Happy Thanksgiving everyone. And if you're curious what I'm thankful for, I'm thankful for my family, especially my sisters and my brother. (who despite being only 8 years old is one of my biggest fans and the person who i turn to for writing ideas. So if anything really weird happens on my Percy Jackson and Avengers story, blame him.) I am also thankful for my friends, who are amazing and stick with me despite my weirdness. I'm thankful for my teachers, who all passed me on my progress report. WOOHOO! I'm thankful for America, my freedom, the insane imagination that G-d decided to give me, and lastly, I am thankful for you guys-my viewers. Last time I checked, my Percy Jackson story has over 5,000 views, and my Avengers story had close to 2 and half thousand views. Because of that, my parents are actually taking my writing seriously. So I thank you all for that. You are all amazing.

This story is about Phil growing up, and what happened to him that made him who he is today. (And I say that in present tense, because Coulson lives!) This story will be a multi-chap fic, so stick around for more!

Read, enjoy, and please, pretty, please, review! Reviews make me melt with happiness. For every review I get, and angel grows wings and sings. Every time I get a review, well, you get the picture. I'll stop now so you guys can actually read the story.

It was a freezing January evening. Snow fell lightly on the ground, blanketed the streets and cars outside. Chicago's skyscrapers loomed overhead, dusted with the white of winter's first snow. January 11th was a bit late for the first snow of the season in Chicago, and the people of the city had enjoyed the extended fall weather.

A young boy stood against a window, face plastered against it despite the cold. He stood silently, ignoring the tumult going on around him. He watched the snow fall silently, slowly covering the hospital parking lot.

The seven year old sighed, and returned to the chair where he'd been sitting for the past 3 hours. He stared at the double doors parallel to him, waiting for his father to burst through them with a grin on his face. The doors were constantly opening and closing, doctors, nurses, and happy families streaming through them. But where was his family?

They had been on their way to Navy Pier. The trip was a reward for learning the new kata and advancing to the next belt. His dad had promised him the reward when he heard how his son was struggling with the complex moves. And sure enough, a week after the deal was made, the boy came home carrying his brand new green belt.

So that day, he, his mom, and his dad all piled into their van and headed towards the pier. But almost immediately after they got on Lake Shore Drive, his mother began breathing heavily, and his dad drove towards the hospital instead.

"There's nothing to worry about." His dad had assured him as he walked through the giant double doors with his mother. "Soon, you're going to have a brand new little brother or sister!"

But that was more than 3 ½ hors ago. Where were they?

As he complained mentally, the doors to the hospital whooshed open, and someone the boy recognized through them.

"Grandpa! Grandma!" The little 2nd grade boy rushed to greet his mother's parents' arms with glee. When he reached them, he was surprised to find that his excitement was not reflected on their faces. His grandmother wrapped him in a tight, stiff, hug before releasing him and rushing through the doors of the maternity ward.

"Hey kiddo." His grandfather said feigning enthusiasm. "How are you?"

The boy wasn't buying it. "What's going on? Where's my mom? How come you and Grandma drove in from Wisconsin?"

His grandfather looked pained. "I'm going to leave those questions to your dad to explain."

After that, the two of them just sat next to each other, motionless, staring at the doors the exact same way the boy had been doing. But if possible, the boy now felt worse.

He must have dropped off to sleep at some point, because the next thing the young boy knew, he was being shaken awake. He opened his eyes immediately, and saw that his father was crouching next to him, smiling. But at the same time, the boy also noticed the obvious sadness in his eyes.

"Hey buddy. Want to see your new brothers?"

The boy's eyes bulged. "Brothers?"

His father grinned at his reaction, and walked him to a long, thin corridor. Lots of people were crowding around a large window, peering through it. The boy tried to snake his way through the throng of people, but to no avail. His father almost laughed a bit, but the humor didn't reach his eyes.

"Carry you. Carry you." The boy pleaded.

"No, you want me to carry you." His father corrected. "You're getting a little old for that." But he lifted his son on his shoulders nonetheless. His father pointed to two bundles of peachy squishiness swathed in blue sleeping next to each other.
"The right one's Joey, and he one on the left is David.

The boy stared at them a bit before asking. "So when can I teach them karate?"

His father lifted him off his shoulders and set him down carefully. "Maybe wait on that a bit, Buddy."

"Can I see Mom now?" The boy asked the instant he was on the ground.

Instead of answering, his father turned away. "Your mother is very tired." He said after a long pause that stretched on for way longer than the boy thought was necessary. "Maybe later."

But before either of them could say anything else, a nurse walked up to them. "Mr. Coulson?"

His father turned to her. "Yes?"

"Your wife would like to see you. And your son." She added quickly. "Please follow me." She turned and the two walked hurriedly after her.

When they reached the boy's mother's room, the nurse stopped in front of the door. The nurse nodded sadly at them, and opened the door to let them in. As soon as she saw them walk in, the boy's grandmother rose and walked out of the room.

"I'll give you your privacy." She whispered to the boy's father. He nodded distractedly, and immediately rushed to his wife's side.

"Wendy." He said with a chocked voice. His wife raised a hand to his face and stroked it softly.

"I'm so sorry William."

He swallowed hard. "You have nothing to be sorry for."

She smiled at her husband softly. "But I do. I'm leaving you, the boys…"

William grabbed her hand. "Don't talk like that. You're going to be okay."

Wendy shook her head. Then she turned her head to her son. "Come here, big boy."

Her son rushed into her outstretched arms and hugged her while kneeling next to her bed next to his father.

"Please don't go Mommy." He pleaded, voice chocked with tears. "Please don't leave."

"I don't want to go. But you know what? I'll always be right there." she tapped his heart. "Always remember that."

The boy nodded, and his mother smiled at him. "Take good care of Joey and David. They need a good big brother."

Wendy turned to her husband. "Be strong sweetie. I'm so proud of both of my boys. I love both of you so, so much."

Tears streaming from the boy and his fathers' eyes dropped softly onto the hospital bed blanket.

"Darling, the next year is going to be hard for you." The boy's mother continued. "I'm so sorry that I won't be here to help you grow up, and help you through it. But I can tell you this. Be strong. Don't let anyone push you down or shove you around. You're my strong karate man. You are so brave. I know you can do it. Can you be strong for me, Phil?"

Phil nodded again, and his mother let out a happy sigh. "Good. Now I can rest."

William squeezed her hand, and she smiled. "Take care of the boys. Phil, stay strong, for me."

With those last words on her lips, Wendy Coulson drew her last breath. The two Coulson men still next beside her bed, while the snow fell lightly outside, covering the city in white.