The Family Secret Chapter 2: The One Thing I Got Right, an Avengers + Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Crossover fanfic

The Family Secret

Disclaimer:
As always, I own nothing!

Rating:
T

Genre:
Romance/Family

Pairings:
IronTazer
SkyeCap

Lyrics Used:
Taylor Swift "Sad, Beautiful, Tragic"
Shakira (feat Blake Shelton) "Medicine"
Sara Evans "If I Run"
Skylar Grey "Back From the Dead" (feat Big Sean & Travis Barker)
Boyce Avenue "I Had To Try"
Dream "What We Gonna Do About Us"

The One Thing I Got Right

In dreams, I meet you in warm conversation | We both wake in lonely beds, different cities | And, time is taking its sweet time erasing you | And, you've got your demons, and, darling, they all look like me
'Cause we had a beautiful magic love affair | What a sad, beautiful, tragic love affair

Approaching the genius, billionaire, philanthropist and former playboy's workshop, Agent Phil Coulson was rather surprised to hear – instead of his usual Black Sabbath or ACDC – Shakira blaring over the speaker system.

When I feel like I'm losing my mind

Suddenly, Phil had an idea and decided to run with it. As the door slid open, the senior S.H.I.E.L.D. agent took a deep breath and sang along with the next line of the song. "Bangin' my head up against the wall."

Staring at nothing 'cause I can't sleep at night

Tony Stark froze in place as the volume of the music dropped for a single line of the song and he heard the one voice he thought he'd never hear again. Slowly turning, he couldn't believe his eyes – or his ears – as the man that he loved and the father of his unborn children crossed the workshop while singing the next line of the song directly to him. "Can't make it stop, yeah, I think too much."

What do I do-ooo | Falling apa-aart | I need a sho-hot | Straight to my he-aart

Unable to think or process the situation, Tony decided to just roll with it. Even if this was just a dream or a fantasy or … whatever … he was going to enjoy every single moment of it. Throwing reality to the wind, the engineer joined in and sang along with the agent. "No one would want to be in my shoes, right now – OH!" Melting at the touch of Phil's hand, Tony focused all of his efforts on singing his heart to the agent before him as the song came to the chorus. "I don't reach for the bottle of whiskey."

Staring into the eyes he'd fallen in love with the moment he'd first seen them, Phil smiled as he sang the next line. "Straight on the rocks."

Still acting on pure instinct, Tony sang the next line. "No, you won't see me popping the pills."

Phil couldn't resist the small smile as he continued singing to Tony. "Po-po-po-popping the pills."

Taking Phil's hands in his own, Tony couldn't stop smiling as they sang together. "'Cause if I want the pain to go away, in a second, make it fade, you're the only thing that will … You're my medicine, medicine … M-m-m-medicine, medicine … M-m-m-medicine, medicine … M-m-m-medicine." Finally, as the music faded away, Tony felt the smile fall from his face as he struggled with the fact that a man that he'd believed to be dead for the last three months was now standing in front of him. As a somewhat awkward silence stretched between them, Tony finally asked the question weighing on his mind. "What the hell, Phil?!" He asked, desperately. "I mean … Is this all even … even real? I mean, is this really happening, right now? Are you really standing here, in front of me?!"

Phil had to admit that Tony's words hurt, somewhat. But, he understood where the engineer was coming from. "Yes, Tony." The agent assured him, gently, pulling the billionaire in closer to him. "It's real. I'm right here." He added, gently placing Tony's hand over his heart where the engineer felt the steady rhythm of Phil's heartbeat – reassuring him that his beloved agent was, in fact, alive. "Very. Much. Alive." Phil added, with a small smile.

Staring at the hand covering Phil's heart, Tony couldn't even begin to process the situation. Three months ago, he'd thought he'd never see Phil Coulson again. Now, here he was, in Tony's workshop, standing right in front of him. "But … How?" Tony asked, almost pleading.

"After Loki stabbed me …" Phil began, keeping his voice warm and gentle as he guided Tony onto the small sofa he'd placed in the shop after Phil had insisted he do something about all the times he fell asleep working in the shop. " … Fury had me sent to a S.H.I.E.L.D. medical facility where I was taken into emergency surgery. It was touch and go … Fury was right. I did die for forty seconds – my file says eight, but, trust me … It was forty." Tony couldn't resist the small smile at Phil's adamant insistence regarding the duration of his death. "But, the point is … The doctors were able to stabilize me … Brought me back … I spent about a week in the ICU, in recovery, before Fury sent me to Tahiti for a little R&R before bringing me back to head up a new team of operatives."

For a moment, Tony remained silent – his face pensive. Phil could tell even a genius like Tony would need a moment to wrap their minds around a loved one returning from the dead and allowed Tony time to absorb everything he'd just told him. Finally, Tony looked up at him with a pained expression as he voiced a whisper of a question. "Why?" The billionaire breathed, desperate for answers. "Why wouldn't you tell me?" He asked, his voice slightly louder though still shaky.

Phil felt his heart shatter in his chest as he listened to the pained voice of the billionaire before him. "I wanted to, Tony." He replied, the sheer, raw, honesty causing his voice to tremble and break. Clearing his throat, he scooted closer to the engineer and cupped his face in his hands as he spoke again. "I begged and pleaded with Fury to let me read you in, but, he just wouldn't budge."

Tony just stared at Phil as he attempted to read the agent before him. Staring into the piercing blue eyes he thought he'd lost forever, the billionaire knew he was telling the truth. "So …" He asked, helplessly. " … What … What … changed?" He asked, still grasping at any straws that would make this all … make sense.

"Honestly?" Phil began, drawing a steadying breath. "It was these." He added, pulling the sonogram pictures out of the inner pocket of his jacket and passing them to Tony, before resting his hands gently over the engineer's slightly swollen abdomen.

Hands trembling, slightly, Tony eyes widened to the size of dinner plates as his jaw metaphorically bounced off the floor as he immediately recognized the sonogram pictures he was looking at as his own. "How … How did you get these?" He asked, brow furrowed in confusion. However, he was soon thrown for yet another loop as a strange woman stepped out of the shadows behind Phil.

"I gave them to him." As his eyes snapped over to the strange, young, Chinese-American woman that had just appeared – seemingly out of nowhere – Tony gaped as he wracked his brain for anything to say.

"Who the hell are you?" The engineer asked, incredulously. Just who the hell was this woman and how in the hell did she get into the workshop?

"Tony, this is Skye." Phil interjected, introducing the young woman – apparently with him. "She works for me. She's a member of the new team I've assembled."

"You're a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent?!" Tony gaped, staring at Skye.

"Not yet." Skye corrected. "I'm … I'm working on it." She amended.

Glancing back and forth between Skye and the sonogram pictures she'd evidently given to Phil. "Who the hell are you?!" Tony demanded, rising from his seat and stalking toward Skye – backing her into the worktable behind her – as she felt the anger radiating off of him. "And, how in the hell did you get these?!" He hissed, shaking the pictures in her face.

Finally finding her voice, Skye pushed herself up off of the table and began backing Tony up, carefully, as she fought back against the accusations against her. "I wasn't exactly looking for them. But, AC told me about his relationship with you." She fired back, fiercely. "And, silly me, thought it was bullshit the way that Fury was keeping the two of you apart!" She spat, as Tony lowered himself back down onto the sofa where he'd started from, originally. "So, yeah. I tried to look you up. Tried to find a way to get you and AC back together!" She defended. "And, don't ask me how I came across the sonograms! I don't know! All I know is that, when I did find them, I knew I had to show them to AC!" With a snort of derision, she folded her arms tersely over her chest. "I figured he kinda had a right know!"

"All right, that's enough!" Phil interjected, calmly, breaking up the dispute between Skye and Tony. Turning to the aforementioned engineer, he added "Look, Tony. Skye never meant any harm. Granted, I never asked her to do any of the things that she did. But, I – personally – couldn't be more grateful to her for them." The senior agent added, staring straight into the rich brown eyes of the man that he loved. "Because they gave me the push that I needed to come back to you."

Staring at Phil, Tony knew he was right. It didn't matter how Skye had found the pictures. Now that she had, he and Phil could be together again – even become a family. Now, he wouldn't have to worry about raising his children alone. He had to admit … That was a pretty damn good feeling.

Sensing that Phil and Tony may want a moment alone, together, Skye cleared her throat awkwardly as she pointed her thumb over her shoulder, in the direction of the door. "I'm just gonna … go … that way …" She muttered, awkwardly, as she turned and took her leave – leaving Phil and Tony chuckling behind her.

Wandering through the halls of Avengers Tower, Skye had been so lost in thought that she found herself running smack into her mentor/father-figure's childhood idol, Captain Steve Rogers. "Oh my God. I'm so sorry." She apologized, quickly, as she looked up – finding herself lost in the captain's baby blue eyes.

Staring down into the eyes of the woman who'd just run into him, Steve found himself inexplicably drawn to her. "Don't worry about it." He offered, distractedly.

"Um – I'm – Um … I'm-I'm Skye." The young Chinese-American woman offered, introducing herself, awkwardly, offering the captain her hand, nervously.

"Steve." The captain introduced himself. "Steve Rogers."

Smiling as she giggled – giggled – nervously, Skye replied "Yeah, I … I know. I mean, I … I recognize you." She offered, cursing herself for the way she stumbled over her words. "Plus, my boss kinda idolizes you."

Offering the young woman a warm smile in return, Steve released her hand as he asked "Really? I'd love to meet him."

Suddenly, an awkward silence stretched between them as Skye chewed her lip, nervously, while she debated whether she should tell Steve about Coulson. Sensing that he may have said something wrong, Steve quickly apologized. "I'm sorry. Was that a little forward?"

"Oh, no." Skye replied, hurriedly, shaking her head. "No, it was fine. It's just … It's complicated."

Mulling over Skye's response in his head for a moment, Steve made a somewhat impulsive decision. "Hm." He hummed, thoughtfully. "Tell ya what. I'm a pretty fast learner …" The super soldier began, suggestively. "Care to try to explain it over a cup of coffee?"

Once again, Skye chewed her lip as she considered her response. She didn't know how long Coulson would be with Stark and she didn't want him to go looking for her and not know where to find her. But, then again, she didn't know how long he would be. For all she knew, she could be waiting a while. And, it looked like Steve might be good company. "Sure." She finally decided.

I never thought that you and I would ever meet again | I mourn the loss of you, sometimes, and pray for peace within | The word "distraught" cannot describe how my heart has been | But, where do we begin, now that you're back from the dead | Where do we begin, now that, you're back from the dead | Where do we begin now that you're back from the dead

"Tony … I am … so sorry that you felt like you had to go through all this alone." Phil apologized with a raw sincerity in his eyes that very nearly moved Tony to tears.

"Phil, don't…" Tony replied, taking the agent's hands in his own. "Don't apologize. When you tell me that you fought to tell me the truth, I believe you. And, honestly, nothing from the last three months even matters to me, anymore." He added, smiling in relief. "Do you know how many times I've dreamed of this moment ever since New York? All I want is just for you to be here. With me."

"I promise you, Tony – I swear to you – that I will never leave you, again." Phil swore, vehemently.

"I know." The billionaire smiled, warmly. "I know you won't, Phil."

So much to prove and so much to save | I couldn't stand around while you just slipped away | If I had just carried on and moved right along | I'd still be wondering where did I go wrong

I know you'll probably judge me | But, I had to try | I don't care if you never get me | I had to try

"That's impossible." Steve replied, shocked by the news that Skye had just given him.

"Believe me, I know how crazy it sounds." The hacker freely admitted. "But, it's true. Agent Coulson's alive."

"But … How?" Steve wondered, completely lost. "Director Fury told us he was dead."

"Well, the death of a common alley can be a great motivator." Skye shrugged, taking another sip of her coffee. "Plus, technically, Fury didn't lie. AC did die. For all of eight seconds – forty, according to him. But, somehow, the doctors managed to stabilize him."

"I don't believe it." Steve sighed, struggling to wrap his mind around everything that Skye was telling him. "Where is he, now?"

"Downstairs." Skye replied, casually, smirking ever so slightly at the way Steve's eyes widened to saucers which she found rather adorable on the super soldier. "He's in the workshop, talking to Stark, now." She elaborated, finally taking mercy on the soldier.

"'Bout damn time." Steve replied, taking another sip of his own coffee. "What took him so long, anyway?" He questioned, curiously.

"Believe me, AC wanted to tell Tony the truth the moment he woke up in ICU." The young hacker replied, all levity gone from her voice. "Even fought Fury tooth and nail when the director denied him."

"Really?" Steve asked, brow quirking curiously. "Coulson fought Fury?" That didn't make any sense. "That doesn't sound like him."

"Well, I didn't know him before he was stabbed." Skye conceded. "But, I've heard a lot of a people saying that he's changed." She added. "If that's true, I think I'd be tempted to say it's for the better." The hacker shrugged. "I mean, if what I've heard about AC is true, it sounds – to me – like he's finally grown a little backbone." She elaborated. "But, what really tipped this scale was when he told me about his relationship with Stark." She admitted, staring at the cup of tepid coffee in her hands before looking back up at Steve. "It sounded like they were really happy." She admitted, wistfully. "And, I just thought it was bullshit how Fury was keeping them apart." Glancing up at the soldier, she noticed the astonishment in his eyes at her unexpected use of vulgar language. "Sorry." She apologized, blushing slightly as she looked away.

"Don't worry about it." Steve replied, smiling slightly. "You're passionate." He added, deciding to take a chance and gently laid a hand over the back of that of the hacker. "You care about your friends and just want to help. That's admirable." Steve smiled, warmly.

"Thanks." Skye muttered, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear as she felt her blush deepen at the touch of his hand. Get it together, Skye. She scolded herself. Don't blow it! This guy's hot and sensitive! Do you know how rare that is?! She thought to herself as shook off her nerves and moved to lace their fingers together – mentally jumping for joy at the small, shy, smile on the soldier's face.

"Huh." Clint Barton snorted in amusement as he crossed his arms over his chest – watching Captain America having coffee with a strange young woman.

"What is it?" Moving to stand next to Barton, Natasha Romanoff watched the sight in the living room curiously.

"Looks like Cap's on a date." Barton mused, lightly.

"Really?" That comment had now drawn the attention of the good doctor, Bruce Banner. "With who?" He asked, curiously, moving to stand next.

"I dunno." Barton shook his head. "Never seen her before."

"She is pretty." Bruce mused.

"If not a little young for him." Natasha mused before noticing her compatriots looking at her as if she'd grown a second head. "What?" She asked, defensively.

"You are aware that there's really no 'age-appropriate' woman out there for him … Right?" Bruce asked, curiously.

"'Less he wants to go nursing home hopping." Barton joked.

Natasha couldn't deny that both men had a point. Knowing when to admit defeat, the famous Black Widow simply tilted her head – cocking her eyebrow, slightly – as she continued to watch the scene play out before them.

"Anyway…" Skye sighed, trying to get her mind back on topic. "After everything AC told me, I took it upon myself to try to look Stark up – see if I could find a way to get the two of them back together…" She elaborated. "That was when I found the sonogram pictures. I knew, then, that AC needed to see what I'd found." She added, taking a sip of her now cold coffee with her free hand as the other still lingered in the grip of the super soldier. "And … the rest is history."

"Sounds like you and Coulson must be pretty close." Steve mused, thoughtfully.

"Yeah." Skye replied, deep in thought. "Yeah, AC's pretty much the only semblance of a father-figure I've ever really known."

"Really?" Steve asked, curious to learn more about this beautiful woman before him.

"Yeah, I … I kinda bounced around the foster care system – never really spent more than a couple months with the same family." The hacker admitted, looking away in shame. "Then, when I was eighteen, they decided I wasn't their problem, anymore, and threw me out on the streets." Steve couldn't help feeling for the young woman before him. "I was living out of the back of my van in east LA when AC kidnapped me-"

"'Kidnapped'?" Steve repeated, sharply.

"Well, he and Agent Ward used the term 'recruited'." Skye corrected, a small, amused, smile tugging at her lips. "But, Ward threw a bag over my head." She smirked. "I don't know about you, but, where I come from? We call that 'kidnapping'."

"Why'd they throw a bag over your head?" Steve questioned, curiously.

"I was … sorta working for The Rising Tide … at the time." Skye admitted, guiltily. "They were initially bringing me in for questioning and when I showed them up – knew things that even S.H.I.E.L.D. didn't know – Coulson decided to keep me on as a consultant. After our first mission, I knew I wanted more. And, I've decided to start training to become a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent."

Steve listened attentively to Skye's story. She was certainly a remarkable young woman to have come out of this past with a such a vibrant attitude. "What exactly is The Rising Tide?" He wondered, curiously.

"It's…" Skye drawled, searching for the right words. "Basically, they're a group of hackers that believe in the freedom of information. They believe that no one person or agency has the right to hold all the secrets." She elaborated, watching Steve almost hang off every word. She wasn't used to people giving her this kind of attention. Well, except for AC. It was nice. "They're basically everything that S.H.I.E.L.D. tries to squash."

"I see." Steve hummed, thoughtfully. "What made you decide to change sides?"

"Honestly, I was never really invested in The Rising Tide to begin with." Skye admitted, honestly. "They were really just a means for me to try to dig up whatever information I could regarding my parents."

"Your parents?" Steve prodded, gently.

"Yeah." Skye smiled, shyly. "For as long as I can remember, I've always wanted to know who they were. It's … It's why I became a hacker in the first place. Why I learned to crack systems. So far, I … I haven't really found anything, yet." The hacker had to stop herself before she tipped her hand. She'd only just met Steve and – while she was definitely attracted to him – she just didn't know if she should reveal the S.H.I.E.L.D. document she'd found. "Just … some pictures … a gas receipt … Nothing, really."

Giving the young hacker a gentle squeeze of the hand, Steve spoke gently. "Hang in there." As she met his gaze, Steve couldn't deny the butterflies in his chest as she smiled shyly up at him. "I know I just met you … But, you seem determined. I know you'll find the answers you're looking for."

"So…" Tony sighed, finally. "Where, exactly, does this leave us?"

"Well, I can't exactly just up and leave my team." Phil mused.

"Yeah, I never really pegged you for the stay-at-home-dad type." Tony mused, attempting to inject a little levity into the situation.

"Ya know…" Phil offered, an idea suddenly occurring to him. "There's plenty of room on The Bus-"

"'The Bus'?" Tony questioned, curiously.

"It's actually a plane." Phil replied, grinning like the Cheshire cat when he saw the curiosity spark in the genius's eyes. "It's an airborne mobile command center. The team and I live and work out of it." Drawing a steadying breath, he added. "There's plenty of room if you wanted to join us?"

Tony paused to consider the option. "Room enough for myself and two kids?" He questioned, disbelieving.

"If you're willing…" Phil countered.

Truthfully, JARVIS could easily be taken with him. And, he could work virtually anywhere. And, it was tempting – knowing that he and Phil could be together and raise their children together … as a family. "I'll do it."

Author's Note:
Once again, I hope y'all enjoyed this installment. Please read and review! Also. I know Phil's grand entrance was little (okay maybe a lot) OOC. But, I just thought it was sooo cute! And, I am absolutely in love with that song and have been dying to use it for something ever since the moment I first listened to it after buying Shakira's new album.

~Skye Coulson