Twelve (Six years old)

There was another commodity of Earth that Emily was only just beginning to understand: Birthday celebrations.

Apparently on Earth it was important to celebrate the year of one's birth. Even on Planet Vulcan they celebrated birthdays, though their version of birthdays was a bit more rhetoric than that of Earth. She remembered hearing Coulson talk about having a party for her since he didn't know the actual day of her birth. Her parents had never bothered celebrating it, and when they were aboard the Kelvin it was never brought up. Coulson tried looking into the records of childbirth on the Atlantis, but the ship had since-then been retired and any database was wiped clean. So instead of focusing on that, he decided to settle for the day he adopted her.

"Aren't you worried that a birthday with guests will be too much for her?" She remembered hearing Maria ask. It was the first year Coulson brought her home, and at the time she had only just begun adjusting to being surrounded by large crowds. She would never admit out loud that large crowds were almost like a comfort to her. It reminded her of being on a ship that was bustling with activity. Though now that they were on Earth, it was a whole different story. "What if she panics and loses control?"

"She's made so much progress over the last year, Maria," Coulson pointed out. The truth was she had made progress over the last year. She had friends now in school, friends she never imagined having back on a ship or even at the facility. Emily realized with a start that McCoy was one of the reasons she'd changed for the better. He was bringing out the best in her, and she found herself silently appreciating that aspect. "Considering everything she has been through, this is something she deserves. I've already gotten in touch with David since Leo's birthday is fairly close; figured it might be easier to celebrate two birthdays instead of one."

She never once considered McCoy's birthday. She remembered him going away for the weekend with his family. His father rarely took time off, but his excuse that weekend had been a medical convention in Atlanta. She hadn't realized at the time that it was also to celebrate McCoy's birthday. The more she thought about it, the guiltier she felt for not having said anything to him.

It was with that notion that she determined to find the perfect gift for him. Though she wasn't entirely sure what a six-year-old would be interested in. She knew McCoy was fond of basketball and pro-sports… though there were other things the kids at school didn't even know about that he was interested in. Such as his father's work and life at the farm.

"I was hoping I could get Leonard something for his birthday," she said to Maria one day when Coulson wasn't around.

She had enough time before that week to find him something. Emily put on a good facade around the brunette, but Maria saw right through her ruse. The brunette smirked in amusement as she took a seat at the kitchen table, with Emily following suit. Maria had become more than just a babysitter for her. The brunette seemed to see something in her that Coulson had seen.

"If you're planning on getting him something than why not go sentimental?" she suggested. "Most folks enjoy receiving gifts that are handmade."

Emily rose an eyebrow in surprise at her suggestion. She hadn't thought of looking into something that was handmade. Then again, she'd never had to make anything. Maria wasted no time in going to a nearby craft store where they could pick up material. After going through sites like Pinterest and other craft-sharing ideas, Emily found something she knew McCoy would appreciate.

It only took her a split second to decide what she was going to make. She spent most of that week after school working on the carving. After studying them for the past year, from their movement to their behavior and attitude, she'd become in tune with the horses living on the family farm. She had her favorites, of course, and it seemed as though the horses themselves had their favorite humans. One gelding in particular had grown fond of her whenever she stopped by.

"You're lucky," Nancy muttered as they sat together in the lunch room later that week. She, Nancy and Pamela were sitting together for lunch. Ironically enough, McCoy had gotten detention that week after getting caught by the teacher doing something he shouldn't have been doing. Emily knew he would never hear the end of it if his parents found out, so for now he'd kept quiet. "You and Len get to go horseback riding as often as you want. I've always wanted that."

"You say that now until you have to clean out their stables," Emily wrinkled her nose as she recalled the afternoon she and McCoy had been put to work. Though in truth, she hadn't complained too much since she wasn't alone. The stench had only reminded her of when his cousins decided to make her eat literal horse-shit as part of their family initiation. "Believe me when I say one shower isn't enough to get rid of that stench."

"Can't be any worse than cleaning the litter box or dog crap," Pamela retorted with equal disgust. "Mom says it's good for character building, but I have three older siblings who could be doing those chores."

Emily smirked at the girl's expense. Pamela and Nancy were a little more spoiled in that aspect. She and McCoy had gotten used to working on the farm during the weekend. Not only did it help build character, but it also kept them busy and together. Emily was only just beginning to realize how much she appreciated the distraction work had given her.

"I'm sure you don't enjoy being put to work all the time," Nancy remarked after giving Pamela a knowing look.

"I don't mind it," Emily replied with a shrug. "I like being busy… it keeps me distracted."

Both girls looked at her as though she had grown wings. Hell, she might as well have. Most kids their age hated being put to work. The more she thought about it, the more she began to understand just how different she was from everyone else. Though Emily knew in the back of her mind that being different wasn't always a bad thing.

Later that afternoon, she finally met with McCoy again in the bus. She hadn't missed the fact that he was trying to hide how embarrassed he was for having detention in the first place.

"Ma's gonna kill me when she finds out, and then Pa's gonna ground me if I live," he groaned in annoyance.

She knew how strict his parents could be when it came to raising him. But Emily had also noticed how much they cared about him as well. She suspected if his parents were anything like she had observed over the last year, they would forgive him in the long-run. The biggest punishment, she had learned, was their silence. She had a feeling that was what they would use… at least until McCoy admitted and explained why he'd gotten detention in the first place.

"Maybe this could be a lesson on not to piss off the teachers or someone from school," she pointed out with a knowing look.

McCoy just rolled his eyes when he realized what she was implying. She struggled not to smirk in amusement as the bus finally pulled to their stop. She was already almost finished with the carving she had been working on for the last week. McCoy hadn't realized at the time that was how she spent most of her nights when she couldn't sleep. It became more of an outlet for her than anything else.

By the time the weekend did finally arrive, she was finished with the carving. Emily eyed the object curiously as she allowed it to hover in the air in front of her. A gift box was already purchased the day before when she went out with Maria. The brunette had been keen to help out in whatever way she could, something of which hadn't gone by unnoticed by Emily. She was grateful for the woman's generosity, especially given the situation.

"Where'd the carving come from?" Coulson asked when he noticed it for the first time.

He had to admit, the details in said carving were impressive. He hadn't realized that this was what Maria had been talking about when she said they'd gone out for the week. He'd known she was working on something after noticing she spent late hours with the light barely on. While he knew he should have scolded her for staying up all night, he was also aware of the nightmares she still suffered from. Until she was ready to talk about them, he wouldn't push her over the edge.

"I've been working on it all week," she explained after realizing he was there. The carving suddenly landed in the palm of her hand. It was small enough to fit in her hands, but big enough that it could be used as a decoration on the windowsill. "I wanted to do something special for his birthday since it's coming up."

Coulson rose an eyebrow in surprise at the mention of McCoy's birthday. He didn't need to be told twice who she was referring to. He shook his head in amusement as he helped her wrap the carving into the package. The box itself was smaller than she anticipated, but she had a feeling it wouldn't matter too much. Once that was finished, Coulson gave her a sidelong glance and smiled.

"I've been planning on waiting out until tonight since the others are getting ready, but I figured you deserve it," he finally said after a moment of silence. Emily watched him curiously as he pulled out a small package, similar to the size of the package she'd gotten for McCoy. She couldn't help but tilt her head to one side as he handed it over. "You're supposed to open it."

"I wasn't expecting anything," she admitted guiltily.

His smile quickly faded into a frown. He knew she had suffered from a deal of trauma while on Starships. After everything she had been through in those short four years, he wanted to make up for it all. He let out a sigh and suddenly cupped his hands over hers. Emily's brows furrowed together as she felt the strange connection forming just from that moment.

"Emily, you deserve everything," he reminded her with a pointed look. "Don't ever let what anyone else might say fool you. You'll always be my baby girl, and I'll go out of my way just to spoil you."

Her heart nearly skipped a beat upon hearing those words. It was the first time Coulson had ever said them out loud. Emily knew how much he went out of his way to care for her. At first she thought it was simply because he felt obligated to. Much like McCoy's family, she often found herself wondering if he thought of her as nothing more than a burden. She tried pushing those uneasy thoughts aside as she opened the gift in question.

To her surprise and amazement, the gift itself was another carving. Only this one was unlike anything she had ever seen before. It was intricately detailed to look like a large feline, with purple markings and the symbol of something she had never seen before on the underside of the carving. She glanced at Coulson in surprise as she realized it was a Christmas ornament.

"I found this one when I was in Wakanda," he explained after noticing her confusion. "Remember that week I went away before Christmas?"

Emily tilted her head to one side as she recalled that week. She'd spent the week with McCoy and his family, getting the place decorated and ready for Christmas. Then when Coulson finally returned, looking exhausted and ready to crash, they went out looking for the perfect Christmas tree. It had been one of the best weekends she could remember, aside from their current weekend outing.

"It's beautiful," she whispered.

"The symbol itself is supposed to provide protection and guardianship, according to legend," he informed her. Emily allowed herself a rare smile, realizing with a start that he'd gone out of his way to provide the perfect gift. She knew she would have to return the favor somehow. "I wanted to get something that held meaning."

She took them both by surprise when she gave him a welcoming hug. Coulson's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden gesture, but it didn't take long for him to recover from his initial surprise. He wasted no time in returning the gesture, knowing full-well how hard it was for her to open up to people.

"Thank you, Papa," she said quietly.

It was the first, genuine thanks she had ever given. And she knew that it wouldn't be the last.

By the time night arrived and everyone was gathered for the celebration, Emily found herself feeling overwhelmed. She wasn't used to the added attention a few people had given her. The party was small – something that had likely been an agreement with Coulson and McCoy's father. But she recognized each person with ease. Jacob sat not far away with an annoyed Alex beside him. Both cousins had gotten taller within the short time she had seen them. She knew they were likely experiencing growth spurts thanks to puberty. Then there was McCoy himself. McCoy sat at the other end of the table, though that didn't stop him from constantly looking in her direction.

The situation in a whole was awkward at best. Emily hadn't missed how other members of the family seemed to dance around her. Where McCoy and his younger cousins were indifferent around her, the other adults seemed almost nervous. She nearly rolled her eyes at the prospect of them being nervous around her. She could already hear some of them whispering about how different she was compared to McCoy or his cousins.

"I'm surprised they're wasting their time with someone like her," one of the adults whispered.

"I know David's always been more of a giver than anything else, but she's too much," another said.

Emily grimaced at that. She knew they were right. As much as she hated to admit it, she would always be different from McCoy or anyone else he was associated with. She often found herself wondering if the world would readily accept her if they found out about her powers. McCoy and his family had accepted it easily enough, but they'd always known about people born with abilities.

A shiver of unease swept through her as she pulled away from the table. More than a few guests were giving her dirty looks along the way, sending a painful reminder of why it was so hard for her to fit in. It was only until passing the barn that she spotted McCoy's father talking with what she assumed was one of his family members.

"… see how letting your kid hang out around her is a good thing." Emily stiffened when she heard that last bit. She paused just around the corner of the barn, not missing the fact that the lights were dimmed. A heavy scent lingered in the air, making her stomach twist with disgust. "What happens if she accidentally hurts Leo? I've always known you for bein' a good man and a good doctor, but this is getting out of hand."

The sound of shuffling boots caused her to flinch. She huddled around the corner, hiding in the shadows as she often did to keep Coulson from knowing she was watching and listening. It was a tactic she used to her utmost advantage, refusing to back down from the challenge.

"For one thing, what I choose to do with my kid is my choice alone," Doctor McCoy suddenly snapped after letting out a huff of annoyance. "For another, your lifestyle ain't much better. Drinkin' away your sorrows ain't gonna get you anythin' more than a broken liver and time spent in the hospital."

She frowned at that. She'd known the smell of alcohol anywhere after being on the ship for so long. The Kelvin crew had never been above having alcohol on board, and she'd seen people when they were drunk. She shrank further into herself at the thought of having to deal with that again. Those people in particular hadn't been kind to her, and she doubted this man would be any different. She made a point to avoid the man in question before he found her and took his anger out on her.

It was only until reaching the familiar pond she liked to hang out at that she stopped in her tracks. Emily could still hear the sound of laughter and chatter ringing in the distance. She glanced over her shoulder, wondering if anyone had even noticed her disappearance. Of course they hadn't. They were too busy worrying over whether or not she would accidentally hurt someone. She squeezed her eyes shut and finally sank to the ground.

Is that all I'll ever be to these people? she wondered angrily. A monster?

A shiver of unease swept through her at the thought. 'Yes' was the only answer that came back.

.

.

McCoy hadn't expected his parents to throw a birthday party. He'd known his birthday was coming up, and his father normally went out for the weekend as part of the celebration. Tonight had been different though. He didn't miss how tense everyone was around the main table. He also hadn't missed how his father had gone off with his Uncle Ian earlier that evening. He was well aware that they didn't get along. Uncle Isaac was older than his father and thought he had more of a say in what should happen with the family. As the brother to his mother and the oldest in the family, it didn't make much sense. But McCoy knew when it came to greed and power, people would do anything to take control of it.

Most of the presents had already been opened earlier that day. There was one however sitting on the table where Emily had been sitting moments ago. McCoy grimaced when he realized she must have slipped away again unnoticed. Though it didn't take much when his family was involved. He hadn't missed the way they would give her uneasy looks, as if they expected something to go horribly wrong. His jaw clenched at the thought. Emily had better control over her powers than most people realized. He'd seen her practice more often than she probably realized, and he knew from that experience that she was getting better with each passing session.

"I think Emily was planning on giving that to you," Jacob said after noticing the gift in question. McCoy rose an eyebrow in surprise as he reached for the box and handed it over. The box itself was wrapped in delicate looking wrapping paper and a tiny bow placed on top. "How much do you wanna bet she didn't wrap it?"

It didn't matter. The fact that she had thought of getting him something was enough to tug at his heart. McCoy realized with a start that he hadn't gotten her anything. He suspected she hadn't been expecting one, but the fact that she'd gotten him one only added to his earlier guilt. He tried pushing those thoughts aside as he carefully unwrapped the box. What was placed inside was enough for his eyes to widen in disbelief, along with Jacob and Alex.

Inside the box was a wooden carving of a horse. The horse that he normally rode to be exact. McCoy couldn't help but run his fingers along the grooves and marks that were left from what must have been hours of carving. His heart was racing for a whole different reason as realization dawned on him.

"She actually made that?" Alex asked in disbelief.

"I guess so," he replied after checking for other markings. He admired the craftsmanship of the object. It was clear she'd taken her time and patience with the carving, making sure to perfect every detail. "I can't believe she actually did this for me."

"If that isn't the sign of a good friend, I don't know what is," Jacob nodded in agreement.

Though truthfully, his admiration was for a whole different reason. He would never admit out loud that there was something else going on that left his heart feeling a flutter. McCoy didn't give them time to dwell on the subject. He suddenly clutched the carving in one hand and ran in the direction she would have likely disappeared to. He heard his father arguing with Uncle Isaac. He wasn't surprised with that… after everything that happened, Uncle Ian would never be happy that his father had married his mother. McCoy shook his head at the thought. He'd heard this song and dance when his parents hadn't thought he was listening or cared. The more he thought about it, the more he wished his uncle would get over the fact that his parents were happy together.

He tried pushing those thoughts aside as he finally reached the spot where Emily normally hid from large crowds. It hadn't taken long for him to understand why. She was uncomfortable around so many people… he'd noticed whenever his uncle stopped by that she fled before the drinks were brought out. Alcohol made her uncomfortable, and he had a feeling he knew why. Thankfully she hadn't run away this time. Her arms were wrapped around her legs, face buried into them. McCoy's shoulders sank at the sight. He glanced back at the carving she'd made for him. It only took a split second for him to register what was wrong before he even reached her.

"Em…" He said her name quietly as he reached her, not missing the way she hadn't moved as he did so. He knew it was safe to approach. She never once lashed out at him, not even during the moments she suffered from panic attacks. Despite what everyone else claimed of her, she knew how to hold back. "What's wrong?"

"They all think I'm nothing but a monster," she finally whispered after a few minutes of silence followed. McCoy bristled with annoyance when he realized what she meant by that. He was well aware of what his uncle had thought of her. Some of his aunts and other uncles had also been less-than-happy after finding out she was their neighbor. But neither of his parents had backed down from the challenge. "I'm beginning to wonder if they're right."

"Emily, you're anything but a monster," he reassured her without hesitation. It wasn't until reaching for her hand and giving it a light squeeze that he felt her begin to unravel. McCoy was careful around her – he had to be after seeing the way she panicked under extreme circumstances – and gently placed the carving she made into the palm of her hand. "Would a monster be able to make something as amazing as this?"

He watched as Emily finally pried her eyes open and looked at the carving she made. It amazed him that she took so much time to design the carving in question. He knew she wouldn't have gone out of her way to make it if it was anyone else. It didn't take long for her to relax into his warm touch, or for her eyes to reach his.

"I wasn't sure if you'd like it," she said quietly. "I wanted to get something different, and Maria suggested—"

"I love it," he cut her off before she could finish defending herself. Her eyes widened in surprise when he suddenly pulled her into a warm embrace. The odd sensation of a thousand lightning bolts piercing through her suddenly came rushing back, only this time it was warm and inviting. Emily breathed in sharply through her nose, taking time to adjust to the new sensation prickling at the base of her mind. "Thank you, Emily… you didn't have to make this for me."

When they pulled away, Emily suddenly found herself feeling hesitant as she felt his eyes reach hers once more. He was so unlike the other kids she'd met their age. Much more mature and full of confidence, she found herself wishing she could share that confidence. Yet there was also no denying the love an affection he felt towards his family. Her face finally pulled into a broad smile as she realized these were the features of Leonard McCoy that few kids outside of the ranch saw.

"You're my best friend, Leonard," she reminded him with a pointed look. "Nothing is ever gonna change that."

McCoy only grinned at that. He would never realize until later on in their lives how much those words meant to him. Because he realized with a start that she truly was one of his best friends. And he wouldn't have her any different.