AN: Annnnd here we are again with me ignoring my other stories so I can update the fun one lmao hope you guys like it! A little bit of a longer chapter because I combined two of them lol You're welcome.

Song is 'Far Away' by Nickelback

All mistakes are mine because as I sat down to type this I got a package in the mail which turned out to be the keyboard case that turns my tablet into a laptop so I typed this all up on that. Lol

It's the little things..

ENJOY

After she had her breakfast— the Waffle Hut was totally amazing— she loaded up the van and stopped at a gas station to refuel before leaving for her new destination.

Using her laptop at breakfast she had started to look a little bit more into where she last pinpointed his signal. Skye knew for a fact that it came from the coastal area of the east coast because she remembers wondering why his signal looked like it was in the ocean before so she had her program search for any and all coastal regions around the old signal. By the time she was finished eating there were 10 results.

It wasn't the best thing considering she's in beach territory, but it was a start.

Of course she wasn't paying for the gas. She was using the touch pad screen on the pump along with her cellphone to make it seem as if she had paid. She'd buy snacks somewhere later at a store after loading money (from someone else's account) onto her card as to not arouse suspicion about how she got her gas.

A war was still raging in her head about the fact she was even on the east coast to begin with.

Stupid robot, making me do all this hard work.

It was an exaggeration because she knew she loved doing this sort of thing a little too much. The idea that no amount of information was off limits to her thrilled her and she loved putting her skills to use with the challenges of finding something….or someone.

Her motivation though is what was waning. It had been resolute the whole way across the country, and now that she was so close, she questioned it.

Sure he said he'd come looking for her. But did he mean it?

Her thoughts from that morning flooded her mind once more as she put the gas pump back into its slot and twisted the lid on her gas tank with a sigh.

"One day, I'll find you again."

The thought caused her to slam her door as she suddenly gained a rush of…well she didn't know what it was but she was using it to fuel her fire.

She pulled over into one of the parking spots on the side of the building and put it in park so she could figure out which spot she'd hit first.

One of the spots, Myrtle Beach, was a huge tourist attraction and despite thinking about the advantages that could hold for a spy, she knew Mr. Grumpy pants would not be there.

One down

She narrowed her list to three different islands that looked promising. She hacked the internet from the business next to the gas station and used it to search for news articles, marriage announcements, obituaries, events—anything that might be able to point her in some kind of direction.

The laptop dinged when the search was finished and she looked wide eyed at all the databases it brought up.

The road there wouldn't take forever…she would sift through those on the way.

She had a bone to pick with a certain spy.

"Dammit"

Grants hands slammed down onto the counter as he hung his head down.

Another search had ended as quickly as it began when he realized he had no contacts he could even call to aid in his search.

"I'm sure she will find you first."

But what if he was wrong…what if…she wasn't looking for him. He certainly wouldn't look for him. He was poison that needed to be left alone.

The bond between Coulson and Skye was strong though…she told him everything. Perhaps maybe she was looking for him and that's why he came all the way out here to find him.

He felt his hand nudged by a cold wet nose and looked down to see his fury friend looking up at him and wagging his cropped tail.

HE smirked down at the dog and found comfort in the fact no matter what, he'd always have his buddy…

Buddy

Well that was unintended.

He shook the thoughts out of his head having had enough of depressing thoughts lately; plus he was running out of glasses to throw.

"Wanna go for a walk?"

The dog tilted its head and bolted off to the table beside the door and took hold of his leash carefully before trotting back to Grant.

"You're too smart for your own good."

Grant hooked his leash to the dog's collar and opened the door letting the Doberman out first. It was a cool afternoon and the sun was starting to go down and he had glanced at the clock on his wall to see that it was low tide.

Perfect conditions for an 'I want to bang my head into a wall' walk on the beach.

Hopefully this will take my mind off things.

Skye pulled off the road frustrated and pulled into some diner. She had just crossed some long ass bridge and there was no freaking sign to tell her what island she was on and the big fish on the side of the building caught her attention.

It was a bar of sorts where fisherman and boaters could pull their boat up and dock to get some food, as well as the customers on land. She motioned that she was heading for the bar and the hostess smiled at her politely.

Once she was sitting down she brought her laptop out and opened it to figure out where she was.

She at least knew she was in North Carolina and near that one beach that she thought he would never touch.

Ocean Isle Beach

Okay, well it's not on my list…but might as well check it out. Her program was searching through databases around the local when she felt the presence of someone sitting beside her.

Turning around, she figured it out to be a waitress who had her pin and paper ready while smacking her lips chewing some gum.

"What can I getcha darlin'"

Oh my, that accent.

Skye let out a light laugh and pointed to the appetizers on the menu that she knew she would like.

The waitress looked to be in her 30's and her blonde hair was tied up into a knot on top of her head. Small anchors dangled from a silver thread attached to her ears and the clanging Skye kept hearing were the many different bangles she had on one of her wrists. The restaurants uniform of a t-shirt and shorts was about the only thing Skye could identify with.

"Alright sugar I'll put that right in for you."

She mumbled thanks and went back to her laptop that had finished its search. There was apparently only one newspaper in the local area and Skye wasn't sure if that would prove to be a good thing or a bad thing, this place wasn't on her list anyway so perhaps she wasn't wasting time with just one newspaper.

The waitress brought out her food and she ate as she began to go through the archives of the newspaper from the last year. Her food was gone and had been picked up by the waitress by the time an article made her stop.

Some guy had apparently caught a really huge fish off the dock where the restaurant she was in sat and she looked at the picture to get a better look at it.

That's….neat?

She leant back in her chair with her hands still on the keyboard when something in the picture caught her eye. It was a tall guy, which is what made him stand out, leaning over the bar with his foot propped up on the bar at the bottom of the bar. His torso was angled towards the fish guy as his hand had a bottle tilted up taking a drink. He was not bad looking at all, and his black shirt and jeans get up definitely appealed to Skye.

"Hey…who are—"

Holy shit.

No. There was no way.

After a few clicks her photo shop program began working on the photo to enhance it to make it more identifiable and she ran a facial recognition scan just to east her paranoia.

"Oh my god," The half laugh came out of astonishment. This island wasn't even on her list and here she was staring at this picture taken in the same restaurant she was in, and at the same bar she was freaking eating at.

Honestly, the whole black shirt and jeans look should have given it away the minute she saw it.

"Any dessert for ya darlin'? We've got a peach cobbler just out of the oven?"

Skye completely forgot where she was for two seconds and after catching up with reality looked to the side to find her waitress, whose name she's come to find was Caroline, before shaking her head quickly. "No, actually I'd like my check—"

Caroline had zeroed in on what was on the computer screen and took a big gasp as a smile broke out onto her face when she pointed towards the screen.

"That's from when Earl caught that fish!" She turned her body around towards the corner of the room, "Hey Earl! Remember when you got that fish a couple months ago!"

The whole place erupted in cheers and chatter suddenly as Skye heard every conversation shift gears to fish.

"Uh, yeah..." Skye figured she'd never seen this girl again in her life, and also realized the woman was obviously a local and could help considerably in her search. If she knew fish guy the chances of her knowing the extremely tall, dark, and handsome in the back were very high.

The waitress had a hand on her hip and was laughing at some of the men in the back cheering before Skye interrupted her, "Actually, I just was looking at some articles from around here since I've never been here before and—"

The woman had pulled out a chair from the bar beside Skye quicker than lightening and sat down spinning around to face her.

Her very brightly painted finger nails glittered in the setting sun light as she put one of her hands flat on the bar beside the hacker and brought her other to grip Skye's arm.

"Oh, my, gosh! Are you here for the palm festival?"

The combination of the high pitched voice and southern drawl was almost a little much for Skye but she was on a mission.

"No, I just came across the article but what I'm interested in," She pulled the screen closer and pointed to the man standing at the bar, "is that guy right there."

Caroline looked briefly at the picture before closing her eyes and turning her head to the side as she leaned back. "Oh girl," she brought the hand holding Skye's arm down to slap her thigh, "he is something else!

Skye would ignore the awkward comment for now just out of excitement of being so close to find something out.

"You know him?" If her tone expressed her intense need Caroline didn't notice.

"Honey you don't forget cheekbones like that." Her eyebrow arched at Skye as she instantly flipped switches turning defensive, "Why you lookin' for him?"

Uh, excuse you lady.

Skye seemed taken aback before trying to figure out how to explain, "He's my…old friend. I haven't seen him in a long time and if he's this close you know," she let out a fake laugh, "I can't pass up the opportunity to see him!"

The waitresses head turned to the other side as she leaned in towards Skye again, "Friend as in," her eyebrows bounced in a suggestive manner, "your lover?"

Skye desperately tried to think of a way to get this awkward conversation back on track so she could find out what she needed to know.

"No, we were just friends, I mean—"

The squeal vibrated through Skye's entire being and she hunched her shoulders as she flinched as the blonde brought her hands up in front of her chest and clasped them together in a dramatic fashion, "This is straight out of a Nicholas Sparks novel!"

Skye sighed and put her head in her hands as the woman ranted on about the plot of whatever novel she was talking about.

She'd read one Nicholas Sparks book and it was when she was around nineteen years old and within five minutes she was bawling like a child.

Her life was tragic, but not in the romantic kind.

The manicured hand slapped Skye's thigh bringing her out of her thoughts with a jolt, "Darlin' you're in luck, because that guy," She reached over Skye to point at the screen, "lives right down there." Her finger pointed out the window to a road traveling away from the building.

No way was this real life. She did not just stumble into some bar to find this crazy southern lady only to find out she knew where he was. There had to be a catch.

Skye closed her laptop with a sigh, "I really appreciate it but I doubt—"

Caroline was now leaning on the bar with one arm bent propping her up and her other on her hip with a sarcastic look on her face, "Names Grant, moody as hell, personality of a fish, but as hot as a summer day in Texas?"

Well shit.

The expression on the hackers face must have told the woman all she needed to know as she lifted the arm that had been propping her up to tap the counter with her palm, "Yeap, he lives towards the end of the island."

She turned towards the window and pointed her finger at the road once more, "Pull out of the parkin' lot and make a left, and keep going 'til you can't go anywhere else and turn right." She turned back to face Skye with what looked like a genuine smile. "Tan house, blue shutters, super cute."

Was this chick some kind of stalker or something? She knew way too much about him and his house.

Caroline's eyes widened in shock before leaning over once more to place her hand on Skye's forearm, "Oh honey no!" Her laugh lightened the mood somewhat but Skye was still slightly creeped out, "I'm his neighbor! He lets my son play with his dog all the time. Come to think of it I think we might be the only ones he does talk to."

Okay, yeap, it was official. It was definitely Grant Ward they were talking about.

Skye packed her quickly packed her things back into her bag with the help of the blonde who was handing her things that had scattered across the bar. She got up to leave before realizing she hadn't paid yet.

"Oh right, the check, I—"

A hand waved in her face in dismissal, "Don't worry 'bout it sugar, this one's on the house. Just make sure to tell him I have a pie waitin' in the fridge for him."

The hacker smiled for what was probably the first time in a couple months and picked up her jacked.
"Thank you so much!"

She ran to her van and threw her bag in the passenger seat before turning the ignition. The van's tires squealed behind her as she made her way to the road the waitress had directed her too, running over the curb in her haste.

Her smile was widening with each second and she knew when she saw him the tears of happiness are going to fall off her cheeks like waterfalls.

I can't believe I actually found him.

His hands were in the pockets of his shorts and the long sleeves of his black cotton jacket had little specs of sand that had been stirred up from the ocean breeze.

Living on the island for about a year, he had come to realize that shoes were something of an unnecessary thing resulting in him using them less and less while walking on the beach. The corners of his mouth curved upwards as he continued to watch his fury friend prance around the beach chasing seagulls before he let his head drop to look at the water that had made its way up shore to his feet. Who knew that he would actually be this relaxed just by walking on a beach? He felt as if the past couldn't catch up to him here…that time was almost still.

His gaze rose back to stare down the beach ahead of him and he felt a presence somewhere around him. Looking to his side he saw another ghostly image of Skye walking by him with her head turned towards the ocean, her sundress flapping in the breeze and her hair blown all around her face.

This time, This place

These...visions...had been getting worse lately and he knew it was more than the alcohol.

Misused, Mistakes

The ghost Skye dissolved into tiny grains of sand and he suddenly felt empty again.

Too long, Too late

It's been a year. A whole freaking year. He couldn't believe he'd made her wait so long. But..was it really him who was making her wait? He'd initially blamed it on the demons that haunted him, then he threw the blame at Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. for keeping him out in the field... He'd been lying low for months though...was it possible he could have already found her?

Or was it something else.

Fear

Who was I to make you wait

His fear of her rejection made him want to run away forever in order to punish himself for all his wrongs in life. When he made that promise, it was in the heat of the moment at a very critical point in a situation that was months in the build up. In the back of Grant's mind the thought that Skye could have changed her mind in a year weighed heavily.

Just one chance

Hell, if he was her, he wouldn't forgive him either. He would give himself the time of day let alone breathe the same air as him.

Just one breath

But...if life was giving him the chance to redeem even a little bit of his soul...Shouldn't he take it? If Skye was wlling to love him...should he let her?

Just in case theres just one left

There was no doubt about the depth of his feelings for her. Skye had been, and still was, his beaco in the darkness. If he had to spend the rest of his life proving to her how much he loved her and how special she was, then so be it.

'Cause you know

He'd never let her feel alone again.

You know,

He sure as hell would't let any harm come to her ever again.

You know,

That I love you

The old van screeched to a stop in front of the house fitting the woman's description. She leaned forward on her steering wheel to look up through the windshield at the home that stood on wooden beams like the others to avoid hurricane floods.

This is it.

I have loved you all along

In her excitement she flung her door open and went to jump out of her van only to find she was still strapped to the seat by her seatbelt. Skye cursed to herself as she fought with the clasp and once it released its hold on her she took off towards the stairs leading up to the front door of the beach house without a car of who might be able to see up the white sundress she wore as it flapped in the wind.

And I miss you

She struggled to catch her breath when she reached the top and put one palm flat on the door in front of her to steady herself and brought ther up to knock quickly on the door.

Silence.

Well that was anticlimatic

Is this what happened in romance novels? Showing up on someone's doorstep to find them not home?

Been far away for far too long

She shuffled to the window beside the door and peaked inside to find all the lights turned off. Stepping back towards the railing she leaned over the railing at her waist to see if his car was even there. Something she hadn't thought of checking before running up the stairs.

I keep dreaming

There was a black Ford truck sitting underneath the house in the parking space so he couldn't be far. She jerked back up over the railing and frantically looked around her to think of options before her eyes settled on the beach behind the home.

You'll be with me and you'll never go

Running down the steps took a lot more effort than she at first figured as she narrowly avoided stumbling down the entier set before her hand used the banister at the end to swing herself around towards the back of the house where her feet hit sand.

Breathing heavily she looked around at the empty beach in front of her.

Maybe he's out jogging or something...

Stop breathing

She plopped down on the first step of the stairs that led to a deck attached to the back of the house and pulled her jean jacket tighter around her as the breeze blew through her hair.

If I don't see you anymore

He had to come back eventually.

"Come on Cap! Time to go back!"

Grant was already walking back along the beach towards his home before he heard the pitter patter of the Dobermans feet as he ran past his owner.

The ocean calmed his mind a little surer, but at the same time it brought the ache he felt from Skye's absence.

On my knees, I'll ask

Solutions to the problem of his lack of contacts were floating around in his head and he was trying to think of a way around the problem.

Maybe I should just go looking for her physically?

It had a very low success percentage, but if Coulson was right and she was looking for him, maybe they'd bump into each other? Probably not.

Last chance for one last dance

The only thing he didn't have to think hard about is what he would do when they did see each other again.

He'd hold her until she literally asked him to stop and tell her a million times over how much he loves her and all the things they're going to do together.

'Cause with you, I'd withstand

The threat of Hydra was still out there, but he was stronger now. Before Fury and Hill he had taken out an entire camp of them after all just by himself…bullet wounds aside.

All of hell to hold your hand

As long as he was with her….he'd do anything. He'd be the monster Raina mentioned.

I'd give it all, I'd give for us

Deep down though, he knew the truth.

Grant Ward wanted out. Out of the game. Out of this….life.

A chance at love was available, or so he hoped, to him and he was tired of giving up chances to make up for his sorry childhood just for other people to be satisfied.

Give anything but I won't give up

He was being selfish. That wasn't going to stop him from asking her though…Asking if she'd be willing to leave it all with him. She left the bus whether or not it was to find him was still up in the air, but maybe that was a sign that she was willing to leave too.

'Cause you know,

It hadn't really hit him as hard as it did in that moment, that this is what being in love felt like. After all the things with his family and Garrett he hadn't really known much about the feeling, always faking it for a job or mission.

But this…

That I love you

This was such a different feeling and the sheer intensity of it made him breathless as he stopped walking along the beach, allowing for the water to rush up from the tide and run over his feet.

He stared ahead of him and somewhere in the back of his mind acknowledged that his stop had aroused the suspicion of his clever canine who was padding back towards him.

That I have loved you all along

Something settled inside Grant then.

Resolve maybe?

And I miss you

He couldn't keep living like this. Pining away at ghostly images of a woman that he at one time had actually had in his arms offering him a chance only for him to run away.

I'm going to find her.

He nodded his head as if agreeing with himself on the solution. And there was more of a purpose to his steps as he began walking again towards his home that was now coming into view.

Been far away for far too long

Captain had already ran ahead as their home approached and was now only a house's length away from them and he wasn't sure if it was his imagination that made it seem like his pace had quickened.

Everything around him suddenly tuned out and all he could hear was the crash of the waves hitting the sand and his heart beating in his own ears.

I keep dreaming

The intensity of the feeling was getting stronger inside his chest and—oh god—is this how it was always going to feel? This overwhelming need to be beside that person? If so he was probably going to have to pick some hand cuffs up or something to tie her to him because he was not—

You'll be with me and you'll never go

Barking brought his attention back to the world in front of him as he craned his neck to see around one of the pillars of his neighbor's home as he approached the stairs to his own. His hand reached behind him feeling for his gun, but remembered putting it back in the drawer before they left for their walk. He strained to listen as he closed in on the sound.

It wasn't necessarily a mean bark?

He slowly rounded the corner as he leant his torso to the side to try to get a glimpse of what his protective dog was barking at.

Stop breathing

All he saw though was a mess of wavy brown hair, a jean jacket with a white dress flowing down the pair of tan legs he noticed peeking out at the bottom.

His gaze rose as the figure turned around and let out a laugh.

That laugh—

His eyes widened

If I don't see you anymore

"Grant"

With his body still frozen, he watched her put both hands down to keep his companion from jumping on her and smoothed them down her legs to get the wrinkles and sand out of her dress. She straightened back up and stared back into his eyes as the ocean breeze picked up.

So far away

He only vaguely notices that she's begun to move closer to him and his hands start to sweat but he dared not take them out of his pockets.

He swallowed thickly as she came to a stop in front of him, staring up at him with her doe eyes.

Been far away for far too long

"You okay there robot?"

Not even the old nickname snapped him out of his daze, now drawn into her toothy smile as her lips curved up.

So far away

Another bark startled them both and his hands finally left his pocket ready to act when he snapped his attention to the dog that was back out onto the beach chasing crabs that had come out since the sun had now nearly disappeared completely.

He heard another chuckled from her and turned back around to her running his eyes down her body.

Been far away for far too long

"Skye."

The hacker's smile widened, "Oh so you do remember me, huh?"

But you know,

A breathy chuckle of his own escaped him as he stepped closer to her and stilled when he realized he did so, keeping silent to wait for the rest of the lashing he deserved for leaving her, hands down by his sides.

You know,

He shook his head as he struggled to find any words to say, only to smile and look down to the space between them when he felt her palms run up his chest.

You know,

Her palms smoothed a path back down his chest and over his abs where they wrapped around his waist.

I wanted

"You took too long to come find me like you promised."

A streak of guilt and sadness went through him and sunk to the bone and his eyes closed as he bowed his head in shame.

I wanted you to stay

"So,"

His eyes snapped open and he looked up at her without completely raising his head searching her features for signs of any kind to indicate how this was going because hell if he knew

'Cause I needed

Her smile held no hostility that he could immediately see and he threw everything out the window as he ran his fingers up her sides to grip her elbows where they were bent.

"So, I came looking for you."

I need to hear you say

Forget looking for signs he was taking this opportunity, and if she shoved him off of her well then he'd know for sure.

His grip on her elbows tightened and he drew her closer, watching her eye lashes flutter closing her eyes while tilting her head to meet the angle of his mingling their breath together as time began to slow.

I love you

He brought his mouth down onto hers and he felt the goose bumps rise on her arms as he moved his mouth over hers slowly. One of his hands released her elbow in favor of burying his fingers in her hair as he cupped the back of her head to keep her lips on his.

I have loved you all along

When he felt her tongue run along his lower lip he opened his mouth granting her access as a soft moan sounded from the back of her throat.

Her hands at his back had unclasped from each other and were feeling their way around his torso. Small fingers looped around his belt loop on the side of his hip brought them flush together with a jerk as the fingers of her other hand ghosted across his abs.

And I forgive you

His hand left her elbow when he felt her fingers begin to move and he slid his hand around to her back to run his fingers down her spine causing her to tremble before he settled them on her lower back pressing gently to increase the pressure of their hips against each other.

For being away for far too long

He still couldn't believe this was happening, and a small ounce of doubt and fear that it could be another one of his vivid images floated through his mind until the small fingers that had been caressing his abs were tracing paths of fire onto his skin under his shirt before slipping under the waist band of his jeans and pull as she attempted to bring them closer still.

So keep breathing

The kiss broke as oxygen became a problem but it wasn't long before he felt her lips on the underside of his jaw leaving open mouthed kisses that heated his skin.

He held her head to his neck as he soaked up the warm feeling before tightening the grip his fingers had in her hair, gently pulling her hair to bring her head up and her lips back to his.

'Cause I'm not leaving you anymore

A groan escaped him as she removed her hand from inside his waistband to bring it up to cup his jaw as they broke apart once more, both panting due to the heat around them and lack of air.

Skye ran her thumb across the stubble on his chin as he let a goofy grin appear on his lips eliciting one of her own.

Believe it

"Skye."

Hold on to me and, never let me go

Closing his eyes, he shook his head at the thought of what he was trying to say.

"Never again."

Keep breathing

The confusion and hurt on her face caused him to panic and he tightened his hold on her to keep her from pushing away.

"Grant, I—"

'Cause I'm not leaving you anymore

"No," Her wide eyes traveled back up to meet his and he could see the same look he saw a year ago when he left her.

Sadness. Hope. Love.

"No, Skye," Both of his hands cupped her face, "I'm never letting you go again. I'm so sorry I—"

Believe it

Her lips cut him off briefly before she pulled away again, "Shut up Grant."

Happiness finally filled the void in him and bringing both hands to hold her right under her ribcage, he lifted her up above him laughing when he heard her squeal.

He felt her feet rest against his thighs as her legs rested on his torso. Her hands cupped his neck on both sides with her hair falling in a curtain around them as she smiled down at him and Grant swore looking up at her, that the world stopped.

She was here. They were finally together. They could finally stay together.

His gaze flitted from her eyes down to her lips, and back up to her eyes giving her a sexy smile before he pressed his lips to hers once more.

Hold on to me and, never let me go.

AN: Holy poop that took forever. Hope you guys liked it! I'm not done though there's a scene after this that kind of wraps everything up and *cough* let them get to know each other again *cough*

ALSO, if any of you are thinking that I stereotyped the hell out of that waitress, save your breath. I go to that beach every year. There is a waitress there who acts EXACTLY like that. Her name is not Caroline but that chick has been there every year I go down there and she's hilarious.

So just don't.

REVIEW PLEASE