Melinda's internal alarm clock goes off so she knows it's about 5:30 and it's time for tai chi. Looking at the clock it does in fact say 5:29 so she carefully climbs out of bed and gets into her training gear. She decided before getting her tea that she would check on Skye. Popping her head into her little girls room she finds an empty room and a bare bed. 'Oh no, she must have had an accident – did she strip her bed?' Mel remembers seeing Leo's room open so maybe he helped her this morning? Entering the living room she could have cried at the sight before her. Leo and Skye both asleep on the sofa, snoring softly. She snaps a few pictures before going into the kitchen to make her tea.
"That smells good!"
Mel didn't even hear Leo until he was right behind her. She was so glad at least one of her children appreciated a fine brew of tea.
"Morning sweetie, would you like some?" She says gesturing to the kettle.
"Yes please, Skye is like a hot water bottle but the living room can get kinda cold!"
"Speaking of Skye, did you change her sheets this morning? Is that why you two were down here so early?"
Leo got up to get Skye's sheets out of the washer
"Actually Skye had already stripped the bed and was downstairs before I found her. She was crying and wet so I sent her to wash and change while I put this stuff in the wash – then we had milk and cookies and laid on the sofa"
Melinda smiled at the course of events – Leo was more like Natasha than she ever realised.
"Like Natasha did for you your first night here… Thank you Leo! I'm glad that she trusts at least one of us here." Melinda pulls him into a bone crushing hug.
"Are you kidding mom? That little girl hangs off every word you say. It was so obvious that she would fit in here for the moment Dad told me her name!"
"Your such a good boy Leo, love you"
"Love you too mom"
Melinda goes down into the basement to start her tai chi and Leo returns to the living room and sits next to Skye's sleeping form and starts to read. About an hour later Skye starts to wake. Blinking her eyes open she remembers everything that happened last night. Wetting the bed. Dirty sheets. Crying in front of Leo. Milk and Cookies. Cuddles with Leo. The last two things weren't too bad but that didn't matter.
"Hey little one – are you awake?" Leo was now closing his book and looking at her. Her thumb makes it's way to her mouth.
"Yes… I sowwy 'bout last night. I go upstairs and get out of your top now"
Leo watches her rub the sleep out of her eyes and stand up. 'Wow, Skye sounds a lot younger right now – is that because she just woke up?'
"It's okay Skye – personally I think you look quite cute in that top, maybe you can keep it. You don't need to say sorry about last night either – what are big brothers for!"
Skye just plays with the bottom of the top – she does really like it and it smells like Leo – that same 'homey' smell Melinda has. "Are you sure cos you can 'ave it back" She said around her thumb.
"I am positive! Actually I would be honoured if you would keep it because not many people like my clothes… but anyway the more important question is… do you want pancakes or cereal for breakfast?"
Leo swoops forward and picks her up – she only tenses for a minute before relaxing into his shoulder and letting him carry her to the kitchen.
"I've never had pancakes before…"
"Never had pancakes?! Well my little one that will have to change!" Leo says as he sits her on the side and starts to put on an apron. Something flips in Skye's stomach when he calls her 'my little one' – she never been anyone's 'little one' before. She's only ever been the annoying foster kid or the needy brat. She liked it here. The Coulson's, even Phil, treated her like a person. But then again she's had other foster homes that have been like this but then they changed and she had only been here one night so they could change too. However what's to stop Skye enjoying this home while she is still here?
Leo has now go all the ingredients on the side and was about to crack some eggs when Phil came into the room in Captain America Pyjamas and huge grin on his face. Skye instantly took her thumb out of her mouth and Leo could have sworn he saw her age three years mentally.
"Good morning you cheeky monkeys. Now Skye I hope your not letting Leo make you pancakes – everyone knows I make the best chocolate chip pancakes in the world!"
Skye could tell Phil was joking so she laughed and put one of the blueberries Leo had given her in her mouth and said "Well I've never had pancakes but I do like blueberries very much and I'm usually not allowed chocolate so…" Her confidence running out by the end of the speech 'I hope Phil isn't mad..'
Phil did a bug belly laugh and grabbed the chocolate chips out of the fridge. "Well my little star I think chocolate chip pancakes are the perfect way to start the day so you can decide which you like best – Blueberries or chocolate"
"You mean you are going to make both?" Skye questioned.
This time Leo answered. "Of course Skye how will you choose other wise, are you ready old man… on your marks, get set, GO!"
Skye just sat on the counter top watching both men make their pancakes. Every now and then Phil would give her some chocolate chips and grin at her. The chips did taste really good but she's not sure how good they will taste in a pancake. She could smell them now – they smelt amazing and her tummy rumbled with hunger. Leo lifted her off the counter and spoke to her.
"Can you go and get mom from the basement? I'm sure she wouldn't want to miss the competition"
As she went down to the basement she could hear Phil saying that it was unfair because Melinda LOVED blueberry pancakes. When Skye reaches the bottom of the basement stairs she could see Melinda swaying with her eyes shut and moving her arms really slowly. 'She looks beautiful' Skye thinks. Melinda opened her eyes to find Skye sat on the bottom step watching her.
"Hi sweetie, I saw you sleeping with Leo this morning – you know you can always come and get us in the middle of night if you need us but I am glad that you let Leo help you."
Skye didn't really want to talk about it again so she pointed up stairs and said "Leo and Phil are making pancakes but they both said theirs were better so now they are having a competition… I'm the judge – they said to come and get you! You can be a judge too!"
"Come on then munchkin – let me guess, is Phil making chocolate chip pancakes?" Melinda was now following Skye back up the stairs.
"Yes, how you know?" Skye said stopping at the top step and tilting her head to the side.
"Because, my baby girl, you have chocolate all around your mouth and Phil is known for bribing the judge" Melinda says as she scoops Skye into her arms and wipes the chocolate from her mouth. They enter the kitchen and there is flour everywhere. Melinda makes a frown with her face and Skye thinks she's going to shout but then she just turns and looks at Skye and says "Looks like the boys had fun with out us".
Phil and Leo are trying to clear up and serve the pancakes before Melinda can be mad. Once they are sat at the table there is two big plates in the middle of the table – one with blueberry pancakes and one with chocolate chip pancakes. Both Skye and Melinda take one bite of each type of pancake before making their decision.
"Phil I love you but Leo's pancakes are so much better…" Melinda gives Leo a wink and Leo pokes his tongue out at Phil – that makes Skye laugh and Melinda roll her eyes.
"I like Phil's because I like chocolate and that way everyone wins because you have one point each!" Skye says while putting another forkful of pancake in her mouth.
"That's a very nice idea Skye thank you! Now lets eat up before they get cold" Phil grinned at her and put another chocolate pancake on her plate.
She had eaten two and a half pancakes and three handfuls of blueberries before she was full up. Melinda said they were going to go shopping today, Skye didn't really want them spending more money on her but she didn't want to argue so she stayed quiet.
After breakfast Melinda sent both Skye and Leo upstairs to get dressed, Melinda helped Skye get into her only t-shirt and shorts and then went back downstairs. This time Melinda didn't flinch (or at least noticeably flinch) at the sight of Skye's bruises. Melinda just rubbed her fingers over the lines on her arm and places a gentle kiss over the mark of a not so gentle act.
Downstairs everyone gets in the car; they were going to drop Phil and Leo off at the food store then Melinda and Skye were going to go to the mall to pick some new clothes for her. On the way there Skye thinks about the great morning they had. Waking up cuddled with Leo and TWO types of pancakes. She really likes how nice Phil was this morning, maybe he wasn't mad about last night. Skye still wasn't sure why Melinda and Phil wanted to buy her new clothes…
'I don't deserve this – I'm Nobody, I'm broken…'
