Daisy couldn't help but feel like she was at the principal's office. Coulson had been stony faced ever since she had brought the Maybot to him to explain. In hindsight, it was probably for the best that May was already on her side. Daisy didn't know how she could do this without her.

She sat outside his office, the android seated beside her as May and Coulson talked inside. Daisy glanced at the door. "Well, this is going well." She joked.

The android smiled a little. "Did you really think he's just be okay with it?"

Daisy shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe?"

She rolled her eyes. "He's not that much of a pushover."

Daisy hummed in agreement. "Still." She glanced at the door again. "He seems extra stubborn." She shot a look at her. "Gonna tell me what you did?"

"Nope."

Daisy shrugged. "Worth a shot."

A moment later the door opened and May stepped out. Her jaw was clenched, her shoulders tense. "He wants to talk to you." She said to the android, seeming annoyed.

Daisy grimaced. "Everything okay?"

May shook her head, some of the tension easing. "Yeah, just..." She waved the android in and sank into the seat as the door closed. "He won't tell me what she did."

Daisy smiled. "She won't tell me either." She hesitated. "Are you- worried?"

May shrugged awkwardly. "Phil- Coulson's just treating me differently. I'd like to know why."

Daisy narrowed her eyes. "What do you think happened?"

"I don't know."

She rolled her eyes. "Come on. He's fine, you're fine, what's the worst that could have happened?"

Melinda swallowed. She knew the worst that could have happened. Her duplicate could have acted on her stupid feelings for Phil and ruined everything. Now he was keeping her at arm's length, refused to hold her gaze for more than a moment, spoke in that overly polite tone. The worst that could have happened? She had lost her best friend for good, and there was nothing she could do about it.

Daisy hesitated for a moment, then put her hand on May's. "It'll be okay." She tried to assure.

May tried to smile back, but she knew it didn't stick. She couldn't help it. She was scared.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

The android was silent, waiting for Phil to speak first.

He laughed softly. "I thought that I'd see it now." He said, "But I can't. You're still just like her."

She shrugged. "Not totally." God, this hurt. It was Phil. All she wanted was to tell him how much she loved him, how much she needed him, to fall into his arms. But she couldn't. He didn't love her. At best he loved the woman outside. She swallowed. "I-I'm sorry for what I did."

Phil regarded her hesitantly. "Which part?"

Her heart seized. "Don't." She said softly. "You know, don't- this is hard enough." It hurt. God, it hurt so much.

Phil cocked his head. Huh. "You really are like her, aren't you? It's not a trick."

She shook her head. Phil rounded his desk, standing closer, but still not within reach. "So why tell Daisy?" Why not me?

The android scoffed. "You really need to ask?"

"I'd like to hear it."

She sighed superfluously. "I felt guilty, happy?" She said impatiently, looking up.

The android was surprised at how much empathy there was in his eyes. That hurt too.

Phil looked down for a moment. "I'm the one who kissed you." He said softly, colouring.

She shrugged. "I didn't stop you." She bit her lip. "I didn't tell you- and I..."

"Melinda-"

"Don't." She said firmly. "I'm not her."

Coulson hesitated but took a step closer. "No," He agreed, "You're not. But you got her back. So I think I owe you for that."

He went to put a hand on her shoulder, but the android shied away. "Let me leave." She murmured, "And we'll call it even."

Phil sighed. "Okay." He said quietly. He wished he could help her more. He couldn't though. This wasn't Melinda, she didn't want his help. He could see the pain written over every inch of her. "I forgive you."

The android nodded. "Thank you." She swallowed. "And... tell her."

Phil looked to the window. "I'll try." He said. "Thank you for helping get her back."

She shrugged. "What else could I do?"

Coulson smiled at her, all warmth and familiarity, and for a moment she forgot that she wasn't real. Maybe he did too, because he shook himself. "I'll call the Koenigs." He said. "They're still doing SHIELD work, and they should be able to keep an eye on you. Patch you up if you need it."

The android nodded silently. "Okay. Thank you Phil."

He looked away. "You're welcome." Phil hesitated. "If you need to talk, or anything... we could still be friends."

She shook her head. "No. We can't. I- thank you, but..." Tears welled in her eyes and she fought them back. "I can't." She swallowed the lump in her throat. All she wanted to do was collapse into Phil's arms, to let this all be real, but she couldn't. It wasn't. "I'm sorry." She left before she totally lost control.

Phil watched her go, fighting every impulse he had to chase after her. It was impossible not to empathise with that android, but it was clear that she wasn't interested in anything resembling pity. May never had been though.

Daisy shot him a look through the open door before she followed after the android. He sat down with a heavy sigh and rubbed his eyes. So much for just getting May back.

Coulson was about to begin the process of finding the Koenigs when his door opened once again. He frowned for a moment, confused as to why the android was back, then softened. Not the robot. Just May. "Hey." He said softly, looking just over her shoulder. It was all he could do now.

Melinda hesitated, then approached his desk. "The Koenigs?"

He shrugged. "Makes sense. Any thoughts?"

"No." May said, leaning against his desk. It was getting harder and harder not to look at her. "She seemed... upset."

Coulson sighed. "It's just one of those situations." He murmured. "I wanna help her, but... she doesn't really have anyone."

"She has Daisy."

Phil nodded. "That's something."

Melinda bit her lip. He wasn't going to say it on his own, but she was tired of this. Trying to catch his eye, trying to sneak the truth out of him. "What did she do?" She asked, voice cracking against her will. "Why won't you look at me?"

Phil's hand clenched and his pulse raced. "Melinda, I-" He didn't know what to say.

She took a calming breath. "Phil, it wasn't me. Whatever happened- you can't blame me for it. That isn't fair."

He sighed. "I-I'm not blaming you." Phil forced himself to look at her.

Melinda's eyes were just like they had always been, bright and questioning and warm. Her hair danced around her shoulders and all he wanted to do was bury his hands in it and pull her close and kiss away her confusion and worry... He looked away.

May bit her lip. "Phil, please, look at me."

He took a moment, then raised his eyes again. God, she was so beautiful.

May tried to force the words out. "Phil-" Of course she couldn't. Of course. "I can't lose you. Just tell me what she did and we can fix it." She took a chance and put her hand over his.

Phil looked at their hands for a moment. "What if I don't want to fix it?"

She swallowed. "What do you mean?"

He looked up at her. "I-" Screw it. One time. Just this one time he wanted to kiss Melinda May and have it actually be her. He would apologise, they could forget it ever happened, but for now...

Phil stood rapidly and cupped her cheek with one hand, pressing their lips together. Dimly he was aware that this could only make things worse, but he didn't really care. All he cared about was the feeling of her lips against his, her hair brushing his neck, her hand on his back deepening the kiss.

Wait, what?

He refused to pull away, but Phil was surprised to find that Melinda was actually kissing him back. Both of her arms wrapped around him, pulling him impossibly closer. He could feel his heart hammering in his chest. What was going on?

Melinda pulled away first, shyly pressing her lips together. She remained close to him. "So..." She said softly, ducking her head a little.

Phil couldn't help but smile. She looked so cute. "So." He agreed.

She laughed softly, leaning her head against his shoulder. "Don't make me talk Phil."

He grinned. "You're the one who started talking." He let his thumb brush over where the cut was on the android's face. Melinda leaned into his touch almost imperceptibly, and he kissed her again, lightly, fleetingly.

She smiled. "Gonna tell me what she did?"

Phil's eyes were warm. "What, you haven't figured it out?"

May pretended to think about it. "I have no idea." She teased.

He rolled his eyes fondly, squeezing the ticklish spot on her side in revenge. "She didn't do anything, okay? I kissed her."

Her smile was so beautiful. "Always with the worst timing Phil."

He snorted a laugh. "It's not like you could have done any better."

Melinda smirked. "We both know I'm good at everything." It had been so long since she had felt safe being this outwardly teasing. There was a bubble of happiness in her stomach though, one that she couldn't shake. One that she never wanted to go away.

Phil hummed in agreement, still smiling at her impossibly widely. "You are." He agreed, and this time they met half way, the kiss gentle and safe. "I love you." He whispered once they separated. "I know I shouldn't say it right now, but I almost lost you and I'm tired of not saying it, because I do. I love you so much."

May bit her lip and buried her face in his chest. She mumbled something under her breath and Coulson grinned.

"What was that?" He asked teasingly.

She said it again, slightly louder.

"Didn't quite catch it."

Melinda huffed and Phil chuckled. She tried once more, but the sound was muffled by his jacket.

"Pardon?"

"Phil." She said clearly.

He laughed softly, "Okay, I'm sorry." He murmured, kissing her again, their noses brushing and making them both smile. "I love how you can't say it."

"I love you."

Coulson gaped. It was rushed and scared and broken, and yet... He beamed. "I love you too." He said. "So much." He knew how hard it was for Melinda to speak her feelings. How much she must have wanted to say it. To him. "I love you."

She scoffed. "Are you done?"

"I'll never be done." Phil grinned. "So you'd better get used to hearing it."

May licked her lips nervously. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

He smiled warmly. "Yes, I want this. I want you. If you want to take it slow, or... wait a little, I understand." Phil's thumb brushed her neck. "I want you to be happy." He kissed her again. "I- I want to be the person who makes you happy."

Melinda smiled tremulously. "You do, Phil." She murmured, "You always have." It was so easy to bury her face in his chest. "I love you."

Phil pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I guess that means you want this too?" He asked, and she laughed softly.

"Shut up." May muttered, trying to glare at him.

There were stars in his eyes. "You're so beautiful."

She scoffed, ducking her head. "Shut up."

"Especially when you're embarrassed."

"Phil."

"I love you."

"Stop it."

"Never."