Family Matter CHAPTER 3

Three years later Skye and Grace were at school, Grace now fluent in sign language and descent at writing what she needed as she was 8, Skye was 13 and at high school, Maria had graduated and had been accepted into the SHIELD operations academy. Grace was finishing off the maths worksheet that the teacher had given her the last couple of days she had been giving her tests, Grace did not mind she found them easy. It was almost the end of school and the class was loud and excited for the weekend. Grace did not understand why she was doing work while the others got to do choosing but as the teacher was next to her watching her as she wrote down her answers she did not want to complain. Several times though she found herself being distracted by the other kids and Ms Garland had to tap the paper to get her to focus. When she was finally finished she looked back at the teacher who nodded and let her go play. She saw the look of surprise spread over her face as she did not go over to the other kids to play instead she went over and got a book from the bookcase and back over to her desk.

May was called in for a meeting with Grace's teacher. They told her she was intelligent and advanced beyond the others in her class, that Grace might be getting bored in class. They were concerned that Grace did not play with the other children, she did not play with toys or interact in imaginative play. May had countered that she does have a couple friends and found to be creative in other ways, through art and music. Which the teacher agreed with but for Grace's benefit it would be best to move her up to the next year. To bump her up a grade to challenge her more, they reassured her if it did not work she could always be moved back. May agreed, if it was what Grace would want. Turned out Grace did not mind…so she was bumped up to the next grade. A week had past and she found the work bearable but was happy when she came home. She was at the table finishing some work with Yeye as he was there looking after them as May was working. When the door opened and Clint came in he seemed troubled as he kissed Grace on the head before plonking down on the couch with a sigh. Grace moved over to him with concern and sat across from him.

'You Okay?' She signed to him as he looked over at her.

"Yeah, just long day is all. How was your day?"

'Better now that Yeye promised to teach me to cook.' Grace signed

"Did he now?"

'Yep. You want to talk about it?'

"I got in trouble at work today." Clint shrugged and watched how Grace only waited for him to elaborate.

"Where is Skye?" He asked changing the topic.

'In her room. Why? What did you do?' Grace signed

"Grown up stuff." He replied making Grace frown

'Skye could use you, maybe you could use her to. She is a good listener.' Grace signed before walking away from him.

"Grace I didn't..."

"Leave her Clint, I have her in the kitchen. You should talk to Skye though. If not about you, then listen to her. I am up for a nice cup of tea after their bed time." Yeye said moving over to the kitchen calling Grace over to him. Clint sighed again before getting up and moving for the stairs and heading up to Skye's room.

"I'm busy." Skye called back through the door after he knocked

"Even for a surprise visit from your big brother?" Clint asked, he heard a shriek and running feet which was followed by the door being swung open and she leapt into his arms. "I see moms lessons have been working." Clint commented as he had to take several steps back from the force.

"Up early in the mornings before school if you want to join. Then we have lessons again in the afternoon for half an hour when she is here." Skye grinned back taking a step back and looking him over making sure he is in one piece. "I am glad you are here." she added

"Me too, kiddo me too. You want to talk about it?" He asked once they were in her room, he was sitting on her desk chair and she was lying on her bed.

"It is nothing really." Skye said looking down.

"Skye?"

"It is just, we will be moving soon no doubt but this time I got into the school soccer team and...I don't want to leave. But I know that I am being selfish as I know why we move...I just want to be here long enough to be in one team for a season." Skye said looking down.

"You will need to talk to mom." Clint said "but if it helps I do not think you will be moving for a couple months at least." Clint said

"You know something? Are you alright? Has something happened..."

"Mom is fine...so is Phil and Maria. I was not on a mission with them." Clint reassured when Skye opened her mouth to ask about them. "I did something I was not meant to. I went against orders...but I feel as though what I did was the right thing to do."

"Then it was the right thing to do. Trust your judgment Clint. That is what mom always says. How much trouble are you in for doing it your way?" Skye asked

"Been suspended. Mom and Phil are sticking by me backing my decision. That is why she is not home yet. Dealing with my mess." Clint looked down shaking his head before running his fingers through his hair. Skye got up and moved over to him placing her hand on his shoulder.

"You did the right thing Clint, mom cleaning up your mess as you put it means she agrees. Now you are home can you please help me with this maths problem?" Skye asked which is how Clint ended up spending the next hour helping her with her homework until they were called down for dinner.

6 months later much to Skye's delight they are still in the same house and she had made the soccer team and they were doing really well. Grace had been happy learning to cook by Yeye but also Phil when he was around. School has been going great for both May girls and as for Clint he was busy with his new partner Natasha who had been cleared for work under probation of working with Melinda and Phil. May even ended up taking on a rookie from the academy a Maria Hill one of the academies top students. Natasha working alongside this delta strike team pretty quickly figured out what they were hiding but did not let on that she knew the family ties between them even though both Clint and Melinda suspected she knew. Maria had sent the reports off and was heading to her apartment when her phone went off indicating a text she opened it and ended up changing direction and headed to the diner. She entered the diner and scanned the crowd before returning her attention to the reason she was there. Her sister was sitting in a booth stirring a chocolate milkshake. She sat down across from her meeting her gaze before they returned to the chocolate goodness in front of her.

"What is wrong?" Maria asked after ordering a coffee and they had sat in silence for a few minutes.

'Am I a freak?' Grace asked looking up to meet her eyes, it looked like she wanted to cry, which surprised Maria as over the last three years Grace had never really cried. Two things she found strange about her sister she never cried and would not play with toys.

'Who says you are a freak?' Maria asked

'You did not answer my question.' Grace pointed out

'How are you here? You should be at home?'

'Why am I different?' Grace asked making Maria sigh, her sister was very good at turning questions around or changing the topic all together.

"Are you going to finish that?" Maria asked when the waitress came back Maria asked to make the drinks to go and paid for them before guiding her sister out of the diner and to her car.

'Where are we going?'

"Home. Yeye will be worried let alone mom." Maria said

'You did not answer my questions.'

"We will talk at home." Maria said and ended up taking her home. When they arrived they were greeted by a worried mother and an upset grandfather.

"Where have you been?" May asked pulling Grace in for a hug before checking her over. When she stepped back she looked angry and Grace knew she was in trouble.

"How about we talk about this in the lounge." Maria said looking at her mother with a pointed look. She nodded before leading them inside, Grace noticed that she did not let go of her hand.

"I think it might be time for a trip to the farm." Maria stated after Grace apologized for scaring them and promised she would not run off again.

"Skye has that big test coming up." Melinda replied

"I could take her. For the weekend at least I think she could really use it." Maria said but Melinda could not ask why as Grace came back into the room after going to apologize to Yeye for worrying him.

Maria did end up taking Grace to the farm where she got to use her powers under supervision of Maria as Skye had to stay in the city for her test but once she had finished it she and Melinda ended up going out there also making it a family weekend minus Clint as he was a way on a mission with Natasha. Maria ended up talking with Grace each night reminding her that she was not a freak but was special and that she was gifted in many ways.