Based on events during Episode 7x13 of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D

Daniel and Daisy were still chuckling when they entered the control room together, though Daisy's laughter died down slightly when she saw the knowing smirk on May's face and she felt herself blush furiously. The rest of the team were already assembled – aside from Flint, who was in the Zephyr helping Piper with the new L.M.D. of Davis. Mack was looking around at them all heavily, as if this was a moment he had been dreading. Daisy knew at once then what this was about, and she felt her smile disappear.

'I know we've all been putting this off for a while now. But Fitzsimmons have left and…well, it's time for us to make plans,' Mack said, sighing deeply, and his eyes met Daisy's briefly. 'I've been asked to make a decision on whether this place is to carry on being used as a S.H.I.E.L.D. base, so…'

'You said HQ called you?' Daisy said. 'I didn't even…know we had a proper HQ anymore.'

'That's the point, we don't. Not really. I've been asked to head up a new assignment there and…well, rebuild it,' Mack replied.

'Fitzsimmons haven't tempted you to retire then?' Coulson asked, smiling.

'Surprisingly, no. Retirement from field work, maybe. I'm done with fighting, at least for now. But I'm still Director,' Mack said firmly. 'And I've been MIA for long enough. I think it's time to get the agency back on track.'

Daisy nodded, smiling. Daniel looked immensely pleased as well. He knew that S.H.I.E.L.D. could be in no greater hands.

'I'm nowhere near done with field work,' Yo-Yo chimed in, exchanging a smile with Mack. 'That's what I'm best at, that's where my powers are most useful. Piper mentioned to me yesterday that she'd like to…get back out there, take on some new assignments.'

'And don't forget Davis,' Coulson interjected.

'Oh, yeah. And Davis, now. So…maybe we could do that. There are still plenty of Inhumans and 0-8-4s out there to deal with, after all,' Yo-Yo said, and everyone nodded; they all knew that Yo-Yo was happiest where the action was.

'What about you, May?' Daisy asked, swallowing.

'I…'

May's eyes fell on Coulson. It was hard to read both their expressions as their gaze lingered on each other, and yet it felt like a thousand unspoken words were passing between them. Daisy felt almost like they were all intruding. But then the moment was gone as quickly as it had come, and May turned to address the rest of them.

'I've been talking to Doctor Benson a lot over the past few days. We…we want to get back to our old plans,' she said.

Daisy's face lit up in pleasant surprise. 'The Academy?'

'Yes,' May replied, smiling, as Kora looked up in interest from the corner of the room. 'We want to build it from the ground up. A fresh start for the agency. New recruits, only the best instructors-'

'Of which you'll be one,' Daisy guessed.

'Y-yes,' May said, as Yo-Yo looked at her in shock. 'I think it's time. I mean, I'm in my late fifties now and-'

'You're what?!' Daniel blurted out, and everyone looked at him; he raised his hands apologetically. 'Sorry, I just…I thought you were forty or something.'

'Tell me about it,' Coulson muttered.

May's lips twitched. 'Well…thank you, Agent Sousa, that's very flattering. But I'm not. I'm still good at what I do, I know that. Fighting has always been my strong point and…I'll always be the Cavalry now,' she said, and Daisy and Coulson exchanged a proud smile. 'But…I want to end on a high. These past few missions have taken it out of me and…I still need to get to grips with this new ability I have. You never know…maybe I can use it for good, at the Academy.'

Daisy smiled. 'I'm sure you will.'

'Flint said he'd be interested in applying, once it's…up and running,' May said.

'That's great,' Coulson said commendably.

'I'll check in on him from time to time. I'd like to help out with his training, if I can,' Yo-Yo said; she had always been very attached to Flint.

'That would be wonderful.'

Kora cleared her throat as she took a step closer into the circle. 'I…I was wondering if I could sign up as well?' she asked. 'Or…at least, take a look around, once it's finished. Just to see. Or even…help you and Doctor Benson? I mean, a fresh pair of eyes can't hurt, right?'

Daisy's face fell slightly. She wasn't sure if she was ready to be parted from Kora just yet; this whole fight had been for their family, and Kora was now part of that.

Kora swallowed uncomfortably as everyone looked at her in surprise. 'I did a lot of bad things, with Nathaniel. I want to make up for it, and…I-I want to use these powers I have to do some good, if I can,' she said, and she looked at May. 'If you can help train me on how to do that, then…maybe I could…be a decent field agent one day.'

'You don't have to stay with S.H.I.E.L.D., you know, Kora,' Daisy said, a concerned frown on her face. 'Just because that's how you found us and it's where I am, it…it doesn't mean you have to…-'

'I know. But I want to,' Kora said firmly, and she looked around at them all. 'I've seen everything you guys have done in the name of S.H.I.E.L.D….how much good you've done, how many lives you've saved, and-and all the sacrifices you've made. Nathaniel and Sybil only made me see the bad stuff…but now I…it's inspiring, everything you've all done. And I'd like to be part of it. If you can give me a second chance.'

May smiled at her warmly. 'Of course. It can be a new start for you, if it's what you really want. And I'm sure Daisy will…want to visit regularly to see you…' she said, glancing encouragingly at Daisy, 'help with your training…'

'Absolutely. Coulson, maybe…maybe you could help out as well? At the Academy?' Daisy said hopefully, her voice wavering as she turned to face Coulson.

But Coulson smiled sadly. 'The real Phil Coulson is dead. I think I'd kinda freak out the new recruits if they saw me walking around,' he said, chuckling dryly. 'No need for you all to look at me like that, I'm…I'm not…going anywhere final just yet. I think I'll take a few months, maybe a year…just take a break, reassess…'

'Reassess on what?' Daisy asked anxiously.

'How I feel about…well, myself. This…strange new way of existing,' Coulson replied, exhaling. 'It's still a little hard for me. But I want to travel, and I don't need to be the guy in charge anymore – I'm leaving S.H.I.E.L.D. in very capable hands. Besides, I've always wanted a quiet life. Even if just for a little bit. See how I feel.'

Daisy sighed in relief; she'd been worried after their conversations during the time loops that he would want to turn himself off now that the mission was done with. She glanced over at May, who was smiling tenderly at Coulson. She knew from that look that May would always love him, that she would always appreciate this version of Coulson as the true embodiment of the man she'd known for so many wonderful years…but also that he wasn't the real him. Their time had passed now.

She was so lost in thought about May and Coulson's relationship, how they had tragically only had around two weeks together as a couple before Coulson had died, that it took Daisy a while to notice that everyone in the team had now turned to face her. They were looking at her and Daniel expectantly, waiting to hear what they had planned.

Daniel swallowed slightly; Daisy wasn't the only one scared of what was going to come next. All he had known since his new life had begun was this team of people, and the mission to defeat the Chronicoms. Now that it was over, and everyone was going their separate ways, what was left for him? He had disturbed a tight-knit group; he didn't want any of them to feel lumbered with him or think they had to take him with them just because they felt responsible for him. And he certainly didn't want to put any pressure on Daisy or rush into anything, not after all she had been through. He glanced at Daisy awkwardly; they hadn't even had time to discuss what they wanted and where they saw this going, and now everyone seemed to be expecting them to decide their future on the spot just like that.

Daniel cleared his throat. 'Well, I…I'll always be a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, through and through,' he said. 'And I'd like to help you all, however I can. The Academy, rebuilding the agency…it sounds wonderful.'

'I'm sure I can pull a few strings, get you a place at HQ if you wanted,' Mack offered, and he frowned slightly, 'though…maybe not as Daniel Sousa who died in 1955, that might…complicate things…'

Daniel chuckled. 'Thank you, Mack. It means a lot. But, uh…for now, it's just…' He paused, not really knowing how to put it into words, and Daisy watched him attentively; he hadn't spoken about any of this yet. 'I haven't really had time to…well, to…'

'To stop?' May finished for him gently. 'To process?'

'Yeah. Exactly,' Daniel said, and he exhaled relief as he saw that everyone was looking at him with understanding expressions. 'I kind of…I think I need to take a bit of a break first, before I get straight into any work, to…adjust, I guess. I want to…get to know the 21st century for a little bit before I dive back in. It's a whole new world for me.'

'Quite right, too,' Coulson said approvingly.

'You've…been doing remarkably well, with all of this, Sousa,' May said.

'Thank you,' Daniel replied humbly, looking embarrassed. 'It hasn't felt like it sometimes.'

'No. Really. It's insane how well you've been coping,' Yo-Yo said, as everyone nodded.

'I agree,' Daisy interjected, and Daniel chuckled.

Mack then stepped forward to Daniel and held out his hand. 'And you have it on my word as Director that there'll be a place ready and waiting for you, whenever you want to return,' he promised.

Daniel smiled as he shook his hand. 'Thank you, Mack,' he said sincerely.

A silence then fell as everyone's eyes turned slowly to Daisy. She could feel them all watching her, and yet she took a moment to simply gaze ahead of her, to freeze time just briefly. She couldn't believe that this day had finally come. She didn't want to believe it. Their little bubble of playing happily families had been broken, and now it was time to face real life again, to go back into the real world. She wasn't sure if she was ready for it. But then her eyes met Daniel's, and his tender gaze reminded her that she was Daisy Johnson, and she could be ready for anything.

Daisy swallowed as she turned to face them all. 'I've…I've been thinking about it, a lot. And I don't think I'm ready to give any of this up. S.H.I.E.L.D. will always be…well, it would be nice to see if I can try and get a life outside of it, but…I'm not done with it yet,' she said, smiling fondly to herself. 'Seeing Jiaying last week…it reminded me of what I set out to do a few years ago. There are Inhumans out there who still need help and guidance, and who can help S.H.I.E.L.D.. The Secret Warriors team… – don't start on that name, Sousa' – she grinning warningly at Daniel as he raised his eyebrows at her, amused – '…well…I lost sight of that initiative when…well, when other things got in the way. Y'know, with Lincoln-'

'Ghost Rider,' Yo-Yo added.

'-The L.M.D. invasion…'

'Trapped in the Framework…' Coulson said darkly.

'Being transported to 2091…' Daniel interjected, pleased that he knew about at least one of these.

'Ruby and General Talbot just…well, going nuts…' Daisy went on. 'Trying to find Fitz in space for a year…'

'Izel and the Shrike wanting to invade the planet…' May said, shaking her head.

'Travelling through time to fight an army of robots…' Mack finished grimly.

'Yeah, so…the Secret Warriors team kind of…went to the back of my mind…when all that…crazy shit was happening,' Daisy said awkwardly.

Mack raised his eyebrows. 'Can't say I blame you.'

'But I'd like to get back to it. If I can. There's no Afterlife now, but…there are still Inhumans who need help, there are still wars to fight…and there'll always still be S.H.I.E.L.D,' Daisy said, and Kora smiled, inspired by her sister. 'And, like a very good and very handsome man once said, I'll always be a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, through and through.'

Daniel smiled back at her warmly.

Mack nodded. 'I'm very glad to hear it,' he said, and he exhaled deeply as he looked at her in amazement. 'Daisy Johnson, you saved the world. You're as good as any one of the Avengers – hell, better, even – and yet no one knows.'

Daisy shrugged. 'I prefer it that way. The whole 'Quake' phase with the press was seriously annoying,' she said, giving Daniel a pointed glance. 'Anyway, I know my value. I don't really care if the world doesn't.'

Her words stirred something in Daniel, and he took a step closer to her and wrapped his hand in hers, his heart swelling. She looked up at him and squeezed his hand back tightly, a gentle smile on her face.

'Well we know as well,' Mack said, as everyone gazed at her admiringly. 'And we're forever grateful.'

The rest of the day passed by in a blur while people began to pack up their things and go round the various rooms in the Lighthouse, checking that they hadn't left any personal belongings anywhere, while they carried on their exciting discussions on new potential cases and rebuilding the agency and continuing the work that S.H.I.E.L.D. had always set out to do.

Daisy tried to keep her head held high and her tears at bay the whole time. She knew that they weren't being forced to split up. She knew that they would see each other again. It wouldn't be the same, not at all, but like Mack had told her in the Quinjet, that was okay. She didn't feel lost anymore, and it helped that she had Daniel Sousa stood by her side.

But she couldn't help still feeling a little scared. She had become too attached before and then lost that person, and she was still scarred by it. But it was too late to stop that from happening with Daniel now. She had already fallen. And somehow she knew that he would never hurt her. He would never give up or abandon her. He wore his heart on his sleeve, and it didn't take May's empathic powers to know that he cared for Daisy deeply. The only thing that Daisy wasn't sure about how Daniel felt was his future. A part of her sensed that he was afraid, perhaps even troubled by it. And she had a feeling she knew exactly why that was.

Daisy found him in the control room by himself later that afternoon, swivelling on one of the chairs as he looked in awe at the technology on the control pads. The others were finishing off packing and planning their journey on the Zephyr tomorrow morning. Daisy wasn't sure if Daniel was expecting her to go with them or not. Should they stay here and take some time to figure things out? Should they go on a road trip to some place completely random? She had no idea what was going through his head about what she was going to do, what his expectations were. She cleared her throat as she entered the room.

'Hey,' Daniel greeted, nearly falling off his swivel chair as he spun round to face her.

'Hey,' Daisy said, smiling, as she walked over to him. 'The others have…nearly finished packing. We're thinking of getting a takeout later, and…well, a drink, of course. A spy's goodbye.'

Daniel nodded slowly. 'So…they're definitely setting off tomorrow?' he asked.

'Yep. May's going away to meet with Doctor Benson, and…the rest are heading to HQ in New York. Think Coulson's gonna ask them to drop him off somewhere on the way,' Daisy replied, leaning on his chair.

'Nice.'

Daisy swallowed and averted her gaze as she sat down on the chair beside him. 'Mack said you…said you'd like to stay here for a bit?'

'Just to…get my bearings, you know,' Daniel replied, nodding. 'He's gonna…transfer me some money so I can…head on up to D.C. when I'm ready.'

There was a pause as Daisy looked at him. He was deliberately missing what she was trying to get at. She was confused, but she didn't in any way doubt him. She knew him. She was sure of him and how he felt about her. It was rare for Daisy to ever feel so certain about someone.

'And…were you going to talk to me about this or…?' she began, and Daniel looked at her apologetically. 'Only 'cause I thought-'

'I didn't want it to affect your decision,' Daniel said at once, leaning towards her, the lines on his forehead prominent as he gazed at her. 'You should do only whatever you want to do.'

He sighed as Daisy tilted her head at him. He wished that he could make her understand without coming across as uncaring. Daisy was his only landmark, she always had been ever since he had been pulled out of 1955. It wasn't fair to put that responsibility on her, to put so much pressure on their relationship so soon into it. The last thing he wanted to do was be parted from her, but he also didn't want to become her shadow following her around everywhere without giving her the chance to be truly herself, to be free, and there didn't seem to be any middle-ground in the options that had been presented.

Daisy smiled softly at him. 'I know how you're feeling.'

'Do you?' Daniel said sceptically, his eyes on his lap.

'Yes. But you're not the only one who has nowhere to go,' Daisy said, and Daniel looked at her. 'I don't have anywhere to live or anyone to go home to. This is my home. Here. In the Lighthouse, in the Zephyr, in the Quinjet, just…wherever these guys are. But now they're all leaving and it's over and…I don't know what it must have been like for you, when we pulled you out of '55 and just…completely changed your life like that, but I…I think I can relate a little bit. I'm just as lost as you are right now. And so's Kora. But maybe we don't have to be if we…if we face it together.'

Daniel's lips parted as he gazed at her, stunned by her words, but Daisy didn't care if it was too much or too soon. She felt like she'd been dropped in a tunnel, and Daniel was her flashlight, helping her see the way out. Perhaps she could be the same for him.

'Daisy, I…I appreciate that so much, really. But you've done more than enough for me, y-you saved my life and…you shouldn't have to be stuck with me,' Daniel said, leaning forward and taking her hands in his own. 'I don't want this to affect us…we've only just started and …we said we didn't want to take things too fast, and…I don't want you feeling responsible for me. I can figure it out on my own, and then we can still…we can still see each other and take things slow.'

'Daniel-'

'You've got a sister,' he interrupted her firmly. 'She wants to go to help build the Academy, she wants to train, she wants to know more about S.H.I.E.L.D., and I know you want to be there for her through that. You should…take some time with her. Get to know her. Be a family.'

Daisy gazed at him. Had it really not occurred to Daniel that she might want him to be part of that family?

'Oh, you gorgeous, noble, selfless dork,' Daisy said, smiling, and she squeezed his hands. 'Look, I don't know what Mack or Simmons or Coulson or whoever has told you about…about my past. But…you don't have to worry about scaring me off or anything. These past two weeks have been…crazy, but…a good kind of crazy. Like, really good. W-well, only the bits with you, obviously-'

'Yeah, I kinda got that.'

'Yeah, good,' Daisy said, and she smiled. 'I get what you're doing.'

'Do you?'

Daisy nodded slowly. 'Yeah, you're being gallant as always and trying to push me away, 'cause…for some insane reason you think that's…I don't know, what I want? Or what might be best for me?' she said, a challenging expression on her face.

Daniel said nothing. His head was bent low, as if almost in shame.

Daisy sighed heavily. 'You don't…want me to feel like I have to look after you, just 'cause we were responsible for pulling you out of '55. You don't want to ruin this thing we've got going because it might get…I don't know, too intense or…it wouldn't be taking things slow enough and it would be scary for both of us – which, yeah, it probably would,' she said thoughtfully, and she raised her eyebrows at him. 'How am I doing so far?'

'Uh…pretty good, so far, I'll admit,' Daniel replied, a half-smile on his face as he nodded and forced himself to meet her gaze.

'Cool, I'll carry on,' she said smugly. 'You don't want me to feel like I have to stay with you, or whatever. You want me to be able to…go on and live my own life and make my own choices.'

There was a silence as they both looked at each other. Daisy exhaled deeply as she stroked his fingers with her own. All this time she had been so certain that any life she would have after S.H.I.E.L.D. would be spent alone, and once she might have pretended that she was okay with that. But no more…not now she had met this man, this wonderful man who felt just as lost as she did. They were from two completely different worlds that never should have met, still practically strangers and yet it felt as if they had known each other for a long time, as if their separate worlds were already familiar and intertwined…and it made Daisy feel reborn.

She had been on her guard too long all these years, but now she had no reason to be. Right before her eyes was Daniel Sousa, and that was enough reason to finally let her walls come down, to let her heart dictate what she wanted.

'The thing is, I…I choose you,' Daisy said, her voice tremoring slightly on the last word as she gripped his hands tightly. 'And I know that sounds like a corny line from a hideously cheesy rom com, but it's true, and…and it feels so good to say it.'

Daniel pulled an awkward face. 'I'm sorry, I don't know what 'rom com' means, but…go on,' he said, and she smirked back at him.

'Look, I'm just as scared as you are, probably even more. I don't know what the hell's gonna happen and where we're gonna go or what we're gonna do, but…I don't want to do it on my own,' Daisy said. 'I wanna give this a shot, with you. If-if that's what you want. But…I don't know, I've just been doing a load of talking, I-I don't know…it depends what you-'

But Daniel cut her short as he leapt from his chair, cupped her face in his hands and kissed her firmly on the lips. He pulled her up to her feet with him as she kissed him back, overcome with relief, and she wrapped her arms around his neck as they broke apart, a huge smile on her face.

'I'm not sure if…that was a good enough answer for you…' Daniel murmured, his hands moving to her waist.

'No, I think I got it. Yeah,' Daisy assured him, and they smiled as they held each other.

He cleared his throat nervously. 'I'm not sure about, well…pretty much anything…anymore, other than…how much I wanna be with you, Daisy. But I…I don't really know how…this sort of thing works in the 21st century.'

'This sort of thing being?' she prompted gently.

'W-well…relationships, courting…whatever you call it now.'

Daisy hesitated as she thought about it. 'Huh. I think people use dating apps now. So they…post pictures of themselves online, swipe right if they like the other person and left if they don't, then go on a few dates, and…then take it from there,' she explained.

'Dating apps,' Daniel said, his eyes wide and sceptical. 'That sounds…horrifying.'

'Mm-hmm. I know we may be moving kind of fast – I mean, we already started living together, like, a couple of days after we first met – but at least we can avoid the whole…swiping thing,' Daisy pointed out.

'Thank God for that,' Daniel said, and they both chuckled. 'So, uh…what's the plan, then?'

'Well…I went to talk to Kora about half an hour ago. I asked if she wanted me to come with her and May, just for the first few weeks while she gets settled and sees…how she feels about things, but…she says she wants some time to…well, to get to know who she is by herself, without any family or…I mean, which I get,' Daisy said, nodding rapidly at Daniel as if trying desperately to convince herself that Kora's upcoming departure didn't bother her. 'She's never been independent before.'

'That makes sense. Good for her,' Daniel said, watching her carefully. 'And you'll…we'll still visit her, right?'

Daisy smiled at his correction. 'That's right. We will,' she replied. 'And I'm gonna take some time as well. Just for a few weeks, before going to HQ and…starting again.'

'So…'

'I'm staying here with you,' Daisy said, and they both smiled as Daniel leaned in, his nose brushing against hers. 'Just for a bit, until I get sick of you.'

'Oh, obviously,' Daniel said, pressing his smiling lips to hers briefly. 'I want to do this right. Me and you. If we can.'

'Me too. And if that means…doing things 'properly', as you put it, and…going back to taking things…well, as slow as we can, given the circumstances, and…holding off on…certain things until the moment's right, or whatever, then…well, let's do that,' Daisy said, and Daniel's eyes lit up hopefully.

'Yeah? Are you sure?' he said, smiling.

'Yeah, I am,' Daisy said, and it was such a thrill to say those words and know she meant them. 'Let's do this right.'

She truly wanted this to work, and not just as a whirlwind romance; she wanted to see if this could really last. On paper, it shouldn't – they had both been living in completely different worlds, almost seven decades apart – and yet they had become attached to each other in a way that seemed truly unbreakable in the span of two weeks. Daniel was so stable, so supportive, so willing, and so understanding and admiring of who Daisy was, and what she needed and wanted. Perhaps, just perhaps, there was a chance that something in her personal life could go well for Daisy after all.

That night the remaining members of the team all gathered and raised a glass for one last time to say goodbye. They drank and reminisced and laughed and cried and hugged, and when Daisy and Daniel went to bed that night, Daniel knew that she didn't want to talk, so he just held her in her arms as she tried to sleep.

When the morning dawned bright and early, they all boarded the Zephyr for one last time and parked on land, just by the lake, so that they could drop May off at the car that she'd hired and bid farewell to each other there, with the view of the Lighthouse before them.

It was a blissful feeling as Daisy and Daniel stepped outside and breathed in the fresh air. It had been their first time outside during daylight since 1976 when they'd escaped the barn almost two weeks ago. It felt like months, no years, since they had felt the warmth of the sun on their skin and the light gentle breeze, and the smell of the salty sea air.

May and Kora were the first to leave; the car was already waiting for them, and May had spoken to Doctor Benson about where and when to meet. All that was left now was for them to say goodbye.

It was still a shock to Daisy every time May reached out to hug her, and this time was no exception. 'I'm so proud of you,' May murmured in Daisy's ear, and her voice tremored slightly.

Daisy hugged her back. She wished she could tell May that she wouldn't be the person she was today if it wasn't for her, regardless of her powers, but she knew that if she opened her mouth to say any of this she would start crying, and she couldn't do that. Not right now.

'Sousa,' May said, when she broke free of Daisy and turned to Daniel. 'Remember what I said.'

Daniel raised his eyebrows; he wouldn't forget his conversation with her in the Zephyr's cockpit that day last week in a hurry.

But May began to grin. 'I'm just kidding.'

'Uh, May, did you just say you were kidding?' Daisy said, looking at her in alarm and smiling. 'I didn't know you could do jokes.'

'Oh, shut up,' May said, and she held out her hand to Daniel. 'Take care of yourself, Agent Sousa.'

'Thank you, Agent May. And you,' Daniel said, shaking it. 'I look forward to coming to see the Academy.'

'I look forward to that too.'

As she went over to Mack, Yo-Yo, Flint, Piper, Davis and Coulson, Kora tentatively walked up to Daisy and Daniel. She said goodbye with her head bent low, her eyes darting awkwardly. She still felt guilty for all she had done, Daisy could tell, but she knew that would get better in time. She had been through that herself. And getting a head start to look around S.H.I.E.L.D., for May to show her the ways of the agency and build a programme for new recruits, would help immensely with that.

'We're gonna fly over in about a week or two, so…we'll come visit you then,' Daisy said, before giving her sister a quick, somewhat awkward, hug.

'Okay,' Kora said, breaking free, and Daniel could tell that deep down she was grateful. 'See you next week.'

They all turned; May had reached Coulson now, and they were hugging each other tightly. When May leaned away, she kissed him on the cheek, and turned quickly before Coulson could see the tears forming in her eyes.

It was this sight that made Daisy realise now more than ever that this truly was the end of an era. She had never liked change or endings. But, as Daisy watched May and Kora drive away, she realised that she shouldn't see it like that. She should see it as a new beginning instead.

After saying their goodbyes to Daisy and Daniel, Yo-Yo, Flint, Piper and Davis then headed back into the Zephyr to prepare for take-off, leaving just Mack and Coulson outside. Mack went up to Daniel first and hugged him as if they had been best friends for years.

'Keep in touch, you got that?' he said.

Daniel nodded. 'Yes, sir.'

Mack smirked at him and clapped him on the shoulder before moving over to Daisy, and he smiled warmly at her. Mack hadn't been surprised at all when Daisy had told him that she would be staying behind with Daniel and taking a few weeks out before resuming S.H.I.E.L.D. work; in fact, he'd encouraged it. She deserved a break. She deserved the world, and he knew that Daniel wanted to give it to her.

'Daisy,' was all he said, before she'd crushed herself against his chest; Mack hugged her back tightly, blinking away any tears that were threatening to form in his eyes. 'You'll be just fine.'

'I know,' Daisy whispered, before reluctantly letting go of him.

Saying goodbye to Coulson was the hardest. She wasn't sure why that was. She had said goodbye to him before, the real Coulson, days before he had passed away. That had nearly broken her completely. But to have him brought back in this form, only to then part ways with him just a few weeks later, was almost too much to bear. Coulson had been with her from the very beginning, he had introduced her to this new life of hers. And now it was almost over.

'Don't be a stranger,' Daisy said tearfully, as he stroked her back. 'Please call me and visit…and…everything, when you can.'

'I will,' Coulson said, as they broke apart from their hug. 'I promise.'

As Daisy walked away and looked out at the lake, breathing heavily and trying to pull herself together, Coulson then walked over to Daniel. He gripped his hand tightly and shook it, before pulling him in for a hug, to Daniel's surprise.

'Good luck, Agent Sousa,' Coulson said, once they'd broken apart. 'And…look after her.'

Daniel followed Coulson's gaze over to Daisy as she stood over by the cliff edge with her back to them. 'I will,' he vowed.

'I love her very much,' Coulson said.

There was a beat as Daniel looked at him.

'So do I.'

Daniel knew that the words must sound preposterous coming from a man who hadn't even known Daisy for two weeks to someone who had known her for seven years, but that didn't mean they weren't true.

Coulson nodded. It felt like his heart was swelling, but of course he knew it was just programming tricking him into believing that he could feel those emotions. But it felt more real than almost anything else he'd experienced since being activated.

'That's nice to hear, Agent Sousa,' he said, smiling as he nodded at him. 'Very nice.'

He cast his mind back then to the words he had spoken to Mack, what felt like so long ago now, on the day they had contemplated what to do about Sousa's demise on June 22nd 1955.

'If Sousa lives, we don't know what impact that will have on the future.'

Coulson smiled now as he watched Daniel go up to Daisy and put a comforting arm around her. She nuzzled into his shoulder and they turned and walked back towards the others together, ready at last. Exhaling deeply, Coulson met Daisy's gaze; they nodded reassuringly at each other, and then Coulson headed back to the Zephyr.

Mack hung back on the loading bay, waiting to press the button to close the Zephyr doors.

'You sure you don't want a ride?' Mack asked Daisy.

'I'm good,' Daisy said, looking at Daniel and smiling softly. 'I'm…I'm where I need to be.'

She never wanted to be without him. It was such a strange feeling. Jemma had told her about it, when she'd realised her true feelings for Fitz years ago. Daisy had just never thought that she would be lucky enough to experience the same sensation herself. She hadn't been looking for love at all when they'd met, and neither had Daniel. They had been dropped into each other's lives so unexpectedly, and it felt almost as if the universe and space-time had contrived together to make it happen. If it had, Daisy had no complaints. Nothing had felt more right.

Daisy took a deep breath and watched as the Zephyr then took off, carrying both old and new recruits to New York to carry on the S.H.I.E.L.D. legacy, one which Daisy knew that she and Daniel would also continue themselves as soon as they felt ready. A tear trickled down Daisy's cheek as she watched the aircraft, her old home, fly off into the distance, but then she met Daniel's gaze and smiled softly. They both turned and walked over to the edge of the cliff; Daniel took her hand and she squeezed it tightly as they looked out at the lake and the Lighthouse together, content with the knowledge that their next great adventure was each other.

Note: I know this seems like quite a final chapter but there are still four more chapters (sort of like one big epilogue) to come before the end! Hope you enjoy :D thank you so much for still reading and your comments :)