Sunday morning found two very tired adults, one very tired teen, and 3 bouncing happy kids in the Coulson house. Melinda had actually excused herself to go back to bed, after helping Phil feed the three energizer bunnies breakfast. Her headache had never truly gone away, and the lack of sleep Friday night and last night was catching up with her. Phil assured her he would be fine dealing with cleanup and the three kids, so she collapsed into the bed and promptly fell asleep. Bobbi had graciously offered to keep the kids busy outside in the backyard as he cleaned up. Phil glanced outside as he hung the dish towel up and grinned. Bobbi was the center of attention as she sat on a blanket with the three little ones around her listening intently. Phil stepped out to the back deck.

"So, then Iain proposed to Liz but she didn't hear him because of the block device that the evil blue dictator put in her ear."

"Oh no! We need the great Agent Ming to kick that blue jerk's ass." Skye shouted as she clenched her fists.

"Skye, I don't think you should use that word."

"Jemma's right little monkey. If Melinda hears she might not let me tell you guys stories anymore."

"Kick his butt. She needs to kick his butt." Skye grinned mischievously at Bobbi.

"Okay but remember Agent Ming is hurt and has that injury to her leg. So maybe Agent Chloe needs to kick his butt?"

"Or Natalie. She could slingshot at him and he wouldn't know what hit him." Leo added excitedly.

Phil's grin grew larger as he listened to Bobbi tell the story he had told her so many years ago when she was a child. He had made up a bunch of superhero characters and used to tell Bobbi a story every night before bed. Phil jumped into the conversation as he walked down the steps of the deck.

"What about Clark guys? He could fight the big blue evil alien."

Skye rolled her eyes and shook her head. "No Phil. not Clark. He's just the director. He can't fight. He needs Agent Ming to protect him."

"Or Agent Chloe."

"Or Agent Natalie."

"Are you saying that Director Gregg can't fight his own battles." Phil said aghast.

"Well yeah dad. I mean he helps with stuff but not kicking butt. Not like Agent Ming." Bobbi explained

"Even with a hurt leg, Phil. She can still kick ass." Skye chimed in.

Phil gave her a look.

"I mean kick butt. I'm going with Agent Ming.

"I'd pick Agent Chloe. Besides she's really pretty and smart too."

"How do you know she's pretty Jemma?" Questioned Leo.

"She just is."

"Well Natalie is pretty too."

"Guys all the agents are pretty. And they are all smart. And they all kick butt. Right dad?"

"Yep. They are all great. Well mostly great. Except for Nick Blood."

"Oooo…Nick Blood. What a cool name" Leo looked at Phil excitedly. 'Is he an agent too?"

Bobbi shook her head. "No, he's a mercenary."

"What's a mercenary Bobbi?" Skye asked as she climbed into Bobbi's lap.

"A mercenary is person who kicks butt for money. And I can't believe you are telling the kids these stories Phil. Aren't they a bit young?" Phil looked back at his wife as she stood on the bottom step of the deck with her arms crossed glaring at him.

"Um – well - actually Lin it was…."

"I was telling the story Melinda."

Melinda raised her eyebrows at her. 'Really?"

"Yeah and I toned it down a lot. No gore and stuff."

"Wait there's gore?" Jemma's head jerked to look intently at Bobbi. "can we hear the gore parts?"

"NO!" The chorus of three voices chimed together.

'Awe come on. I'm almost 9. I can handle it. Do eyeballs pop out and stuff? Does Liz cut open the alien bodies. That would be so cool. Don't you think?"

Leo gave Jemma a disgusted look. Skye giggled. Melinda stared at the girl.

Jemma went on. "Imagine how brilliant it would be to see how alien bodies work. There are aliens I am convinced. Right Leo? I mean we can't be the only ones here in the whole universe."

Melinda had moved next to Phil. She elbowed him in the side. "See what you did?"

Phil looked at her and tried to move his mouth to speak but no words came out.

Bobbi got up holding onto Skye. "Let's go munchkins. You need to get cleaned up and gather your stuff since it's almost time for you two to get picked up. I'll help. I'll finish this chapter in the story, no worries Melinda, it's rated G, while you guys pack up your stuff." The three kids cheered as she hoisted Skye onto her back and Leo and Jemma followed them back into the house.

Phil finally regained his voice. "I wasn't even telling the story Lin."

"Well don't think I don't know who you modeled Agent Ming after. And really Phil. You told those stories to Bobbi when she was 10 not 8 and she most certainly did not wake up from nightmares every other night."

"But Bobbi was telling the story. All I did…."

"Was encourage her and grin from ear to ear."

Phil looked a bit sheepish. "Yeah but Bobbi was leaving out all the gore and blood and stuff."

Melinda sighed. 'I'm just worried about Skye, Phil. We don't need to add in any more images or things her brain can churn out into a nightmare."

Phil put his arm around her. "I know Lin. Bobbi wouldn't do that and neither would I. The stories are fairly harmless when toned down. By the way, Skye thinks Agent Ming is the best." He smiled at her. "Cause she can kick ass."

"You're impossible, you know that?"

"Impossibly wonderful?"

"Dork. Agent Ming can kick your ass too."

"Oh, is that a promise?" He grinned wickedly at her.

She shrugged his arm off her shoulder. "We need to set up a meeting with Izzy and Don."

"Nick called you back." It was a statement not a question.

"Yeah. He wasn't happy."

"Is he ever?"

"Point taken. But he was less happy when I pointed out that it was his agency who is investigating Marshall Corporation and told him about a St Agnes kid having a redacted file."

"What did he say."

"His exact words were, "Oh shit."

Phil glanced at her with his eyebrows raised. "That's all he said.?"

"Nope. He also said, 'what the hell Lin, and damnit, and it is a huge mess isn't it'. Then he told me to get ahold of Don and Izzy, set up a meeting, bring Vic along, and find a babysitter for the redacted file kid, and call him back with a place and time."

"Well what the hell does that mean. Why didn't you ask him…?"

"He hung up." Melinda interrupted. "So, I came out here to tell you. And my head still hurts only now it's much worse and what the hell Phil, what is going on with Skye? Does Fury know what that document says?"

"Did you call Don? Or Izzy?"

"No, he hung up on me and I came out here to find you first."

"Okay. So, one step at a time. You call Izzy and I'll call Don. Tell them to set up something at one of their places and then you call back Fury once they do."

"Copy that." Melinda pulled out her phone as she walked back into the house while Phil dialed his from the deck.

Skye looked at Melinda with tired eyes as Melinda gently told her to eat more of her dinner. All the activity from the day before along with a sleepover was catching up with the little girl. She was just pushing the food around on her plate while she yawned and signed. After Leo and Jemma had been picked up, and Skye finished helping Bobbi and Melinda pick up all the toys and clean up the bonus room and her bedroom, Melinda had sat with Skye to help her do her homework. Her reading was getting better, but it was still a struggle and math was even worse. Skye did enjoy her science work, and spelling was okay, so those two assignments went well, but now Melinda could tell Skye was pretty much done for the night and she still needed to take a bath and get her hair washed.

"Hey Skye, just a few ore bites and finish your milk. Then you can get ready for bed okay?"

Skye looked up and nodded. She stabbed a chicken nugget with her fork, stuck it in the honey mustard sauce and brought it to her mouth, slowly taking bites and chewing. Melinda watched as Skye finished the nugget and took a forkful of mac and cheese, and then drank half the chocolate milk in the cup. Skye stabbed another nugget and bite into it, chewing half and putting the other half on her plate. Then she took another forkful of mac and cheese and finished off the chocolate milk. She looked up at Melinda who nodded at her and then she jumped down off the chair. Melinda grabbed the still half full plate and empty cup and set them on the counter.

"Let's go little one. You need a bath and that hair washed. You have school tomorrow and I have work."

Skye slipped her hand into Melinda's hand as they walked out of the room and upstairs. They stopped at Skye's bedroom where Melinda quickly grabbed a set of pajamas and then headed to the bathroom. Soon Skye was sitting cross-legged on her bed with Melinda behind her combing through her tangles and drying her hair.

"Thanks for letting Leo and Jemma stay over. I had so much fun."

"You're welcome Skye."

"It was my first sleepover I ever had."

That stopped Melinda in mid comb. This poor child was never allowed a sleepover before. "I'm glad you had fun. You can have more just maybe later after we recover from this one"

That caused a giggle to come from Skye. "Jemma says I can come to her house for a sleepover sometime soon. Can I? Huh." Skye tried to wiggle around to see Melinda's face, but Melinda kept her facing forward as she combed through a knot.

"Sure, sometime soon. Whenever Jemma's family says it's a good time."

"Okay." Skye let out a huge yawn and started wiggling around more.

Melinda dried her hair a few more minutes, smiling at the squirming little girl. "Okay all done. Scoot under the covers." Melinda got up and pulled the bed covers down for Skye. Skye crawled under them as Melinda set down the dryer and comb. Melinda reached for Violet the cat and Skye's dolls, Mulan and Elsa and laid them next to Skye. She then sat down on the bed next to her pulling up the covers and tucking them around the little girl. Skye settled back into her pillow and grinned at Melinda.

"I'm really tired Melinda."

Melinda gasped and grabbed her heart. "I never thought I'd hear those words coming from your mouth."

That made Skye giggle again. "I was busy all weekend Melinda."

"We were busy all weekend Skye."

"Yeah" She was quiet for a minute and then looked anxiously at Melinda. "Are you okay Melinda? Cause I saw you hold your head before and you took a nap this morning. You never ever take naps. Are you sick?"

"No baby I'm not sick. I had a little headache earlier but I'm fine now."

"Are you sure? Cause I don't want you to be sick."

"No Skye I'm okay."

"So, you don't have to send me away."

Melinda shook her head. "What? No, I wouldn't send you away."

"Okay. I don't want you to be sick Melinda."

"Skye I'm not sick. And even if I were sick, which I have been from time to time, why would you think I'd send you away?"

"That's what happens to us when fosters get sick. Kids get sent back."

"Oh Skye." Melinda ran her hand through Skye's hair pushing it away from her face. "I'm not sick, okay. But if I do get sick, or Bobbi gets sick, or Phil gets sick, we would never send you back. Ever. You are part of our family now. Always. In good and bad times. Even if someone is sick. I promise."

Skye looked pensively at Melinda. "Mrs. Jenkins got sick. Mr. Jenkins said I was too much trouble to take care of, so he drove me back to St Agnes. I didn't even get to say goodbye to her. I liked her. She was nice to me."

Melinda swallowed and forced her face to smile. "Not gonna happen here baby. Okay. Do you trust me?"

Skye nodded slowly. "Mostly."

Melinda pursed her lips and met Skye's eyes with her own. "Okay. That's good. Someday I hope you can answer always to that. But I promise you Skye, we are not going to send you back for any reason. Not if I get sick, or your behavior is not the best, or you make mistakes, or we make mistakes, or anything. I want you to try to believe that okay? And me and Phil and Bobbi will show you as much as we can, so you will believe that."

Skye rubbed her eyes. "Okay, I'll try."

Melinda smiled. "Now you need to close those eyes and sleep. You have a big week coming up and need to rest up."

Skye's eye lit up as she grinned. "Oh yeah I almost forgot. I get to stay with Tashie tomorrow after school."

"Indeed, you do. And I bet a certain someone is making chocolate chip cookies tonight just for you."

Skye's grin grew into a full-blown smile. "Really?"

"Oh, I would bet on it. Most definitely"

Skye scrunched her eyes shut and pretended to snore. Melinda laughed.

"I guess now you want to go to sleep more so tomorrow comes quicker."

"I can't wait to put some of those cookies in my belly Melinda."

"Well, close you eyes without squinting, and I'll sit here till you fall asleep, okay. Maybe you'll dream of cookies tonight."

Skye smiled sleepily as she kept her eyes closed. "Would you sing me a song Melinda? I bet it would help me get to sleep faster."

Melinda smiled and started humming Elton John's Rocket Man and then started with the words. It wasn't a lullaby, but Skye didn't seem to care, as her smile stayed on her face and she wrapped her hand inn Melinda's and cuddled next to her on the bed. Phil snapped the pic on his cell phone as quiet as he could as he stood in the doorway. Melinda glared at him for a second before turning her attention and words back to the little girl she had fallen madly in love with.