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Thank you to Harliquinn for beta reading and editing

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Thanksgiving day came, and almost everyone was up early

Tony was making breakfast for everyone and letting Pepper sleep in.

Morgan came into the room and ran and climbed into Peter's lap. She loved Peter. He was like a big brother to her.

Peter held her in his lap as he ate. It had become second nature to him. The girl was always excited to spend time with him, and Peter loved the kid. He looked over at Happy and May. The two had managed to work through their issues after May had almost died, and May had decided she wasn't going to pretend it was just some fling anymore. He smiled. It had been a bit weird at first, but he was happy for the both of them. He looked at his watch. MJ was going to be coming this afternoon to spend Thanksgiving with him. Peter had spent the day before with her at her parents' place.

Tony finished cooking the food and smirked at his little girl, who has busy stuffing her face with the food on Peter's plate.

"Okay, Squirt. I think you need to let Pete eat his own food," Tony said, picking the little girl up from Peter's lap and putting her in her own seat with her own food.

"How much of yours did she eat? Do you need more?" Tony asked Peter.

Peter chuckled. "It was only a few bites. I'm fine," he said.

Pepper came into the kitchen at that moment and kissed her husband. "You turned my alarm off?"

"Yes. You were sleeping so peacefully, and you needed the extra rest," Tony told her with a smile.

They finished eating and everyone helped clean up the kitchen.

Steve watched Skye, who was really quiet throughout the meal. When she was filling the dishwasher he went over to her. "You okay?" he asked.

Skye nodded slightly.

"You sure?" Steve asked.

"I'm just worried. I have to go back to the home tomorrow if nothing comes in to keep me here," Skye said.

"You are not going back there. Ms. Walters has been in contact with your social worker. She told her about the abuse and what happened. Since Ms. Torres didn't tell your social worker anything that happened, it was immediate grounds for your removal," Steve said.

"Has it been formally decided that I am staying here?" Skye asked.

"Not yet, but don't worry about it, okay. You let me worry about it," Steve told her.

Skye nodded

"It's all going to work out. I promise," he said.

Skye smiled slightly and nodded again.

Once everything was done in the kitchen Skye went to the bedroom and started to get dressed in the same thing she had worn the past two thanksgivings, a black long sleeve tee and a tan coverall dress. She was putting her socks and shoes on when Lila came out of the bathroom in an orange and brown dress.

"I love that dress," Skye said.

"Your outfit is adorable, too. I could never pull it off," Lila said.

"I bet you could," Skye said with a smile.

The girls finished getting ready and went out to the living room, where the football game was already on.

Nat was staring at Skye.

Skye noticed. "What?"

"You look different," Nat said.

"I do?" Skye asked.

"Yeah," Nat said.

Everyone looked at her.

"Okay. You can all stop staring at me," she said, blushing.

"But something is different," Nat said.

"I don't know what it could be," Skye said.

"She is wearing earrings," Yelena said.

"I didn't know your ears were pierced," Steve said.

"Oh, yeah. I just don't wear earrings all the time," Skye said.

"Oh, okay," Steve said.

"Lila, why do you look like you have seen a ghost?" Pepper asked.

"Hrm. What?" Lila asked.

Skye was trying to give her a look to chill, but it wasn't working.

"You look white as a ghost," Pepper said.

"You okay?" Laura asked her daughter.

"Mhm," Lila said.

"Okay, what is going on?" Clint asked.

Lila shrugged.

"Skye, do you have any idea?" Steve asked.

"Nope," Skye said. She looked at her friend and said, "you're okay right?"

"Yes. I think I'm just a little warm," Lila said.

"Same. I'm thinking we should go and get some air," Skye said.

Lila and Skye went to their quiet place.

"Lila, you need to chill. I have been lying for years. Just go along with it," Skye said.

Lila let out a breath "Yeah, I'm not used to lying."

"Its not like we did anything to hurt anyone. It's no big deal. You said it wasn't the first time you pierced someone's ears right? So you have been lying," Skye pointed out.

"Oh, that completely helps," Lila said sarcastically.

Skye smiled a bit. "Sorry. But I have a lot more to lose if we get caught. So just pretend you don't know anything. If it comes out I will say I pierced them myself."

Lila looked at her "Seriously?"

"Yes. I wont let you get in trouble. Just trust me," Skye said.

"O-okay. I'll keep my mouth shut, but I will not let you go down alone if we get caught," Lila said.

"But we won't if you just pretend you know nothing. And I will go with my story. They have been pierced for years, I just don't wear earrings much," Skye said.

Lila nodded. "Okay. I think I can do that."

They stayed outside a little longer before going inside.

"You okay?" Laura asked her daughter.

"Yes," Lila said a small smile on her face.

The girls both sat back down and watched the game with everyone else.

MJ got there a couple hours later, and Peter smiled and got up and went over to her and kissed her.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey," she said with a smile. He led her to a spot where they could both sit down.

"Oh, that is Skye," Peter said nodding to her. "Skye, this is MJ."

"Hey," Skye said with a smile.

"Hey," MJ said, smiling back at the girl.

Skye got up at one point and went into the kitchen "Hey, Pepper, what can I do to help?"

Pepper smiled. "Everything is pretty much prepped. Turkey is in the oven. Everything else is ready to be cooked closer to the turkey being done."

"You sure?" Skye asked. "I want to help."

Pepper nodded. "You have helped plenty this weekend."

Skye nodded slightly.

"Whoever taught you to help did a good job," Pepper said with a smile.

"The one foster home I was ever in that I felt anywhere close to belonging. I wasn't there long, but it was impressed on me very quickly that you help when you have been invited to eat somewhere else," Skye said.

"What happened that you weren't there long?" Pepper asked.

"Long story," Skye said, rubbing her arms a bit.

Pepper nodded. "Well, why don't we start setting the table?"

Skye smiled and nodded.

They started to set the table. There was the sound of someone coming onto the floor from the elevator.

Pepper looked up and smiled when she saw who it was, "Hey, Jennifer. Welcome. Happy Thanksgiving."

Jen smiled. "Happy Thanksgiving, I didn't mean to interrupt your day."

"Nonsense, nothing's been interrupted. You are welcome to join us," Pepper said.

"I'm just on the way to dinner with my parents', but I need to speak with Steve," Jennifer said.

Skye went and got him. Steve came into the kitchen. "Hey, Jen. We can talk in the office," he said, leading her that way.

Skye took a breath. Pepper put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure its going to be fine."

Skye nodded slightly, not really believing her. Once the table was set she went to the bedroom and grabbed something from her bag before sneaking away and going outside. She sat down, twiddling the joint between her fingers and debating if she is going to smoke it.

The door opened and she palmed it to hide it. Bucky sat down with her. "I can see why you love coming out here. Its peaceful and you can look over the city," he said.

Skye nodded. "And I don't know how many people would actually find me out here."

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but we all know," Bucky said.

Skye sighed "How?"

"There are cameras everywhere," he said.

Skye nodded. "It's so weird, and I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all. And trying not be completely terrified of what happens if I have to leave here tomorrow."

Bucky nodded. "I don't know what exactly will happen. None of us really do. But even if you have to leave here and go to some group home, he will not stop till you are here permanently."

"I don't doubt he will try. But what if he tries everything and it still doesn't work?" Skye asked.

"Until he has you here, he hasn't tried everything," Bucky said.

"He'll get fed up and stop trying eventually," Skye said.

"Nope. He won't," Bucky said. "I have known Steve since we were kids. He doesn't just give up on things that are important to him. He will find a way."

"My mother didn't even try. Didn't tell him anything. She gave me up when there was other options," Skye said.

"You don't know what was going through her head. She and Steve weren't in love. She might have assumed with everything else he had going on that there was no point to telling him. Maybe she was afraid that he would try and marry her or something. Now I, without a doubt, believe he would have been there for you and kept you if he knew. But you can't change what the past is. You can only move forward. And you can trust he will not stop until he has you here," Bucky said.

Skye nodded.

"So, what are you hiding in your hand?" Bucky asked.

Skye sighed and opened her hand to show him.

"What is the determining factor if you are going to light it and smoke it?" he asked.

"If doing so will affect my chances of staying here," Skye said.

"Well, I don't think it will affect that. But, I can guarantee you will be in big trouble," Bucky said.

"Any cameras out here that would have caught me already?" Skye asked.

"None directly on this spot, no. I think I might have to bring that up," Bucky said with a smirk.

Skye nodded. "If I don't smoke it, will you not tell Steve?" Skye asked.

"If you give it to me and others you have. And promise me that, if you feel the need to do this again, you tell me. Then we can keep it between us," Bucky said.

Skye sighed and handed it to him. "I don't have any more."

"None in your bag inside?" Bucky asked, taking it.

"Nope. This was the last of it," Skye said.

Bucky nodded. "Good."

Skye sighed a bit. "Maybe smoking it and taking the consequence would have been better."

"Nope. Don't think so," Bucky said. "Getting high? Yeah, maybe you will be able to forget for awhile. But, as soon as you come out of that high, you are back to having to deal with everything on top of having to deal with a pissed off Steve."

Skye let out a soft chuckle. "You ever piss him off?"

Bucky laughed. "Often. Growing up together we both know how to get under each other's skin."

Skye chuckled. "He's not going to be pissed off if he finds out you kept this from him?"

Bucky shrugged. "I'll deal with that when and if that happens."

Skye nodded and her phone went off.

She looked at the text and sighed.

"Everything okay?" Bucky asked.

Skye showed him the text.

"Holy shit. You have super powers?! That's why you got the mentorship with the Avengers?"

"It's from Kate, the only person in that house that I ever got along with. I guess she is still in contact with others from the home," Skye said.

Bucky nodded. "Well, we knew it would get out," he said.

"I know. I just wish it could have waited till the end of this weekend," Skye said. "Can we wait till at least the end of the meal to tell everyone?"

"Tell Steve, but otherwise we can keep it on the downlow," Bucky said.

Skye nodded and got up. Bucky got up as well, and they both went inside. She looked around.

"Where is Steve?" she asked.

"Still in the office with Ms. Walters," Pepper said.

Skye nodded and went and knocked on the door.

"Yes?" Steve said.

She went in. "Sorry to interrupt. I just . . . I think you should know. My friend Kate has been told I have powers, meaning the other girls in the home probably know, too," Skye said, showing Steve the text.

"Yeah, that's one of the things Jen was letting me know," Steve said. "The press has gotten wind of this. It's out."

"Great," Skye said sarcastically. "Well, I will let you two keep talking about me, without me," She said snarkly before going towards the door.

"Skyler, drop the attitude," Steve said.

Skye sighed. "Sorry," she said.

"We are just going over some details, nothing you need to worry about today," Steve said.

"Whatever," she said before she left the room, closing the door behind her.

"You don't think she should know?" Jen asked.

"I just want her to have a good day today. I plan on telling her tonight," Steve said.

Jen nodded.

"But I get the feeling she is not having a very good day anyway," Steve said.

Skye snuck outside again. She went to a different place, thinking maybe she could stay hidden for longer. She sat down and didn't notice when a helicopter started to fly over head. She only noticed when she saw a group of press people standing by the gate of the compound. They couldn't really see her where she was sitting. But that's when she realized the helicopter above probably could, and it had the name of the local news station on the side. She didn't have much time to think about it before she was grabbed by Happy, who brought her inside.

"You need to stay inside right now," he said.

"I-I didn't know," Skye said.

"I know," Happy said. "You didn't do anything wrong."

They got into the elevator to go back up.

"I owe you an apology," Happy said.

"Oh?" Skye asked.

"I should have realized there was something else going on there. I should have let you explain instead of just jumping to believing you would attack the other girls," Happy said.

"Its okay. I agreed that what she was saying was true," Skye said.

"Still, I shouldn't have been so hard on you about it," Happy said.

"It's forgiven," Skye said.

Happy nodded. "Good."

They got to the floor where Steve was waiting. "Are you okay?" he asked.

She shook her head, tears welling in her eyes.

Steve pulled her gently into a hug. She sobbed and clung to him. Happy moved into the other room to give them some privacy. When she calmed down some, he looked down at her. "Come on. Let's go talk."

Skye nodded and went with him back to the office where Jen was on the phone.

"So you think moving her to another group home in another state is really going to keep her safe when she is at the Avengers Compound and the police can't even keep the press away?" Jennifer was saying. Clearly she was annoyed.

Jen was clearly listening to what the person on the other side was saying.

"She is thirteen years old. She needs to be around people who know what to expect and how to protect her," Jennifer said.

Skye sat on the couch in the room, and Steve sat next to her.

"No. No. That will not work. She will just be fodder for the press in a group home with other girls who likely will tell everyone they know that she is there," Jen said. "I agreed to not fight her being in a group home for a few weeks while everything was being handled and finalized, but that was before someone in your office told the world about her and where she is," Jennifer said.

Skye looked up at Steve.

"Yeah, that is what was being given as the best option until I fully get custody - a group home in Pennsylvania," Steve said.

"You weren't going to tell me?" Skye asked.

"I was planning on doing so tonight," Steve said.

Skye nodded slightly.

"I just wanted you to enjoy today and not worry about tomorrow," Steve said.

Skye sighed and nodded.

"But you've been kept in the dark about everything your whole life haven't you?" Steve asked.

"Yup," Skye said.

"Okay. Well, I will try to keep you in the know about things to do with you," Steve said.

Skye nodded.

"Well, you are going to find a way to make it so she can stay here until Mr. Rogers gets custody. That shouldn't even take more than a few days to go through anyways. He is her father. Had he known about her from the beginning, she would never have been in foster care in the first place," Jennifer said.

"Glad I'm not on her bad side," Skye said.

Steve smirked. "Me, too."

Jennifer heard the conversation and shook her head at the two of them, trying not to smirk.

"Well, the only way she is going to be safe is if she is with the Avengers," Jennifer said. "So you figure out how to make that happen. And I expect a detailed investigation to find out whoever in your office leaked this," she said before she hung up. She looked at the two of them.

"I will figure this out. You will be safe," Jen told Skye.

Skye nodded. "Thank you. This group home, though, is it a good one?"

"Seems to be," Jen said.

Skye nodded

"But you won't be safe there. If they insist on you being somewhere else, we will figure out somewhere where you are under guard," Jennifer said.

Skye sighed. "Great."

Steve raised an eyebrow. "You don't want to be safe?"

"No, that's not what I'm saying. Sorry, I just," Skye said.

"You want space to breathe," Jen said.

Skye nodded.

"They will just be close by wherever you are to keep you safe. You will still have room to breath and privacy," Jen said. "But I'm going to try keeping you here."

Her phone rang. She answered it and spoke to the person before hanging up again.

"Skye, I need to talk to Steve about something, privately," Jen said.

Skye nodded and got up and left the room, closing the door.

"Some of your team don't live here correct?" Jen asked.

"A few, yes," Steve said. "Barton doesn't. Peter Parker is at MIT currently, so he lives there. Steven Strange isn't here full time," Steve said.

"Well, I don't think trusting the nineteen-year-old at a major university is going to keep her safe," Jen said.

"Strange is traveling right now. And I am not putting this on Barton. He kept his family a secret even from me for years for their safety. She is a big news. I will not put his family at risk at being discovered and at risk when he isn't there so often anyways," Steve said.

"Well, we need to find her somewhere else to stay where she can be safe. They won't budge and let her stay here. But they are willing to allow us to find somewhere we think she will be safe," Jennifer said.

Steve nodded. He got up and left the office and went to the living room. "Thor, can I see you in the office for a moment?"

Thor got up and went with him.

"What can I do for Captain America?" Thor asked.

"Okay, well, Skye can not stay here until I get legal custody of her. I'm guessing she has to stay on earth," he said with a small smirk. "So, who do you trust in New Asgard to keep her safe and out of the public eye?" Steve asked.

"Valkyrie will keep the Little America safe," Thor said.

Steve nodded.

"I can go stay, too, if it makes you feel better," Thor said.

Steve nodded. "I'm sure Valkyrie would keep her safe, but I would feel better if you were there too."

"Done," Thor said.

"Thank you," Steve said.

"No problem. We are family. I will protect Little America with my life," Thor said.

Steve smiled.

"New Asgard is where?" Jen asked.

"Norway," Thor said.

"Okay. I will make sure that works," Jen said.

"Now, I think you have worked long enough on Thanksgiving. Go be with your family," Steve told her. "Unless you would like to stay here, of course. You are always welcome."

"Thank you for the invite, but I do have plans with my parents," Jen said. "You let her know. I will let you know once everything is set for Thor to take Skye," she said before she left and headed out, saying bye to everyone.

"Everything figured out?" Pepper asked.

"We have things figured out for the next few weeks. She can not stay here full time until I get full custody," Steve said.

"That's bullshit," Pepper said.

Steve took a breath. "I don't disagree."

"Wait you're not going to call her out on the swearing?" Tony gasped.

Steve smirked. "No. Because she cooks for me every day."

"I agree, though. It isn't right," Tony said. "Where is she going? Not back to that group home?"

"No. That group home is now under investigation. She is going to be somewhere that I feel is just as safe as she would be here," Steve said.

"And that is where?" Skye asked coming into the room

"You will be coming with me," Thor said. "I will show you Asgard. And protect you with my life."

Skye smiled and nodded. "Okay. That is somewhere on planet earth, right?"

Steve laughed. "I don't think taking you into space would be accepted."

"Asgard is wherever the people are," Thor said.

"Right now that is in Norway," Steve told her with a smile.

"Norway?! Seriously?" Skye said.

"Problem?" Steve asked.

"No, not at all. That just sounds so cool," Skye said.

"Ah, yes it can be quite cold there this time of year," Thor said.

Skye smirked at Steve.

Steve chuckled. "She meant cool as in interesting, not weather-wise."

Thor shook his head and smiled. "Ah, I see."

"That's somewhere in Europe right?" Skye asked.

"Yes," Steve said. "It borders along Finland, Sweden, and Russia on one side, and the Atlantic Ocean on the other."

Skye smiled and nodded. "Seems like a place that would be fun to visit."

The conversation changed before they were called to come eat.

The meal was served, and everyone sat down to eat. Skye kept kind of rubbing at her ear.

Wanda noticed and was watching her, but no one else really noticed.

When everyone had eaten to the point of almost being unable to move they moved back to the living room to watch the game. Wanda stopped Skye and took her to another room before pushing her hair out of the way to look at her ears.

"When did you really get them pierced?" Wanda asked.

"W-what do you mean?" Skye asked.

"They are infected," Wanda said.

"What?" Skye said before going to the bathroom in her room and looking in the mirror. "Shit," she said.

"I'll be right back. Do not move," Wanda said.

"Are you telling Steve?" Skye asked, looking worried.

"Not at the moment, no," Wanda said.

She went and came back with rubbing alcohol to help. "Take them out."

Skye did so.

Wanda showed her what she needed to do to keep them clean and help them heal properly.

Skye listened.

When Wanda was done, she told her she could put the earrings back in.

Skye did so.

"So, when did you get them pierced and where?" Wanda asked.

"I did them myself last night. I thought I had disinfected everything I used," Skye said.

"This is why you don't do these things by yourself," Wanda said.

Skye nodded. "Please don't tell Steve."

"I don't know if I can keep this secret," Wanda said.

"Come on, please. I will take care of them. I will be in so much trouble," Skye said in tears.

"Don't you ever do something like this again. If you want to get something pierced, you ask Steve and you get it done by a professional," Wanda said.

Skye nodded. "I promise," she said.

"I'm going to regret this, I know it," Wanda said. The two left the room and went and joined everyone.

"Everything okay?" Steve asked.

"Yup. Just girl talk," Skye said with a smile.

Wanda didn't say anything.

Steve tilted his head. "Wanda."

"Yes?" Wanda asked.

"That's all it was?" Steve asked.

"Pretty much," Wanda said. At this point everyone was looking at Wanda.

"You know none of us believe you right?" Peter said with a smirk.

"Pete, shut it," Tony said.

Peter shut up but continued to smirk.

Steve got up from the couch. "Wanda, can I speak to you in the other room?"

Wanda got up and went with him.

"What is going on with Skye?" Steve asked.

"Just girl chat," Wanda said.

"You would tell me if it was something serious, right?" Steve said.

"Yes, I would," Wanda said. "You've got to trust me on this. She is going to need a woman to talk to, and, if I tell you everything, she will never trust me when the serious things happen."

"I do trust you. It's just you both have guilty looks on your faces. She, I can understand. She probably feels guilty about everything right now. But you? Makes me think there is something going on," Steve said.

"I do not have a guilty look on my face," Wanda said.

"Yes, you do," Steve said. "Same look you had when you got caught in my room at the tower. I'm still not sure what you were doing in there, either," he said with a smirk.

Wanda smirked. "I was dared to go in and take something and bring it back without getting caught. I got caught," she said with a shrugged.

Steve chuckled. "Who dared you?"

Wanda chuckled. "I'm never telling you that. But, come on, I was barely an adult then. Should I have done it, no. But it was harmless."

Steve nodded. "So, whatever is going on with Skye, is it harmless?"

"Nothing that you coming down on her will change. I handled it," Wanda said.

"What if I promise not to come down on her, will you tell me?" Steve asked.

"No, because I promised her I wouldn't. But you can try offering her that option and see if she will tell you herself," Wanda suggested.

"Okay," Steve said.

They both went back and joined the group. Soon a few went to clean up the kitchen and within a couple hours everyone started to head to bed.

Steve took Skye to the back office.

"Sit," he said.

Skye sat on the couch

"Okay, so I know something is going on. Wanda didn't tell me what, but she told me it was something that me coming down on you wouldn't change. So I'm giving you an out. If you tell me what is going on, I promise there will be no consequence," Steve said.

Skye took a breath. "Why do you need to know?"

"Because I see the guilty look on your face. And, from personal experience, holding onto guilt doesn't do anything good. I don't want you carrying that because it could end up making you do things that you shouldn't do," Steve said, sitting across from her.

"So, let's say, hypothetically, if telling you admits that I lied to you about something?" Skye asked.

Steve raised an eyebrow.

"Not telling you anything, nope," Skye said, getting up.

"You will not be in trouble if you tell me right now. But if I find out later, and you know I will, you will be," Steve said.

Skye sat back down. "Promise?"

"Yes," Steve said.

Skye took a breath. "Um, I haven't had my ears pierced for as long as I let you believe."

"All you said was its been awhile. It doesn't really matter when you got them done," he said.

"Last night, I did them myself," Skye said, looking down.

Steve took a breath. "I see," he said.

"Why?" Steve asked.

"I wanted it done," Skye said.

"Why didn't you just ask me?" Steve asked.

"Because, technically, you can't make that decision for me yet. I'm still in foster care," Skye said.

"And you couldn't wait?" Steve asked.

"I don't know. I just wanted to do it now." Skye said.

"Skye, how do you think its going to look if it comes out that your ears were pierced by you while in my care?" Steve asked.

Skye sighed. "I didn't think about that."

"Skyler, you need to think these things through," Steve said. "For the record, I'm not upset you pierced them. I'm upset you did it behind my back and last night. What was going on wasn't simply your sugar being low was it?" Steve asked.

Skye shook her head, looking down.

"Verbal answers," Steve said.

"No, sir," Skye said.

Steve nodded.

"Lila knew didn't she?" Steve asked.

"No," Skye said.

"Do not lie to me, Skyler," Steve said.

"Don't tell her parents. She had nothing to do with it," Skye said.

Steve shook his head. "I will not get her in trouble. It wouldn't be fair as you are not in trouble. How did Wanda find out they hadn't been pierced for awhile?"

Skye pushed the hair out of the way. "They got a bit infected. She noticed and told me how to take care of it."

Steve nodded. "Okay. Make sure you do."

"Sorry, I lied to you and did it behind your back," Skye said.

"It's forgiven. But do not do anything like this again, am I clear?" Steve asked.

Skye nodded. "Yes."

"While you are with Thor I expect you to be on your best behaviour. Do what you are told. Understood?" Steve asked.

"Yes, understood," Skye said.

"You're okay with all this?" Steve asked.

"Not that I have a choice, but yes. Thor is cool, definitely one of my favorite Avengers," Skye said with a smirk.

Steve smirked. "Oh, really?"

"Yup," she said with a chuckle.

"Don't tell him. It will go to his head," Steve said with a chuckle.

Skye laughed. "Maybe if I do anything to annoy him."

Steve shook his head. "It's late, get some sleep."

Skye got up. "Good night," she said, giving him a hug.

He hugged her. "Good night."

Skye went to the bedroom.

Lila was sitting on the air mattress and looked up. "We busted?" she asked.

Skye closed the door. "He knows I pierced my ears last night. But I didn't get in trouble."

Lila let out a breath. "O-okay. I didn't want you to take all the blame."

"Well, I didn't get in trouble, so it doesn't matter. You need to be calm about it. We didn't hurt anyone. He knows when they were pierced. Telling him anything else will only get us both in trouble," Skye said.

"Urg, okay, I won't," Lila said.

Skye got ready for and climbed into bed. "You're going to be holding onto the guilt?" she asked.

"I'll get over it," Lila said.

Skye let out a breath. "Would you feel better if he was told?"

"I don't want you to get in trouble," Lila said.

Skye got out of bed. "Come on let's go tell him."

"Seriously? You are going to end up in trouble when you got away with it," Lila said.

"And you're my friend now. I don't let my friend feel like shit if I can help them. You want to come clean, right?" Skye asked,

"Kind of, yes," Lila said.

"Come on then," Skye said.

Lila got up, and they left the room, catching Steve just before he went into his room.

"What are you girls up to?" Steve asked.

"Can we go talk in the office?" Skye asked.

Steve nodded, and the three of them went in.

Skye and Lila sat on the couch.

Steve leaned against the desk and looked at them. "What's up?"

"I lied to you," Skye said.

"Okay, about what?" Steve asked.

"I didn't pierce my own ears," Skye said.

"I did them," Lila said, looking down.

Steve crossed his arms. "Who's idea was it?"

"I offered. I have a piercing kit," Lila said.

"Do your parents know about it?" Steve asked.

"No, sir," Lila said.

Steve took out his phone and texted Clint. "Come to the back office. You might want to bring Laura."

Clint came a few minutes later. "Laura's already asleep. I don't want to wake her up if I don't have to." He noticed the girls. "What's going on?"

"Lila, you want to tell your dad, or am I doing it?" Steve asked.

"I pierced Skye's ears last night," Lila said, not looking up.

"Lila Barton, what were you thinking?" Clint asked. "That could have ended so badly."

Lila mumbled, "not like it's the first time I've done it."

"Didn't catch that," Clint said.

"Nothing," Lila said.

"She said it's not like it's the first time she's done it," Steve said. His super hearing came in handy in that moment.

"Excuse me?" Clint said to his daughter.

Lila sighed. "I bought a piercing kit online about a year ago. I have pierced a bunch of my friends ears, noses, etcetera."

Clint shook his head. "How did you find out?" he asked Steve.

"Well, long story short, Wanda noticed the piercings were infected. She had promised Skye she would not tell me. I was able to convince Skye to tell me what was going on by telling her she wouldn't be punished if she just told me. But she told me she had pierced her own ears. I think the guilt got to Lila, and, maybe Skye too, so the two of them came to me and told me," Steve said.

Clint nodded. "Whose idea was it to come clean?"

"Hers," Skye said, "I wouldn't have if she wasn't so evidently feeling guilty about it."

"But I was still going to keep the secret for her sake. She decided that she wasn't going to let me keep feeling bad and was willing to accept being in trouble, so I didn't feel so guilty anymore," Lila said.

Both adults nodded.

"Lila, come on. Let's go talk in the bedroom," Clint said.

Lila got up and went with him. They closed the door behind them.

Skye sat looking at her hands.

"Skyler, I'm very disappointed in you," Steve said.

Skye's eyes started to fill with tears. "I'm sorry, sir."

"I gave you the opportunity to come forward, and you continued to lie. And you would have gone on with the lie if Lila hadn't wanted to come clean," Steve said.

"Yes, sir," Skye said.

"I am proud that you decided to not let Lila live with the guilt and come forward. I know its not easy to do that when you have otherwise gotten away with something," Steve said.

Skye nodded and wiped at her eyes.

"And you didn't just lie to me," Steve said.

Skye shook her head slightly.

"Tomorrow before you leave you will be telling Wanda the truth," Steve said.

Skye nodded. "Yes, sir."

He moved so he was sitting next to her. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her over his lap in one quick movement.

Skye knew what was coming and didn't try to fight it.

Once the girl was situated over his lap, he put an arm around her waist to hold her in place. "Why are we here, Skyler?"

"Because I lied to you," Skye said softly.

"Right. Lying to me will never be acceptable," he said.

"Yes, sir," she said. She couldn't believe she ended up in this situations twice in one weekend. She didn't have much time to think about it before she felt his hand connect with her butt. She whimpered when it came down a second time. The thin pajama pants she was wearing did nothing to protect her butt from his hand.

For the next thirty seconds he continued to bring his hand down on her butt. By that point, she was sobbing hard. He stopped for a second. "You lie to me again, and I will spank your bare butt," he said. He steeled his heart to finish the spanking before he tilted her up to focus the last six swats on her sit spots. When he was done he sat her up in his lap and held her while she cried.

Meanwhile, in the bedroom Clint sat on the window seat and Lila sat next to him.

"Why did you even do it?" Clint asked.

"She didn't have them pierced. I asked her if she wanted it done. She did and agreed to me doing it. I had the kit with me, so I figured why not," Lila said.

"Why did you even bring the kit?" Clint asked.

Lila shrugged. "I tend to bring it everywhere."

Clint nodded. "I'm really disappointed in you. You're still a teenager, yes. But you are older here, and I expect better from you."

Lila nodded and wiped at the tears falling down her face.

"And tomorrow you will be telling your mom what you did," Clint said.

"Okay," she said softly.

"Get me the piercing stuff you have," he said.

Lila got up and got them from her bag and handed it to him. Clint took it.

"How many people have you done a piercing for, and do any of their parents know?" Clint asked.

"A dozen and no," Lila said.

"Okay, I want a list of names tomorrow," Clint said. "Because you did the right thing and came forward with the truth, I won't spank you, but you are grounded. When we get home no going out for two weeks."

Lila sighed and nodded. That was worse. A spanking hurt, but it was done quickly. A grounding? Two weeks with no friends was going to suck. Clint kissed the top of her head. "I love you, kiddo," he said.

"Love you too, Dad," Lila said.

They hugged, and Clint got up and left the room. "Good night," he said.

"Night," Lila said before climbing back under the blankets on the air mattress.

Skye came back in the room about ten minutes later and flipped the light off before crawling into bed.

"Sorry, I just couldn't keep it in anymore," Lila said.

"It's okay," Skye said.

They both drifted off to sleep quickly.