Bruce Checked On His Patients, Ensuring They Were Still Asleep, Then Set About Getting His Affairs In

Bruce checked on his patients, ensuring they were still asleep, then set about getting his affairs in order. It took him several days but, a week after Andie and Rebecca's arrival, Bruce felt sufficiently prepared enough to leave. He called for Tony, rather than drag Andie and/or Hank all the way out again, and was standing outside with his one small duffel bag in the evening.

Andie sighed and took Rebecca in her arms, holding her close. Rebecca whimpered and reached out for Bruce when he went back into the house but Andie quieted her. “It’s okay baby girl. Daddy will be with us again soon. Just be patient, okay?” The little dark haired girl gave another whine and settled into her mother’s arms as they made their way back to the X-Jet with Hank.

Bruce shook his head, looking down at Rebecca. "I shouldn't've..." Bruce trailed off, unable to bring himself to regret any of the events that led to her. "You shouldn't've... God, Andie, I don't know. I don't know what to do."

"She never would have been able to even without the radiation, or are you forgetting the fact that I passed something on as well?" Andie said, kissing his forehead. "It’s a little too soon to decide that you’ve destroyed anything."

"Obviously, you two don't need me," Bruce said, but he could feel all the fight draining out of him the longer he looked at Rebecca. Regardless of all the reasons he knew he should stay away from them, he wanted so badly to stay with his daughter. It was the most selfish decision he had ever made, but he felt as though he might have already made it. "Let me wrap up here. Then, I'll come back with you."

"You stick by her and you love her with everything you have. That’s all you can do." Andie said softly, looking down at the little girl. "I know this isn’t how you wanted things to happen but we’re a family, for better or for worse, and we need to stay together. We need each other."

Bruce reached up to hold onto Rebecca's ankles, tipping his head back at a severe angle to look at her. "Would you like that? Do you want to go see the house after Mommy's classes tomorrow?"

♤

"Hey Bruce, our little genius is asking for you." "Daaaaaaaaaaaaaad! The ‘sperment is waiting! Come home soon!" "Come home soon sweetie, we miss you! Love you!"

Bruce smiled at her, reaching up to grab her wrists and pull her hands down, pressing a kiss to the back of one of her hands. 

When the boy brought Rebecca over, he laughed, pulling away from Andie and holding his arms out to take his daughter. When he did, he swung her around, then hugged her tightly.

"I missed you, baby," he murmured into her hair.

Andie held tightly to him, kissing the side of his head as they embraced. “Thank you, for coming back. And welcome home.” She said softly, running her fingers through his hair.

The teens on the lawn gave a few catcalls, one of the boys bringing Rebecca over to them. The little girl was babbling happily, reaching her arms out. “Da! Dada!”

"I am," Bruce laughed, catching Rebecca when she ran and jumped at him. He swung her up onto his shoulders and straightened up.

"It's in the city," Bruce told Andie. "A brownstone."

♤

"Hey Bruce, our little genius is asking for you." "Daaaaaaaaaaaaaad! The ‘sperment is waiting! Come home soon!" "Come home soon sweetie, we miss you! Love you!"