Ivy here.

I teleported to the hospital, into the corridors.

It took a little bit to find Ryan's room, but I found it at last.

He stared at me dully as I walked in. "Who are you?" His voice was slurred. He had been propped up on white pillows. There was a tube up his nose and several needles in his arms.

"Don't you remember me?" I sat down by the bed. I was responsible for this. For everything. What a mess.

"No. I'd remember you." My brother smirked.

Seriously? I pulled off the hat. "Are you sure you don't remember me?"

His eyes fell on Phillip. "Yeah, I'd definitely remember you."

I wrapped the blanket around my son a bit more, then pulled off the wig, tucking it into the hat.

"Ivy?" He didn't seem overly surprised. "I'm definitely sleeping. You're dead."

I couldn't tell him. In Director Coulson's office, it had been one thing. Here, it was another. I was brave, sometimes – but I wasn't brave enough for this. "Suppose I am dead." To him.

"What's with the baby? Oh, right, that guy said you were pregnant when you got yourself killed. You'd be alive if you'd come in. Why didn't you come in?"

"You threw me into the street. With the garbage cans. But I forgive you. I've forgiven too much from other people to not forgive you now."

"Isn't that sweet. You know, I almost regret throwing you out like that. I wish I could."

That was better than I'd expected from him. "I'm sorry I did this too you."

"You should be. But what's done is done. And you're dead. What's Heaven like?"

"It's... Heaven."

"Say hi to Mom and Dad for me, when you go back."

"I'm not going yet."

"My guardian angel or something?"

"You know me. I'm like a guard dog. I'm protective because it's embedded inside me, it's a part of my personality." A part of my personality which had served me well and badly at various times of my life.

"Yeah. Don't know what we kept Bucky around for when we had you and your karate black belt."

"How is Bucky?"

"We gave him to that girl, what's her name... Miranda. She insisted on it, and we certainly didn't want him anymore. I think she and that... what's his name, that actor guy, share him or something."

Edward. Of course. I should thank him when I saw him next. That dog had been the only friend I didn't worry about constantly over the last few years. My human friends tended to get into trouble. My German Shepard friend... he could take care of himself, and me.

"You know, sometimes I wish you'd have come back when I threw you out. I think... I don't know. If you had, I think I would have let you back in."

My heart broke.

"Miss?"

I stood up, spinning around, blinking the tears from my eyes that were threatening to flow.

It was a nurse.

"I'm sorry, but you can't be in here."

"I'm a relative."

"I'm sorry, that still doesn't –"

"What? Ivy?" said Ryan.

"I'll be going now, I'm sorry." I left quickly, stepping outside and teleporting back.

I found myself in a deserted corridor.

I sat down and sobbed.

Ariel here.

Skye brought me to Director Coulson's office.

"Sit down," he said.

I sank down into the chair.

My gaze went to my hands in my lap and I started relating the story, slowly, ending with what had happened with Ward.

"Why did Ward help you?" asked Director Coulson.

"I'm not traveling between universes any more. Your guess is probably better than mine. I know nothing about what will happen or about his possible motivations. My personal guess is that he's trying to get back on Skye's good side."

"Probably."

"What happens now?" I was seventeen – my birthday was in three weeks, and I had family to go to. At least I wouldn't have to worry about any of that stuff.

"For the moment, we're trying to find an alien city."

That sounded like something headed for disaster. The last episode I'd seen had been "Face my Enemy", with the freaky May clone. Yes, I skipped all the wall carving stuff. I also haven't seen any of the Avengers 2 trailers. So I'm clueless on that.

Ivy here.

I took several deep breaths and rubbed the traces of my lapse in control.

I pressed my watch again and reappeared in the lab.

Agent Simmons jumped and let out a startled yell.

"Just me, Agent Simmons."

"Don't do that! You could give someone a heart attack!"

"Sorry. Didn't think of that."

She took a step back from the microscope. "So, this is your son."

"Yes. Phillip."

"He's premature."

"I grabbed onto an Infinity Stone – don't ask – and as it turns out, it's not very good for your health. It's a wonder they survived."

"They?"

I swallowed. "There was twins. Phillip is the younger one. The older one... Natalia. She went missing from the hospital room."

"I'm sorry."

"I have reason to believe she might be in the area. Near here. Somehow, HYDRA was involved. I was looking for her here."

"Does Director Coulson know?"

I shook my head. "Now isn't the time to bring it up with him. Please don't say anything – I will when he's not so busy." Besides, he might tell Mack or Agent Morse. For now, I don't trust anyone in anything S.H.I.E.L.D.-like except for the remaining members of the original team.

"I won't."

At that moment, Ariel entered the room. "Hello, Agent Simmons."

Her eyes settled on me for a moment. They were big, brown eyes – ones that I'd always found to be expressive of how she was feeling. As an actress, she could pretend one thing, but when she was offstage, her eyes always betrayed how she felt. Now, all I saw was dull shock and despair.

I extended a hand. "Hello, I'm Irene Ward. I'm something of a consultant for S.H.I.E.L.D."

"Hello. I'm Ariel Dalton."

"I know. I'm a fan of yours. I was at your Christmas concert – that one where you did that Doll Aria song. That was beautiful." I had made a special trip to the States just to see it, and I had not been disappointed.

The corner of her mouth quirked up. "Thanks. What do you do, consulting for S.H.I.E.L.D.? Or am I not allowed to know?"

"Oh, you can know. I'm their fortune teller."

Ariel stared at me blankly.

"I can see the future. And when I see something important in the future, I sell it for money."

She continued staring at me blankly. She squinted at me for a moment. "You look... familiar. I must have seen you at that concert."

She wouldn't have. I'd stayed at the back and worn a different wig and makeup. She hadn't come within fifty feet of me at any time, even when she walked out into the audience – she does that sometimes. She even did that thing where you call a random audience member up and sing a duet. The girl she picked actually had a pretty decent voice, though she was so quiet I could barely hear her.

"Ariel," said Agent Simmons, and began to distract her from me.

I made a quick exit.

I eventually found a spot for me and Phillip – down where I'd woken up, in front of Ward's cell. Ward's former cell, rather.

I'd had bad days. This one took the prize for worst day ever.

A door opened and footsteps sounded on the stairs. "Ivy?"

It was Director Coulson.

I got up from the chair.

"We're all heading out, to find the city – I assume you know which one I'm talking about?"

I nodded. The Inhumans City. "You know, a few years ago, something like this would have excited me. And now I just want everything to stop. Oh, don't worry, I'm not going to try another stunt like I did after Skye got hurt. I've got this little guy to take care of, and I have to find his sister. I was so different then, though."

"Would you go back and change things, if you could?"

"I actually could, since I know a time traveler. I even asked him once if he'd let me. But that's not how life works. You move forward and you don't change the past, no matter how much you want to."

"Good for you."

"Thanks. Still, I wouldn't going back for a day, before all this happened. Being me again. Fifteen, not worrying, no guilt. And having my parents..." And then, to my horror, I realized I was crying. I rubbed them away quickly. "I'm sorry."

I walked quickly back up the stairs and right into Ariel.

"Sorry," she mumbled.

"No, my fault, I should pay better attention."

She stared up at me for a moment. "I know this might sound really odd, but have you ever heard of someone named Ivy Williams? It's just that..."

"She's an associate of the Doctor, right? I've met her."

"Thought so. You heard what happened?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I did. News like that travels."

"I shouldn't say this, but I'm almost kind of glad that she avoided what happened. My parents and her parents... it would have been too much for her."

It was too much. If only she could know.

I turned away slightly so Ariel wouldn't see my face – masking emotion isn't something I'm good at. "Yeah, it would be. I'm sorry for your loss."

I'd never seen Ariel look so pained before.

"Ariel, you'll be on the Bus with some of the other agents."

I debated the wisdom of that for the moment – yes, she'd probably be safe. They would keep her in the back when Ward showed up.

"And you too, Irene."

Brilliant. Well, just stay in the back when Ward showed up. And injure him if he got too close.

"Director Coulson!" I exclaimed. "I'm sorry, I've just forgotten something. May I speak to you for a moment?"

He nodded.

We walked around the corner. "Director, Raina cannot know either of us are here. It could... put us into a lot of danger. It's complicated. Is there any way we can..."

"Yes, of course. I'll have Agent May make sure she doesn't see either of you. But about when you get off?"

"I can worry about that."

He handed us off to Agent May.

Skye distracted Raina while we were taken onto the Bus and into a back area.

"I'll come and get you when we land."

"Thank you," said Ariel.

And then followed one of the most... interesting moments of my life. In a room with someone who thought I was dead, and no way to leave without causing suspicion.

"What's the baby's name?" asked Ariel after a little while.

"Phillip."

"Can I hold him please?"

I handed Phillip over.

She stared down at Phillip. He wasn't very old, but he definitely looked like his father.

Ariel began to sing, very softly, probably unconsciously, a sweet little lullaby. I was used to hearing her sing arias and more classical music – complex songs made to impress. This was a song of a whole other sort, something simple, and just as beautiful.

Phillip stared up at her, used to hearing my attempts at singing. I'm not bad, but I'm not very good either. He gradually went to sleep.

Then there was a jolt.

Ariel jumped up.

I stood up too, taking Phillip.

Ariel ran out the door.

I groaned and ran after her. "Ariel, stop, you can't go out there!"

She didn't listen – she never listens to me. Being dead didn't change much.

And of course, she ran right up into Raina. Literally, she collided with her.

Raina's eyes widened. She stared at her for a moment, then at Skye. "Is this who I think it is? Ariel Dalton?"

I stepped behind a door and stifled a groan.

Footsteps. "Ariel, what are you doing here –"

"What was that?"

"I'm a huge fan," said Raina.

Silence for a moment.

"You really can't be here," said Agent May.

Too late now.