Hello fellow Skyeward shippers! I'm glad that you guys think the fight scene in the last chapter wasn't as terrible as I thought it was. That makes me feel better about myself and my writing. So, how do you guys feel about a new chapter? I knew you'd like it.

Now, enough with the terrible banter and let me get on with my story! Enjoy!

"What?" Skye exclaimed, "You think Grant Ward saved me?"

Phil looked at Avery in shock, "Grant Ward?" He repeated, "You mean the spoiled rich brat that lives next door? The one who disappeared at the beginning of the school year?"

Avery turned to Phil with a questioning look, "You know about Grant Ward?" She asked.

"Yeah." Phil answered, "I met him once. That kid was a complete asshole. There's no way that he saved Skye. He doesn't care for anyone but himself."

Avery shrugged, "I think it was." She turned to Skye. "Skye, which way did the hoodie guy run?"

Skye was feeling a little bit better so she sat up fully. "Towards the Ward mansion." The pieces clicked in Phil and Skye's minds, "Oh my God. Grant Ward did save me." For some reason, this brought a smile to her face. She carefully got up and walked over to the window. Pulling back the curtain, she stared at the large mansion.

"I can't believe it." Avery said softly from the bed, "The first time Grant Ward comes out of his mansion in months is to save you."

"And he didn't even take credit." Skye pointed out. She turned to her father and new best friend, "I need to thank him. I'm going over to his house to thank him."

"Okay." Avery interjected, "Obviously there's been injuries to your head, because you're not thinking straight." Skye snorted and rolled her eyes. Avery stood up and walked over to her, "Skye, this is Grant Ward we're talking about. When he went to SHIELD, he had the hottest temper of anyone. The smallest things sent him into a rampage."

Phil came to stand by Avery, "Avery's right, sweetheart. It's way too dangerous to go over there." Skye groaned. Her father was one of those super overprotective fathers. He worried about her safety every second. It was sweet, but she was almost 18 and can take care of herself. Phil saw his daughter's mood and shook his head, "I'll leave you two to do your homework. Call me if you need anything."

Avery nodded her head as Phil left. Skye just crossed her arms in defiance. As soon as the door clicked shut, Avery turned to Skye with a knowing look. "I may have only known you for two days, but I know you're planning something." Avery pointed out.

"Of course I am." Skye smirked. Avery laughed a little.

"Well," Avery said slowly, "What kind of best friend would I be if I didn't help you defy your father's orders and do something completely dangerous and somewhat stupid?" Skye laughed and walked over. The two girls hugged and Skye started explaining what they needed to do.

Back at his mansion, Grant was mentally beating himself up for being so reckless. Why did he have to go out there and defend her? She didn't even know he existed. What was so special about this girl that he couldn't stand to see Miles torture her? He was just lucky Miles didn't recognize him. H couldn't let anyone see him while he's like this. Oh please. Why was he fooling himself? He'll be like this forever. The only people to see him for the rest of his life would be his staff.

Jemma Simmons had made him a prisoner in his own home.

That night, after they had finished their homework, Avery left. Skye heard her talking to Phil downstairs. All Avery had to do is convince Phil that she just needed to rest and not to disturb her. Then when Phil was distracted, she would climb out of her window and sneak over to the Ward mansion. That wasn't too hard, right? I mean, the Grant guy saved her life. The least she could do was go over and say thank you. It was the right thing to do. Plus she was curious as to what became of him.

Something about the Ward mansion and the ever so mysterious Grant was calling to her. And it was a call that she couldn't resist even if she tried.

As soon as the talking stopped, Skye heard Phil's footsteps coming up. Of course, being him, he would come to see if what Avery said was true. She quickly threw the covers over herself and faced the wall opposite the door. Sure enough, she soon heard the door open and light spilled into the room from the hallway. "Skye?" Phil called softly.

"Mmm." Was all Skye responded with.

"Just came to check on you, baby girl." Phil explained, "You must be tired. I'll just let you sleep." Skye strained and heard the soft click of the door closing. The retreating footsteps softened and soon disappeared.

Skye climbed out of the bed and walked over to the window. She slid it open as quietly as she could. Feeling the cold of the late night air, she quickly slipped on her new track jacket. It was the school colors of midnight blue and gold with the school symbol on the back. She slipped into her black uggs and swung her legs over the windowsill. She looked back at her bedroom door. "Sorry, daddy." She whispered.

Skye took a deep breath and jumped the short distance from her window to the ground. Luckily, one of her track and field events was the long jump, so she knew how to land without hurting herself. She crept quietly around the side of the house. Looking around and towards the mansion, she saw the lights were still on. She pulled her phone from her hoodie pocket and checked the time. Only 8:50. It wasn't that late.

She quickly and quietly darted down the street and up to the front door of the mansion. Gathering up all her courage, she raised her fisted hand and knocked on the white French doors. A few seconds later, the door was opened by an older woman (maybe around early 40's?) in a simple gray dress. She seemed shocked at Skye's appearance at the door. "Hello." Skye said, breaking the silence.

"Hi." The woman quietly responded, "Are you lost?"

"No." Skye shook her head, "I'm here to talk to Grant Ward."

The woman seemed to become even more shocked but for some reason had a smile on her face, "You are?"

Skye nodded, "Yes. My name's Skye Coulson. I live right next door. Grant saved my life last night and I was hoping to thank him." Skye smiled sweetly. The woman looked nervously inside the house and then back at Skye.

The woman seemed to give in and said to Skye, "I guess that's a good enough reason." She opened the door wider, "Come in, darling." Skye smiled at her small victory and walked into the mansion.

It was even bigger on the inside. A grand staircase led upstairs in front of her. To her left a living area was arranged. A white couch sat in front of a huge plasma TV. To her right, she could see what looked to be a gourmet kitchen. An aging man in a tuxedo with a smile on his face walked into the room. "Martha, who was at the…" He stopped when he saw Skye. "Oh my goodness."

"Bertram," The woman, or Martha, said to the butler, "This is Skye. She's our neighbor. She came to see Grant and thank him for saving her life last night." Bertram's smile grew bigger at the sentence.

"But of course!" Bertram exclaimed. He took Skye's hand and led her into the kitchen. "Why don't I whip you up something while Martha goes to get Grant?" Skye just nodded kindly as she hadn't eaten all day due to her being unconscious. Martha clapped her hands and dashed up the grand staircase.

Skye slipped onto a chair at the table while she watched Bertram rush around the kitchen, quickly cooking something that looked and smelled delicious. A few moments later, her heart seemed to stop as she heard a voice roar, "WHAT?!"

Bertram froze where he was and started to slightly shake. Skye stood up to come to his aid but then froze herself as a figure appeared in the dark hallway. She recognized the shadow from last night. Bertram turned to the figure. "Master…"

"What is she doing here?" The voice yelled. A scarred hand came out from the shadow and pointed at Skye.

Bertram started stammering but Skye answered first. "It wasn't their faults." She didn't want to seem intimidated in front of this figure that so obviously scared the staff. "I convinced them to let me come in." She heard something like a growl coming from the figure, and he turned around. He started to stalk off, but Skye's voice stopped him, "I know who you are."

The figure turned and saw Skye standing in the doorway of the kitchen. "You do?" The figure asked. Skye nodded and crossed her arms over her chest. "Then who am I?"

"You're Grant Ward." Skye answered confidently, "The boy who everyone says was spoiled rotten. The boy who disappeared at the beginning at the school year after he pissed off Jemma Simmons." Grant admitted another growl sound and leaned against a wall. "You're also the boy who saved my life from Miles and the football team last night."

"You remember that? I thought you were knocked out." He sounded surprised.

"I wasn't. I lost consciousness after you ran off." Skye explained, "That's the reason I'm here tonight. I wanted to thank you."

"Thank me?"

"Yes." Skye decided to be truthful with him, "But I also wanted to know what happened to you. I want to know what Jemma did to you that kept you from going back to school."

"Of course!" Grant suddenly yelled, "That's all everybody wants to know! What happened to the golden boy of SHIELD? You're just like everybody else!" He turned and started to stomp up the staircase.

"Wait!" Skye yelled. He stopped but didn't turn back. "I'll come back."

"What?"

"If you show me what happened to you, I'll come back." Skye repeated, "Every day after school, I'll come back here and I guess… hang out with you." He turned to her and saw hope sparkling in those dark eyes of hers.

"You would do that?"

"Everyone deserves a friend." She smiled slightly.

"Okay. Deal." Grant said after a few moments of thought.

Skye breathed a sigh of relief and braced herself for the truth behind the stories, "Awesome. Now, your end of the deal." She stepped forward slightly and put her fingers on the light switch. She flicked it and the lights came on.

She gasped at the sight before her. His face, and as far as she could see, his entire body was covered in hideous scars. They ran all the way around his neck, over his eyes, down his arms, everywhere. Though he looked hideous, she couldn't stop feeling like something about him was calling to her. And just like the call of the mansion, she couldn't resist this call no matter how hard she tried.

Okay. How did you guys like this chapter? I know in both Beastly and Beauty & the Beast, Belle (or Lindy) was kept almost prisoner in the castle, but Phil didn't know she went out. You don't think he would report her missing and have a huge investigation going on for her? That storyline would just get messy. Anyways, R&R please!

Quote of the Day: The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched- they must be felt with the heart –Helen Keller

Song Suggestion: Carry On –Ashley Monroe