Chapter 47
Disclaimer: I do not own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners and I am not making any profit from this.
AN: Thank you to all who have added to alerts, read, reviewed or any combination of the three. It means a lot to me.
AN2: THIS IS THE LAST ACTUAL CHAPTER. FIRST: I was debating splitting this into two chapters, let me know if you think it would have worked better if I had. SECOND I would like to say thank you so much to all of you who have stood by me, I know it has been a long road and I am so thankful for all of you who have stuck with me it means so much more than I can put into words. There will be an epilogue to follow. That will be updated after I do a final edit, which means within twenty minutes.
For the next ten minutes the rest of the group worriedly waits for Phil, Melinda, Natasha, Pepper, Tony, Maria and Steve to come back out. When they do they realise just going by the look on their faces that whatever they were just told wasn't good.
"What happened?" Clint asks, dreading the answer.
"Two hours ago Grace Pierce was broken out of Jail. Five guards were killed." Coulson reveals to everyone's horror.
"She was in the most secure jail in the country." Fitz says shocked, "And she escaped." he says completely shocked and Coulson and the other members of the New SHIELD Leadership Team nod.
"Skye what is it?" Bucky asks worried as he is holding Skye's hand and he felt her tense at what Coulson said.
"In three days Hydra, led by Grace and Ward, are going to attack the Government. The US Government as we know it will be destroyed so that they can take over. Hundreds of lives will be lost." Skye reveals, "We've got to stop them."
"Do you know where they are at the moment?" Maria asks, knowing that they can't let that happen.
"A secure compound in California. It's very remount, and ninety percent of Hydra forces are there." Skye reveals.
"Looks like we've got an op to plan." Rhodey comments, like Maria he knows that they can't let this happen.
"Shouldn't we warn the Government? The authorities?" Jane asks.
"There are Hydra agents still in the Government and in every brunch of law enforcement. If we warn them then Grace and Ward will know and they will go underground until they can try again." Skye reveals, "They want to take over, this is how they plan to do it, and they don't mind being patient if they have to."
"I don't know about the rest of you but I really want to start the New Year without Hydra being in the picture. What do the rest of you think?" Tony asks curious.
"Sounds good to me." Clint says and the others nod.
"Okay. We've got to be smart about this." Coulson comments, going into planning leader mode, "Thor if you're willing we could use your help coming up with a plan of attack." He requests.
"Of course. I lend my assistance Philip." Thor tells him.
"Good." Coulson says, "Tony you, me, Thor, Skye, Steve, Natasha, Clint and Rhodey come up with a plan of attack." Coulson says, and the people he named nod, "Melinda, Sam, Sharon, John, Bucky, do weapons check. Prep everything we'll need." He says and they nod, "Fitz, Bruce, Simmons, Jane, we need you to get any tec ready that we'll need. Pepper, Darcy, Maria, Tripp, get satellite and any information on the coordinates that Skye gives you plus create time delay messages to send to other agencies and departments once we begin the assault. We can't risk Hydra getting advance warning but we're going to need help with the aftermath." Coulson says and they nod, "We meet in the War Room in forty five minutes. Let's go to work people." He says and everyone goes their separate ways, Skye pauses to write something down which she hands over to Maria before she follows her father to the War Room.
An hour after the group split up into various groups they are all together once more and in the garage. Every single one of them wearing tack gear and Tony, Rhodey are loading their respective armours into the cars.
"We all clear on the plan?" Maria asks wanting to make sure everyone knows what is going on, even though they have just spent fifteen minutes going over the plan.
"Yes." Clint says and the others nod.
"Here." Skye says handing Clint his quiver, "They'll stun on impact." She tells her Uncle referring to the arrows
"Are you strong enough to use you powers?" Melinda asks her daughter concerned, not liking that she woke from a three week coma only a week ago and now she's already on a major mission.
"Yeah." Skye assures her mother.
"This isn't going to be easy." Steve tells everyone, "It's going to be one hundred and twenty four Hydra agents against sixteen of us. The odds aren't in our favour." He points out, wanting everyone to be clear on exactly what they are getting themselves into.
"They may have more people but we have better." Coulson says, "Fury used to say that a man can achieve anything when he realises that he is a part of something bigger, and that's exactly what we are together, something bigger." Coulson says, "All of us have faced bad odds before and we've won. We can do it again." He tells the others.
"As good as your speeches are Phil we don't have time. We should get going." Tony comments.
"Right." Maria says, "We all know where we're going, but we shouldn't all go together. We should take different cars and get their different ways." She comments, running through risk assessment in her mind as she speaks, "There is twenty one of us so three cars of five, one of six." She comments.
"We should make it so the groups aren't suspicious, that they are groups of people who would actually spend nights out together" Natasha says, "Skye, Fitz, Simmons, Bucky, Sharon, Tripp, you go together." She says, "Me, Melinda, Phil, Clint and John in another." She comments, "Maria, Thor, Jane, Darcy and Sam in one, and in the final one, Pepper, Tony, Bruce, Steve and Rhodey." She suggests and the others nod.
"We meet in half an hour were the bus is." Tony says, the Bus being chosen rather than a private plane because it is more covert, because it can fly under the radar better. At Tony's words everyone else nods and gets in their various cars.
Three hours later everyone is on the Bus, which has been in the air for two and a half hours, and is currently nearing the location of The Compound. Everyone on the plane is in the Command Centre going through last minute plans.
"Pepper, Darcy, Jane, Fitz and Simmons, you'll be on the plane running back end. Warning us on any unexpected visitors and making sure medical is ready." He tells the five, "Remember only communicate on the encrypted coms channel we've set up." Coulson says.
"We also need you to send of the messages once all waves are in and deal with anyone who calls." Maria says, "They probably won't get here in time to help but on the other hand Ward and Grace won't get any advance warning." Maria says and they nods, "Melinda."
"Once as we land Clint is going to put a code into the avionics which unless one of us who knows how to fly reverses the bus will take off and fly on autopilot back to New York in five hours." Melinda informs the groups.
"What?" Pepper asks as Darcy, Jane, Fitz and Simmons look shocked, "You want us to leave you?" She asks shocked.
"If we're not back to the Bus in five hours it's likely that we're not able to come back, so you all need to get out of here." Steve says and a sombre feeling takes over the room.
"How long until we reach alpha point?" Rhodey asks, changing the subject because he knows that they don't have time to dwell on the bad, not with what they have to do.
"Ten minutes." Clint answers, "You Tony, Sam and Thro should get ready." Clint says, "Me and Mels will be in the cockpit." He says and that's where they head.
"Everyone to the cargo bay." Steve says, "Anyone who isn't flying out as part of wave one strap in." he instructs and everyone nods
A few minutes later everyone is in the cargo bay saying goodbye to each other just in case.
"Five minutes to point Alpha." Melinda says through the coms systems, "Get ready People." She says.
"So what did you do to the thrusters?" Rhodey asks Tony. Rhodey in the Iron Patriot armour without the face piece currently on, Tony in the iron man one and he doesn't have his face mask on yet either.
"You can stun with them now." Tony explains simply.
"Iron Man, Thor, Falcon, Iron Patriot get in positions." Skye says, but before she can say anymore Tony cuts her off.
"War Machine." He says.
"What?" Skye asks confused.
"His name is War Machine." He informs her.
"Not important at the moment." Skye comment, "Aunt Pepper, Jem, Fitzy, Jane, Darcy to the lab, everyone else strap in." Skye says and everyone does what they are told, Pepper after giving one last kiss to Tony, Bruce and Steve.
"Wave one ready?" Clint asks.
"Yes." Tony, Thor, Sam and Rhodey say together.
"Everyone else strapped in?" Clint asks.
"Yes." Everyone else replies.
"Cargo ramp opening in, five, four." Melinda says and she begins to count down, as she does Tony and Rhdoey put their face pieces on. Once Melinda gets to zero the cargo bay slowly starts to open and once it is fully open, Thor, Tony, Rhodey and Sam fly out. Once they are clear Melinda and Clint use the planes turbines to blow the Hydra agents out of the way and Tony, Thor, Sam, and Rhdoey get started on dealing with the guards who are outside the gates into the compound.
"Wave two." Clint says as Melinda arrives down in the cargo bay as the plane gets close to the ground. As he says wave two Melinda, Natasha, Skye, John, Steve, Bucky and Tripp undo their straps, and leave the cargo bay.
About a minute later the plane touches down and a few seconds later Clint arrives, "Our turn." Clint says, "It's time for wave three." He says and those who are left, Clint, Maria, Coulson, Sharon and Bruce un strap and head out of the cargo bay.
When they do they see that the second and first wave are still fighting outside the gates.
"We could use a way in right now." Steve comments as while the group are doing a good job against the forces outside the compound they haven't breached it yet.
"I'm on it." Bruce says and he turns into the Hulk and runs fall speed at the gate breaking it to pieces.
"Hulk." Steve says once the gate has been destroyed, "Protect the plane. Protect Pepper." He says and Hulk smiles back at Steve and stands in front of the now closed Cargo Bay.
Together the group makes their way deeper into the compound, getting air support from Tony, Rhodey, Thor and Sam as they go. After twenty minutes of intense fighting they manages to get to the doors that lead into the main building, thankfully none of them have been seriously hurt thought there was a few close calls.
"Any idea what we're going to face in there?" Coulson asks the others, looking at his daughter in particular.
"Ward, Grace, their brother, and their best fighters." Skye answers.
"Great." Steve says sarcastically as Tony, Rhodey, Sam and Thor land.
"I've told Hulk to make sure that no Hydra agents get out." Tony says and Steve nods.
"Let's go people." Maria says, "Tony, Rhodey, if you would." He says and the pair destroy the door and part of the wall with the blasters allowing them a way in.
As soon as they do they engage in much more intense fighting, but what Coulson said is proven to be correct, they may be out numbed but their people are better.
Skye who knows that she has a very limited amount of arrows is switching between using her powers as well as arrows. She is also looking around and when she can she is throwing up small force fields to protect the people she cares about.
After another fifteen minutes of fighting it becomes clear that Hydra is losing as Ward, Grace and someone who Skye would have to guess is Ward's little brother are left, with only a handful of other Hydra members.
Skye has just stunned Wards little brother when out of the corner of her eye she spots Ward firing a bullet at her father, a bullet which wold have hit him in the centre of the chest and because of how close he was it would be likely that Coulson's armour wouldn't have stopped it.
"NO." Skye yells throwing up a force field in front of her father, stopping the bullet, as she fires an arrow at Ward. The arrow was heading for his arm and would have hit him and stunned him, but at her yell he turned which causes the arrow that was meant to hit him in the arm hits him in the centre of the chest.
As Skye watches Ward fall it is like everything around her is happening in slow motion and all she cares about is getting to him.
"No, don't die." Skye says when she reaches him, "Please don't die." Skye requests tears coming to her eyes as while she may hate him for what he's done, and for being Hydra, she doesn't want him to die, and she cannot forget what he once meant to her.
"It's alright. Its better this way." Ward tells her, clearly struggling to breathe.
"No, it's not. You should get a chance to change, to make up for what you've done." Skye tells him.
"I wouldn't chose to." Ward tells Skye, "I don't want to change." He tells her, "I'm sorry for a lot of things, but I wouldn't change what I've done. The only thing I would change is how I've hurt you, I never wanted to do that, I'm sorry for that Skye but nothing else." Ward tells her.
"Stop talking." Skye tells him, the sounds of the battle around her being completely tuned out, as she can hear is Ward's voice as he struggles with each breath, "You've got to save your strength." Skye says putting her hands around the arrow to try and stop the bleeding a bit.
"I'm glad it was you." Ward says before closing his eyes for the last time.
"Grant." Skye says, "Grant, wake up." Skye says shaking him, trying to get him to wake, "Come on. Wake up." She says, "Please Grant, don't do this." She requests.
"Skye." A voice says and Skye turns around to see her father standing behind her, a look on his face clear.
"I killed him." Skye says horror and pain clear in her voice.
"Oh Baby Girl." Coulson says puling his daughter up and into his arms, and while she cries he holds her tightly. While Skye cries in her father's arms the final Hydra agents are taken down around them.
"It's over." Steve says relieved that the most serious of their people's wounds seemed to be a few minor bullet grazes and cuts, which would have certainly been worse if it wasn't for the tac gear that Tony made.
"For now." Bucky comments, "Eventually Hydra always comes back." He points out to his best friend.
"Let me enjoy this moment, please." Steve requests.
"You've got it." Bucky tells his brother.
"We did it Bucky." Steve says looking at his friend with a smile on his face, torn between relief and shock at Hydra being defeated.
"It only took seventy years." Bucky responds though he finds himself smiling to.
Over the next hour several things happen; everyone's injuries are treated, forces form other agencies and the defence force arrive and take the Hydra agents into custody or give medical treatment to them, and the de briefing starts.
Due to what she did Coulson and Melinda have both argued that Skye isn't to be debriefed until she is ready so instead of being with everyone else Skye is sitting in her bunk and trying to comprehend what she did. She is completely cried out and now numb. She is doing what she has been doing for about a quarter of an hour, staring at the wall of her bunk when she hears a knock on the door. Looking away from the wall she looks over and sees John standing at her door,
"They're about to take his body away, if you want to say a final goodbye." John, who has clearly been crying, says.
"What's happening to him?" Skye asks.
"He's being cremated." John answers, "With both his siblings in custody and some uncertainty on whether Grace will make it due to her injuries, I'm going to take his ashes." John reveals, "I'm going to spread them over the place we vacationed together whenever we could. I think he would have liked that." he comments it being clear that he isn't doing very well, something which isn't surprising considering Ward was like a son to him.
"Yeah, I do too." Skye admits, "I'm so so so sorry Uncle John, I didn't mean to kill him." Skye tells John fighting not to cry again, something which she didn't think she was capable of anymore after how much she has already cried.
"I know you didn't." John tells her, "It's okay Skye." He assures her before walking over and giving her a hug, "Do you want to say goodbye?" he asks once they break apart a few minutes later
"No, I can't." Skye says and John nods, stands up and walks away, leaving her alone.
For a while Skye sits alone. As she does she can't stop what happened from playing and re playing in her mind, nor can she stop the overwhelming fear that she is going to hurt someone else that she cares about.
Knowing that there is only one thing to do Skye grabs a bag from underneath her bunk and puts some of the few belongs that she left on the plane, including her bow and quiver and supplies from the stash of food she keeps, in that bag and closes it. Glad that she doesn't have to worry about her phone because she left it in New York and knowing that Tony doesn't have a tracker in any of the clothes she is wearing she pulls out a piece of paper and envelop out of one of the cupboards and writes a letter. Once the letter is finished she picks up her bag and heads out of her bunk.
Due to the fact that she knows that everyone who isn't saying goodbye to Ward are either in de-brief or helping with the wounded Skye knows that she doesn't have to sneak about. Instead she calmly makes her way out of the plane and over to the compound where outside the de brief area there is a FBI Agent Standing guard.
"Hi." Skye says when she walks over to him.
"Agent Coulson, ma'am, what can I do to help you?" The man asks.
"Give this to Director Coulson." Skye requests handing him the letter "I have to go handle another problem so wait five minutes after I leave and then give it to him." Skye instructs making it clear that she is giving an order.
"Yes Ma'am, you can count on me Ma'am." The agent replies curious about her requests but knowing that she outranks him so it is better not to question her.
"Thank you." Skye tells him and she turns and walks away from him, knowing that if she sees her family she won't be able to go even though it's for the best.
Once she is back to near the plane she walks over to the Hydra vehicles where she hotwires a car and drives away, trying to decide where to go next as she does.
Exactly five minutes after Skye left just like she instructed him to the FBI agent heads into the briefing that is currently going on with Steve, Bucky, Coulson, Melinda, Natasha, Clint, Tony, Pepper, Maria and high ranking officials from other agencies, the government, and the military.
"Sorry to interrupt Sirs, Ma'am's." The agent says as he enters the room.
"What is the point of this Jones?" The director of the FBI asks.
"Agent Coulson informed me that she had another problem to handle so she left and asked me to give this letter to Director Coulson." He informs the group.
"Hand it over." Coulson requests as everyone exchanges worried looks knowing that whatever the reason why Skye left it likely doesn't mean anything good. Once he gets the letter he and Melinda read it together and everyone who knows them well know that whatever it is isn't anything good.
"Give us the room." Melinda requests, fighting to keep her voice steady.
"If it is a matter of security then we should all hear." The director of the FBI says.
"It's not." Coulson answers, "Its private SHIELD business. Nothing that affects you." He says and reluctantly the officials leave the room.
"What happened?" Bucky asks worried, "Where is she? What's she going to do?" he asks.
"I'll read you the letter." Coulson says,
"Dear Dad, Mom, and I'm guessing everyone else,
First I'm sorry for leaving without saying goodbye, again, but I knew that if I tried to say goodbye then I wouldn't go, and I need to go. I thought that the best way to protect you all, protect the people I care about the most is to be with you, and I was right, that's the best way to protect you from other people and things, but what projects you from me? I didn't mean to kill Ward, I didn't want to kill Ward but I did, and I can't change that, not even with my powers, even though I want to, but his death has made me realise something. I'm a bigger danger to you all than anyone else. Like I said to James I'm a weapon, and I've already proven that I'm not completely in control and I won't let any of you be hurt by me, I can't. I love you all so much and I will miss you, but the further I am from you the safer you'll be. Tell everyone I'm sorry.
Love Skye." Coulson reads.
"We need to find her." Clint says being the first one to speak as Steve looks over at his best friend who looks to be in compete shock.
"We went through this six months ago." Tony reminds everyone, "We can't find her unless she wants to be found, let's just hope it doesn't take a bullet this time." Tony says, not really thinking about what he said until he sees the look on the others faces "And I don't think we should try until we're away from here, away from all these agencies. It wouldn't be good for her if they realise that she is gone." He points out, realising that he has to get everyone to think about something other than the point he made.
"He's right." Melinda says, looking like she having trouble holding it together at the thought that her daughter is once more gone.
"Okay, so we wait until we're back in New York, fine, but we've got to try to find her." Clint says and the others nod, Steve not looking away from Bucky as he does due to worry.
After leaving the Hydra base Skye makes her way to Los Angeles where she ditches the car and sneaks on a military plane, a plane which is going to the one place that she actually feels like going.
The flight takes around fifteen hour and thanks to her powers she is able to sneak off before anyone can realise that she is there. Once she is off the plane and out of the airport Skye steals a vehicle and makes her way to a place where she wants to go but where she isn't sure she's welcome.
After four hours of driving Skye arrives back in Preveza where she makes her way to Leah's café which due to the local time being two pm Skye knows won't be busy. As she walks Skye finds herself getting more and more nervous and wondering why she even came here in the first place, why she thought it was a good idea.
When she reaches the café she pauses before she enters, very unsure about whether she should or not, but she releases that she has to, that she needs to make up for some of the harm that she has caused, that she has make amends. After taking a deep breath she pushes open the door and walks into the café which just like she suspected isn't busy.
"Jane?" Leah's shocked voice asks and before she can say anything she finds herself being hugged by Leah, "What are you doing here?" she asks shocked, "Why did you leave? Why did you call yourself a cancer?" Leah asks in a hurry, "RICHARD GET OUT HERE." She yells and Richard comes and as soon as he sees Skye he rushes over and gives her a hug to.
"I'm so sorry for how I left things, but I was danger and I was putting you in danger by being around." Skye reveals.
"What do you mean you were in danger?" Leah ask confused.
"It's a long story, and a complicated one." Skye admits, "But I'm willing to share if you want to listen. Though of course I would completely understand if you tell me to go." Skye tells Leah and Richard, half expecting them to tell her to leave.
"Of course we want to hear." Richard says, "Sit down." He says and the three of them sit down at a table.
"I don't know where to begin." Skye admits.
"Start at the beginning." Leah suggests.
"The beginning is kind of a relative term." Skye admits, "But I'll try." She says and she begins to tell Leah and Richard, two people who even though she tried hard not to, she considers to be friends.
For over half an hour Skye tells her story, pausing at times to answer any questions that Leah and Richard had though they try not to ask too many as they can tell that it is a hard story for Skye to tell.
"Wow." Leah says shocked, "So you're family have no idea where you are?" She asks.
"No." Skye answers, "They're safer the further I am." Skye tells them.
"Why did you come here?" Richard asks curious as from what Skye has just said she could have gone anywhere and yet she choose to come to them.
"I felt like I owed you an explanation. Even if you didn't realise you guys saved me, you matter." Skye admits.
"What are you going to do now?" Leah asks.
"I don't know. Keep moving." Skye comments with a shrug, "Most of Hydra is gone but there are still small factions around, and my Godfather and friend are in Europe so I've got to avoid them." Skye explains.
"I know you think you should keep moving, but maybe you should stay here." Leah suggests, "You're old job's here if you want it." She offers.
"Really?" Skye ask shocked.
"Really." Richard confirms, "Plus my latest tenant just moved out of the apartment so it's yours if you want it."
"I don't know what to say." Skye admits.
"Just say yes." Leah tells her.
"Okay, yes. I'll stay. I don't know how long but I'll stay." Skye tells her, surprised that they are okay with her staying.
"Good." Leah says with a smile, "Just say goodbye before you leave this time." She requests.
"I'll do my best." Skye tells her, and she finds herself being hugged by Leah and Richard one more.
It has been two days since Skye left from California and the rest of the group are just arriving back in New York which means they can begin their search for Skye.
Ever since they found out that Skye has left Steve has been keeping a close eye on his best friend, which means he notices within a few seconds that Bucky isn't in the War Room with everyone else, so he goes searching.
He doesn't have to search for long because he finds his best friend in the first place he looked, in his room, where he is packing a bag.
"What are you doing?" Steve asks, though he has a theory about what is going on.
"Going to find Skye." Bucky responds.
"What?" Steve asks shocked, "How are you going to find her? You have no idea where she is." He point out.
"I've got a theory." Bucky responds, looking up at Steve.
"What?" Steve ask surprised, "Why haven't you told Phil and Melinda?" Steve asks surprised that he hasn't mentioned it.
"Because I didn't want to get their hopes up in case I'm wrong." Bucky admits, knowing that it would be cruel to Melinda and Phil to get their hopes up for nothing, "I need to find her Steve." Bucky tells his best friend.
"I get that." Steve responds, "But are you sure that that is a good idea?" Steve asks, "What if she isn't where you think she is?" He asks.
"Then I'll search the enter planet until I find her." Bucky says, determination clear in his voice.
"Bucky…" Steve begins to say but Bucky cuts him off.
"She's hurting Steve. She killed someone she once cared about, the fact that he was Hydra doesn't change the fact that she cared, it's eating her up, and the pain is slowly killing her." Bucky says knowing from experience how much it hurts to be responsible for the death of someone you once cared about even if you didn't mean to do it, "She's hurting so bad, and I need to find her." Bucky says, "If you were in shoes and it was Pepper, or Bruce, or Tony who was in Skye's shoes what would you do?" Bucky asks needing his best friend to understand why he is doing what he is doing.
"Whatever it took." Steve responds without hesitation, "Be careful." He tells his best friend with a sigh, knowing that there is no talking him out of it.
"I will." Bucky says zipping up his bag, "Don't do anything stupid when I'm gone."
"How can I you're taking all the stupid with you." Steve responds and the pair exchange a smile and a hug. Once they break apart from their hug Bucky picks up the bag and walks across the room to the door.
"Buck." Steve says stopping Bucky from walking out of the door, "Call if you need anything." He requests.
"I will." Bucky responds and he walks out of the room, leaving Steve, who is wondering how he is going to explain all this to Coulson and Melinda, alone.
It is two days after his conversation with Steve that Bucky arrives in Preveza, feeling that after what Skye said on their first date there is a strong possibility that she came here. After a bit of searching he manages to find a café run by an American woman named Leah. Also known as the place where Skye would be if she is in town.
Hoping that he will find Skye Bucky makes his way into the café and walks up to the counter where a woman is.
"Hey, what can I get for you?" Leah asks.
"Nothing. I'm actually looking for someone." Bucky says and Leah becomes worried as Skye has warned her about people trying to find her, "Her name is Jane Philips you haven't seen her lately have you?" he asks using the fake name that Skye used when she was in Preveza before because it is likely the name she is using once more.
"I'm sorry, I don't know anyone by that name." Leah responds which makes Bucky realise that he was right, and Skye is here.
"Look my name is James Barnes. I'm not here to hurt her, I just want to make sure that she is okay. I want to help her." Bucky tells Leah, "Just tell her that I was here, please Leah." Bucky requests and Leah is surprised that he knows her name.
"I don't know anyone by that name, please leave." Leah request, the fact that he knows her name makes her worry.
"Leah, it's okay." Skye's voice says and she walks out from out the back, having heard everything Bucky said since he waked into the café.
"Are you sure?" Leah asks worried
"Positive." Skye assures, "What are you doing here James?" Skye asks shocked, "How did you find me?"
"You mentioned this place on our first date." Bucky reminds her, "I thought there was a pretty good chance you would come here." He reveals, "And I'm here for you." He tells Skye.
"I'm not ready to go home. I can't go home." Skye tells Bucky.
"I know. I get that." Bucky tells Skye, "I'm not here to force you to come home. I'm here to stay with you until you are ready to." Bucky tells Skye.
"You are?" Skye asks shocked.
"You're hurting." Bucky says taking a step closer to Skye, "I know that. I get that more than anyone." He admits and Skye realises that it's true, he knows exactly what she is feeling, "But I also know that you shouldn't have to deal with that pain alone. I'm here to help you Skye, if you're not ready to come home, then fine, we won't go home. We'll stay here if you want." He tells her, "I love you Skye, and I'm not leaving until you are ready to come with me." He tells her.
At Bucky's confession Skye has no idea what to say, but she realises that she has never known romantic love like this before, and after Lard, Miles and Ward she never thought she would. Realising that she can express what she is feeling better than saying it she runs the last few steps between them, and she jumps up into Bucky's arms and kisses him.
"Thank you." Skye says once they break apart about a minute later and Bucky lowers her back down so that she is on her flat feet.
"What for?" Bucky asks curious.
"For giving me A Reason to believe again." Skye tells him, meaning so many things, and the pair kiss once more as Leah and Richard watch on with smiles on their faces, while the sun sets in the distance the pair have the first of what will be many perfect moments together.
THE END
AN3: This will be an epilogue to follow within the next twenty minutes.