Skye and Tucker were in town a couple of weeks later. They were checking out a new music shop that had opened. The store had instruments and some records and CDs as well.
Skye noticed a pink guitar on the wall. That was signed by Taylor Swift. Skye looked at the store owner. "That's not one of the guitars she used on the era's tour is it?" Skye asked.
"It is," the woman said with a smile. "I met her about six months ago randomly and I mentioned I was opening a music store and she offered me from a pick of her guitar collection one that she would sign and I could sell."
Skye's eyes went big "Damn," she said softly. "I know the answer is going to be far more than I can afford. But how much?"
"Three thousand," the woman said.
"Yeah. Nope," Skye said.
"I bet if you pouted enough your dad would get it for you," Tucker said. "You're sixteenth birthday is coming up."
"I know but it's way too expensive," Skye said. "I'm not asking for it. And don't you dare even think about getting it for me. I will return it if you do."
Tucker chuckled
Skye looked at the shop owner, "Do not let him buy it for me."
The owner laughed, "Okay."
"I promise I won't Skye," Tucker said.
"Thank you," Skye said.
"As much as I want to. And I think you deserve it I don't even have that in savings," Tucker said.
"One day Tucker we will have that and more in savings," Skye said.
"I know," Tucker said kissing her head.
They kept walking around the shop and Skye ended up buying a couple of records to add to her collection.
Three days later Steve went into the store. Tucker had sent him a picture and the price of an authentic, signed Taylor Swift guitar.
"Hello," the owner said.
"Hi, how are you today?" Steve asked.
"I'm very good. And yourself?" the woman asked.
"I'm good. I hear you have a Taylor Swift guitar?" he asked with a smile. "It's pink."
"You wouldn't happen to be the father of the young lady who came in with her boyfriend the other day would you?" She asked with a chuckle.
"I am. Her boyfriend texted me and told me about it. She is a very big Taylor Swift fan," Steve said.
"I saw the way her eyes lit up when she saw it," the woman said. "Did he mention the price?"
"He did. It's her sixteenth birthday. And she has worked very hard to do well at everything in life she deserves it."
The woman smiled, walked over to the spot, and pointed it out to the man.
"Perfect. I'll take it," he said.
The woman grabbed a ladder, climbed up, took it off the wall, and brought it down over to the counter.
"How did you manage to come by it?" Steve asked.
"I randomly ran into the woman herself. I'm a fan of her as well. It came up in conversation that I was opening a music shop. She told me I could have a guitar of hers that she would sign so I could sell it. She let me pick from a few that she has and well this was the obvious choice. She used it probably the most on her era's tour," the owner said.
"Every time I hear about a fan interaction it's always positive," Steve said.
"She is really good to her fans. And the people she works with always have positive things to say. She genuinely seems like a good person. She deserves everything she has earned," the woman said.
"Good, do you have a case for it by any chance?" Steve asked.
"Yes," the woman said grabbing the case. "I wouldn't send a guitar like this outside my shop without a case. That is asking for you to be attacked."
Steve chuckled, "Fair enough." He didn't need to tell the woman that not many people could actually do anything to him but it didn't matter. He handed his card over and the guitar was paid for and put in the case.
"Thank you for your business, and you should know I have had to deal with several teens in my shop since I opened a month ago and by far your daughter and her boyfriend showed the most respect for my shop," she said.
Steve smiled with pride. "I'm glad to hear it. Thank you." He said before he picked up the guitar, left the shop, and put it in his trunk before he started for home.
When he got home he texted Bucky to make sure Skye was still training with Wanda and when he got back she was he went inside and quickly went to his and Bucky's room and put the guitar in his closet. Bucky came in behind. "You spoil that girl," he said with a smile.
"I know," Steve said. "But she is such a good kid. Even the shop owner said that she and Tucker were the two teens that showed the most respect for her store when they went in compared to any other teen that has come in since she opened."
Bucky chuckled, "Are you trying to justify the purchase to me?"
"No," Steve said. "I already mentioned I was thinking of getting it and figured if you had an issue with it you'd have said something."
"Well yeah, you did. But I'm not going to tell you not to buy something," Bucky said.
"Even if you don't think I should?" Steve asked surprised.
"You have your own money Steve who am I to tell you what to buy?" Bucky asked.
"My husband. Yes we have our own money but pretty sure we discussed before we got married big purchases we would at least bring up before we do," Steve said
"I guess we did," Bucky said.
"What did you buy that you didn't tell me about?" Steve asked his eyebrow raised
"Well, you know. I was looking for a new bike," Bucky said slowly.
"Yeah. And you said if you found one you'd let me know before you bought it," Steve said as he sat on the bed.
"Well. I found one. And it was a time-sensitive deal," Bucky said moving to sit next to Steve butt Steve took his hand and pulled him into his lap.
"How much?" Steve asked.
"Fifteen thousand," Bucky said.
"James," Steve said a little annoyed "And that was the deal?"
"Normally twenty thousand," Bucky said cringing slightly at being called James. "I had the savings. I did not dip into any of our joint savings," Bucky assured him.
"We still had a deal. If we are spending over a thousand on something we have to at least let the other person know," Steve said.
"I know. I'm sorry. I saw the bike and my brain malfunctioned a little," Bucky said.
Steve let out a soft snort.
Bucky kissed him deeply.
Steve kissed him back, "This is not going to make me less annoyed with you." He said into the kiss.
Bucky moved the kisses down his jaw.
"James," Steve said warningly.
Bucky stopped. "What?" he asked a small smirk escaping his lips.
"You know what," Steve said.
"I'm sorry. I should have at least sent you a text," Bucky said.
"When did you buy it?" Steve asked.
"This afternoon," Bucky said.
"Okay," Steve said. "But know that tonight. I am going to teach you a lesson," Steve said with a smirk.
Bucky smirked, "I understand."
The two started to kiss again before there was a knock on the door.
They broke the kiss.
"Yes?" Steve said
Skye opened the door, "dinner is ready."
"Okay we will be right there," Steve said.
Skye left the room closing the door behind her.
Bucky got off his lap. "Are we planning to let Skye get her learner's permit?"
"Yes. As soon as she shows interest," Steve said.
"Okay," Bucky said before the two left the bedroom and joined the family for dinner.
"So, you're birthday is coming up. What are you most looking forward to?" Nat asked.
"Being able to get my learner's permit," Skye said.
Steve tilted his head, "you have never said anything about wanting to before now."
"Well you've got to be sixteen," Skye said.
"I know," Steve said. "Just seems odd. Considering I just told Bucky five minutes ago when he asked if we were letting you get it that we would when you showed interest."
Skye shrugged, "Nat asked."
"She did," Steve said.
"Dad. I have zero interest in listening to what goes on in your bedroom," Skye said shuttering a little.
Everyone either chuckled or smirked at that.
Steve shook his head.
"What would you want to have listened into your parent's bedroom?" Skye asked
"No. I do see your point. But you could have simply said you hadn't listened in," Steve said.
"That would have been boring," Skye said with a smirk.
"Careful, he might return your birthday gift," Bucky said with a smirk.
Skye looked at her dad, "You got my gift already?"
"I did," Steve said. "Don't you go looking for it."
"Have I ever gone looking for my gifts?" Skye asked
"Not that I've ever known," Steve said.
"That defeats the purpose of the gift. I like being surprised," Skye said
Steve smiled "Good."
"You were not surprised when you opened your main Christmas gift this year," Bucky said.
"Um. No. That wasn't because I went looking for it though. We both use the same Amazon account. I can see what he is buying. I intentionally don't look around Christmas time and my birthday but I saw it accidentally, " Skye said.
"You can see what I buy on Amazon?" Steve asked.
"Yeah. I thought you knew that," Skye said.
Steve let out a breath.
"I'm sorry," Skye said.
"No. You didn't do anything wrong. I knew I could see what you buy but I didn't know you could see what I buy," Steve said.
Skye nodded.
"Is there a way to turn that off?" Steve asked
"You can archive orders and it hides them. But it's a little complicated if you don't know how to do it," Skye said.
Steve nodded.
"I can just get my own Amazon account," Skye said.
"I don't know how I feel about that," Steve said
"Why not? It's not like you know how to even look up what I'm buying anyway. You know how I know? Because you never know when I've bought you something on there," Skye said.
Tony smirked. He knew Steve knew so little about the internet. Skye knew more than he did. Hell Morgan probably knew more. He had to change the setting on F.R.I.D.A.Y so she couldn't use it without approval.
"I have my own bank card any way that I can hook up to it. It's not like I ever really use your money. Just your credit card," Skye said.
"No you don't want to do that," Tony said.
"Why?" Skye asked.
"No matter how secure amazon accounts can be hacked and people can use your banking information. With a credit card, you are not actually spending money until you pay the bill. So if someone uses it you don't lose money that you have to wait to get back. With a debit card yeah you'll get the money back but you will be without that money until the bank does its investigation and that can take weeks sometimes longer," Tony said.
"Oh," Skye said.
"So. I would not suggest ever linking a debit card to any online order. Amazon or otherwise," Tony said.
"Good to know," Skye said looking a little nervous.
"Do you have your own account that I don't know about?" Steve asked.
"Well no. But I have ordered from other places with my debit card," Skye said.
Steve let out a breath.
"Just remove the card from any place you have it saved and you should be fine if there hasn't been an issue yet," Tony said.
"Okay," Skye said.
"And you are not allowed to order things online with me knowing," Steve said.
"Even when it's gifts for you," Skye said.
"Let me know in that situation," Bucky said.
"Okay," Skye said. "Sorry."
"It's forgiven Skye. Just don't do it again," Steve said.
"Yes, Sir," Skye said.
"Skye. You're not in trouble," Steve said.
"No. But you are annoyed with me," Skye said.
Steve raised an eyebrow.
"I can't help feeling what you are feeling!" Skye snapped in tears before she got up and went to her room.
Steve looked surprised.
"Okay," Nat said getting up and starting to clear the table. "Loki you are helping me with this tonight," Nat said getting the attention off of what just happened.
"Thanks for dinner," Steve said to Wanda and Bruce who had made it before he got up. Bucky gave his thanks as well and got up following his husband to their bedroom.
"Was I too hard on her?" Steve asked as he sat on the bed
"Who are you really annoyed with? Her or me?" Bucky asked.
Steve tilted his head.
"You are annoyed with me for spending fifteen thousand without letting you know and that valid frustration with me was taken out on Skye because you don't think you can get annoyed with me for spending my money," Bucky said.
Steve let out a breath and put his head in his hands.
"You know you can get angry with me right?" Bucky asked.
"I know," Steve said. "And you will feel that frustration later but Skye did annoy me because she knows I don't want her shopping online without me being able to track it."
"Skye knows the internet and computers better than you or I ever will. If she wants to buy something she shouldn't she will and we will never know. But Skye is a good kid. We just discussed this," Bucky said.
"She is. But one wrong click and she can end up on parts of the internet that I don't want to be on much less that I want her on," Steve said.
"I think there are parental controls that can be set up so she can't," Bucky said.
"Because I know how to do that," Steve said.
"Tony would," Bucky said.
Steve nodded. He had a point.
"Go. Fix things with Skye," Bucky said.
Steve got up and went and knocked on Skye's door.
"Yeah?" Skye asked softly,
Steve went in and saw her curled up with her stuffed animal.
"Hi," he said softly as he sat on the end of her bed
"I'm sorry for snapping," Skye said
"It's forgiven," Steve said as he knelt by her bed so he could look her in the eyes. "I was already annoyed with Papa for something and you got the brunt of it. That wasn't fair. I'm sorry."
Skye nodded and wiped her eyes. "I don't like it when you act like I can control feeling what you and everyone else feels around here."
"I was under the impression you could control that now," Steve said.
Skye sat up and Steve moved to sitting in front of her on the bed.
"It's better than it was at first but sometimes I can't. And when you or anyone are upset with me it makes it harder," Skye said.
"Okay. I will be more understanding about that," Steve said. "So we are going to come to an agreement here."
"Okay," Skye said.
"I know I have very little knowledge of how to use the internet. I know you know it better than I do. And that scares me. Because I won't know if you are doing something you shouldn't do. And are unintentionally somewhere you shouldn't be," Steve said.
"I promise you I haven't been on any sites that I shouldn't be on," Skye said.
"I do believe you," Steve said. "But would you tell me if you were? Even unintentionally? Or if someone sends you things they shouldn't?"
"I don't know if I would," she admitted.
"Okay. Thank you for being honest. But me trusting you online means I need you to be honest with me," Steve said.
"Okay," Skye said.
"I have a suggestion for you," Steve said.
"Okay," Skye said.
"I will let you get your own Amazon account. I will get you a credit card attached to my account. With a very low limit. So I will see what you are spending but won't know on what. But the deal for that is you need to let me talk to Tony and if he agrees have him put parental controls on your computer, tablet, and phone, so he can know if you are doing something you shouldn't," Steve said.
"Deal," Skye said.
"Now. Can I get a hug?" Steve asked.
Skye smiled and moved so she was closer and he pulled her into a tight hug. Skye hugged him back.
Steve got up once she broke the hug. "I will be talking to Tony and see what he can set up."
"Okay," Skye said.
Steve left the bedroom and went and found Tony in the office.
"If I asked you to put parental controls on Skye's devices and keep an eye on things since I would not know what I'm doing would you?" Steve asked.
"I can do that," Tony said. "She is already on the compound network. I can add parental controls on her device very easily. Anything in particular you are worried about?"
"Any sites a minor shouldn't be on," Steve said.
"I can do that," Tony said. "Hey F.R.I.D.A.Y."
"Hello, Mr. Stark how can I help you?"
"Set up parental controls on Skyler's phone, tablet, and computer and notify me and Steve if she tries to get on any sites she shouldn't be on. And do a look into her past browsing history for anything inappropriate," Tony said.
A few seconds later F.R.I.D.A.Y. responded. "It is done, Sir and her search history has been texted to both you and Mr. Rogers's phones."
"Thank you F.R.I.D.A.Y," Tony said.
Steve and Tony's phones both vibrated.
Tony looked at his and scrolled through. "Doesn't seem like anything out of the ordinary. Social media. Her school website and chat room. Hrm. Did you know she had a Snapchat and Kik?"
"They are social media right?" Steve asked.
"They are yes. But I would not let Morgan on them at fifteen," Tony said. "Both are known to have people sending pictures they should not. And with Snapchat, they disappear right away so hard to track and stop."
Steve texted Skye to come to the office and Skye was in five minutes later.
"Are you aware of the dangers with certain social media?" Tony asked
"Well, all social media I guess have risks. But my settings are so only friends can see and interact," Skye said.
"True. But I'm most concerned about Snapchat and Kik," Tony said.
"I have set to block messages from people I don't know on both," Skye said. "You are welcome to check," Skye said taking out her phone, unlocking it, and holding it out to Tony.
Tony took it and checked all her social media. "Okay. Yes you have all the settings you should but have you verified everyone you have on those sites is truly who you think they are?"
"Yes. All the people I went to school with or knew from foster care, or the other young Avengers," Skye said.
"What about people from your online school?" Tony asked.
"I talk to them only on the school chatroom," Skye said. "Except for the girl who is tutoring me in French and I talk to her also on Discord for video calls."
"You've never gotten anything inappropriate sent to you on Snap or Kik? Tony asked.
"No. But if I ever do I will remove that person from my friend's list," Skye said.
"And tell me," Steve said.
"Okay," Skye said.
"I'm going to be honest with your dad here Skye. I still don't think Snapchat and Kik are safe for teenagers," Tony said.
"I understand that but I have never had an issue," Skye said.
"Up to you Steve," Tony said handing the phone back to Skye.
"Okay. I expect you to be honest with me if there is a problem. And delete the app if it happens. Deal?" Steve asked.
"Deal," Skye said.
"Parental controls are now on all your devices. Myself and Tony will both be notified if there is something you shouldn't be on," Steve said.
"Okay," Skye said.
"You can go," Steve said.
Skye left and went back to her room.
"Think I was wrong not to make her delete them?" Steve asked.
"Yes," Tony said. "But she is not my kid. And I do believe if something happens she will tell you. Even if she doesn't you and I will both be notified."
"Okay. Thanks, Tony," Steve said getting up and leaving the office.