Okay. I know it's been a while and you guys are probably wondering how the hell I'm going to explain everything. Well you're about to find out. As for the "it's been a while" thing, I've been super busy. My life has been a little crazy since I last updated. Plus I have school starting in a few days and my sweet 16 party to plan, so I have had a little stress on my mind. So sorry if some of this comes off a little weird. I'm doing this pretty much in the middle of the night and I had this whole thing planned but whenever I'm stressed out my ideas go flying out the window. So, here goes nothing. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

BTW, if you hadn't already seen it, I posted a new one-shot. "A Special Night" is up and for all you loving fans it's a Ward-was-never-Hydra AU. So, go check it out if you got the time!


"Some?" Skye repeated, not caring how rude it came out, "You've got a lot of explaining to do!" Her necklace started to glow again from its place just above Ward's SHIELD dog tags.

"You still have it." Loki said in awe, gently running his fingers over the snowflake.

"Yeah. I do." Skye said, "I've had it my whole life."

"Your mother must have given it to you." Loki concluded.

"How do you know that?" Ward asked, protectively wrapping an arm around Skye's waist.

"Because I was the one who gave it to her mother." Loki explained.

"Wait," May interjected, "You gave Skye's mother that necklace?"

"I did." Loki confirmed, "If we could sit down, I would explain everything."

"Niece," Thor addressed, "Is there anywhere in your palace of ice that we could sit?"

Skye just nodded mutely and pulled off one of her gloves. She led them down a hallway to a room that could have been a living room but there was nothing in it. With a simple swirl of her hand, Skye created a few chairs, a couch, and a love seat forming a circle. All were made of the same shimmering ice covered in a sprinkle of snow for comfort. The team still was awe-struck by her talent. Skye blushed under their gazes and tugged her glove back on. The team and guests settled into the chairs and couch. Skye and Ward took the love seat, with Skye grasping Ward's hand for comfort. He knew she would need some stability when she finally found out about her past. What she had wanted all her life was about to present itself right in front of her.

"Where should I begin?" Loki asked Skye from his seat on the couch closest to the love seat.

Skye thought for a moment before answering, "How about you start with how the hell you met my mother who was obviously from Earth and we'll go from there."

Loki nodded, "Of course. Well, I was exploring Earth as you call it about 25 years ago when I met your mother. I fell in love with her the moment I met her. We exchanged true love's vow and not a few days later, I found out she was betraying me with another Midgardian. I returned to Asgard not knowing she was to give birth to you."

"Okay." Skye nodded. She was understanding this so far, "Next question is about my necklace. When I had it before, it was a regular locket. But when I discovered my powers, it changed to a snowflake. What happened to it?"

"I believe I can answer that." Thor interjected, "My brother wanted to give your mother a gift worthy of an Asgardian princess. So he enchanted a necklace to always show who the wearer truly is inside. When your mother wore it, it was in the shape of a heart."

"Then why would it be just a regular locket when Skye wore it?" Simmons asked.

"I do not know." Loki answered truthfully.

"I never knew who I truly was." Skye said suddenly. All heads turned to her, "All my life, I believed that if I knew where I came from or who my parents were, I would know who I truly am. So since I never knew either, I never knew who I truly was."

"Your locket must have returned to its original state because of that." Thor explained.

"And when you found your powers, you must have subconsciously knew you were something of an ice queen." Fitz continued.

Skye gently touched her necklace at the news. Ward squeezed her hand in a comforting manner. Skye smiled in reply.

"So, how did her powers even come to be?" Ward asked. Everyone in the room stopped. It had been the question on everyone's mind, but he was the only one to voice it.

"I believe that is mostly because of me." Loki told them.

"What do you mean?" Skye asked.

"You may have inherited your mother's beauty but you acquired your powers from me." Loki explained, "Because of my frost giant DNA along with my mental abilities, you have been gifted with powers of ice that are controlled by your emotions."

The pieces started to connect in Skye's mind. Even as a child, she had always loved the cold. She was always going outside whenever she saw that it was raining or snowing. And she never was that bothered by the cold. In fact, she loved it. It was her favorite thing in the world at the time. Even in her youth she had showed signs of her parentage. She couldn't keep her head from spinning. But the one word that her father had said that stuck to her mind like glue was…

"Gifted?" Skye said in shock, "You think this is a gift?" She stood up as her voice started to rise, "Look at me! I'm living in constant fear that I could hurt one of my team members! I can't even begin to describe how I feel about this! The only light in this sudden pitch darkness is Ward!"

"Wait, why is this Agent Ward your only light?" Loki interrupted, standing up to face his daughter.

"I think we're all wondering that." Coulson said, also standing up.

"Because for some unknown but lucky reason, I can touch him without freezing him!" Skye answered. She ripped off her gloves and reached out to grasp Ward's hand. He stood up as the team gaped at the revelation. A wave of complete shock ran through them when Ward leaned down to place a gentle, loving kiss on Skye's lips.

When they pulled away, they leaned forward so their foreheads were touching. "Amazing." Fitzsimmons breathed out.

"Agent Ward, I need to ask you something that might explain how that is possible." Loki said.

Ward ripped his gaze away from Skye to face Loki but kept his arms wrapped around Skye's waist, bringing her close to him. "Anything."

"Do you love her?" Loki asked.

Though Loki asked him, Ward looked directly at Skye when he said, "I love her with all my heart. She's the one who gave me hope to start over again from where Garrett had screwed me over. I would die protecting her because she was the first one to give me something no one else had ever given me in my life. She gave me something to believe in. To me, she's an angel from heaven come to save me. (A/N Little bit of a Newsies reference for you. If you look up lyrics to "Something To Believe In" you'll get pretty much what Ward just said to her) She will and always will be the one I love."

Skye blushed and smiled at the way he described it. She leaned up and brought his lips to hers in a kiss that showed him all he needed to know. She felt the exact same way.

"Then you have your explanation." Loki said when they pulled away.

"What do you mean?" Simmons asked in confusion.

"How does that explain why she can touch him?" Fitz continued.

"True love can thaw a frozen heart." Loki said. That did not clear any confusion up.

"Come again?" Skye said.

"It was a story that our mother told us in our youth." Thor explained, "A girl with the powers of winter froze everything she came in contact with. She froze her true love by mistake while grasping his hands. After seeing what she had done, she cried onto the frozen body of her love. Her love filled the tears and warmed his frozen heart. Because of the warmth from the love, the ice thawed and her true love was returned to her."

Loki continued, "So the true love that radiates from Agent Ward and you, Skye, keeps the ice from freezing him or even touching him."


Okay. I know this was really short. But I just wanted to get this up before any of you started to break down my door asking what was taking so freaking long. Plus, I still have a summer assignment to type so this was more of a filler chapter to explain things. The next chapter will be longer and better, I promise!

R&R please, and check out my newest one-shot, "A Special Night"!

Quote of the Day: No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world –Robin Williams (RIP to one of my dad and I's favorite comedians. We all miss him)

Song Suggestion: Who I Am –Jessica Andrews