Like Magic
Deke smiled as Melinda handed Madelyn over to him. “Hello, Madelyn May.” He said gently. “Are you ready for our night together?” He asked.
“You know her routine,” Melinda said. “We’re just a phone call away if anything happens.”
Deke nodded. “I know. I've got this handled. We'll play them eat then settled down and she can have a bottle before bed.”
Melinda nodded just as Phil wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Let's go, okay?” Phil kissed her cheek. “They'll be fine.” He said and moved to kiss Madelyn's cheek. “We'll be back soon, sweetheart.”
Madelyn smiled and giggled. She smiled at her parents before turning and looking at Deke happily.
Deke smiled and watched them go before he went to the living room. He sat down on the floor with and grabbed her toys so they could play together. After they played for a bit Jemma came in and sat on the sofa.
“Hey.” She said softly. “How's it going?” She asked.
“Good. We were just playing.” Deke told her. He was currently laying on the floor with Madelyn sitting on his stomach. “How are you?”
“Good…” Jemma said quietly and looked at the baby. “Just thinking about Fitz. We are so close... it's already been a year.”
Deke looked at her. “We'll find him.” He promised. “As you said, we're close. We just have to have hope.”
She nodded and smiled sadly. “Thank you.”
Madelyn looked up at Jemma and frowned when she saw that she was sad. She leaned closer and reached for her.
Jemma leaned forward and lifted the girl up. “It's okay, love.” She said softly as tears rolled down her cheeks. “I just miss Uncle Fitz. You'll really like him when we find him and he'll really like you. He's a lot like Deke even if he doesn't admit it.”
Deke chuckled a bit and looked at them. “We'll find him.” He promised. “I mean I'm still here so I can only assume.”
“I really hope that that's true, Deke.” Jemma looked at Madelyn when she wiped her tears. “Thank you.” She kissed her forehead. “One day, you'll have a friend to run around with.”
Madelyn looked at her and leaned into her chest to cuddle her.
Deke smiled and stood up. “I'm going to make some dinner, which means heating up leftovers.”
Jemma nodded. “I'll watch her.”
When Deke left Madelyn started to get fussy. Jemma frowned and bounced her gently. “What's wrong, darling?” She asked and stood up with her. She rocked her gently and handed her one of her toys. “Do you want to go see Deke? We can sit in the kitchen with him.” She suggested as it the baby would reply back.
Madelyn whimpered and threw her toy to the ground on the brink of tears.
Jemma frowned and carried her to the kitchen. “Look, there's Deke. He's getting some food for us to eat.”
Deke turned and smiled. “What's going on, Madelyn May?” He asked. “You don't have to fuss.” He walked over and stroked her cheek.
Madelyn started to cry and she reached to Deke.
Deke frowned and took her in his arms. “What's going on?” He asked her as he turned to check the food. “Are you hungry?”
“I'll get her food,” Jemma said and walked to the fridge grabbing a container of her baby food. “Here we are. Your mom even labeled it for you, Maddie.”
Deke set Madelyn in her chair and kissed her head. “Jemma will feed you while I get plates.”
Jemma sat down next to Madelyn and offered her a bite. “Here you are, sweetheart. Peas and carrots.” She smiled encouragingly.
Madelyn whined and turned away from the bite.
Deke watched and frowned walking over. “You want me to feed you?” He asked and took the spoon. “Here.” He offered her a bite.
Madelyn started to cry again and turned away shaking her head.
“That's weird. She always eats for me.” Deke murmured and stood up straight. “Let me try again.” He leaned down and offered her another bite but without any luck.
Jemma frowned and gently lifted her back up again.
Madelyn cuddled into Jemma and buried her face in her neck.
Jemma rubbed her back and kissed her head. “She feels a bit warm.” She said quietly.
“Warm? Aren't we all warm?” Deke said worriedly. “What do you mean warm?”
“I think she has a small fever.” She explained and pulled a thermometer from one of the kitchen drawers. She turned it on and gently took the little girl's temp. “Just a bit high. I bet she has a tooth coming in.”
“Do I need to get May and Coulson?” He worried and looked at Jemma panicked.
“No, it's fine.” She assured him and opened the freezer pulling out a teething ring.
“What is that?” Deke asked.
“A teething ring for her to suck on. It will help bring the fever down and make her feel better.” She explained and gave the girl the small ring.
Madelyn took the ring and stuck it in her mouth sniffling. She rested her head on Jemma's shoulder and sighed.
“Like magic,” Deke mumbled.
“Not magic.” Jemma laughed and stroked the baby's back gently. “I think maybe she'll eat later. For now, she's fine.”
“But May was very clear about the schedule. She doesn't want her routine to get messed up.” Deke said.
“It's fine.” Jemma sat down and hummed gently to Madelyn. “We can still eat now.”
Deke nodded reluctantly and set the food on the table. “No offense but if May gets mad I'm blaming you.”
“I'll take the blame even though I know she won't be mad.” Jemma smiled as she started to eat.
Through dinner, Madelyn calmed down and gnawed on the teething ring. As Deke and Jemma finished Madelyn looked over at her food that sat on the tray of her high chair.
“Are you hungry now, sweetheart?” Jemma asked and grabbed the container. “Here, try a bite.” She offered a spoonful to the baby on her lap.
Madelyn took the ring out of her mouth and happily took a bite. She smiled and opened her mouth for another.
“See, she just needed to wait a bit,” Jemma told Deke.
Deke nodded and smiled. “I'm glad you're here. If it were just her and I, I would have called May and Coulson already.”
“They deserve a nice night,” Jemma said softly.
The rest of the night went well and by the time that Melinda and Phil came back, Deke was laying on the couch with Madelyn, in her pajamas, sitting on his stomach chewing on her teething ring tiredly.
Melinda smiled gently when she saw Madelyn and walked over gently lifting her up. “Hello, Madelyn.” She said and kissed her forehead. “Are your gums bothering you?” She asked.
Madelyn cuddled into Melinda happily and smiled.
“How was she?” Phil asked as he came up behind Melinda.
“Things went well. Had a little bump around dinner but Jemma came and saved the day.” Deke smiled. “How was your night?”
Melinda nodded. “Good.” She smiled. “I hate to admit but I think I really did need a nice night with Phil.”
Phil nodded. “We did need that.” He murmured.
Deke yawned. “That's good.” He said and stood up. “I'm off to bed now. Good night, Madelyn May.”