2nd floor common room - Sunday afternoon

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Cameron was quietly boggling at the little girl sitting beside him on the couch. At least he'd managed to take off his tuxedo from yesterday and after some major bargaining he had gotten Marybeth to agree to eat lunch on the condition that she got ice cream as dessert.

He had a lot to learn about parenting.

Comments

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Okay, sniffling was not fair and Cameron wasn't sure what he was supposed to say or do.

"It's okay, kiddo. She'll stop being mean," he promised, rubbing her back as he threw Cassie a 'you made my kid cry' look.

[robotboyfetish.livejournal.com]

Cassie gave Cameron a 'bitch, Captain America said worse to me' look back. Which is really hard to interpret, so it was more sort of a 'She started it!' look.

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"She's five!" Cameron felt the need to point out again.

[robotboyfetish.livejournal.com]

Cassie gave up. "Have fun with your brat, pops."

[just-like-mommy.livejournal.com]

"Bye, mean girl!" Marybeth called, sticking her tongue out.

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"Beth," Cameron said, trying to sound stern but he was kind of agreeing with her by now.

[just-like-mommy.livejournal.com]

"She scared me, Daddy," Marybeth said, sniffling again.

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"I know, but you shouldn't be calling people mean," he went to sit down on the couch. "She's gone now."

[just-like-mommy.livejournal.com]

"But she was mean," Marybeth argued, climbing on his lap.

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, but it's not nice to call someone mean," he said and stroked her hair.

[just-like-mommy.livejournal.com]

"Okay, Daddy," Marybeth said, even if she wasn't sure she agreed.

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"Good," he smiled and lightly tickled her side. "And no kicking people in the shins either."

[just-like-mommy.livejournal.com]

"Even people that mommy says are big jerks?" Marybeth asked.

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

He raised an eyebrow. "Yes. It's not because you don't like anyone that you can just hit them," he replied, kind of wishing that would apply to some people. "Why did mommy say that anyway?"

[just-like-mommy.livejournal.com]

"I dunno, Daddy," Marybeth said. "She just always says that Dick is a big jerk and was named right. But I dunno what she means by that."

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Cameron spluttered. "That's okay," he assured her quickly, giving her a hug and hoping she'd drop the subject.

[just-like-mommy.livejournal.com]

Marybeth hugged him back as tight as her little arms would let her. "Daddy?" she asked. "Where are we gonna sleep tonight?"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"I have a room here," Cameron said, hoping Kawalsky wouldn't mind having a kid stay over. "You can sleep in my bed."

[just-like-mommy.livejournal.com]

"Okay," Marybeth grinned. "Will you stay with me so I don't get scared?"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"Of course," he said and was about to say that there was nothing to be scared off when he remembered the gremlins, zombies, snow monsters, trolls and ghosts. "I'll be right there as I need to sleep somewhere too."

[just-like-mommy.livejournal.com]

"Good cause I know you'll keep me safe," Marybeth said. "Can we go flying tomorrow?"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"I don't know," he frowned and considered it. "I might be able to arrange something. Do I take you flying a lot?"

[just-like-mommy.livejournal.com]

"Uh huh, it's fun!"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Cameron grinned proudly. "Yeah, it totally is," he agreed and couldn't help but ask the question. "Am I in the Air Force?"

[just-like-mommy.livejournal.com]

Marybeth grinned. "You're a pilot," she nodded. "And mommy's a private 'vestigator."