A/N: Chapter 12 up!
Before he could think of anything else, Phil grabs his coat and scarf and exits his apartment. He walks down the streets and a few more blocks before reaching Melinda's apartment building. He looks up to view the whole building before entering the front door and climbing the stairs up to the floor of her unit. He lifts his hand to knock on her unit when he pauses and sighs. He takes a deep breath and knocks on her apartment door thrice.
There's a few moments of silence. He doesn't know what to think. He's going to be a father. Here is his chance to actually have a normal life with Melinda but they've both moved on. He has a girlfriend and he and Melinda are both in S.H.I.E.L.D., having all sorts of possibilities to have a normal life is thrown out the window already.
Melinda opens the door and her eyes widen when she sees Phil on her doorstep. "Phil, it's the middle of the night and it's freezing, what are you doing?" she asks, rubbing her eyes and crossing her arms over her chest.
"I'm sorry, Mel," Phil says softly. "I just…I needed to talk to you as soon as I can."
"Can't that wait until tomorrow?" she asks, groggily.
"Mel, I have a combat op tomorrow morning…" he trails off, raising an eyebrow at Melinda who sighs and runs her hand through her hair. She purses her lips and nods.
"Stoner told you, huh." she says, matter-of-factly. She makes way for him to enter her apartment, and he immediately sits down to one of the chairs in her dining area. He looks around her dim apartment and sees a plain, non-personal apartment unit. She sits down across him, hands clasped together on the table. Phil looks at her.
"I'm sorry I never told you this earlier," she says softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry I didn't know…I could've risked the baby's life in that mission and—"
"Hey, Mel, ssh," He holds her clasped hands in his own hands. Her hands are cold, and he rubs his thumb over them to warm them. "You didn't know. It's not your fault. None of this is your fault, you don't have to be sorry for anything." Melinda looks up to meet his eyes. In the dim light, she looks so tired, so stressed and worried.
"Will you stay?" Melinda's voice is small, tentative when she asked. "I mean, when the baby is born and I…I decide to keep the baby, will you be there?" Phil gives her a small genuine smile.
"I'll be here even before the baby's born." he assures her. Melinda nods and purses her lips together. Phil knows that move very well. He stands up and pulls her in his embrace as tears begin to fall from Melinda's eyes. A silent sob escapes from her lips and Phil only tightens his arms around her, pressing a kiss on her forehead.
"I don't think I can do this, Phil." she whispers against his chest. He strokes her hair softly.
"You won't have to do this alone, Mel," he tells her. "I'm here for you, and for our baby."
"Phil, you don't have to if you don't want to," she whispers. "I don't want you to be there just because you're scared of Stoner's orders and protocols or—"
"Mel, hey," He slowly pushes her back so he's looking at her straight in the eyes. "I want to be there for the baby, and nothing and no one's gonna stop me." Melinda looks away from him. "Not even Audrey's going to stop me." he adds. Melinda looks back up at him and swallows her throat. She licks her lips and nods.
"Okay." she answers softly. Phil smiles and pulls her back to his embrace, closing his eyes and savouring the familiar feeling of her touch, of her head resting on his chest, his chin resting on top of her head and her warm breath against him. He misses her. So bad. He doesn't know if it's wrong to even miss her because of Audrey, but right now, he just doesn't want to care anymore. The woman in his arms is carrying his baby.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" he asks softly. Melinda hums.
"You were with Audrey…I…" she trails off. "I couldn't just…interfere with…" He pulls away and looks at Melinda.
"This is going to be hard for us, won't it?" he asks. Melinda closes her eyes and sighs.
"It'll be harder," she replies. "Are you still sure you want to…stay?" Phil nods and gives her a smile.
"You should get some rest, Mel, you've had one hell of a day." he says. She sighs and nods. He leads her back to her bedroom and sits down at the edge of her bed as Melinda lies down on her bed and under her comforter. He looks at the nightstand and sees a framed picture of him and Melinda, the same picture he has in his apartment. He smiles sadly and looks down at Melinda to see her watching him. He strokes her cheek with his thumb and plants a kiss on her forehead.
"Good night, Mel," he whispers. He rests a hand on her flat abdomen. "Good night, baby." Melinda couldn't resist smiling.
"Good night, Phil, and baby says good night too." she says softly. He laughs softly and watches her as she closes her eyes. He stands up slowly and with one last look of Melinda's sleeping figure, he leaves Melinda's apartment.