Once they were back upstairs Skye gets into bed with her elephant and blanket and Mel sits at the end.

"Do you need anything before you sleep Skye? Like a story? Or a night light?"

"No… can I ask you something?"

"Anything Skye"

"Will Natasha and Bobbi like me? When I meet them is there anything I shouldn't do? I mean Leo seems to be okay with me and I know you said they've been in foster care before but some peoples….experiences are… different to others… what I mean is do they get angry quickly or are the type of people to slowly get angry until they burst? I've found foster siblings usually don't like me so I what I weeelly want to know is…. Will they hit mee?" Skye finished trailing off at the end sounding younger and more vulnerable the further into he speech she got.

Melinda is stunned into silence - how can a girl go from sounding so old and confident so small and afraid within the space of thirty seconds.

"Listen very careful Skye, no one in this house will ever hit you like that okay? Punishments in this house have never been and never will be physical! About Bobbi and Natasha. We adopted Bobbi after she came into one of my self defence classes asking if she could work for me in exchange for lessons…"

***Flashback***

"ermm.. hello?"

Mel spun around to find a blonde young girl standing in front of her.

"Hi what can I help you with?"

The girl looked nervous so Mel offered her a seat

"My name is Bobbi and I'm 16 and I was wondering if you needed anyone to hand out fliers or anything like that? I noticed the gym is new and wanted to ask if you needed any help in promoting it…"

Melinda could see the worry in the girls eyes so she asked…

"And what exactly would you get out of this?"

Bobbi was now playing with the ends of her tatty jumper

"I was hoping you could teach be some basic self defence?"

She admired this kids guts.

"Well I don't actually have any fliers right now but I could always use some help with opening and closing the gym at the end of each day?"

"I can do that! I could also design you a poster if you want? I'm not bad at a paint brush and pens?"

Melinda thought about it for the moment then decided she would take this girl on. As an apprentice almost.

It's been three weeks since Bobbi started working for Melinda and the two grew very close. They would be together from 7 am til 5 pm 6 days a week. Bobbi had even had dinner with her and Phil a couple of times when she had said her parents were away for a couple of days.

One morning mel needed to go in earlier than usual to get paperwork done. When she walked in she never expected to see Bobbi on the floor still asleep in a sleeping bag. Mel just stood there shocked. So she turned back around and went to get coffee for her and Bobbi.

When she came back she gently shook Bobbi away saying

"Bobbi hunny, wake up for me"

Bobbi woke with a start. Looked into Mel eyes, spluttered a bit, then burst into tears. Melinda got down and just held her, they stayed like that for ten minutes before Melinda brushed the hair out of Bobbi's eyes and said "Would you like you explain what happened?"

From that Bobbi told Mel that she was actually only 13 and about her parents abandoning her and that she has just been taking care of herself recently.

"I just wanted somewhere warmer to sleep – I'm so sorry Mel"

"Why didn't you contact someone? You could have been placed in a Girls Home? I know its not exactly your house but its better than on the streets?"

Bobbi's tears were returning as she explained.

"My parents left me so I thought no one would take me so I just stayed on the streets – but then I saw your gym and thought if I could at least learn self defence then at least I wouldn't get mugged while out."

Melinda could not believe she had been so blind! This girl obviously needed her help and she didn't even realise it. Stupid!

"Right first things first – grab your stuff you are coming home with me. You can have a warm bath and a hot breakfast."

"No Mel I'm fine honestly I just needed a place to crash in the warmth – ill be gone by tonight"

"Don't you dare! You are coming with me! There is no way I am letting you back out on the streets- I care about you.."

With out much more arguing Bobbi went and picked up her stuff and said

"I'm ready"

***Flashback paused***

Melinda looked to Skye

" See Bobbi didn't think anyone wanted her either and look at her now! She was just like you…"

Skye is glad Bobbi found Mel but Bobbi was better than her – Bobbi wasn't was broken.

***Resume Flashback***

Melinda got out the car and went to the trunk to get Bobbi's sleeping bag and duffle bag. Bobbi just followed her up the steps to her house. Phil had the day off that day so he was still in the kitchen when the arrived.

"Hey Bobbi Bear what you doing here? Mel hasn't dragged you in extra early too has she? God sake Mel she's only 16 let her sleep!"

At the mention of her age Bobbi shrinks into herself.

"How about we go upstairs and Ill show you wear the bathroom is – Phil Ill be down in a minute." Mel said and her and Bobbi went upstairs in to the bathroom.

"Purple towels are guest towels so feel free you use them and anything else you want - Ill be downstairs and after we can have a chat – you like a fry up right?"

Bobbi nodded and turned the warm shower on – 'Its been ages since I've had a proper wash'

Downstairs Phil and Mel and talking, she tells him everything she knows.

"How?! SHES ONLY THIRTEEN! WHY WOULD YOU LEAVE YOUR KID ON THERE OWN AT THAT AGE!"

"Calm down Phil – so now I know you are on the same page I have a proposition…"

"You want her to live here… and what adopt her?"

"If she'll allow it – is that crazy?"

"No Melinda it is amazing and I knew from the moment I met her and saw you two together that there was something more than a co-worker bond"

Mel started to cook breakfast while Phil wen on line and looked up ways to adopt as quickly as possible.

Bobbi finally came down about half and hour later with wet crinkled hair and smelling of strawberry body wash. She looked at them with a smile on her face.

"Breakfast is ready and I didn't burn anything…. This time"'

That causes all three of them to giggle. Then they sat around the island eating – Bobbi breaks the silence.

"So I've never been caught before so are you now going to send to the Girls Home? Or just report me to the police? I don't know what the laws are on this type of thing."

Phil and Melinda just look at each other.

"Well Bobbi" Melinda starts "We wanted to propose an idea to you"

"What? Tell me ill do anything just don't send me to the Girls Home"

"Well Phil and I were wondering if you would like to live here? We could become your legal guardians if that's what you want?"

Bobbi's eyes start to well up with tears once again.

"But you don't really want me here – my own mother didn't so why would you want me? Besides you and guys are so good together your bound to have kids of your own and when you do you wont want me hanging around the place!"

This time Phil speaks

"We could make it so we adopt you? Then you will be 'our' kid! Family. And we don't get rid of family when new family comes along"

Tears are now streaming down Bobbi's face – she looks between the two of them and just smiles.

"I would very much like to be a part of your family if its not too much trouble…"

"Then welcome to the Coulson family… Did you want to keep your last name or change it? You don't have to decide now just think about it."

"I definitely want to change it – that was my old life – this is my new life! One thing… Should call you mom and dad?"

"You can call us what you like"

Mel interjects at this seeing the devious smile

"With in reason…."

Causing fits of laughter all round.

***End of Flashback***

Skye yawns asking

"Does she call you Mommy now?"

"Yes she does, first time she came home after getting a black belt in martial arts and she shouted 'Look mom I did it! I really did it! Thank you Mommy!' and she gave me the biggest hug".

Skye gave out another large yawn.

"How did you get Natasha?"

"That my sweet is another story another day – time for you to go to sleep"

Skye just nods and pulls her elephant closer.

"Do I now have your last name then? Am I Skye Coulson?"

Melinda puts her hand to stroke Skye's cheek

"You can be whoever you want to be, you can choose a middle name if you like or we can find one if you want"

"Thank you Mel – for everything. As first days goes this is the best!"

"I'm glad sweetheart – I will see you tomorrow morning , love you"

"Goodnight" Skye mumbles around her thumb thinking about being 'Skye Coulson'

Later that night Skye woke with tears in her eyes. She'd had a nightmare. Mr Rayburn often haunted her dreams but this was different, he'd taken her away from the Coulsons.

Skye went to turn back to sleep when she feels something she really wishes was her imagination.

When turning on the light the damp patch in the middle of her bed and the wetness between her legs confirms it. She had wet the bed.

"They are definitely going to send you back now stupid!" Skye tells herself while she is stripping the bed. She is used to hiding her accidents from the nuns and the other kids. She just washes it over night then puts it back on the bed before every one is up the morning.

She walks down the stairs and then remembered that one, her top is still wet and two, she doesn't know how to work their washer. Skye walked into the kitchen to try and find it when the light is switched on and Leo is now stood behind her.

Skye thinks she might cry.

"Oh Skye give me those – is your top wet?"

Skye just nods.

"Okay do you mind wearing one of mine while these are washing?"

Skye shakes her head.

Leo hands her one of his robot sleep shirts and tells her to wait there. He goes and puts the sheets in the washer then leads Skye back up into the bathroom.

"If I start the shower you can wash your legs and I'll go and stick your top in the wash"

Skye just nods again. So Leo bends down and looks Skye straight in the face.

"My first night here I was so scared I could sleep so I went down stairs to find Natasha sat on the sofa and she got me milk and cookies – would you like to do the same?"

Skye had little tears falling but Leo catches them "yes please" she eventually replies.

Skye washes her legs then goes down stairs to meet Leo. He already has their jungle cups out and was pouring the milk. Leo turned to grab the cookies and they went to sit in the living room.

Skye sits closer to Leo so there were only about 5 inches between them so they could share the cookies.

"Do you want to talk about why your up?"

"I…I… had a nightmare"

"Oh….. monsters?"

"You could say he was a monster…."

Leo couldn't bare it, she looked so said when talking about 'him'.

"Skye you are safe now – Ill protect you I promise. I love you and you are my little sister so you can trust me with anything… any time you want to talk or just want a hug tell me, Okay?"

Skye likes Leo, she has the same warm feeling when she is with him as when she is with Mel.

"Leo? Can have that hug now?"

Leo pulls Skye onto his lap and wraps his arms around her middle. Skye rests her head on his shoulder and she can feel the sleep engulfing her. She thinks she loves this house, loves she elephant and she thinks she loves the Coulsons.

Leo goes to moves but Skye tenses.

"No don't leave!"

"I was just moving to lie down and grab a blanket. Or would you prefer to go up to my room? You can sleep in yours because its got no sheets."

"Can we stay here? Feel safe here…"

"Then here it is".

Leo lays down and Skye is beside him with her head on his heart listening to the solid beat. Leo runs his fingers over her back and the touch lulls her into a sleep.

"You are safe now little one"

Leo kisses the top of her head and lets sleep take him aswell.