Here's a short fluffy chapter. We'll get back down to business soon I promise!

I leave the country soon but I'm hoping to get ya'll another update before we leave. We'll see.

Sorry if it's a little under par, I had to rewrite part of this scene after my computer deleted it. And I really don't like rewriting scenes- I feel like the first time captures my initial emotions. (I am not at all opposed to editing though!)

Thanks for the beautiful reviews. You all are my inspiration xoxox


Ironically, it was Bobbi who finally broke through Skye's "everything is okay" act.

The young woman had been slightly unsure how to interact with the little girl. She wasn't exactly around children very often. But she did want Skye to like her as she had found herself falling in love with the little dark haired girl just as everyone else on the ship had.

Sometimes she got hugs and cuddles from Skye. They had a tea party once with Hunter, who was one of Skye's preferred playmates, much to Hunter's delight and occasional slight dismay. Bobbi didn't get really silly, or fully throw herself into the imaginative worlds Skye created in the way Hunter did, but she was constantly supportive and played along as much as she felt able. She was still getting used to this whole "child" thing. It wasn't instinctive for her, but she was trying her damned best.

Bobbi knew Coulson and May were worried about the little girl and her complete avoidance of the events that had happened to her. Bobbi could see it too. It wasn't that Skye was faking her happiness; it was more that she seemed to be forcing herself to feel it.

Bobbi could relate.

After being captured on a mission a couple years ago and tortured for days and days on end, she had wanted nothing more than to be happy finally when she managed to fight her way home. She wanted everything that happened to be behind her. She desperately wanted to go back to her normal self, so much so that she subconsciously convinced herself that what had happened wasn't affecting her and that she was indeed happy and okay.

She wasn't okay though, not for a while. A person doesn't go through dehumanization and walk away perfectly fine.

As much as she had hated it, Bobbi had to admit that she wasn't okay before she could start to heal.

Now she saw Skye, only five years old, struggling with the same issues she had had.

It wasn't fair. Skye was a little girl. She was innocent. She never asked for any of this, never signed up for a dangerous job.

Her, Skye, and Hunter had just finished watching Frozen (for like the fiftieth time) as the rest of the crew prepared for their upcoming stop. Hunter had wandered off, probably to eat something, and Skye and Bobbi were snuggled down on the couch, feeling too cozy to move.

Bobbi stretched lazily, not noticing as the edge of her tank top rode up her stomach, revealing a large patch of scarred skin.

Skye, however, noticed.

"What's that?" she pointed, making Bobbi glance down.

Bobbi hesitated.

There was no way she was going to tell the little girl that some man had branded his name onto her body and the scar tissue was the much improved result of having it removed.

"Somebody hurt me," was the answer she settled on.

Skye looked sympathetic and reached up and stroked Bobbi's blonde hair.

"I'm sorry," she said and Bobbi felt incredibly touched that the little girl was trying to comfort her.

"It wasn't your fault Skye, but thank you." Bobbi tentatively wrapped an arm around the five year old and was pleased when the girl leaned into the touch.

"It was a bad person's fault," Skye murmured.

"That's right."

They were silent for a little bit, watching the credits of Frozen continue to roll.

"Were you scared?" Skye finally asked.

"Yes." It was so easy to admit it when it was just her and Skye.

"I didn't think you were scared of anything," Skye's eyes were wide. Bobbi chuckled.

"Everyone gets scared, Skye. It's okay."

Skye's next question was asked hesitantly.

"When you got hurt… were you scared you would never be okay, inside here?" Skye tapped her chest with a small hand.

"Hmm, what do you mean?" Bobbi was pretty sure she knew what Skye was asking, but she wanted to hear what the little girl would say.

"Like…" Skye thought hard. "Like you'd always be a little scared and sad and hurt? And not know how to make it better?"

"Ah." Bobbi nodded. "Yes, I felt like that for awhile."
"Did it get better?"

Skye was practically glued to her side at this point.

"It did. And you know how?"

"How?" Skye looked up at her with big brown eyes that could melt any heart.

"I talked to people about what happened. I told Hunter all about it, and some of my friends and people who cared about me. And the more I talked about it, the less hurt I felt inside."

"Talking about it made it better?" Skye looked confused. "Wouldn't it be better to pretend everything is ok? Talking about it makes you hurt!"

"Hmm. Have you ever had a bad secret you had to keep? Like when you did something wrong? Or someone did something wrong to you and you're scared to tell?"

Skye considered, then nodded. She remembered telling May and Phil about how she had been forced to eat apples one time. They had helped her.

"And when you finally tell someone, then they can help you be better. It can be really hard, but it helps heal that hurt inside. You have to let people in, Skye." Bobbi kissed her forehead on some sort of instinct.

"Hmm, this looks cozy," May walked into the room, glancing at the now blank TV.

"Mommy!" Skye sat up, holding out her arms.

May picked her up, and Skye wrapped her arms and legs around the older woman.

"What were you two talking about?" May asked, kissing Skye's cheek.

"Being hurt," Skye murmured, snuggling into May's shoulder, not seeing how the woman's eyes widened slightly and quickly darted to Bobbi. "Bobbi was hurt, kinda like I was at the lab," Skye continued. "But she's alright now."

"Well I'm glad."

"You've got to talk about it, she says," Skye informed May. "To feel better."

"That sounds like wise advice," May rubbed Skye's back. "Want to talk while Tripp lands the plane? We have to go strap in now."

"Okay." Skye turned and kissed May's cheek.

"I love you," May whispered into her ear.

"I love you too," Skye whispered back. They left the room, but not before May had mouthed thank you to Bobbi, who just smiled and got up to find her fiancée, maybe to whisper an "I love you" in his ear.

Maybe.


As always, feel free to tell me what you think!

Next chapter: The refueling stop... Everything will go just fine, right? Right?