I stepped gratefully onto the loading port of the Avengers Tower. The plane ride back had been only slightly less terrifying than the one going there, and I'd once more spent take-off and landing tightly gripping Uncle Bucky's hand, though thankfully it felt a bit less awkward now.

I still felt slightly nervous about leaving the house behind in Jeremy's control, but I'd been promised security would continue to patrol, so they would know if he got a moment of reckless courage and tried to do something to it. And the legal team would be keeping an eye out in case he tried to put the house up for sale. I almost hoped he would do that, because then I could get a loan from Tony to buy it myself…or have someone else buy it for me since I don't think I'm legally capable of buying a house at my age. Except I didn't want Jeremy using it as a way to get his greedy hands on Stark money.

Speaking of Tony, as I continued inside, he came rushing down the hall, coming over to give me a quick hug, before stepping away as he shoved his hands in his pockets.

His eyes flicked nervously over me, "Everything go okay?"

I nodded, "Yes, because of you. Thank you." I leaned forward, ignoring his slightly startled expression as I gave him a tight hug.

The others came from behind to stand next to us as I pulled back from Tony. Uncle Bucky nervously standing behind my shoulder while Happy moved closer to Tony, and Natasha and Steve stood in between.

Tony's eyes narrowed at Uncle Bucky's closeness, before turning to Happy and Natasha, "I want an update on Jeremy's visit. Now."

As they filled him in on the details, I headed into the penthouse, followed by Uncle Bucky and Steve. I flopped down onto a couch, exhausted from the minimal sleep and all the packing. Not to mention the emotional turmoil.

The super soldiers sat down on the couch across from me, neither of them looking anywhere as tired as me, despite the fact that they'd done a lot more heavy work. I thought about glaring at them for the audacity, but decided I was too tired to go through the effort. Instead, I leaned my head back against the cushion and closed my eyes.

"Am I going to have to carry you to bed again?" Bucky's tone was teasing, but there was a strong undertone of concern and caring.

I stuck my tongue out in response.

"Maybe you should head to bed, kid." Tony's voice came from somewhere to my left, indicating he'd joined us.

I sighed. I was being teamed up on. "Fiinnneee."

I reluctantly opened my eyes and dragged myself up off the couch, giving a slight wave to the group as I padded off to my bedroom. As I curled up under the blankets, I had a brief moment of appreciating their pushiness, before falling asleep the instant my head hit the pillow.

Things moved quickly after that. Within the week, Tony gained permanent legal guardianship status for me, but we were keeping it under wraps from 'the public'. It felt weird to consider myself as apart from the general populace, but such was my life now. Pepper had also taken care of getting me enrolled in Midtown Tech, and having my records transferred over as well. All of the items from my house had been divided up, most of it having been moved into a secure Stark storage facility. The rest, which was stuff I would want more access to or would want close at hand, had been divvied up between Stark Tower, the Malibu house, and the Avengers Compound. Yesterday, I'd finally finished putting the last of it away in my Stark Tower bedroom, which now felt a lot more like it was mine. My clothes in the dressers, my computer on the desk, my posters on the wall, and several other various belongings strewn all over the place.

I'd also settled into more of a routine for the day-to-day. Breakfast was shared with Tony, and sometimes Pepper, before they'd go back to work. Tony had offered to take time off work until I started school, but I'd refused, not wanting to interfere with Stark Industries. After breakfast, Happy would take me on little trips around New York, familiarizing me with the area with as little talking as possible. Sometimes one or two of the Avengers would join, who would usually provide some background chatter or tell me anecdotes. For now, we were mostly just driving, though I'd also been shown the subway route I'd be taking to get to school. I'd been told there would be more public transit excursions, and even some walking, later on, but for now Tony was being very paranoid of me getting lost in the big city. Once we got back, I'd explore the tower and the penthouse, slowly building up an internal map so I could stop needing to ask FRIDAY for directions. Lunch I would spend on my own, or with Uncle Bucky, who tried to come by every day, or at least every other day. On days he visited, and he could manage to spend the extra time, we would sit and share stories about Grandma. Sometimes we would drift into other topics, but he very conspicuously avoided ever talking about the later part of the war and anything after that, up until the last year or so, and even then it was very vague.

On days he didn't visit, I would usually just watch TV or kill time on my computer—sometimes being productive and doing the interim schoolwork I'd been given to assist my school transfer. I'd had to do a few assessments too, so they could figure out what classes to place me, but I'd gotten those done pretty quickly, and was now doing work that would help fill any gaps between what I'd learned so far and what units they'd be doing at Midtown Tech, so that I wouldn't be entirely lost (though I had little hope of this in some courses). I would also use that time to work on unpacking.

Around mid-afternoon, Natasha, Steve or Rhodey would come by, and I'd do a bit of light training with them. Tony—being as paranoid as he was— wanted me to learn some self-defense in case being his daughter ever landed me in any trouble. Rhodey would also often sneak in stories of Tony's youth.

Then it would be more time-killing, usually spent unpacking, before dinner with Tony and Pepper, and sometimes Rhodey or Peter. This was often ordered in or made by Pepper, as they refused to let me cook for them, Tony insisting it was his responsibility to look after me, not the other way around. After dinner, I would work on schoolwork, getting help from Tony for anything I couldn't figure out on my own due to the lesson gap, and then he'd go back off to his workshop. Around that time was usually when various Avengers would show up, used to spending their evenings at the Tower, and I would try to fade into the background, preferring to observe their dynamic, rather than try to fit into it. Nevertheless, at some point one of them would usually come over and ask me a question or make a side comment to me explaining something they'd said. I'd already noticed this gradually increasing night-by-night, especially after I'd shown up with extra cookies after I'd forgotten to half the batch I made for the Stark legal team. I usually ended up spending time with Pietro and Wanda, who were the closest to my age. Pietro had flirted pretty outrageously with me the first few nights, but had then suspiciously stopped out of nowhere, making me wonder if a certain overprotective someone had made him stop. Thor would also often make a point of coming over to talk to me, and interestingly so did Loki, who consistently seemed amused by my existence. On the weekend, Peter would also join in, emerging up from the workshop. His dynamic with the group confused me, as I couldn't figure out why they treated a high school intern so highly. But I'd shrugged it off, figuring I'd find out eventually. Between dinners, his various stop-ins on his way to and from the workshop, and his group hangout appearances, we'd gotten to get to know each other a bit better, fast becoming friends. He'd initially been appalled when he learned I'd never seen Star Wars, but had quickly moved past it.

And now, when I was faced with starting at my new school tomorrow, I was grateful that I'd have a friend there with me, and possibly two others as Peter had been adamant that his friends MJ and Ned would welcome me with open arms. Knowing I'd find out anyway, he'd also nervously admitted to me that some rich jerk bullied him, especially liking to use a certain derogatory nickname, but had insisted that he'd prefer that he was the victim and not someone else who couldn't handle it like he could. Considering I'd seen him fight and knew how easily he could take out this bully if he really wanted to, I believed him. I wasn't particularly thrilled with it but could understand where he was coming from. He had also drilled it into me that I couldn't let any of the adults know, especially his aunt or Tony. I'd reluctantly agreed, with the caveat that I refused to promise to stay out of it on school grounds if I was around when the bully made a move.

Now, as I sat in my room packing my backpack, I began to wonder how my first day would go. I'd already received my class schedule, and had Homeroom, Math, and Biology with Peter, Ned, and MJ. Then I had Spanish with just Peter and AP English with MJ. Then it was lunch with all three, and in the afternoon was Chemistry and Physics on my own (they were in higher levels), History with Ned, then PE with everyone again. I wasn't looking forward to all the science—my previous high school had been more arts focused if anything, but Tony wanted me with Peter. And secretly I suspected he wanted me to be more like him with the sciences. All I knew was that there were a lot of late nights and frustration-fueled head-banging in my future. Oh well, at least I would still have a few Arts classes.

I left my bag at the foot of my bed and wandered downstairs, a glance at the clock telling me Tony and Pepper should be arriving at any moment for dinner. I was proven correct at the now familiar chime of the elevator in the hallway, followed by heels clacking and the low murmur of Tony's voice. They came through the doors just as I settled into a bar chair. Pepper's harried expression smoothed away for a moment as she gave me a warm smile, "Hi Y/N."

I smiled back, "Hi, Pepper. How was your day?"

Her brow immediately re-furrowed, "Not great. It seems like everyone is running into problems today. Unfortunately, I won't be able to stay for dinner, I just came to grab a sandwich and then it's back to trying to put out the fires."

I made a small noise of empathy, but was unsure how to reply, so instead looked towards Tony, "Do you need to go as well?"

Before he could answer, Pepper gave a short laugh, "No, he causes more problems than he helps to solve. The best thing he could do is stay out of my way."

Tony gave her an affronted expression, before turning to wink at me, bumping his shoulder into mine, "It's just going to be you and me for dinner, kid, any special requests?"

"Nope. Up to you."

He shrugged, pulling out his phone and making a quick call in Italian, giving a small wave to Pepper as she headed back out the door with her sandwich.

While we waited for the food, Tony updated me on some of the problems that had been going on in the business, which I nodded along to even though it mostly sounded like gibberish to me. Finally, FRIDAY announced the arrival of the food, and the dumbwaiter next to the fridge opened to reveal it. Tony served up the pasta dish, and we ate in companionable silence for the first few minutes, until he oh-so-nonchalantly asked, "So, all excited for school tomorrow?"

I shrugged and his eyes narrowed in concern, "Nervous? There's no need to be. You've done spectacularly at your interim schoolwork. Plus, you're my daughter, so you'll naturally be amazing."

I rolled my eyes, only half-joking when I replied, "Gee, no pressure there, thanks old man."

He mock-glared at me, "I have full confidence in you, kid."

I looked intently at my pasta, my words quiet, "I just don't want to let you down."

There was a moment of silence where I desperately wanted to shove those words back down my throat, knowing how awkward Tony got with emotions.

He cleared his throat, there was another pause, and then just as quiet as I'd been, "Even if you burn the place to the ground, you wouldn't let me down. There isn't anything you could do to do that." He reached across the table, patting my hand once before pulling back.

I blushed, "Thanks, Tony."

He cleared his throat again, "So, um, anything else you're worried about for tomorrow?"

"Just a few little things with it being a new school and everything," I paused, tilting my head to look at him with a smile, "But nothing I can't handle—after all, I am a Stark," my smile turned into a smirk, "and a Barnes."

He pointed his fork at me, "You are an impertinent little miss."

I stuck my tongue out at him, the two of us breaking into laughter.

After dinner, he went up with me to my room, wanting to doublecheck I had everything I needed, worrying over me somehow being without something, and insisting I add a sweater. I rolled my eyes but did as he said. He forewent the workshop, instead offering to watch a movie with me in honour of my first day back to school.

I agreed on the condition that I got to choose the movie and got years of enjoyment out of making him watch High School Musical with me. I thought it was greatly relevant considering Gabriella was also transferring schools in the middle of the school year, but Tony seemed unimpressed by that argument. Peter, who would be spending the night, arrived partway through and was devastated to realize he'd missed part of it, and we teamed up to convince Tony to start it back over. Even though he'd adamantly insisted this movie was below him, I noticed Tony humming along to some of the songs on the second playthrough. Meanwhile, Peter and I barely spent any time on the couch, treating Tony—and Pepper, Uncle Bucky, Steve, Pietro, Wanda and Loki, who all wandered in over time— to a live re-enactment, word by word for each scene, going all-out for the songs. Tony grew increasingly exasperated with us, and by the end seemed like he was questioning all his life choices. As the credits rolled, and he realized it was now after 10pm, Tony sternly sent Peter and I off to bed.

Uncle Bucky gave me a quick hug, "You'll do great, Y/N."

As we broke apart, I saw Steve nodding encouragingly from behind him and gave me an awkward fist bump.

Pietro gave me a high five and Wanda hugged me tightly, whispering, "Knock 'em dead," in my ear.

Loki just watched with mild amusement, raising his eyebrows at their behaviour. "Have a good day in imprisonment, child."

The others all glared at him, and Tony re-initiated his efforts to shuffle us out of the room and up to bed. I gave a small wave to an amused Pepper, and followed Peter down the hall, duet-ing a High School Musical mash-up. We went off into our respective bedrooms, and just as I finished changing into my pajamas, there was a light knock on my door.

Tony's voice echoed through the wood, "You decent, kid?"

I opened the door, "Nope. What's up?"

He gave me an I'm-not-amused look, leaning against the doorframe with his hands shoved into his pockets, "In all the rush to send you to bed, I forgot to say goodnight."

My lips quirked into a half-smile, "So you came up here just for that?"

He did a little shuffle-kick of the floor, his eyes looking down, "Yup."

I raised an eyebrow, "So are you actually going to say it or just stand there all night?"

He gave a small laugh, finally looking up to meet my eyes, and I noticed the unreadable expression on his face. It wasn't quite concern, but I couldn't place it. He stepped away from the door, reaching out to give me a quick hug, his voice rumbling "Goodnight, Y/n" next to my ear. I tightened my arms against him for a second, my eyes closing for that brief moment as I was hugged by my father. I leaned my head against his chest, "Goodnight, Tony."

Because of my positioning, I heard his slight intake of breath followed by a short sigh when I used his name, and I realized in that moment that he was waiting for me to call him Dad. I also realized he himself may not even realize he wanted that. I squeezed him tighter before we let each other go, and with a small smile and wave, he headed back out of my room, softly closing the door behind him.

As I lay in bed, I pondered over my new revelation. It wasn't that I didn't want to call Tony 'dad' yet, nor was it that I had difficulty seeing him as a father figure—he'd thrown himself pretty heavily into that role— it just still didn't feel quite right yet. We'd only known each other for about a week, and I felt like I needed a bit of a deeper bond first, because as much as he'd done for me, and as much as I rationally knew it, I didn't really fully feel like I was his daughter yet. Yes, a ward of some kind, but not like I was his family, like we had a deeper connection. I had hope we would get to that stage, but for now, I'd have to keep disappointing him.