A few days later Skye came upstairs from training with Loki and went into the kitchen where her dad and Bucky were looking at a laptop looking very confused.

"I mean I know you are both luddites but computers are not that confusing for your faces to look like that," Skye said with a smirk.

"Watch it," Steve said shaking his head.

"Can I help?" Skye asked still smirking.

"Trying to look up those locations you mentioned for wedding ceremonies," Steve said.

Skye smiled, typed something into Google, and pulled up the article she had found.

"Thank you," Steve said.

"Can I help with anything else?" Skye asked.

"I think you'd probably rather hang out with your boyfriend," Bucky said nodding to the door. Skye turned around and saw Tucker standing there smiling.

"Tuck!" She said excitedly and ran to him hugging him. It had been over a month since they had seen each other, between his summer program and her being in Iowa.

Tucker wrapped his arms around her and kissed her, "Hi."

"What are you doing here?" Skye asked after she returned the kiss.

"Thought I'd surprise you," he said.

When they broke the hug Tucker said hello to Steve and Bucky before Skye dragged him to her room and flopped on her bed pulling him with her and snuggling with him.

Tucker chuckled and wrapped his arms around her, "I missed you too."

"How was your program?" Skye asked.

"Amazing," Tucker said. "It was everything I was expecting and more."

Skye smiled. "I'm glad."

"And Iowa?" Tucker asked.

"It was great. For the most part," Skye said before telling him what happened on her trip.

Tucker shook his head at the part about Freddy accusing her of cheating, "Would you even know how to use your abilities to cheat?"

"Nope," Skye said. "But anyway tell me more about your program."

Tucker smiled and told her about some of the things that he did and such. When he was done he looked at her, "And how much of that scientific information did you understand?"

"Enough to understand what you were saying," Skye said with a smile.

"It baffles me that you are clearly so smart yet you often think you aren't," Tucker said.

Skye shrugged, "Okay. I guess science I am good at."

"And what aren't you good at?" Tucker asked.

"Math," Skye said with a chuckle. "And geography isn't my best subject either."

Tucker smiled, "No one excels at everything."

"Sheldon Cooper does," Skye said with a smirk.

Tucker laughed "Actually no he doesn't. Social interactions for one."

"I was talking book smarts," Skye said with a chuckle.

"True. But he is a character, not a real person," Tucker said.

Skye laughed, "That's true."

"Skye, I know in the past you have downplayed your intelligence why?" Tucker asked.

Skye let out a breath, "This is a conversation I had with Tony a couple of weeks ago. Um. I played down my intelligence when it came to science. Because there were stupid boys around me who would tell me things like girls aren't supposed to be good at science."

Tucker shook his head, "anyone I know?"

"Yes. And no I wont give you names," Skye said. "I didn't say anything then because I knew you would go beat the shit out of them."

"Yeah, I would have. And not just because of you," Tucker said.

"Because of your mom," Skye said

Tucker looked at her.

"I know she was a forensic scientist," Skye said.

"How? I never told you that," Tucker said.

"Yes, you did. We were both high as fuck but you did," Skye said.

Tucker sighed "That tracks."

"I'm sorry," Skye said.

"Why are you sorry that I told you something when my guard was down?" Tucker asked.

Skye shrugged, "You didn't want me to know."

"That isn't why I didn't tell you," Tucker said. "Losing my parents so young was hard. And talking about them has always been hard. So it makes sense when I was in a more relaxed state with someone I trust that I was able to open up some about it."

"I know you already know this but I will say it again anyway. If you ever want to talk about them or anything I'm just a call away," Skye said.

Tucker smiled "My mom was a forensic scientist as you already knew. My dad was in computer science. Both worked in law enforcement. And yeah I know how ironic that is."

Skye bit her lip to keep from laughing.

"They met when they were both at NYU. It's part of the reason I wanted to go to school there. They got engaged the summer before their last year. She got pregnant just before they graduated. They decided to not tell anyone until after they got married the summer after graduation. My mom's parents were completely ecstatic. They were so ready to be grandparents. My dad's parents were surprised and they came around it just took a little longer. Apparently when I was born and they met me and my dad saw their hearts soften in front of them. My dad's brother and his wife were a little less excited they had been trying for a long time to get pregnant before they decided to go with a surrogate," Tucker said.

"Hold on. Wait," Skye said.

"She is biologically both of theirs yes. My aunt had the stuff just couldn't get pregnant for some reason, Tucker said.

"For your parents dying so young, you remember a lot," Skye said.

"I've learned things as years went on from other people. Remember I told you that my parents were in the process of changing where I went if they died? The woman was my mom's best friend from childhood. She knew everything. She also happened to have decades of diaries that my mother wrote. That she gave me, those diaries told me a lot of things I didn't know. Stuff about Carly. Her mother used to tell me I should be grateful for the little they did for me because I was unwanted and that they wanted Carly so badly they put money into getting her," Tucker said.

Skye took a breath "Better hope I never see your aunt I might just punch her a few times."

"I'd rather you didn't," Tucker said raising an eyebrow at her.

Skye shook her head.

"I know it's not true. I know I was unplanned but not unwanted," Tucker said "It hurt me when I was a kid to hear those things yeah. But honestly says more about her than it does me."

"That it does. She is a bitter unkind person. No wonder Carly is the same way," Skye said.

Tucker nodded and started to play with her hair as Skye closed her eyes and relaxed for a few minutes.

"Have you figured out where you are going to stay for the school year?" Skye asked.

"Yeah. One of my roommates this summer. His older brother is looking for a roommate. I met the guy this summer and he is cool I will be moving in there in a few days," Tucker said.

"Good," Skye said with a smile.

"Um. I have been waiting to tell you something because I'm not sure you'd want to know," Tucker said.

Skye looked up at him.

"About Carly," Tucker said.

"I assume she survived," Skye said.

"She did, she is doing better. My uncle tracked me down afterward. Told me she was doing better and had a letter from her and from his wife. He apologized for everything. He admitted he had been wrong to let things happen the way they did. He really thought putting me into care would knock some sense into me. He offered for me to move in with them. I told him to go fuck himself. Felt damn good," Tucker said. "I told him his apology is far too late. That I donated my blood for Carly because it was the right thing to do and I learned from the people in my life that give a shit about me have taught me that doing the right thing isn't always easy. But that it didn't change a damn thing about what he or his wife or Carly did to me and to the only person who I have had in my corner from very young. And that he might be my DNA but he isn't my family."

Skye held his hand as he told her what had happened with his uncle gently rubbing her thumb over his knuckles.

"Yeah. Being able to stand up to the people who we were the most scared of is a feeling like no other," Skye said.

"Yeah," Tucker said. "Remember how you asked me if there were any foster families I needed closure with? It wasn't a foster family. It was my own blood I needed the closure with."

"Yeah. Closure with your own blood is something different," Skye said.

"Oh? Tucker asked

"This conversation is about you. I've realized I go through so much and every time we talk about the deep stuff it's about me. This is about you not me," Skye said

Tucker smiled, "you ever consider that it is because I prefer to listen to your things than talk about mine?"

Skye chuckled, "then I am going to make you talk more."

Tucker chuckled. "You can try."

Skye smirked and put her leg over his leg, "I can just trap you here until you do."

Tucker leaned down and kissed her head, "I love you, Skye."

"I love you too," Skye said smiling and letting out a breath.

"What?" Tucker asked.

"Obviously no one could have ever predicted the way my life turned out. Finding out I'm the daughter of a superhero that I always looked up to. That other superheroes that I wanted so badly to be like would become my family. That people would be calling me a superhero. But did you ever imagine that you and I would be together like this?" Skye asked.

Tucker smiled "I knew I would have fought tooth and nail to keep you as a friend. And I still would if I needed to. And I hoped that we could become more at some point. Never did I imagine that we both would claw our way out of that life to a place where we are both going to have a good future. We are both foster care success stories. I also never imagined that the family that would save me would be yours and not mine."

Skye smiled.

"Did you picture this?" Tucker asked.

"Staying friends yes. I didn't think you liked me so I figured I'd get over you eventually. So laying in my bed with you like this. Never did I ever think I would get so lucky," Skye said.

Tucker smiled.

"It's insane. The one person I can't read the way I can everyone else is you. And you read me like a book," Skye said.

Tucker chuckled "Yeah. You are pretty easy for me to read."

"I think it's because I trust you. And I have trusted you since the first time you didn't give my name up," Skye said. "You have no idea how grateful I am that you did that for me so many times."

"I didn't know exactly how it would happen. But I knew you were destined for something more. Something great. I thought so little of myself so I didn't care how much time I got as long as I kept you safe," Tucker said.

Skye looked up at him concern on her face.

"I don't think so little of myself now. Don't worry. I know I have a chance at a good future too," Tucker said quickly.

"Good. I was about to get annoyed with you," Skye said.

Tucker smiled. "I don't doubt it."

"So I have a question," Tucker said.

"Mhm," Skye said.

"When I went to pay for the repairs and pick up my car someone had already paid it. You wouldn't know anything about who did it would you?" Tucker asked.

"No idea," Skye said. "Why would I know?"

"If it was someone you know. The same person who called NYU for me perhaps," Tucker said.

"Well I don't know how the person who called NYU for you would know about your car," Skye said.

"So you do know who called NYU?" Tucker asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I found out after the conversation when you asked," Skye said quickly.

"Okay, so who was it?" Tucker asked.

"Not telling," Skye said with a smile.

"Sworn to secrecy?" Tucker asked.

"Well. No. I was told I could tell you but that I didn't have to," Skye said.

"I would like to thank that person, Skye," Tucker said.

"I thanked them on your behalf," Skye said.

"Please Skye," Tucker said.

Skye sighed, "Tony."

"Really?" Tucker asked.

"Yes," Skye said. "Technically he didn't tell me. I figured it out."

"And you don't think he was the one who paid for my car?" Tucker asked

"No," Skye said. "I don't know how he would have even known about that."

"Okay," Tucker said.

They were quiet again.

"Skye. I want to know what you meant by closure with blood is different," Tucker said.

Skye took a breath and sat up "The Hydra base that got taken down."

"Yeah?" Tucker said as he sat up as well taking her hands in his.

"I was on a run that morning and out of nowhere a bunch of teens I recognized from care and from elsewhere started to surround me. Didn't take me long to figure out they were connected to Civicmax and Hydra. Called for backup and a major fight happened. The plan they had was to get me to get my DNA. Same thing they have been trying for a while. But someone had a hold on me. As I got out of her grasp Loki threw his knife and it was stopped I got the knife as I was grabbed again from behind. I went to stab behind me not knowing who I was stabbing at. Loki screamed for me not to and I was surprised long enough to be teleported into what was the base that got taken down. I was let go and told I wasn't going to be hurt. I turned around to see Victoria. I assumed variant but she was insistent that she was my mother. My dad and Bucky got brought in by Loki and when I told my dad who she was saying she was he went over to her and grabbed her arm and looked at a scar that he had been with her when she got it," Skye said.

"Oh fuck," Tucker said squeezing her hands gently.

"She tried to convince me to join Hydra's side along with her uncle who was there hiding at first too. I ended up throwing Loki's knife that I still had at him and he got hit. Victoria upon realizing I wasn't changing my mind about joining Hydra lifted me into a whirlwind and I tried everything," Skye continued her voice cracking, "I mean everything to get her to change her mind and come home with us where we could prove that her uncle had been lying to her about where her abilities come from and that he was the reason her parents were dead. But she didn't. She kept just saying Hydra will always come first. So I got Loki to get my dad and Bucky out of there knowing what I had to do," she continued the tears filling her eyes and she looked down.

"Once my dad, Bucky, and Loki were gone. I gave her one more chance and she wouldn't take it. So I caused an earthquake and teleported myself out with a teleporting thing that Victoria had until I got it from her. The building came down on Victoria, her uncle who was probably already dead anyway, and the other Hydra people who were in the building," Skye said as the tears started to fall. "I never thought I would get any closure with my mother but I got it in the worst possible way," she said.

"Skye. I am so sorry," Tucker said.

Skye nodded as the tears just continued to fall.

"I know you were worried about me looking at you differently or something. And I don't. Well, not in a bad way. All I get about you from that situation is you are the strongest person I know. I know you, Skye. I know you wouldn't have done that if you had any choice. I know you would have died to save your mother if there was any chance of that." Tucker said.

Skye nodded.

"And I am so sorry you had to make that decision," Tucker said.

"Thank you," Skye said as she wiped the tears away.

Tucker released one of her hands and lifted her chin so she was looking at him. He wiped away a stray tear. "Nothing is going to change between us because of this."

"Okay," Skye said. "There is a little more I found out after the fact."

"Okay," Tucker said.

"Remember those two girls who set me up for shoplifting in Iowa?" Skye asked.

"Yeah," Tucker said.

"Well turns out they were connected to Hydra. The one girl Sasha manipulated her dad and stepmother into sending her to school with Lila, at her biological mother's insistence knowing that Lila and I would be friends. They were doing everything to get to me. And Sasha agreed to do it because her mother was Hydra. And she wanted to make her happy," Skye said before she took a breath. "But I guess once I was getting closer her mother decided she didn't care as much about her anymore because I was the daughter who got the abilities that Sasha didn't get. Sasha understandably hurt decided to set me up for shoplifting to try and make me look bad but Victoria found out the truth and was pissed at Sasha. And in case it hasn't been made obvious. Sasha is my half-sister."

Tucker's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. He was at a loss for words.

"Yeah. I went to visit Sasha, and Kate actually. Both are in the same place now," Skye said.

"How did that go?" Tucker asked.

"With Kate, I got answers but she did a lot of things. Fully by choice. It's a really long story to tell. Sasha did seem sorry. I think like any teen girl, just wanted her mother to want and care about her," Skye said.

Tucker nodded a little.

"Yeah. It's a lot to process," Skye said. "Which is part of why I didn't want to talk about it. I'm still processing."

"Got it," Tucker said. "Thank you for telling me. We don't have to talk about it anymore if you don't want to."

Skye nodded and laid back down. Tucker laid back down with her wrapping his arms around her and pulling her in close.

A little later there was a small knock on the half-open door.

"Yes, Morgan?" Skye said with a smile

Morgan pushed the door open. "I was told to come get you both for dinner."

"We will be there in a couple of minutes," Skye said.

Morgan skipped off.

Skye and Tucker got up and went out to the dining room.

"Will you sit down Pepper?" Nat said as Pepper tried to serve everyone despite being 36 weeks pregnant.

"Yes. Sit," Yelena said who was helping Nat.

"I can help too. There is no reason for you to be doing anything but sitting," Tony said to Pepper as he came into the room.

Pepper sighed and sat down.

"Tucker, how was your program at NYU?" Tony asked once everyone was sat down.

"It was great, an amazing experience that I would never have gotten if it wasn't for you. So thank you," Tucker said.

"Ah, Skye told you. Good, I'm glad it went well. And you don't need to thank me. I was glad to do it," Tony said.

"He figured out I knew and got it out of me," Skye said.

"What did you do?" Yelena asked Tony.

"It's nothing," Tony said.

"Did you ever get an update on your cousin?" Steve asked.

"All I know is she is recovering well," Tucker said.

Skye changed the subject knowing Tucker wouldn't want to keep talking about it.

After dinner, Skye and Tucker helped clean up the kitchen before they went to hang out in Skye's favorite spot.