I own nothing.

Lesson 9: Don't meet you're mother's "friend" and definitely don't go to dinner with him and your mother.

She met Paul a couple of days after her Mother's book club when they got together to have tea at the house. She didn't' say much besides the usually pleasantries but she observed him and her Mother: they were great together. She liked him and as long as he didn't hurt her Mother she would keep liking him. There was only one thing she didn't like about him:

"So Lian told me that you're on vacation. I remember when I went to Spain, it was beautiful…"

He was a chatterbox and that's saying a lot because she's used to incessant talking but Paul is a whole nother level of chatter.

"We went to the Sagrada Familia. It was amazing, you know I may have some pictures that you could look at. I just have to ask my son how to access them off the computer."

It was like this the whole time until her mother left to go get some napkins after she "spilled" her tea.

"I'm glad we finally got to meet. Lian talks a lot about you." said Paul

"All good hopefully."

"Oh yes. She's always talking about your work and the fact that you're so passionate about it."

"My work?"

What did her mom tell this man?

"Yes as a counselor to troubled youth."

Troubled youth? Couldn't her mom have told this man that she flies planes. At least something she could elaborate on.

"Oh yes, I do miss those kids but everyone needs a break sometime. Where is my mother? I'm just going to go see what's taking her so long."

She got up, walked to the kitchen, and saw her Mom dabbing her dry shirt with a napkin.

"A counselor to troubled youth?! That's what you told him when he asked what I did. Couldn't you have gone with something simpler."

"Yes, I could have said you work for a secret organization and deal with aliens for a living. That would have scared him off."

"And what did you say when he asked the same question."

"I said I used to work for the government."

"And you couldn't say that for me?"

"Well both of us working for the government would seem fishy plus I wanted to make something up."

"But troubled youths?"

"You're surrounded by young ones so most likely they are troubled."

"Your logic astounds me."

"Oh, Lian, something came up at the office. I have to go but we should do this again sometime." said Paul walking into the kitchen interrupting their argument.

"I don't know when all three of us will be together again. Qiaolian is leaving in a couple of days."

"How about dinner tomorrow?"

"Yes that will be perfect. Our usual place?"

"Works for me." he said smiling at the two of them before leaving the house.

"You're usual place." she said smirking at her mother.

They met up with Paul the next day at the restaurant. They asked for their usual table. How often do they go here? After ordering, she excused herself to the restroom. Its not like she was trying to leave and she couldn't anyway since there was no window in the bathroom. Her Mom was always two steps ahead of her.

She was finishing up in the stall when the bathroom door was slammed open.

"No window. What kind of bathroom doesn't have a window. Now what should I do? What would May do?"

"She would first check and make sure that the bathroom is empty before talking out loud to herself." she said from inside the stall.

"May? Why are you in here? Did I summon you?" asked Skye as she came out of the stall to wash her hands.

"No Skye you didn't summon me. I'm having dinner here. You should have gone through the kitchen, that's where most of the exits are."

"Right. Now are you going to help me get out of here?"

The bathroom door opened again and she saw her Mother enter. Great, this can only get worse.

"Qiaolian, what is taking so long? It shouldn't take this long to use the bathroom."

"Mom, I'm in the middle of something here. This is Skye, one of my troubled youths." she said gesturing to Skye who waved hello.

"Troubled youths? What's going on here? I may be young but I'm not troubled. Okay I'm a little troubled." said Skye

"Dinner with my Mom's friend Paul. Just give me five minutes and I'll join you guys. I have to get Skye out of here."

"Aren't you the one training this girl? Didn't you teach her to always go through the kitchen. You're not helping her because I know you won't come back. She's joining us."

With that she walked out of the bathroom and Skye started laughing as they followed her Mother back out into the restaurant.

"What is so funny?"

"You have a Mom and she's amazing."

"Have the two of you met each other before?" asked Paul to her mother and Skye soon after they returned to the table.

"No, we have not and to tell you the truth I never knew May had a mother. We all thought she was forged with fire from steel." said Skye

"Who is we?" she asked glaring at Skye.

"Its not my fault you never share anything private. You know I still don't know when you're birthday is. Do you even have a birthday?"

"She does. Its in November. Now Skye where were you headed?" asked her Mom after the waiter brought them their food.

She gets through dinner rather unscathed. Skye learned some embarrassing facts about her childhood, apparently her mother is okay with being called Mama May, and Paul was having the time of his life. She however wanted to leave right away but when is life so simple.

"So, shall we get dessert?" asked Paul when the waiter posed the same question a few seconds later.

"I could go for some cake." answered Skye

"Don't you have to leave soon?" she asked. Skye obviously wanted this night to never end.

"I texted Coulson halfway through dinner. He cool with it and wishes he could be here."

"Of course he does."

"Coulson as in Phil. You know him too? Did you meet through Lian's book club?" asked Paul

"Book club? Coulson goes to book club? That explains the stack of books on his desk. No, I met Coulson before I met May even." said Skye

"Is he a counselor as well?"

"Counselor? I guess you could put it that way."

"What other way would you put it?"

"He's actually...ow."

"What she means is Coulson is the director of the counselling center and he assigned Skye to me." she said after finally getting Skye to stop talking (she kicked her).

"Right, troubled youths." said Skye now understanding their bathroom conversation from earlier in the evening.

They parted ways soon after dessert and Skye suggested that they all should go out to dinner again (Paul insisted they extend the invitation to Coulson as well). Skye was riding back to the house with her since her Mother told Skye that she could spend the night. Her Mother and Paul were taking a walk down the boardwalk which they do often apparently. The only problem was that it was getting dark and oh yeah there was no boardwalk near this restaurant. Real subtle Mom.

"Do you really think we can really do this again? It feels nice to do something normal every once and a while." said Skye

"I guess we could as long as nothing comes up but let's wait a while before we plan something else."

"Okay, I think we should have normal nights at the base too. Maybe start up a book club or become wedding planners."

"Let's change the subject."

"Fine. Anything I should know before entering Mama May's domain."

"Don't open any doors that are closed and no lock picking."

"Got it. How long do you think Mama May and Paul are going to walk down the boardwalk? Its not like the sun is out anymore."

"Skye, there was no boardwalk."

"Oh so that means..."

"Yep."

"Alright Mama May."

Thanks for reading. Next chapter may be the last one unless someone has any suggestions/ideas.