A/N: As always, I own nothing. All mistakes are my own and I appreciate all feedback. If you have any suggestions of things you'd like to see, please leave a comment and I'll see what I can come up with! Please enjoy :)

Chapter 7

"Look Skye, we're home" Skye heard May say but it hadn't quiet registered to her still sleep induced mind. She stretched out in her car seat releasing a big yawn and returned to rubbing her eyes. She looked over at May who was already unbuckling her from the car seat and as soon as her feet hit the floor she looked up towards the large looking house.

"You ready to go inside?" May said looking at the little girl who was taking in the exterior of the house. Skye nodded and May offered her a hand. Before she took May's hand she turned back to the car to grab her backpack. Once she had her backpack comfortably situated on her back she grabbed two of May's fingers holding onto her instead of May holding on to Skye. This way Skye was sure that she could release herself from May if she needed to.

For a little girl Skye was very skeptical of grown ups. She was always cautious of where they were and ways she could leave if she needed to. For May and Phil it was quite worrying how a young child found it necessary to have an escape plan. Something wasn't sitting right with them. Had she been hurt? Physically or mentally by a grown up? There was nothing that indicated any past abuse but the way Skye reacted to certain things made it apparent that something had happened. Maybe one day she'd open up about things that were bothering her.

Once inside the house May asked "would you like me to show you around the house before or after lunch?" This was another thing that Skye wasn't used to. Having a choice and being asked what she wanted to do instead of being told.

"I...umm...I" she mumbled basically inaudible whilst looking down at her worn out sneakers and shrugged her shoulders.

With this May thought that the young girl in front of her might be a little overwhelmed. So instead she suggested "how about we start the tour of the downstairs and then have lunch and then we could finish the tour afterwards?" With this she got a small nod from the girl who still hadn't looked up. With this May crouched in front of her and hooked a single finger underneath her chin lifting her head slightly. "You okay?" May asked the girl who didn't reply but instead sucked in a deep breath and winced at the small sharp pain that occurred in her ribs which May had noticed. "Still sore?" Skye nodded she was in a bit of pain and was tired and she could feel herself getting slightly agitated and cranky. She didn't want to say anything that might make May or Phil angry and want to take her back already, and so she thought that staying quiet was her best option.

The tour of the downstairs went by quiet quickly with it being fairly open planned. From the front door was a little foyer with a shoe rack and a coat rack from there was the big living room, and from there there was an archway from what looked like a wall that used to divide the two rooms but on the other side of the archway was the kitchen with a breakfast island and a dinning table. It was simple and beautiful Skye thought. There was also a basement that was converted into a home gym/studio there was also a room that led off from the home gym that May had said was the guest room and another door that led to the garage from the kitchen.

As Skye was waiting for lunch May noticed that Skye still had her backpack on her back gripping tightly at the straps.

"Skye honey, do you want me to show you your room so you can put your backpack in there?" Skye just nodded and complied with what May was saying. She followed May up the staircase that was located just off the living room on the wall that looked like it use to divide the two rooms. As they got upstairs Skye spoke for the first time since they arrived home "May? Can you show me..." she paused to yawn, it was a big yawn so big her eyes watered.

"Show you what honey?" May said as she watched the small girl yawn.

"Show me all up here?"

May smiled "sure I can"

From the top of the stairs there was a long hallway with several rooms. The first room had a door sign on it the read 'Fitz's room' on it and across the hall there was another door sign that read 'Jemma's room'. Skye followed May as she informed Skye of all the rooms. At the end of the hall was a large room that May had said was the 'play room' there was a big bookshelf with all sorts of books on them followed by one that had so many films and video game on it. There was a tv and a couple of games consoles as well as a few toy chests in the corner. This room was like a second living room, mainly where the kids would hang out. Now that the right side of the upstairs has been explored it was time for the left side. The first on the left side was a study/ office and across the hall was the bathroom. Next was a room that was labelled 'Bobbi's room' Skye noticed the room across from Bobbi's had no sign on it and the door was open. It was the only one on the entire floor that was open.

"And this, this is yours. I know it's a bit plain and boring right now but you can decorate it how ever you would like to." Skye looked at the room there was a twin bed that had a navy blue bedspread on it with a baby blue soft blanket. Skye smiled as she ran her hand across the blanket. She placed her backpack on her bed and turned to May.

"Can I bring this with me please" she said lifting the corner of the blanket running her thumb across her bottom lip. May smiled at her an nodded helping Skye take the blanket of the bed. The room at the end of the hall closest to Skye's room was hers and Phil's she opened their door.

"And this is Phil and I's room. And if you need anything through the night don't be afraid to come and get us" Skye nodded knowing that she wouldn't bother them during the night. She'd learned to take care of herself from lights out to morning and in some cases she just looked after herself completely.

Back downstairs Phil had been making lunch. He decided on homemade tomato soup and grilled cheese. Her heard May and Skye coming back down the stairs as he was serving lunch up.

"Lunch will be done in two minutes" Phil said with a smile as May led Skye to the table. "Would you like milk, orange juice or water to drink with lunch Skye?" Phil continued.

"Milk please" Skye said quietly.

As the three of them ate lunch May noticed couple of things. The first thing she noticed was that Skye waited for May and Phil to start eating before she'd even look at the food in front of her. She also noticed that Skye rushed through the meal before drinking her glass of milk. It was unusual behaviour but May didn't want to question her and have her close herself of even more than she had already. Skye yawned again and rested her head on her arm on the table. Neither Phil or May said anything they just let her be. She had looked exhausted since they had got out of the car. By the time the two of them had finished lunch Skye was asleep with her thumb in her mouth. She tried to fight sleeping for so long but she simply couldn't fight it anymore. Noticing how uncomfortable the little girl looked May decided to lift her up and carry her over to the couch where she'd at least be comfortable. However as May lifted, the much too light five-year-old, Skye gripped onto her shirt making it impossible for May to set her down. So instead she sat on the couch holding the little girl close watching as she used her thumb as a self soother.

After fifteen minutes of the girl sleeping peacefully May noticed that Skye was breathing heavier and that her face was contorting, the classic signs of a bad dream. May gently rocked Skye and continued to keep an eye on the small girl who had now released her grip on May's shirt, with this May took the opportunity to lay the small girl on the couch and cover her with the blanket she had brought down from her new bed.

An hour later Skye had began to stir from her nap she rubbed her fists across her eyes and noticed that she was rapped in a soft blanket. She slowly opened her eyes and looked around the pleasant yet unfamiliar room before pushing herself up so she was sitting.

"Hey there sleepyhead" she heard a soothing voice say, more soothing than Alice's which she never would have thought possible. "I was just coming to wake you" May informed.

"Sorry" Skye mumbled back.

"Why are you sorry honey?" May questioned.

"I'm no 'posed to take naps anymore" Skye simply replied.

"Well I think that if you're tired then you can have a nap." May said as she approached Skye to sit next to her on the couch. "We have 15 minutes before the others get home from school and they're very excited to meet you"

"They're..excited?" Skye questioned but before May could respond Skye asked a further question "do you think they will like me?" She was nervous to meet other kids as in the past it has never gone down to well. They would be nice to her for a couple of weeks and then she'd be alone again getting blamed for everything.

"Why wouldn't they like you?" May asked curiously.

"'Cause I'm not good" Skye basically whispered.

"I promise that they'll love you and you don't need to do anything except be yourself. Okay?" May said reassuringly. With that Skye just nodded not sure of what else she could say, she just hoped that they would actually like her because even though she has only been at the Coulson's a few hours she really wants to stay there for a while. It really would be a shame if she had to go back to St.Agnes' already.

Skye heard voices approaching the front door and it sounded like a big debate over something she wasn't familiar with. She didn't even realise that she was holding her breath until May tapped her on the shoulder and mentioned it. Skye was extremely nervous and was fidgeting with her hands in her lap not wanting to say the wrong things and make them hate her in the first meeting. The front door opened and revealed Jemma and Fitz bickering over some science equation that Jemma had right and that Fitz had wrong. It was far too complex for anyone to understand. It was fascinating for May to watch as they went from their intense debate to absolute best friends once they had spotted Skye sitting on the couch next to May.

Jemma was the first to speak "hello little one, you must be Skye."

Fitz followed almost immediately with "we've been waiting so long for a little sister and you, if I say so myself, are adorable!"

Skye sat there not knowing what to say, she didn't even know who they were yet and she didn't want to be rude. May must have sensed her nerves because she spoke whilst pointing to Jemma and then Fitz. "That's Jemma and Leo, but we all call him Fitz"

Skye nodded and raised her hand waving it slightly "hi"

Shortly after the 'twins' walked into the house Phil and Bobbi entered with Bobbi trying to get an extended curfew from him knowing that he was the more lenient parent. However he wasn't budging, he too knew that what May said was final.

"And that is Bobbi. By the sounds of it she is trying to get herself an extended curfew even though we already said to be home by 8pm." May said looking directly at a guilty looking Bobbi.

Skye once again just waved a hand slightly and said "hi, I'm Skye." Then looked towards May not entirely sure what else to do or say.

"How about you guys go and put your backpacks upstairs and we can all watch a movie before dinner?" May said trying to help Skye relax a little. Everyone agreed and ran up the stairs and were all back down in a flash. They all agreed on watching Brave. They all really wanted to get to know their new little sister but they understood how nerve racking meeting new people was especially to a five year-old and they wanted her to be able to feel comfortable around them so they didn't push her to talk to them.

Whilst watching the movie Phil got up to go and make a start on dinner so that they weren't eating to late. Skye had cuddled apprehensively into Mays side and the three older kids had sat in the floor in front of the telly adding their own commentary over the movie which made Skye smile.

At dinner she really wanted to answer all the questions they had but she didn't want them to not like her so she sat silently just observing the group trying to analyse them to see if they were like the other foster siblings she had previously. They seemed really nice and they didn't shout at each other and they laughed at each other's jokes. Maybe this family was different and could be her forever family.

Bed time quickly approached, May had suggested to Skye that she takes a bath and Skye didn't want to come across as misbehaved so she complied and followed May to the bathroom. Skye hated bath time she has done since she lived with the McLeans'. Anxiously she shifted her weight from foot to foot which didn't go unnoticed by May.

"May?" Skye whispered.

"Yes Skye?" May responded gently

"You promise you won't hold me under?" She whispered again not making eye contact. May was shocked with what she had just heard and for a minute she didn't know what to say. This little girl was asking a question out of fear of it happening again. It should have never happened in the first place.

"Skye honey, look at me?" May asked in a concerned manner. Skye looked up and met mays eyes. "I promise you that no one in this house will ever hurt you."

"Okay, 'cause it's hard to breathe unner d water" Skye said around her thumb she now had in her mouth, sounding younger and younger by the second.

"Honey, who did that to you?" May questioned hoping for any form of insight on the situation at hand.

"Carla, she didn't want me to be part of d family. Said it was my fault she didn't get fings no more. Said I had to go 'way" Skye mumbled quickly not wanting to relive the memory. After he little confession she began to undress but got tangled in her shirt and couldn't get it off.

"C'mere you silly goose, let me help" May said trying to lighten the mood a little as she helped Skye free from the shirt. As soon as Skye was undressed she climbed into the tub and May asked her if she needed any help and Skye just nodded with a response of "I always get d hair soap in my eyes" she relaxed slightly at Mays gentle touch and head massage as she worked in the shampoo and rinsed it out before adding the conditioner and following the same pattern. Through out the process of helping Skye clean her little body, May couldn't help but notice all the white scars down Skye's back from just looking she could count at least twenty-two. Who does this to a child? She was quickly brought out of her thoughts by Skye tapping her hand delicately.

"Can I get out now, please?" Skye asked in her very over polite manner. Was it out of fear? Too early to say. May stood up and collected the towel from the towel heater and held it out for Skye, who quickly jumped out of the tub and stood in front of may as she wrapped the towel around the small and skinny girl.

Back in Skye's room May asked "have you got any jammies?" In which Skye held up a holey off white oversized T-shirt. May grimaced at the garment and shook her head.

"Wait here I'll be back in a moment" May said. A moment later May returned with a black T-shirt that had a small pocket with a panda on it. "Here let's put this on until we go shopping to get you some jammies" May said with a small smile.

"Who's is it?" Skye said hesitantly not wanting anyone to be mad for her wearing it.

"It was mine and now it's yours" May said reassuring the small girl stood in front of her. Skye just nodded in acceptance. Once Skye was dressed and ready for bed May asked "would you like me to brush your hair or can you do it?" Skye thought about it for a couple of minutes before mumbling a singular word, "you". Skye allowed May to brush her hair and May was the first grown up she allowed to do it. May was gentle at washing her hair and that had instilled a little bit of trust in Skye.

Bed time was a simple routine for Skye. She knew that as soon as the lights went out she stayed in the room and didn't leave until the morning. So once May had tucked her in she lay still as she watched May move around the room a little before say goodnight and placing a gentle kiss to Skye's forehead, something Skye wasn't familiar with. No one had ever done that before. Once she was alone she listened to the sounds in the house and looked at the time on the little clock next to her bed it was 8:30pm. By 11pm Skye was still awake watching her clock tick on and listening until there was no movement in the house. She heard footsteps outside her door so she quickly closed her eyes and stayed completely still. The door opened slightly and then almost instantly closed again, she waited a minute before she opened her eyes and carefully grabbed her blue blanket and her pillow as well as the little clock and climbed under the bed so she could sleep. With it only being the first night here she didn't want to seem ungrateful for the bed she had been given but she simply only felt safe sleeping under the bed where most grownups couldn't fit to get to her.

Within ten minutes she felt her eyes getting heavy. She had her thumb in her mouth, something she knew she was probably too big to do but she did it anyway and she gradually dropped off to sleep hoping that she would have a peaceful dream.

A/N2: let me know what you think? :)