Chapter 9
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Skye's hope of her nightmares staying away doesn't last as not even two hours after she fell asleep Skye wakes in a cold sweat, tears rolling down her face, the only good thing in her eyes being that because her nightmares were quite she didn't wake anyone else up.
As she sits in her bed trying to calm herself down she reflects on what her nightmare was about. Like so many in the past weeks she dreamed of Lisa, Jessica, Emma and what happened to them, or that's how the dream started anyway. It turned into not just the three of them but Miles as well blaming her for their death then everyone she cares about telling her that she is a disappointment that they never have and never would love her and that she will always be alone.
Skye sits for a while debating what to do, she knows that her parents, her Mother especially, want her to come to them if she has nightmares but she just can't bring herself to do it this time. She sits for a while until she realises that she is just driving herself crazy so instead she grabs her laptop and heads down to the cargo bay where she makes herself comfortable in the front seat of Lola with her laptop in her lap.
Like she does everyone morning that she is isn't woken earlier because, she, Coulson or Skye having nightmares Melinda gets up at six am for hers and Skye's morning Tai-Chi session. Once she careful as possible moves herself out of Coulson's arms Melinda gets up and gets dressed before heading downstairs. Knowing that before they are even half way through their session Natasha will wake and end up joining them down in the cargo bay for her own training.
Once she is downstairs Melinda heads over to her daughters bunk where she is surprised to find the bunk empty. Assuming that Skye just got up earlier Melinda heads down to the cargo bay where instead of finding her daughter waiting for her so that the can start Tai-Chi Melinda finds he sitting in Lola on her laptop, just like she was hours earlier.
"Hi." Melinda says as she walks over to her daughter.
"Hi, is it time for Tia-Chi already?" Skye asks surprised, "Just let me go and put this back upstairs and get changed then I'll be right back." Skye tells her mother.
"How about we talk first." Melinda s1quggests.
"About?" Skye asks.
"How about how long you've been down here?" Melinda asks.
"A while." Skye answers simply.
"Nightmares?" Melinda assumes.
"Yeah, bad ones." Skye answers.
"Do you want to talk about them?" Melinda asks.
"No." Skye answers without hesitation, "I can't." Skye tells her mother.
"Okay." Melinda tells her daughter, "What do you want?"
"To sleep without nightmares." Skye answers.
"If I knew how to do that I would tell you in a second." Melinda tells her daughter.
"I know." Skye responds. "I'll go get ready for Tai-Chi." Skye says opening the door to Lola.
"Are you sure that you wouldn't rather rest?" Melinda asks her daughter
"No way." Skye answers, "I love doing Tai-Chi with you." She reveals.
"I love it too." Melinda tell her daughter with a small smile, "Go get ready."
Skye nods and exits Lola.
As Skye is exiting her bunk once she has gotten changed she sees Ward exiting his.
"Hi." Ward says awkwardly not sure what else to say.
"Hi." Skye responds. "Guess we should talk." Skye comment.
"Yeah we should." Ward responds.
"Look I am sorry that I didn't tell you the whole reason why I wasn't drinking, I am, but if you noticed I didn't tell anyone else either." Skye tells him, "I don't like people worrying about me, you know that, so unless it is something that is actually a big problem them I don't tell anyone." Skye tells him, "I'm sorry if I hurt you by not telling you, I am." Skye tells him.
"You didn't." Ward tells her, "I was overacting but Skye I want you to feel like you can tell me things." Ward tells her.
"I know I can tell you things Grant, it's the actually telling you them that I have problems with." Skye reveals, "I should go Mom's waiting for me so that we can star our Tai-Chi session." Skye reveals.
"Guess you should go" Ward tells her and Skye nods an walks away she is several steps away when she turns back and faces him, "Are we okay?"
"Yeah, we're okay." Ward responds and Skye heads downstairs to do Tai-Chi with her mother while Ward heads to the kitchen to make coffee.
Several hours later the group is working on attempting to find a lead on how they can find the clairvoyant when Pepper along with Tony arrive to talk wedding plans.
"Just let me finish setting up this program then we can talk wedding plans." Skye says with a grin.
"What program?" Tony asks curious walking over to Skye.
"Well we realised that he person with a connection to the Clairvoyant that is going to have the hardest time staying hidden is Mike, so I'm am by passing S.H.I.E.L.D and hi jack your systems to run facial recognition and the other distinguishing characteristics that Mom and Natasha know from when they fought him." Skye explains.
"How are you Hi jacking my systems exactly?" Tony asks.
"Easily, your system isn't as good as you think it is plus Jarvis loves me." Skye explains with a grin.
"You know if you would have asked I would have given you access." Tony tells her.
"I know, but this is faster." Skye responds. "You're not mad are you?" Skye asks worried.
"Nah, not really, just ask next time. I will gladly give you access if that is what you need." Tony tells her.
"I'll remember that." Skye tells him
"Do you need another set of hands?" Tony asks curious.
"Nope, I am…. Done" Skye comments. "Now wedding plans." She says and she walks over to the other table where Melinda, Clint, Coulson, Natasha and Pepper are already sitting.
"Okay so I made a list this morning of what needs to get done." Pepper says pulling out a notebook, "Now you said that you are going to get married at your house, are you having the reception there too and if so do you need to get in extra table's and chars?" Pepper asks curious.
"The reception will be simple, we can put the food and drinks out on the dining room table pull out the couch from the study, move the coffee table into the study then there is enough room, I don't think that it should be anything fancy considering who is coming it will be a miracle if we get through both the reception and ceremony without at least one emergency mission." Coulson comments.
"Hey, don't talk like that, your wedding will be perfect even if I have to fight everyone myself." Skye comments.
"I second that." Clint says.
"Thank you both, but I still think something simple for the reception would be best." Melinda comments.
"What about chairs? And other things for the ceremony?" Pepper asks.
"Um, Skye what do you think?" Coulson asks his daughter.
"You want my opinion?" Skye asks.
"Of course." Melinda and Coulson respond.
"Huh, well where are you thinking about having the ceremony?" Skye asks.
"The back yard." Coulson answers.
"Well we've got to have an isle that's for sure, maybe carpet?" Skye asks looking as Pepper as she is sure that she sees Tony and Clint pass a note out of the corner of her eye.
"We can definitely get one." Pepper answers.
"I think it will be good." Skye answers, "Do you want to get an arch or something for you guys to stand other or do you want to stand in the open?" Skye asks her parents curious.
"I think we'll get an arch." Coulson comments after having one of his wordless conversations with Melinda.
"We can defiantly arrange it." Pepper comments. "Now, food?"
"Don't even think about it." Skye and Melinda say as Coulson opens his mouth.
"Why not?" Coulson asks.
"You're trying to arrange a wedding in two weeks, you don't need the added stress of cooking to that, no matter how relaxing you find it." Clint tells his friend. "Tony you know a good caterer right?" Clint ask.
"Of course, but that depends on what kind of food you want, sit down or buffet?" Tony asks.
"Buffet." Melinda, Coulson, Natasha and Skye say.
"I know just the guy, leave it to me." Tony tells them.
"You don't mind?" Melinda asks.
"Not at all." Tony answers.
"What about Music?" Pepper asks and for that one everyone is quite for a while.
"How we set up a play list of some basic songs we want and then as the reception goes on everyone adds more music to it." Natasha suggest.
"That's a good idea." Melinda comments.
"I'll get my sound system guy to set something up for you." Tony offers.
"Thanks Tony." Coulson answers.
"Okay, marriage license?" Pepper asks.
"Fury's handling it." Coulson answers remembering what his boss and friend told him the night before.
"Flowers?" Pepper asks and once again Coulson and Melinda have one of their conversations without words.
"If you are willing we would like you to pick them for us." Melinda tells Pepper, "Neither of us know much about flowers." Melinda comments.
"It would love to." Pepper answers, "Now the biggest and the hardest thing on my list is dresses and tuxes. I think we should go dress shopping today so that we have enough time for alterations if needed and so we know what colour ties and waistcoats the boys need." Pepper explains.
"What does ties or waistcoats have to do with dresses?" Clint asks confused.
"They have to match." Skye answers, "I think we should go today, can Jemma come?" Skye asks her mother.
"Of course." Melinda answers.
"Cool, I'll go get her." Skye says getting up and walking away.
"Oh and you two need to decide on rings." Pepper realises looking at Coulson and Melinda.
"We'll go in a couple of days and pick something." Coulson says to Melinda who nods in approval.
"Good, Photographer?" Pepper asks.
"We'll have to get back to you on that." Coulson comments, "I've got to check with Fury." He explains.
"Okay, well In that case that is everything on my list." Pepper reveals and Coulson and Melinda nod.
"Do you think you guys can hold down the fort while we go dress shopping?" Melinda asks Coulson her voice sounding normal but he knows, thanks to a fight they once had, that one of the things she regrated most about their first wedding is that she didn't get to wear a white dress so it will mean a lot to her to get to wear one this time.
"Yeah, we'll be fine." Coulson tells her.
"Tasha, Pepper, are you both okay to come today?" Melinda asks and both respond with a nod.
"There's a car waiting downstairs for you ladies." Tony reveals.
"You haven't made a single phone call, how did you do that?" Melinda asks.
"Texting." Tony answers.
"Ah right." Melinda realises.
"So when are we leaving?" Skye asks curious walking over with Jemma.
"Now, if everyone's ready." Melinda comments and both Natasha and Pepper nod.
"Then let's go." Melinda tells the other three.
"Whatever you buy today is on me." Tony tells the four.
"No, Tony, we can't let you do that." Melinda tells him.
"I want to do it." Tony comments and he swears he hears Clint snort. "Shut up Barton." Tony tells him. "Look in all of our lives what we've all known the most is pain and badness, this is something good and I don't want you two to not have your perfect wedding because you're worried about how much it is going to cost. So please let me do this for you." Tony requests.
"I appreciate the offer Tony, I really do." Coulson tells him, "But I can't accept." He tells him.
"What if it's my wedding present to you both, and I don't get either of you a birthday present." Tony suggests as he was doubtful that Coulson would let him pay for anything, but he hopes he could convince him.
"I'm not sure." Coulson tells him still hesitant.
"We'll I'll make it easy for you, I'm paying and there's nothing you can do to convince me otherwise." Tony tells him.
"Just accept it Phil, you know Tony." Clint tells his friend.
"Okay, if you are sure." Coulson tells his friend.
"Positive." Tony assures and after Melinda exchanges a look with Coulson, Melinda, Pepper, Jemma and Skye leave.
Melinda, Skye, Natasha, Pepper and Jemma go to several dress shops and more than once both Natasha and Melinda have gotten very irritated with the shop assistances resulting in Skye, Simmons, and Pepper quickly deciding that it would be best if they move on.
Finally they arrive at a story that seems to have a little more promise. It is a small store with a lot of simple dresses just like everyone agreed would be best.
"Which do we look for first?" Skye asks.
"I think the bridesmaids dresses because we've got to find something that fits you both." Pepper comments looking at Skye and Natasha.
"Is there any particular colour that you were thinking?" Pepper asks curious.
"How about a dark blue." Simmons suggest, "It would look good on both Natasha and Skye and considering everything it would be fitting." She comment.
"Yeah it would." Melinda comments, "Let's see what we can find." She comments.
For twenty minutes they all look through the racks trying to find something that both Skye and Natasha like and Melinda approves off. They are almost sure that they aren't going to find a dress they both like when Simmons finds one.
"What do you think of this?" Simmons asks curious holding up a dark blue, strapless, cocktail dress with a sweetheart neckline.
"I like it." Skye comments walking over to have a closer look, "Mom, тетя Наташа?" She asks.
"It's not as horrible as it could be." Natasha comments which is as good admitting that she likes It.
"Here try them on." Simmons says checking the size on one and handing it to Skye before, pulling out another of the identical dress, checking the size and handing it to Natasha and the two of the head over to the changing rooms.
"I think we can pick out the boys suits as well so then all they have to do is try them on." Pepper tells Melinda.
"Let's have a look while Skye and Tasha are trying on their dresses." Melinda comments.
"I was thinking that if we get the ties to match Natasha's and Skye's dress then have silver waistcoats." Pepper suggest and Melinda nods in approval.
"Grey or Black suits?" Simmons asks curious.
"Black I think." Melinda says after a minute of thinking.
"I agree. I think it would look better with the blue and silver." Pepper comments, "Melinda what is it?" Pepper asks as her friend has walked over to a dress.
"What do you think?" Melinda asks Pepper.
"It's beautiful." Pepper comments.
"It really is." Simmons says walking over and having a look at the dress Melinda is staring at.
"What are we all looking at?" Skye's voice asks curious and Melinda, Pepper and Simmons turn around to see both Skye and Natasha standing in the identical dresses.
"Wow, you both look incredible." Simmons comments.
"What do you think?" Skye asks her mother.
"I like them but you are the ones wearing them, so what do you think?" Melinda asks her daughter and best friend.
"I really like it." Skye comments looking at herself in the mirror, "тетя Наташа?"
"I like it too." Natasha agrees.
"So I think we've got a yes on your dresses." Pepper comments then she turns to Melinda, "Try it on." Pepper tells Melinda.
"Oh Mom's found a dress?" Skye asks excitedly.
"Maybe." Melinda answers.
"Oh, pretty." Skye comments, "You should try it on." Skye tells her mother.
"She's right Melinda, I think you should." Natasha tells her friend realising she needs just that little extra push for something she clearly wants to do.
"Okay I will." Melinda responds and Pepper calls a sales assistant over to help.
"While Mom's doing that let's find your dress." Skye tells Simmons.
"Get changed first." Simmons tells her.
"Right." Skye responds and she heads back into the change rooms.
An hour later the five woman leave the shop having brought both the bridesmaids dresses, Melinda's wedding dresses, dresses for Simmons and Pepper as well as the suits and accessories for the boys to come and try on.
It was decided that until the wedding Pepper would keep Melinda's wedding dress at the tower where there is less chance of either Coulson seeing it or anything happening to it.
The group decide that they will go shoe shopping later in the week and they all head back to the plane where Tony and Clint are planning what they're calling the best bachelor party ever much to Coulson's horror.
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AN3: There will not be a description of Melinda's wedding dress to the ceremony.