Summary:
Finally Skye confirms the radical change that took place in her feelings about Ward.
Comments are greatly appreciated: please, let me know what you think!
Chapter:
"I would have preferred to say: 'We almost made love'.
But, after all, it was all totally platonic, so neither of these two expressions is correct…" Ward pointed out.
"Platonic?
It didn't feel so platonic, to me!" she argued.
"The definition of 'platonic' is, and I quote, 'a close relationship in which there is no romance or sex'.
You hated me, so no romance was possible.
You weren't there physically, so no sex was possible.
But it was nevertheless a close relationship.
So the word 'platonic' perfectly fits."
"… at that point I already told you I didn't hate you anymore…"
At that Ward seized the moment, asking, almost shyly:
"So is it true?
You actually don't hate me anymore?"
"No.
I don't hate you anymore."
At that, he let out a breath he did not know he was holding:
"Finally!"
She continued, shrugging as if what she had just said had been established for a long time:
"But… whatever!
There is another point I want to clarify, now!
Tell me about when you transferred to me all your memories about your death, about Hell, about Satan, about God, about the second chance and the mission God gave to you about Earth… and about me.
It was all true, wasn't it?"
"Yes. It was all true…"
She whistled.
"I still find incredible that a single person can go through all that…"
"But it happened, nevertheless."
"This is a lot to take in…"
"Yeah…"
Then again, with her eyes in slits and a dangerous voice, she asked:
"And what about the 'at least four kids' affair?"
"Don't blame me. That was His idea!" and he raised his hands from the steering wheel in a soothing gesture, looking at her.
"You are aware of what four pregnancies can do to a woman's body, aren't you?"
"There can be also the twins casuistry… so they could be less than four…
And I'm a very good trainer, so I would take care very well of you!
It is also in my interest that your body remains fit and agile: I like how May made it stronger and toned.
Remind me to congratulate her about that."
And Ward gave her an overall look, almost stripping her with his eyes.
But when he finally noticed what was written between the lines, he almost ended up off the road:
"Wait…
Was that a… yes?" he asked, upset.
"Keep calm!
I have not made any decision, yet.
I was just considering all the variables."
The two of them remained quiet for a while.
"By the way: talking about children, I really appreciated what you did with those clinics!" Ward said.
"How the hell do you know that?"
"Quake!
Your actions do not exactly go unnoticed!
You have been on the first pages for months!
And I know your powers!
I kept a close eye on you, too, during all that period.
You know: Shield and SAP can be annoying, and someone had to watch your back!"
"Is it the Guardian Angel your second job?" she joked.
"I don't have even a first job anymore…" and he sounded a little sad, about that.
"I thought that you would be knocked out for a lot of time, after what you did that dreadful night when you healed my body!"
"I was, for a while.
But I heal quickly, I already told you that."
"By the way: thank you for what you did in that occasion, at your own costs…
Evidently poor Daisy still needs to be saved…"
"I'd do it a thousand times, if it could guarantee your safety!" Ward said seriously.
At that words Skye felt her heart enwrapped by a strong sensation of belonging: she knew it had been painful for him, a lot, but he nonetheless was willing to suffer for her.
It proved he truly loved her.
Ward continued:
"Daisy… Skye… Mary Sue Poots… Quake…
You are really full of names!
How do you want me to call you?"
"What name would you prefer?"
"Uhm…
Daisy… it could be good for your father, but it is too… feeble for you. And instead, you are one of the strongest persons I know…
Mary Sue Poots… it could have been acceptable for a little girl, not for a grown up woman.
Quake… it can sell the idea, but only when you are… on duty.
I personally want Skye back.
You always have been, and always will be, Skye, to me."
She tried to keep things easy, with a tone of light mockery:
"Deal.
You can call me Skye.
Some other remark, Mrs. Prissy?"
He looked at her: nobody called him like that, before… but Skye was Skye, and he liked her inventing new names for him… he missed that so much! It was so nicely different from how she treated him back in Vault D, when she called him only and hardly "Ward"…
"Actually yes.
It's about your hair: so short it's sexier… but I still think you should let it grow longer.
It makes you more feminine."
"So now you are giving suggestions about my apparel?
You talk like you suppose there will be a future, for us!"
"It was you that, just some instants ago, talked about us as, and I quote, a 'phantasmagoric couple'!"