I want to give one final thanks to Harliquinn for beta editing my work up to this point. My work would not be as good as it is without your continued help. I hope that we can work together again in the future and I wish you the best as you move on to other things.

Skye got up a few days later to a text message from Cody.

"I'm having a party this weekend, and would love it if you came!" the text said. It also included all the important details.

Skye smiled a little, this was her first party invite from someone at school.

"Thanks for the invite. I'll have to check with my dad and I'll let you know," she sent back.

She got up and crutched to the kitchen where Bruce and Wanda were preparing breakfast.

"Good morning," she said

"Good morning," both adults said to the teen.

"Can I help with anything?" Skye asked.

"Yes," Wanda said giving her a task to do.

Skye helped out as more people entered the kitchen and helped to get breakfast on the table.

Everything sat down once the food was ready and ate and talked. When there was a lull in the conversation Skye decided now was a good time.

"I got invited to a party this weekend," Skye said.

"Oh?" Steve asked.

"Yeah, Cody is throwing it at his place," Skye said.

Steve nodded. He remembered who Cody was.

"Can I go?" Skye asked.

"What time does the party start and end?" Steve asked.

"Seven to midnight," Skye said.

"Okay," Steve said. "Adult supervision?"

"As far as I know," Skye said.

"Okay, I will want to verify that," Steve said.

"Okay," Skye said with a sigh

"If there is adult supervision you can go. Get me a phone number of a parent I can speak to," Steve said.

Okay," Skye said.

Once breakfast was done Skye texted Cody.

"And chance I can get a phone number of one of your parents? My dad wants to talk to one of them," Skye sent before she went to her room and got dressed for the day. About fifteen minutes later she had a text with a phone number.

She went out and found her dad. "Got the number," she said before giving it to him.

Steve took the number down, "I will call sometime today."

"Okay, thank you," Skye said.

"Any plans for today?" Steve asked.

"No," Skye said.

Dr. Banner came into the living room at the tail end of the conversation. "I would like to take a look at your burns, and change the bandages."

"Okay," Skye said before the two of them went downstairs to his lab.

Skye sat on the table and Bruce carefully took the bandages off her neck.

"How is it feeling?" Bruce asked.

"Still stings a little but it is getting better," Skye said

"It does look a lot better," Bruce said before he put some ointment on it. "How does your ankle feel?"

"Still pain with pressure," Skye said. "Hoping it feels better before the weekend."

"Don't want to go to a party with crutches I'm guessing?" Bruce said

"Yeah, I'd rather not have to," Skye said.

"Well keep it elevated and ice it. Should help it heal faster. But can't promise you will be off crutches by the weekend," Bruce said.

"Okay, thank you," Skye said as he finished putting on new bandages.

"Of course," Bruce said before he let her go back upstairs.

She went to the kitchen, found an ice pack in the freezer, and went to sit on the couch with her ankle elevated.

About an hour later Bucky and Sam came through the living room. They had been training. Bucky went and sat next to Skye.

"How are you feeling?" Bucky asked.

"Okay," Skye said.

"Your dad told me about you having issues with your therapist," Bucky said.

"I knew he was going to," Skye said.

"He also told me you didn't think I would understand and I would keep forcing you to go," Bucky said.

Skye sighed.

"I do think therapy is important but I also am not going to force you to go to a therapist you don't like or trust," Bucky said.

"And if I don't want to do therapy at all anymore?" Skye asked.

"I know I can't really force you," Bucky said. "If you want to stop and your dad isn't going to force it not much I can do."

"You threatened to take me there kicking and screaming," Skye said

Bucky smiled.

"You wouldn't have actually?" Skye asked.

"No," Bucky said. "I said that knowing it would work because you told me my opinion matters to you."

"It does matter to me. I didn't lie about how I see you to Victoria," Skye said

"I know," Bucky said.

Skye looked down. Did Bucky not see her as a daughter? Maybe it was too soon. She thought.

"What is it?" Bucky asked.

"Nothing," Skye said.

Steve came into the room. "I spoke to your friend's mother. You can go."

Skye smiled, "Thanks, dad."

"Of course," Steve said. "What did Dr. Banner say about your burn?"

"It is getting better," Skye said.

"Good," Steve said.

Skye nodded and had a sad look on her face.

"You okay?" Steve asked.

"Yes," Skye said. "Just my ankle is a little sore."

Bucky picked up the ice pack on the coffee table and felt that it was warm. "Need a new ice pack?"

"Probably," Skye said.

Bucky got up and went to grab her a new one.

Steve took the spot next to Skye, "you're sure that's all it is?"

"Yes," Skye said with a small smile.

Bucky came back and handed Skye the ice pack.

"Thanks," Skye said taking it and putting it on her ankle.

That weekend came quickly. Skye was in Bruce's lab on Saturday morning. He was taking a look at her ankle and neck again.

"Your burns look good, don't need the bandages anymore. Minimal scaring but that will probably stay," Bruce said. "Ankle feeling better?"

"Yeah, I don't know that I need the crutches anymore," Skye said.

"Not just saying that because of the party tonight?" Bruce asked as he rotated her ankle slowly.

"No, promise," Skye said.

"Okay. It looks good. But if it starts to hurt please let me know and use the crutches," Bruce said.

"Will do," Skye said.

"Go," Bruce said.

Skye smiled and went upstairs without the crutches.

Bucky noticed when she came into the kitchen where he was making himself some tea, "Where are the crutches?"

"Dr. Banner says I don't need them anymore," Skye said with an annoyed tone.

"Okay," Bucky said tilting his head. Skye had been snarky and short the last few days with him, and he didn't know why.

"What?" Skye snipped.

"The attitude," Bucky said. "Why?"

"Sorry," Skye mumbled before she walked away.

Bucky furrowed his brows in confusion.

Skye went to her room and flopped on her bed curling up.

Bucky put the cup of tea down and went and knocked on Skye's door.

"Yeah?" Skye said.

Bucky went in, "You want to tell me what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Skye said

"The last few days you have barely spoken to me and when you do you give me attitude," Bucky said.

"Sorry," Skye said.

"Appreciate the apology, are you sure nothing is wrong?" Bucky asked.

"Yup," Skye said.

"You've got the party tonight right?" Bucky asked.

"Yes," Skye said

"Okay, well with your dad being gone for the weekend I will be taking you to the party," Bucky said.

"Thanks," Skye said.

"You're sure nothing is wrong?" Bucky asked again.

"Yup," Skye said

"Okay," Bucky said before he left her alone.

That evening after dinner Skye got dressed in a pair of light wash, distressed high-rise jeans, a peach-colored crop top with a faint crisscross pattern, and a pair of white high-top sneakers. She curled her hair, did her make-up, and put her wallet and phone into an over-the-shoulder bag before going out and finding Bucky.

Bucky raised an eyebrow

"What?" Skye asked.

"I don't think your dad would let you out of here wearing that top," Bucky said.

"He bought it for me," Skye said.

"Did he see it first?" Bucky asked

"Yes," Skye said.

Bucky let out a breath.

Nat who was sitting in the room as well was smirking.

"Yes, Nat?" Bucky asked when he saw her face.

"Nothing," Nat said still smirking.

"Bucky please can we go?" Skye asked.

"Change your shirt first," Bucky said.

Skye let out a huff, "that's not fair."

"Change. Or I am not taking you," Bucky said.

Skye looked at Nat.

"Yeah. I'm not going to take you unless you change either," Nat said.

Skye grumbled and went back to her room.

Bucky looked at Nat. "Am I wrong? Steve would never let her leave the house in that."

"Well, I don't know. I know he lets her go running in crop tops," Nat said.

"Okay, yes. But not for a party. And even those cover more," Bucky said.

"I don't think they cover more," Nat said. "But yes that is a different situation."

Skye came back out in a band tee.

"Thank you," Bucky said before he got up from the couch, and the two left.

When they got to the party Bucky looked at Skye, "Okay. I will be back at midnight. If you need me to come earlier just call okay?"

"Okay," Skye said before she got out and went to the door. When she saw Bucky had pulled out of the driveway she took off the t-shirt having the crop top under it and shoved the t-shirt in her bag before she knocked on the door.

The door was opened and Skye went in before long the music was blaring and everyone was having a good time. Skye hadn't noticed any adults around but just figured they were elsewhere in the house. Not long after two older guys came in carrying a metal barrel-looking thing and it didn't take long for her to realize it was a keg of beer.

Skye looked at Ivy, "I can't believe that they think they can get away with that. Parents could come out from wherever they are at any moment."

"No parents here," Ivy said.

Skye tilted her head, "I thought my dad spoke to one of his parents."

"His aunt, she is cool. She pretended to be Cody's mother and is here but she doesn't care," Ivy said. "I figured you knew and didn't care."

"I didn't know. But I- um. No, I don't care," Skye said hesitantly.

"Don't worry. No one is going to force you to drink if you don't want to," Lily said.

"Have there been parties like this before?" Skye asked.

"Not that we have been to," Ivy said.

Skye nodded.

Ivy was pulled away by Zack to dance as cups of beer were being passed around.

Lily and Skye both declined and just hung out talking.

"If you had known would you have come?" Lily asked.

"I don't know. If police show up I could be in a lot of trouble. More so than the rest of you," Skye said.

"I know you have been in legal trouble but you're not on probation or anything are you?" Lily asked

"Not technically but definitely with my record it would not be good," Skye said. "Not to mention my dad would probably lock me up and throw away the key."

Lily chuckled, "That much would be pretty similar to if our parents found out."

Skye chuckled.

"I noticed the car that dropped you off not the car that drops you off or picks you up from school," Lily said.

"Yeah, my dad's fiancé's. He dropped me off. My dad is away," Skye said.

"Oh. Cool. Yeah, you mentioned your dad's fiancé is cool," Lily said.

"Yeah. He used to be," Skye said.

"What changed?" Lily asked.

"I don't know. He is definitely stricter than my dad about certain things and sometimes I think he would rather my dad not have a kid," Skye said.

"Has he said that?" Lily asked.

"No, but I don't know. Lately, he has just been. I don't know how to explain it," Skye said.

"Have you mentioned it to your dad?" Lily asked.

"No. I'm not fucking this up for my dad. He is happy and I don't want to be the reason he isn't anymore," Skye said.

Lily nodded.

"But let's talk about anything else," she said and the conversation changed.

"What happened to your neck?" Lily asked.

Skye let out a breath. "Long story. But I'm okay."

"Okay," Lily said

At one point Lily went off to find something and Skye ended up next to the keg.

Cody saw her and smiled, "Hi. I'm glad you came. Do you want a beer?" he asked grabbing an empty cup and filling it.

"Sure," Skye said. One beer wouldn't affect her. She wasn't even sure that alcohol would affect her at all. She overheard a discussion about how it didn't affect her dad because of the super serum.

Cody handed it to her and Skye took it "Thanks," she took a sip biting her tongue to keep from reacting. It was disgusting but she didn't want to seem uncool.

"So, did I hear correctly that you have a boyfriend?" Cody asked.

"Yeah. I do. Not from the school. Someone I grew up with," Skye said.

"That's cool," Cody said smiling at her.

"What about you? Anyone you interested in?" Skye asked.

"Well at one point you," Cody admitted.

Skye was a little surprised.

"I did ask you to the dance," Cody said.

"Oh yeah. I guess you did. But I thought that was just as friends. And I didn't go," Skye said.

"Yeah I figured because you weren't interested," Cody said.

"That's not why. I didn't want to go to the dance for other reasons," Skye said. "But you said at one point does that mean you're not anymore?"

"Correct," Cody said.

Skye smiled, "Good. Just because I'd hate for you to be stuck on me."

Cody chuckled and nodded.

"But is there anyone else? Maybe I can put in a good word for you with someone?" Skye offered.

Cody smiled, "You do not need to do that."

"What if I want to?" Skye asked.

"Thank you. But no," Cody said.

"Okay," Skye said dropping it. She continued to talk to him until someone bumped into her hard causing her to drop her beer and it to spill all over her.

She whimpered.

Lily having seen it went over and to her. "Come on. Let me help you," she said as she gently took her arm and led her to the bathroom.

"I can not get into Bucky's car or go home smelling like beer," Skye told her friend as she removed the shirt she was wearing, pulled the t-shirt out of her bag, and put it on.

There was a knock on the bathroom door, "It's Ivy."

Lily opened it and Ivy came in.

"Were you drinking beer?" Ivy asked.

"Yeah," Skye said. "And now I'm going to smell like it."

Ivy took some perfume out of her bag and held it up.

Skye held up her shirt and Ivy sprayed it before she also sprayed Skye.

"You had another shirt in your bag. Why?" Lily asked.

Skye chuckled. "I was told I couldn't leave the house in this one. So I put this over it and took it off before I knocked on the door."

Ivy chuckled, "Breaking all the rules tonight."

Skye shrugged.

"You okay?" Lily asked.

"Yeah, I'm okay," Skye said as she put her beer-soaked shirt in her bag before the three girls left the bathroom and went back to the party.

Just before midnight, she got a text that Bucky was there.

"My ride is here," Skye told her friends.

Both of her friends hugged her before she went outside and found Bucky's car and got in.

"Have fun?" Bucky asked

"Yes," Skye said as she clipped her seatbelt.

Bucky started to drive. "Something you want to tell me?"

"Um. No," Skye said slowly.

"Okay," Bucky said.

"Do you think otherwise?" Skye asked.

"If you say there isn't anything I believe you," Bucky said.

Skye nodded a little. Could he smell the beer? She could smell it, but it was on her, but he also shared the ability of enhanced smell. Was she busted? Would it be better for her to just admit it? "You smell it don't you?" she asked softly.

"Smell what?" Bucky asked.

Skye let out a breath and shook her head.

"I smell is some strong flowery smell," Bucky said. "I assume some sort of perfume."

Skye nodded a little.

"I know you didn't smell like that before. Are you trying to cover up the smell of something?" Bucky asked.

Skye let out a breath, "You really can't smell it?"

"Is it weed I'm supposed to be able to smell?" Bucky asked.

"No," Skye said. "If that's not what you think I should tell you what do you think I'm supposed to tell you?"

"You must have had your phone in your pocket or something you pocket-dialed me," Bucky said.

"Oh. With the loud music and the fact that you were in my pocket, what did you hear?" Skye asked

"I have enhanced hearing Skye," Bucky said.

"I know," Skye said as she fidgeted. "You going to tell me what you heard or do I have to start guessing?"

"Skye I don't wish your dad didn't have a kid," Bucky said.

Skye cringed and mouthed "Fuck." That was worse than what she had expected. She would have rather he heard about the beer. "Bucky, I," Skye said not really sure what she was going to say.

"What did I do that makes you feel that way?" Bucky asked

Skye shrugged and looked out the window fighting back the tears.

"I've told you before. I know you come as a package deal with your dad and I wouldn't have gotten involved with him if I wasn't okay with that," Bucky said.

Skye nodded a little.

"And I certainly wouldn't have proposed if I didn't want to be involved in your life too," Bucky said.

Skye nodded again.

"Something about what happened with your mother making you think otherwise?" Bucky asked.

"I don't know," Skye said.

"I can't help you with this if you don't tell me the truth," Bucky said.

"I was just being stupid," Skye said.

"Don't like you calling yourself stupid," Bucky said. "Tell me what's going on in your head."

"Yes, I know you have said that you know I come as a package with my dad. But I think you see me as your fiancé's kid, not your future stepdaughter. It's stupid I know I can't expect that you will be a second parent," Skye said

"Skye, you have referred to me as your second parent more than once with me there. Have I ever argued that?" Bucky asked.

"No," Skye said.

"So, why do you think I don't think that?" Bucky said.

"The therapy thing. I thought for sure you would be forcing me to continue. I figured you would let me switch therapists but that you would force me to continue. You said you couldn't actually force me," Skye said.

"Your dad doesn't force it, he doesn't try and force it," Bucky pointed out.

"No, but his and your opinions on therapy are different," Skye said. "And you told me that you being forced to do it helped you."

"Yeah. Well, I didn't have any say whatsoever," Bucky said. "It was that or I would be charged with a lot of things."

Skye nodded.

"So are you saying you want me to be more of a hard ass?" Bucky asked with a smirk.

Skye chuckled, "not exactly."

"I decided to stop pushing it because the therapist I got for you, you were worried would call CPS. I don't ever want you put in a situation where you are afraid you will be taken away from your dad," Bucky said.

"Oh," Skye said

"And if you had talked to me about it I would have told you that," Bucky said.

"I'm sorry. I should have just talked to you," Skye said.

"It's okay," Bucky said.

"Bucky," Skye said.

"Yeah?" Bucky said.

"The perfume is to cover up the smell of beer," Skye said.

"I know," Bucky said.

"What?" Skye asked surprised.

"I was giving you until we got home to tell me before I called you on it," Bucky said.

Skye let out a breath and nodded slightly.

"I can smell it," Bucky said. "Were you drinking or did it just get spilled on you?"

"I drank about half a cup," she admitted. "Before someone bumped into me and it got dumped on me."

"I thought your dad called and spoke to a parent who was going to be there," Bucky said.

"I thought so too. Um. When the keg showed up I questioned it to Lily she told me that it was the aunt who was willing to be the cover," Skye said. "Are you going to call a parent?"

"No. But I'm sure your dad will when he finds out," Bucky said.

Skye nodded.

"And you will be the one to tell him," Bucky said.

"I figured," Skye said.

Bucky pulled in at home and they both went inside.

"Go, to your room," Bucky said.

Skye did so and took a shower before getting into pajamas, flopping on her bed, and texting her friends letting them know they were busted and their parents would be being called.

Half an hour later there was a knock on her door.

"Yeah?" Skye said.

Bucky went in.

"Are you planning on telling my dad what you overheard and stuff?" Skye asked

"You'd rather I didn't?" Bucky asked

"I just don't know what he will think about it," Skye said.

"If the roles were reversed I'd hope he would tell me," Bucky said.

"So, that's a yes," Skye said.

"I will tell him that you and I talked and worked it out," Bucky said. "When I also tell him that I have dealt with you for the drinking."

Skye groaned and put a pillow over her head.

Bucky went over and took the pillow off, "You want me to treat you like you're my kid? That's what I'm going to do."

Skye let out a huffed laugh. "I'd rather neither you nor Dad deal with this."

Bucky chuckled, "You're not stupid. You knew you'd be in trouble if you got caught."

"Yeah," Skye said.

"Stand up," Bucky said.

Skye did so and Bucky sat where she had been.

"Why did you drink?" Bucky asked

"I don't know. I could try and blame peer pressure, but it wouldn't be true. It was offered but not forced. I think everything that has happened in the last couple of weeks caught up with me and I just gave in to the temptation," Skye said.

"Anything else I should know before I spank you?" Bucky asked.

"No," Skye said.

Bucky took her over his lap and wrapped his left arm around her lower back.

"Why am I spanking you?" Bucky asked.

"I drank," Skye said.

"And why is that not okay?" Bucky asked.

Skye groaned. "Because I'm underage."

"Whining isn't going to help you," Bucky said

"It wasn't a whine it was a groan," Skye mumbled.

Bucky landed a hard smack to the center of her butt.

Skye yelped.

"And the attitude isn't going to help you either Skyler," Bucky said.

"Sorry," Skye said.

"Okay," Bucky said before he started to spank.

After a dozen swats, Skye whimpered and kicked her feet a little.

Bucky moved his focus to her sit spots. "Are you going to drink again before you are twenty-one?" Bucky asked as he continued to spank.

"No, I promise I won't," Skye cried out as she started to squirm.

Bucky tightened his left arm around her lower back as he continued to spank.

Skye started to sob.

Bucky landed another half dozen swats before sitting her up and wrapping her in a hug.

Skye sobbed into him. "I'm sorry."

"I know. And it's forgiven," Bucky said tightening the hug.

Skye calmed down after a few minutes.

"You okay?" Bucky asked.

"Yeah," Skye said pulling away a little.

Bucky let her go. "You're probably tired."

Skye nodded.

Bucky got up from her bed. "Get some sleep."

Skye climbed into bed. "Night Bucky."

"Good night kid," Bucky said.