Chapter 2 – A Motherly Affection

Mothers hold their child's hand for a moment and their heart for a lifetime.

Ward.

Watching Skye with the – Aiden was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. She had the touch of a mother and it surprised me for someone so young. Considering what she said before about her being a teenager in the orphanage, I guess she gained the skill at a very young age. To be honest I never actually saw a mother's affection like this, it was in my Gramsy but not on this level and it definitely wasn't in my mother.

"Why Aidan?" I asked her. "Out of all the names you could've picked why that one?"

"I have a list," she said. "If I get to pick a name of someone I go off that list."

Aidan grabbed her finger and shook it, it was incredible. He cooed at her, a smile playing at his lips. I never thought I would see the women I love in such a motherly character, I wonder what she'll be like when she becomes a real mother. Brave, probably, having all that experience with her. Can she make me fall for her even more?

"Do you want to hold him?" she asked.

"Oh, no," I said quickly. "I, just… I've never… Oh, God."

"What, is my robot afraid?" she asked mockingly.

"I've never held one before."
"It is easy, hold out your arms."
I did as she told me too and placed Aidan in my arms. I was going to panic, afraid I might drop the poor kid.

"You have to support his back and head," she said lining my arm up with his tiny body.

I forced my shaky hands to support his weight, even though I was afraid I might drop him. For some reason it seemed like he fit perfectly. He stared up at me with his tiny little fist in his mouth. For a moment time seemed to stop around me, Skye and Aidan. I wonder if she felt it too, she should have.

"See, nothing to be afraid of," she said. "You're a natural."

Aidan seemed so fragile and tiny, it felt like he was breakable in just flick. He reached at for me and caught my lip in his small hand, his moving up my cheek in a slow, curious touch. He then moved his hand back down to his own face and yawned, the little guy was tired. That's when I passed him back to Skye.

"He's curious about you," Skye said.

Skye got up and started rocking the baby as he fell asleep. I just sat there silently as wondering how this baby was curious about me. Did he think I was his father? No, Johnathan Hollow was his father. He must have seen him before me, right?

Skye

The next day Ward and I went to the shops, bought him some formula, baby food, nappies, clothes, bath item. Ward had asked me why he need his own personal bathing items.

"A newborns skin is more sensitive than an adults," I said.

The comments and looks we got from people in the store were phenomenal, commenting on how good we looked together, what a lovely couple and a few I bet the little one looks as gorgeous as you two. Ward just had a smug smile on his face the whole time, didn't even try to deny any of the comments.

On the way back was when we got into a conversation.

"So, I've been wondering," he started.

"Ooh, this can't be good," I said faking fear.

"Smartass," he said. "Seriously, how many kids did you take care of during the time you were in the orphanage?"

"A lot really, I lost count after a while."

"Are you still in contact with some of them?"

"The last one I spoke with happened three years ago, so no."

"The hardest part about it is what?"

"I'd say letting them go would be but for me it's trying not to get attached. There's been so many that I've gotten attached to."

I remember a lot of them the smiles and the times we played together, sometimes I miss that life. It had peace, serenity, love and hope. For all of us really. But when the orphanage was closing down, I took that as my calling and left, selfish right? But no, I don't think so. I would've just ended up in a foster home for the last what, last 6 months of my 17 years? I didn't want that.

"You okay?" Ward asked.

"Yeah," I said.

Back on the bus Jemma was entertaining Aidan with some of the equipment she had. He was holding something it made noises that put a big grin on his face.

"Oh, thank God you're back," she sighed in great relief. "I've been running out of ways to keep him occupied. Seriously, how do you do it? This boy has a short attention span."

"Hey, Skye, where do you want me to put all of this stuff?" Ward asked.

"Just put it on my bunk," I said. "I'll figure out what to do with it later."

He headed off upstairs while I went to attend to Aidan. He was staring off into space but when he saw me his smile was one of the biggest. It was so cute.

"Hey, Aidan," I said picking him up. "Did you miss me?"

"Seriously, how do you do it?" Fitz said going back to his computer. "It took Jemma a long time to get him to settle. And then you come along and he gets riled up by sight of you."

"Years of practise," I said.

Sirens went off in the lab and from what I can hear, upstairs a well. Red alert signs went up on the computer screen and monitor, with the giant SHIELD symbol showing.

"What is that?" I said.

"We've got visitors," May said over the intercom. "Everyone upstairs now."

Clutching Aidan to my chest I ran up the stairs, with Fitz and Jemma following behind. I was near the command centre when they started firing at us. I protectively got down and bent my body over Aidan as the glass flew everywhere. At this point I had no idea where AC, May or Ward were. God, I hope they're okay.

A piercing slice went through my arm, checking, I saw a large piece of glass the size of my hand lodged into my right arm. Just a few inches above my elbow.

"Skye?" I swear I heard Ward.

The shooting had stopped, so we got up and were found by Ward, May and AC.

"Hey, you okay?" Ward asked.

I nodded and Jemma got the glass out wrapped a piece of cloth around it which she got out of thin air I think.

"Okay, what is going on?" Fitz said.

TBC

Okay, thanks guys for reading and the awesome comments you gave me.

OK, is it me or are they trying to piss us off more when they keep pushing Skye and Grant apart? :C, Ugh, I hate it.

Until next time, Scream180