Chapter 15
AN: Thank you so much for the support. Hope you like this chapter.
October 18th 1998
Eight months have passed since Melinda taught Daisy to skate and in that time Daisy has turned three, and an agent by the name of Maria Hill has started to work with Phil, Melinda, Clint and Natasha.
It is a lovely Sunday and because of that fact Melinda and Daisy are at a park which they love. Even though she is only three Daisy loves to use the equipment designed for older kids and especially loves to climb.
"Daisy be careful," Melinda tells her daughter, sounding worried, from where she is standing on the ground as Daisy is climbing on the top of square monkey bars.
"I'm having fun Mommy," Daisy assures her mother, and as she does, she takes a misstep and falls.
"DAISY!" Melinda yells, sounding terrified, feeling like the world is moving in slow motion, as she hurries over to where her daughter is.
"I'm okay, Mama," Daisy says as she stands up, looking perfectly fine, as Melinda gets to her.
"Are you sure? Does anywhere hurt?" Melinda asks, looking her daughter up and down.
"No. that was fun," Daisy reveals, and looks very much like she would like to continue climbing, but before she can Melinda hugs her, tightly. "Mommy, squishing me," Daisy says as her mother is hugging her incredibly tight.
"Oh, I'm sorry Honey," Melinda says as she lets go of her daughter. "Are you sure you're okay?" Melinda asks her daughter.
"Yep," Daisy confirms. "Can I keep playing?" Daisy asks curious.
"How about the swing," Melinda suggests, as that seems like a safer option.
"Okay," Daisy responds and the two of them head over to the swings. For the rest of the day Melinda and Daisy have fun together, though Melinda finds herself constantly thinking about how she felt watching Daisy fall.
January 11th 1999
Three months have passed since Melinda thought she was going to lose Daisy and for the first time Kora wasn't able to spend Christmas with them. As she wasn't able to be in DC for Christmas Kora has come up with an excuse, which she has managed to get Jiaying to believe, so that she can spend a week with her sister and niece.
It is the second day of Kora's visit, and Melinda has been called on a mission with Phil. Rather than having Melinda call Anna Kora has assured her sister that she can look after her niece.
"What if Mom calls you back to Afterlife?" Melinda asks concerned.
"She won't. She thinks I am checking in on descendants," Kora explains. "She won't call me back," Kora explains. "Mellie, you know I'll keep Daisy safe," Kora assures her sister, assuming that that is what Melinda is concerned about.
"Kori that's never even been a question," Melinda assures her. "I trust Daisy with you more than anyone. I know that you'd never put her in danger, that you'll always do whatever you have to do to keep her safe," Melinda assures her, and it means a lot to Kora to have her sisters faith. "But I don't know how long I will be gone for, I might still be gone when you have to go home," Melinda admits.
"That's okay, I'll stay until you get back, no matter how long," Kora promises, as she is sure she can come up with an excuse about it taking longer to check in on the decedents.
"Okay," Melinda says. "Daisy!" Melinda calls as her daughter is playing in her room, and a few moments later Daisy walks out of her room.
"Yes Mommy?" Daisy asks as she walks over and once, she is close enough Melinda squats down.
"Mommy has to go to work with Cols, but Aunt Kora is going to stay with you," Melinda explains to her daughter, her nickname for Coulson being the only thing that Daisy will call him.
"How long?" Daisy asks curious.
"I don't know," Melinda admits. "But I'll be home as soon as I can," Melinda says before hugging her daughter. "I love you soo much, be good for Aunt Kora," Melinda tells her daughter as she kisses the top of Daisy's head.
"Don't worry Mellie, Daisy and I are going to have so much fun," Kora assures her sister.
"I know you will," Melinda says, looking between her daughter and sister, and once she does she stands up properly, grabs her go bag, and leaves.
"Bye bye Mommy," Daisy says, waving goodbye, and Kora realizes something right away.
"Oh Daze, it's okay," Kora says as she picks up her niece, doing her best to comfort her, as she can tell how upset Daisy is.
"I don't like Mommy leaving," Daisy says, as she looks like she is about to cry.
"I know, I don't blame you," Kora assures her daughter, as she quickly searches her mind of a way to help Daisy feel better, and as she does an idea comes to her, she just isn't completely sure that Melinda is going to like. "I've got an idea, do you want to see something cool?" Kora asks her niece curious.
"Yes!" Daisy exclaims, sounding excited.
"Okay," Kora says as she puts Daisy back down on the ground. "Oh don't hate me Mellie," Kora mutters to herself as she take a step back from Daisy, and then before she can second guess herself Kora uses her powers to produce a light show, being very careful to make sure it doesn't go near Daisy so that she can't accidently hurt herself.
"THAT'S SO COOL!" Daisy says excited, and Kora can't help but smile, feeling glad that she was able to help her niece and that Daisy isn't afraid of her.
For the next three days Kora looks after her niece, treasuring every second with her as she doesn't get much of a chance to spend one on one time with her. After her original lightshow more than once Kora has entertained her niece with her power and every single time Daisy has loved it.
It's early evening and Kora and Daisy are sitting at the kitchen bench eating the dinner Kora cooked as unlike her sister Kora is a really good cook.
"This is yummy," Daisy tells her aunt and as she does the door opens and Melinda walks in. "MOMMY!" Daisy yells excitedly as she gets up and runs towards her mother, who picks her up and hugs her, and as she does Kora realizes just how exhausted her sister looks.
"Oh I missed you," Melinda admits as while she loves her job it is hard for her to leave Daisy.
"Missed you too," Daisy responds.
"Did you have a good time with Aunt Kora?" Melinda asks curious.
"Yes!" Daisy exclaims. "Mommy, Aunt Kora is magic! She made light! It was so pretty," Daisy explains, sounding excited.
"Oh, she did, did she?" Melinda asks, glancing over at her sister, who looks a little guilty.
"Did you know Aunt Kora was magic?" Daisy asks curious.
"I did," Melinda confirms. "How about you tell me all about Aunt Kora's magic as you finish dinner," Melinda suggests.
"Okay," Daisy responds and that is exactly what she does.
A while later, having just put Daisy to bed, Melinda walks back into the living area where Kora is sitting. As soon as she sees her sister Kora knows what she has to do.
"Mellie, I'm so…." Kora starts to say.
"You don't have to apologies," Melinda assures her sister, as she walks over to her.
"Really?" Kora asks shocked as that is not the reaction she was expecting.
"Really," Melinda confirms, as she sits down next to her sister. "I tell Daisy the story of the Blue angles, I'm never going to keep the truth from her. I'm just waiting until she is old enough to comprehend everything," Melinda explains to her sister, feeling glad that Daisy is young enough that she might not remember what her aunt can do when she gets a little older, which may be good as it will mean that she won't have to explain the truth to Daisy until she is old enough to truly understand. "I'm glad that you felt comfortable enough to show Daisy your powers, and even gladder that she loved seeing them so much," Melinda admits, as she knows how big of a deal that is and shows how far Kora has come, and how much it would mean to her sister to have Daisy react like that. "Just because she doesn't know it yet doesn't change her heritage, or what she's apart of," Melinda explains.
"Fair enough," Kora admits, glad that her sister has reacted this way. "Do you ever think about what kind of ability she'll get if she goes through the Mist?" Kora asks curious.
"Of course. I still wonder what ability I would have gotten," Melinda admits, as while it's not often it does cross her mind every now and again, usually when she is thinking about how to best protect people.
"You know you could still go through the mist," Kora reminds her sister as while it is more dangerous, and hard to adapt to, the older someone is when they go through the mist it's still a possibility.
"That would require Mom letting me go back to Afterlife, I don't see that happening, do you?" Melinda asks her sister as far as she knows the only Terrigen crystals are at Afterlife.
"Probably not," Kora admits, though she would love nothing more than that happening, and the two sisters drift into silence as they sit together.
July 2nd 1999
Six months have passed since Kora used her powers to entertain her niece and ever since Daisy and Melinda haven't gotten many chances to see Kora.
It is a boiling hot day, that also happens to be Daisy's birthday, and because of those facts Melinda and Phil have taken Daisy swimming at a local pool while Clint, Natasha, and Maria cover for them at SHIELD.
"Again Cols! Again!" Daisy says excited, as she loves to swim as her mother put her in swimming lessons since she was a baby.
"Okay," Phil says as he picks up Daisy and then gently throws her into the water, causing Daisy to laugh.
"Mommy! This is so fun," Daisy says as she swims over to her mother.
"Yeah, it is," Melinda says swimming over to Daisy and holding her once she is close enough.
"You have such a great family," A woman, who is right by Coulson says as Coulson looks at Melinda and Daisy with what can only be described as 'heart eyes'.
"I really do," Phil confirms, feeling no need to correct the woman as Melinda and Daisy are his family. For the next few hours Melinda, Phil, and Daisy swim together, having a lot of fun.
Hours later Melinda, Daisy and Phil are back at Melinda's apartment, sharing the couch, watching movies and eating the incredible food Coulson cooked.
"Mommy she sounds just like you," Daisy says, talking about the character in the movie they are watching.
"I think she does too," Phil comments, and as he does Melinda's sat phone starts to ring, meaning she doesn't have a chance to respond.
Knowing that only two people have the number Melinda quickly answers it, feeling worried about what is going on.
"Kori? What's wrong?" Melinda asks her sister, sounding worried, as Phil pauses the movie.
"Nothing. I just can't get away from Home," Kora admits, feeling bad about that. "Look, I got Gordon here, I thought we could talk to Daisy and wish her a happy birthday," Kora explains, very much wishing she could talk to her sister in person.
"Of course," Melinda responds. "Hey Daisy, your Aunt Kora, and Uncle Gordon, are on the phone," Melinda explains, and looking excited Daisy happily takes the phone from her mother.
"Aunt Kora? Uncle Gordon?" Daisy asks, sounding excited.
"Hey Daze," Kora greats.
"Hey Daisy," Gordon greats. "Happy Birthday," Gordon says to his niece.
"Yeah, Happy Birthday, Daze," Kora tells her. "So, what did you do today?" Kora asks and once she does Daisy excitedly tells Kora and Gordon what she got up to for her birthday.
February 9th 2000
Seven months have passed since Daisy's forth birthday and during that time Kora and Gordon were able to come to DC a few times, including for New Years Eve.
It is a Wednesday and because her mother is on a mission with Phil, and has been for a while, Daisy is at home with Anna, clearly showing how much she misses her mother.
"Daisy try to eat a bit more," Anna says, feeling concerned as Daisy hasn't eaten a whole lot.
"Not hungry," Daisy says and as she does the door opens and Coulson walks in. "Cols!" Daisy says excitedly, running towards him, and because she is so young Daisy doesn't realize how worried Phil looks, or the fact that he has been crying.
"Hey Daisy," Phil says, doing his best to keep his voice even as he doesn't want to scare Daisy, as he picks her up.
"Where's Mommy?" Daisy asks, looking around and not seeing her mother.
"Daisy, that's why I'm here," Phil explains to the little girl that he loves as if she was his own daughter.
"Is Mommy okay?" Daisy asks, sounding afraid.
"Daisy, your Mommy was hurt at work," Phil explains, while he is doing his best to try and hide how afraid, and hurt, he is Anna is able to tell what he is trying to hide, though Daisy can't.
"Is she going to be okay?" Daisy asks, as tears come to her eyes.
"She's hurt, but she's going to be okay," Phil explains, as he purposely waited until Melinda was out of surgery before coming to tell Daisy. "Clint, Natasha, and Maria are with her," Phil explains.
"I want Mommy! I want to see Mommy!" Daisy exclaims, becoming both angry and upset.
"That's why I'm here, I'm going to take you to her," Phil explains.
"I want Mommy," Daisy says, as she starts to cry.
"Oh, I know," Phil says as he hugs Daisy, hating to see her cry just as much as he hates how hurt Melinda is. "We'll go now," Phil tells Daisy and after giving Anna a look he heads out of the apartment carrying Daisy.
After a pretty difficult car ride Phil and Daisy arrive at the SHIELD medical facility where Melinda is being treated. Under usual circumstances Daisy wouldn't be allowed at SHIELD, but considering the circumstances Director Nick Fury has made an exception.
As he assumed that she would run, in attempt to find her mother, and not stay by his side, Phil is carrying Daisy through the halls of the SHIELD facility. As they get closer to the room Phil and Daisy see Natasha, Clint and Maria standing outside of the room.
"Has she woken up?" Phil asks, his eyes lingering on Natasha as he knows Natasha would be the most likely to have realized something.
"Not yet," Natasha answers. "But she is stable," Natasha explains, to Phil's relief.
"I want Mommy! I want to see Mommy!" Daisy exclaims.
"I know you do," Phil says, looking down at her. "Daisy, mommy's going to look like she's sleeping, and there are machines, and other things, it might look scary, but you have no reason to be afraid," Phil explains, and unknown to him Natasha, Maria and Clint exchange looks as they have all seen Phil show how afraid he is since Melinda got hurt.
"I'll be brave," Daisy assures Phil.
"Just like your Mom," Phil says, smiling at Daisy, but because she is so young, she doesn't realize that there is sadness behind the smile.
Knowing that there is a pretty good chance that this is may not go well, but knowing that it is what Daisy and Melinda would want, Phil takes Daisy into Melinda's hospital room.
"Mommy?" Daisy asks, looking shocked, sad, and afraid.
"Do you want to go back outside?" Phil asks worried, as Daisy takes a step back.
"No," Daisy answers, shaking her head. "Can I lay with her?" Daisy asks curious.
"Of course, but you need to be careful, make sure you don't pull on anything. Do you think you can do that?" Phil asks.
"Yes," Daisy says, with a nod, and Phil walks over and lays Daisy on the bed next to her mother.
Once Daisy is laying next to her mother she puts her arms around her mother and says something that Phil doesn't understand because she spoke in Mandarin.
For the next couple of hours Phil sits next to Melinda's bed, while Daisy lies by her mother's side, and Clint, Natasha and Maria take their turns coming in to check on them. As Phil is watching both Melinda and Daisy so closely, he realizes the second Melinda starts to stir.
"May? Melinda, can you hear me?" Phil asks, leaning forward.
"Mommy?" Daisy asks, looking up at her mother and to her relief Melinda opens her eyes.
"Da..isy," Melinda says, struggling slightly as she comes to.
"I'm here Mommy," Daisy tells her.
"Good," Melinda says, as she looks around. "Phil," Melinda says, looking glad.
"Hey May," Phil says, not being able to show how beyond happy and thrilled he is that she is awake, and as Phil speaks what happened comes back to Melinda.
"Thank you, for what you did," Melinda tells Phil.
"There's no way I would have done anything else," Phil assures Melinda, and as he does, with some difficulty, Melinda puts her arm around her daughter. As Daisy, being extremely careful, snuggles int her mothers side Melinda, Daisy and Phil drift into silence.
A few days have passed since Melinda woke up after being hurt, and to Melinda's relief it wasn't too long after that she released from hospital. Ever since Melinda was relief Phil, and to a lesser extent Natasha, Clint, Anna and Maria, have been helping her.
It's the middle at the night and as she suddenly wakes up. As she wakes up Melinda is beyond confused about what could have woken her, but then she hears Daisy crying and screaming;
"MOMMY!"
Feeling beyond terrified about what could be happening to her daughter Melinda, with a huge amount of difficulty because of her injuries, gets up and hurries over to her daughter's room.
Getting to her daughters room Melinda realizes that Daisy is clearly having a nightmare as she is tossing and turning in her bed.
"Daisy," Melinda says, hurrying, or as close to hurrying as she can at the moment, over to her daughter, and climbing into the bed. "Daisy, wake up," Melinda says and to her relief Daisy wakes up a few moments later.
"MOMMY!" Daisy yells, sounding relieved to see her mother and she throws her arms around her mother hugging her. "it was so bad! I thought you were gone!" Daisy exclaims.
"I'm not gone, I'm right here," Melinda assures her daughter, as she returns the hug.
"But you got hurt," Daisy tells her mother.
"I did, but I'm okay, I'm getting better," Melinda assures her daughter.
"I don't like it when you're hurt," Daisy tells her mother.
"I don't like it either," Melinda admits.
"Why did you get hurt?" Daisy asks, trying to make sense of what happened, and Melinda takes a few moments to figure out how she is going to answer that particular question.
"Sometimes, the work I do is dangerous," Melinda admits. "And sometimes I get hurt,"
"Then why work?" Daisy asks her mother.
"My job is important Daisy, when you get a little older, you'll understand how important it is; I'm a protector," Melinda tells her daughter. "But Daisy, you need to know that you're more important and you always will be," Melinda explains. "Daisy, I love you so much sweetheart, and no matter how dangerous my job gets I'm always going to do to everything I can to come home to you," Melinda explains to her daughter.
"Okay," Daisy says. "I love you to," Daisy responds and as she does Melinda kisses her head.
"Do you want me to stay until you fall asleep?" Melinda asks curious.
"Yes," Daisy says, nodding, and Melinda proceeds to make sure Daisy is properly tucked in.
After making sure Daisy is tucked in mother and daughter drift into silence and before long Daisy is asleep. After Daisy falls asleep Melinda doesn't really feel like leaving her daughter and so she ends up falling asleep with her arm around her little girl.