Home Is Wherever I'm With You
Daisy stares at the screen, hands shaking. Tears on her face, strong relief spreading through her. "Everything looks fine Daisy, would you like to hear the heartbeat?" Simmons asks, offering a gentle smile. Coulson and the rest of the Team arrived at the Playground half an hour ago, Daisy would have gone to see Simmons sooner, but Grant had been clinging to her since they woke up that morning. She managed somehow to give him the slip, knowing in her gut she needs to tell him about the baby. He needs to know. She's a terrible person for not telling him. Simmons was of course in shock when Daisy ran into the lab like she was on fire, told her in hushed tones that she needed a sonogram. "And Ward is the father?" "Of course he's the father Jemma".
"Why isn't Ward with you?" Daisy told her mother last week that she didn't want the sonogram without Grant, but considering the fact he's the one that knocked her out, she didn't have much choice. "He doesn't know". Simmons puts away her equipment and frowns. "Why haven't you told him?" Daisy has been wondering that as well. Every time she comes close her throat closes up, hands clench, a cold sweat breaks over her forehead. "I don't know". Grant has obviously noticed her discomfort but doesn't comment, trusting her to tell him whatever it is when she's ready. Will she ever be ready for this? "Simmons I'm scared".
Her friend puts a comforting hand on her shoulder. "There's nothing to worry about Daisy, you and the baby will be just fine". "What if he's Inhuman like me and Ward?" This makes Simmons pause. "Well that wouldn't be a terrible thing would it? You and Ward have been through it, you'd know what to tell him to get him through the transition". "Guess you're right". She gets up from the table, lowers her shirt. May walks in and makes a bee like for Daisy. "How are you?" "Everything's good". May sighs in relief, "good. Coulson needs you". "Time to tell him about the Afterlife huh?" "Yeah".
Mack joins her and May as they're walking to Coulson's office. ''Where's Ward?'' ''With Fitz''. Daisy smiles, maybe they have buried the hatchet after all. Something happened while Diasy was away, something changed with Shield and Ward. The tension has all but vanished, with Coulson and Hunter is a different story. But Simmons and the others seem realxed enough around him, and if it's just for show, they're doing a damn good job. ''What's up DC?'' Daisy walks in and sits in this office, May and Mack standing over her.
''Jiayang told me the location of the Afterlife, Hawaii right?'' ''Yes''. ''I'd like your approval to pay a visit''. Daisy raises her eyebrow. ''My approval? Why? I'm not in charge''. ''I told you when we started this mission you'd get to decide how we do things if we find your mother. So, can I see it for myself?'' Daisy is so very tempted to tell him no, that the last thing she wants is for the remaining Inhumans to think she's told the enemy where their safe haven is. But on the other hand if this causes peace between the two, why not?
''Yeah sure. But I'd contact Jiayang first, make sure she's okay with it''. ''Will do. Thank you''. ''No problem''. She takes a breath. ''Coulson there's something else I want to talk to you about''. May puts a hand on her shoulder. He gives her his full attention, hands flat on his desk. ''Jiayang isn't a threat anymore like we thought. I believe in her sir. With that being said, Ward and I are going back home''. Grant is all by dying to get back to their life, and that's where Daisy wants to tell him, in the walls of their own home.
Coulson chews on this for a bit, let's the sadness wash over him. ''I thought that you would come back. I thought this mission would make you think about how things used to be. This is your life Daisy''. She's already shaking her head, ''no it's not. Shield is a job one that I did without question. But it turned me into someone I'm not, someone hard and cold. I can't be in Shield and still be myself''. Phil Coulson is not ignorant man, he knows there's another reason behind it. ''This is about Ward isn't it?''
Daisy sighs. ''He's a big part of this, yes. Coulson I love him, he's my family. We want to settle down away from all of this, are you really going to be angry at me for wanting that?'' ''No. Daisy I just wish you could see it, he doesn't deserve forgiveness''. The windows in his office rattle. ''Coulson everyone on your team has betrayed you at least once, and you forgave them without batting an eyelash. I joined Hydra and you took me back without thinking. Grant has done things, things that he's not proud of. But for you to hold it over his head while you've forgiven everyone else's sins is cruel''.
''Daisy''- ''And since we're talking about cruelty we treated him like an animal after he was arrested for betraying Shield. He had trauma, he was an abuse victim for god sake and we didn't even try to help him. Didn't even try to understand why he did all of those horrible things. Coulson you tried to send him back to his abuser, killed Kara, and then kidnapped his brother. Not mention what happened with Rosalind, I know you knew about that''.
Surprisingly guilt passes on his face. ''Now tell me why would I want to stay with an organization who works like that? Why would Ward? He doesn't trust you, he doesn't want to be here''. It's like a weight has been lifted off of her chest, she has been dying to get that out in the open for so long. Daisy hates the way she herself treated Grant, she encouraged his suicidal behavior, shot him, wouldn't even look at him all that time ago on the Bus when he tried to apologize for his actions.
She's fighting back tears again, Coulson looks out the window for a long moment. ''You're right. Everything you said is true, but Ward always had a choice, and he chose wrong''. Daisy is out of the chair in a flash, ripping open his office door and storming back to her bunk. She thought perhaps if Fitz of all people could put Ward's darkness under the bridge, then so could Coulson. May is calling after her but she doesn't stop, until she sees Ward come out of the lab, smile on his face.
He catches her eye and meets her in the hall, hands holding her hips. ''What's wrong?'' She doesn't know if these are angry tears or just hormonal tears, but either way she's crying into his shirt. Like usual he strokes her hair, crushes her to his chest until she calms down. Daisy lifts her face from his chest, runs her hands through his hair. He's leaning into her touch when she says, ''let's go home''. The smile he gives her makes her stomach flutter. ''Thought you'd never say that''. He kisses her and asks if she's okay. Daisy takes his hand and leads him into their bunk.
''Coulson and I just disagree on something''. She tells him when they've made themselves comfortable on the bed. ''What about?'' She crawls into his lap, tucks her head under his chin. ''You''. ''Skye you don't have to defend me''. ''I know, but Shield has treated you so horribly''. They've had this conversation before, she's apologized for everything she's ever said or done to hurt him. ''They had their reasons, after all I did betray them. But that's in the past, don't let it upset you''.
Daisy takes a second to admire how far Ward has come. Two years ago he would of told her that he deserved it, all of the hateful glances and death threats. He's a different person now, all of his monsters don't feed off his guilt anymore. She snakes her fingers up his shirt, traces those scars she left. She will never stop hating herself for those, no matter what he says. Ward can see this on her face and quickly changes the subject. ''I could have a plane ready in five minutes, we can be home in a few hours''.
It seems like forever since they've been there, she misses her dogs and warm coffee in her bright kitchen, and Ward lying in their bed, the sun ghosting across his bare skin. Daisy kisses his jaw, ''I'm ready''. They share a smile and Ward gets up, ''I'll ask May''. Daisy should really learn by now not to get her hopes up where Shield is concerned, she should know better. Because the minute she goes to say her goodbyes, Bobbi rushes after them.
''Coulson needs you, says it's urgent''. Grant sighs heavily, already knowing she won't deny Coulson's request. She takes Ward's hand, ''he has two minutes''. Together they walk into the Director's office, his team ready for action. ''What's wrong now?'' Coulson turns to her. ''Your mother will only welcome us into the Afterlife if you come too''. ''You could just lie, tell her on the plane. When you get there it'll be too late''. ''I don't want to start this new found peace with a lie. You do realize we're on the brink of war here''.
Daisy looks up at Ward, an apology on her face. ''It's fine Skye''. ''No it's not, I know how much you want to be home''. He kisses her cheek and says, ''what I said before we left Tennessee still stands''. Now, tell him he's going to be a father right now, do it. There's nothing to be afraid of. Instead she turns to Coulson. ''Fine I'll go''. ''Thank you, everyone ready?'' Fitz and Simmons are staying behind with Hunter, Coulson still doesn't trust him around Ward.
Simmons corners Daisy out in the hall, May right next to her. ''Daisy you cannot go out into the field''. ''I'm not going on a mission Simmons, nothing bad is going to happen''. ''The best thing for you to do is to go back home, tell Ward about the baby''. ''I know that, but you heard DC my mom asked for me. Plus May you're going, and between you and my robot boyfriend, I'll be fine. And does everyone forget I have powers? I can take care of myself''.
The two women aren't happy about it, but they let her go. ''If I even see you in combat once, I'm kicking your ass''. ''May I promise I'll be okay''. Ward is waiting for her by the quinjet, he has her favorite Henley on and a leather jacket, ''five minutes in the cargo bay''. He laughs, wraps his arm around her waist. Coulson briefs everyone on the mission, get in, get out, don't point your gun at anyone on the island. If they feel anything is wrong do not engage, but tell him immediately. ''Nothing is going to go wrong, Jiayang wants the same thing you do Coulson''.
Shield has it's doubts but for the most part believes her. Ward however does not, he's got one hand on Daisy and the other on his gun. Despite what she says he will never trust her mother, how could he? She tried to kill the woman he loves twice. No one will ever be on his good side after that. Garrett always told him to trust his instincts, and they've always paid off. This time will be no different.