Hey babes! Back again with a new chapter! Sorry it's been a while since I updated, I've been really busy with work and other things. But I'm here with a new chapter for you.

Enjoy!

Since the day of Skye's baby shower, Grant has done everything he can to keep proving to her that he's changed, that he really is a good man. Or, at least, some semblance of one.

Coulson allowed him to move into the bunk that's one away from Skye's, Adian's nursery settled nicely between theirs. At one point he'd thought about asking if they could knock down the walls between their two rooms and the nursery, or at least put a couple of doors there to make things easier when they need to get to Adian at night. But he realized it probably wouldn't be much appreciated by their son as he gets older. That is, if they're still living on the base as Adian grows up. He doesn't want his son to be confined to the base as a child, he wants him out in the world interacting with kids his own age. But for now, the base is as good as it's going to get.

When it came to setting up the nursery, he did what he was able to do. He helped put the furniture together after Trip and another, slightly reluctant, agent hauled everything into the room. There's a part of him that can't believe neither of them thought about a nursery for their son until Trip revealed the one that he and Fitz designed and decorated for them. But then again, they had plenty of other things on their minds.

While setting everything up, he deferred to Skye on how exactly to do that. He knew she'd be the one that would be up most of the night early on with Adian so he wanted her to be able to set things up how she'd need them to be.

Besides getting things ready for Adian's arrival, he's also been doing what he can to help his leg heal properly. Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to do much besides just staying off of it. His physical therapy won't start until after his cast is off, and he still has a few days left until that happens.

In the meantime, since he can't go out into the field for the moment, he's been providing whatever information he can about Hydra to help take them down once and for all. It's been a little weird for him, to give up all of these secrets that he used to keep so close to his chest because that's what was expected of him. But now things are different for him, now he's going to be a father and he only wants to do right by his son. And he's trying his hardest to fulfill that, even before his son is born.

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"Big day for you today."

He glances up to see Skye standing at the other end of the lounge, in the kitchenette. At nearly nine months pregnant she still looks as beautiful to him as she always has. The fact that she's pregnant with his baby just makes her even more beautiful in his eyes.

"You're finally getting your cast off."

He glances down at his elevated leg. "Yeah, I am."

"You're probably glad to be able to walk on it again."

He shrugs. "I guess. I'm just glad I won't be wearing this thing when Adian's born. That's not the kind of memory I want to have of that day."

"Yeah, that's a good point."

"Hey, are you okay on your feet?" he asks her. "Shouldn't you be resting? You're getting close to your due date."

"I've still got a couple of weeks left," she tells him. "Besides, walking around is supposed to help induce labor."

"Then shouldn't you be waiting until you get closer to your due date? You don't want him to be born too early."

She waves him off. "I'll be fine. Walking around actually helps relieve some other stuff too."

His brows furrow. "What kind of other stuff?"

She shakes her head. "Nothing you need to worry about, I promise. Do you want anything?" she asks him, gesturing to the open cupboards. "I'm hungry but I don't know what I want."

"I'm good. Thank you, though."

"Okay. Let me know after you've got your cast off?"

He nods. "Of course. But uh, you don't want to come with? Not that I was expecting that you'd want to, I just thought...actually, I don't know what I thought. Sorry, forget I said anything. I'll be sure to let you know when my cast is off."

He turns quickly back to what he'd been doing before Skye started speaking to him, focusing all of his attention on it with furrowed brows.

How could he be so stupid as to think she'd actually want to spend more time with him than she already has to because of Adian? Maybe he really is crazy.

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"Good, you're here."

"Hi, Abby." He gives the woman a small hint of a smile, his hands rubbing against the fabric of his jeans as he sits on the metal table.

"Why do you seem so nervous, dear?" she asks him.

"Uh, no reason, really. Just a little excited about finally getting my cast off. I don't like being so restricted."

She nods. "Yes, I understand how that might be a bit annoying." She shuffles around the area, gathering everything that she needs for the procedure. "So, you're ready to get your cast off, then?"

He nods. "Absolutely."

"And I presume you've followed my directions and have stayed off of it as much as possible?"

"It sucked, but yes, I did."

"Good. Let's get started, then."

Silence envelopes them as Abby begins removing the cast, cutting through the material with a small saw blade and a pair of scissors.

His mind wanders as she does what she needs to do. He's never really had the luxury of letting his mind wander. He's always had to be on guard, always aware of everything that's around him so he can protect himself.

And to a certain extent, he still does that, the need to always be wary ingrained in him from his youth. Not just because of Garrett, but because of his so-called family too. He never knew when his brother would strike, making his life hell. It's gotten better since he started talking to Lisa, but sometimes he still finds himself deep into that headspace.

Shaking his head, he tries to clear those thoughts away. Now is not the time to think about such depressing things. Now is the time to celebrate.

He's getting his cast off. He's in a fairly good spot with Skye. He's going to have a son.

He still finds it hard to believe sometimes that he's actually going to be a father. He never thought he'd get the chance, that with the life he was living, he'd be long dead before he ever even got a sliver of an opportunity to be a dad. And now he's actually getting that chance. He just doesn't want to screw any of it up. That's what he's the most worried about.

"And we're all done."

Pulling himself from his thoughts, he looks up to find Abby smiling softly at him. Her eyes flick down and he follows her line of sight to see his leg now free of its cast. He gently flexes his foot, flinching a little at how tight it is.

"Wow."

"Feels good to have it back, doesn't it?"

He nods. "Yeah. Definitely."

"Just try not to exert yourself too much while you're getting the hang of things again. And you still need to be using those crutches while you get used to putting weight back on your leg. And don't forget about those exercises I gave to you."

"I promise I won't forget. Skye will probably be reminding me all the time about them."

"As she should," Abby says with a small nod. "We both want you to be in your best shape for when that little baby of yours is born."

"Trust me, I want to be at my best too. I can't let him down, or Skye."

"Just don't put too much pressure on yourself to be a perfect parent, alright? No parent is perfect, there's no manual to raising a child, just tips and tricks. But every child is different so not everything will work with yours. You have to find what works and stick with it."

He sighs. "I just want to be better than my own father was, I don't want my son to hate me as he grows up. I want him to know that I'm always going to be here for him, no matter what."

She smiles softly at him. "Something tells me you're already off to a good start."

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

Only two chapters left! But then there's a sequel! :)

Until next time,
Jellybean96 out!