It was not supposed to go like this. They'd had it planned out perfectly. Coulson had given her all the information she'd need to get the team to trust her and hopefully help with her situation, but... she was guessing his information was old, judging by the twins staring at her from across the room. All of the Avengers, old and new, had gathered to hear what she had to say. The battle with Doom (and really, wasn't he the Fantastic Four's bad guy?) had just ended thanks to her, and now she was shifting her weight nervously as she waited for one of them to speak. It was Captain freaking America (her inner fangirl was squealing) who stepped forward first.

"Thank you for your help, Miss," he told her, studying her. He wouldn't be able to see her face clearly enough. It was covered just enough that facial recognition couldn't be used, which she knew must be driving Tony Stark mad.

"What's your name?" Hawkeye called out, looking curious. She gave him a look, but he met it steadily without backing down.

"Quake," she replied easily. That was, after all, the name her team had given her when they discovered what she could do.

"That's not a real name," he said with a frown.

"Neither is Hawkeye," she pointed out. "But that's the only name I've got for you." She could tell that most of them bought it, but she hadn't fooled the Black Widow. Natasha was eyeing her with curiosity. Clearly she had a tell.

"Clint Barton," he said with a small smile. "Nice to meet you."

"Skye," she said quietly. "My name is Skye."

"Do we get a last name?" Tony asked impatiently. She bit her lip. This was the tricky part. She'd discussed it with Coulson, and he'd given her permission to tell them the full truth if it became necessary. It meant they'd find out before her team, her family. She had to keep reminding herself that she was doing this to make sure she wouldn't accidentally hurt one of them when she got upset over anything.

"Skye Coulson," she stated, raising her chin. She'd known it would be an interesting reaction, but she wasn't expecting the instant hostility. Clint's smile dropped before she could blink, and she found herself staring down an arrow and a couple guns, a metal glowing hand, a huge hammer, and a giant green fist. "Whoa, easy there. You'd think I'd just threatened the world or something."

"You're lying. Coulson didn't have a daughter or a wife," Clint snapped. None of them had moved. She sighed, taking off the sunglasses so they could look her in the eye.

"I was born under the name Daisy Johnson, to keep my lineage a secret. Dad is convinced that if someone found out who I really was, I'd be kidnapped or killed to get to him and the secrets he knows. Actually, I chose the name Skye when I was four years old. They just called me Daisy before that, because it was convenient. Look, I'm not armed or anything. I can't control the earthquakes, and that's why I'm here," she informed them. Again, it was Natasha who seemed to realize she was telling us the truth.

"He spoke of a Daisy Johnson a few times, years ago. We assumed she was some fling, not a hidden daughter. But that would make you..." she trailed off, counting in her head.

"I'm twenty-five years old, as of June. Actually, it was in July that I got these abilities from the Diviner. I've been trying to control them on my own, but Dad- Coulson decided it would be best if I found help when I brought the base down after a nightmare. Crazy ex, long story," she replied.

"But he... Phil Coulson is dead, sweetie," Clint said, frowning. "Even if you are his daughter, which I don't fully believe yet, you should know that. He was stabbed three years ago."

"Ah, and this is where it gets complicated," she said with a nod. "He was dead, for five days. But thanks to project TAHITI, and Nick Fury's stupidity, he was revived and given false memories of a comfortable recovery. He only discovered what really happened last year, and we've been so busy rebuilding SHIELD and destroying the last of TAHITI, that we haven't managed to make it back here to talk with all of you. He sent me ahead to beg for help, while he gets the team ready to travel and all debriefed. I grew up learning about all of you. They didn't."

"You're saying Coulson was brought back from the dead, and Fury never told us?" Steve asked, looking confused.

"That's exactly what I'm saying. Are you really surprised? That man loves his secrets," she answered. There was silence for a few seconds, and then they all started asking questions at once. "HEY! I get that you all have questions. I got permission to tell you everything I know. But can we do it somewhere private? I don't want to get recognized, because it could get ugly very quickly."

"You running from someone?" Bucky asked. He'd been standing mostly behind Steve, and she hadn't even noticed him yet.

"Hydra. Long story, which actually involves the crazy ex. He pops up everywhere, and I'd rather not have to shoot him today. Again," she nodded. They all just stared at her, and she rolled her eyes. "Come on, you've got a giant tower. Lets go there."

Pietro was silent the whole ride back to the tower, thinking over what the girl had said. She hadn't been talking to him, and he didn't know the man that they all seemed so upset about, but something about this girl was calling out to him. Wanda was watching him closely again, and he wondered if she knew something he didn't. She'd been giving him that same look since she'd found her soulmate in Vision.

"Dad always wanted to be your handler, you know. He talked about it at length. He hand-picked most of you, with the exception of Stark. You can thank me for that one, actually. I'm a hacker too, and I admire your skill. Stark Industries was the hardest thing to hack that I've ever accomplished," she was saying. Tony made some gesture with his hands, and they started using too many technical terms for him to follow. He tuned them out again and focused on the rest of the team. Everyone had been so tense since the battle ended. Usually, they'd go out for food and then go their separate ways. This time, Steve had asked them all to stay just in case they were needed again.

"Look, you can ask him yourself. He'll be here in two days," she was saying now.

"Two days? But that's forever!" Clint whined.

"He's been different since Mom... well, I bet you didn't hear about that, did you? Thinking he was dead, you probably didn't follow the news on the people he cares about. Mom- Audrey, if you're about to ask- passed away about six months ago. It was cancer, and there was nothing we could do. He's been quiet and reserved, and... he shut everyone out. Actually, did you know that he has a soulmark? It's not my mother's. They married anyways, and had me. They've been happy... well, they were. Now, he's pretty much ignoring anything that isn't work."

"He has a soulmark? Is that a recent thing?" Clint asked, leaning forward.

"He woke up with it. It wasn't there before. I don't think he ever told Mom, actually. It was our secret," she informed him.

"Then why are you telling us?" Natasha asked.

"Because I'm fairly certain his soulmate is someone on this team. I just don't know who," she said with a smile. "And won't that be fun to find out?"

"You said he's bringing his team?" Tony asked. "How many people are we talking here?"

"It'll probably be just FitzSimmons, and May. Hunter and Bobbi are fighting again. Tripp... isn't with us anymore. Ward shall never be spoken of again, don't even ask. So yeah, just those three and Dad," she answered. Then she paled. "Oh god. Okay, here's the deal. You can't tell them about me being his daughter. None of them know, because it's not safe yet. I want to be the one to tell them when the time is right."

"You have our word," Steve assured her.

"Thank you," she said quietly, looking down. "So you've never said... will you help me?"

He didn't know what made him do it. He'd look back on it later and cringe, because it was horrible timing and even worse first words, but he wouldn't change it for the world.

"We will do everything we can to assist you," he told her, not waiting for anyone else to decide. Skye gasped and dropped the phone she'd just pulled out of her pocket, staring at him incredulously.

"Okay, not what I expected. Not that I'm disappointed! I just never expected to find you here," she replied, eyes wide. Then she groaned quietly. "Those are horrible first words, I'm so sorry. You caught me off guard. I have practiced what I wanted my first words to be! They were supposed to be 'My knight in shining armor, how kind!'"

Pietro laughed, shaking his head. "It is perfectly alright. I think your words were perfect, Ms. Coulson."

"Please, just call me Skye. It's so weird to hear anyone say my last name. I don't usually use it, you see. Not many people know that I even have one. My backstory that was created states that I was an orphan for most of my life, and I named myself after the nuns gave me some ridiculous name that I hated. I only ever go by Skye," she replied, blushing.

"I think we should give them some time," Wanda stated, ushering everyone out of the room and sending Pietro a quick wink over her shoulder as the door closed.

Phil was so tired of the arguing. FitzSimmons didn't agree with sending Skye ahead for help without any kind of back-up, but they didn't know that she was just as capable of defending herself as May was- as he was himself. They only knew the story they'd come up with to give her protection. Maybe it was time to bring the team in on the truth, but it wasn't his place. He'd talk to Skye about it later.

They were waiting outside of Stark Tower for Skye to come let them in. He'd sent a message ahead when they'd landed, but he hadn't gotten a reply. The doors swung open, but it wasn't Skye who walked out. It was Clint and Natasha, who both looked pissed. (Well, they had straight faces, but Phil had known them long enough to see how they were really feeling.)

"So she was telling the truth. You really are back," Clint stated, looking him over. Phil could feel himself paling, his hand moving to his arm unconsciously to touch the soulmark there.

"I am. Didn't think you could get rid of me that easily, did you?" he replied, watching for a reaction. The stricken look was not what he was hoping for. It was only slightly better when he found his arms full of a shaking archer. "You all follow Ms. Romanov back inside. We'll be in shortly."

Tony's day wasn't going according to plan, either. He had not expected to find Coulson's daughter, who was apparently a better hacker than him. He also wasn't expecting to find out that Coulson himself was alive and just hiding from them like some coward. He wasn't convinced it was true.

"That's what she says, Pepper. According to her, he'll be here sometime today. Clint and Natasha are watching the cameras. They want to be the ones to meet him first, which makes sense I guess. I feel like it's a bad idea for them, though. Hey, hang on. We've got a group of people I've never seen before walking in. I'll call you back," he said, ending the call.

The group was small, led by Natasha. They must be the team Skye had been talking about. It was fairly easy to tell which was which. Fitz would be the curly haired guy, Simmons would be the woman who was seemingly attached to his side. That left May, who was very obviously the professional agent who was second in command.

"Great, a field trip group. To what do I owe the pleasure?" he asked May, stopping in front of her.

"We're here for Skye, and that's all. Don't make this hard for everyone, Stark," she replied, raising an eyebrow. "Where is she?"

"With her soulmate. Must be something in the water. Most of us are all paired off already," he lied. Skye was with Pietro, but they were the only ones (besides Wanda and Vision, and Steve and Bucky) who'd found their soulmates.

"Well your archer just found his in Coulson," May told him, smirking. "So I'd say you're lying. I bet you haven't even found yours."

"May! He's our host, don't antagonize him," Fitz snapped, frowning at her. Then he turned to Tony and gave him a small smile. "I'm sorry about her. She often wakes up on the wrong side of the bed."

"Ha! Guess what, Agent May, you're wrong. I've found mine," Tony said, grinning. Then he turned his full attention to Fitz. "Please tell me they weren't lying about you. I've heard so much."

"Y-you're my soulmate?" Fitz asked, cheeks flushing. "Oh my god, I wasn't expecting that. I wasn't sure I'd ever find you, after..."

"The accident?" Jemma finished gently. "Fitz has some brain damage from oxygen deprivation. He's getting better slowly, but he has trouble finding his words sometimes, and his hands shake fairly badly at times. Perhaps you can help him more than I can."

"Are you the doctor, then?" Natasha asked her, eyebrows raised. "Sounds like you've been caring for him."

"Oh... no, I'm not a doctor. A bioscientist, actually. But you're the reason I know so many medical facts," she replied, blushing. "And that makes four of us. Too bad you've already got your soulmate, May."

"Must be something in the water here," Clint muttered, leading Coulson into the room.

Skye was curled up on Pietro's lap when the teams walked into the room. Almost all of them were paired up with various Avengers, which she was sure she'd learn more about later. Bonding with Pietro had given her more control than she'd had before, and Dr. Banner was teaching her what she didn't have completely down yet. At the rate she was going, they'd be gone in no time. The thought brought her close to tears.

"What is wrong, Skye?" Pietro asked quietly, noticing.

"I just... I don't want to have to leave you. But when I've gained control, what choice will I have?" she whispered, pressing closer to him.

"Actually, we can take care of that," Steve called from across the room. "Super hearing, sorry. We were going to offer you a place as an Avenger when you managed complete control, but now is as good a time as any. Since so many of your team have found your soulmates here, Tony started designing new floors for each of us, so we don't have to separate."

"And you just assumed we'd agree?" Coulson asked. Clint tightened his hold on Phil's hand, making him wince. "I didn't say we wouldn't. I just find it amusing that you assume you know what we'll want to do. It saves me having to find a base close-by, though, so I appreciate it."

"So we're staying?" Jemma asked, sounding hopeful.

"Of course we are," Coulson nodded.