When Skye woke up the next day, she reached over to her bedside table, picked up her phone, and looked at the time. It was two hours before her alarm. She sighed, put her phone back down, and curled up and hugged her stuffed animal. She laid there for half an hour, with her brain racing as she thought through everything that had happened the day before. She dragged herself out of bed and threw on some workout clothes before she went down to the gym. She needed to do something active to shut her brain off. She jumped on a treadmill and pushed a few buttons to start the machine. She started slowly, wanting to see how her body reacted to movement after yesterday.

Loki woke up early and passed by Skye's room and noticed her door was open and she wasn't there. He decided to go looking for her.

Skye noticed something out of the corner of her eye and looked over to see Loki. She took an earbud from one ear. "You're not dressed to work out. What are you doing in here?"

Loki snorted. "Do I strike you as someone who works out like a puny human?"

"Puny human? Really?" Skye asked. "You think you're too good to run on a treadmill?"

"I run faster than the machine can go," Loki said.

"I have enhanced speed, too, you know," Skye said.

"Yeah, but I have Asgardian blood. You have human blood. I am a literal god," Loki said.

"A godly ass," Skye said.

"You think you can outrun me?" Loki asked.

"Maybe not today, as I am still recovering. But on a good day? Yeah, I do," Skye said.

"I think you are fully recovered," Loki said. "Your variant was fine the day after she was healed. Or are you saying she is stronger?" he asked with a smirk.

"She has had her entire life to learn her abilities. I have only had two years. So yeah, she might be stronger," Skye said.

"Yet, you think you are stronger than me?" Loki asked.

"I think I can outrun you because you don't care enough to work out and get stronger," Skye said.

"I do not need to work out to get stronger," Loki said.

Skye shook her head. "Whatever, Loki."

"You think I'm wrong?" Loki asked.

"I do, and if you think I'm wrong, prove it. Get on a treadmill and let's see who lasts longer and runs at a higher speed," Skye said.

"Pass," Loki said.

Skye shrugged, put her earbud back in, turned her machine up, and started to run faster, deciding to ignore Loki.

Loki took a breath and climbed onto the machine next to her, pushed a few buttons, and started to run.

The two kept upping their machines' speeds . Eventually Loki gave up first. "Okay. You win," he said, catching his breath.

Skye turned off her machine and turned off her music. "You good?" she asked.

He nodded as he caught his breath. "Okay, maybe you're right."

Skye smirked. "Of course I am," she said before she went towards the door.

"Wait," Loki said.

"What?" Skye asked, turning back to him.

"Maybe you could train with me?" Loki asked.

"Oh. Um, yeah. Sure," Skye said. "This weekend?"

"Sure," Loki said.

Skye nodded. "I have to go get ready for school."

"You're not using yesterday as an excuse to get out of school?" Loki asked.

Skye chuckled. "I guess I didn't even think about it being an option."

Loki chuckled and the two left the gym and went upstairs.

"Where were you?" Steve asked when they walked into the kitchen where Steve was sitting at the table with Tony.

"Gym, running on a treadmill," Skye said.

"Were you given the all-clear to do that from Dr. Banner?" Steve asked.

"Well. . . Not technically," Skye said slowly.

"You are supposed to be in bed," Steve said.

"I feel okay, Dad," Skye said. "Promise."

"I'm glad, but you still don't get to do anything strenuous until you are medically cleared. Go shower and go back to bed," Steve said.

"I feel okay to go to school," Skye said.

"I've already called your school. You are not going today," Steve said.

"But," Skye started.

"Skyler, do not argue with me," Steve said sternly.

"Yes, sir," she said softly before she went to her room.

Steve looked at Loki.

"She did not seem to be in any pain or discomfort," Loki said before he walked away.

Steve took a breath and shook his head.

Tony sipped his coffee and looked at the other man.

"What is it, Stark?" Steve asked.

"Nothing," Tony said.

"You're staring at me for no reason then?" Steve asked.

"Skye would normally jump at the chance to miss school. If she's not, she's probably fine," Tony said

"She was fine when she left yesterday morning. By the afternoon she was fighting for her life," Steve said.

"Yeah. But when she started to feel off she called you," Tony said.

"I know," Steve said. "But she almost died. She is staying home today."

"I don't disagree with that decision," Tony said.

"But?" Steve asked.

"You were hard on her," Tony said.

Steve sighed and nodded.

Skye was just getting back into bed after showering when there was a knock on her door.

"Yeah?" She said.

Steve went in and closed the door behind him. "I'm sorry."

Skye looked at him confused.

"I was hard on you for no reason. You are staying home today. And, yes, you need to be cleared by Dr. Banner before you work out again. But I didn't need to be so hard on you," Steve said, sitting on the bed next to her.

Skye nodded. "It's okay."

"So, you don't need to stay in bed all day. You can watch movies in the living room, if you'd prefer," Steve said.

"Okay," Skye said.

"You do feel okay, though?" he asked.

"Yes, promise," Skye said.

"Okay," Steve said. "Have you talked to Tucker about what happened?"

"Not yet," Skye said. "But I will."

"Good. You know you can always invite him here," Steve said.

"I know. He is just busy with work and school," Skye said. "I don't want to worry him when he doesn't have time to worry right now."

"Well, don't wait too long. I'd hate to hear long after the fact if it was you. Or Bucky," Steve said.

Skye nodded, took out her phone, and sent a text to Tucker.

"What Loki warned would happen did happen. I am okay, but thought you should know yesterday was not so good. I am staying home from school today, but I am okay."

"Done," Skye said.

"Good," Steve said.

"So, any wedding plans made?" Skye asked.

"We are going to just go to city hall and maybe a party here," Steve said.

"Really? After how long it took you two to get together and the laws that had to be fought for you actually to be able to marry him, and you are doing a civil service at city hall?" Skye asked.

Steve chuckled. "You have a different idea?"

"I get not wanting to do anything big, but maybe find a location where you can have the wedding service. Brooklynn Bridge or Central Park maybe," Skye suggested.

"How do you know about those places being spots where you can get married?" Steve asked.

Skye smiled. "I might have been looking at stuff online."

"Planning mine and Bucky's wedding?" Steve asked.

"Well, not entirely," she said. "Just a little research."

Steve smiled and kissed her head. "I will think about your suggestions and talk with Bucky."

Skye smiled, "Okay."

"School has been good?" Steve asked.

"It's school," Skye said.

Steve smiled, "for not liking school, you seemed to want to go today."

Skye shrugged. "I wanted to see my friends."

"I know it's been a few months, but have you given any thought to joining the band?" Steve asked.

Skye sighed. "I really don't want to."

"Okay," Steve said. "It is your choice."

Skye nodded.

"You know, every time I watch you play, you look a little bit more like your mother," Steve said.

Skye smiled a little. "Dad, you knew her, even if it was only for a short time. And even if you didn't fully know who she was. Do you think she was a good person just in a bad situation? Like I've made some bad choices in the past, but I did what I felt I had to do to survive."

Steve let out a breath. "I know. I understand why you did the things you did. And I do understand why your mother never fully told me who she was. I think, in part, she was scared because she knew I wasn't in love with her. She could feel it."

Skye nodded a little.

"I do think she loved you more than anything. She risked everything to protect you," Steve said.

"But, she didn't tell you. You could have protected both of us," Skye said.

"Yes, but maybe she didn't truly believe that I would be willing to," Steve said. "But either way, to answer your question, I do think she was a good person. I think she had people around her forcing her to do things that maybe she didn't want to do."

Skye nodded.

"You know, while you look like her and share the gifts she had, you are not her. Right?" Steve asked.

"I do. And I also know that, even though I look somewhat like you and share your abilities, I am also not you," Skye said.

"That's right. You are your own unique person and are going to make the choices you feel are right," Steve said.

Skye nodded. "Making the right decision isn't always easy. And the right decision isn't always clear."

"No. You're right. Is there a particular decision you are having a hard time with at the moment?" Steve asked.

"Not really," Skye said.

"You're sure? Maybe I can help you if you are struggling with a decision," Steve said.

"I'm sure," Skye said with a smile. "I decided to move past the issues with Loki and help him with training. But I've already made that decision."

Steve smiled. "He asked?"

"Yes, after I outran him on the treadmill this morning," Skye said with a smirk.

Steve chuckled. "Well, I'm proud of you for looking past the problems and helping him."

Skye smiled. "Thank you."

There was a knock on Skye's bedroom door.

"Yes?" Skye said.

Bruce came in. "I've been told you want to be checked over and cleared for working out and training again?"

"Yes," Skye said. "By who?"

"By whom, you mean," Bruce said, correcting the girl.

Skye smiled."By whom?"

"Loki," Bruce said. "He said you are planning to train with him, but that your dad wants you cleared before you do it."

"That was after I found out she was working out this morning," Steve said.

Bruce raised an eyebrow.

"I feel fine," Skye grumbled.

"Come on," Bruce said, shaking his head.

Skye got up and went with Bruce down to his lab.