After having introduced his friends for a second time, Fitz proceeded to help Alison finish the bed, blatantly ignoring her constant pleas for him to not.

"I'm starting to get the impression that he doesn't like being the 'master of the manor'." May said to Coulson.

"I've a feeling you're right." sighed Coulson as he unpacked his bag. The rooms were all rather large and luxurious. "I still can't believe he lived here as a kid. Why do you think he didn't tell us?"

"Well I for one understand that he didn't want us judging him on where he grew up." said May "It must have been tough to have friends when he was younger. At a young age some people are more attracted to power and wealth than actual friendship. I doubt Fitz never met someone like that. He just doesn't want to be treated differently."

"I guess you're right."

"Hey guys, I'm goin' to head down to th' lab now. Would ye like to see it?" came Fitz's voice from the corridor.

"Yes please."

"Wow."


That really was the only way to describe it. It was a mesh of the old brick and stone building with the smooth white plastic and granite workbenches. One of the walls was completely obliterated by rows of cabinets, all filled with tools and other machines. And to Simmons' great joy one of them was entirely filled with the apparatus of a chemistry set. The room was immaculate, the tables gleamed under the bright lights that hung from the ceiling making the room sparkle with what Fitz would call 'scientific magic' - magic of course meaning something wondrous and not something unknown.

"How did you make this Fitz?"

"Well, I didn't really…"

"Stop bein' so modest lad. I remember ye bein' up all night desperate to finish this place so ye could have yer very own lab." cut in Malcom with his now familiar grin. "Alison threatened to sedate him if he didn't go to bed."

"Thanks for keepin' it clean Malcom." Fitz said, his cheeks flushing under the memories.

"Ye're welcome lad." replied the grounds keeper as he ruffled Fitz's curls affectionately. "Now I'm a goin' to let ye settle in here while I go and help Alison with dinner."

"This really is amazing Fitz." said Simmons as she started emptying her lab box.

"Yeah, I can't believe you made this." Skye said, her head titled to look at the ceiling.

"Well th' house had three wine cellars, so I thought I might as well turn one of them into a lab. Got Alison off my back about me leavin' my inventions everywhere."

"Thank you so much for letting us use your house Fitz. We really do appreciate it." said Coulson with a smile.

"Don't worry," replied Fitz "let's just finish this case as quickly as possible." And with that he left the others in the lab, all with shocked expressions on his face.

"Something is not right here."

"I agree with Skye. Fitz seems so happy around Malcom and Alison as if they were his family."

"They are his family." cut in May.

"Then where is his dad? Where is his mother?"

"Maybe Alison and Malcom are his adopted parents?" suggested Skye

"No, that doesn't fit with why how he acts around them. And Malcom said he 'practically' raised Fitz. If he was his adoptive father he would have raised him period." Coulson shook his head. "No there's something we don't know."

"But please don't go putting your nose in his life." begged Simmons "If he doesn't want us to know yet we should wait until he's ready and make sure he knows he can trust in us."

"Good idea Simmons. I think the more we push on this one the more he'll clamp up."


May was had decided that her black shield attire was not appropriate for the cold Scottish weather and now that night's chill had settled in, she was surely going to need something warmer. Most of the team had already done so, due mainly to Fitz's insistence. She had been busy talking to the Hub trying to get as much information on the case as possible. She had decided to put on thick black corduroy trousers when she heard the voices outside her door.

"Leo lad, it's dinner."

"Ok let's head down."

"Leo…"

"Yes Malcom."

There was a pause. "I was sure ye wouldn't want me to say this in front of th' others because I know how ye are, but… I thought ye should know, yer dah's coming th' day after tomorrow."

Silence filled the hall, so thick that May could almost see it seeping beneath the door from the hall.

"Ok." Fitz's voice was merely a whisper.

"Come here." came Malcom's voice, his tone clearly filled with sadness as he hugged the young man. "It'll be fine, ye'll see lad."

Only when she was sure that they had left did she head down the stairs.

Fitz had insisted that they eat in the smaller dining room next to the kitchen, which was already heated by the ovens. It looked just like a family meal, and the food smelled wonderful.

To Fitz's great joy, Alison had made Scotch pies, which apparently had been Fitz's favourite since he was 8. They also consumed two large apple frushies over which Fitz and Simmons had a rather lengthy argument as to whether it was the same as an English apple pie. Both Phil and May found Alison and Malcom to be very pleasant company and kind people which they'd spent the whole dinner talking with. At the meal's end Malcom had left the room only to return with his hand clasped round a small bottle of scotch and small glasses.

"Let's see if ye can still hold ye liquor." he said with a smile.

"I can hold my liquor just fine thank ye very much!" replied Fitz, feigning annoyance.

"You drink scotch?" asked Ward, his eyebrows raised into his hairline in disbelief.

"What kind of a Scotsman can't drink scotch?" asked Malcom as if to say "OF course he can!"

And so they spent the rest of the evening laughing and Phil and Ward eventually joined the two Scotsmen with the alcohol as soon as Alison began drinking again. By the time they went to bed, Phil felt a pleasant buzzing surrounding his body. Worrying about Fitz would have to wait till tomorrow.


Looking over the fields in the early Scottish light, Simmons couldn't help but smile. It was almost like dear old England but not quite. Better that America though which lacked the threat of rain and clouds yet the joy of the sun.

They were heading over to the area where alien activity was first detected. To be specific, it was inside a ravine that stretched for over 10km and was a rather large depth that Simmons didn't want to think about. They'd released the D.W.A. down into the darkness while the other team members had walked along the ridge with handheld detectors. Due to the lack of equipment available, Coulson decided to pack up. They had just finished when Fitz suddenly cried out.

"Max!"

The whole team looked across the hills in confusion. Ward was the first to speak. "Fitz there's no one there."

"Yes of course there is can't ye see him?" replied Fitz before placing fingers in position and letting out a huge wolf-whistle. Then came the sound of hooves to reveal a black horse heading for the team. The horse, which they all presume was Max, slowed down right in front of Fitz to playfully nudge his shoulder. And by a playful nudge, it was more like an attempt to topple Fitz over making the young man laugh heartily.

"How are ye?" he patted the horses nose "How's my great Friesian?"

"He's beautiful Fitz," came May's voice to everyone's surprise but it only seemed to make Fitz smile wider.

"Thank ye. I still remember th' day he was born. Could barely stay standin' for long. Now look at ye!" He paused and turned to Coulson "We're finished here aren't we?"

"Yes Fitz we are. But why…"

Before Coulson could finish his sentence Fitz had swung his leg over the horse, thanks to a small running start, before grabbing onto the horse's main.

"Well then, I'll see ye all back at th' house."

"But Fitz how are you going to ride without a saddle?" Skye's face seemed a mixture of worry and humour.

"What do ye think I spent my entire childhood doing lass?" And with a cheeky grin on his face, he dug his heels into the horse's side before gallivanting off.

Coulson smiled before shouting "Come on team, let's try and beat him!"

Despite May's disapproving stares they all piled in and sped down the road. But due to the road's Scottish nature of constantly twisting, it was a good 5 minutes before they caught sight of the Black stallion with the young engineer atop.

Since May was at the wheel Coulson couldn't help but notice how young Fitz seemed. His face lacked any of the tiered lines of worries that had littered his face for the past few months. It was good for them all to have a slight break even if they were still working a case.

Seizing the relatively flat plain before him, Fitz straightened his back and opened his arms to feel the wind rush past him. He whooped in joy as the horse sped down the grassy fields and the blue sky stretched out before him. At least for a while he could forget the world and just feel the sun.

Although Fitz rode valiantly bare-back much to the teams surprise, he wasn't able to beat the team to the house. They all proceeded to inspect the magnificent horse and May even got Fitz to promise her a ride. It was with an excited atmosphere that they all went down into the lab to get results. The younger agents headed over to the back of the lab to look over the details collected. Malcom came with offerings of tea and coffee for them and ensued a conversation with Coulson and May in the labs corner.

"So how long have you worked here?" asked Coulson.

"Well my dah was th' previous keeper a long time before Master was even born. In fact I was born merely eight years before Master. I worked since I was thirteen on th' fields before me dah died and I was appointed his position. I was nineteen at th' time." Malcom smiled. "I've been here ever since. Gave me th' chance to watch that little one grow up." he said proudly nodding towards Fitz.

"So you must know his parents very well." said May, hoping to get some information on Fitz's illusive parents.

A sadness suddenly took hold of his features. "Ah, his parents." Malcom sighed. The silence stretched on as the older man gaze focused on the young Scot, his eyes full of love and sadness.

"Let me ask ye a question." he finally said as he turned to look the agents in the eyes.

"Go ahead."

"Do any of ye call Leo by his full name?"

"What you mean Leopold?" Coulson raised his eyebrows in surprise at the question.

"Aye," nodded the Scot "Have ye ever called him that?"

"No." they both replied wondering where this conversation was going.

"Well that's because only one person calls him that, and this person is not one he gets on well with."

"You mean…"

But Coulson never finished. No, he got cut off by the look of pure fear and shacking that took hold of Fitz due to the impossibly loud shout that echoed through the stone walls, consisting of one word.

"LEOPOLD!"