Darling We Found Wonderland
Daisy wakes with a jolt from a nightmare she can't recall. Her fingers automatically glide through the sheets for Ward. He's not there. She'd be lying if she said that still didn't scare her, makes her think that this entire time has been a dream and he's still dead. Logically she knows he's probably in the bathroom or getting water, but she has to see him, feel him. It's the only way she'll calm down and make the house stop shaking. Buddy's head raises up from the edge of Ward's side of the bed, he crawls across the quilt and licks her face. ''Where's your Dad?'' In a flash he jumps off the bed and barks at her. The search for him is on.
They find him in front of the fire place, fingers out, starting and ending a fire inside fresh logs. He does this when he can't sleep, usually from a nightmare. They are both still haunted by all the horrors in their lives. Daisy closes her eyes and absorbs the moment, he's alive he's safe he's okay. ''Can't sleep?'' ''No''. He doesn't turn around, the flames grow higher into the chimney, winter has no life here. ''Me either''. She sits on the couch behind him and curls up with Buddy and a throw blanket, waiting patiently for Ward to join her. He always does.
It takes ten more minutes for him to slide in behind her, strong arms holding her to his chest. ''Nightmare?'' He asks, lips ghosting over her hair. ''Can't remember what it was. What about you?'' He hesitates, clears his throat. ''Garrett found us''. She shifts to plant a kiss on his bare shoulder. ''You know that's impossible''. ''I know''. ''What happened?'' ''He killed you and made me watch, I couldn't save you Skye''. She once heard that time heals all wounds and it has with Ward, for the most part. But Garrett is still a real struggle for him, and without Dr. Garner to talk to, it's not getting any better. Daisy has tried to suggest a therapist, but all of her attempts are met with a frown.
''Garrett isn't going to hurt me''. She also thinks now that Grant is out of Shield and Hydra, he doesn't have anything to occupy is mind. No triggers to pull, people to torture, threats to neutralize. He has time now to think about Garrett, Kara, his family, whatever else keeps him up at night. She thought being kept in Vault D for six months exorcised his demons, his time at Hydra keeping them silent and at bay. But it seems to her he's taken a huge step back, and she feels responsible for it. Daisy told him a few months after they bought the house that they can go back to Shield whenever he wants. His response? He'll only go back because of her.
''I know, it was only a dream''. ''Exactly, it wasn't real''. They stay like that for a few minutes longer, watching the lights dance around the shadows of the living room. Buddy is snoring at Daisy's ankles and Ward is beginning to doze off. ''Let's go back to bed''. He nods and picks her up, her protest ignored. Ward lays her down on the mattress and takes her in his arms and soon as he gets under the cover. She is still his anchor and he is still hers. Everything may have changed, but this hasn't and never will. ''I love you, more than anything''. She tells him, and feels his smile on her neck.
''Popeye seriously, I think you're mentally unwell''. It's Friday night and she's just gotten home, to find her boyfriend and Kebo in hunting gear. Kebo is holding a deer carcass that looks like it's been mauled to death with a hammer. Daisy is convinced that's the weapon he used. ''I am not eating that''. ''Come on Skye it's good''. ''No''. ''You're such a city girl Quake''. ''I am not eating something you just killed in my backyard!'' She shakes the snow from her boots off and walks inside, Buddy running in behind her. ''Just try it for me''. ''Give my half to Buddy, I'm not putting that in my mouth Popeye. I'm getting pizza''. Ward takes off her coat and hat.
''You're going to drive an hour into the city you just came back from to get pizza?'' ''Yup''. He rolls his eyes. ''I'll make it for you here. Extra pepperoni?'' She smiles up at him, ''you know me''. ''Ugh you two make me sick, I'm going to throw up''. ''Throw up on Bambi so no one else can enjoy it''. An hour later Daisy is eating the last slice of pizza while her boys are roasting the deer over an open fire. Kebo keeps complaning how hungry he is, so Ward and Daisy have been using their powers to mess with him. Daisy pushes him dangerously close to the flames and Ward sends out sparks barely missing his face. After the tenth time, he still almost pees himself.
She's in Ward's lap on a lawn chair, blankets covering them both, her hands in the pockets of his sweater. Has she mentioned how adorable Ward looks in a sweater? Because he does. ''How was work?'' ''Coulson never made me get him coffee or his lunch. My boss is an ass''. ''We could always kill him for you''. ''We don't kill people anymore Kebo''. ''Just saying, it's an option''. ''Anyway it was fine, same as always. What did you two do today, besides kill your dinner like savages?'' ''Well you know the Director was in the gym most of the day''. Kebo still has a hard time letting go of Ward no longer being a head of Hydra.
Grant also works out like a mad man, he's in the gym for the better part of the day. Not that she's complaning, Daisy tries to exercise on the weekends. Taking hikes or using the gym, Ward still acts like her SO so she doesn't get off that easy. ''Repaired the fence, it went out early this morning''. They have an electrical fence where their lands ends, keeps animals and people out. ''Just quit your job Daisy, not like you need it. Then you can hang out with us all day''. ''Popeye I don't want to hang out with you all day. And I can't, I need it''. She feels Ward's warm hands slide underneath her shirt.
There's guilt that lingers in her chest. For leaving Coulson, Joey and Mack. But they weren't a Team anymore, hadn't been for a long time. Perhaps since before Ward turned out to be Hydra, maybe he damaged them forever, he's a missing piece they'll never get back or replace. ''Just saying, if I didn't have to work all day I woludn't''. ''That's because you're lazy''. He takes a huge bite and winks at her, ''this is true''. Animal. The phone inside suddenly rings, making her jump. Daisy freezes and looks at Kebo, for some reason it makes her think of the first time Coulson found her. It's a good possibility he's on the other line.
*
It's been three months since she left Shield, a month since she left Ward. Daisy is feeling hollow in this coffee shop, hands shaking and painful, longing for her other half. He's an idiot and may piss her off constantly, but she loves him. Always has. Her back is to the door if Ward was here he'd reprimand her for it. So she doesn't see the man in a suit walk in, only notices when it's too late. ''Why New York?'' Is the first thing Coulson asks as he takes a seat. ''Why not? I've never been''. ''I hate it here''. ''That's only because you died''. ''True''. Daisy puts down her mug and tenses up. Coulson doesn't comment.
''What can I do for you?'' ''Just wondering how long you're going to be gone''. ''I asked you the last time we spoke to give me time''. ''And I have, but I need to know how long this will last''. ''I don't know, you didn't check on May when she went on vacation''. ''That's because I believed she'd come back''. ''You don't think I'll come back?'' ''I don't know''. His eyes roam over the shop, she notices his hand go to his hip frequently. ''He's not here''. ''Why not? Thought Ward followed you around like an obedient puppy?''
There's a sudden pain to her abdomen and she claws at her shirt like that will make it go away. ''Daisy are you alright?'' ''Fine. Look Ward isn't here, we ended things a while ago''. ''I'm sorry to hear that''. ''No you're not''. ''I am, you're clearly in pain, I don't want to see you unhappy''. She sighs. ''DC I'll come back to Shield when I'm ready okay? I promise I'll come back. But until then I need room to breathe''. He nods. ''We miss you''. She gets up from her chair. ''Miss you guys too, tell Mack hi, and Fitzsimmons''. ''I will''. ''Please don't look for me again''. She leaves the shop and doesn't turn back.
*
It feels like an eternity that Ward is on the phone. She realizes after a beat it's not Coulson threatning to destroy this happy piece of life she's found. It's Thomas Ward, who calls once every few months. He's the only one in the world besides her and Kebo, who has Ward's number. After Coulson took Thomas she knew Ward would never forgive Shield, she doesn't blame him. It took a long time for Grant to even reach out to his younger brother, even longer for Thomas to show up and face Grant. He can thank Daisy for the meeting in Texas, she's the one who tracked Thomas down and convinced him to talk to Ward. But Grant doesn't know that.
''How's Thomas?'' He returns to her side, she lightly runs her fingers through his beard. ''He's good, wants to meet again''. ''When?'' ''Next month, he's coming into town for business''. ''That'll be fun, you just have to make sure Kebo isn't around, he'll get jealous again''. Kebo neither confirms nor denies Daisy's statement. ''Thomas asked if you could come to''. ''Really? That's nice but I don't want to intrude on your time together''. ''I want you there''. Ward threads his fingers through hers. ''Then I will be''. He kisses her and Buddy jumps in between them.
''What would you say to getting another dog?'' Daisy pokes her head out of the bathroom, tooth brush hanging out of her mouth. ''Why?'' Ward is leaning against the window, a glass of bourbon in his hand. ''Just wondering''. ''Grant do you want another dog?'' His sheepish grin makes a rush of warmth swirl in her chest. ''Only if you're okay with it''. ''I'm okay with it''. The boyish smile he gives her makes him look so young and care free, she falls in love with him all over again. She gets into bed a few minutes later and he follows suit, happy as ever. ''I want a small one this time, can we get a minature dachshund?'' His joy is contagious and she finds herself smiling with him.
They spend until dawn on the internet looking up the best place to find a minature dachshund, researching ever little piece of information on how to take care of one. Daisy is yawning and rubbing her eyes when Ward finally spots one he likes. ''That one''. His finger is pointing at a small brown dachshund, a puppy at a local animal shelter in town. ''She's so cute! Can we go get her tomorrow?'' He laughs, ''whatever you want''. Daisy pulls the covers off of Buddy and grins, ''Buddy you're getting a little sister!''
When Daisy is falling asleep in Ward's arms she hears him whisper, ''Buddy you have to be nice to your new sister or Mommy is going to be very upset. She might kick both of us out''. If Ward feels her laughter beneath him, he doesn't show it. Maybe one day they'll have babies of their very own and Ward can be telling her son this very same thing. She falls asleep dreaming of a little boy with Grant's dark hair and her eyes. This is where she belongs now, she decides. Not with Shield or Inhumans, but here. Right here with the man she loves and the promise of having his children in the future. This is her life. And no one is taking this new found perfect slice from her.