Hey babes! Back again with a new chapter! Apologies for not updating sooner, but I've been working a lot lately and dealing with some other stuff. But I have some time tonight and thought I'd post this new one for ya.

Enjoy!

Being injured is definitely at the top of his list of things that he hates. Injuries mean you can't do most of the things that you normally do when you're uninjured. Which means he can't be up on his feet all day to be there for Skye to help her out with whatever she needs. That's all he wanted to do since he found out she was pregnant, to help her out in whatever way he can to make her pregnancy go as smooth as possible. And now he's physically limited in what he can actually do to help.

Falling down onto his bed, he drops his crutches to the ground and heaves out a sigh as he pulls himself the rest of the way onto the mattress and leans back against the headboard. There's still so much they have to do to get ready for Adian's arrival, and he also has to take things easy which means he can't do as much as he wants to. And he still has to see Lisa from time to time to discuss whatever's going on inside his head.

Reaching over to the small bedside table, he pulls an old SHIELD tablet that's been refurbished into his lap. Fitz gave it to him not too long ago after installing a few security measures and blocks on it, probably for Coulson's sanity. He doesn't really mind it, though. He mainly plans on using the tablet for researching baby stuff and catching up on various events he may have missed while being locked up. He's always liked to be up on current happenings in the world.

After a while, he grows bored with the tablet, setting it aside and plugging it into its charger.

Sighing as he looks around the room, he realizes that he really doesn't have much to entertain himself aside from a few books he's found. He never had much of a problem with boredom before, but something like it is hitting him hard.

His eyes land on a familiar cardboard box on the desk in the room and his mind wanders to the Polaroid camera he had found right before he left.

His brows furrow together as he tries to remember where he left it; if someone accidentally tossed it out without realizing it was his. Then again, he wouldn't be surprised if someone threw it out simply because it is his.

Grabbing his crutches off the floor when he finally remembers what he did with it, he makes his way out of the room as quickly as he can. He hopes it's still where he left it.

Passing a few agents in the hall, he ignores the stares and whispers directed his way, much more important things on his mind than dealing with other people.

Finally reaching the lounge, he hobbles inside and moves to one of the shelves at the back of the room, his eyes scanning the area.

"A-ha!" he exclaims quietly when he sees it. He carefully reaches over a few items to get to the camera. "I am so glad you're still here," he says to the camera, feeling only a little weird for taking to an inanimate object.

"Grant? What are you doing back there?"

He quickly turns around, fumbling a little on his crutches, and gives Skye a quick smile. He's still not quite used to hearing his first name coming from her ever since he got back, but he's certainly not going to complain about it. "Skye, hey. I didn't see you there."

"Clearly. So what are you doing?"

"I uh, I was just coming to get my camera." He holds the item up to show her. "I forgot that I left it in here before I left."

"That's a Polaroid camera, right?"

He nods. "Yeah. I'm surprised that such a modern tech fanatic like yourself knows what one of these is," he teases her.

She rolls her eyes. "I'm not that bad, okay? Plus, they have more hi-tech versions of those now."

He sighs. "Of course they do. The world can never be satisfied with things how they are. There's something so much more magical about Polaroid photos than there is about digital prints."

She nods. "I know what you mean."

His brows furrow. "You do?"

"Yeah. The uh, the doctor gave me this when they told me you were out of surgery. He said it was on you when they brought you in."

He steps forward to take the paper she's holding out to him and his breath hitches at the sight of the photo he took of her before he left. He remembers having it on him the whole time while undercover, wanting to have them as close as possible to him while he was away. He never brought it out when he was around other people, though, choosing instead to look at it when he was alone, completely sure that there were no prying eyes anywhere close.

"You were never supposed to see this," he says quickly. "I took this picture right before I left. I kept it with me so it was like I could still have a part of you and Adian with me to keep me strong."

"If you had that on you...am I the reason you're like this right now?"

He quickly looks up to see the tears forming in her eyes. He wants to lie to her, spare her the hard truth, tell her that it wasn't because of the photo. That it was some other reason entirely different. But he promised her he was done lying to her.

He sighs. "Yes. The section of Hydra I was infiltrating, some of them knew me because of Garrett. They accidentally found the photo one day and told me that I was weak, that Garrett would be ashamed of me. And then that's when they started beating on me."

"Grant, I'm so sorry that that happened to you. I never…"

He shakes his head. "Hey, it's fine. I'm alive, that's all that matters. I did manage to do what I needed to do while I was there, though, so it wasn't a total loss. That's one more Hydra cell that's being taken care of."

"Still, I'm not going to be able to help that every time I'll see that picture from now on, I'll be thinking about how I basically almost got you killed."

"Then we'll have to have some new photos with better memories attached to them for you. Like right now."

He immediately holds up the camera and does his best to focus on Skye.

She sighs and looks away. "Grant, stop it. I look gross right now."

"No, you don't. You look absolutely beautiful."

She narrows her eyes at him and he snaps the photo.

"You really took a picture of that?"

"Mm-hmm." He nods as he takes the photo from the slot and waits for it to develop. Once it does, he holds it up so she can see it. The top of her baby bump is just barely visible at the bottom of the image. "I think it's a pretty good one."

She rolls her eyes at him. "You would think that."

He ducks his head and laughs quietly, tucking the photo away safely. "Do you need anything while I'm here?" he asks, looking back up at her.

She shakes her head. "No, thanks. I think I'm good for right now."

"Okay. Just uh, just let me know if you need anything? I know Trip has been helping you out a lot, and I'm injured so I can't do much, but I still want to help when I can."

She smiles softly at him. "I know. And if I need something that you can help me with, I will let you know."

"Great. I'll leave you to whatever you're doing, then. I think I need to get off my feet anyway."

Skye snorts and runs a hand over her stomach. "Oh, I know that feeling very well."

He smiles at the sight, wishing he had more blank Polaroids with him so he could snap a picture. Deciding to leave the room like he said he would, Grant manages to hang onto the camera as he hobbles out of the lounge and back down the hall to his room.

Pulling the photo from just a few minutes ago out of his pocket once he reaches his bed, he stares down at it with a content smile on his face. He and Skye may not actually be together at this point, but she's still pregnant with his child, and that's more than he ever thought he'd have.

Setting the photo aside, he makes a decision right then and there to make a book of photos for his son, to show him his life as he grows up and becomes the person he's meant to be.

He knows there are still a few months left in the pregnancy, but he can't wait for his son to arrive, he can't wait to see who the boy is going to take after more in his looks and personality.

He just hopes he can be a good dad and do right by his son, that's all he wants.

So? What did you think? Let me know in a review down below. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Also, working on a new Skyeward story and I need some twitter handles/Tumblr urls for it. If you want yours to be featured, let me know. :)

Until next time,
Jellybean96 out!