That day was one of very high highs and very low lows.
Melinda sat on her bed, still reeling. She thought about FitzSimmons, spending their wedding night on another level for some peace and quiet, mostly for the others’ sake. How they deserved to be this happy forever.
She could hear Coulson’s quiet snoring from his room two doors down from hers. she thought about how lost she would be without him. Trying to wrack her brain for ways she could save him.
She remembered Mack and Yo-Yo as they were when she went to say goodnight to them. How he refused to leave her side and she stubbornly insisted that she would be just fine.
After a while, the thoughts swirling around in her head landed on one person. Daisy.
Melinda guessed that Daisy was probably doing the same as her. There was so much to process all at once, it was overwhelming to say the least.
Not being able to shake the idea of Daisy hurting or struggling to sleep, even though she was dealing with all the same things, Melinda climbed off her bed and went to check on the girl.
She padded over to the young agent’s room, nestled between Coulson’s and her own, like it was back at the Playground. Melinda assumed it helped her feel safe, to be so close to the people she loved most. Melinda secretly liked to have Daisy as close as possible too.
Taking note of the light shining from under the door, she knocked softly and waited intently for a response.
“Come in,” she heard from the other side.
Melinda did just that, closing the door behind her and taking in what she saw.
Daisy was sitting cross-legged on her bed, which was still on of the tiny lighthouse-issued ones in the wall. They’d have to get actual ones eventually, if they were going to stay here.
The girl was wearing the Star Wars pajamas Coulson had gotton her for Christmas a couple of years prior and her hair was slightly tousled. She was clutching the stuffed dog Fitz had given her for her first real birthday. Her deep brown eyes looked tired and distant.
“What’s up?” she asked with a little smile.
“It’s been one hell of a day,” Melinda walked toward the bed, “I wanted to see if you were okay.”
“You what?” Daisy blinked in surprise.
“Look, everything that’s happened today has been running through my head on repeat. It’s a lot. And judging by the fact that you’re still awake right now means you’re probably feeling the same,” she took a seat next to Daisy’s knee, hesitantly placing a hand on it.
The girl sighed, trying to keep the tears that were building once again from escaping, “It’s like the most dramatic roller coaster ever; and this is coming from someone who’s never even been on one!”
Melinda sighed, “We’ll have to fix that one of these days.”
“One minute I’m filled with overwhelming joy, to the point I could burst, for Fitz and Simmons. I mean, they deserve this and so much more, really. I actually can’t believe it’s taken this long,” she laughed a little which made Melinda smile.
“Then the next thing I know, all I can think about is Coulson. About how Jemma talked about him dying like it was inevitable. I don’t know what I’d do without him. I can’t loose him, I just can’t. And I don’t know how to help— how to heal him, but i need to,” the tears were becoming increasingly difficult to hold in.
“I know,” Melinda moved her hand from Daisy’s knee to her shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “I know, baby. I’m feeling all that too. I am. And it’s okay and normal to feel overwhelmed. There’s a lot going on right now that you have no control over.”
The young agent began to cry, causing Melinda’s heart to break. She truly loved this one and would do anything to make everything better for her. She wished to make all her pain go away.
She wasn’t a fan of hugs, but for Daisy, Melinda would make an exception. She leaned in, wrapping her arms around the girl as her body wracked with sobs. it was enough to make her cry, herself.
She felt Daisy melt into her embrace, rubbing her lower back up and down with one hand and cradling her head with the other. She could feel her shoulder becoming wet with tears and didn’t mind one bit.
“It’s gonna be okay, you’ll see. We can figure this out, like we have everything before, alright? Trust me.” Melinda let a few tears silently fall as she comforted her— in just about every sense but biological— daughter. “And whatever happens, you’ll come out the other side stronger than ever, you always do.”
After a while, Daisy pulled away, her now very red and puffy eyes stared into Melinda’s. The girl looked even more exhausted than she had before.
“Maybe tonight, just try to think of the good, happy things. Coulson will still be here tomorrow. We have plenty of time to deal with him. Just enjoy the bliss of our friends finally getting married right now, okay?” Melinda suggested, rubbing the agent’s arm.
Daisy nodded, wiping a stray tear off her cheeck.
“Get some sleep,” Melinda said, planting a kiss on her forehead before turning to leave.
“May,” Daisy said quietly, her voice a little hoarse from the crying.
“Yes, Daisy?” Melinda replied gently, turning around.
“Ca- can you maybe stay with me for a little while longer? If you don’t want to, that’s okay. It’s just easier to think happy thoughts when you’re not alone.”
This made the older woman smile fondly, “Of course, Daisy. I’ll stay as long as you need.”
Daisy got under the covers, scooting as close to the wall as she could and motioned for Melinda to squeeze in next to her.
She rolled her eyes but did as the inhuman wished.
The two laid side by side, discussing their favourite parts of the wedding and speaking in wonder of how far each member of their team had come until Daisy finally fell asleep.
Melinda studied the sleeping girl for a moment, looking so peaceful with the tiniest hint of a smile gracing her lips. She pressed another kiss to her temple and thought about how lucky she was to have her in her life.
Melinda drifted off more easily than she had in months with daisy nestled into her side and dozens of happy thoughts clouding the terrible ones. Those could wait until tomorrow.