"A gorgeous head." Skye is nearly hysterical. "Oh my God, Jem, I still can't believe you said that."

Jemma's blush is so bright it could light up the plane in the middle of the night, but the corners of her lips twitch. "I'm so glad that you take so much pleasure from my ridiculous excuse for flirting."

Skye giggles. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. But telling him you like men that are your height but heavier than you?"

Jemma rolls her eyes good-naturedly. "Ha ha."

They've been doing this more nights than not. When neither of them has anything pressing to work on, they sort of gravitate towards each other. After the night spent curled up in Jemma's bed, both kind of drunk, they've started spending most of their free time together like this, quiet and alone.

Skye's laughter dies down and she leans back against Jemma's bed. She's seated on the floor, and Jemma is sprawled out across the bed upside down, so their heads are side by side. "It's not like it really matters. You're so smart you've probably never had to flirt to get something you wanted."

Jemma turns her head, and from this angle she can watch Skye's profile. She finds that Skye is stunning from every angle. "I take it that means that you have?"

Skye smirks. "Flirting can get you all kinds of things."

"You should teach me some time," Jemma suddenly blurts, and she can feel her face burning again.

Skye's smirk widens and she turns so she's facing Simmons sitting Indian style on the floor before her. Suddenly her smile turns coy and she reaches her hand out to rest it over Jemma's wrist. "Everyone knows you're a genius. But it makes me wonder when the last time was that someone told you how beautiful you are."

A bashful smile breaks out over Jemma's face and her heart starts to hammer wildly in her chest when the pads of Skye's fingers smooth over the back of her hand. "Very funny."

"I mean it," Skye breathes softly as scoots closer. She drops her elbow to the bed and her head to her hand, bringing their faces much closer together. She smiles softly as her eyes skate over Jemma's features, slowly taking her in. "You have just a hint of a dimple, and your eyes crinkle in this really adorable way when you smile. Plus you have really beautiful eyes."

Jemma stares back at her. "I think you might have the most beautiful smile I've ever seen."

Skye springs upright, clapping her hands, a grin on her face. "That was perfect."

Jemma's face suddenly crumbles. "Thanks. I need to…" And suddenly she's up and out of her bunk before Skye can even process what the hell happened.

XX

Jemma ignores her for days. And it's kind of the worst thing ever. Because Jemma Simmons is pretty much the best thing to Skye since sliced bread. And because she could really use someone to talk to about everything Coulson told her about her past. To add insult to injury, most of the team is not very happy with her because they can tell that Jemma is hurt and somehow know Skye is the one to blame.

She just wishes someone would tell her what the hell she did wrong.

She tries several times to speak to Jemma over the first few days, but she is having none of it, and whatever Skye did, Jemma obviously told Fitz, because he glares at her every chance he gets.

"I can't believe you would do that to her," he hisses when Skye enters the lab one morning looking for the girl in question and he's there alone.

"What did I do, Fitz?" she asks, throwing her hands in the air. "She refuses to even tell me!"

"If you can't figure it out, I'm certainly not going to tell you," he grumbles before turning his back to her so he can continue whatever it is he's working on.

Of course, the nights are much worse than the days. During the day the team is usually distracted by a mission of some sort, and she can always count on Ward to put her through the wringer with training to take her mind off why Jemma isn't speaking to her. Even though she can sense even he seems to be disappointed in her for the fight (though calling it a fight would insinuate that it was a lot less one-sided than it was) she's having with Simmons.

Sometimes at night, Skye wanders the plane, hoping she might catch sight of Jemma, but Jemma's door is shut tightly every time she sneaks a peek at it. Sometimes she goes to the cockpit and slumps down in the seat next to May, because if there's one thing she can count on, it's that May won't give her any shit (mostly because that would involve actually talking to her) about the Skimmons weirdness that seems to be affecting the team just a little too much.

But Coulson takes it a step further and actually sits her down in his office.

"This is why I don't like team members getting involved," he tells her.

"We're not…involved," Skye replies, her brow scrunching up, mostly because she has no idea what they are. She really wishes she did.

"Maybe not yet," he says. "But you two are more than just friends. And you're both the heart of this team, so if it affects the team negatively in any way, I'll make sure that bracelet never comes off. Are we clear?"

"Yes, sir," she sighs, slumping in her chair.

He studies her for a moment. "You should just apologize."

Skye rolls her eyes dramatically. "If I knew what I was apologizing for, I would."

Coulson smirks. "Welcome to relationships, where sometimes you have to say you're sorry just so someone does."

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard," Skye tells him.

He smiles. "You'll see."

XX

Skye thinks over Coulson's words as she lies awake that night. She realizes how his advice is completely ridiculous, but at this point she's willing to do just about anything to make things right, so she slings off her blankets and climbs out of bed, noting that it's just after midnight.

Skye takes a moment to collect herself before she makes her way into the lab. Fitz glares the moment he sees her.

"Hey, guys," Skye greets, her eyes only on Jemma.

Jemma spares her a quick glance before going back to whatever she's looking at under the microscope.

"Right." Skye sighs. She pushes on before she loses her nerve. "Fitz, can you give us a minute please?"

Fitz's eyes cut to Jemma, like he's waiting for her okay. Jemma hesitates for a moment before she nods.

"I'm sorry, okay?" Skye blurts out the moment they're alone.

Jemma turns to her, hurt etched over her pretty features and she crosses her arms over her chest. "Why?"

"Why?" Skye repeats.

"Yes. Why?" Jemma asks again. She studies Skye for a moment. "Why are you sorry?"

"I don't know," Skye sighs, her frustration suddenly bleeding into her tone. She throws her hands up and slaps them against her sides. "I have no idea what I did to make you so mad, but I do know that I miss you and I hate that I hurt you, even though I don't know how I did it. So I guess I'm sorry for that too. For being too stupid to figure it out."

Suddenly Jemma finds herself getting angry. She thinks it's completely unfair that Skye is acting hurt after the way she made her feel. "Do you have any idea how foolish I felt when I realized you only said those things because you were teaching me to flirt, and not because you actually meant them?" She clamps her eyes shut and turns her back on Skye.

Suddenly it dawns on Skye exactly why her best (maybe more than?) friend has been shutting her out for days. She can feel her heart aching. "Jem, just because I was teaching you doesn't mean I didn't mean every word I said." She notices Jemma's shoulders slump and she takes a step towards her. "You're brilliant, and sweet, and you do have really beautiful eyes, and a beautiful smile, but you also have a really beautiful soul. And…sometimes it feels like your soul…speaks to mine. And I mean that. All of it."

Jemma can feel her heart flutter, because that may be the most romantic thing she's ever heard. She turns to face Skye. "You meant it when you said it before?"

"Sweetie, every word," Skye answers without hesitation. She steps closer, lifting her hand to Jemma's face, pressing a palm to her cheek. She smiles when she feels Jemma lean into her touch and she steps forward. "I've really missed you."

Jemma nods. "Me too."

"Can you forgive me?" Skye whispers as she leans into Jemma's space to rest their foreheads together gently. "Please?"

There's a slight twitch at the corners of Jemma's mouth. "Maybe."

Skye can't help the smile tugging at her lips. "Tell me what I can do to make it up to you."

"You can kiss me for starters," Jemma tells her, her eyes twinkling with mirth suddenly.

Skye grins and leans forward to press their lips together. Her hand tangles in Jemma's hair until her fingers press gently at the nape of her neck, wanting to keep her close.

Jemma slides her hands around Skye's middle, pulling their bodies closer, loving the way the two of them fit so comfortably together.

When they part, Skye's eyes remain closed for a moment, like she is savoring every moment of closeness they just shared, and she pulls Jemma into her arms, hugging her tightly.

"Mmm," Jemma hums softly as she presses her face into the crook of Skye's neck, breathing her in. "I missed you."

Skye smiles, her relief mingling with her tiredness from wandering the plane mindlessly for days, making her feel heavy and happy, like she never wants to move from this spot. She turns her head enough to press her lips to Jemma's temple. "I missed you too. Do me a favor though?" Jemma simply nods, leaning in close. "Next time I do something stupid, just tell me. We both know I will, as much as I'll try not to." This earns a sleepy giggle from the girl next to her. "Please?"

"I promise," Jemma tells her. She hums contently and pulls away enough to look up at Skye through her lashes. She takes a moment and lets her eyes drift over the soft contours of Skye's face, smiling softly up at her. "You're beautiful." This makes Skye's face break out into a soft smile. "And brilliant. I hope you know I love your brain as much as your body."

Jemma Simmons," Skye breathes softly, angling her face so their lips are a breath apart. "Are you flirting with me?"

A hint of a blush spreads over Jemma's cheeks, but before she can respond, Skye's lips cover her own and they're suddenly trapped in a slow burning kiss.

"That depends," Jemma sighs softly once her lips are released.

"On?" Skye wonders softly, reaching up to carefully tuck a stray strand of ponytail behind her ear.

"How well you think I'm doing," Jemma replies, leaning in to kiss Skye once more.

"Mmm," Skye hums into her lips. "How cares how you flirt when you kiss like that? But for the record, I was totally flattered."

Jemma smiles playfully and sighs, feeling fatigue pulling at her suddenly. "Should we try to get some sleep?"

Skye agrees, and grabs her hand to pull her towards the bunks, and once they arrive, Jemma decides on Skye's bunk immediately. They both change into worn tee shirts and crawl into bed, and Skye grins when Jemma presses her face into the pillow cradling her head.

"You smell so good, I've missed it," Jemma confesses softly, looking only mildly embarrassed by the confession.

Skye laughs and pulls her close. "How sad are we that we can't go two days without being like this?"

"It's not sad," Jemma denies right away. "It's nice."

Skye smiles and leans in close to kiss her. "It is."

Skye sighs happily when the warmth of Jemma's body wraps around her, knowing this probably won't be the last time they argue, but she only hopes that if they do they're able to work things out and end up like this. Happy and together.