"I left you something in your bunk, it's a letter, nothing fancy says how proud I am of you" Daisy nods as Coulson bids her goodbye. Her eyes are blurry as tears start to build up. She nods to his words even though a part of her still couldn't believe that this is happening, that she is losing him, she kept saying 'no just please no' in her mind that maybe if she repeats it a little more it could stop him dying.
"I am so proud" she felt her tears are about to escape so she decided to hug him tightly as possible, as if- if she held him tighter maybe she won't lose him, maybe he can stay.
"I love you" Daisy managed to sniffle
"I love you too" it may be the first time he said it out loud but it isn't the first time she felt it from him— the love of a father that she was longing for. It's the first time they said I love yous and yet there's a part of them that always knew.
She then loosened her grip, and so did Coulson.
"And...uh... thanks for the spaceship," she said, distracting herself from thinking she has to let go.
"Yeah, don't mention it" he replied, Daisy did her best not to stop Coulson from going while he looks at her— his once little, flower for one last time, he then walk past her lifting his bag, opening the ramp and walking to the sand with every step thinking about what he's leaving behind. Coulson looked behind his shoulder looking at his team feeling quite proud.
Daisy sat on the co-pilot sit with a heavy heart, her mind still saying no. No please no, her eyes started to glisten again. The zephyr's engine roared and she felt the plane lift, she knew the moment this plane reached the sky, she would never see him again. No, she can't do this not now, not yet. She jumped in her sit, running to the ramp
"Daisy!" Jemma shouted— confused, Daisy looked back, and when their eyes met Jemma knew, so she nodded.
Daisy jumped out of the plane and ran towards Coulson and May, the surprised look evident on their faces. Daisy technically jumped to Coulson.
"No, not yet, please," She said. Coulson looked at May and she nods
"I want to stay with you two," she continued.
She and May already had this conversation, they agreed on May staying on Coulson's side until his last breath because May was worried that seeing Coulson go like that would be too much for Daisy. However, right now, Daisy doesn't care, she wants to be here with them, she wants to be there for May as she whips on the floor when Coulson's time is up. She wanted to share that grief with May— the closest person she ever had as a mum. She knows May and Coulson need time alone, and she's cool with that, she'll give them time together— just them, but she also wants to be just one call away.
May rubbed Daisy's back and just as she was expecting one more person was running towards them, Jemma.
"Daisy wants to stay. I- I just want to get a final hug" Jemma sniffled. For a moment there, the four of them just held each other. It was almost perfect but someone was missing.
"Find Fitz for me, okay?" Coulson said, kissing her forehead. Jemma nods, wipes her tears, and goes back to the Zephyr.
Coulson holds May's hand and wraps his other arm around Daisy's shoulder while they lean into his shoulder. They watched the zephyr go. Daisy also let go of her breath she wasn't aware she was holding, she closed her eyes knowing she is where she wanted to be— home. And tomorrow is gonna be interesting.
"Daisy can borrow a couple of my shirts so she won't always have to wear a Tahiti shirt" May teased
"Yeah but I still need to buy some pants cause yours gonna be too short for me" Daisy retorted
"Oh it's on" May squints her eyes
"But seriously though why Tahiti? After all of that happened" Daisy asked
"What can I say Tahiti is A Magical Place" Coulson answered
"Ugh enough of that line, you're supposed to be traumatized by that!" The three of them laughed it off.
Then there was silence, but not the scary type, not the lonely type, but, the one that is calming. A silence just so they can feel and know that they are with each other.
Daisy stood up.
"Well, I'm going to look around, see if I can buy some things, clothes toothbrush, whatever"
"You sure you don't want me to come with you?" Coulson asked
"No, no, do your lovey-dovey catching up" Daisy smirked
Coulson then reached into his pocket for his wallet and gave Daisy two-hundred dollars
"That enough?" Coulson said. Daisy stared at the money and grabbed it
"Yep! Thanks, Dad!" Daisy continued to tease. Coulson smiled, it felt normal, domestic, something that he's wondering to feel. May scoffed, shaking her head, and smiling.
Daisy closed the door behind her and felt a slight tightness in her chest- fear that something might happen and when the time she comes back she'll regret that she left. However, she brushed the thought off and continued shopping for something that would help her get comfortable on this island.
Going back to May and Coulson that are already sitting on the couch, trying to navigate this first vacation they had in a VERY long time.
"So?..." May turned her head to Coulson
"I don't know it felt so light I could float, I got used to the dark eerie ambiance of the past years," Coulson said
"How did we get here?"
"We have come so far"
"Yet it feels not far enough now that we're losing you"
"It's enough, Mel, and you're not losing me" He assured her but received a 'don't sugarcoat it' glare from May
"We agreed to not talk about it, and especially now with Daisy, we're here to have fun! Do you think Daisy already watched Star Wars? Or there are Water Activities, eh?" Coulson redirected
Melinda smiled at him, then stared at him for a moment, she tried to memorize every wrinkle he had– laugh lines as he calls them, she tried to memorize the color of his eyes, which she will never see again once they close forever. She immediately brushed the thought of losing him and stood up.
"Alright first we need to unpack," she said while bending to give him a peck
"Ughh" Coulson groaned but he was smiling, he'll never get tired of the kisses, he always forgets, they are finally doing those things now. Against his will, he stood up and followed May to unpack.
Later on, they heard the door to their cabin open revealing Daisy, so they finished the last bit of unpacking and went to greet Daisy
"Hi, guys, I'm back!" Daisy said placing all she bought on the kitchen counter and throwing the half-empty tea paper cup in the trash bin
"Hey, you're home early? How's shopping?" Coulson greeted. 'Home' Daisy thought.
When Coulson said that, it sounds so domestic, so normal, and homey. In one word she felt like she wanted to hug her pseudo-parents and never let go and just stay here doing whatever normal family does, like dinners or movie marathons or building a white picket fence, gardening, or maybe getting a dog. Meanwhile, May's reply pulled Daisy out of her trance.
"Well, looks like she enjoyed herself" May smirked seeing the 3 paper bags on the counter
"I didn't want to miss dinner" Daisy replied
"May, could you make me the tea you always make?" She requested
"Why? wants wrong with that tea" May questioned, pointing to the trash bin
"It's not how YOU do it" Daisy beamed sitting on the counter
May made her way to the kitchen and started to make her tea while Coulson assisted her by getting the cup. Daisy followed their every move. If people don't know any better they would think she was trying to study how May makes her tea, but no, she was trying to memorize this moment, like how they moved in sync, just so perfectly matched. And there it was again the wave of warmth– domesticity and comfort. It felt like everything that a home should be– something that she never felt before after getting passed from foster home to foster home, but right now it doesn't matter because she found them, she found where she perfectly fits and loved (more like they found her- specifically in a van, anyhow, same thing). God, how she wants to capture this moment, maybe put it in a jar where the warmth can never go away and where she can open it from time to time whenever she feels so cold and lonely.
Shortly after, May touched her thighs to get her attention and gave her the tea. She looked at her little girl's (that is not so little anymore) face and smiled to give her comfort. May knows being here is not easy for Daisy especially knowing it will come to an end, and the end is not gonna be painless, so she promised to provide her comfort through this, she promised to look out for her, make sure she is feeling as good as she can be.
"Here you go, Get ready after you drink, we're going out for dinner," May said and went to her and Coulson's room to get ready herself.
Daisy glanced at Coulson and he reflected the same confused but curious look. They didn't know May booked a restaurant on the island, this may be the first time they'll go out for dinner without any intention of spying on someone or something.
"Where do you think we're going?" She asked him
"You know what, I do not know, but definitely not on a yacht"
"NOT on a yacht with violins, or candles" she laughed
"That'll be too cheesy for her" they both laughed
Afterward, Daisy put on the yellow flowery sundress she just bought. She looked in the mirror and thought this might be one of the most special days of her life so it was better to dress up a little. She saw May leaning against the door frame through the mirror. May's wearing a silky dirty white blouse.
"Could you...maybe... Do a braid?" Daisy said giving her a shy smile
May hummed, getting the nearest chair and placing it in front of Daisy and instructing her to sit in front of the mirror. May gently brush Daisy's hair and sectioned it
"Where is Coulson?" Daisy asked
"Taking a shower,"
"Ah" Daisy replied
"I know that you think you always need to be strong...but...you know I'm gonna be okay, right? I'm here for you too" Daisy said trying to connect her eyes to May's
May finished her braid "of course" she replied kissing her head "finish up, I'll check on Coulson"
Daisy looked in the mirror one more time, carefully tracing her braid using her fingers, May was always so gentle yet firm, she was protective and cared so damn much, she's everything a good mother should be– if she could just close her eyes and pretend she would if she could prolong these kinds of moments she would.
"Daisy! May's already in the car" She heard Coulson. She hurried, get her bag, and followed
"What? You were just showering and next thing you're on your way out?"
Coulson shrugged at Daisy's comment and they both hopped in the car.
May drove them to the restaurant, and they arrived, not long after. It was not a boat, with a violin or candles, it was a freaking luxurious, sparkling seafood restaurant. The ambiance was so fancy it looks like it serves one piece of shrimp that cost a thousand dollars. May gave the car keys to a freaking valet, Daisy's jaw was on the floor and Coulson looked so impressed.
As they entered, Daisy grabbed May's hand and whispered "what?!" May smirked in response.
"Good Evening Ms. May I'll be serving you for tonight" a waitress led them to their table– their oh-so-gorgeous table with a breathtaking view of the sea.
After Daisy tried to absorb the view, she sat down and looked at the menu and her eyes dilated when she saw the fancy foods with even fancier prices.
"Are you kidding me, May?!" She whispered
"Call me mom" May whispered back, Daisy blushed, looked at the waitress and then whispered again "are you kidding me, Mom?"
"Is there a problem, honey? You can choose whatever you want" May said, a little louder than a whisper.
Meanwhile, Coulson is enjoying his view, not the ocean, but the two ladies that stole his heart. The ladies who he never meant to hurt but surely would be broken once he's gone. He never really wanted to leave, but staying doesn't feel right anymore, it felt like cheating, and he was afraid that this kind of cheating would cost something he can't pay or a consequence that he can't face. So he decides to let the course of nature do its thing, afterall he's been fighting almost all his life, he doesn't want to fight forever, now he just wants to love and only love, and cherish what he can while he can.
"but I don't know what I want I have neve-" Daisy continued to whisper
"Flowerkins, c'mere I'll help you choose" Coulson leaned to Daisy and explained the dishes he knows, and if he doesn't they'll ask the waitress
"Uhh, do you want the kids' menu?" The waitress awkwardly suggested. May frowned since it almost sounded like an insult.
"Um sure!" Daisy said before anyone could react and then the waitress left.
Coulson chuckled. Daisy ended up choosing a dish from the kids' menu, and at first, the dishes did look like they'll be finished in one bite, but more food came and it was so expensively delicious.
Coulson caught May staring at the beach so he decided to tease
"Still thinking about the time I left you in the bay?"
"Five hours, Phil, Five hours" May replied and they started to banter
Daisy can't help but snort and laugh, years and years but they still can't stop arguing about that. She stared at them for a moment and emptied her mind so she could pretend this is a casual celebratory dinner night with her parents. It would be a lie if she tells you she didn't have a whole alternate origin story of her birth where Coulson and May were her parents. And from the moment they got to this island its slowly starting to feel that way; real nuclear family, with a loving father and a protective mom who are very proud of her and would make sure she knows that, but of course it wasn't real, all of this wasn't real, and soon they will be back as co-workers, she'll be back as an orphan, May and Coulson would be partners, and that sucks, because this glimpse of what could've been is so much better and she wanted this to be real so bad it hurts.
She felt a kiss on her head and saw May already standing
"Mel wanna ditch this fancy resto and go to the beach," Coulson said, She didn't even notice that the waitress already gave the bill
They decided to walk side by side through the soft sand.
"You know, you do not have to pretend that you're our daughter" Coulson broke the silence and he earned a confused look from Daisy
"Because, you ARE our daughter, nothing can change that. you, Jemma, and Fitz, and that's probably weird for both of them but that's not the point, what I mean is, We love you, so when you feel like you are so loved you do not have to tell yourself it's not real, because it's so real. We are a little messed up family" Daisy hugged Coulson after what he said and buried her face into his shoulder. It may be because Coulson is a spy or that's just the way he is but somehow he has the ability to read people's minds through their faces, and when it comes to Daisy he is mostly right.
"yes, just a LITTLE messed up" May sarcastically said.
They ended up sitting on the sand, sandwiching Daisy in the middle
"How hard can Mom kick?"
"She once kicked someone's leg and his bones came out"
"What?!?"
"That's an exaggeration" May rolled her eyes
"You didn't see it cause you were unto the next man"
"I didn't know that was possible" Daisy, still imagining what it was like
"It was when we're your age" Coulson kid
"Remind me not to be on her bad side"
"Even if you are, I'll bet my life she will never lay a hand on you"
"You always bet your life, and yes he's right, I'll blow out a whole damn base just for you to be safe" May diverted her first comment to not ruin the moment
"What?! How did you know about that?!" Daisy immediately got that hint and asked curiously
"I have a very reliable source"
The conversation died down and they sat in comfortable silence. After a moment, Daisy felt her eyelids getting heavy, and it was immediately noticed by Coulson.
They decide to go home, Coulson knows that day by day he will be weaker and weaker. It doesn't happen often but tonight he prayed for more strength tomorrow, even just for tomorrow.
-
Melinda May has woken up in a variety of ways. To a sudden jolt from a nightmare, and a punch in the face. To security breach alarm and an electric shock of defibrillation.
But today Coulson woke her up with kisses, multiple of them. She moved closer to him.
"Good Morning" Coulson greeted
"Hmm, how are you feeling?" She opened one of her eyes to see him
"Not dead yet" He replied, kissing her even more and as she leaned closer to feel his heartbeat, she closed both of her eyes again and sighed in contentment.
"I know I've been selfish," Coulson said out of the blue, but May didn't reply. She didn't say nor clarify that he had been so selfless that he became selfish- irony.
"Forgive me but I want to be selfish one more time" This time May looked up to him– curious
"I... I've been thinking...Mel, we've wasted enough time, I don't wanna waste more" Coulson looked her in her eyes and held her cheeks, she leans to his hands processing what he was saying
"I... I wanna marry you, right now, in this bed, in our pajamas, if that's what you want" he then showed her a diamond ring, not too big, but enough to symbolize their love. May's eyes started to glisten, her heart started to swell.
It was hard for Coulson to ask her for more, he's been asking too much. On the other hand, Melinda doesn't care if she's practically marrying a dead man, right now she's marrying the man she loves.
"Even just for a short time, Mel" She didn't say anything, instead she captured his lips
"You know, I'm a pretty good wedding officiant if you let me" Coulson broke the kiss, but felt May's smile on his lips
"I do, Phil, now shut up"
-
It's Tuesday morning. Nowadays the three of them don't look at the calendar often but today it's Tuesday morning, and Coulson likes Tuesday mornings. Strange really, what is Tuesday anyway? Right?
Wrong. Somehow Coulson seems to like Tuesdays, it seemed to be special. On a normal, non-world wrecking day, on SHIELD base before, they got to get groceries on Tuesdays, sometimes they have game nights on Tuesdays, and most of the time Tuesday seemed to be warm, even if it's winter Tuesday mornings are always warm. And now Phil and Melinda got married on Tuesday. A day to make up for all the cases of Mondays.
Daisy woke up much later than usual. She wandered to the kitchen and looked for something to eat. She knows how to cook but she didn't want to, so she settled on eating the captain crunch on the counter. She didn't want to disturb her parents, and she did promise to let them have their own time with each other, but she kept herself close and alert in case something bad happened. She tried to unpack everything she bought but ended up clattering it around, the sand playset was on the coffee table (she don't wanna be asked why she bought that), and she is not done laughing about the bikinis she bought for her and May, and the funny sunglasses– waste of money really, but it's not a waste when you're happy.
She looked up from the living room floor when she heard the door to her parent's room open up.
"There's no breakfast yet, but look I bought you matching aprons," She said with a guilty smile, and then put up in the air the aprons that says 'coffee dad' and 'tea mom' but when they didn't respond she slowly lowered her arms, maybe the dad and mom were too soon? too much? But then Coulson's laugh startled her and the roll in May's eyes put the smile back on her face 'Good then' she thought.
Coulson made his way to the kitchen to make breakfast, he looked at May and assured her he still could. So May turned her attention to Daisy
"That'll be helpful" May sarcastically said pointing to the sand toys
"Ha! Yeah, well It's cute and I have never used actual toys to make sand castles, my hand skills, and plastic cups were enough"
"We could make a great kingdom now then," May said
"We?"
"Yeah, before parasailing" May smirked and left Daisy dumbfounded. It may be ridiculous to imagine them playing in a sand castle but it does fill Daisy's heart with warmth and joy.
Daisy followed May to the kitchen and left the mess she made, she watched Coulson make breakfast and May make their hot drinks– a hobby she had just now picked up, but something caught Daisy's attention– something shiny ON MAY'S HAND!
"IS THAT AN ENGAGEMENT RING, YOU'RE ENGAGED?! SINCE WHEN?!"
Coulson and May looked at each other for a moment then said in synchronized
"Married"
Daisy's jaw DROPPED
"but...but I wanted to be the flower girl!"
"What?" Coulson looked at Daisy while placing the plates with the grilled cheese
"Told ja" May whispered that Coulson immediately caught
"I've been wanting that since the beginning!"
"Aw you have always been our little flower girl, DAISY"
"Ha nice save" May whispered again
"Plus you're already Fitzsimmons' flower girl"
"How did this even happen? When? How? No ceremony?" Daisy crossed her arms
"No, just us, Daisy. And, this breakfast with you, this feels like a ceremony already, c'mon stop pouting and help yourself with the food" Coulson said, holding May's waist and pulling her closer. Daisy can't help but smile, she must admit that is so freaking romantic.
"I still can't believe it," Daisy said before stuffing her mouth with grilled cheese
"This is nice" she added
-
Later on that day, they were sitting under the sun, savoring the breeze of fresh air. Daisy was playing with her sandcastle and tools on the sand while Coulson and May sat on the beach chair– watching while drinking wine.
"Mom, help, I cannot make it stand and sturdy" Daisy said, frustration evident on her face
Daisy just started calling her mom, and May still wasn't used to it but it's music to her ears. And so, she stood up and helped Daisy
"It's either you don't have enough water or it's too much water," May said while trying to fill the castle bucket again.
"I know that it's just- it doesn't work" Daisy leaned on May's shoulder closer- an action which she frequently does when she needed a little bit of comfort (ever since they got closer 3 years ago)
They manage to make 4 sand castles out of the bucket and a sturdy wall around it and a depression around the wall– a moat.
"We used to put water on that moat and put some small fish we caught from the sea" Phil commented
Daisy's face lit up and she turned to May
"Can we do that?!"
"Sure"
Those were the soft and quiet moments, calm before the storm, a yellow sky.
They all looked and appreciated the castle then May shook her empty wine glass saying she wanted more wine. She instantly regretted it because the moment Coulson tried to get up and get some more wine, he got dizzy and sat right back. Daisy and May shared a worried look.
"I'm fine don't worry,"
"I'll get the wine" Daisy immediately got up and rushed to their cabin kitchen.
When she got inside the kitchen, she released her breath she didn't know she was holding, and she felt her eyes starting to sting, she shouldn't be crying, she should be getting more wine, but she was so scared as fucked. It was like missing a step on a stair but didn't fall. She was so scared her heart hurts and it tightens more. She calmed herself and tried to take deep breaths just like what May taught her. 'Get the wine' she thought, 'he's not gone yet, not yet' another thought.
She went back to where her parents at and saw them holding each other
"parasailing is for another day" Daisy questioned without a question mark, letting them know of her presence
"Hmm," May answered. Coulson scooted over and invited Daisy to his beach chair, which Daisy accepted.
For that moment, they held each other until the sunset, until the moon was up and the stars burned bright. For a moment, they're whole and content, and they wish nothing more. Those moments are to be treasured because they couldn't last for long. Coulson would take a part of them with him to somewhere they couldn't follow and they would always wish he could come back to them.
-
Melinda woke up cold. Coulson noticed and would've offered to turn down the AC but instead, he moves and holds his wife closer to keep her warm. She loved it, she wished he could also stay warm. Their little cuddling peace was interrupted by a loud noise coming from the kitchen.
"Is that Daisy?" She asked half of her eyes open
"Yeah she's making breakfast I guess"
"Well to be honest she could make one hell of a breakfast"
"Yeah after ruining the kitchen"
"but the food is good, do you want me to check on her" May replied getting ready to get up
"No, I'm sure breakfast would be here soon or a 'May can you help me?'"
May smiled but agreed and went back to Coulson's arms as they continued their little cuddling session. Moments later May felt him staring
"What?" She asked
"What?"
"You're staring"
"I'm just wondering"
"Wondering what?" Her forehead wrinkled
"Of what you're gonna do after this... after I die"
Melinda stared into his eyes- confused. And, the room was filled with silence, but not the awkward silence, not the offended silence, not even the heart-wrenching silence, the kind of silence that knows but also doesn't know, the silence of thinking what to say or if she should say something. Her mind was blank and she didn't know if there was a voice ever coming up to answer his question, it was not even a proper question but it's something that she thinks she should answer but couldn't.
"I guess I just want to know you're gonna be okay" Coulson broke the silence
"I'm not going to follow you to your grave if that's what you're worried about"
"Good, because there's still Daisy, Fitzsimmons, and SHIELD, Mack"
"Daisy is a grown woman, she's not a kid anymore she has learned everything there is to be able to fight for herself, and Fitzsimmons they're geniuses who also learned to fight for themselves and I may be too proud of that but I am. Mack, he'll be a great director" May finally replied
"Mack doesn't have everything, one of the reasons I managed to rebuild SHIELD is because you are by my side...What I'm saying is when I'm gone they are gonna need you, especially Daisy, they are gonna need their Melinda May. You are the protector THE actual SHIELD"
"I hate that you're telling me this while you're not even making an effort to live... but you're right" She wiped her tear and got up
"They will need me, Daisy will need me," she said and then went out of the room to check what battle was happening in the kitchen. May entered the kitchen and was not even surprised by the mess her daughter made.
"May? Are you okay" Daisy asked. One thing about Daisy is she always notices, you can't hide a single tear trail from her, sometimes it's a curse, sometimes it's a gift.
"Is he?" She asked again, asking for Coulson's condition
"What? No no, Daisy,"
"Ah, he said something stupid then, are you okay?"
"I'm fine as I can be given that I have a dying husband"
Daisy couldn't help but giggle which earned a confused glare from May
"You- you said husband" Daisy cleared with a cheeky smile,
"So what are you making?" May change the subject
"Something"
"If we were normal people I'll offer a hand" May kid, but they were not normal, normal means they would have a white picket fence back in new jersey and are just having a family vacay at a magical island. Being normal means not running from the fact that Coulson is dying because he made a deal with the devil, hell if they were normal Coulson is dying because of heart cancer or whatever doctor calls decaying heart tissue is
"If we were normal I'll let you" Daisy retorted
"Oh, so you're sure normal May could cook?"
"Probably but normal Coulson would still be the chef I am not trading that grilled cheese for any other version of reality"
They both laughed it away. Small talks. Small talks are nice, it feels normal, and feels light.
May looked out to the window and was greeted by a breathtaking sunrise, Daisy followed where shes looking and saw it too
"I missed catching that on the Bus's cockpit with you" Daisy sighed,
May hummed as a response, still looking at the view.
"Oh shit aw" Daisy quickly removed her burnt hand from the pan
"Be careful, let me see" May quickly grabbed Daisy's hand
"It's fine, I just got distracted by the sunrise" Daisy explained
But it was not the sunrise she was distracted by, It was the flowing memories from where they were just getting started as a team.
She doesn't always reminisce when she saw sunrises, there's just something in this place, this moment, it is like planets aligned in the universe just to make every moment on this island to be so glossy, meaningful, and heart-touching, there's something in the waves or how the tree moves that makes them feel and reflect. Or, maybe they just weren't used to this kind of peace. They never had been this quiet for a very long time, their world out there was full of noise and chaos that they didn't know that their hearts and minds are already screaming loud and unclear about what they felt– telling something so important to them as a person, as Daisy, as May, as Coulson, as Jemma, and as Fitz. It's just in their line of job it's the world over their personal feelings. So when there is finally quiet they weren't used to the loud, and unclear noises deep inside their hearts and mind that they have completely ignored for the past years.
So as May ran cold water to her burns Daisy let go of the unbearable emotions she had been ignoring and hugged May so they could share it. May did not hesitate to reciprocate the hug and basically lull Daisy to sleep
"Is it mommy time? When's my time to get a hug?" Coulson said showing them his presence which made them break the hug
"No, actually it's YOUR day, I'll let you bond with your kid, just you two" May said before stealing a slice of pancake
"Thats sweet" Coulson responds taking a bite from May's slice of pancake
"We should get mani-pedi, what do you think, Dais?"
Later that day, they decide to explore the little town the island has, they tried the weirdest ice cream they have ever tasted which they didn't even know what people call it. When Coulson got tired of walking they sat on the bench in front of an antic shop full of long-lost treasures. Coulson assessed Daisy's face, he died more than once, yet still, he was not sure if he would be able to keep the memory of her face, so he memorized it just in case (just like what he does with May's every morning).
"I hope you're not looking for a pimple to pop?" Daisy joked which earned a gentle chuckle from Coulson
"No, your face is perfect, almost like May's"
"Almost?! Are you saying May's prettier than I am? Wow the bias of getting married, I thought children come first???"
"No, I'm glad your eyes don't look like May's right now," Coulson said whilst looking away. Daisy's smile faded, getting exactly what he meant. He doesn't mean it literally because she may be half American but her eyes still kiss in the corner just like May's
"You see it too?" Daisy asked
"This morning"
"I sensed it since the farewell toast. Don't worry I'll take care of her, make sure she's fine"
"I know, I'm grateful for that, don't forget yourself too," Coulson said, wrapping her arms around her shoulder.
Even though Daisy still couldn't understand why he had to leave or why he chose to leave, she rested her head on Coulson's shoulder, closed her eyes, and stopped thinking, ignoring everything around her and focusing on Coulson's heartbeat that was still beating for now.
"C'mon, where do you want to get some dinner?"
They end up eating at a small diner in that little town, Daisy ordered steak with wine and Coulson got the chicken salad with iced tea, because, to be honest, they have been on a seafood diet for almost a week. After they ate Coulson pulled out a rectangular box, sliding it to the table to give to Daisy.
"Da-?" Daisy looked at Coulson, displaying a confused look
"Open it, I heard its tradition for some people"
Daisy opened the rectangular box and saw a pearl necklace with a gold chain. Her eyes started glistening, it was indeed tradition for fathers to give their daughters pearl jewelry.
"Did you like it?" Coulson asked. Daisy just nodded without even looking up from the necklace
"Do you want me to put it on you?" Coulson asked again
"Yes please" Daisy finally raised her head and looked at Coulson with tears about to fall. Coulson gently put the necklace.
"I'm so damn proud of you" Coulson whispered while he kiss the top of her head
"Can I ask why?"
"Why am I proud of you?"
"Why are you leaving" She looked up to where he was standing beside her. Coulson sighed and thought about what to say, how to explain
"Because what we have here is finite, people can't always come back. I already had borrowed more than enough time, and I know since then that I'll gonna pay it at some point"
"But we were right there, and we could have borrowed more"
"then there would be a larger prize to pay, right now it's my life, if we took a chance and cheat death again who knows what more consequences the universe would give? I do not want to cheat anymore, Daisy"
"People cheat all the time, what makes this different"
"Because this is the reality, Daisy– life and death. I'm grateful that I had spent the time I have borrowed with you, with May, and Fitzsimmons. I'm happy I got to experience having a family but I know it can't be for forever. That's the truth, no matter how great things can be it has endings. The universe just wants us to live until then, and I'm grateful I had lived them with you" Coulson said kissing Daisy's forehead again
"But you know what's good about ending great and special things? It never really ends, not in here anyway" Coulson continued, pointing to Daisy's heart.
Daisy's tears had finally fallen as she wrapped her arms around Coulson's waist. He caresses Daisy's hair while trying to swallow the lump in his throat that seems to be forming.
When they got home they found May sitting on the couch reading a book, May looked up to them and frowned as she saw- without fail- Daisy's slightly red eyes.
"I told you to have fun not make her cry" May commented,
"No, it's fine, it's kind of happy tears," Daisy said but her body is already going for May's to get a tight and comforting hug. Coulson just gave May an apologetic smile.
Coulson kissed the top of Daisy's head while it was still buried on May's shoulder then he went to get ready for bed.
When Daisy and May are alone, Daisy releases a heavy sigh and then buries her head a little tighter into May's shoulder.
"He said something stupid?" May questioned
"No, not stupid, something true" Daisy answered then continued to rest her head on May. Truth hurts.
They just sit there and hold each other for a while, trying to breathe evenly, ignoring the anxiety that is building up in both of their hearts.
"M'scared" Daisy mumbled
"I know, honey, I'm sorry" This is one of the many things May hates, her kid still being scared despite all her efforts to keep her from feeling unsafe
"Just promise me... I know it will take a while to get used to not having Couls-... Just promise me you'll stay until then"
"I want nothing more"
Daisy raised her head and looked into May's eyes for reassurance, and when she was satisfied she redirected her gaze into the kitchen counter and wondered.
"What did you eat for dinner, Mom?"
"None of your business" May pat Daisy's legs so they can get up
"Now go it's time for bed" May continued to pat Daisy's legs. She didn't have the energy to protest so she followed what her mom said: Bedtime.
-
Melinda woke up cold, again. It's Tuesday morning. Coulson likes Tuesday mornings. She squeezed into Coulson more to get some warmth but he was also cold. Cold, and not moving, he wasn't moving her closer. She felt a big heavy thump in her heart, then she remembered Coulson's heart, she checked for a pulse.
And, there it was a soft heartbeat. Faint but there it was. She managed to release a shaky sigh. She reached for his hand and kissed it, his pulse was fainter. Then she felt a light squeeze.
"Mel..." Coulson whispered
After hearing what Coulson said, Melinda wanted to close both of her ears, as if closing them would trap Coulson's voice in her mind therefore she'll never forget it. Instead, she covered her eyes to savor every last thing, every thought, every touch, every breath, every heartbeat, every memory.
She thought about calling Daisy, but then she would never put Daisy in this situation, she would not watch her kid watch the life of her father leave his body, she couldn't. It was better that Daisy's last memory of Coulson would be yesterday.
She held Coulson's hand again, and when she felt nothing, not even a faint pulse. It was by then she knew her best friend was gone, Phil Coulson had taken his last breath.
The world around her seemed to turn quiet, not just quiet but silent- muted, she couldn't hear the water hitting the shore or the wind against the window, not even her breath. It wasn't her eyes that were building up tears, it was her heart. It was just a matter of time before her heart tightened so hard and her hands were shaken so fast to the point she couldn't feel anything, just numb.
She finally looked at Coulson, her heart aches more to see him so peaceful, he looks like he was just sleeping.
"May? I knocked." May turned her head to see Daisy standing in the doorway, she didn't even hear the knock.
"Come here, honey," May said hoarsely and then opened her arms. She saw Daisy's eyes pooled with tears as she slowly walked to the bed.
Once she got Daisy in her arms, that's when everything kicked in, her heart exploded with pain, and her eyes started to shed tears. The waves and the wind outside the house seemed to be so loud now, but the worst sound that she could hear was the wailing of her daughter. She felt Daisy gasp for air and exhale it with sobs. She would do everything to protect the kids, yet she couldn't help Daisy's heart from breaking into a million pieces again. They hold each other as they succumb to grief, to the feeling of loss and emptiness and pain.
At least for a little while this island made them feel whole, warm, and home. They didn't have enough time, and they will always not have enough time because that's the dreadful thing about it— it's never enough, always a second too fast before you're ready for a minute too short before it's enough. Time ends and it always ends in the most inconvenient moment.