Chapter 12: Bonding With The Wards!

Note: Here's the Ward's day to bond. I'm loving the suggestions so far. More are always welcomed. I hope you guys in the states enjoy your long weekend as much as I have! My birthday is Tuesday so I'm not sure if I'll get another chapter up before then, but I'll try!

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. They are from AOS and have just ruined my life and this is my way of coping. The story is actually my idea though so that's pretty cool!

While Leo and Jemma were spending the day with Ian, Skye and Grant decided that they would spend the day with Lyla. They always made time for her, but sometimes they liked having a day where they would focus only on her and the three of them would spend time together with just themselves. Today was one of those days so they could give Phil and Melinda the day away from little ones since Leo and Jemma were already planning on spending the day with Ian. It worked out perfect.

Lyla's day usually started with her toddling down the hall and around the corner to where her parents slept and today was no different. She had surprised them the first time she wandered into their room, but soon her parents realized how adventurous she was and came to look forward to it. Grant was always up reading in bed while Skye slept in anyways so he of course was ready to play with his baby girl. She burst through the door, ran through the gym that her dad used, into Skye and Ward's bedroom, and over to the bed to be picked up and thrown into it. She would giggle as she flopped into the bed and then snuggle up inbetween her parents who would turn and encircle her into a snug little sandwich and go back to sleep for a few more minutes until they woke her up for breakfast.

Skye and Grant would walk her back to her room to get her dressed before walking down to the kitchen for their family breakfast that they always took place in. Skye and Grant enjoyed being outdoors and it clearly rubbed off onto Lyla. After breakfast the three of them went outside to play on the jungle gym. Skye sat on the swing next to Lyla while Grant pushed both of them. Lyla loved to swing and Grant and Phil had installed a child swing with a seat on it so she could sit in it by herself and be pushed. Melinda had spent many morning pushing the young girl so her mom and dad could get some alone time.

After swinging Lyla had wanted to go swimming. Grant and Lyla went in the pool while Skye sat with her toes in the water. She felt weird about being in the water while pregnant even though Jemma had explained to her that it was great exercise. Lyla bobbed in the water lashing it around her with her arms and her life vest on while Grant took turns swimming between Skye and Delilah. When Leo and Jemma showed up a short time later to have a picnic lunch outside Grant plucked Delilah out of the water to go have lunch indoors so the Fitz's could enjoy their alone time.

The Wards had a picnic in the house. Skye and Grant took turns helping Lyla eat and feeding each other. Skye had playfully put some whipped cream on her hubby's nose so she could lick it off, which gave Lyla the idea to start a food fight. Luckily she couldn't throw the food very far and the mess was easily cleaned up. After lunch they called Gramsy, who refused to get Skype. "I come out and visit my great granddaughter every couple of weeks. What do I need Skype for in between for?" was her excuse. So today they called Gramsy and talked on the phone for a bit before tucking Lyla in for a nap. Skye and Gramsy had gotten close since the day she had met the older woman, and Grant would often find his wife on the phone with his grandma asking for baby or pregnancy advise.

While Lyla took a nap, Skye and Ward relaxed for a bit in their library where Skye snuggled up to Grant in an oversized chair and listened to him read out loud for a bit before she ended up falling asleep as well. She was woken up to a kiss on her cheek and Grant informing her that it was time to wake up their daughter.

After Lyla's nap, Skye and Grant went in search of Phil and Melinda. Lyla loved spending time with her grandparents and Skye and Grant tried to always include them in plans. They found the older couple in Melinda's office. Delilah immediately walked towards Phil who scooped her up in a big hug and promptly started to sweep her around the room like she was an airplane. Her giggles filled the room and Melinda smiled at the pair. She loved seeing Phil play with Delilah. The toddler was good for them and brought a happy kind of chaos to their lives. After Phil set her down she walked over to Melinda and gave her a hug and showed her a book she had picked up. Melinda kept a toy box in her office full of books and stuffed animals for when Delilah spent time in there. She sat down cross legged with Lyla in her lap and read her the children's story while Phil watched. Just like his other half, he enjoyed seeing her interract with Lyla. It brought out a softer side of her that he never got to see before.

The family went and watched a movie before dinner where they met up with the Fitz half of the family. Everyone had what ended up being an animated dinner. They hadn't been all together all day and now everyone was catching up. Even the kids seemed to babble to each other in their high chairs and Ian was sure to help Lyla with her food.

More movies were watched after dinner and Lyla and Ian fell asleep on the floor. Grant went to pick up his daughter and she stirred awake as he placed her into her bed. "Daddy, story." And with a smirk Grant started to read her a story before bed. She of course fell asleep only three pages in, curled up to Skye who had fallen asleep with her. Grant's voice always lulled Skye to sleep and lying in bed listening to him read with her daughter's warmth curled up against her didn't change that fact. Grant chuckled as he got up to pick up his tiny, pregnant wife and carry her to bed.