Hey babes! Back again with a new chapter for ya! Thanks for all the love on the last chapter. Glad you're all enjoying it. And yes, Bobbi and Hunter were the first to find out. I'm thinking about bringing another character in on the secret soon, but I've gotta rework a certain chapter to do that, and I'm still deciding if I actually want to do that or not.

Also, I'M HOME NOW! My family came up to my school yesterday to pick me up and now I'm home for the summer. :)

Tamara: Thank you so much. I'm glad you love that. :)

Guest: Thank you! :)

Ima: Aww, thanks so much. I'm glad you're loving it. :)

And now, enjoy!

*April*

"...and then hopefully we can catch this new Inhuman before he does something else reckless that accidentally causes damage to himself or anyone around him. He's most likely scared of what's happening to him, as we all were when we changed, so we need to be extra cautious when approaching him; we don't know what will set him off," Skye finishes explaining to her team as she stands in the center of the briefing room behind the holocom. "Any questions?"

Everyone stays silent and looks around at each other.

"Nothing?" Skye asks. She lets out a breath, "Alright then. Everybody gear up and be down in the hanger ready to head out in ten."

Everyone nods their heads and then makes their way out of the briefing room.

Skye turns off the large monitor in the room and is about to step out when her phone goes off from its place in her pocket.

She pulls her phone out and unlocks it, opening up the shell program to find a new text from Grant Please don't be mad at me for this. I took Jess to the park today and she became pretty close friends with a dog and got really sad when she had to say goodbye to him.

So say hello to the newest member of our little family. He reminded me of the dog I used to have so I named him Buddy Jr. But I guess we can just call him Buddy. A picture attached to the message shows Jessica sitting on the living room carpet, a wide smile on her face as she hugs a small chocolate lab around its neck.

Skye just smiles and shakes her head at the picture. She quickly types back a reply You are completely unbelievable, Grant Ward.

Why thank you. :)

So you aren't mad?

No, I'm not mad, not really. I just hope that you can take care of a toddler AND a puppy by yourself while I'm here.

Trust me, Skye. I've dealt with way more difficult situations than this one; I think I can handle all of this perfectly fine.

You better be able to. Because I'm not planning on coming back until next month. So you're on your own with the baby and the puppy until I come home again.

I know, I know. We really miss you, by the way.

I really miss you guys, too. I have to go now because I've got a new mission that's really high priority but I'll talk to you soon.

Okay. Stay safe out there.

I will. I love you.

I love you too.

Skye closes out of the program and locks her phone, sliding it back into her pocket. She picks her tablet up off of the holo table and then makes her way out of the room.

*May*

"Grant?" Skye calls into the house as she steps through the front door, shutting and locking it behind her. "I'm home." Hearing noises coming from the back of the house, she drops her bag and keys onto the couch and then makes her way through the house and towards the back door.

She steps through the door and down into the grass, smiling at the sight of Grant and Jessica running around in the yard, the small brown puppy trailing around behind Jessica, letting out small yips as he jumps up in the air.

"Is there room for one more in this game?" Skye questions as she takes a few steps forward.

"Mamá!" Jessica shrieks and then wobbles over through the grass towards her.

Skye smiles as she bends down to pick up her daughter and settle her on her hip. "Hello, my beautiful little angel," she greets her daughter with a kiss to her cheek. "I missed you so much."

Jessica grins, wrapping her small arms around Skye's neck and giving her a sloppy kiss on her cheek.

Skye laughs and adjusts Jessica slightly on her hip, and then crosses through the grass over to Grant.

"Hi there," she smiles up at him.

"Hi," he smiles back, wrapping an arm around her waist to pull her into a kiss.

"Dad!" Jessica exclaims, reaching one of her hands out and putting it on his cheek.

Grant pulls out of the kiss and looks at Jessica, "Hi angel."

"Mamá," she smiles, leaning her head against Skye's shoulder.

Grant smiles and nods, "Sí. Es mamá. Did you miss mamá?"

Jessica just smiles, closing her eyes and leaning her head on Skye's shoulder.

Skye smiles and presses a kiss to her daughters' head, running one hand up and down her back.

"I'm really glad you're here," Grant tells her.

She smiles up at him, "Me too."

...

"Not going to lie, I definitely miss bath time and bed time while I'm gone," Skye speaks up as she carries a freshly bathed and pajama clad Jessica out into the living room. She sets the toddler down on the carpet, watching with a small smile on her face as Jessica toddles over to Buddy and sits down next to him, immediately pulling him into a hug and giving him a kiss. "It's just one of those things that you didn't think you'd actually miss doing until you can't do it," she tells Grant as she moves to sit down next to him on the couch.

"I think I'll take your word for it," he replies, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

Skye leans her head on Grant's shoulder, pulling her legs up underneath of her. "I just miss getting to do all of the little things while I'm away. The things that most parents take for granted."

Grant smiles, "And that's what makes you such a good mom. You're so great about doing everything you possibly can while you're here to make up for all the time that you're gone."

Skye sighs, "I know. Do you think Jess notices how often I'm gone?"

"I'm sure she's starting to pick up on it. She doesn't really say a whole lot, mainly because she can't speak in full sentences yet, but I'm sure she takes notice that you're gone most of the time. But to her, I don't think it seems like that much time at all. I think she's used to it, in a way, knowing that some days you're here and some days you aren't."

"I really wish it didn't have to be that way," she tells him.

"Well that's all up to you," he replies. "You're the one who decides when to leave SHIELD and come stay here with us permanently. And as much as I wish you would decide that right now, I know I can't force you to do anything about it yet."

"I just want to be absolutely sure with my decision," she says. "I have to really be sure about who I pick to handle the team when I leave. I have to know that they'll be able to handle themselves and the team without me there."

"Didn't they do okay when you were here while you were pregnant?" he asks.

Skye nods, "Yeah, they did. But they knew I was coming back so they weren't too worried about a whole lot, and I checked in a couple of times with them too. But this next time, I won't be going back, and I won't be checking in, so they won't be able to rely on me. I just want to know that they're really ready before I leave permanently. This project was mine; Coulson gave it to me to oversee all of these Inhumans. I can't just pick someone at random and then leave. I have to know that whoever I choose to takeover is going to do a good job and will be able to handle all the responsibility that goes along with leading this team. I'm slowly easing them into handling certain things without my help, to kind of see where they're at and who would do a good job taking over my place once I finally end up leaving."

"All signs of a great leader," he tells her. "And I'm sure you'll figure everything out soon," he drops a kiss to the top of her head.

Skye sighs, "I really hope so." She looks over at her daughter playing on the floor, talking nonsense with Buddy. "Jessie."

Jessica looks up at Skye and smiles, "Hi."

Skye smiles back, "Hi, baby. Come here."

Jessica stands up from the floor and toddles over to Skye, stopping when she's in front of the couch. Skye reaches down and lifts the little girl up into her lap, brushing some of her wet hair back out of her face and pressing a kiss to her temple.

"So, I think it's just about time for you to go to bed," Skye tells her daughter.

"Canta, mamá. Sing."

Skye smiles, "You want me to sing to you?"

Jessica nods her head, "Sí."

"Well I think that can definitely be arranged," Skye says. "Let's get you all tucked into bed and then we'll pick a song to sing." Skye looks at Grant, "Are you going to join us?"

Grant breathes in, "I don't know. Jess, should I join you and mommy for a bedtime song?"

Jessica nods again, "Sí."

"Well then, it looks like I'm going to join you two," Grant smiles.

"Come on then," Skye says to him, standing up from the couch and holding Jessica on her hip. Grant stands up as well and wraps an arm around Skye as they make their way down to Jessica's room, Buddy trailing right behind them.

*June*

"Hey," Bobbi smiles at Skye as she sits down next to her on the couch.

"Hey," Skye smiles back. "What's up?"

Bobbi shrugs, "Not much. How are Ward and Jessica?"

"They're doing pretty well," Skye smiles. "And by the way, Grant told me to tell you and Hunter that you guys can call him by his first name. Even though he didn't say it explicitly, I think it's kind of his way of really trying to let go of everything that's happened and move past it all."

Bobbi nods her head, "Duly noted." She takes a breath, "So, how are Grant and Jessica?"

"Well, like I said before, they're doing pretty well. And I know I was just there for a few days last month, but I miss them so much each time I come back here. It kind of sucks."

"That's completely understandable," Bobbi says. "They're your family and you love them."

Skye nods her head, "Yeah, I really do."

Skye's phone goes off in her pocket and she pulls it out to read the new text in the shell program from Grant Went to find Jess to give her a bath and I found this. A picture is attached to the message, showing Jessica and Buddy curled up together on Jessica's bedroom floor, both of them fast asleep.

"Aww," Skye smiles. "That's so cute."

"What is it?" Bobbi asks.

Skye looks up at her friend, "I told you how Grant bought Jess a puppy two months ago, right?"

Bobbi nods her head, "Yeah, I think so."

"Well look at this," Skye turns her phone so Bobbi can see the photo.

"Oh that is way too cute," Bobbi smiles.

"Right?" Skye smiles. She pulls the phone back in front of her and types out a reply That is just way too cute, Grant. And Bobbi completely agrees with me on that.

I'm glad you both think so.

How are you doing?

I'm doing alright. But I really miss you and Jess.

We miss you too. But you're still coming up for the Fourth, right?

Yeah, hopefully. And Bobbi and Hunter are planning on coming too. We just have to figure out a way to do it so no one gets suspicious about the three of us leaving.

I'm sure you'll come up with something; you're all trained for stuff like this. I'm going to go now, but I'll talk to you soon. I love you.

Okay. Love you too.

Locking her phone, Skye sets it down in her lap and looks at Bobbi, "You and Hunter are still planning on coming over for the Fourth, right?"

Bobbi nods, "Yeah. It's not like there's much to do around here for the holidays anyways. And a barbecue should be pretty fun."

"Great. Then in that case we need to figure out the best strategy for all of us to get out of here without anyone getting suspicious of any of it."

Bobbi nods her head, "Yes we do. And do you know what would be the best way to figure that out?"

"What?" Skye asks.

"Coffee," Bobbi smiles.

Skye grins, "Yes please."

So? What did you think? Let me know in a review down below. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

For those who are interested, I'm working on a special project for the ever so lovely Brett Dalton. If you're interested, let me know and I can give you some more details. :)

Until next time,
Jellybean96 out!