Authors Note: Hey guys, I know Skye's first day is dragging out out over a couple of chapters but hopefully ill get to a point where the chapters can get through a day.
Hope you guys enjoy and I'm always looking for feedback :)
Skye is twirling around with her elephant when Leo comes up the stairs.
"What will you name your elephant Skye?" Leo asked from the corner of the room.
Skye jumped at the voice coming from behind her, once she realised it was only Leo she started to think about the question.
"I don't know yet… do you think it's a boy or a girl?
Leo slowly walks up to Skye and pretends to inspect the elephant earning a small smile from her.
"Definitely a girl" He hands the elephant back to Skye and turns to sit on the bed next to his mom.
"Can I think of a name later? I can't think of one yet…" She tilts her head down and starts to play with her elephant's trunk.
It was Mel that replied this time "Of course you can sweetie, you can name her whenever you like, you don't have to name her at all if you don't want to".
"Okay thank you"
Skye start to squirm a bit, she needed to go to the bathroom but didn't know if she had to ask – she did back at St Agnes. Melinda must have seen because she said "Skye, if you need to go to the bathroom you can just go…" Skye laid the elephant on the edge of the bed then ran down the hallway.
"Mom? Exactly how badly was Skye treated? Dad said it was nearly Natasha bad – is that true?"
Melinda took hold of Leo's hand and took a deep breath in "I'm not sure exactly what happened but I am sure from the way she reacted to Phil that one possible more of her foster parents abused her and neglected her."
Leo shook his head and squeezed Mel's hand "She doesn't deserve that – at least she is safe now"
Before Mel could respond an ear splitting scream could be heard.
Skye was just finishing washing her hands when she looked up and noticed the bruise that was forming on her arms just below her elbow. She could see the hand print bruise rising to the surface – she had a long sleeve top on so she had forgot about it until she lifted her sleeve to wash her hands.
Quickly she washed her hands and shoved her sleeves back down her arm and looked into the mirror with disgust.
"Don't mess this one up Skye," She whispered to herself. "Don't let them see the bruises, don't let them see how broken you are". She took a few deep breaths, just like Sister Jane showed her, then started to walk back to her room. It still felt weird saying 'her' room, her foster parents normally called it the spare room. Mel and Phil were the only ones to ever call it 'her' room.
She was so busy thinking about it she didn't actually realise that she went the wrong way and was now heading straight for the stairs. Skye wasn't even aware that she had tripped on the carpet and was now falling toward the stairs.
Phil was just coming to see whether Skye liked her new room when he saw that she was falling straight toward him. He quickly ran toward her and scooped her up in his arms to stop her falling head first into the staircase. Even though she was in his arms for a couple of seconds Skye still screamed at the sudden contact. Phil instantly put her down and took three steps back.
"No! No! Please don't take me down there again! I'll be good! I promise!"
Skye couldn't breathe. Her eyes were shut so tightly that her head started to feel dizzy. She could hear Mel in front of her, Mel took her hand and put it against her chest.
"Skye, copy my breathing, Please, feel my breathing under your hand."
Skye concentrated on Mel's breathing. She had a strong heartbeat. Skye felt safe. Her breathing slowly steadied out, she kept her eyes glued to the ground, too embarrassed to look up.
"I'm sorry I scared you Skye but you were going to fall down the stairs… you scared me" Skye looked up at Phil as he spoke. His face looked guilty, his voiced sounds apologetic, maybe he really was sorry.
She mumbled something but it was incoherent.
"What did you say honey?"
"I'm sorry I scared you, I wasn't paying attention" Skye said barely above a whisper.
Melinda thinks now is a good time for a change of topic.
"Right, lets get you downstairs, we have a couple of DVDs you could watch if you want?" Mel looked down to Skye and smiled.
"You mean I get to choose?"
"Leo basically likes every Disney movie there is so you can take your pick and we will watch what ever you like" Leo nodded and Mel's statement.
Skye thought about it for a moment then asked "Do you have Aristocats?"
Skye heard Leo laugh, maybe he thought it was a baby film and didn't actually like that one. Skye was just able to tell them to never mind when Leo said excitedly "That was Bobbi and Nat's favourite film! Of course we have it! When you meet them you should tell them you like it… I'm sure you'll watch it more than once while they are at home."
Mel helped Skye up off the floor and ushered her down the stairs. Skye noticed that Phil hadn't moved since he put her down. She hopes she didn't make him angry because she screamed. Mr Rayburn never hit her while his son was around – maybe Phil was the same? Skye made a mental note not to be alone with him until she knew whether he was mad or not.
Skye remembered the blanket and elephant were still in her room. She wanted to go back and get them but that would mean going past Phil.
"Mel, can we go back and grab the blanket and elephant?"
"Phil." Melinda said in a slightly raised voice "Could you grab Skye's blanket and elephant please?" Skye instantly went rigid. What if he is mad? What if he says he doesn't deserve them because she was so bad? What if he rips them apart? Before she even noticed, tears began rolling down her cheek.
"Skye, what's the matter?"
"Phil is mad at me… What if he says I don't deserve the elephant or the blanket? What if he doesn't want me anymore?" Skye was now sobbing again. By this point Phil was with them again after hearing all of Skye's little speech.
"Look at me Skye" He said, but not in an angry voice, in a calm voice. "Number one – I am not mad at you. Number two – you deserve all the elephants and blankets you want and number three I will ALWAYS want you…" He knelt down and handed her the two items.
Skye is not sure of what to say so she looks up and simply says "Always?"
"Always."
Skye and Leo were now set up in the living room watching Aristocats. Leo sat on one side of the couch with his feet swung over the arm rest and Skye sat on the other side curled up in a ball trying to put as much space between her and Leo as possible.
Melinda and Phil stood in the kitchen getting things prepared for dinner. Neither one of them speaking until Phil finally broke the silence.
"Did you hear her?" Melinda gave him a confused look hick told him she needed more information. "Did you hear earlier? She said 'don't take me down there' what do think that means"
Melinda had actually been contemplating the same question since Skye uttered the words.
"It is likely that she means her last foster parents used to take her to a basement of some sort as a punishment maybe?"
"Oh Mel, that poor girl has been through so much and it kills me that she cant trust us because she has had bad experiences in the past."
Melinda gave him a sympathetic look. "It was the same with Bobbi and Nat but look at the now… they are our babies and soon Skye will learn that we want her and that we would never hurt her".
Melinda remembers the weeks it took for Bobbi to even acknowledge they were there let alone confide in them. And Nat, well she would flinch at the slightest movement anyone made for months – it wasn't until she broke down one day and told Phil everything, apologising for her bad behaviour and telling him why she had trouble trusting him. Leo was better but wasn't great. He thought they would leave him alone like his alcoholic mother did. Melinda loves how much her children now trust and rely on them which means seeing Skye hurts her even more.
Once they had prepared dinner and put it into the oven they went back into the living room to watch the last part of the movie. Mel and Phil sat on the other couch, which was to the side of the couch the kids were sitting on.
Skye kept looking between Melinda and Phil, the TV and Leo. She felt like she had to be on guard yet she wanted to relax and watch the film. Just as the credits started to roll the timer in the kitchen went off and everyone moved suddenly to go into the kitchen. Skye's heart jumped when everyone moved but she levelled it out after Melinda shot her an apologetic look. She grabbed her blanket and elephant and moved into the kitchen. She placed them on the chair where she sat at lunch then took a look around the kitchen.
On the fridge there were lots of pictures of different people. The first one she saw was one of Leo and large robot with a blue bow on it. Another was of curly haired girl in a pink tutu holding onto a ribbon – Skye thinks that was Natasha. That would make the girl in the next photograph Bobbi. She had long blond hair and was in front of a really large ferris wheel. Skye made a note to ask where she was in that picture later. Both girls where really pretty – 'I can never be as pretty as that' Skye thinks.
"Come on Skye… better get here quick before Leo eats it all – homemade pizza is his favourite."
Skye rushes back over to the table and finds a plate with Jungle animals around the edge. There were lions, tigers, elephants, monkeys and giraffes. 'Must have been one of Phil and Leo's purchases while they were out'.
"Do like your plate Skye? We couldn't resist when we saw it! I just love monkeys so Dad said I could get one too!"
Skye looked over and Leo had the same plate as her, being the same as him made her smile. "Thank you – the elephants are the same as my teddy!" Skye stated.
"I know honey, that's why I chose them" It was Phil that replied this time.
Melinda puts a slice of pizza on her plate and passes her a knife and fork. Skye suddenly looks at her confused, do does Melinda really want her to use a knife and fork?
"You don't have to use them – just thought I'd give you the choice"
Smiling she picks up the slice of pizza in her hand and shoves it in her mouth taking a very larger bite.
"Don't put so much in your mouth sweetie – you might choke"
"Sorry"
Skye slowed down her eating while Mel and Phil started to talk to Leo about school tomorrow. While listening to them talk Skye wonders what it might be like to say here… Forever. She realises that she actually WANTS to stay here.
The Coulson's may actually be her Forever Family.
