"Hey, AC, question."

Phil looked up. He'd been staring at the aqua surface of the pool, his mind surprisingly blank.

"Yes, Skye?"

"Well, this has actually something that's been nagging at me for a couple days now…"

Uh Oh, Coulson thought.

"See, when I was wiping our identities clean the other day, I managed to catch a look at my official SHIELD registration profile. I'd never seen it before, and I just wanted to take a look at it before, you know, my 2 days as an agent were over."

"Hey, Skye, want to go for a swim? Let's go now!"

"Are you…trying to change the subject?"

"Nonsense! I just…I love to swim! Yeah, I really do!"

"AC, we don't even have swim suits!

"Are you kidding? I mean, look at me! I'm totally wearing my swim suit," he said, desperately, motioning toward his suit.

"Coulson, no."

"Coulson yes!" he said, and ran to jump in the pool, but not before grabbing Skye's hand.

"What the fu-" But before Skye could finish she and Coulson had landed with a splash in the crystal blue water.

Phil spat some water out of his mouth. "Wow! Isn't this refreshing?"

"Coulson! Stop it! Look at me!" Skye said, her makeup running all over her face.

"When I looked at the profile…it said my last name had been changed…to Coulson! I figured it was just a placeholder since I don't have a last name, but at the base Agent Koenig told me that it wasn't required for a SHIELD agent to have a last name…AC, did you adopt me…secretly?!"

"Maybe."

"Fuck, Coulson!"

"You take that back right now young lady! How dare you use that filthy language!"

"I can say whatever I damn well please! You can't tell me what to do, you're not my father!"

Phil smiled deviously, drops of water dripping from the tip of his nose. "Yes, actually, now I am."

"Damn you, AC. And how the hell is this legal? I'm over 18!"

"SHIELD agents have ways to get things done…"

"Wait, but SHIELD doesn't exist anymore! Does this mean I'm not adopted?"

"That is a very intelligent question Skye," Coulson said, knowing he had chosen his daughter well. "But even though I adopted you with SHIELD methods, the adoption isn't a SHIELD thing. My adoption of you is 100% government certified."

"Did you adopt FitzSimmons too?"

"Of course not! I only half adopted them."

"What?"

"As I said, SHIELD agents have ways."

"I can't believe this! You should have told me."

Coulson frowned bitterly.

"I knew you'd say no."

"Are you kidding me? Of course I'd say yes! I couldn't think of anyone else I would rather have as my father. I just, you know, like to be notified when I'm adopted…."

"R-really? So you're not mad?"

"No, I'm pissed, but not about you being my father, or FitzSimmons being my half-siblings. I-I like having a real family. Especially now that everything's so messed up…" She said quietly, looking at down at her soaking wet torso, small tears mixing with the water already on her face. She tried to suck them back in, feeling stupid for being so emotional, but before she could swear under her breathe at her tears, she felt herself wrapped in Coulson's arms.

"I love you Skye, and I will always be your family, no matter how horrible everything gets. And that's a promise."

"I love you too, AC." Skye said, smiling through her tears. "Just tell me you didn't adopt May."

Skye felt his body tense.

"G-d, no. Never. Oh and also, next time I see you holding hands with a boy without my permission your grounded. For life." Skye pulled away from the hug.

"That's real funny, AC. Real funny."

But Coulson's face was serious.

"I'm not joking."

Skye shook her head and walked away.

"AC, you are the worst dad ever."

"Oh, and make sure to brush your teeth before bed!"

"Go to hell, dad."

It wasn't perfect, Coulson thought. But he'd take it.