Disclaimer: I do not own Skye, Phil Coulson, Melinda May, Grant Ward, or FitzSimmons. I only own the variation I have created off of this very popular idea.
I firstly must thank Neeeeeal who, as the author of Turn Back Time, has done such a very interesting and lovely job on their story I wanted to give my attempt of it a go.
However, because I cannot find B.J. Britt's wiki page or his age, I'm going with Ward. But that's not the only reason. It's because with the Hydra plot, I see no room or logical way for this story to make sense. So... It's AUish. Ward isn't hydra. Yay! Because I really did love Ward.
Warning, MAY include Avengers. I upped the rating for my own comfort.
Maria was surprised by how much the children ate. They averaged to two bowls of white cheddar mac per child and four helping of the fruits and veggies each. Of course, the kids were also exhausted and hungry from Chuck E. Cheese's.
Speaking of Chuck E. Cheese's, while Steve packed up the leftovers and cleaned the dishes, the kids dragged Maria into the other room so they can show her all the stuff they got.
"Auntie Maria look at the cool disco ball we got with our tickets!" Skye smiles pointing to it. They had begged Tony to set it up before he left, grabbing his ankles and begging.
"Look Auntie Maria!" Jemma smiles holding up a bear that was taller than herself, hugging it. It wore a bright pink hoodie, and Jemma hugged it tightly. Leo simply bounced on his heels, showing the model rocket toy he picked while Skye grabbed the box of a Barbie. Grant held up a plastic bat, smiling excitedly as he practiced swinging it. Maria simply sat there, trying to take it all in.
"How did you get all of this stuff?" Maria asked, remembering Agents with children in the family mention the average amount of tickets kids actually get. And it wasn't enough to get all of this.
"We got lots of tickets!" Leo smiles, "From Deal or No Deal."
Maria blinked, nodding along as Steve entered from the kitchen. Steve ran a hand through his hair, taking a seat on the couch. Immediately, all eyes had turned from Maria to the super soldier, the kids looked expectantly at him, waiting for him to say something. It was clear, that if Steve choked up now and became a wall flower, that the children would simply ignore their authority.
The super soldier rubbed his chin, thinking as he watched their little faces. For a moment, boredom flickers along their faces and they start to stand. But the super soldier's lightbulb went off and he smirked, "I know... Who wants to play cowboys?"
The boys perked up, while Jemma and Skye looked at each other not as amused. Of course, Steve picked up on this quickly, "And bandits? And beautiful Native Americans like in Peter Pan."
Jemma and Skye looked at one another, whispering quietly to one another. Then, turning to look at Clint they nod, "Ok. We're in."
"Good, Maria and I are the bandits," Steve smirked, getting to his feet and dragged Maria after him. Maria looked at Steve confused, but kept her mouth shut.
Maria was really glad that SHIELD didn't have a security team watching them from a secure base somewhere, because she could only imagine the humiliating laughter she'd receive if people saw her running through the upstair hallway with Skye and Grant chasing her.
Grant smiled, holding a nerd gun as he chased her, with Skye behind him pretending to draw a bow and arrow. Maria felt a suction cupped dart stick itself to her right calf and dramatically fell in a heap, letting the two surround her. Jemma's giant bear from Chuck E. Cheese's fell next to her, Skye giggling.
"We caught her! We caught her!" Skye smiled and looked at Grant excitedly, snatching back the bear and pointing the nerf blaster to Maria's forehead.
"Auntie Maria, you're under arrest for stealing Jemma's bear," Grant says, tilting his hat as he moved the toy gun to his pocket.
"You'll never take me alive!" Maria says, oh how thankful she was that it was only the children, Steve, and herself.
"What makes you say that?" Grant asked, before turning when he hears Leo and Jemma's high pitched battle cries.
Stumbling towards them was Steve, the super soldier carrying both Jemma and Leo on his backs, holding Skye's new Barbie close to his chest. He looked at Maria and struggled to get over to her, but Grant held his need gun and shot Steve right in the chest. Steve looked down, falling onto his knees dramatically, mindful of the children before he gently fell onto his face, playing dead. Jemma and Leo quietly got off, being very careful with maneuvering around Steve. They turned back towards where Maria was, only to see that the remaining bandit had fled the scene to hide in one of the bedrooms.
"Uncle Steve, your girlfriend just ditched your dead body," Skye says, "You need to get a new one."
Steve was extremely thankful that no one could see his face turn scarlet. He bit his tongue, unsure what he could say that would prove he and Maria weren't dating or in love. The children smile, before going off in search for Maria, Jemma patting his blonde hair as she runs off.
Skye sat stubbornly on the bed, arms crossed defiantly as she stared at Maria. Jemma was curled up under the blanket, eyes half closed while Maria stood before Skye hands on her hips.
"Skye... Its time to go to sleep."
"No!" The four year old stood, jumping a bit on her bed to emphasis her defiance, "Not tired not tired not tired!"
"Skye," Maria gently held her shoulders, "Skye, just because you don't want to bed doesn't mean you have to keep Jemma up. Jemma is tired, she wants to go to sleep like Leo and Grant."
Skye pouts, "But I don't want to go to bed yet, can't I hang out with you and Uncle Steve, and wait for Uncle Bruce to come home." Unfortunately, Bruce would most likely not be home till tomorrow, and Maria wanted to talk to Steve in private, on SHIELD related matters.
"Uncle Bruce is either gonna come home really late or come home tomorrow," Maria was met with a pout from Skye before brushing the girls hair back with her fingers.
"Skye, it's time for bed," Maria says, forcing the child to lie down and snuggle up under the covers, "It's time to sleep."
Skye shakes her head, "No no no."
"Skye, it's time to sleep. Otherwise, if you don't, you won't get Auntie Maria's special pancakes." Skye blinked and quietly nods, readjusting her position.
"Good girl, good night," Maria whispers, going to the door and turning out the light, "Good night girls."
"Good night Auntie Maria..." Came two mumbled replies as Maria closed the door. Standing across the hall was a smiling Steve who more likely than not had an easier time with the boys. Of course, what Steve said next totally went unexpected.
"How come Spider-man's a nightlight and I'm not?"
Like it? Hate it? I think Steve had a golden idea with that game. Definitely tired the children out. :)