Thank you to Harliquinn for beta reading and editing
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The next day Skye woke up to a knock on her bedroom door. She groaned, "what?"
Pepper opened the door. "Sorry to wake you up. But there is a teenage girl here to see you."
"Who is it?" Skye asked, still half asleep
"Carly Nelson," Pepper said.
Skye's eyes shot open and she sat up quickly. "What?"
Pepper nodded. "She says she needs to talk to you. Do you want me to tell security to get her to leave?"
Skye ran her fingers through her hair while she thought about it. "No, I'll talk to her. She will just have to wait a few minutes."
"Okay, I'll relay that message," Pepper said.
"Thank you," Skye said.
Pepper left her room as Skye got up, quickly changed out of her pajamas, and threw her hair up in a ponytail.
She left her room and went to the front room where Carly was waiting for her with Happy.
"Thanks, Happy," she said.
Happy nodded and left the two teenage girls. They stood in silence for about a minute before Carly decided to try and break the tension. "That security guy seems pretty intimidating."
Skye shook her head. "not to me."
Carly nodded.
"But he knows enough about you to know that you've been a real bitch to me," Skye said, crossing her arms.
"Fair enough," Carly said.
"What do you want?" Skye asked.
"Why do you think I'm jealous of you?" Carly asked.
"I told you why. One of my abilities makes me an empath, meaning I can sense what others are feeling, and last night I got jealousy off you," Skye said.
Carly nodded.
"So, you show up at my home ridiculously early on a Sunday morning asking me a question, which I answered. Now, it's your turn. Why are you jealous of me?" Skye asked
"I'm jealous that you have a bond with my cousin. We used to have that, and now we don't," Carly admitted. "But at first I did really think you had sold him out."
Skye nodded. "My friendship with Tucker doesn't mean you can't have a friendship with him too."
"Well, maybe not at first. But he made it clear to my parents and me that he chooses you over us," Carly said.
"Well, you made him choose. You put yourself in the middle. I get at first maybe you thought I had sold him out. Okay. But I told you I didn't. He told you I didn't. You still decided to be a bitch to me. You made him choose. I only told him that if he chooses to have a relationship with you, he needs to keep my name out of his conversations with you and that he needs to stay out of the middle of our issues," Skye said.
Carly nodded. "I'm sorry."
"What's with the sudden want to apologize?" Skye asked.
Carly looked down.
Skye took a breath and felt fear coming off her. "Ah, you saw a small glimmer of what I can do, and you're now terrified of me. Great," she said sarcastically.
"I honestly didn't believe you had abilities. When I saw it I realized I made a mistake. And I- Um," Carly said trying to find the words.
"Unless you intentionally try and physically hurt me, I have no intention of hurting you. I was struggling to keep myself from hurting anyone last night. I went outside to get away from everyone when I realized what was happening. You came out being a bitch. If any part of me wanted to hurt you, I would have," Skye said.
Carly nodded.
"So, don't pretend to suddenly be nice because you're worried about me hurting you," Skye said.
Carly took a breath. "That was part of it. But I realized last night that I misjudged you. I assumed you were lying about these abilities, and I don't like liars. Also, I didn't want my cousin to end up getting involved with someone who could play a role in him getting back into juvie. And I honestly expected you to be trouble for him."
Skye let out a breath. "What the fuck did you expect me to do? I couldn't show you my abilities. I was on probation at school because of things I'd done in the past. Hell, I still probably am on probation."
Carly nodded. "You're right. I wanted you to use them for two reasons. Yes, I wanted to see if you actually could. But I was hoping to get you kicked out."
Skye nodded.
"But I came here to metaphorically wave the white flag," Carly said. "I'm not thinking we are going to be best friends. But I'll leave you alone, you leave me alone."
"Funny, I don't think I have ever done anything to you at all," Skye said.
Carly nodded. "I'm going to leave you alone."
"And what do you want me to do because you are? Talk to your cousin? Because I won't do that," Skye said.
Carly shook her head. "I just don't want to be a jerk anymore."
"I'll believe it when I see it," Skye said.
Carly nodded. "I guess that I can't expect any different."
"Was there anything else?" Skye asked.
Carly shook her head.
"I have one more question for you," Skye said.
"Okay," Carly said.
"On my first day, how did you know who I was? That I was Tucker's friend and the person you assumed gave him up," Skye asked
"I recognized you from pictures he had shown me in the past. I have seen a lot of photos of the two of you over the years. I have known for a long time. He likes you," Carly said.
Skye nodded.
"You knew that though?" Carly asked.
"I didn't. Until you told him I like him, and he and I talked about it," Skye said.
Carly nodded.
"If you knew he liked me too, what did you think you telling him that I like him was going to do? Except to push us closer together," Skye said.
"I don't know what I thought. I just had heard what you said and how you didn't want him to know. I wanted to hurt you, and I saw that as a way I could. I clearly didn't think it through," Carly said.
"Who was the friend that heard?" Skye asked.
"I don't think you want to know," Carly said
Skye swallowed hard. "Is it someone I thought I could trust?"
Carly nodded slightly. "When she first came here, Anna was expecting to stay with a family. They changed their mind at the last minute. So my parents offered to take her in temporarily. She was with us for about two months until she was taken in with the family she is with now," Carly said. "She um, felt obligated to tell me."
Skye felt tears filling her eyes. "Do you know how much Ivy and Lily know?"
"I don't know what they know," Carly said.
Skye nodded and took a breath steading her emotions. "Anything else you wanted to say?"
"No," Carly said.
Skye showed her to the door before she went to her room, threw on some warmer clothes, and grabbed her headphones. She told Bucky, who was the first person she saw, that she was going for a run, and she left the compound and started to run.
Bucky had told her to eat something first, but she just ignored him and left. Shortly after, a group had gathered in the kitchen.
"Anyone seen Skye this morning?" Steve asked.
"Carly Tucker showed up. I woke her up, and I believe the two talked," Pepper said.
"They did, I brought her up," Happy said. "I know Carly has left."
"She came in here dressed for and told me she was going for a run," Bucky said. "I tried to get her to eat something first, but she decided not to."
Steve tilted his head at Bucky. "Did you ask her to eat something first or tell her she needed to and she ignored you?"
"The second," Bucky said.
Steve let out an exasperated breath.
"Did she seem upset like she was that time when everyone else was gone?" Pepper asked.
"Yes," Bucky said.
Steve shook his head and looked at Bucky. "You know she ignored you because she thinks she can get away with it."
Bucky let out a breath. "I know."
"Text her, tell her to get back here before breakfast starts," Steve said, smiling softly at him.
Bucky took out his phone and texted her. "Breakfast will be ready in twenty minutes. Be back by then."
Skye got the text and sighed. She texted back, "Not hungry."
Bucky looked a little perturbed, and Steve noticed.
"She said no?" Steve asked.
"She said she's not hungry," Bucky said before he texted back, "It is now eighteen minutes."
Skye was annoyed. "I said I'm not hungry." She texted back.
"You need to come home regardless," Bucky texted back.
"No," Skye texted back before putting her phone back in her pocket and continuing her run.
Bucky was now very frustrated. "I got a straight no."
Steve took out his phone and tried calling her, but got no answer.
"She is pushing her luck today," Steve said.
Tony pressed a few buttons on his phone and told Steve where she was.
"If you're okay with it, Steve, I'll go," Bucky said.
"You're sure you can handle it?" Steve asked.
"Yes," Bucky said.
"Okay," Steve said.
"Text me if her location changes," Bucky told Tony before he went.
Bucky found her in about ten minutes and stood in her path arms crossed.
Skye sighed. "Bucky, what are you doing here?"
"I told you to come home. And you should have been home five minutes ago, so let's go. Now," he said.
"No," Skye said.
"Don't make me throw you over my shoulder," Bucky said.
"You wouldn't," Skye said.
Bucky picked her up, threw her over his shoulder, and started to walk towards the compound.
"Hey! Put me down," Skye said.
"When we get back to the compound," he said.
"Come on, you're embarrassing me!" she whined.
"Touch shit, you had your chance to come on your own," he said.
"I'm sorry, I will come on my own. Please put me down," she begged.
"No," Bucky said. He got back to the compound and set her down in the front room. He smacked her butt hard.
Skye yelped in surprise.
"Go, sit down for breakfast. We will discuss this more after," he said.
Skye went quickly sitting down in her spot, not looking anyone in the eyes.
They all ate breakfast, and the conversation was kept off Skye. When they were done the table was cleared.
Skye got up and went to her room.
Once the kitchen was cleaned everyone but Steve and Bucky went off to do various things.
Steve looked at Bucky. "How easily did she come when you found her?"
"I had to carry her home over my shoulder," Bucky said.
"She is stubborn," Steve said.
"Like father, like daughter," Bucky said with a smirk.
Steve let out a soft chuckle.
"I should probably go talk to her," Bucky said.
"I can if you really don't want to," Steve said.
"No, I need to. As you said, she doesn't listen to me because I let her get away with doing so in the past," Bucky said.
Steve nodded.
Bucky got up and went and knocked on Skye's door.
"Yeah?" Skye said softly.
Bucky went in and saw her sitting on her window seat hugging her knees. He sat next to her. "Why did it take me having to throw you over my shoulder to get you to come back?"
Skye shrugged.
"You know the reason. I know the reason. I just want you to say it," Bucky said.
Skye sighed and mumbled. "Because I didn't think you would actually do it."
"Why not?" Bucky asked.
"Because you have let me get away with things in the past," she admitted.
Bucky nodded. "Not anymore."
"I'm sorry, I won't do it again," Skye said.
"I know, because I'm going to make sure of it," Bucky said.
"Bucky, please no," Skye whined.
Bucky took her arm and pulled her over his lap.
Skye squirmed.
"Skyler, stop squirming you are just making this harder on yourself," Bucky said before he landed a hard smack.
Skye whimpered but stopped squirming.
"I don't appreciate that it has to come to this to get you to listen to me. I hope we don't have to have this conversation again," he said before he started to bring his hand down on her butt.
"Yes, Sir. I'm sorry," Skye said softly.
Bucky nodded and gave her a dozen more swats before he helped her stand in front of him.
Skye had tears streaming, and Bucky pulled her into a hug. Skye hugged him and buried her face into his shoulder.
Bucky held her until she pulled away.
"So, we are not going to have a problem again?" Bucky asked, looking her in the eyes.
"No, Sir," she said softly.
"Good," Bucky said. "And you can drop the Sir."
Skye smiled a little.
"You're okay?" Bucky asked.
"Yes," Skye said.
Bucky got up and ruffled her hair before he left her room.
"Buck?" Steve called from his room across the hall.
Bucky went into Steve's room and closed the door.
"You okay?" Steve asked.
"Yeah," Bucky said.
Steve opened his arms and Bucky went over and they embraced.
"I did not like having to do that," Bucky admitted.
"No one likes having to discipline a child," Steve said.
Bucky nodded.
"But I get the sense it's more so for you, why?" Steve asked.
Bucky sat on the bed and shook his head not answering.
Steve looked at him. "Buck, if there is a reason I need to know."
"I just don't like making her cry," Bucky said.
Steve took his hand and squeezed it.
Bucky smiled a little.
There was a knock on the bedroom door.
"Yes?" Steve said.
Skye went in and saw Bucky. "Oh, I didn't realize you were in here too."
"I am," Bucky said. "But if you want to talk to your dad alone, I can go," he said, getting up from the bed and leaving the room.
"Nothing against you," she said to Bucky as he left.
Bucky smiled and nodded. "I know," he said as he left the room, closing the door behind him.
"Hey, peanut," Steve said. "What's up?"
"Um, I don't know why exactly. But um. . . Bucky. . . um," she didn't know how to say it.
"Skye, just tell me. What about Bucky?" Steve asked.
"I felt his emotions when he was spanking me. . . he felt guilty," Skye said.
Steve nodded slowly. "It's not about you, peanut. Okay?"
Skye nodded slightly.
Steve opened his arms, and Skye went over and sank into his arms. Steve hugged her tight.
"I love you, Daddy," Skye said.
"Love you too, peanut. I will talk to Bucky. You don't worry about it," Steve said.
"Okay," Skye said.
"Do you want to tell me what Carly had to say this morning when she showed up?" Steve asked
"She apologized. She told me why she was a bitch to me from the beginning," Skye said.
"Language," Steve said.
"Sorry," Skye said. "She also told me who told her that I like Tucker and all that."
Steve nodded. "Someone you know?"
"Someone I thought I could trust. Anna stayed with Carly's family for a couple of months when she first came to school here. And she felt obligated to tell her," Skye said.
"Your best friend Anna?" Steve asked.
"Yeah," Skye said.
"Make sure you ask her before you assume it's true," Steve said.
Skye looked at him.
"Just ask Anna before you assume Carly is telling you the truth," Steve said.
Skye nodded. "Okay."
"Are you okay?" Steve asked.
"Yeah," Skye said.
"Go, do your homework that I know you haven't done yet," Steve said.
Skye went back to her room.
Steve took a breath and went and found Bucky watching football with Sam.
"Buck, can I talk to you, alone," he asked.
"Uh oh, someone is in trouble," Sam teased.
Bucky looked at Steve confused. He did sound annoyed, but he didn't know why. "Sure," he got up and went with Steve back to Steve's bedroom, and Steve closed the door.
"Since when do we lie to each other?" Steve asked.
"What?" Bucky asked
"You know Skye can feel other people's emotions? She felt your guilt when you were punishing her. Why did you feel guilty, and why didn't you tell me?" Steve asked.
Bucky let out a breath.
"Don't make me James you," Steve said.
Bucky grimaced. He hated being called James by just about everyone. "I did so much harm with my hands as the Winter Solider. I know that there is a difference. I just don't like the idea of causing any pain to someone I care so much about."
Steve nodded. "I don't like having to do it either. The way I think about it, she needed to eat because of her diabetes. She could have passed out and been seriously hurt. So a sore butt for a short period is better than that, right? And she knows not to be disrespectful to anyone here. And she was to you."
Bucky nodded. "I didn't think of it that way, and I know she thought she would get away with it is why she did it."
"In the future, if you don't want to, you don't have to. I'll handle it," Steve said.
Bucky nodded. "It's fine, Steve."
"And you are not the Winter Solider. You are Bucky Barnes. The guy I fell in love with when we were kids and never fell out of love with," Steve said.
Bucky smiled at Steve. "Ditto."
Steve smiled and kissed him softly.
Bucky kissed him back.
"Feeling better?" Steve asked.
"Yes, you always know what to say," Bucky said.
"And you always know what to say when it's me spinning," Steve said. "Next time don't make it so I find out from my kid when you are feeling guilty about something, okay?"
Bucky nodded. "Okay. Sorry."
"It's forgiven," Steve said.
Steve and Bucky went back out and sat down with Sam to watch the game.
Meanwhile, Skye did her homework, and when she was done she went out and found her dad. "Can I go to Anna's?"
Steve nodded. "Have you called to make sure it's okay?"
"I texted and said I wanted to talk to her if she was home today. She said she was, and I could come over," Skye said.
Steve got up. "Okay, I'll take you."
The two left and started the drive.
"If you find out that she did tell Carly, what are you going to do?" Steve asked.
"I don't know," Skye said.
"Just make sure you keep yourself as calm as possible, okay?" Steve asked.
"I will do my best to not lose control," Skye said.
"Okay," Steve said.
They got to the house, and they both went up and knocked on the door.
Anna opened it with her host father close behind. Introductions were had, and Skye went with Anna to her room.
"What's up?" Anna asked.
"Before you were here with this host family, who did you live with?" Skye asked.
Anna opened her mouth to say something but closed it. She didn't know how to explain this to her.
Skye nodded. "I wanted to be sure it's true."
"Skye, it was for like two weeks. I barely spoke the language to even speak to her," Anna said.
"Two weeks? She said it was two months," Skye said.
"No, it was like two weeks," Anna said.
"Tucker wasn't there?" Skye asked.
"No," Anna said.
"So, you don't feel any loyalty to their family?" Skye asked.
"Not really, if I thought they were in danger or something, I would tell someone but. . . why do you think that?" Anna said.
Skye let out a breath. "Carly showed up at my place today. She apologized and said she wasn't going to be a jerk to me anymore. I asked who was it that overheard our conversation about Tucker and me liking him. She told me it was you and told me how you stayed with her family and such."
Anna's jaw dropped. "She said WHAT?"
"So, I have to ask, it's not true?" Skye asked, eyes filling with tears.
"No, absolutely not! Skye, you are my friend. She is not. I would never betray you like that," Anna said.
Skye nodded. "Okay. I do believe you."
Anna and Skye hugged.
"Thank you for asking me instead of just assuming," Anna said as they broke the hug.
"Yeah, I'm glad I did, too," Skye said. She was going to have to thank her dad for suggesting she did because she had been about ready to slap Anna across the face for betraying her.
"I don't get what she thought she was doing by telling you that," Anna said.
"Trying to put a wedge between us. But it didn't work," Skye said.
The two talked for a while longer before they were called to come down.
They both went back downstairs.
"Everything figured out?" Steve asked his daughter.
"Yes," Skye said with a smile.
"Good," Steve said. "Because we need to get going."
Skye nodded and hugged Anna again. "See you at school tomorrow."
Goodbyes were said before Steve and Skye left and started for home.
"Thank you," Skye said.
"For what?" Steve asked.
"For suggesting I talk to her before assuming she betrayed me," Skye said.
Steve nodded. "Any of it true?"
"She did stay with Carly's family. For a couple of weeks, but it was before she really knew English so there wasn't much talking. Anna said she would never tell Carly anything we talked about, and I believe her," Skye said.
"Good," Steve said. "Now, I need to verify, what your plans are with Carly?"
"Just ignore her. She will see me and Anna still hanging out and will realize she didn't win," Skye said.
"Okay," Steve said. "And I know you and Bucky talked. But I want to be very clear. You do not get to ignore him when he tells you to do something. You do it again, and it won't just be him you have to answer to. Am I understood?"
"Yes, understood," Skye said.
"Good," Steve said.
Steve pulled in at home. He parked and they went inside to join everyone in the living room.
