God Knew Exactly What He Was Doing When He Led Me To You
''You're okay?'' Grant is looking down at her with wonder on his face his eyes shining. He nods and kisses her again, wraps an arm around her. They're still in the bathroom the pregnancy tests resting on the counter beside them, tears are rolling down Ward's cheeks. Skye can't really wrap her brain around it all, she's pregnant. Her and Grant made another life out of love, she's happy. She's so happy but there's a heavy amount of fear inside.
Grant's smile fades suddenly and concern plays out everything else. ''Are you okay?'' Skye sends him a smile and she can tell he doesn't buy it. And all at once he tenses up again, his face falls. ''Do you, do you not want this?'' It would break his heart if she didn't, Skye almost rolls her eyes at him. ''Of course I do Grant. This is our baby''. He kisses her again lifting her off the floor, Skye has to put her hands on his shoulders to steady herself.
There are so many reasons why having a baby right now is a bad idea, Shield still wants to capture her, there's a task force that may or may not want to kill her. Hydra is hunting her down because they think she killed their leader. But right now Skye doesn't want to think about that, she wants to stay inside this little bubble with Grant who hasn't stopped crying, his free hand coming to rest against her belly.
''I'm going to be a dad''. He whispers again like he just can't quite believe it. Skye knows him well enough to see the fear he's trying to cover up. She understands it, he never did have a father figure and Coulson doesn't really count on the account he's trying to arrest her. Ward's dad was a complete ass and Skye knows he's afraid he's going to be terrible just like him. ''There's no one else I'd rather be with than you''.
He tells her, rubbing small circles onto her stomach. She starts crying and then he's crying all over again, burying his face in her hair whispering how much he loves her, that he loves their baby so much, thank you for giving him this life with her that he never thought he deserved. He'll protect her and their baby always that she doesn't have to worry, that she's perfect and he loves her he loves her so much.
They stand there like that for twenty minutes, wrapped in each other not saying anything. Skye rubbing the back of his neck her face pressed into his shirt, Grant hasn't removed his hand from her stomach. ''We should get you to a doctor in the morning''. He says quietly, running a hand through her hair. She nods in agreement, leans back to look at him her arms still wrapped tightly around his waist.
''Not to ruin the moment'', she starts, wiping the tears from his eyes. ''But Grant what are we going to do? I'm not going to have your baby in a jail cell at the Playground''. ''That's not going to happen''. ''You do realize you are just one man right? Shield Hydra and that team is after me. You can't protect me from all of them by yourself. I'm scared Ward, what if something happens and our baby is hurt because of it?''
She can tell he's been thinking of that too, but instead of fear in his face there's fire. He'd protect her until his very last breath, that's what she's afraid of. Before he can respond the front door opens and Kebo comes in loudly. Cursing, running into the counter and there's a hiss from Bucky that has him cursing all over again. ''Do you want to tell him or me?'' Skye asks and just like that the light is back in Ward's face.
He kisses the tip of her nose, ''I promise you Skye nothing is going to happen. Trust me''. She does, it's just everyone else she doesn't. There's really only one option here, go off the grid. She's done it before, erased herself. Won't be hard at all. Only question is, will Grant go with her? One look at him now and she feels silly for even asking. Of course he will. He takes her hand and together they walk out of the bathroom.
''I hate your bloody cat''. Kebo says as soon as he sees them, he unloads a bag and then does a double take. ''The hell is wrong with you two? Why are you so happy?'' Grant smiles at her, kisses her forehead. ''We have to tell you something''. Ward says, he can't stop grinning. Kebo looks in between them, ''what? Did you finally convince her to get rid of this demon cat?'' ''Hey Bucky is the best cat in the entire world''.
She scoops him up and kisses the top of his head. ''Ignore Popeye he's just mad because you refuse to accept him''. Kebo rolls his eyes and pops open a beer. Grant takes a deep breath and makes a grab for Skye's hand. ''We found something out today''. He starts, dragging it out on purpose. ''Are you going to tell me any time soon? You know I have an attention span of a small squirrel''. Skye nods in agreement. It's so true.
''You're going to be an Uncle''. Grant says, and Kebo doesn't react at first. He just stares at them like he can't believe it. ''What?'' Skye can't fight the smile on her lips, ''I'm pregnant''. And just like his friend, Kebo starts crying. Skye looks at Ward as if he's supposed to know what to do, but he just shrugs and waits for Kebo to compose himself. He wipes his face and then comes over to hug Skye.
''Congratulations cupcake''. He claps Ward on the back of the shoulder before saying screw it and pulling the other man in for a hug. ''We're all going to die. Coulson is definitely going to kill you now''. Kebo tells them, laughter in his tone though it's anything but funny. Skye doesn't dwell on it for long because his gaze turns to her stomach and he's so happy, the happiest she's probably ever seen him.
''You're growing a tiny Ward in there''. Skye's hand goes to her stomach, ''yeah''. Grant wraps his arm back around her and kisses the top of her head. ''Hi little Hydra Junior''. That earns Kebo a punch to the shoulder by both Skye and Ward. ''Don't call my baby that!'' The three of them spend the rest of the evening in the living room talking about children and coming up with a plan to protect both Skye and the baby.
''I don't have any kind of experience in being a father''. Skye looks over to Ward, can hardly make out his form from the darkness of the room. His body besides her's is warm and comforting, she shifts against the sheets so she can lay her head on his shoulder. ''And you think I have any experience in being a mother? I can change a diaper and make a bottle, it's probably the only good things the orphanage ever taught me''.
''That's more than I know. Skye I'm not, I'm not good. What if I screw this up? What if I'm terrible just like my father?'' Skye props herself up on her elbows, traces the lines of his face. ''Grant do you think I would ever let you be terrible?'' He shakes his head. ''Our child already has things we never did, two parents that love him or her unconditionally, we're going to make mistakes but that's okay. That's normal''.
A long sigh, he tangles his hands with hers. ''Grant just because your dad was an ass does not mean you're going to be one too. Your family is awful but look at the life you've made for yourself apart from them. You're strong, the strongest man that I know, our child will never have to worry about not feeling safe. That's more than I can say for our younger selves. I love you, and our baby will too''.
He kisses her, ''you always know what to say''. She shrugs, ''I think Kebo might be rubbing off on me''. They lay there for a few minutes more and then she feels his hand on her belly. ''Hey little one, this is your daddy''. Instant tears, Skye tries to blink them back but they fall anyway. His hands are on her hips and he's whispering to their baby who can't even hear him yet, how much he's already so in love. That he will protect mommy and nothing bad is going to happen. Ward does this for an hour and a half.
''I want her to have your last name''. Skye has decided to call the baby 'her' instead of it. Or an alien, Ward begged her not the use the last one. They're walking into the doctor's office the next morning, sunglasses and ball caps on. Kebo is waiting in the car running surveillance. Grant stops walking and tugs on her hand, she can tell he's trying to keep from crying again. ''What?'' Skye wraps her arms around his waist and kisses his freshly smooth cheek.
''You're her father, why wouldn't she have your last name? Besides I don't have one so''. Grant kisses her, spins her around again, she can taste tears on her lips as one of his hands caresses her belly. ''I love you, I love you thank you, thank you Skye''. She just shakes her head, ''I was wrong about you in the beginning. Robot does have feelings after all''. It does the trick, Ward laughs and they resume walking.
Kebo won the bet. Grant cried as soon as Skye had the ultrasound, she's only five weeks along so it was too early to hear a heartbeat. Their baby is so small, but Skye has pictures printed out anyway, one for Kebo, two for her and Ward. ''She's so perfect''. Grant mutters when they are walking back to the car, hand in hand. He hasn't stopped staring at the image since it was printed out.
He's going to be the best dad in the world. Skye lays her head against his arm, kisses his bicep. ''Yes she is''. All three of them cry in the car when Skye hands Kebo the ultrasound picture, and Grant is forced to drive because Kebo is too much of a mess. ''I'm leaving Shield''. Grant says just out of the blue when a light turns green, Kebo spits out his water and Skye turns to gape at him. ''What?''
He shrugs like it's not a big deal, takes her hand. ''It's not my life anymore, you are. You and our baby, I can't protect you if I'm at the Playground or on a mission. I'm going back today to tell Coulson''. Skye can't believe it, ''but you're special agent Grant Ward. You can't just, you can't just leave. I mean what are you going to do?'' She can't see the expression on his face because of the damn sunglasses.
But his body is relaxed and he's smiling, he could be putting on a show for her. She can't really tell. ''I'm going to raise our child, there's nowhere else I'd rather be''. ''But''- ''It's not a hard choice Skye. It's you, it's you and our baby''. ''I can't ask you to give up your life for me''. ''You're not. And it wasn't much of a life, you are more important''. His hand is on her belly again when he says, ''our family is more important''.
This time it's Skye who bursts into tears and Kebo hands her a tissue. ''Coulson is going to kill me and my pea size baby''. She says a few minutes later, earning a chuckle from Kebo. This time when Ward tells her that's not going to happen, there's a dangerous edge to his voice. She believes him, but her earlier fears have not been forgotten. He's just one man after all, and it's not just one or two people after her these days.
Grant doesn't want to leave her, it feels like it's the worst thing he could do. But he has to go back he has to tell Coulson he's leaving. He wasn't lying per say when he told Skye it was an easy choice, it is. His child or Shield that's trying to harm Skye? It's a no brainer and honestly he should of realized it sooner. It's Skye, it's always going to be Skye. He has never really been a nervous person, not since he was a kid anyway.
But he is now. He's scared, but also excited. Ward is ignoring the voices in his head that sound like his mother and Christian, telling him he'll never be good enough that he will be a failure just like his own father. Skye has soothed his worries, they can get through this together. He can't wait to meet his son or daughter, as soon as he gets back to Skye they're going away. Off the grid where no one will ever find them, it's the safest option.
The second he gets back to the Playground he can tell that something is wrong, it's too noisy there are too many agents running around. No one has sent him a message that there's an emergency, but he's on alert anyway. Goes to check on Fitz and Simmons first who are not in the lab, in fact he can't find anyone from his team. He heads to Coulson's office and there they all are, he can almost taste the tension in the air.
''Welcome back agent Ward''. Is all Coulson says, not looking at him. ''What's going on sir?" Grant has cleared every ounce of happiness from his face, if you were looking at him you'd have no idea he found out a few hours ago he's going to be a father. On his way back he fed Coulson and the task force a false location of where Skye was, it's actually an old safe house of his that she stayed in a few weeks ago and never cleaned out.
So there's proof that she was there but it'll look like she fled the scene by the time they arrive. ''Hydra''. Is all Coulson says, Simmons and Fitz come to stand next to Grant, he can tell they're nervous. ''Sir?'' It's May who answers, everyone in the room is wearing the same grim expression. ''Late last night Hydra got it's hands on a nuclear bomb''. Well that's not good, Ward already knows how this is going to end.
''You need me to find it and deactivate it''. ''Yes, but there's a catch''. Trip pulls out a tablet and hands it to Grant. ''It's in the hands of a pretty high up Hydra member, you and Agent Morse will have to go undercover to locate it, and get it back''. If he doesn't do this a lot of people are going to die, but he came here to say goodbye. Not go out on another mission for god knows how long.
This could take days or weeks, depends on who has the bomb, where it is, how they get to it. As Ward starts slipping into mission mode his entire focus is on Shield. It's decided after a few minutes that this is his last mission, how can he turn away from this? People's lives are in danger. He has to. Once it's over with he'll tell Coulson he's leaving, that this life isn't for him anymore. ''I'm ready whenever you are sir''.
The team has no idea they are about to lose one of their own, that Grant has found a life outside of Shield. And if they ever find out who the mother of his child is, he'll be branded a traitor for the rest of time. It's a steep price. But he'll pay it, he'll walk through hell to make sure Skye and their baby is safe, that's all that matters.