. Speshite ko mne spinoy." She kissed the glass one last time before going back into her room and making sure everything was ready to go. (Hurry back to me.)
"Adds, we're loading the plane!" Clint called from the hallway.
"I'm ready to go, Uncle Clint!"

"Scott and Steve will be back to carry your stuff in a little bit, okay?"
"Okay!" By the time everything was loaded and ready, Adelaide was sitting in her seat on the plane, looking out the window as T'Challa spoke with the pilot before coming aboard.
"I wish you all a safe trip back, my friends," he said, nodding to all of them. Adelaide hopped up and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you, T'Challa," she said quietly. "For everything."
"You're welcome, little lioness. I will help your father return to you, I promise."
"I know you will."
"I will see you again soon, Adelaide."

"Goodbye, T'Challa." She sat back down while everyone got settled, then watched as Wakanda grew smaller and smaller while the plane flew away. She looked over at Clint and Scott, who were practically giddy with excitement. They hadn't seen their families in forever, and now they finally got to. She would be as excited as they were, if she were in their position. Wanda gave her a small smile and patted her knee from where she sat on the other side of the small aisle.
"Don't worry," she said quietly. "Everything will turn out alright." Adelaide smiled back at her.
"I know." She turned and looked out the window.
I'll find my way back to you, Daddy. Somehow, we'll be together again.

Adelaide nervously clung to Clint's neck as he held her inside the plane. She had only met Tony Stark once, and he'd seemed rather nice, but this time it was after the big showdown with her dad. She didn't know what to expect. "Don't worry, Adds," Clint said. "He wouldn't have called us back if he didn't want us to be here."
"But what if he doesn't want me there?"
"Then he'll have to deal with it. You're our little girl now. He'll have to fight through all of us to get to you," Scott said. She smiled at him.

"Thanks, Uncle Scott."
"Anything for you, Ladie." He kissed her forehead, then walked to the hatch of the plane.
"Ready to face the music?" Clint asked. She nodded.
"I think so."
"May I hold your hand?" Wanda asked. Adelaide nodded.
"Do I get to meet Vision now?" she asked Wanda as she was set down and grabbed Wanda's hand. The two had confided in each other quite a bit during the past eight months, and Wanda had told her about her relationship with Vision. Wanda blushed.

"I suppose so. I don't know if he'll talk to me now, though. We didn't exactly part on the best of terms."
"From what you've told me about him, I think he'll forgive you. I think he just misses you."
"How did you get so wise?"
"I talked to T'Challa a lot." Wanda and Steve laughed heartily at her statement.
"I'll tell him you said that," Steve said. "Come on, you two. Let's go home." Steve walked out first, flanked by Sam and Scott. Wanda, who let go her Adelaide's hand, and Clint walked behind her, all subtly telling the surrounding guards and crowd that they would have to go through all five of them if anyone tried to get to the girl. They entered a room hidden behind tinted window and were met by a man that apparently nobody liked, because the room was instantly tense.
"Captain Rogers," he said. "Didn't think I'd ever see you again."

"Secretary Ross," Steve replied tensely. Adelaide had backed up against Clint and Wanda, using them for a sort of support to her shaking form. Clint laid a hand on her shoulder, and Wanda bent her knee a bit to tap against her shoulder blade. Adelaide was too nervous to pay much attention to what the adults were saying. She wanted to go home; this place was too loud with too many people and lights and sounds. She missed Wakanda. Correction: she missed her dad.

"Transportation has been provided, along with a bit of a decoy system should anyone try anything. Your car is waiting for you, with a driver, down that hallway. It's the last door to the right."
"Thank you," Steve said, then turned to their group. "Well, let's get this over with." The six of them began walking, Clint leading Adelaide along by the hand.
"Don't worry, Adds," he said quietly. "We won't let anything happen to you."
"We will keep you safe," Wanda assured. When they entered the door, a grey SUV was waiting for them, the driver leaning nonchalantly against it. He nodded to them formally, then climbed into the driver's seat. Scott took the front seat, as he was the least recognizable of all of them. Sam and Wanda took the middle two seats, and Steve, Adelaide, and Clint climbed into the back. She knew what they were doing, the little ways they were trying to make her feel safe and calm. The engine started, and they pulled out onto the open road. She watched the road silently for several minutes before speaking up.

"Uncle Steve?" she asked quietly.
"Yes, Addie?"
"How long until we get there?"
"A few hours, bug. You can take a nap if you want. It's going to be awhile." She nodded and leaned her head against Clint, who wrapped an arm around her shoulders and let her use his chest as a pillow.
"We'll wake you when we get there, Adds. Sleep well."