"Daddy?"

Steve Rogers was working out late in the gym, taking shots at the body bag like he always did whenever he couldn't sleep. He hadn't even noticed his daughter walk in. She was dressed in soft pink pajamas. Her bouncy blonde curls messy and matted against her face, her hazel green eyes, a perfect copy of her mother's, still partly clouded with sleep. "Yelena," Steve huffed as he stepped away from the bag, slowly unwrapping the tape from his fingers "what are you doing up?"

The nine year-old shrugged. "I couldn't sleep. Can I have some warm milk?".

"Sure Curlytop," Steve placed a guiding hand on his daughter's shoulder as he led her out of the gym "come on, I'll make some for the both of us."

"Can I try?"

Steve frowned. "Try what?"

Yelena pointed to the sandbag behind them "That."

Steve chuckled. "I'll teach you when you're older."

"Why can't I learn now?" Yelena asked.

"Because you're still too young," Steve replied.

"Why?" Yelena asked "James gets to learn."

"James is older than you."

"Only by a year," Yelena disputed "and Azari gets to learn stuff like this and he's the same age as I am."

"It's different with Azari."

"Why? Because he's a boy?"

Steve frowned, the thought his own daughter believed he was discriminating against her wounding him deeply "I didn't say that."

"So why can't I learn?" Yelena repeated.

"What are you two doing up?"

Yelena pouted as her favorite uncle stood in the doorway. "Uncle Bucky, Daddy won't teach me how to fight just I'm a girl."

"Is that what you think?" The Winter Soldier bent down to look his goddaughter in the eye, an amused smile on his face "Sweetheart, that couldn't be further from the truth. You're Daddy's is a big feminist."

"What's a feminist?" Yelena asked, careful not to butcher to the last word.

"It means that your Daddy believes that girls can do anything a boy can do."

"So why won't he teach me how to fight?"

"That's easy. Your mother."

"Huh?"

"Your Mama loves very much," Bucky elaborated "and she wants you to stay a little girl as long as you can. Because she had to grow up real fast."

"Which is why I'm going to be stuck sleeping on the couch until Yelena goes to college," Steve confirmed "and that's a best case scenario."

"Only if you get caught."

Steve recognized that tone. It was same one Bucky used to get him on the Cyclone at Coney Island "Buck…"

"You can teach me right now!" Yelena realized "Mama's sleeping upstairs. All we have to do is keep it a secret!"

"Gee, Yelena. That's a great idea," Bucky praised, pretending not to have already thought of it.

"No. No way!" Steve shook his head as he started pacing around "I tried to be the cool parent. I learned my lesson. When Nat found out I took James on my motorcycle-,"

Yelena gasped. "You took James on your motorcycle?"

Steve groaned. "My point is that I'm still on thin ice. I do this, and she's going to mount my head on the wall. I sorry, but I just-,"

"Please, daddy?" Steve felt his heart twist up in knots as his daughter gave him a pleading glance, the same one Natasha used whenever she wanted something. Completely irresistible.

Steve sighed. "Buck, lock the door," The Winter Soldier gave the little girl a wink as Steve led her over to the heavy bag "Let's start with your stance." The soldier gently placed his hands on his daughter's hips, guiding her to move her legs. "Keep your feet shoulder-width apart. And your hands need to be here," Steve showed him the form as he brought his hands next to his head "Keep yours fists at eye level. Always remember that. Now, the most essential of all punches is the jab. That's a simple straight punch," Steve explained, displaying the move in slow motion. "Now, you try." Yelena took a deep as she nodded in agreement, hitting the bag as hard as she could.

"Rotate your hips," Bucky criticized "the real power comes the hips, not the arms. Put your whole body into the punch."

Nodding, Yelena tired again, shifting her hips as swung again, the impact making of her fist making a thud. "Good," Steve praised "okay, let's try that again." It went on like that for about a half hour or so. Steve slowly showing her the basics. Bucky watching her and giving pointers whenever he could. Yelena mimicking her father's moves and following Bucky's suggestions as best she could. The two Howling Commandoes were surprised how fast she caught on. By the time they were done, she was already learning the one-two combo. "That was great, Curlytop," Steve told her "You're a natural."

"I'll say," Bucky agreed.

"It's not that hard. It's kind of like dancing."

"That's how I picked it up so quick."

Steve gulped as he turned around, feeling once again like the scrawny kid he was in Brooklyn when he saw the look in Natasha's eye. "You're awake."

Natasha nodded. "I'm awake. Yelena, it's late. Time to get back to bed."

"But Mama, I want to fight some more."

Steve flinched as he the fire roar in Natasha's eyes. "Not tonight, baby girl. Now go back to bed."

"I'll tuck her in," Bucky offered.

"That's okay, Barnes. Yelena's a big girl. She can tuck herself in," Natasha assured him, her voice pleasant as her eyes remained cold "besides, I need to have a talk with you and your training partner."

As the little girl walked out, Bucky felt a nervous lump grow in his throat. "Hey Steve?"

"Yeah Buck?"

"We're really in for it, aren't we?"

Steve took one look at his wife and shuddered. "You have no idea."