I own nothing.

Lesson 5: Don't go to your mother's book club.

She's been at her Mother's house for a week and it was not as bad as she thought it would be. Her mom did her own thing and left her alone. It was wonderful. They always ate dinner together every night which was pleasant. Well it was until her mother brought up her monthly book club meeting.

"I have book club tomorrow tonight so you'll be on your own for dinner."

"Book club?"

"Don't look at me like that Qiaolian. There's nothing wrong with being in a book club."

"Its just so normal. It doesn't seem like you."

"Things change when you retire, you'll learn soon enough. You know you should join us."

Yeah right.

"I think I'll pass."

"You're coming. You've barely spent anytime out of the house since you arrived."

"I'm on vacation besides I haven't even read the book."

"I'll catch you up plus it'll be nice to do something together that doesn't involve people being killed. We can do finally do some proper mother-daughter bonding!"

The last time they spent quality time together it was on a joint mission between agencies and let's just say that she doesn't want to go through that again. But its book club, it can't be as bad as that. No one is supposed to die at book club but then again...nope. Not going there.

"Fine."

They arrived at the hostess' house the following evening and her mother was telling her the ins and out of what goes on during book club. Actually she was just getting a lecture in the car from her mom before they walked into the house.

"Mom I'm pretty sure I can handle book club, I've been through worse."

"Well just behave yourself, I don't want you embarrassing me tonight."

"Embarrass you? I'm an adult I know how to behave in social functions."

"And when was the last time you've been to a social function. The fact that you call them social functions is worrisome enough."

"I went to a charity gala a couple months ago."

"That doesn't count since it was an undercover job. Phillip keeps me informed of your whereabouts wherever you go out on a mission. Let's head in, we don't want to be late."

She'll need to have a chat with Phillip and his apparently frequent calls to her Mother when she returns from vacation.

There were a handful of ladies there when they entered the house. A majority of the ladies asked her what she did and she gave them the answer that her mother approved of:

"I work for the government."

They didn't ask her anymore questions so she tuned them out while she drank some wine and gathered some snacks before sitting down next to her mother.

"So how's Paul?" asked Linda (the hostess) to her mother

Paul? Who is that?

"He couldn't make it today but he says hi."

"Whose Paul?" she asked confused that her mother never mentioned him to her.

"Just a friend."

"A friend that she has been seeing for the past couple months."

Months?!

"Linda, now is not the time to talk about my personal life."

What? Discussing life choices was an everyday thing with her mother but now that its her personal life being broadcasted it's off limits. Her Mother, ladies and gentlemen.

"You're right. We'll talk about it after we discuss the book."

Halfway through the discussion she excused herself to the bathroom and then went to the kitchen to see if Linda had anything stronger than wine. She couldn't find anything but she stayed in the kitchen anyway. She's in the kitchen for about thirty minutes before she hears footsteps headed toward her so like any adult she hid behind the counter.

"May?"

"Phil? What are you doing here?" she asked after popping up from behind the counter.

"I could ask you the same question."

"Mother-daughter bonding. You?"

"I used to come to you're mother's book club before I died. She called me up a couple weeks ago to see if I wanted to go. Its been awhile since I've seen everybody so I thought why not. How are you?"

"So you've been to these things a lot then. Have you met Paul?" she asked now getting in Coulson's personal space and ignoring his question on her well being.

"Paul, he's awesome..uh I mean the name rings a bell. Are they dating now or whatever the equivalent is of what people her age do together? She told me that she would tell me when they reached that point."

"She was going to tell you, why wouldn't she tell me?"

"Probably because of your reaction right now. Look, Paul's a nice guy. Trust me I did a background check on him and it wouldn't surprise me if she did as well. If there was anything wrong I would have told you."

"How come you know more about my mother's life than me? Am I a terrible daughter?" she asked after sitting down at the kitchen table.

"No, you're a wonderful daughter. Sometimes its easier to talk to someone else than their daughter about some things." he said joining her at the table.

"Maybe. How's the team?"

"Wishing they weren't cleaning the whole entire base right now. From what I was told a glitter bomb went off in the vents when they were being cleaned. It got everywhere."

"Pictures?"

"I've got one better, video." he said pulling out his phone.

She spent the rest of the evening in the kitchen with Coulson before they parted ways. She promised to contact him when she knew where she was going next.

"I want to meet Paul." she said to her mother as they were driving back home.

"He wants to meet you as well. Sorry I didn't tell you."

"Its okay, as long as you're happy."

"I am. When he arrived, Phillip was covered in glitter. Any idea how that happened?"

"Glitter bomb in the vents apparently. No idea who did it though." she said with a smirk.

"Well whoever did, learned well." her mother replied with knowing look on her face.

Thanks for reading. I may do a sequel so May could meet Paul. Good idea or Bad idea.