I know I haven't updated in a really long time, I'm sorry… but now I have lots of free time and a will to write so hopefully there'll be another chapter coming up soon.

This is short but emotional.

And thank you for all the reviews\comments! I haven't really decided what I'll like to happen next, so PM me if you have any suggestions!

Chapter 11 - Promise

May couldn't focus on her mission. She tried, but it was practically impossible to think about anything without knowing Skye was safe.
And by the time Phil had called to tell her he found the girl she was already on her way home.

It was late when she got there.

She found Phil working in the kitchen, and when she went into Skye's room the lights were out and her eyes were closed, fast asleep.

Melinda went back to the kitchen and collapsed into a chair.

"What happened?" she asked Phil.

He took a deep breath before replying. "She went looking for her birth parents."

Melinda's mind was swirling with emotions, but her face was as stoic as ever.

"She tracked down linda Avery, the agent who dropped her off at the orphanage. But she wasn't her mother. And it turns out, a lot of agents died protecting Skye when she was a baby".

May still hadn't spoke. Or looked at him. Phil waited.

"She called me mom yesterday", she eventually said, voice barely above a whisper.

Phil was stunned for a second, and by the time he recovered Melinda already went on asking if Skye was okay.
He figured it might be best to just drop it for now.

He offered to stay, to which Melinda seemed hesitant but grateful.

Later, he went by Skye's room and saw that the door was slightly open. He picked inside and saw Skye was sleeping with her back to the door.

Which didn't make sense.

Weeks ago, Melinda told him Skye never slept with her back to the door. She was worried it might had to do with something that happened at a previous foster home.

Phil sighed "You're not asleep, are you?"

After a second, Skye rolled over to look at him. But she didn't say anything, just turned on the light. It was clear she'd been crying.

"Can I come in?"

She nodded.

Phil stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. Skye sat up on the bed and leaned back against the wall. Phil sat down next to her. "You need to talk to Melinda".

"I don't really feel like talking right now", she whispered. Phil could barely hear her.

"Not now. But soon." he paused. "You called her 'mom', then ran away to look for your birth parents".

Slowly, Skye looked up.

She looked as if she was about to start crying once again.
"But… I didn't, she didn't… She didn't seem that upset."

"Melinda… has a habit of hiding her emotions. But that doesn't mean she doesn't feel anything." he paused for a second "She really loves you."

Now there were tears running down Skye's cheeks. "I didn't mean to hurt her", she whispered.

Phil sighed and put a comforting hand on her shoulder "You should tell her that."

Skye tried to sleep. She was tired, exhausted, but still couldn't seem to fall asleep.
She gave up and got out of bed, slowly making her way to the living room.

She found Phil there, asleep on the couch. The house was dark and silent.

Carefully and without turning the light on, she walked to Melinda's room where the door was slightly open and she could see there was still light inside.

She hesitated.

"You can come in," came Melinda's voice, and SAkye stepped inside and closed the door behind her.

Melinda was sitting up in her bed, working on her laptop. She closed it and put it aside as Skye came in. She didn't say anything. Skye sat down on the edge of the bed and tried to make sense of all the words running around in her head.

She took a deep breath. "I'm… I'm sorry. I didn't mean…" She stopped to take another breath, considering her words. "I didn't mean to hurt you.'

At that Melinda looked up. "No, Skye you didn't-"

But Skye shook her head. "I ran away because I was starting to feel at home here. And that scared me." Tears started to slide down her face "Cause every time I fell at home somewhere, everytime I call someone 'mom', it's not long before I'm being sent back. And my birth parents are supposed to be permanent. They're not supposed to send me back, or abandon me", she breathed in, trying to stop crying. "But they did. And I don't care, I don't care why. I want to stay here with you, but…" a sob broke through her, and all Melinda wanted was to wrap in a hug.

"...Please don't send me back".

Melinda felt a single tear slid down her cheek, and moved forward to wrap her arms around Skye, holding her close as she cried. And Skye clung to her as if her life depended on it.

"I am not, ever, going to send you back", Melinda whispered softly. "And I'm not angry that you ran away… you just scared the hell out of me. But I guess that's what's it like being a mom." She felt Skye's arms tighten around her. "I love you, and nothing you can do will ever make me send you back. I promise."

Skye sniffled and let out a shaky breath "Love you too", she mumbled.