Set after season 7.
I want to thank you all for reading this story! I also want to wish you all a very happy New Year, and am hoping for good things to come. Happy new year everyone, stay safe, healthy, and happy! :)
"Phil, please stop checking the time! Their plane literally just landed."
"I can't help it, Mel! I'm just so excited."
The pair sat in the waiting area of the airport. People were bustling by trying to get to wherever they were headed as soon as possible. Phil had traveled and seen the world, but the one thing he hadn't gotten to do was just be still. Him and Melinda had decided to settle down together in a house close enough to the academy, but isolated enough to be safe and quiet. It was the perfect place for family gatherings, hence the New Years celebration they were hosting.
"Are you sure their plane landed, Mel? It's been-" Phil glanced down at his watch again.
"Papa Coulson!" Came a shout from across the room. He turned to see a seven-year-old Alya Fitz-Simmons running toward him. He knelt down to let the tiny girl crash into his arms.
"Hey there kiddo! What took you so long?" He asked and tickled her belly causing her to giggle. Her parents followed looking exhausted.
"May! Coulson! It's so good to see you!" Jemma said cheerily, moving to hug May. Coulson handed Alya over to May and pulled Jemma into a hug as well. He patted Fitz on the back.
"How was the flight?"
"Long." Fitz replied while Alya began to describe their trip in detail. After getting their luggage, the five of them began to head to the parking garage.
"We have the bigger guest room set up for you guys. Daisy and Sousa are using Daisy's room."
"Oh good! Daisy will be staying there as well!" Simmons grinned and could not wait to be reunited with her sister.
"Yay!" Alya cheered, "Auntie Daisy!"
The group chuckled at the child's enthusiasm. After getting everyone situated in the car, Phil began the drive home.
"Are you guys hungry at all?"
"Oh, no sir. We're okay."
"Oi, speak for yourself! I'm starved." Fitz said.
"Da, Mama packed you snacks for the plane." Alya scolded, sounding so much like Jemma that Phil and May couldn't help but laugh. The girl pulled out a bag of crackers and shared them with her father.
After the hour-long drive, they arrived at the house. Once they got settled in, May and Coulson offered to watch Alya while her parents got some rest before Daisy arrived. Fitz-Simmons agreed gratefully and went upstairs to take a nap. Later that evening, Alya agreed to help her "papa" start dinner in the kitchen. She was helping him roll out the dough for the chicken pot pie when they heard tires coming down the dirt driveway. Coulson peeked out the window and smiled.
"Alya, guess who that is." The girl smiled and hopped off the chair she had been standing on. The front door opened and Daisy strolled in, tossing her duffel to the side.
"Where's my favorite niece?" Daisy asked excitedly. As soon as she heard Daisy's voice, Alya sprinted the rest of the way towards the doorway.
"DAISY!" The girl bounded into her aunt's arms. "I'm your only niece silly!"
"Exactly! Which makes you my favorite." Daisy laughed and engulfed the girl in a hug. Sousa chuckled at the two of them.
"My goodness, you've gotten tall!" Sousa commented and ruffled the girl's blonde hair. They walked into the kitchen where May and Coulson were and Daisy put the girl down to greet her pseudo-parents.
"What? No front door greeting?" She joked as she hugged May.
"We figured the kitchen would be your next stop." May teased.
"Nice apron Dad." Daisy laughed at Phil's Captain America themed apron.
"Hey, no making fun of the chef!" Coulson fake scolded. He pulled Daisy into a hug and placed a kiss on her temple.
"Where's Fitz-Simmons?" Daisy asked, leaning into the hug.
"They're sleeping." Alya shrugged. "I think traveling made them exhausted."
The adults chuckled at her response.
"Well, I think we should wake them up!" Daisy said, pulling away from Coulson and scooping up Alya. Phil shook his head fondly as the two girls snuck up the stairs towards the guest room. A few moments later squeals of "Wake up, wake up, wake up!" could be heard followed by "Daisy!"
Soon dinner was done and the family gathered around the table. They enjoyed the food Phil (and Alya) made, then moved on to left over Christmas cookies for dessert. After everything was cleaned up, Alya sat in the living room with a documentary on oceanic animals while the adults sipped on their beverages and discussed their year.
"The year has just flown by." Sousa commented and everyone nodded.
"I know. It's hard to believe she'll be eight in a couple of months." Simmons said, fondly looking at her little girl.
"I know! I have the perfect gift picked out for her." Daisy commented.
"You all spoil her with presents." Fitz said, shaking his head, but he had a smile on his face.
"Don't be a party pooper, Leopold." Daisy teased and the two stuck their tongues out at each other. May rolled her eyes at the two "kids", but she secretly loved their sibling-like relationship.
"Glad to see that the two of you are still mature as ever."
After Alya's movie was over, the group decided it'd be best if they all went to bed early. Tomorrow was going to be a long day of celebration.
Later that night May lay curled up next to Coulson. She relished hearing Daisy and Jemma sneak down the stairs for some much needed sister time.
"It's nice having them home." She whispered to a drowsy Phil. "I like knowing they're safe and close by."
"Mmm." Phil hummed in agreement, then let out a soft chuckle, "You're such a mama bear."
She lightly smacked his chest and he just laughed, engulfing her in a hug. It wasn't long after that the two of them fell asleep soundly, knowing their "kids" were near.
The next morning May woke up at 5am as usual and went to the basement to begin her Tai Chi. About five minutes in Daisy came down in leggings and a t-shirt and her hair in a messy ponytail. Daisy fell into the familiar pattern of the routine and the mother-daughter duo enjoyed the blissful morning. May couldn't think of a better way to start the last day of the year. Half an hour later the pair made their way up to the kitchen to enjoy a cup of tea. They sat on the couch with their steaming cups.
"Do you keep up with your morning routine in space?" May asked as she sipped her tea.
"Yeah," Daisy replied, "it gives me a sense of normalcy."
They heard footsteps upstairs and the two paused their conversation.
"Sounds like Phil's up to make breakfast."
"You think he'd be willing to make his chocolate chip pancakes?"
"He'd make anything you asked him to." May scoffed. Daisy knew her mother wasn't wrong and smiled as she laid her head on May's shoulder.
"I've missed this, you know?" Daisy sighed and the two sat in a comfortable silence until Phil came down. He, of course, agreed to make Daisy's favorite chocolate chip pancakes.
The family ate their share of pancakes and cleaned up the kitchen. Meanwhile Daisy, Simmons, and Alya left to the store to get some much needed items for that evening. A few hours later, they returned with beer, champagne, an assortment of desserts, and of course new outfits.
"It's New Years," Daisy had reasoned, "We gotta go into the new year lookin sassy and sexy… uh I meant adorable." She stumbled over her words, glancing at Alya.
"We also got some decorations! Every party should have decorations." Alya added.
The group began to decorate the living room and kitchen. Mack, Yoyo, and Flint were supposed to arrive in a few hours along with Piper and Davis. During those hours, Coulson and Sousa began to prepare dinner, Fitz set up the speakers, Jemma kept Alya entertained, and May and Daisy moved the furniture around. Before they knew it, there was a knock on the door.
"I'll get it!" Fitz called walking to the front door with Alya following close behind him.
"We come bearing appetizers!" Mack announced as he walked through the door.
"Hey there, Turbo!" He pulled Fitz into a bone crushing hug before moving past him to Alya.
"Uncle Mack! I missed you!"
"There's the munchkin!" The girl giggled as Mack tossed her onto his shoulders.
"Hola pequeña!" Yoyo greeted and reached up to grab the girl from her boyfriend. "Mack, can you bring the food to the kitchen?"
Flint had already moved past them to say hi to Jemma and the others. They made their rounds of hellos before settling in the living room. Mack was still in the kitchen talking to Fitz, Coulson, and Sousa when Daisy came looking for her big brother figure. She stood in the doorway watching three of her favorite guys talking and laughing.
"What? You weren't gonna come say hi to me?" Daisy announced her presence with her arms crossed and a smirk on her face.
"Just saving the best for last Tremors." Mack winked then moved across the kitchen to engulf the girl in a hug.
"It's been a while, Director."
"I'm off duty right now, so no work talk." They all chuckled. "How've you been? Sousa treating you well?" Mack whispered the last part, causing Daisy to smile.
So overprotective, she thought.
"He's the best. Things are… great actually."
Mack seemed satisfied with that answer, and he released the girl from the side hug and strolled over to grab a beer for him and Yoyo, offering one to Daisy. The entire group moved to the living room to relax with the others.
"Hey," Flint said, "where are Piper and Davis?"
"Davis probably got lost on the way here." May chuckled.
"Well, they have seven hours before midnight, so I'm sure they'll get here in time." Sousa pointed out. Sure enough, Piper and Davis arrived right as they were beginning dinner.
"Doofus here took the wrong exit, twice!" Piper had informed them right as they entered the house. After dinner they all sat around in different groups. Sousa was asking Fitz and Jemma for book suggestions, Yoyo, Mack, Piper, and Davis were having some sort of debate on whether or not pizza was a suitable breakfast food, and Flint and Alya were playing another round of Candy Land. Daisy took a seat on the couch between her pseudo-parents.
"What a group, huh?" Daisy commented. Coulson wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she leaned into his side.
"The best group of people." May smiled. The joy in the room was so infectious.
"I can't believe it's been two year science we've all been together." Coulson said. He'd missed his family.
"I know. I guess Enoch was wrong, we're all in the same room and the earth hasn't imploded, so that's a good sign right?" Daisy said and May playfully swatted her arm.
"Don't joke like that." She scolded her daughter, although she wore a smile on her face. Suddenly the doorbell rang. Daisy looked confused as May and Coulson shared a knowing look.
"Who's that?" Daisy asked following them to the door.
"You'll see in a moment." May answered. A few moments later, none other than Bobbi Morse and Lance Hunter walked through the door.
"Ay!" Hunter entered with beers in hand and a large grin on his face.
"Happy New Year!" Bobbi greeted. She was surprised when someone barreled into her, giving her a hug. She looked down and she tried to hide her jaw dropping when she saw it was Melinda May's arms wrapped around her torso. May pulled back with a genuine smile.
"It's good to see you. You've missed a lot." May moved out of the way so the others could greet their old team members. Mack even got teary eyed as Hunter and Bobbi walked into the living room.
"Barbara!" Mack's eyes widened before he hugged his old friend. The rest of the evening was spent with introductions and filling in Bobbi and Hunter on most of what they had missed.
"Wait… you're telling me you got this guy from a whole different timeline?" Hunter asked, pointing at Sousa. "That's mental."
The night continued to be filled with laughter and good conversation, and before they knew it, it was 11:55. Coulson and Mack went to fill the champagne glasses (they gave Alya and Flint sparkling apple cider) in preparation for the toast. Alya jumped into her father's arms as they started the countdown.
"5…4...3...2..1, HAPPY NEW YEAR!" They all exclaimed. The clock struck twelve and all the couples shared their first kiss of the new year. Everyone picked up their glasses and turned to Coulson for a toast.
"To friends, new and old, and family who have stuck by our sides through thick and thin. May we never forget where we started, and may we always have one another in the future. To us, may this year bring us adventure, happiness, and more family-time. Cheers!" Coulson said, holding his glass in the air. They all followed suit and raised their glasses before taking a drink.
Daisy turned up the music and Yoyo convinced Mack to dance with her, which started a dance party. After several fast paced songs, Daisy switched the playlist to slower songs. As the soft music filled the air, Bobbi and Hunter got cozy in a chair, while Piper was stacking gummy bears on Davis's forehead as he lay passed out on the couch. Alya was asleep in her parents' arms, as they gently swayed back and forth. May and Coulson were gazing into each other's eyes while they moved in sync to the music, much to Daisy's pleasure, and Mack and Yoyo were cuddled in an armchair with Flint curled up at their feet. Daisy's eyes filled with tears of joy as she looked around at her family, all in the same place, happy, and safe. The moment was perfect as she swayed content in her boyfriend's arms.
"Not a bad way to start the new year, huh?" She said, leaning in close so their foreheads were touching.
"No, not bad at all."
"I love you, Dannyboy." She whispered, and they shared a slow, passionate kiss.
"Happy New Year my love." He replied.
