Heya, I'm going on holiday so this will be the last chapter for a week or so, sorry. Hope you enjoy this one and the direction I took :)

Day 174

Despite each having been given a separate room to stay in, Fitz ended up spending the night with Jemma. Skye had turned in around midnight, leaving the two of them alone to resolve their issues.

They had got ready for bed in relative silence, they hadn't had an argument exactly, but Jemma knew Fitz didn't understand how much trouble she was going to be in in the morning.

'Fitz?' Jemma looked up from her lap, and patted the side of the bed so as to prompt him to sit next to her. 'I'm sorry I got a little, umm… angry earlier. I just… I'm going to be in trouble and I'm worried that you'll get the blame and I just… This is a side of me my parents haven't really seen before. And I'm kind of worried as to what the morning will hold.' She said as Fitz came and sat next to her.

'I get that. It's just… this is a world that I don't understand. But if I can help, I will.'

Jemma smiled at his concern. 'It will probably be easier when you and Skye are gone to be honest. So I would just avoid them tomorrow as much as possible and stay quiet and polite.'

'I can do that. And technically it's today.' Fitz teased as he pointed to the clock that showed that it was 00:13. Jemma rolled her eyes at him before leaning in to kiss him. 'We're ok then?' He asked as she pulled away.

'Yeah, but there is something else I think we need to talk about.' Jemma said hesitantly. This conversation had been put off for long enough.

'Oh-kay…?'

'I just want to pose a suggestion, and I don't want you to feel pressured or anything. I just need to get this across and I need you to listen.' She took in a deep breath which did nothing to calm her. 'I was hoping that I would be able to do this, this no sex relationship, and I am really trying, but it's just not working.' Fitz stared at her, ashen-faced. 'And I want you to understand that I love you and that is not the part that I am doubting.' He nodded slowly, and swallowed hard. 'But I've been trying to ummm… well satisfy myself, but it's not the same and it doesn't stop me growing frustrated when kissing you. And this is not something I wanted to suggest. I wanted it to come from you if you were ever ready, but I've been doing some thinking and I just can't wait, I need a solution and this is my best one.

'So here goes… Would you be willing to try sex again? This time with me, in a loving environment and obviously on your terms. If you don't enjoy it then ok, we will look down another avenue. I don't know what that would be, but we will work it out together. I just think that it might be different with me and maybe we could have some sort of compromise, like if you don't mind it then we just sleep together when I'm very sexually frustrated and obviously never when you don't want to. Is that something you could consider?' Jemma chewed her lip and waited for Fitz to absorb all that he had just heard.

He ran his hand through his hair and took a deep breath. 'I didn't realise you were having such a problem with it.' He mumbled, trying to hide the crack in his voice. 'I want you to know that trying this once doesn't guarantee that I'll be able to agree to sex on a regular basis. I want to make you happy, and if trying this will do that, then I will try.

'I just… I'm still working myself out, I know I don't have any sort of sex drive and so I can't really understand what your frustration feels like. I know that I didn't enjoy sleeping with… Skye… But maybe it will be different with you and if I don't hate it and I don't feel uncomfortable then I guess we can work something out.' Fitz tried to maintain eye contact as he spoke, but it was evident that he was struggling. His hands had shifted about uncomfortably until he awkwardly sat on them to still them. He kept his voice low in an attempt to maintain control of it.

'So you're willing to give this a go when we're back in Southampton? There's no immediate rush, I can wait a bit longer. ' Jemma asked, not having really thought his agreement possible.

'Yeah, I think so.' He said with a soft smile.

She leaned over to him and held his face between her hands and gently kissed him. He pushed her back onto the bed and kissed her harder. 'Hopefully this time my parents won't interrupt.' She joked against his lips, glad that the tension of their conversation had dissipated when their lips met.


The morning had been awkward to say the least. The six had shared a quiet breakfast, after which Jemma had been called into her father's office to have a private word with her parents. Skye and Fitz were now sat in the living room, playing chess. Skye, as it turned out, was a formidable opponent, despite not remembering what piece moved where. Fitz was constantly having to remind her what moves were and weren't allowed.

'Ok this is ridiculous, no way can you be this good when you haven't played in years.' Fitz moaned.

Skye gave him a smug smile before knocking out his castle. 'It's kinda like coding, just got to work out the algorithm… kinda... I dunno, my brain just likes solving problems.'

'So does mine, and I'm good at this, but you're thrashing me!' Fitz groaned, he was not at all pleased about being shown up by a novice. Skye grinned a toothy grin as she watched Fitz contemplate his next move.

Fitz heard footsteps coming up behind him and turned to see Jemma, red eyed, clearly she had been crying. He was up and out of his seat in a flash and enveloped her in a hug. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her head on his shoulder.

'So games over?' Skye asked. Fitz turned and gave her a glare to signal her leave.

'Garden?' Fitz asked quietly. Jemma nodded and reluctantly let him go. Fitz intertwined their fingers as he led her outside and found a bench for them to sit on. 'Wanna talk about it or…?' Jemma nodded softly and Fitz waited until she was ready to talk. He ran his thumb along the back of her hand, trying to soothe her.

'They are mad and disappointed and think I'm an embarrassment. Dad said he expected better things from me and Mum said that I should have more self-control. She thought it was obvious that you would take any opportunity you got and that I, as the woman, should have told you no. I'm just so fed up with everything being about their reputation. Mum doesn't want me to be a scientist because of her reputation, dad wants me to be the best because of his reputation. They don't want me to do things for me. And I'm just tired of it.' Jemma revealed slowly. The pain and anger clear from her tone.

'I'm sorry…' He pulled her into a hug and stroked the back of her head. 'I'm sorry I got you in trouble. And I'm sorry your parents are kinda arseholes. And I just want you to know that I don't want you to do anything for my reputation or yours, I just want you to do them because you want to and it will make you happy.' Fitz told her softly.

'I know, and I really appreciate it, but I still wish my own parents could be supportive…' Jemma murmured as she clung to him.

'I'm sorry, I can't change that.' Fitz told her as he swept away her hair from her face. 'But I will endeavour to make you happy in every way I can.' She lent her head on his shoulder and he placed as soft kiss on her forehead.

'Thank you.'

They stayed put, enjoying each other's presence, no words needed to convey how they felt. As the sun appeared from behind a cloud, Jemma pulled Fitz up to wander round the garden. The Simmons' house had fifteen acers of land surrounding it, most of which were beautiful gardens, along with a stable and paddock. Plenty of space to keep to themselves hidden.

'Guys!' Skye's wail came from the back door just as they were about to leave the immediate back garden into one of the more secluded ones. 'Just ditch me why not! I cannot deal with your brother for a minute longer!' Skye shouted as she launched herself across the lawn to them.

'Sorry about that.' Jemma said, only half sincere. She was clearly apologetic for leaving Skye with her brother but also annoyed that their alone time had been interrupted. Which he could most definitely second.

'You feelin' better?' Skye asked in a more serious tone. Jemma gave a slight nod and a small smile in response.

The trio spent the rest of the morning wandering around the gardens and enjoying the sunshine. Jemma showed them her favourite spots and told them some stories from her childhood that made them all laugh. Although Fitz suspected that the ones she shared were the only ones she had. From the few hours he had spent with her family, he got the distinct impression that they had not been the nicest people to grow up with.

Unfortunately, lunch came all too quickly and their presence was required for a family meal. Fitz felt a distinct lack of appetite, something that he was not at all used to. After a very awkward and tight lipped lunch, the three escaped back to the grounds and allowed themselves to relax and forget the previous evening. Something they were all in desperate need of.

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it :)