AN: thank you for the reviews! here is the next chapter. hope you like it!
The bonfire idea was perfect for the location of the playground. Where it is exactly is of course, classified. And the playground itself is underground, but the outside of it is a forest. A perfect place for camping.
Skye and Trip went out to collect the firewood they'll need, and set up their spot right outside the hanger door. FitzSimmons made sure they had enough marshmallows for smores, and made sure their beers were kept cold in the ice box. After getting everything on check, they positioned themselves around the bonfire. The four of them forming a box around the fire, on the left of Skye was Fitz, Simmons on her right, and Triplett on the other side of the fire.
"Thanks for coming guys." Skye smiled at them. They all had their beers beside them, stick for the smores, and different snacks each one brought. "I guess I'll be doing all the talking tonight." She said as she looked at them. After taking a gulp from her beer bottle, she began. "I know we've all been through hell for the past month. I can't even begin to describe what you guys had to go through," she said, eyeing Fitz and Simmons, "and with you," she looked at Agent Triplett, "not knowing your SO was responsible for hundreds of deaths, including some of your friends," she paused and looked at their bonfire as she continued, taking a deep breath, "of course my SO was no different. Nothing but a backstabbing traitor." She felt her heart tighten at the memory of Ward. She tried hard to fight back her tears.
"But you guys know what? I believe that the Ward we knew," she paused as the others looked at her, "the Ward we trusted, cared for, believed in… I believe he died. And left us with someone we can never forgive. And when he died, he took something from each of us into his grave. It might have been the ability to trust, care, or believe in someone again. And I know it's gonna take a long time for us to get it back, but letting go of the Ward we knew will be our first step," she paused.
"We can't let that Ward leave us like this, broken. Instead of focusing on Ward's betrayal, what we should be looking at is the lesson that he taught us. Not the part where we never trust anyone ever again, but choosing whom to be loyal to. He gave his whole life to a man he thought saved him from himself, but the truth was, the only one that man cared for was his own skin. And now that man is dead, he has nothing, and he betrayed the only ones who truly cared for him.
"He gave us a lesson to choose what is right, to think about the decisions and choices we make. And I don't know about you guys but I know I'm making the right decision now. I'm willing to give my life serving the new SHIELD, knowing that the man behind it is AC. A man dedicated to the true principle of this organization, someone willing to give up his life just to save us. A man who lost so much on an organization he didn't even know was corrupted, but is still willing to believe after everything," she smiled at the fond memory of Coulson. "He didn't let them break him and what he believes in. And we can't let them break us either." She paused as she looked at each of them.
"So, are you guys with me or what?" she smiled as each of them looked up to her and smiled back, a genuine hopeful smile. She raised her beer bottle and waited as the others followed her, "this is for the Ward we knew, for all the betrayal we've felt, for all the ones we've lost because of HYDRA," she paused for a second, "for the new SHIELD, and for Director Coulson, the man we know we can trust with our lives. It's gonna be hard to rebuild SHIELD, and it's gonna take a long while to get things running back to normal again, but I'm confident we can do it, as long as we're all together. Cheers!"
"Cheers!" the rest of them chanted as they drank their beer.
They spent the rest of their night sharing stories, fond memories, and experiences, eating their different snacks and smores, and drinking beer.
Since then the atmosphere surrounding them changed, finally getting rid of the blanket wrapped around them, and cutting the rope that was holding down their spirits. Slowly bringing back the faith they had in life, the comfort they all felt when they are together, and finally giving them the closure they needed for them to move on.
AN: what'd you think? I'm also thinking if I should add another chapter... this time with May and Coulson... would you guys read it? Let me know what you think :) thanks for reading again!xx