It has been a week since Skye's first day. Her first week she was mostly following Victoria around, as Victoria said she could call her when they were alone, if not it was Agent Hand. Her own office was finished on her third day, so she was sent there when Victoria had a meeting, to read up on protocols.
Skye liked Victoria, the Alpha was stern but also kind and easy going when she noticed Skye wasn't up for a stern SO, but Victoria did demand respect. Skye was surprised she wanted and did respect the Alpha. It was one of the only times Skye had met an Alpha, or any person really, that she respected so quickly. It wasn't the same as with her soulmates, she felt a different type of respect for Victoria.
She had mentioned it to Maria one day on their way home, it had only been them in the car, since Victoria and Maria had been in a meeting and Skye was working on something Victoria had put her on. Melinda had gotten off earlier, and Bobbi and Natasha were both on missions.
"Well it could be that you just like Victoria or she could be your Alpha," Maria said.
"But aren't Natasha, Melinda, and Bobbi my Alphas?" Skye asked, confused.
"No, they are your soulmates, not your Alpha," Maria said wondering if Skye had ever been told about how their dynamics worked.
"I don't understand," Skye said, and was also starting to get upset.
Maria could smell fear, anger, confusion, and nervousness, coming from Skye in waves so she pulled over the first chance she got and parked the car.
Turning to Skye, she could see how Skye was trying to control herself. Maria laid a calming hand, or so she hoped, on Skye's thigh, it worked as Skye looked over to her, "Skye, what do you know about dynamics?" Maria asked, Skye blinked.
"We just have them, it's how the world works," Skye answered, uncertainty in her voice.
"That's not entirely true, do you remember when you told us about the Alpha that stole your van from you, and his Beta?" Maria asked, when Skye nodded she continued. "How did you know he was his Beta?" Maria asked.
"I've seen it many times, Beta's and Omega's following Alpha's around and just doing what they say. I'll never understand why they would do that, and the way he was around the Alpha was like that," Skye answered.
"Do you know how an Alpha gets a Beta or Omega to follow them?" Maria asked.
"Yeah, they um they, don't they just do?" Skye said, Maria smiled a sad smile.
"No, Skye, it's a feeling. Like you have said yourself, you feel something around Victoria, you want to respect her and already do, and you want to follow what she says, and if she is your Alpha, she will feel the same," Maria said.
"Wait, are you saying I will become some mindless fool following Victoria around like a lost puppy," Skye asked both destress and disgust in her voice and scent.
"NO," Maria said firmly, not liking the idea she put in her head. Skye flinched back at the tone Maria used.
Maria softened when she saw how she scared Skye, "I'm sorry Skye," Maria pleaded, Skye looked at her and nodded softly. "What I meant was it isn't like that. Or if Victoria is your Alpha, she won't do that to you. She will respect you, she may already know if she is or not, and is just waiting for you to say something. Just because she is your Alpha doesn't mean you have to follow her in that way. For example, Fury is actually my Alpha, but I don't really follow him in that way," Maria told Skye.
"But I have heard you curse him out and even threaten him," Skye said, Maria smirked.
"Like I said, he is my Alpha, even if I don't follow him, we are still bonded to each other. Not as close as if I followed him, and very far from a soulmate bond," Maria said.
"So if Victoria is my Alpha, I won't have to follow her. Could I get another SO if it doesn't work between us, if I say no?" Skye asked.
"It's a choice, and you could get another SO even if Victoria is your Alpha and you choose to follow her, but you have to talk to Victoria about it," Maria said.
"I think I understand now, but would you come with me?" Skye asked with pleading eyes.
"Of course, anything," Maria answered, giving Skye's thigh a small squeeze before driving off again.
When they got home, Melinda was waiting with food. Skye was quiet and distant thinking of her conversation with Maria in the car. She hadn't known that it was a choice to follow an Alpha, and the possibility that Victoria was her Alpha, and how to bring it up with the women. Maybe she should just ask Maria to ask Victoria if she had noticed anything, but she got the feeling that Maria would only come as a backup.
Melinda watched Skye push her food around and not eat anything. She looked to Maria in question, but Maria shook her head and mouthed "later". Melinda nodded but still kept an eye on Skye, who had taken a few bites.
That night when Skye had gone to bed, Maria explained what had happened on the way home.
"I think Victoria could be good for Skye, and if they are bonded, she has a safe place away from us if she needs it," Melinda said.
"Yeah, three Alphas and a beta for soulmates can't be easy," Maria said.
"Especially when they are two soulmate pairs," Melinda said, Maria chuckled at that.
"Yeah," Maria said.
Over the next few days Skye talked a lot with Maria, getting her opinion about how she should bring it up with Victoria about her possibly being her Alpha, or if she just liked Victoria. Maria told her that she was very blunt with Fury at the time, but it was up to her how and if she even wanted to bring it up.
Natasha and Bobbi had come back from their missions on the same day, just at different times. Skye was happy to see them but did not like the bruise Natasha had on her face, or that Bobbi had her right arm bandaged. They both insisted that they were fine, Natasha said one of the men she was fighting got lucky.
Bobbi said she cut herself jumping out of a window. Skye nodded but sat close to them that evening and at breakfast, she had pulled them down beside her that morning. She still had her spot at the table, while the others rotated their spots, to keep it fair, Bobbi had said in the beginning of their vacation almost three weeks ago.
She mentioned to the rest of her mates what her and Maria had been talking about. Bobbi complained in a whiny tone they probably won't see her as much if that was true, Maria had rolled her eyes and told her to shut up, and that she knew that wouldn't happen. Natasha said she supported any choice she made regarding Victoria, so did Melinda. Bobbi was still sulking and mumbling things like couldn't that have waited a little while longer and it was hard enough, Maria just shushed her again. Skye was strangely amused by Bobbi's sulking, and let it show, which only led to more sulking from Bobbi.
It was a Wednesday, Victoria was quizzing Skye on protocols.
"We have a breach in sector 5A," Victoria said.
"Close V5 to 9, A1 to 4, post guests on the roof, basement exists, and the main entrance, and send a strike team in," Skye said, some of the parts clear and others a little uncertain.
"Very good," Victoria said, nodding her head in approval and looking down at some papers and writing something down. Skye smiled at the praise, she had not gotten a lot of it growing up, of course there was a lot cheering for her in The Rising Tides, but that was not the same.
No, Victoria was proud of her, not what she had done, it was just something Skye knew, she could feel it and that meant something for Skye.
"Victoria?" Skye asked softly.
Victoria looked up, "Yes," she said with a soft look in her eyes.
"Um, I don't know how to ask about this, or if I even should, it's just, you know," Skye groaned when she couldn't voice her question, she should have waited for Maria to be with her.
"If this is about if I feel a connection with you, as in the Alpha Omega dynamic connection, then yes I feel it, but I was waiting for you to say something," Victoria said sitting up straight, it almost looked like Victoria was trying to look stronger and more appealing.
Skye tilted her head at the action.
"Have you been thinking about it, or do you want to talk about it first?" Victoria asked.
"I have talked a little about it, over all things, with Maria, and I have given it a thought, but I am still unsure," Skye answered, Victoria nodded.
"That's good, in the end no one can force you to take up the bond completely," Victoria said.
"What about you, how long have you known, and do you want the connection?" Skye asked, biting her lip.
"I have known for about a week and a half, and yes I have been thinking about it, and talked with my soulmate about it, Isabell or Izzy, she is also an Alpha. And yes, I do want it, but if you don't I will respect that, as any sane Alpha or Beta should," Victoria said.
Skye sat still thinking about what Victoria said, she would have to bring another Alpha into her life, if she agreed to the connection with Victoria. She didn't know if she could do that, if it had been a Beta, it would be easier, even if said Beta would be Victoria's soulmate.
"Do you want to meet her before deciding anything, I know you don't like or trust Alpha's much? You can bring Maria if you want?" Victoria asked in a curious voice, bringing her out of her head. Skye looked up and gave a small nod, Victoria smiled at her, a real genuine grateful smile, "Thank you," Victoria said, Skye didn't know how to react, so she just nodded.
They went back to Victoria quizzing Skye.
It was Melinda's turn to drive her home since Maria had been called to another base and wouldn't be home until late that night.
She did tell Melinda and Bobbi, who was still on the bench, as Bobbi called it, due to her arm, but Natasha had been sent away again. Bobbi told Skye that she knows an Isabella that is called Izzy in SHIELD but didn't know if it was the same person; if it happened to be the same person, she was cool and funny.
Skye asked Bobbi a few more questions about her, before Melinda put an end to the conversation. She stated that she was only getting more concerned about meeting Victoria's soulmate and connecting with Victoria, that she should take a break.
Skye knew Melinda was right, so she asked Bobbi what she had done all day.
The next day Skye awoke to Natasha's soft voice telling her she had to get up, and that breakfast was ready.
"Nat, your back," Skye said, Natasha smiled.
"Yeah just got home a few minutes ago, barely beat Melinda to the door when I heard she was on her way to wake you up. I also heard you have been busy, with conversations with Victoria," Natasha said.
"Yeah, like I told Maria last night, it just happened," Skye said, Natasha only smiled.
"We'll see you in a minute," She said before leaving the room.
Skye dressed before going to the kitchen where Melinda, Natasha, and Maria were sitting at the table.
"Good morning Skye, did you sleep well?" Maria asked.
"Yeah, thanks. Did you all sleep well too?" Skye said, they responded with various yeses.
"Where's Bobbi?" Skye asked, taking a piece of toast while Natasha pores some coffee for her, Skye smiled at Natasha in thanks.
"In the shower," Maria answered, Skye nodded and looked for the jam for her toast. Maria handed it to her, "looking for this?" Maria asked.
"Yes, thank you Maria," Skye answered.
Skye started to eat, she did notice both Maria and Natasha were just staring at her, even Melinda but she only glanced up a few times from the paper she was reading.
"Okay guys, we talked about this, I don't like you staring at me while I'm eating," Skye said with a small whine.
"Sorry," Maria said, looking away with a blush and also looking slightly ashamed.
Natasha also looked away, "It's hard not to sometimes. You look very happy today, so it's harder," Natasha grumbled. Melinda gave Natasha a small slap on the shoulder, "What I mean is, it's always nice to see you, even if you aren't happy, well I mean we want you to be happy," Natasha said rambled.
"Don't you think it would be best to be quiet right about now, Nat?" Maria asked, amused.
Natasha looked around and nodded when she saw not only was Maria amused but so was Melinda; Skye also looked like she was having a hard time not laughing.
Skye was on her third piece of toast when Bobbi arrived in the kitchen with damp hair, "Good morning," Bobbi greeted.
"Morning," Skye said back.
"So, what's the plan for everyone today?" Bobbi asked.
"Paper work," Melinda answered dryly.
"I don't know, I'll figure it out when I get to the Triskelion," Natasha answered.
"Meetings mostly," Maria said, Bobbi then looked at Skye.
"I am meeting Victoria and then I have a meeting with Fury. He wants to know how I got in here today, and if we have time today, I'll take a look at the security servers. If not, I'll take a look at it tomorrow when I finish with whatever Victoria gives to do," Skye said.
Bobbi sighed, "What are your plans for today Bobbi?" Skye asked.
"I have none, it's boring to be benched," Bobbi said.
"You could always watch Star Wars," Maria said, Bobbi looked like it hadn't occurred to her that she could.
"Well now I know what to do when you are gone," Bobbi said, to the amusement of the others.
AN: And thanks to Fun_size_Tasha for betaing.