It was cathartic. As cliché as that sounded, Phil had no other word to describe what happened on the porch. What was completely unexpected during the time was how Melinda had openly talked after they all had stopped crying. She'd expressed herself in ways he had only hoped she would after all this time. She'd been brutally honest about her pain, and her guilt. She'd opened up about her fears of not wanting another kid because she couldn't bear to lose another piece of herself.

"Well, I guess we should go inside. The sun is starting to go down." Melinda suggested.

Phil looked over at Melinda who was seated on the patio against the wall with her arms wrapped around Skye who was seated in front of her leaning back into her chest, resting her head on Melinda's shoulder.

"I am kind of cold." Donnie spoke from his seated position between Melinda and Phil. They had simply been talked out and emotionally spent and for the last half hour had just quietly contemplated things as they huddled together.

"Hmmmm... Comfy here." Skye responded lazily with her eyes closed.

"I'm sure the others are worried. We've been out here a long time."

"Clint's sitting in there. He's not let anyone else in the room." Phil answered her.

"He's worried about you."

"He's worried about all of us. But right now, he has a huge smile on his face. Phil looked over at her. "I'm sorry Mel. I thought I'd dealt with things better."

"Phil. You were severely injured. You almost died. You were fighting for your life. We both were. Neither of us had time to properly mourn Jamey. This – this now- all this tension, all this pain we – we – it should have been something we both allowed ourselves to do six years ago. One day I woke up when you were healed, and I couldn't move past anything. I couldn't mourn. Instead I locked it all away. If anyone should be apologizing it should be me."

Skye grasped Melinda's hands in hers and held tightly. "You told me I didn't need to apologize for how I feel. For being stuck. That it was okay. You shouldn't apologize either."

"I'm not apologizing for being stuck. I'm apologizing for wallowing in it. For using it to justify living a less than life." She kissed the top of Skye's head. "Look what I almost let myself miss. You and Donnie. Jamey wouldn't have wanted me to wallow. To stay stuck. For far too long I've blamed everything and everyone for what happened. Including Phil for wanting to see the movie, myself for driving the car. Everyone except the driver of the truck that slammed into us."

"They never found the driver. Maybe if they had, closure could have come for you, for both of us."

"This is what my psychiatrist would call a breakthrough, yeah?" Donnie laid his head on Phil's shoulder.

Phil wrapped his arm around him pulling him closer. "Yeah."

"It's okay Mr. C. if you want to keep the room as is. Me and Skye understand."

"Yeah. And if you want to just keep Jamey's stuff in his room, I'm fine staying in the room I'm in." Skye added.

"Well thanks you two, but it's time to move on. To let the past stay in the past and look to the future. You know something? There's no way I could have gotten through this day without you Skye. I love you so much."

Skye felt the tears coming and turned slightly into Melinda reaching to wrap her arms around her. She mumbled "I love you too."

Donnie grinned. "All kinds of mushy and sappy going on today."

Phil pulled him into a hug. "Good. everyone needs some mush and sap in their lives. And Donnie? You can call me Phil. If you want to of course. You too Skye."

"Okay Phil." Donnie grinned at him.

"I love you son."

Donnie's body grew stiff. Then he relaxed and hugged Phil tighter.

Clint had talked to Vic and Izzy and they had sent everyone home for the night. Well everyone except himself, and Bobbi and Roz. They were in the next room just waiting. He watched through the patio window placing his chair so he could see them as they sat on the porch. The sun was starting to go down and it had to be cold out there. Finally, he saw Phil and Donnie move to get up, and he smiled. The boy was still clinging to Phil as they stood with Phil's arm holding tightly around his shoulder. They moved away from each other as Phil turned toward Skye and his wife offering his hand. Skye took it and stood and soon after Melinda stood as well. He watched as the four came through the door and filed into the room.

Melinda got to him first and engulfed him in a hug. "Thank you." She then turned to Phil. "I need to get cleaned up. Maybe order in some Thai food for us. Clint you're welcome to stay."

"Roz and Bobbi are here yet too. I sent everyone else home."

"Thanks bud. We appreciate that, but right now we are pretty much talked out. I think we all just want some peace and quiet, you know? It's been a rough emotional ride."

"Hey I get it. Just show your faces to Bobbi and Roz will ya? Ease their worry?"

Melinda smiled. "Good idea. Where are they?"

"Pretty sure they are right in the next room. Maybe let them make you tea, hover a bit. I think some of the kids were really worried about Skye too."

"I'll text Jemma and Ryan. And Lincoln." Skye opened the door and walked into the next room followed by Melinda. Bobbi and Roz stood up.

"Can we get you anything?" Bobbi spoke first.

"Tea would be nice. Skye might want some too. Maybe chocolate milk for Donnie. Phil probably could use a cup of coffee."

"Right. I'm on it." Roz exited the room first followed by Melinda and Skye. Phil came through the door and Bobbi hugged him.

Clint touched Donnie's shoulder. "How about a little TV before the food arrives. I'll place the order and we can watch something."

Donnie nodded and the two left the room.

Bobbi finally pulled away from Phil. "I'm so sorry Phil. I wish I would have known how much you were hurting."

"Hey I didn't even know, Bobbi. I watched Melinda slip away for so many years, losing pieces of who she used to be, with me trying to put them back, I forgot that I was losing pieces too. I jumped right back into teaching, talked Mel into buying her dojo and plowed through trying to forget and move on. I guess I did such a good job at it, that I never processed some of it very well. All along I was broken right alongside Melinda, she was just more open about it."

"Oh Phil. Everything you've been through. Both of you. No one should have that much pain."

"It's just seeing the video games and seeing Jamey in my mind. That was what we did. We played sports games on the Wii and we played Mario Cart. We'd come up here and, we'd play, and Jamey would tell me all about his day at school. He'd laugh and crack jokes, dumb kid jokes, and he'd try to distract me, so he'd win. Seeing it all – just – it just reminded me of everything we lost. We lost Jamey, I lost almost a year of my life, Mel lost herself, we damn near lost this house."

"We left this room alone. Everyone finished Donnie's room and we worked on the spare room till Clint asked me to send everyone home. All the other rooms are finished. I told everyone that someone would let them know if you would be painting here tomorrow. I know you've lost so much Phil. But you still have so much too. You have all of us."

"Yeah. That's what we all realized out there. I'm not saying its perfect or everything is all wonderful, but it's better. We all took first steps toward better. Skye is so good for Mel."

"From what I see, Melinda is good for Skye too. And you with Donnie? That boy adores you. You do know that, right?"

"I do. Believe me the feeling is mutual. Starting this whole foster thing, I just thought it would be good for Melinda. Let her see how she could still feel, still hope, still help people. Turns out – just as good for me."

"You two are meant to be parents. Hell you both parented me. Who knows where I would have ended up if you both hadn't taken me in that summer? And Clint. Mike. Even Hunter to an extent. All those other kids you've taught over the years, mentoring and guiding. Always giving people a second chance, always pushing then to be better. All of us Phil, you've taught all of us to give back. I'm still not sure if you gravitate to them, or they gravitate to you."

"I'd guess maybe a little of both."

"Well that's certainly true of Melinda and Skye. It seems that not only is Melinda a solid rock for Skye, but Skye is the same for her."

"She grounds her. They ground each other. Mel's always been more guarded with expressing her feelings and getting close to people. It isn't easy for her. But Skye just wormed her way right in there, I think from their first meeting. I've never seen Melinda so freely show love to anyone before, except to Jamey."

"I know it hurts like hell Phil. But I think you two are finally going to be able to move on. Together."

"Yeah. A start anyway. It's funny how all along I've been so worried about Mel internalizing everything, and here I was doing the same. The loss I mean. Not the guilt. But anger too. Mel said to me once that I should blame her cause she should have done something. She wanted me to get angry with her. Of course, I never blamed her. She would have done anything to protect Jamey. Just look how she's been protecting Skye."

"You all need to work through it together. Like today. Just be there for each other and lean on each other."

He hugged her again. "You're pretty damn smart sis."

"I know."

Skye had just finished texting all her friends, assuring them everyone and everything was okay. She made her way to the family room where Donnie and Clint had gone.

Clint looked over at her as she entered. "Food's on it's way. 'Bout fifteen minutes."

She nodded at him. "Thanks." She looked at Donnie. "Hey you okay dork?"

"I'm fine goober."

"Nerd king."

"Weirdo."

"Geek."

"Terd face."

"Um Donnie. Is this normal for you two?" Clint looked back and forth at the two of them.

He grinned. "Yep."

Melinda appeared in the doorway. "Skye. Roz made tea. You want some?"

"Yeah, I'm coming." She shot Donnie a last look. "Bye nerf herder".

"Adios you moof milker."

Clint laughed at their Star Wars insults.

Melinda rolled her eyes. "Come along now young padawan. Your tea is getting cold."

Skye grinned at her and then followed Melinda out the door.

It was just the four of them sitting in the family room. Donnie had convinced everyone to watch a Star Wars movie after they had eaten and everyone else left, so 'The Phantom Menace' was playing on the screen. Phil and Melinda were sitting on the sofa while Donnie sprawled across the large chair. Skye was laying on the floor in front of the sofa leaning on a few pillows.

Skye grabbed another piece of red licorice and sat up leaning back against the sofa. She was so tired but didn't want to leave and go to bed cause this, this was what she had always wanted. She leaned her head onto Melinda's legs who absentmindedly ran her fingers through Skye's hair. Skye smiled. Oh, she knew it wasn't perfect, she knew she was still messed up, but for the very first time in her young life – she also knew she wasn't alone. She glanced over at Donnie who was sitting upside down now in the chair, his eyes focused on the screen. She looked over at Phil who was grinning that crooked grin he had, also watching the screen intently, shoulder to shoulder with his wife and his hand holding Melinda's other hand. She snuggled closer into Melinda's legs and sighed contently.

The next day saw the return of some of their friends to finish cleaning out Jamey's room and finish painting his room and giving a second coat to the upstairs spare room. They decided to make that small spare room Skye had been staying in, into another guest room. They kept the second room next to Skye's new room as an official entertainment and game room that both Skye and Donnie would have access to. Hunter and Phil and Clint were going to make another entrance from the hallway, in a few weeks, when they could find time. After adding another door to enter the room, they were going to clean it out, go through the games, books and video games, then paint the room, and set it up for Donnie and Skye. Melinda and Phil still had a bunch of Jamey's things to go through from his room, but those were placed in their bedroom so they could take their time and go though them together.

It had been decided that Skye would stay home a few more days, but that Donnie was going to return to school on Monday. Most of her friends were going back to school, except for Ryan and her. Will was still going to be at home recovering as well. But Jemma, Leo, and the others were ready to go back. Lincoln had returned already the past week. The school still had a few officers in the building and all the teachers were on high alert for any sign of trouble. JJ Brody and Grant Ward, as well as Miles Lydon, Seth Dormer, and Kyle Shockley were suspended from the school pending the outcome of the investigations. Those five also had restraining orders against Leo, Skye, Thomas, Will and Ryan.

It was around nine o'clock on Sunday night and it was game night at the Coulson's house. Everyone who helped paint had left after dinner and Donnie had requested that they play a few board games to unwind and chill. Skye was surprised at Melinda's competitive spirit while they played a rousing game of monopoly. Melinda had won that game as she had placed hotels on two sets of the cheaper properties that everyone kept landing on. Currently, they were playing Clue, and Skye was positive that she had solved the crime. Donnie was finishing up his turn and she was next. Just as she was about to shake the dice and the solve the mystery, the doorbell rang.

Melinda and Phil looked at each other. It was late on Sunday night and they weren't expecting anyone. Skye looked at their concerned faces and pulled Donnie back down after he stood up declaring he would get it.

"Mel and I will answer the door, you guys stay put."

"It's probably a salesperson." Melinda assured Skye.

"Maybe a Jehovah's Witness?" Donnie added.

Melinda and Phil got up and walked into the hallway to the living room and front door. Phil peeked out through the peephole and raised his eyebrows curiously. "It's Sharon Carter." He opened the door, and to his surprise there were three people standing on the porch.

Sharon spoke first. "I know it's rather late, but we need a place for Thomas to stay temporarily. Jeri managed to get him out of Four Winds a few hours ago.

Skye and Donnie had not listened, of course, and had followed Melinda and Phil to the door. Skye pushed her way past Phil and engulfed Thomas in a hug.

"I'm so sorry Thomas."

He pulled back and looked at her. "Hey, hey, stop. This was not your fault. This was on my parents. It was their last-ditch attempt to control me and control all this. They failed. Thanks to you, all these people are working to find the truth now. Ms. Carter and Ms. Hogarth are working for us Skye."

"Thomas this is Mr. and Mrs. Coulson."

"I've already met Thomas. He was at my dojo." Melinda smiled at the boy. "Come on in everyone."

Jeri Hogarth spoke up. "Actually, we just wanted to drop off Thomas. It's been a long hectic day and I need to get some sleep. Here is the order placing him in your temporary custody. I take it you are accepting him?"

"Of course." Phil answered her. "He'll be fine here."

"Well his parents and their lawyers are not at all happy. We thought of putting him in a more secure facility to make sure they didn't try to contact him or attempt to intimidate him. But Sharon assured me he would be safe here and it's obviously better for him to be with people who care."

"He will be safe here. I'll make sure of that." Melinda nodded at the two women.

'I am working on getting a protective order for him against his parents. He already has one against his brother, of course, just like Skye and Ryan and Will have. If anyone attempts to try to claim custody, and take him, you need to show them that paper and call me right away. Here's my card as well. He's not to return to school yet, and I'd recommend hanging around here and not going out anywhere by himself just yet. Just to be safe."

"We will. Thank you for all your hard work."

"Well, it started as a favor to Vic, but it's become far more than that now. Don't worry, Mr. Coulson, I also have a very good private investigator on this. I expect to have more answers soon. Then we can share that information with your police friends. She's less constrained in how she obtains her intel."

"And I am going to pretend I never heard any of that," Sharon said as she turned to Thomas. "You will be good here." She turned to Melinda. "He has a few things, a couple changes of clothes. At this point we are not going to demand to get access to his parent's home to get more of his personal things. So if he needs anything, just keep the receipts and turn them in. I'll make sure you are reimbursed."

"That won't be a problem Sharon. We'll take care of him. Whatever he needs."

Sharon smiled. "Thank you. I knew we could count on you two. You look well Skye. Everything okay?"

"Yeah. Everything is great." She moved to Sharon and gave her a hug. "Thanks for letting me stay here. It's a good fit."

Sharon nodded. "I knew it would be. For both of you." Sharon nodded to Donnie who had made his way out onto the porch to stand next to Phil. She turned and followed Jeri to her car.

Melinda was standing in the basement guest room, leaning against the door. Skye was currently sitting up on the daybed they had moved in the room from the upstairs that she was using until the new furniture arrived. All her stuff was scattered around the house in various rooms and all she had with her was a couple sets of pajamas, and a couple pairs of jeans and shirts, her hightops, and her school backpack. Her phone was on the small night table along with a lamp.

Melinda smiled as she looked around the barren room. "Hopefully the furniture arrives tomorrow like they said. Then we can switch this daybed back up to the small spare room, you can move into your room and we can put Thomas down here."

"He's okay?"

"Yes. He nearly fell right to sleep, Phil said. The old sleeper sofa in the family room should be good for one night."

"Is Donnie asleep too?"

"I hope so. He has to get up early for school tomorrow. Phil will drop him off before he heads into work. I talked to Roz earlier and she said she'd have yours and Thomas's weekly work assignments to send home with him. You should try to finish up last week's work if you can."

"Okay. I'll try."

"You okay?"

"Yeah. It's better now that I know Thomas is out of that place and safe with us."

"Yeah. Hey, I want to keep you in the loop. Akela Amador, my friend and ex-partner with the FBI, is coming to town tomorrow night. She's here to help Izzy and the others with all this. She said she would be bringing files of their federal investigation and hopefully they can start piecing things together. She said she'd look into all the missing records from your file and try to figure out why you have a redacted file."

"Cool."

"She may need to stop by and ask you some questions after she talks with Izzy and Mike. You okay with that?"

"Sure. I mean you'll be there right?"

"I can be. If that's what you want."

"Yeah. Probably. Hey Melinda, are you okay?"

Melinda walked over to the bed and sat down. "I am. Right now, I am okay. How about you?"

"Yeah. Me too. I think maybe I'm more okay than I've been in a long time."

"I know that feeling." Melinda brushed Skye's hair from her eyes. "Thank you."

"Back atcha. I don't even know how to describe it. It's like this – this place – all this – you and Mr. C. and Donnie, like – I don't know – it feels right. It feels like home."

Melinda pulled Skye into her arms and squeezed tightly. "It feels like home Skye, cause it is home. You've come home, and not just you Skye, I've come home too. I -I can't explain it- I have no idea how or why – but you and Donnie and Phil – you are my home. It's like I've been waiting for you to show up and here you are. I can't imagine my life without you in it."

"Ah going all sappy again are you?"

"Yep. I'm getting pretty good at it, huh?"

"Well you know what they say, if you're going to do something you should go all out, right?"

"Damn straight."

Skye laughed and hugged Melinda even tighter. She nestled into Melinda. After a few moments she spoke in a quivering voice. "I never thought I'd have this. I never thought I deserved this." Skye felt a few tears escape and tried to stop them but instead found herself sobbing into Melinda's shoulder.

Melinda gently rocked Skye back and forth, just letting her get rid of some of her bottled-up emotions. It had been a roller coaster ride of emotions the last two days intwined with a lot of excitement and change. Melinda was sure the toll of all the internal reflections everyone was dealing with as well as the physical exertion was as all consuming for Skye as it was for herself.

"I'm so proud of you Skye," Melinda spoke softly as Skye's sobs decreased. "Your willingness to face so many of your deepest fears allowed me to face some of mine. It's not easy to let others see us at our most vulnerable." Melinda paused as Skye quieted even more as she listened, still with a tight grasp onto Melinda.

"You remember that phone call you made to my dojo, only a few weeks ago? Seems like a much longer time, doesn't it?" Skye nodded into Melinda's shoulder.

"Your hesitancy and grasping at the right thing to say, trying to convey your desperation without sounding desperate. When you showed up that next day, with Phil, you know what I saw?"

Skye took her head off Melinda's shoulder and stared at her, a few stray tears still making her face wet. She shook her head.

"Your eyes were so jaded and yet flashed a bit of hope. Your face conveyed so much defeat, and yet there was still a spark of anticipation that maybe, just maybe someone would help you. I didn't offer to teach you that night because of Phil wanting me to. I did it cause I needed to. I can't even explain it beyond that. It was like a moment of pure clarity for me, knowing I'd wasted so many years wallowing in my pain, never seeing the pain that surrounded me and then – there you were, personifying everything I'd always wanted to be."

Skye looked curiously at her and wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

Melinda continued. "You looked so young, and yet so beaten down, so weary and even fearful, and yet there you stood showing me what strength really is. And then I got to know you and found out just how right I was. Phil said that when he met you – you reminded him of me. It took a little while but eventually I saw it too. Then you started pulling these – these um – emotions from me. Ones I had tried to shut down after Jamey died, tried to control, tried to bury. The pain of losing him became so unbearable I needed to shut that pain out, hell I even pushed Phil away after he was healed."

"But that's understandable. You lost your son. It was tragic and it was – it was..."

"Unexpected and quick. In a flash of one moment I lost the most important person in my life, and I didn't get to say goodbye." Melinda paused once again and then took a deep breath. "I was in the hospital for over a week. The first three days I was unconscious, well in and out of consciousness. It wasn't until the fourth day that they told me about Phil and Jamey. At that time Phil was touch and go, in very critical condition. I'm told after they told me about Jamey, I needed to be sedated for quite some time. After those initial few days, once I was able to get out of bed, I spent all my time and energy on caring for Phil and making sure he was taken care of. I shut out everyone else slowly. First, it was my co-workers, then it was my friends, even Bobbi. My parents were at a loss as to what to do, how to help me. I pushed them away too."

Melinda sat back on the bed against the headboard and motioned to Skye do the same. She put her arm around her, as though to draw strength from the girl to continue. "Eventually, it was just me and Phil, and I had managed to isolate myself in my pain and pushed everyone away. Phil was devastated over Jamey's death. After he was recovered enough, we had a small, family only memorial for him. Our bills were piling up, including Phil's medical bills, neither of us were working, and we almost lost the house. Clint found out, and he spoke to Mike and others that Phil had helped over the years, and he spoke to Bobbi who spoke to others at both the police force and FBI, and all together they paid off a year's worth of our mortgage. We had dipped into our savings to pay for things since Phil couldn't work and I wasn't able to work. I convinced myself I quit to care for Phil, but I quit cause I wanted to distance myself from everything and everyone."

"Yeah I get that. Cause if you aren't attached to anything or anyone, then you can't get hurt." Skye reached for Melinda's other hand and grasped it tightly.

"But we both know that doesn't work, don't we? Skye, you just said earlier that you never thought you deserved this. I want to tell you that yes, yes you do. You deserve to be happy and you deserve to have people love you. I lived that life for a long time Skye. Thinking I didn't deserve Phil, or my friends, or to be happy. I tried to distance myself from everyone else, so they didn't drown in my wake. Even from Phil. But he wouldn't give up on me. Even when I screamed at him to leave, even when I shut him out for weeks at a time, even when I blamed him for Jamey's death – he stayed. People who love us, they stay. I'm going to tell you again. You're not going anywhere. We aren't going anywhere. You do deserve this. You deserve us. And we deserve you. I love you Skye."

Skye nestled closer to Melinda and in a few minutes felt herself drifting off to sleep. She felt Melinda move, and thought she was leaving so she shook her head, mumbling, "Please stay," while holding Melinda's hand even tighter.

Skye woke slowly and opened her eyes and found herself staring at Melinda, whose eyes were closed. She was cocooned in a blanket with an arm around her shoulder and another one curled over her stomach holding her hand. She sighed and closed her eyes and snuggled into Melinda. This was home. This was safe. This was family. She drifted back to sleep, all toasty and comfy.

The next time she woke up she felt eyes on her. She looked over and saw Melinda staring at her. "You look even younger when you sleep."

"It's a bit creepy watching people sleep, yeah?"

Melinda smiled. "Was just waiting for you to wake. I've only been awake for a few minutes. You looked so peaceful. I didn't want to disturb you."

"You stayed."

"You asked me to."

"Yeah. Thanks."

"Anytime Skye. So how about we do Tai Chi and then I'll grab a shower and make sure Phil and Donnie are awake."

"What time is it?"

"Almost six."

"You're going to work today?"

"Yeah. I have to."

"And Phil's going back to school to teach and Donnie's going back too?"

"Yes. Skye, both you and Thomas are coming with me to work. I'll set you up in the office for you both to do your schoolwork, and you can watch Tv or something. I'm only staying till two o'clock, when Natasha can take over."

"We'd be okay here."

"I know. But with what Jeri and Sharon said about Thomas's parents, I'd feel better if both of you were within my sight."

Skye nodded. "Okay."

Skye and Melinda had done Tai Chi, and then gone upstairs to eat breakfast. It was planned that after Melinda finished up with work, she would take Thomas shopping, and Phil would pick up Donnie at school. Currently, sitting in Melinda's work office, Skye was working on her English homework while Thomas was reading his history book. Phil had given him his assignments. He had also received his physics class assignments by texting Leo in the morning. Roz would be gathering his assignments from all his other teachers today as well as giving him copies of his books, since everything was at his house still. Melinda checked on them between classes and was going to order in a pizza for lunch.

Skye slammed her book shut, making Thomas jump.

"Sorry. I was just glad to be done with that lesson. Didn't mean to startle you."

"Nah you're fine. I over reacted. Guess it's just gonna take some time to get back to normal."

"Normal? What the heck is that?"

Thomas grinned. "Right."

"So they didn't hurt you there, did they?"

"Nah, just kind of kept me drugged up a little. Said it was to keep me calm and cooperative." Sharon got them to stop."

"They injected you with methamphetamine. I heard Phil talking to Bobbi."

"Yeah. Initially. Claimed I was addicted to the stuff and saying I was gonna kill myself and wanted to hurt others and that's how my parents got me locked up. I am pretty sure they got someone to forge a bunch of reports and records too."

"Geez Thomas. What the hell is wrong with them?"

"I was about to tell the truth. Tell the whole world how messed up Grant and Christian are and how messed up my dad is. They can't have that. Along with you talking about JJ and his friends, that would mess up all their plans. And expose them for who they really are."

"Yeah. You know it is deeper than that though, right? "

"You mean your conspiracy theories you've told Ry?"

"They are not conspiracy theories. They are – well – okay maybe. But it's all weird. What exactly are they hiding? Why is Malick buying up all that low-priced real estate and why does he own all those places? What is the connection? Why are the Malicks and Wards and Brodys and all the others involved in that new age group? And why is Donnie's mom, and his mom's boyfriend" Why do I have a redacted file and why can't they find our records of being with the Hamiltons? Why can't they find anything on David Hamilton – it's like he disappeared off the face of the earth. Why are there no hospital records? Why are police files and evidence disappearing?"

"Okay. You made your point. The real issue for me is what do JJ and Grant and their posse know about any of this? Are they involved or are they just assholes by themselves?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are they telling Grant to beat me up? JJ to harass and abuse Ryan? Or is it just a by product of being raised by assholes and being allowed to get away with everything for so long?"

Skye was thinking about his last comment when Melinda opened the door and stuck her head inside. "You guys hungry yet?"

"Yeah. I am."

"Skye you are always hungry. Thomas – you ready for lunch soon?"

"Yes ma'am. Anything is fine."

Skye giggled. "You don't have to call her ma'am."

"Oh." He looked at Melinda.

"Just call me Melinda, Thomas. Or Miss May is fine if you prefer. Pizza okay?"

"Yes, ma'am. That would be fine."

Skye giggled again. Melinda turned to her and grinned back. "I take it you want your favorite?"

Skye nodded.

"Thomas what do you like on your pizza."

"Oh anything is fine."

"Just tell her. She wants to get what you like Thomas. She's nice like that."

"Oh. I guess pepperoni then. It's my favorite."

"Okay. Half for each. Hope you don't mind if a grab a piece from each?"

"Oh of course not. Not at all. I only need one piece, ma'am."

"Chips or Doritos Skye?"

"Doritos of course. Spicy sweet chili if they have it. Or ranch is fine."

"Any preference Thomas?"

"No I'll eat anything."

"Regular, ranch and chili. Sound good Skye?"

"Yep. Oh and Mountain Dew for me."

"I'll ask for a couple different sodas. There is water still in the fridge isn't there?"

Skye opened it and checked. "Yep. I can put more in later. There's plenty in the storage closet."

"Good. Thanks. Food should be here in a half hour." She popped back out of the room and got out her phone dialing the number.

"She's really nice, Skye."

"Yep. She's the best. Oh and just tell her what you want. They want to be nice. It's who they are. These are good people Thomas. They both probably think you're too skinny. They'll try to fatten you up. Oh and wait'll you taste Phil's cooking. His Mac N Cheese is amazing. And his pancakes, And waffles. Oh, his lasagna is the best I've ever had anywhere. And Melinda knows the best Chinese and Thai restaurants around. And Italian ones too. They buy my favorite cereal. And stock up on all the snacks me and Donnie like. Look." She opened a drawer in the desk and pulled out a pack of red licorice. She took a piece and offered one to him. "Melinda doesn't even like red licorice."

Thomas took the offered piece of candy and stared at Skye." You're different."

"Yeah. Is that good or bad?"

"Good. You're comfortable. You're happy. You aren't – I don't know – you are – you're just different."

"Yeah. Funny how having a family does that."

"I wouldn't know. Family is not a good word for me right now. I mean my family tried to have me committed to rehab, think being gay is a crime, and my brother beats me up on the regular."

"You have a point. Sorry."

"Oh hey. No. It's cool you feel you have a family. I mean it's what you've been looking for isn't it? God Skye I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it that way."

"I've lived in some pretty shitty places Thomas. I do know what you're going through."

"Yeah, of course you do." He gave her a smile. "I'm glad you like them Skye. I'm glad you found them."

"Pretty sure they found me. Mr. C. and then Melinda." She grinned. "And I also have Donnie. And you and Ryan and Jemma and Leo. Our friends. They are family too. Family is not defined by blood Thomas. It's whoever loves you."

He nodded.

Skye and Thomas were watching Melinda teach her last class of the day. It was an advanced hapkido class of college age men and women.

"She's really good. So fast."

"Yeah. She's a mini ninja badass." The class had been paired off and were sparing and Melinda had paired with a guy with no partner. She was currently kicking his ass, much to Skye's delight.

The class finished just as Natasha showed up. Skye waved to Natasha as she prepared for the next class, warming up. Melinda had gone back to grab a quick shower and to change. She appeared only a few minutes later.

"You ready to go shopping?"

"It's fine Ma'am. I don't really need anything."

She looked him up and down. "You need things. And I said please stop with the ma'am stuff. I'm Melinda. Skye tell him what's up. Come on you two."

Skye grabbed a few bags from the back of the SUV, as Thomas grabbed the rest. Melinda was already at the door. She looked back and spoke to them.

"Take his things to the family room for now. I'm gonna check to see if the furniture was delivered and set up as it was supposed to be."

"Wait. How'd they get in if we were all gone all day?" Skye questioned.

"Bobbi was here. She had off from work today. She came over and waited for them."

Skye grinned and hurried to the door. "Come on Thomas. I want to see too."

Skye stood in the doorway with a huge smile on her face. The furniture had been delivered. Her new room not only had new paint, which was sky blue, but it also sported her new grey bedroom set. The delivery people had set up the room and it looked okay, but she was definitely going to move a few things around. But it was all here. Her new bed, a new desk, a bookshelf, a chest of drawers and a dresser with a mirror. She grinned as she heard Donnie talking excitedly to Mr.C. from across the hall. They had come home right after them and she had heard Donnie bounding up the steps with Mr. C. His happy shrieks and laughter sounded awesome. Melinda was standing behind her and she spoke.

"The room looks great. The grey window blinds and darker blue curtains look nice with the paint color you chose. And the furniture all fits and matches the blinds."

"Yeah. Donnie's pretty excited."

"You're not?"

"I never thought I could feel this happy. I keep thinking the other shoe is gonna drop. Like I'm gonna wake up and discover this was just a dream."

"Skye. It's real. This is your room. Hey." Melinda placed her hand on Skye's shoulder. "Just live in the moment."

Skye reached up and laced her fingers through Melinda's. She nodded. "So you're saying to go crazy huh?"

"Um, I was going more for enthusiastic."

Skye looked back at her mischievously. "Unbridled enthusiasm. Copy that." Then she ran toward the new bed and jumped onto it. She proceeded to jump up and down, laughing and cheering.

Melinda was taken aback for a couple seconds and then she let out a loud laugh. Thomas who had come into the hallway from Donnie's room, peeked into the room.

"She adores you. You do know that, right?"

Melinda looked back at him. "I do. The feeling is mutual."

"She has changed. She's better. She's – she's brighter."

"Yes, I think we all are." Melinda looked back at Skye with a fond smile.

"I think she wants you to join her."

Melinda looked back at Skye who was motioning over to her. She gave Thomas a small smile and walked into the room as Skye held out her hands. She took them and allowed Skye to pull her onto the bed and then to Skye's absolute delight, she joined her in jumping on the bed.

Thomas grinned as he watched Skye and Mrs. Coulson jump around like little kids on the bed, all the while also hearing Donnie's loud excited voice talking to Mr. Coulson coming from his room. Yeah, Skye was right. The Coulsons were good people.