The next day Skye was sitting outside in her favorite place. Harley running around chasing the falling snow. Skye was a little sad. She knew this was likely going to be the last snow of the season. Snow was by far her favorite weather. It had been a long couple of days. After being arrested and accused of shoplifting. With her dads not being there. And Tucker being really busy and having not had a chance to see him since. And every time Tony saw her he was trying to make it up to her. And she understood why. And she appreciated it wanted to make things up to her but she didn't blame him. She had told him that and she had told him she forgave him and just wanted to move past it. The truth was what really hurt her was that Morgan had done that with her. She was always so good to Morgan. And she completely understood kids did stupid things. She sure had done her share. But she never intentionally did stupid things and let other people take the blame for it. And since that day Morgan had barely said two words to her.
Skye felt she was owed an apology from Morgan. But being the person Skye was, she wasn't going to go tell Morgan that. She knew she had been punished and Skye now had the earrings she had bought for Morgan. But she felt that she deserved an apology. And her mind was spinning. She needed something to take her mind off everything. And in the past that was always getting high. And her heart didn't want to do that. But her brain was telling her it was the only way to fix it. And the two people she would normally go to for something like this, Tucker and Papa were busy and away. Again her heart told her she could go to any adult that was there and they would jump in to help her but her brain was telling he she couldn't, that she would be in trouble.
Loki came outside and sat next to her.
"Hey," Skye said.
"You have been sitting out for three hours. They are all getting worried," Loki said.
"Ah. So they sent you out here?" Skye asked.
"No. They were arguing about who should be the one to come out here to talk to you. I told them they were all idiots and came out," Loki said.
Skye chuckled.
"They seem to think that the only people you would talk to are not here," Loki said.
"They aren't exactly wrong," Skye said. "My brain and heart are arguing about if I can trust I won't be in trouble if I tell any of them in there what I'm thinking,"
"What about me?" Loki asked.
"You'll convince me to do what I know I shouldn't," Skye said with a smile.
Loki chuckled, "I should be offended. I have never forced you to do anything."
"No. I didn't mean it that way," Skye said. "I just meant that you would help me get it thinking it would help. And yeah. It would. Until I got caught."
"I do understand that it is only a temporary fix. But sometimes a temporary fix is just what a person needs to get them to work through whatever it is they are dealing with," Loki said.
"I thought I was the philosophical one," Skye said with a smirk.
"Pft. I am a literal god. I know things," Loki said.
Skye nodded and the two were quiet for a few minutes.
"How are things with Orri?" Skye asked
"Okay," Loki said. "I want to thank you for forgiving him for what he did."
"He apologized. And meant it. That goes a long way for me," Skye said. "I have had so many people in my life who hurt me. And ninety-nine percent of the time all I want is a sincere apology to forgive them."
"There have been situations that you would never forgive?" Loki asked.
"You know I lived in foster care right? Well in a lot of the homes I was in I was abused to some degree. Some were worse than others. But I don't think people who intentionally hurt helpless children deserve forgiveness," Skye said.
"I agree," Loki said. "Have I ever given you a real apology for how I treated you in the beginning?"
"Yes. And you have also done things to help me that prove you are sorry," Skye said.
"Good," Loki said.
"I have a question and I don't want it to be taken the wrong way. Have you gotten over me?" Skye asked.
"Yes, completely. I have seen how happy you and Tucker are. And I know I will never understand certain parts of your life that he knows firsthand. But I do consider you my friend," Loki said.
"And I hope you find your person who makes you feel how I do with Tucker. Whether that is Orri or someone else," Skye said. "But I'm glad we agree that we are friends."
Loki smiled and nodded.
Pepper came outside. "You have therapy soon. Happy is waiting for you."
"I'm skipping it today," Skye said.
"It's none negotiable," Pepper said.
"Funny. Because I'm not going," Skye said.
"Who exactly do you think you are speaking to right now?" Pepper asked.
"I know who I'm talking to," Skye said before she mumbled something under her breath.
Loki looked at Skye like she had completely lost her mind. Pepper was the one person in the compound that even he wouldn't be stupid enough to disrespect.
"Skyler you have three seconds to get up and get your butt moving toward the car," Pepper said
"I'm good. Last I checked you do not have the physical strength to move me," Skye said.
"One," Pepper said.
"Skye she might be able to but her husband can," Loki pointed out.
"Two. Loki inside now," Pepper said. "And take Harley with you."
Loki got up and went inside calling Harley to come with him
Skye got up "Harley is my dog!"
Pepper took hold of her arm and landed half a dozen searing swats on Skye's butt. Skye yelped and tried to move away but Pepper held her in place and landed another half dozen.
Skye teared up, "I'm sorry," she cried out.
Pepper released her hold on her arm. "To the car now."
Skye went inside and grabbed her bag and Harley and went and got into Happy's car.
"Hi Skye," Happy said.
"Hi," Skye said softly.
Harley laid down with his head on Skye's lap.
Skye made sure he was securely seat belted in with his dog seatbelt before putting her own on and Happy started the drive.
"You okay?" Happy asked her.
Skye shook her head.
"What's wrong?" Happy asked.
"I didn't want to go to therapy today," Skye said. "I wasn't given a choice."
"Well, it is important. Your parents wouldn't get you into it if it wasn't," Happy said.
"I do know that," Skye said. "But I just didn't feel like going today."
"I get that, who didn't give you a choice?" Happy asked.
"Pepper," Skye said almost spitting out her name.
"Careful how you say her name," he said warningly. "She is good to you, and deserves your respect."
"Yeah and I've been so good to her kid and have zero respect from her," Skye said.
"You are holding Pepper responsible for what Morgan did?" Happy asked.
"Well, she and Tony are her parents. And it seems every time we are together Morgan takes her disrespect for me a little further. She fucking shoplifted the one pair of earrings I told her she could not have. After I explained, as best as I could, why she couldn't have them," Skye said.
Happy nodded.
"Do you know about that?" Skye asked.
"Yes. Tony told me what happened," Happy said. "He also told me he punished her."
"Yeah and she was apparently punished the other four times she disobeyed or disrespected me," Skye said.
"You don't think they really are punishing her for it?" Happy asked.
"I don't know. I think there is a reason she keeps thinking she can get away with it," Skye said.
"Have you spoken to Tony and Pepper about this?" Happy asked.
"Not exactly," Skye said.
"Well sounds to me like you need to," Happy said.
"No," Skye said.
Happy nodded as he pulled into the parking lot outside her therapist's office. Skye got out and brought Harley out with her and went inside. She didn't talk much in the session. She didn't want to be there and the therapist could tell. When the session was done Skye went outside with Harley and got into Happy's waiting car and they went home.
When they got there Skye took Harley and went inside and to her room and curled on her bed. Harley climbed up onto the bed and snuggled her.
Pepper came and knocked on the door.
"Yeah?" she said.
Pepper went in, "Ready to talk about what happened outside?"
"No Ma'am," Skye said a little snark behind her tone.
"You know Tony and I are not happy with Morgan for what she did right?" Pepper asked.
"Yeah. I know," Skye said attitude growing.
"Skyler. Am I speaking to you with the kind of disrespect you are throwing at me?" Pepper asked.
"No. But you kid disrespects me every chance she gets," Skye said. "And she doesn't do that with anyone else so there has to be a reason and the only thing I can think of is that she gets in more trouble if she is disrespectful or disobeys anyone else. So to me, that seems like you don't expect her to respect me and that to me isn't you and Tony showing me respect," Skye said.
Pepper went and sat on the end of the bed. "Skye. We expect her to respect you the same as she does anyone else. And when she does disrespect or disobey you she does get in trouble. I don't know exactly why she gives you a harder time than anyone else. But Tony and I do see that she does and we have spoken to her about it and punish her for it. And we will continue to talk to her about it. But something you could try is talking to her about why she gives you a harder time. Maybe you two need to have a heart-to-heart about it."
Skye let out a breath.
"Have you tried that?" Pepper asked.
"Yesterday," Skye said.
"I'm guessing it didn't go well?" Pepper asked.
"It did not," Skye said.
"Why didn't you tell Tony and me about this?" Pepper asked.
"I mean this with no disrespect. But it seems pointless," Skye said.
"Because you don't think we will do anything about it?" Pepper asked
"Because whatever you have been doing isn't working," Skye said.
"I am sorry Skye. I'm sorry she has been giving you a very hard time. And I wish I could give you an answer as to why. But only Morgan can tell us that. And I will talk to her again and see if she will explain why but I can't promise she will tell me," Pepper said.
"I know," Skye said. "And I can't promise I will spend time alone with her anymore. It only takes her not listening to me once before she does something that gets her hurt. And I can not have that on my conscience."
"That is well within your right. And Tony and I will not hold that against you. I completely understand," Pepper said.
Skye nodded. "I'm sorry for the way I spoke to you."
"Thank you," Pepper said. "It is forgiven."
"Are you going to tell my parents about it?" Skye asked.
"About how you spoke to me?" Pepper asked.
Skye nodded.
Pepper let out a breath, "Yes. But they will know I handled it."
Skye nodded again and wiped at the tears before they fell down her face.
"Hey," Pepper said softly. "You are that worried about their reaction?"
"Dad is going to be so angry with me for it," Skye sobbed.
"Okay, come here," Pepper said opening her arms.
Skye moved over to her and Pepper wrapped her in a tight hug.
Skye sobbed into her.
"It's going to be okay. I handled it and we talked it out. I'll tell him he doesn't need to come down on you for it," Pepper promised her.
Skye slowly calmed down and pulled apart petting Harley who had moved to stick his head between the two women, "But he will be. The top two things he does not tolerate are lying and disrespect."
"Well, I agree with that. Your dad is also a pretty reasonable guy. He is not going to punish you for what you have already been punished for," Pepper said also petting Harley
"No. I don't think he will punish me again. But that doesn't mean he won't lecture me and be disappointed," Skye said.
"Yeah. It can be hard disappointing the people who mean a lot to us," Pepper said. "But there are two reasons I need to tell them. One. Your dad has trusted me with your care from the very beginning. And I don't want that to change. So if I didn't tell him I don't think that trust would stay. It would be like you not telling us something Morgan did. And Two. I have told Tony about what happened so at this point if I don't we both know he will."
"I'm surprised Tony hasn't been in here to tell me off for talking to you that way," Skye said.
"Because I told him that I have it handled," Pepper said.
"Oh," Skye said.
"Tony listens to me," Pepper said.
Skye chuckled, "cause he's smart."
Pepper chuckled, "That he is."
Harley barked at Pepper who had stopped petting him.
Skye chuckled, "You little attention hog."
Harley licked Skye's face.
Skye laughed and wiped her face off.
Pepper chuckled, "he really is a good dog. Oh and earlier when I told Loki to take him inside it wasn't because I didn't know Harley is your dog. It's because I knew I was going to be spanking you and I don't know if he would try and intervene."
"Oh. Yeah. I have no idea if he would either," Skye said.
"Okay. Well now that, that's all talked about. Would you like to come help me make dinner?" Pepper asked.
"Yes," Skye said and the two left her room and went to the kitchen and started to make dinner.
Tony came into the kitchen carrying James in one arm.
"Tony! Two arms," Pepper said nervously.
Tony shifted him so he was being held in both arms before going and kissing her. "Pep. I've got him come on. I never dropped Morgan I'm not going to drop him."
Pepper sighed. She knew he was right. She was just a nervous mom.
"It's like she doesn't trust her husband huh Skye?" Tony said with a smirk.
Skye focused on chopping the carrots avoiding looking at Tony.
"Oh. I guess," Skye said
Tony noticed she was avoiding eye contact with him. "Skye. You okay?"
Skye nodded.
"Can you look at me?" Tony asked.
Skye forced herself to look at him.
"Skye. What's wrong?" Tony asked.
"Nothing," she said with a shrug.
"I think she thinks you are going to be angry with her because of how she spoke to me," Pepper said.
"I don't like how you spoke to her, no. But I know Pepper handled it," Tony said. "I'm not angry with you."
"Okay," Skye said softly.
"Promise kid. You and I are okay," Tony said.
Skye smiled and nodded.
Dinner was finished being made and everyone who was at the compound came and ate.