Chapter 3
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AN: Thank you to all who have added to alerts, read, reviewed or any combination of the three. It means a lot to me.
AN2: Thanks for the support for this story. This chapter is on the shorter side.
Over the next few days the members of the plane have been slowly getting used to having a baby on bored. Everyone except Ward have spent time with Skye. He won't ignore her if she is in the same room as him but he hasn't gone out of his way to spend time with her either.
According to Simmons's best guess Skye is approximately five months old. Ever since that first day either Melinda or Coulson are always with Skye it being clear to everyone that they are worried about Quinn and what it means for Skye.
The team is in Australia having just finished their latest mission where there was a unusual energy source coming from a lab at one of the Universities in Adelaide which turned out to be a bunch of PhD students experimenting with Alien metal that one of them found in New York after the battle. The metal was confiscated and the students are being de briefed.
As they are spending a night in Adelaide before they fly back to the states Fitz and Simmons have managed to convince Ward to go out with them, so they went to go see the night life down at what the locals call 'The Bay', Melinda and Coulson are up in their room with Skye and Natasha and Clint are in the lounge.
"We've got to do something about Melinda and Phil." Natasha tells her partner.
"Okay, I'll get the duct tape you get the Taser?" Clint jokes.
"I don't mean like that." Natasha says looking un amused, "I promised Skye that I would do my best to make sure that they wouldn't go all overprotective all the time and that's exactly what they are doing." Natasha tells her boyfriend.
"With Quinn out there can you blame them?" Clint asks her.
"No." Natasha admits, "But I told Skye I would do my best to make sure they aren't doing exactly what they are doing." She tells him.
"Come on, I've got an idea." Clint says standing up and pulling Natasha up.
"What are you planning?" Natasha asks as they head upstairs.
"You'll see, just follow my lead." Clint tells her.
As Natasha and Clint entre Melinda and Phil's room they find Skye playing on a play mat near to where Coulson and Melinda are sitting on the floor.
"You two are going out." Clint informs them before either of them can ask what is going on.
"Oh we are, are we?" Coulson asks.
"Yep, your one month anniversary is in a little less than a week so you are going to go out and celebrate that. Nat and I will look after Skye." Clint tells his friends, "Don't even start to object because we are prepared to force you out of this plane." He tells them.
"Oh you are, are you?" Melinda asks.
"We are." Natasha assures, "You two need to have some time away, for the past few days you have spent all of your time with Skye. Neither of you didn't do anything on this mission. We get that you are worried about Skye, we do, but she will be safe with us." Natasha tells her friend, "You need to have some time just the two of you. I promise you that Clint and I will not let anything happen to Skye." Natasha assures her friends.
"You're going to make us go out whether we like it or not aren't you?" Coulson asks.
"Haven't we made that clear?" Clint asks with a grin.
"You've got twenty minute before we make you leave." Natasha says.
"Come on Kid, you're going to be spending some time with Uncle Clint and тетя Наташа." Clint says picking up Skye and Natasha picks up the play mat and the pair head back down stairs.
"Are we being kicked off our own plane?" Coulson asks Melinda.
"Seems like it." Melinda says, "We should listen. You and I both know that they don't make empty threats." Melinda comments.
"Guess we should, what do you feel like doing?" Coulson asks.
"Something simple." Melinda requests.
"Fish and Chips down the beach and a drive." Coulson suggests.
"Sounds good." Melinda responds.
Downstairs Natasha and Clint have set up Skye's play mat and like Coulson and Melinda were doing upstairs they are sitting near her watching what she is doing.
"What else did Skye ask you to do?" Clint ask Natasha interested.
"Nothing, just make sure that she calls me тетя Наташа." Natasha explains, "What about you? Did she ask you to do anything?" Natasha asks curious.
"She asked me to keep something safe for her, and if I could make sure that she can always talk to me. No matter her age." Clint explains.
"What did she ask you to keep safe?" Natasha asks.
"One of the most important things she has." Clint explains as Coulson and Melinda walk down the stairs both dressed casually.
"So is there a time on how long we are banished for?" Coulson asks curious.
"I'd say a couple of hours." Clint answers.
"Yeah, if you come back and it's been less than two hours we will not let you back on." Natasha tells her friends.
"Be good for your Aunt and Uncle, they're scary." Coulson says as he picks up Skye to give her a hug goodbye, "What no objections to that?" Coulson asks surprised as he hands Skye to Melinda.
"Why object to something that's true?" Clint asks.
"I guess we'll see you later." Melinda comments as she hands Skye to Natasha, "She should go to bed in about half an hour." She tells her.
"Got it. Remember two hours." Natasha tells them and Coulson and Melinda leave.
"That was easier than I thought it would be." Clint comments once Melinda and Coulson leave.
"I think they just realised that they had no choice so why fight it." Natasha comments and Clint puts his arm around his partner as they watch their niece play on the play mat.
Down at the bay Ward, Fitz and Simmons are sitting at a Italian restaurant just finishing their food.
"So where to next?" Fitz asks Jemma.
"You two go do what you want, I'm going to go for a walk down the beach then head back to the plane." Ward tells them as they three of them get up and walk out of the restaurant.
"You know a walk down at the beach sounds good." Simmons comments.
"That it does." Fitz agrees.
"I don't need you two to babysit me, I'll be alright." Ward assures them.
"We're not babysitting you. We are spending time with our friend." Simmons tells him.
"Really? Because it feels like babysitting to me." Ward tells them, "Go have fun, I'll be fine." He tells them, "That's an order." He adds.
"We're off the clock, that doesn't work." Fitz tells him.
"Since when are we ever off the clock?" Ward asks.
"We'll meet you back here in an hour." Simmons tells him deciding to give him his time alone.
"Exactly an hour." Fitz adds and Fitz and Simmons turn and head back towards the restaurants and pubs while Ward heads down to the beach.
Back on the plane Natasha has just put Skye down to bed and has returned downstairs to sit next to Clint. The partners having one of the tablets on the table in front of them connected to the camera's upstairs so that they can keep an eye on Skye.
"Did she get to sleep easy enough?" Clint asks curious.
"Yeah." Natasha answers, "She was fine." Natasha answers, "So what was the object that Skye asked you to look after for her?"
"This." Clint says pulling the fan out of his pocket.
"I don't get it, it's a fan." Natasha says not understanding why Clint called it one the most precious thing Skye owns.
"It has the names of all the foster homes Skye was in on it." Clint explains, "It's something that all foster kids did."
"Like your old shoe." Natasha realises.
"Exactly." He answers, "But on the other side of Skye's list she has written a list of all the people she has lost." He explains.
"Oh." Natasha says handing the fan back to Clint, "From the look on your face I'm guessing it means a lot to give that object to someone." She realises.
"It's like giving away a part of you, a piece of you." Clint explains, "She said that she gave it to me because I understand that." He explains and the pair drift back into silence neither sure what to say.
Parked at one of the beaches in Adelaide Coulson and Melinda are sitting on a blanket that Coulson, for some reason that not even he is sure of, had in his trunk, on the grass eating chips.
"We should put something official in place in case something happens to us while Skye is a child." Melinda suddenly says.
"Where's that coming from?" Coulson asks as it sees like the suggestion has come out of nowhere.
"It's something I've been thinking about the last couple of days. Haven't you?" Melinda ask.
"Yeah I have." Coulson admits.
"I was thinking Clint and Natasha." Melinda tells her husband.
Coulson nods, "And if they can't then Tony and Pepper." He adds and Melinda nods, "We should write a list of everything and get it to the right people, we don't know what is going to happen, especially with our job." He comments.
"I think that would be a good idea." Melinda says approvingly, "Do you feel like going for a walk?" she asks.
"Yeah that sounds good." Coulson responds and he takes off his shoes.
"Why are you taking off your shoes?" Melinda asks.
"Because I am not walking along the beach with my shoes on." Coulson explain, "Come on Mel, you know you want to." He tells her.
Melinda rolls her eyes at Coulson but she does remove her shoes.
Back on the plane Natasha and Clint are just starting a movie when Simmons, Fitz and Ward arrive.
"What are you watching?" Fitz asks when he sees.
"Children of Men." Clint answers.
"That's a good movie." Ward says sitting down on one of the chairs.
"Pass the popcorn please Natasha." Simmons says as her and Fitz sit down together.
"Coulson and May up with Skye?" Fitz asks curious.
"No, they've gone out." Clint answers.
"Really?" Ward asks surprised.
"We didn't give them much of a choice." Natasha answers.
Back on the beach Coulson and Melinda are walking along the beach near the water, both of them slightly in the water.
"The water isn't a cold as I was expecting." Melinda admits.
"You saying you want to go for a swim?" Coulson asks with a small grin.
"Don't even think about it." Melinda tells him realising what he is thinking.
"Why not?" Coulson asks, "I'm pretty sure both of us left our phones and wallets up in Lola." He comments.
"Phillip James Coulson, don't even think about it." Melinda tells him in a warning tone of voice but Coulson doesn't listen he lunges to try and push her into the water, but Melinda is too fast for him and he falls into the water himself.
"I told you not to think about it." Melinda says from where she is laughing at him.
"Oh you think it's so funny do you?" Coulson asks.
"I really do." Melinda responds.
"Help me up." Coulson asks sticking out his hand.
"Please I am not falling for that." Melinda tells him surprised that he would think that she would.
"I know." Coulson says and he uses his leg to trip Melinda up so she falls into the water.
"Cute Coulson." Melinda tells him, not looking to happy, "But did you think about the fact that you have your keys in your pocket?" she asks.
"I don't." Coulson answers, "They're hidden in my shoe near the car." Coulson reveals.
"You planned this whole thing." Melinda realises.
"Maybe." Coulson responds.
"Hang on, pushing in water fully clothed, this is about the game." Melinda realises.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Coulson responds.
"Yes you do, and you better have something I can use to dry off otherwise you're precious car is getting soaked." Melinda responds standing up and walking to the shore.
"Mel, I'm sorry." Coulson says catching up to Melinda, "I meant it as a little fun."
"I know." Melinda admits, "I'm not mad." Melinda says kissing him, "But you do know that it's mine and Clint's point." She tells him once they have broken apart and have continued their walk up the beach.
"How do you figure that?" Coulson asks.
"You fell in the water first." Melinda explains simply.
"True, but I pushed you in, so the points should go to me and Tasha." He explains.
"I think we should consult the rules on this one." Melinda comments.
"Natasha and Clint won't give a unified answer on this." Coulson comments.
"I meant Maria and Garrett." Melinda tells Coulson, "They are the enforcing team on this one, are they not?" Melinda asks.
"They are." Coulson confirms, "Here, we'll use this to dry ourselves a bit." Coulson says handing Melinda the blanket so that she can use it to get dry,
"Huh, look, it's been more than two hours. Our banishment is officially over." She comment.
"Yeah, it is." Coulson realises, "Let's get back." Coulson comments and Melinda nods.
Back on the plane the group are almost half way through the movie when they start to hear cries coming through the tablet.
"I'll go." Ward says standing up as Simmons and Fitz are snuggled up together and Clint is using Natasha as a pillow.
"You sure?" Clint asks surprised as it is the first time that Ward has willingly spent time with baby Skye.
"Yeah, you all look comfortable." Ward comments and he makes his way upstairs.
When Ward enters May and Coulson's room her finds Skye in her crib crying.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Ward asks as he picks her up and when he does she stops crying, "Oh that's it, you just wanted to be held." Ward realises, "Well that's great, but your parents will be back soon and they won't be happy with any of us if you are still awake." He tells Skye as he puts her back down in her crib and as soon as he does she starts crying again so he picks her up, "Okay. What is it that everyone else does to get you to sleep?" Ward asks the baby kind of hoping that she will answer him.
"We tell her stories." Clint's voice says through the coms, "Usually stories about S.H.I.E.L.D missions or battles sooth her the most." He reveals.
"Okay, let me think." Ward says walking over and sitting down on the chair in the corner with Skye in his arms, "There was once a specialist agent, a really good one, but he only worked alone. That was until he got called in Deputy Director Hill's office to be told a secret." Ward tells Skye and he begins to tell her, his story, the story of who he has become thanks in a large part to her.
When Coulson and Melinda get back to the plane, both still slightly wet, they find everyone except for Natasha and Clint asleep.
"What happened to you two?" Natasha asks when she see her friends.
"Phil fell into the water." Melinda explains.
"But I managed to pull Melinda in as well." Coulson answers.
"How was Skye?" Melinda asks.
"Fine, she is currently sleeping, like, well, like a baby." Clint answers handing the tablet to the parents, "So who gets the point?" he asks.
"We couldn't agree." Melinda answers.
"I am going to go check on my daughter, have a shower and go to bed, see you in the morning." Coulson says heading upstairs.
"Thank you both." Melinda tells her friend, "You were right, we did need this." Melinda admits and she heads upstairs.
"Did you notice that they didn't provide any explanation beyond what we already could guess?" Clint asks Natasha.
"Of course."
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