Family Matters CHAPTER 19

May looked around the room, they were back at the farm house, it had been five days since the incident on the Odyssey and in that time things had been rather hectic. Skye was talking with May again and had accepted that what she had done was to protect her and if she was being honest with herself she couldn't blame her after all Jaiying had tried to kill her first. Grace turned up at the farm house before anyone else. She had said she did not want to deal with SHIELD after dealing with the bomb but did not elaborate on what she did to it. Clint and Natasha had returned two days ago with Pietro and Wanda introducing them to Skye who instantly fell in love with them, only Grace knew that Skye had been keeping in contact with Lincoln. Things were finally settling down, enough Skye and May would be heading back to the bus soon with Coulson. Jemma and Leo had joined Coulson at the farm house yesterday and were surprised at this secret that was shared but neither held any grudges in fact they were delighted to join the family.

"At this rate we are going to need a bigger house." Clint stated he was sitting with May and Coulson watching Jemma, Leo, Skye, Wanda, Pietro get a lesson from Natasha and Maria it was entertaining to watch.

"Can you see Grace?" Coulson asked he thought this lesson was supposed to be for Grace. Just as he looked over the others he saw a glint in the sky. "Is that a bird?" he asked trying to shade his eyes from the sun.

"It will be Grace." Clint stated

"I thought you placed the bracelet back on her."

"I did." May stated

'What are you guys looking at?' a robotic voice stated behind them making them turn to see Grace holding a tray of food in her hands and a phone in the other. (where the robotic voice came from it was a translator)

"If you're here then who?" Coulson asked just as May and Clint pulled out a weapon.

'That's Steve.' She typed into the translator.

"Steve?" May asked raising an eyebrow seeing her daughters small smile

'Stark and Pepper too.' She replied with a shrug, they watched as the plan landed in the clearing. The others had stopped what they were doing and moved over to look at the who had come. May watching as Grace moved over to Steve when he walked over to them with Tony and Pepper walking behind him. They ended up walking away from the others heading towards the lake without making any comment to the others.

"How long has that been a thing?" She asked Maria who could only shrug as she watched them walk away.

"News to me." Maria responded she in turn looked at Natasha who raised an eyebrow at them as this got the attention of May who also looked at her.

"About a month." Pepper informed them as she ended up walking into the house with May and Coulson. Tony ended up starting a conversation with Fitz as they walked off towards the garage. Skye looked from Natasha and Maria to Wanda, Pietro and Jemma.

"Is the lesson over?" Pietro asked

"No." Natasha and Maria once again started up the lesson, Clint looked around after the retreating figure of Grace and Steve part of him wanted to follow them but he got pulled in by Natasha to help demonstrate what they were trying to teach them.

That night they had a barbeque sitting outside talking amongst each other, Grace had cooked with Steve's help she had been great at ignoring the stares of her family members. Her mother had ended up cornering her making sure she was okay that was all she needed to know, not wanting any specifics or details. Her siblings were a different matter, after dinner they managed to isolate her at the lake demanding answers she was surprised Skye was with them seeming she already knew most of the answers they were wanting.

'What can I say, we hit it off…after he came that time with you that night for dinner with Nat, he came back…several times we got talking. He is good company.' Grace signed looking at Clint.

"Why did you not tell us?" Maria asked

"There was not much to tell, besides you have all been busy with work.'

"We have talked plenty of times but you never mentioned this." Maria stated

"Same thing about Phil.' Grace pointed out she noticed the pained expression flash over her eyes but she didn't say anything.

'I was not sure where this was going?'

"But you do now?" Clint asked and there was something in his tone that had Grace pausing. She looked at her brother and saw the protectiveness in his eyes she also saw it in Maria's she turned to Skye hoping for some help but Skye looked like she was enjoying this.

'I do not need you doing the over protective older sibling act. I am a grown up I can handle myself. Plus Steve is really nice, a honest to god good guy. He is Captain America.' Grace pointed out

"He is too…" Clint stopped talking seeing the expression on her face daring him to finish that sentence he looked to Maria hoping she would back him up but she was remaining quiet. "I just don't want to see you get hurt." He stated

'My life, I will chose to make my own path, my own mistakes…but on this I do not think it is a mistake. Please just be happy that I am happy.' She stated knowing that this would work on her siblings she saw them sigh and could not stop the smile. She ended up walking back to the house noting that the others stayed back no doubt to talk but right now she did not care, she found Steve on the couch with Pepper talking with Coulson, Pepper looked highly amused at whatever was going on she saw the way Steve was sitting, he looked tense as they spoke and she could only guess what they were talking about but seeming she entered the room the conversation died down. She looked at Phil who looked slightly guilty.

'You are not lecturing Steve are you?' Grace asked judging by his reaction she was right. 'Seriously Phil I did not think you had it in you to lecture your idol?' Grace signed but ended up smirking showing that she was teasing him. The others ended up joining them in the lounge where they started a game of cards, Grace noticed that several times during the night the others would send her a glance as she sat next to Steve somewhat leaning into him not hiding the fact at all that she was clearly into him. She ended up giving up her room to let Tony and Pepper have it for the night and ended up sharing with Maria seeming her idea of sharing with Steve was shut down very fast only for them to find that she was only joking with them to get that reaction from them, Phil looked like he was about to have a heart attack and Clint looked like he wanted to attack Steve where Natasha and Maria both wore unimpressed looks Steve for his part looked panicked. Skye was sharing with Jemma, Fitz and Steve had the spare room and Wanda and Pietro had the study that was currently seeming their new room was currently in the works of being made. Natasha and Clint were in the same room, Phil had his own and May had hers.

In the morning Grace tried sleeping in but it did not work sharing a room with Maria who seemed to rise with the sun had her groaning and tried to bury herself back under the blankets which Maria laughed at. She did end up getting up and made her way into the kitchen to cook breakfast as May, Skye, Maria and Natasha all ended up working out she ended up in the company of Jemma. Grace found it a little awkward to be around Skye's friend, she knew that Jemma was a nice girl but she had so many questions she was happy when Fitz ended up joining them so they ended up talking to each other. She was surprised that Wanda was the next one to join them she tried helping out but it was clear that she was not use to being in a kitchen.

"Something smells amazing." Pepper stated walking into the room and Grace tried not to show her surprise at her seeming Pepper looked perfect even though she was in jean shorts and a singlet. "You know I have missed your cooking, I have ordered a couple of times from your work but it just has not been the same since…" she stopped when Grace shock her head at her, Pepper looked confused for all of two seconds but seemed to understand seeming she dropped it instead greeted the others in the room.

"You want to tell me what she was talking about?" A voice stated behind her making her turn to look at Clint standing in the doorway in his workout gear.

'Breakfast is almost ready, you should shower.' Grace signed not turning to face him she felt him move closer only to hesitate before going the other way and headed for the bathroom. She sent Wanda to tell the others before she set the food on the table. Tony was the last one to the table as they all sat down to eat together, Pietro was talking with Steve seeming the pair of them had gone for a run around the property and seemed to be continuing their conversation. The others were doing idle chitchat.

"This is what I have been missing ever since they changed chefs their food has not been that great." Tony stated as he groaned in delight savoring the flavor completely unaware that he had made most of the others stop talking. Six of them now looking at Grace with obvious questions clear on their expressions.

'I do not work at Jason's.' Grace signed leaving it at that before the others could ask any more questions she got up and left knowing that seeming she cooked someone else would clean up.

She was sitting at the edge of the lake when someone came and sat next to her she did not have to turn and see who it was she knew by now that this person would always come and check on her. She also knew that the others would have sent her knowing that she was the best chance to get answers. They sat in silence for a while, Maria waiting there patiently for her knowing she would have to be the one to speak first if she wanted answers.

'We agreed it would be best for me to leave.' Grace stated after a long time of silence, 'we were in the kitchen…it was just the two of us, we had completed stock take and I was wanting to show him my new recipe…I was giving him lessons, he said he wanted to cook something special for his girlfriend. I don't know what happened exactly…one minute he was next to the stove, the next it was on fire. I used my powers…He… he was not hurt… he…I thought it was best to leave. It is a good thing, this way I will not put him in danger.'

"Grace how did he react?" Maria asked noting the look on her sisters face as she seemed to hug her legs and pull them closer to her chest.

'It was time for me to move on anyway.' Grace signed back not answering her question but Maria knew her sister well and could decipher what she was not saying. 'Can you keep this between us, I am fine. Besides I am in good company now…I would also like to point out that I will work with Wanda, Pietro and Skye with their powers anyway…cooking for family is enough for me…' Grace responded as she looked out over the water Maria watched her, she looked contempt but Maria could tell that she was not fully satisfied, that she was trying to put on a brave face.

"I will not say anything but the others will want to know, and I make no promises of not visiting him. He knows your secret and I will do everything I can to protect my family…Speaking of Natasha and I have come up with a schedule if you really want this."

'I do.'

"Then let's get started." Maria stated helping her up the pair of the headed back towards the house.