Thank you to Harliquinn for beta reading and editing

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Skye sat in the living room reading on Friday night. The Avengers weren't back yet. Pepper was out at an event, and Skye was babysitting Morgan, who was in bed.

Her phone rang. She looked at it and saw it was security from downstairs and answered. "Hello."

"Your friend Tucker is down here. Should I let him up?"

"Uh. I don't know. . . I guess yes," Skye said.

Tucker came up a couple of minutes later.

"Hi, you never mentioned you were coming," Skye said when she saw him.

"Yeah, well you have been ignoring my calls and giving me one-word text responses, so I figured it was better to just show up," Tucker said.

"I don't know if right now is the best time. It's just Morgan and me here, and she is in bed," Skye said.

"I'll only stay long enough for you to tell me what's going on," Tucker said.

"That will take longer than you think it will," Skye said.

"Just tell me the short version," Tucker said.

"There are things that happened to me in foster care that I didn't even tell you about," Skye said.

Tucker nodded slowly. "Which home?"

"The Dyer's. I was really young. Before we met," Skye said.

Tucker nodded again. "The older couple who are all over the news for abusing foster kids."

Skye nodded. "So, I don't think I have to give you details for you to figure out what happened."

"Why didn't you report it then?" Tucker asked.

"I was so young I didn't even realize it was abuse. By the time I realized and told my social worker, she didn't believe me. They were a "good" foster home. Any proof was long gone," Skye said.

"There still wouldn't be proof," Tucker said.

"No, but there will be corroboration," Skye said. "I was the first to come forward, and when they were arrested, it got out. At this point, there are at least half a dozen others that have come forward."

"Skye, I'm so sorry this happened to you. Why didn't you tell me?" Tucker asked.

"You tend to be very. . . protective of the people you care about," Skye said.

Tucker smiled softly at her. "I don't have the luxury to be violent to protect those I care about anymore, as much as I want to."

Skye nodded. "I appreciate that you care about me, but I have a lawyer and am going about this the legal way."

Tucker nodded. "I'll be there when the case happens, if you want."

"I don't know," Skye said.

Just then Tony and Bucky came into the living room.

"Isn't Pepper out?" Tony asked.

"She is. Morgan is asleep," Skye said.

"So, you are here basically alone with a teenage guy?" Bucky asked with his eyebrow raised.

"I showed up here unannounced. It's on me," Tucker said. "And I'll go. Let me know if you want me there or not."

"How are you getting home?" Skye asked him.

"I finally got my license and a car that is being held together by rust. But it gets me around," Tucker said.

Skye chuckled. "Let me know when you get home."

Tucker smiled and left.

"Where is my dad? And everyone else?" Skye asked.

"Your dad is downstairs with Bruce. Everyone else coming home tomorrow," Tony said.

"Why is my dad with Bruce?" Skye said, worry clear in her voice.

"He's fine, it's nothing major," Tony said.

Skye looked at Bucky.

"He's okay, Skye," Bucky said.

Skye nodded a little.

"Go, see for yourself," Tony said.

Skye got up and went downstairs to Bruce's lab, where Steve was lying down with ice on his shoulder.

"Hey, Skye," Steve said.

"Hi, you're really okay?" Skye asked, going over to him.

Steve smiled and nodded at her.

Skye looked at Bruce.

Bruce chuckled softly. "You don't believe him?"

"I want your professional opinion," Skye said.

"She is definitely your kid, Steve. He is okay, Skye, not any more injured than you have been," Bruce said

"Okay, thank you," Skye said.

"Come here," Steve said.

Skye went over, and Steve hugged her with his uninjured arm.

Skye hugged him.

"You stayed out of trouble?" Steve asked her.

"I did," Skye said.

"So there wasn't a teenage boy in the living room with you when we got here?" Bucky said from the door.

Steve looked at Skye.

"He told you himself he showed up here unannounced. He was here for like ten minutes before you showed up," Skye said.

Steve raised an eyebrow.

"I've been avoiding his calls. He figured it out and showed up to talk. He didn't know I was alone with Morgan," Skye said. "And we are just friends."

"Yes, because I won't let you be more. I know if I let you, you two would be dating," Steve said.

"Maybe that's true, doesn't mean anything more than talking happened," Skye said.

Steve nodded. "Okay, I trust you. I also know that Jen came to talk to you while I was gone. You okay?"

Skye nodded.

"You sure?" Steve asked.

Skye shrugged. "I'm as good as I can be."

"Why was my cousin here talking to you?" Bruce asked.

Skye took a breath.

"You don't have to tell anyone anything you don't want to," Steve told her.

"It's okay. I'm pressing charges against a former foster father," Skye said.

"The couple who is all over the news? I recognized him from the store," Bucky said.

Skye nodded and looked down at her feet.

Bucky went over and squeezed her shoulder. "Is it going to court?"

"Unless he takes a plea deal or something," Skye said.

"I'll be there if there is a court case," Bucky said.

Skye nodded. "I just hope as more people come forward, he realizes he isn't getting away with it and takes a deal."

"That is what Jen is pushing for," Steve said.

Skye nodded.

"So, Steve, how are you feeling?" Bruce asked.

"I'm really fine. I think this was unnecessary," Steve said.

"If it was me, would you say it was unnecessary?" Skye asked.

Bucky smirked.

Steve shook his head. "Point made."

"Keep icing it, and you will be fine in a couple of days," Bruce said.

Steve sat up. "Will do."

The four went upstairs. Steve and Bucky both went to shower, and Skye sat back down on the couch with her book.

Tony came into the living room and sat on the opposite side of the couch.

"I would never have invited Tucker when alone with Morgan," Skye said.

Tony smirked. "Never say never, kid."

Skye looked at him.

"You think I never snuck girls over when I wasn't supposed to?" Tony asked.

"So, you're not angry with me?" Skye asked

Tony shook his head. "No, and he said he just showed up. You can't control that."

Skye nodded. "Is Pepper going to be upset with me?"

"No," Tony said. "Because you didn't invite him here."

Skye nodded again.

"And because we trust you. Even if you did invite him here, we know that you wouldn't do anything to put Morgan in harm's way," Tony said. "I'm not going to tell you off for having a guy here. That's your dad's job."

Skye chuckled. "How did he end up hurt?"

"Avengers business," Tony said.

"And I thought I was one," Skye said.

"You are, but it's up to your dad if he wants to tell you details," Tony said.

"Fair enough," Skye said.

Pepper came in from being out, and Tony got up and went over and hugged her.

Pepper smiled and hugged him, "You're back. Everyone in one piece?"

"Steve has a minor injury," Tony said.

Pepper nodded and looked at Skye. "Morgan wasn't a problem, I assume."

Skye smiled and nodded.

"Good," Pepper said.

"How was your event?" Tony asked.

"It was okay," Pepper said.

Skye got up. "Good night," she said as she left the room.

"Good night," Pepper and Tony said to the girl as she left the room.