A Second Chance at Redemption

Spoilers: 1x20 Promo pics and the promo itself...

Disclaimer: I own Avery and that's it.

She had played him so well, he could have shot her or ordered Deathlok to do it as Coulson pulled his car out of the plane. He faltered as her eyes looked up at him as if daring him to take the shot but he knew he'd never be able to harm her. She was his weakness and he had everything he needed from her so he let her go with the knowledge he'd never lay eyes on her again.

Their two days, while full of lies, would be all he got of an beautiful glimpse of what could have been if he'd betrayed Garrett instead of his team. However, he had a life debt to pay and even a glimpse of a life with Skye couldn't erase it. So in the end, he let her go because she was the only real good in his life and he couldn't destroy her like he had everything else. He'd always remember her eyes held a certain sadness as well as anger as she disappeared from his sight.

He gave the information to Garrett and as the man promised, he was left to solo missions for HYDRA with a new identity and without a team. He was a one man team and that would be how it would stay, the only team he'd have worked with was the same one he'd betrayed. Garrett asked him to train some rookies and one look make his own SO throw the thought away, he'd trained one and he'd never train again. He could have molded Skye to be a part of HYDRA but she'd always be a part of SHIELD, a pureness for the world to have in the fight ahead. She was hope and a bright light while he was despair and darkness.

Grant Ward knew one thing clearly, they'd always be on the opposite sides of the war and they'd never see each other again unless one of them was dead. It'd probably be him because he'd kill his own men to keep her light shining in the world, to keep her breathing and pure spirit free from HYDRA. As far as he was concerned, Garrett had no further use for her and it would stay that way for the rest of her life or he would put his own SO down without so much as a warning.

This he knew and it would be months later that he was proven wrong, leaving him to take in the reality of everything he'd ever known about the pure soul he'd allowed himself to fall for.

Ward entered the Command Center of the new HYDRA base, he saw Garrett there talking to two men. The man looked up at seeing Ward and instantly dismissed his men as the specialist placed a box on the table.

"Acquired without bloodshed, just like you asked."

"Excellent." Garrett opened the box and removed the alien tech from inside. "This is the thing we've been waiting for. Asgardian Truth Bracelet, legend has said that a person can't lie when it's being warn."

Crossing his arms, Ward watched his SO admire the technology. "Word has it that Mitchell and Deathlok retrieved an 0-8-4."

"Two actually," Garrett chuckled. "It's amazing what you find in SHIELD's database once it becomes public. Why don't you come with me and see what we got, I'm sure you'll love this more than I will. I mean, when I read the actual report I couldn't believe my eyes but that redacted video with the file…oh, we were all deceived by SHIELD."

He joined Garrett on the walk to one of the holding cells, which he found strange since an 0-8-4 should have been in a lab. Ward was quiet and watched as Garrett opened the cell, it'd been weeks since he'd been back so there was no telling what Garrett had been doing with an 0-8-4. The man liked to experiment so he could only guess he'd been using it on a prisoner or fellow traitor.

What he didn't expect was the person curled up in the corner of the cell. "Someone has a visitor, this time I promise no needles." Garrett hit the bars and the person's head went up, starring straight at the man. "Why don't you stand up and look alive."

"Skye…" Ward made his way over but was pushed back by Garrett as if he was waiting for Skye to stand up.

She looked as if she'd been there for weeks, her hair was a mess and she looked small in the corner of the cell. He saw her arm and the needle marks that bore into the porcelain skin that had been so soft and beautiful under his touch mere months before. Her eyes spelled exhaustion and the bruises on her cheek were a sign of abuse. He hadn't expected her there or harmed in any way, his personal vow to protect her broken in that moment.

Garrett chuckled as Skye stood up, using the wall as a brace with one hand while the other wrapped across her expanded middle. Ward's eyes went straight to the sight, his head quickly doing the math and her haunted eyes, once so full of light, met his in silent confirmation. "I have to say, I was shocked to learn about your rookie here being the 0-8-4 that caused HYDRA so many issues in 25 years ago. We thought it was a weapon but no, Skye here was the cause of everything…a massacre like nothing else. She's a murderer just like the rest of us and she knows it too. Just like she knows that once that baby of hers is born, it'll be an 0-8-4 as well. Go ahead Skye, tell him what you are and where you're from?"

Ward pushed past Garrett and went to the bars, she just stared at him as if broken. "Skye…what happened?"

"Found her living with my boy Trip," Garrett chuckled and shook his head. "She sure did move on fast from you and to your replacement too. I have to admit he tried to protect her and the kid but he failed. Only the strong survive," he walked over to the bars and smirked at her. "Hasn't said a word in weeks, not since she begged for us to spare the kid once it's born."

Skye took a few steps forward and spit at Garrett before moving back. "Her name isn't kid, it's Avery and just because she may or not be an 0-8-4 doesn't mean she's not a human being."

"Half maybe and that's stretching it." Garrett pointed at her. "I'll give you two sometime alone, Ward I expect answers when you get done with the interrogation."

He nodded, "yes sir."

Minutes later Garrett was gone and the door closed, Ward moved around the cell till he was mere inches from her. Skye placed her hands on the bars and looked up at him, "I won't give you any answers. I was just tired of him calling her 'kid' when it's not her name."

Ward sighed and placed his hand over her own, putting the other on her cheek. "I swore I'd keep you from his radar, to protect you and I failed. I may have manipulated you into getting the hard drive unlocked but I swore never to let HYDRA touch you." Rubbing his thumb across the bruise he shook his head. "I am so sorry, both of you are facing a death sentence because of me."

"Then protect your daughter," Skye met his eyes and watched recognition fly across his features in those few seconds. "Trip was tasked with protecting me by Coulson but he was only my friend, you are her father and that I would swear on till my last breath. You may not be able to protect me anymore but you can protect her." Skye took his hand from cheek and pressed it to her belly, as if on cue the baby kicked. "I've told her about you, about the good in her daddy even if he's lost right now. That he loves her even if he's not there to hold and tell her."

In that moment as her words reached his heart and tiny feet hit his hand, Ward found himself driven towards realization that he may owe a life debt but his tiny daughter wasn't the one to pay it. She deserved as life full of safety and laughter, of running and playing with a smile on her face and light in her eyes. His attention fell to Skye's belly while his hand moved across the firm home that provided safety to his daughter. Her tiny feet seemed to follow him as if wanting to stay in contact. "Avery…"

"Avery Day Zale," Skye smiled as she watched him give a slight smile at the kicks of their daughter. "Avery after the agent who saved me and Day because it means 'light and hope' and I knew she'd need that in her life. Zale is the last name I took as a cover…"

Mesmerized he shook his head, "no it's perfect, she's going to be perfect." His eyes met hers and he shook his head. "I will protect her, if I can't protect you both than I will protect her. She won't be another one of his experiments," he let his eyes drift back down. "She won't pay the debt I owe him, I won't let her be the payment…"

"Promise me you'll protect her." Skye's voice made him meet her eyes and he bore into her chocolate brown eyes with pure truth.

"With my life, I've ruined everything I've ever had Skye…the past, my brother, you but," he looked down again at the miracle between them, "not her. I won't let her join that category because she deserves so much more. She's the only thing pure and untouched I've had a part in and I won't fail her in that."

Skye nodded and reached through the bars, touching his cheek. "You are good, you're just lost and I know that you've had nothing to fight for before her. Now you do so fight for her, for a little girl who knows her daddy is a good man beneath all the pain and debts."

He caught her hand and held it against his cheek. "I need something to tell Garrett, anything will do."

"Tell him SHIELD is reorganizing, it's not a lie but I don't know anything else. Coulson wanted me separated in hopes they wouldn't find me once the records went public about my status. I guess he was wrong and I'll end up an experiment like he feared." He gave a slight shake of his head and caught her eyes, she gave a slight nod in understanding that he wouldn't let it happen.

A/N: This is not like 'The Shield is Born' if you've read it, it'll be different and at the same time very interesting.

Do you think Ward is acting or is he just playing her to get information? Do you think the baby can redeem him or is he too far gone?

Will the Asgardian bracelet work on Skye, will she spill all her secrets or will she have resistance?

A/N: Please review and let me know how I'm doing. I was nervous about writing this as I've had horrible experience with point of view fics in the past. This is one I want to get right.