Skye woke up early on her sixteenth birthday. She laid on her bed looking up at the ceiling. She still wasn't completely comfortable with celebrating her birthday but she had to admit her birthdays since being home had all been good.

There was a knock on her bedroom door about half an hour later.

"Yeah?" Skye said softly.

Steve went in, "Good morning Peanut. Happy birthday."

"Morning Dad. Thank you," Skye said as she noticed a small box in his hands. "What is that?"

Steve sat on the bed, "Sit up please."

Skye sat up.

"So. As you know. I lost my mother I was only a few years older than you are now. And I kept a few things of hers but most of it ended up gotten rid of after I well disappeared," Steve said.

"Makes sense," Skye said.

"But something I always kept on my person was a necklace that she always wore. It's a cross. Now you do not have to wear it. But I do want you to have it," Steve said handing her the box.

Skye took the box and opened it taking a look at it.

"I have to admit I have never asked you what your view is on religion," Steve said.

"I don't know what I believe," Skye admitted touching the necklace gently.

"I know that feeling," Steve said.

"You don't go to church or anything," Skye said. "You were raised catholic?"

"I was. Went to church every Sunday up until I joined the war," Steve said.

Skye nodded. "Why did you never go back?"

"Because a long time has passed and things have changed. I have grown and learned a lot of things. But I'm still not sure what I believe anymore," Steve said.

Skye nodded. "The cross is beautiful though. Thank you."

Steve smiled. "I'm glad you like it. Now get up and ready for breakfast. We have your learners test in a couple of hours." He said before he got up and left the room.

Skye got up and got dressed before going out where she received several greetings of Happy Birthday.

"Thank you," she told everyone as she sat in the chair with the balloons and streamers.

Breakfast was served and everyone ate. Afterward, Skye and Steve left for her to go take her test. She had been studying for a couple of weeks and was confident she would pass it.

"What was the process like when you were a teenager?" Skye asked Steve.

"We took driver's ed in school. The year I turned sixteen 1934 was the first year New York started to create laws on restrictions for new drivers. Some of the same or similar laws are still in place today. Like you can only drive during certain hours" Steve said.

"Did you get yours at sixteen?" Skye asked.

"Yes," Steve said.

"Ever get into any accidents or get any tickets?" Skye asked.

"Two accidents before I was eighteen. My mother told me if I got into another one she would not let me drive again," Steve said with a chuckle. "Never any tickets."

Skye chuckled, "Your mother was a hard ass?"

"Where do you think I learned it from?" Steve asked. "And watch the language."

"I don't know maybe your father who you so carefully have avoided telling me much about," Skye said.

"He died when I was eight. I don't remember much about him," Steve said.

"I see where I got my inability to lie," Skye said.

Steve let out a breath.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't pry," Skye said.

"We can talk about it another day. Not on your birthday," Steve said

"Okay," Skye said as they pulled into the DMV.

They both went inside. Steve paid and Skye took the test. When she came out she sat with Steve while waiting for the test result.

"How do you think you did?" Steve asked.

"I think I did okay," Skye said.

Skye was called up when the test was graded and told congratulations that she had gotten a perfect grade.

She was given a temporary permit her official one would be sent in the mail in a couple of weeks. She excitedly went over to her dad and showed him.

"Congrats Peanut," Steve said hugging her.

"Thanks, Dad," Skye said.

"Come on. Let's find a parking lot where you can start practicing," he said.

Skye smiled and they went out to the car and started for a place Steve knew was abandoned and had a large parking lot that wasn't far from the compound. Once they got there Steve turned the car off and they switched places.

Both put on their seatbelts and Skye turned the key turning the car on.

"Before you can start driving you probably need to adjust the seat for your height, can you even comfortably reach the gas and break?" he asked

"No," she said after trying.

Steve told her how to adjust it and where it should be. Once she was in a comfortable position she looked at him.

"Good," he said. Steve told her a few more things before he let her put her foot on the gas pedal and she jerked the car forward. "Sorry," she said quickly.

"Slow, gradual pressure on the gas will keep that from happening," Steve said calmly.

"Okay," she said softly.

"Skye. It's okay. That's why we practice somewhere with no cars or people," Steve said.

"Okay," she said again before she tried the pedal again this time following the instructions and she moved the car forward slowly.

"Good," Steve said. "Keep moving forward and when you are comfortable you can go a little faster."

She did so slowly getting faster until she was moving at a steady pace comfortably.

"Very good," Steve said.

She kept driving and Steve taught her how to turn, back up and got her to practice her parking as well. After they had practiced for an hour. Steve got her to stop the car. "Now how do you feel about driving on the road just to the compound? A ten-minute drive from here a couple of stop signs. Nothing extreme," he assured her.

"Okay," Skye said.

Steve had her pull out of the parking lot and drive that way. When they got to the compound Skye pulled into the parking garage and pulled up to the spot where Steve usually parked his car. Between Bucky's motorcycle and a car that she was unsure of who owned.

"You comfortable pulling into the spot that you won't hit the bike or other car?" Steve asked

"I think Papa might lose his mind if I hit his new bike," Skye said. "I think he loves that bike more than me."

"No, he does not. But no he wouldn't appreciate you hitting it," Steve said.

Skye pulled into the parking spot slightly on an angle.

"Okay, not bad. But why don't you back up and try straightening it," Steve said.

Skye did so and made it worse. "I don't know if I can."

"Take a breath," Steve said.

Skye took a breath.

Steve explained to her how to fix it so the car was straight and she did it.

"Hey, see that's much better," Steve said with a smile

"Yeah," Skye said with a smile as she turned the car off

"You're a quick study," he said

"Thanks," she said handing him the keys.

They got out of the car and went inside.

"We have a new driver on the road," Steve called out.

Everyone who heard congratulated Skye

"Remind me to stay off the roads," Loki said with a smirk.

Thor smacked him upside the head and he whimpered.

"Don't worry Thor. I know he is just jealous he doesn't get to learn to drive," Skye said.

"I don't need to drive I can teleport wherever I want," Loki said.

"Sure. But you'll never be able to drive a cool sports car," Skye said.

"Pft, like I care," Loki said.

"Okay. My bad for assuming," Skye said with a smirk and Loki grumbled and walked away.

"He dishes out the teasing but he can't take it?" Skye asked

"Come on," Wanda said to the girl. "I want you to try something."

Skye went with Wanda into the kitchen where she had four mini cheesecakes on the island. "Cheesecakes?"

"Yes. I want you to try them and whichever one you like most I will make a few large ones for your party on the weekend," Wanda said.

"The one you always make is great Wanda you didn't have to go to all this trouble," she said.

"It is no trouble Malyutka. You only turn sixteen once," Wanda said. "And I enjoy making food for the people I love. Now sit and try them," Wanda ordered gently.

Skye sat at the island and Wanda handed her a fork and took one as well and they both tried each cheesecake.

Steve came into the kitchen and saw. "Mini cheesecakes?"

"Yes. I'm having her pick her favorite and making several large ones for her party this weekend," Wanda said.

"I told her she didn't need to go through all the trouble," Skye said.

"And I told her you only turn sixteen once and making food is my love language," Wanda said with a smile.

Skye smiled and took another bite of the third cheesecake she had tried.

"Pepper and I have already got the menu planned and want you to look over it to make sure you agree," Wanda said.

Skye opened her mouth to say something but sighed, "Okay. Thank you. I do appreciate all the effort," she said with a smile. "And they are all delicious but this one is my favorite of the four," she said indicating which one.

"Perfect," Wanda said with a smile and wrote it down in a notebook that was on the counter before turning the notebook so Skye could see.

Skye looked over the menu and it was all her favorite foods planned to be served in bite-sized finger food pieces. And there was something about a signature drink.

"Signature drink?" Skye asked.

"Yes. We were thinking of something fruity that you might like," Wanda said turning the page and showing her the recipe they had found for a non-alcoholic fruity champagne-like drink.

Skye looked it over and smiled. "this sounds amazing."

"We thought you would like it," Wanda said.

Pepper came into the kitchen with James in a carrier facing out.

"I see she is trying the cheesecakes," Pepper said with a smile.

"And she has picked and approved the menu and signature drink," Wanda said.

"Perfect," Pepper said.

"You really do not need to go through all this trouble," Skye said.

"Hush you," Pepper said.

Skye shoved another piece of cheesecake in her mouth and Steve chuckled

James looked at Skye and babbled.

"I think he is saying that you deserve to be spoiled," Pepper said with a smile

Skye chuckled.

"Anyone know where Tony is? Need him to take this guy so I can start preparing with Wanda," Pepper said.

"Not sure. But I can take him from you," Steve offered

Pepper smiled and unclipped James from the carrier and handed him to Steve.

Steve took him and smiled taking him into the living room and sitting with Bucky.

"Can I help with anything?" Skye asked

"Yes you can look and make sure the guest list is right and complete," Pepper said finding the page in the notebook and showing it to Skye.

Skye took the final bite of her favorite cheesecake in her mouth and started to look through the guest list

"The Barton's are coming for it?" Skye asked seeing their names on the list.

"Of course," Pepper said with a smile.

"But with Lila and Cooper especially in university," Skye said.

"Clint said they were all coming and wouldn't hear of missing it," Wanda said.

"If Cooper is coming his girlfriend can be invited too, she's just at NYU," Skye said with a smile taking a pen that was on the counter and adding her name next to Cooper's.

"I will let Clint know to tell Cooper to invite her," Wanda said.

"No other names missing?" Pepper asked.

"Nope," Skye said.

"No one from foster care you want to invite?" Pepper asked

"Outside of Tucker no," Skye said. "I'm not super close to anyone else."

"Any other friends from school?" Pepper asked.

"Nope. None outside of Ivy, Lily, and Anna have ever reached out. Not even on social media. Why would I invite them?" Skye asked.

"You are absolutely right. They don't deserve an invite if they don't put in the effort," Pepper said.

"Anything else you need my help with?" Skye asked.

"Nope. That's all you get to help with," Wanda said.

Skye got up and went into the living room and flopped on the other side of Bucky. Steve was holding baby James who was playing with Steve's thumb.

"Hey kid, congrats on the permit," Bucky said.

"Thanks, Papa," Skye said.

"How is Carol? I see her name on my guest list, she is coming?" Skye asked.

"She is," Steve said. "She is good."

"She going to be moving in here at any point during her pregnancy?" Skye asked.

"At some point yes. When she is ready," Bucky said.

"I think she should very soon but it's up to her," Steve said.

"He has been trying to convince her and she has been saying no?" Skye asked Bucky with a smirk.

"Pretty much," Bucky said with a chuckle.

"She is stubborn," Steve said.

"You are just annoyed she out stubborns you," Bucky said

"He should be used to it by now. I out stubborn him all the time," Skye said with a smirk.

"Seems to me you might want to spend the rest of your birthday in your room," Steve said.

"You'd punish me on my sixteenth birthday?!" Skye asked with a fake gasp of anguish.

"Yes. I would. So behave," Steve said.

James babbled.

"He is telling you to ease up on his favorite cousin on her birthday," Skye said.

"You think so hrm? I think he is telling his cousin to listen to her Dad," Steve said with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm sorry," Skye said quickly.

Bucky put an arm around her and pulled her into a hug.

Skye smiled and leaned into the hug.

James looked over at Skye and babbled.

"Hiya Jamie," Skye said with a smile

James babbled some more.

Soon everyone had made their with into the living room and a movie was put on for them to all watch.