"No," said Tony with a pout as he entered the kitchen. "Absolutely not. I'm not going."
"It's in Europe," said Natasha, studying a Stark Pad while perched on the cool counter. "Looks like Paris is taking on some damage from two idiots with electricity and freeze rays."
"I don't care, let them handle it," said Tony. "I'm saying no to this. In fact, as the primary benefactor here, I'm saying no to international travel for the entire team. Do you know how expensive those flights are this close to a holiday?"
"Tony," said Steve, gently lifting Emmy off of his husband's shoulders and setting her on the counter. "I know you don't want to, but we have to go."
"Daddy," said Emmy, holding out her arms, not wanting to be far from him after being taken away for so long.
"I'm not going," said Tony, scooping Emmy back up and holding her close. "She just came home, you really think leaving her is a good idea?"
"No, I don't but we have to go," said Steve softly, imploringly. "You know we do."
"Why don't we just bring Emmy with us?" suggested Bruce as he made a ham and tomato sandwich.
"Are you insane?" yelled Steve and Tony, glaring at the scientist.
"It doesn't seem like a code green since they are calling us from around the world," shrugged Bruce. "We can fly over, take the new jet, and I'll sit with Emmy while you guys do your thing."
"And if it turns out to be a code green?" demanded Steve.
"Then I'll watch her," said Coulson, entering the kitchen with Bucky in tow. "Stark, time to test that new jet. We need to get going if we're going to make it back in time for Christmas."
Emmy clapped her hands when Tony set her down and ran to her room to get her blanket. Steve packed a small bag for her and the rest changed and boarded the jet. It was fast, faster then was probably legal but somehow Tony had convinced Coulson to work some paper magic and make the rules bend, so they got away with it.
"Bunk beds?" said Clint, running around the jet like a kid in a candy shop. "This is awesome."
"Seriously, what are you, five?" said Natasha disdainfully.
"Bunk beds are cool!" argued Clint. "Beds! With a ladder! That's awesome and you know it!"
"Settle down, Robin Hood," said Tony, strapping Emmy in to a seat for take off. "I'm driving."
"Bossy," grumbled Clint.
The flight was uneventful and fast, Emmy fell asleep over the ocean, curled up on the lower bunk with her blanket that Clint had given up trying to get back. Tony let everyone drop close to the action before circling around and landing the jet a little farther away before suiting up and heading out, leaving Bruce and Coulson alone with Emmy and the jet. Emmy slept through most of it, waking briefly towards the end wanting a glass of water but otherwise missed most of the action.
The battle was quick and relatively painless but not quick enough for Tony, who ran through twelve languages worth of complaints about being called away from home for it. For once, no one told him to be quiet because they all knew he was justified and his constant prattle was helping ground Steve, who was quiet with the threat of being frozen again looming over him. It was not a code green for which Bruce and Paris were grateful. When everyone finally made it back to the jet, it was well into the day and Emmy was getting anxious.
"Clint, you're driving," said Tony softly as everyone secured their gear.
"What?" said Clint, eager to get his hands on the new controls of the plane but shocked that Tony would willingly hand them over when the billionaire was more than capable of piloting the return trip. Tony was always the pilot unless he was flying ahead. It was one of his quirks, like not being handed things, and they had adapted – albeit kicking and screaming on Clint's part because the archer loved to fly.
"You pilot, I'm going to check on Steve."
Understanding dropped on the archer like an anvil and he took the pilots seat without further dispute. Tony guided Steve over to the lower bunk where Emmy promptly crawled onto the super soldiers lap. Steve wrapped his muscled arms around the girl, burying his face in her sweet smelling hair.
"You okay?" asked Tony softly, settling in next to his husband and daughter as Clint steered the plane into the air.
"Yeah," sighed Steve, his voice muffled by their daughter's hair. "Better now. Just want to go home."
"Told you we should have sat this one out," said Tony, unable to resist pointing out that he was right.
In response, Steve lifted his middle finger, causing Tony to laugh and lay down, ready to doze through the remainder of the flight. After several minutes, Steve joined his husband in trying to catch up on some sleep before arriving back in New York. Emmy waited several minutes before finally getting up and walking over to Bucky, who was having a difficult time reverting back from Winter Soldier mode; everyone was giving him space.
"Em," began Bruce when he spotted Emmy approaching Bucky. "We need to leave Uncle Bucky alone right now."
At that moment, the plane hit some turbulence, causing it to shudder briefly, sending Emmy to the ground hard. Before anyone else could react, Bucky had picked the young girl up and was looking her over for injuries.
"You hurt, kid?" asked Bucky gruffly, pushing his Winter Soldier training away with visible effort and not quite succeeding.
Emmy shook her head no and made the sign for book.
"Emmy," said Bruce softly, slowly coming forward, afraid Bucky might snap if he moved to quickly. "Why don't we let Uncle Bucky rest for a while? I'll read you a story."
"No," said Bucky, glaring at the scientist, more than a shade of Winter Soldier in his voice. "I'm reading to her. She's mine."
There was silence throughout the plane for several tense minutes, everyone seemingly waiting for someone to crack and something to break, praying no one – namely Emmy – was caught in the crossfire, before Clint piped up.
"Great, now the Winter Soldier is claiming her. Just don't let Stark hear you, he only shares with Steve."