Hey babes! Brand new story for ya! This one is a sequel of sorts to 'All the Songs Make Sense'. It fills in the gap year between the final chapter and the epilogue of that story. This one was pretty fun to put together, I've got some good stuff planned for this story.

Enjoy!

*August*

Playing the final note of the final song of his final concert on his North American tour, Grant smiles out at the large crowd consisting of hundreds upon hundreds of his fans while they cheer as loud as they possibly can for him. They pump their fists, wave their arms and signs in the air, and yell as loud as they can that they love him over and over again. It all makes him smile with happiness and thankfulness.

He loves this part of playing a show in whatever part of the country, getting to hear all of his fans shouting his name and singing along with his songs, it's worth all the long hours he puts in writing and recording each of his songs. Getting to do things like this makes him happy. But there's one thing that makes him way happier than performing ever could.

"Thank you, New York City!" he exclaims into the microphone as he carefully lets his guitar hang down behind his back. "You guys were absolutely amazing tonight, just as you always are every time I come here to play for you. This was, by far, the best way I could possibly think of to close out this tour and a hell of a way to start my sabbatical. But don't worry, I will be back," he tells them before they can start to protest. "I just want to thank you so much, all of you, for your continued support of me and my music. It means the world. Goodnight and please drive safely. I'll see you guys again real soon." He smiles and waves to the crowd as the stage lights dim and he turns around to make his way off stage, the lingering screams and cheers of the crowd ringing in his ears as he goes.

Walking down the steps, he removes his guitar and hands it to one of the stage hands and pulls the ear buds out of his ears, letting them hang down his shoulders.

He wipes the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, letting out a breath to try and let his body relax a little and calm down from the energy he's still feeling from the show.

"Another fantastic sold out show, mate," Kebo says, coming up to him and clapping him on the back, spinning one of his drumsticks in his other hand. "No better way to end a tour than in good old New York City, the city that never sleeps."

"Best part is that I finally get to see Skye and Jessica in person tonight," Grant says with a wide smile. "I've been waiting in agony the last three months to actually get to see them in person."

"You've also been waiting in agony for the last three months to get back in Skye's bed. As in sex. With Skye. Because you love her."

Grant sighs and closes his eyes. "Yes, Kebo, I knew what you meant. You didn't have to explain yourself."

Kebo shrugs. "Eh. Where's the fun in that?"

Grant just chuckles and shakes his head at his friend.

Kebo takes a deep breath. "So, are you coming to see me off at the airport for my flight back to LA in the morning, or are we saying our goodbyes right here and now because I won't be seeing you for an entire year? You know I don't do very well on my own."

Grant rolls his eyes. "Stop being so dramatic, Kebo. You do remember that you have a wife, right? A wife who loves you very much, even though everyone, especially me, is still trying to figure out why."

"You know, I'm actually still trying to figure that bit out myself. And yes, I know I have Hannah, but it's not the same."

"I know it isn't. But I'll be back in LA before you know it. Probably. I might just quit music altogether and stay with Skye and Jess in Massachusetts forever."

Kebo deadpans. "Do not even joke like that, Grant Douglas Ward. Where the hell would I find another job if you left the music business altogether?"

Grant laughs. "I'm sorry. You're right. I shouldn't joke like that. But seriously. Me coming back to LA all depends on how well things go this year in Massachusetts with Skye and Jess. And besides, we're still going to see each other periodically over the next year. I've talked to Skye over the phone a few times while on tour and she insists that you come to Provincetown for a few different holidays. Jessica's tenth birthday for one example."

"Is she seriously going to be ten already?" Kebo asks. He lets out a breath. "Wow."

"I know. Time really does fly. And I haven't even known her that long."

Kebo nods. "Very true. It's crazy. And I hardly even saw her this whole time yet I still can't believe how fast the time has gone by."

Grant takes a deep breath. "Alright, time for you to go to the hotel so you can get a decent amount of sleep and hopefully not miss your flight back to LA. I'm headed to the airport as soon as we're done here since it's not too far of a flight."

"You're just gonna say goodbye to me here?" Kebo asks. "Just like that? I really thought our friendship meant more to you than that."

Grant rolls his eyes. "Kebo, seriously, stop being so dramatic."

Kebo sighs. "Fine." He steps forward and pulls Grant in for a quick hug. "I'll see you soon, mate." He pulls back and smiles. "Go be with that beautiful family and enjoy yourself."

Grant smiles back at the thought. "I will most definitely do that."

Making his way across the airport floor, shrugging his carry-on bag a little bit higher onto his shoulder, Grant lets out a breath and reaches up to adjust the sunglasses sitting on his face. He rarely wears any kind of disguise when traveling, sometimes it's just too much of a hassle, but the last thing he wants right now is to be recognized and bombarded by anyone before he even has a chance to see his family. He really doesn't think it's too much to ask. Then again, there probably isn't much paparazzi in Provincetown, especially not compared to the crowds of them always hanging out at LAX trying to get photos of him or other celebrities arriving to or leaving the city.

"Dad!"

Grant turns to the side and lets a wide grin take over his face from ear to ear when he sees his daughter quickly running toward him across the airport floor. He drops his carry-on to the carpet to bend down and lift Jessica into his arms, hugging her tight and spinning her around, relishing in the feeling of having her in his arms again.

"Oh, I missed you so much, sweetheart," he tells her, setting her feet back on the ground and dropping a kiss to the top of her head.

"I missed you too," she says back, leaning her head back to look up at him.

"How about me? Was I missed as well? Or just the kid?"

Grant looks up past Jessica to see Skye approaching them, a small smile on her face with her hands in the pockets of her jeans. If it's even possible, his own smile grows wider and he lets go of his daughter. "Hey there, Princess. Of course I missed you."

"You did?"

"Like crazy."

"Prove it then."

His smile turns into a smirk and then he reaches out to grab her around the waist once she's close enough, pulling her even closer and locking their lips together, sliding his tongue over the seam of her lips to deepen their kiss. "Hi," he says against her lips when they pull back and stare into each other's eyes.

She smiles. "Hi."

"Are you guys going to be kissing all the time now?" Jessica asks with a scrunched-up face. "Cause it's kinda gross."

Grant and Skye both smile and laugh quietly.

"Sorry, baby girl," Skye says to her daughter, looking over at the young girl. "Your dad and I are just really happy to see each other again."

"I know," Jessica says. "But can we go home now?"

Skye smiles up at Grant. "What do you say? Wanna come home?"

Grant smiles back and brushes some hair back out of her face. "We have to go grab Max first, but there is absolutely nothing I'd love more than to go home with the both of you."

.

.

.

Flipping off the bathroom light as he steps out, Grant lets out a breath and then makes his way down the hall. He briefly stops by Jessica's room, opening the door just enough to see her lying asleep in her bed, Max curled up at her feet. He smiles at the sight before quietly closing the door and turning to make his way down the rest of the hallway.

Pushing open the door at the end, he stops for a moment and just watches the beautiful brunette on the other side of the room as she scrolls through something on her tablet, her brows furrowed in deep concentration.

"Well this is a sight I could definitely get used to again," he speaks up, pulling her attention to him.

Skye looks up at him and smiles. "Hey."

"Hey." He steps into the room, closing the door behind him. "What are you doing over there?" he asks, gesturing with his head to her tablet as he moves to one side of the bed. He pulls his shirt off over his head and slips out of his jeans.

"Just checking on some stuff for the store," she tells him, locking the tablet and setting it on the nightstand next to the bed. "But the rest of it can wait until later." She smiles up at him. "Come join me."

"I'd love to," he says with his own smile, pulling back the covers and climbing underneath, settling himself down against the pillow. He lets out a breath and then looks over at Skye, holding one arm out to her.

Skye takes the silent cue, curling up against his side, resting her head on his chest and wrapping one arm around his torso, tangling her legs up with his.

"This is nice," he tells her after a quiet moment.

"It is," she replies. She takes a deep breath and shifts, curling further into her side. "You know, I'm really glad that you're here," she tells him, absentmindedly tracing random patterns and shapes into the skin of his bare chest.

"So am I," he says back, letting out a content sigh. "I missed the two of you like crazy while I was on tour. I couldn't stop thinking about coming back here to be with you."

"We missed you too," she tells him "Part of me wishes we didn't have those moments together before you left because knowing I couldn't have that for three months was pure torture. I mean, obviously I knew what being with you was like, but it'd been years since the last time we were together like that."

Grant chuckles and pulls her a little closer to him, dropping a kiss to her bare shoulder. "Mm, I know how you feel. Being away from you after that, when I knew I could experience it again, was absolutely miserable." He turns his head toward her. "I love you, Skye."

She smiles at him. "I love you too, Grant." She shifts on the bed, rising up and gently sliding her lips over his, smiling into the kiss as her hand slides around to his back, pulling him closer.

Grant smiles back and reciprocates the kiss, sliding his hand down to her bare hip, gently caressing the skin there with the pad of his thumb. "Think we can get away with it while Jess is still asleep?" he asks.

Skye sighs. "No, I don't think so. We've never been very good at being quiet."

Grant chuckles. "No, no we have not. Though, to be fair, it's mainly you who can't be quiet. Always screaming my naming and yelling something very obscene."

"Hey." Skye smacks him lightly on the chest. "You know very well that it's never my fault entirely. Especially not when you do that one thing where you—"

"Yes, that's always been your favorite," he says with a smile.

"Maybe so," she says, "but I think my new favorite thing is going to be having you here beside me when I wake up every morning."

"I completely agree. You are the love of my life, Skye Coulson."

She beams. "And you're the love of mine, Grant Douglas Ward."

So? What did you think? Let me know in a review down below. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Until next time,
Jellybean96 out!