Author Note: I'm sorry about taking so long to update - hopefully back on track soon! hope you like the chapter xx
"Oh no…" Leo exclaimed.
Skye froze. What did she do? All she did was answer Melinda's question. "Would you like a drink"? Was it the wrong the answer? She was thirsty so she said yes… 'Maybe I should have said no' Skye thought.
"Sorry I don't need a drink"
"Oh Skye, that's not what Leo meant Skye" Melinda shot a pointed look toward Leo and he bowed his head in guilt.
"Sorry Skye I meant we made pink lemonade yesterday and I was going to get you some because I saved the glassful for you earlier"
Leo shot up to fetch the drink but in doing so, he knocked the table causing Skye to drop her slice of pizza into her lap. Tomato sauce went all over her t-shirt.
Skye looked down at her shirt then back up at Melinda. Why do Melinda and Phil want a kid that looks as scruffy as her? A kid who cant even eat a meal with out getting it all over herself? Skye takes a deep breath. She is prepared for the shouting, the yelling. Mr Rayburn really didn't like it when she was messy, that punishment was a punch to the stomach. So now Skye covers her belly just in case but doesn't say anything. 'I am Strong' she tells her self but even now her eyes betrayed her brain. A small tear slipped out of the corner but Mel was there to catch it.
"Why don't you go and put a different t-shirt on or maybe some pyjamas and then we can carry on eating. Leo will put your dinner back in the oven to keep it warm while you change"
She would have said yes, if it weren't for the fact that she didn't have another t-shirt. 'Uh Oh – they definitely wont want me now' Skye thought as she replies.
"I haven't got another t-shirt… But I'll be fine. Ill just wash this one before I go to bed and it should be dry by tomorrow morning"
Mel and Phil shared a look then Mel got up and told Skye to follow her.
As they went up stairs Leo put all the pizzas back in the oven to keep them warm then sat back at the table, slowly this time.
"Dad, can you tell I'm nervous? What if she decides she doesn't like me – I mean I did just make her drop her pizza AND I forgot to get her a drink!"
"Huh.." Phil chuckled. "I CAN see that your nervous but you are doing great! She will love you – it just takes time"
"Yeah Dad, time…."
Upstairs Mel walked into hers and Phil's room and started to look through drawers. Skye isn't sure whether she wants her to stay outside or come in. After a few more minutes of silence Skye think her should go in so she pokes her head round the door to find Mel on the bed with a bed shirt that had an elephant with really big ears.
"Skye, you can't stay in that shirt so is it okay if I take it wash it? You can wear this one instead?" She said holding the elephant top up.
"I can wash it if you want, I don't want to be anymore trouble… but I would like to borrow your top if I may? I will wash it before I give it back"
"Sweetie come sit here for a minute"
This can't be good. Foster moms never want conversations like this unless she's been bad or being sent back.
"I want you to know that you don't have to look after yourself anymore, that's what we are here for okay? For example, Phil, sometimes Leo, or myself will do your washing. You don't have to worry about it from now on."
Skye nodded and started to take her dirty shirt off then she heard the gasp that came from Melinda. She'd forgotten about the bruises on her arm. Luckily Mel didn't say anything she just helped her put the new one on.
Skye was basically drowning the top but she likes it because it smells like Mel and that smells like 'home'.
'Wow, when was the last time I called somewhere home?'
They went back downstairs and finished their dinner. Phil couldn't stop looking between Mel and Skye, Skye looked so cute in Mel's top but something was wrong with Melinda. Her eyes looked full of sorrow and worry.
"Leo why don't you take Skye into the Living room and I'll bring you your ice cream in a minute"
"Really Phil?! I can eat it in there?"
"Yes Skye, of course you can"
She grabs her blanket and toy from the floor and rushes back into the living room.
The moment the two kids leave the room the tears flood down Melinda's face and ends up in a ball on the kitchen floor after she feels she can no longer stand.
"She has bruises… all up her arms…she basically looks after herself… she told me she would wash her own shirt… SHE THINKS THAT'S NORMAL!"
"It's okay, she will learn that we are here to look after her, she will never what to worry about us hurting her EVER! Now she is ours, Skye can have a normal childhood and we will take care of her"
"But…"
"No buts Mel – now, I have a very big decision… Will Skye want chocolate sauce on her ice cream or strawberry?" He said will a chuckle.
Melinda shot him a disapproving look.
"So both then?" said with a huge smile.
They take the kids their ice cream and Mel tells Skye she has twenty more minutes before she needs a bath and needs to go to bed. Phil thinks she is the only kid on earth that does not complain about bath time.
Bath time was an interesting event for Skye, she got confused with Mel's first question.
"What do you want in your bath? I'm not sure if we've got anything suitable for you but ill have a look".
'Is this a trick question?' Skye asks herself.
"Ummmm.. Water?"
Melinda laughed then crouched in front of her and smiled.
"Well obviously water – I meant do you want bubbles? Toys? Water crayons? I don't know what we have but when we go shopping tomorrow I can buy you anything you want.."
"I haven't had a bath since I was 3 so I don't mind what you put in it… you know as long as it doesn't hurt"
Melinda looked shocked.
"Well then… you can have normal bubbles tonight, then tomorrow we will get toys and crayons that you can draw on the bath tub with – sound good?"
Skye thought for a moment – 'I don't want them spending too much money on me, but she did offer so…' – Skye nodded and said "Sounds great!".
Melinda's not sure what to do now because Skye may want some privacy but at the same time she is only six. She had started to undress but very very slowly.
"Do you want me to leave? Or maybe turn around?"
Skye lowered her head and said "Could you stay but maybe turn around?"
Melinda sighed in relief. "Of course I can"
As soon as she heard the splash of water she turned back around to find Skye on the other side of the tub to the bubbles. The bathtub was fairly large and could have fit all 4 of her children in it yet Skye stayed at the other end of the tub. Mel decided to make it a bit more fun. She put some of the bubbles on her chin and did a really deep laugh.
"Guess who I am Skye"
"Ooh! Ooh! Are you that guy that comes at Christmas? I cant remember what he's called!"
'She doesn't know his name? Surely the nuns did santa clause!'
"I'm Santa! What did santa bring you last year?"
Skye started to brush through her hair with her fingers.
"The nuns said we weren't good enough for santa to come so we never got presents…"
Melinda really needs to have a word with those nuns!
"Well I am 300% certain that he will come this year! Now, do you want strawberry or lemon shampoo and would you like me to help you?"
Skye pondered the question for a moment before deciding.
"Could I have strawberry please? And I always get it in my eyes so could you help me?"
'She's so polite – is that out of fear?'
Skye flinched as Melinda lowered her hand to her hair. She spun around and looked her straight in the eyes.
"You wont pull my hair, right?"
Mel shuffled backwards and was unable to speak. How could she think I would hurt her like that?
"Skye – I will NEVER intentionally hurt you. Okay?"
"Okay."
She spun back around and let her shampoo and condition her hair, getting all the knots out. It felt nice, it has been ages since anyone has washed her hair so softly. Melinda took her out and dried her with the blue towels that she had said were Skye's now. She put her back into the borrowed t-shirt that was too big and Melinda took her back downstairs to say goodnight.
Leo was watching some weird show on the TV but when he saw Skye and his mum he jumped up and ran over to give her a good night hug. Although when he approached her Skye suddenly got scared again and hid behind Mel's legs.
"Ahh, sorry Skye I didn't mean to frighten you!" Leo said looking very annoyed with himself.
"Could I give you good night hug?"
Skye wasn't sure if she trusted Leo enough yet so she stood there thinking of a way to say no… Luckily Leo beat her to it.
"Its okay to say no – I don't want to make you do anything you are uncomfortable with so when you are ready you can tell me – deal?"
Skye genuinely smiled and said "Deal – Thank you!"
Phil wanders in and after seeing Skye with Leo he doesn't even try for a hug he simply smiles at her and says
"Goodnight my little star"
Skye's heart warms at the new nickname Phil had given her.
"Goodnight Mr Coulson"
"Phil" He insisted
"Goodnight Phil"
