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The hug from their daughter was the last piece of the puzzle Jemma’s mind needed. She squeezed her eyes shut and deeply inhaled, trying to steady herself as all the lingering missed memories slotted into place. She had likely already freaked Alya out, and not even the barrage of information she had to sort through in mere moments was enough to make her show even more emotion and further scare her little girl. In any case, she would not be having any sort of breakdown until she was behind a locked door with her husband.
Her husband. She looked up at Fitz with a wide, teary smile. He was crying, too.
Love you, she mouthed.
Love you, he mouthed back.
-
Alya clung to Fitz when she was nervous.
Jemma had always known that would happen. Alya faced nothing like true adversity during the first few years of her life, but she’d reacted to intense scenes in books and films like any other child would. When she did, she looked to Fitz. He’d been so worried about fatherhood, but moments like those soothed his fears. He made his little girl feel safe.
Jemma watched him break another loop. Their daughter would never be afraid of him.
She was so lucky to love them.
She stuck close to him, too. She was deeply unsettled by the amnesia she’d suffered through, even though they’d known it happening at some point was a near certainty. If she’d lost her memories permanently she would have fallen in love with him again- she knew that like she knew herself, and every timeline they’d seen agreed with her- but they didn’t have to face that after all. They’d landed in one of the best possible scenarios.
She wasn’t ready to think about Deke.
The three of them- Fitz holding Alya on his hip, Alya with her tiny hands clinging tightly to his neck and her head tucked against his shoulder, Jemma constantly touching Fitz’s back to reassure herself that he was there- made their way to the quinjet. Flint hurried ahead of them, Piper kept a pace behind. Protecting them, Jemma thought. Piper had seen her break down more than once during their year in space. Piper understood. Jemma felt another countless wave of gratitude about it.
Mack was waiting for them at the bottom of the quinjet’s ramp. The look of awe on his face made Jemma’s heart twist in her chest. Next to her, Fitz straightened.
“Hey, little love,” he said in a stage whisper. “You ready to finally meet your Uncle Mack?”
Alya peeked up at Mack with one eye. Mack smiled at her and waved. Alya curled and uncurled her fingers in a small wave back.
“My, my,” Mack said. “Look at you.”
“Mack’s a mechanic, yeah?” Fitz said. “Remember reading about cars?”
Alya turned her face fully toward Mack and stared at him in that way children did- with unabashed curiosity. Jemma tucked her chin on Fitz’s other shoulder.
“You’re safe, Alya,” Jemma whispered. Her voice wavered. “We’re not going anywhere. You’re just meeting some of our friends you’ve heard about, okay?”
Alya squinted at Jemma. Jemma watched her think about it. After a moment, she looked back at Mack and gave him a real wave. Fitz’s soft laugh made Jemma feel warm.
“One thing at a time,” Mack said. “Big day, huh?”
Alya nodded.
She was shy when she met new people. It was a wonderful thing to learn.
Quiet footsteps heralded May’s arrival. Tears pricked at the corners of Jemma’s eyes again.
May waved at Alya. Alya waved back.
“Here’s your Aunt May,” Fitz said. “You want to tell her your full name?”
Alya’s eyes widened. Jemma saw her put it together. She lifted her head.
“I’m Alya May,” she said.
A lovely smile bloomed across May’s face.
“I’m honored,” she said.
Alya shyly returned the smile.
“Come on,” Mack said. “Let’s get settled. Quick flight coming up.”
Mack led them up the ramp. Piper briefly touched Jemma’s arm, then went ahead.
“How’s Daisy?” Fitz asked.
“She’s okay,” Mack said. “Sousa’s with her.”
“Daisy?” Alya whispered.
Jemma felt a rush of excitement. “Yes, ma’am.”
“She’s so excited to meet you, but she’s very tired,” Fitz cautioned. “She had a long day.”
“I’ll be good.”
“Of course you will, sweet girl,” Jemma said.
Mack just barely shook his head, still smiling, then walked to the cockpit. May winked at Jemma and followed him.
Elena stood up to meet them. She grinned widely at Jemma.
“What a cutie,” she said.
“Remember Aunt Yo-Yo?” Fitz said. “Here she is.”
Alya waved. Elena laughed and waved back.
“You’re pretty,” Alya said.
Elena’s smile widened. “Thank you. So are you.”
Jemma turned and saw Daisy. Her heart leapt to her throat.
“Fitz,” she said.
Fitz glanced at her and followed her line of sight. He turned to face Daisy, too.
Daisy was sitting with her cheek resting on Sousa’s shoulder. They were holding hands. Jemma saw Daisy tear up.
“Daisy?” Alya asked.
Daisy let out this surprised little laugh. “Hi,” she said. “Hello, Alya.”
Alya looked uncertain. “You not feeling good?” she asked.
“You’re,” Fitz corrected.
Alya rolled her eyes at him. Daisy laughed again, harder that time. Jemma did, too. Hers sounded almost hysterical. She couldn’t believe this moment was finally happening.
“I’m fine, little star,” Daisy said.
Of course Daisy already had her own name for their daughter. Of course she did.
“Mama should look,” Alya said. “She helps.”
“She really does,” Daisy agreed.
“Here, let’s sit with Aunt Yo-Yo while Mum helps,” Fitz said.
He stepped back and flopped onto an empty jumpseat, pulling a loud giggle out of Alya. Fitz kissed her cheek, then glanced at Jemma. She barely stopped herself from bursting into tears at the way he was looking at her.
Elena sat down next to them. Alya peered at her.
“Can you really go fast?” Alya asked.
Elena grinned. “I’ll show you after we land.”
“Okay,” Jemma said. She turned back to Daisy. “What hurts?”
“Everything.”
“Besides that.”
“Fractures, I think,” Daisy said. “Only in my arms and legs, though. Ribs aren’t feeling broken.”
“That’s something,” Jemma said.
She realized that the others in the quinjet had fallen silent. She faltered.
Daisy’s frown deepened. “Jemma?”
What if-
Jemma’s stomach lurched.
She whirled around. “Alya?” she burst out.
Alya was there in Fitz’s lap, just like she’d been not a moment before. She jumped and stared at Jemma with wide eyes.
“Mama?” she asked.
Jemma pressed a hand to her stomach and nodded. “Sorry. I’m sorry.”
Alya was right there. Jemma stepped close and smoothed her blonde hair back.
“It was just a long day,” Jemma managed, “and I missed you very much.”
And this was part of why she’d had to forget. She never could have gotten what she needed to done if she’d been thinking about her little girl. Her heart seized in her chest. She’d still forgotten. How was she supposed to-
“Hey,” Daisy said. “I’m okay, Jemma. I’ll go right to the medbay when we land, I promise.”
Jemma glanced at Daisy. Daisy gave her a reassuring nod. Jemma smiled her thanks and sat down, pressing her thigh against Fitz’s. Alya reached for her. The knot in Jemma’s chest that had made itself at home loosened a little more when she cuddled their daughter close and rested her head on his shoulder. Fitz wrapped his arm around her and kissed her forehead. Her eyes fell closed.
How had she forgotten them? She couldn’t stand it. She couldn’t ever let it happen again.
“We’re right here,” Fitz murmured. “I’m so proud of you.”
She didn’t want him to be proud of her. She wanted them to be safe and free.
-
She didn’t like walking back into the Lighthouse.
She had lived there in fits and starts, but it had never actually felt like home. Now, all of her instincts screamed that they weren’t safe. This place had been attacked. This was the place she’d lost her marauder. Yo-Yo had nearly bled out here, Deke was no longer here, Coulson-
Alya let out a little sigh against her neck. Jemma’s grip on her tightened.
“You okay?” Fitz murmured in Jemma’s ear.
She swallowed hard and crashed back into herself.
“I don’t like being here,” she murmured back.
No more stiff upper lip. They’d spoken plenty about that. Honesty, even when it was hard.
“Me, neither.”
Alya sighed again, this time louder. In spite of herself, Jemma’s lips twitched.
“You okay, little one?” she asked.
Alya lifted her head and fixed Jemma with a look.
“It’s supper time,” she said.
Fitz hummed. “Is it, now?”
“I think so.”
“Interesting.”
Without discussing it, Jemma and Fitz turned and walked toward the kitchen. Everyone around them was buzzing- agents needed to be cared for, the base needed to be cleaned, the armory needed to be restocked. Jemma didn’t care about any of it. Alya needed to eat.
Alya wiggled out of her grip and darted across the empty room to the refrigerator. Jemma’s heart seized in her chest.
“It’ll take a while to let her out of my sight again, I think,” Fitz said.
“Ages,” Jemma agreed.
They reached the sink and oven. Jemma stood still, watching Alya peek around the fridge. Fitz tucked himself right against Jemma’s back. She smiled when he wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Are we a public displays of affection couple now?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Maybe.”
Alya leaned over and poked Fitz’s hand. “Pancakes,” she said.
Fitz dropped his chin on Jemma’s shoulder. “Is that a question?”
“I want pancakes for supper.”
“Doesn’t sound like a question.”
Alya sighed. “Da, would you make pancakes?”
“Say ‘please,’” Jemma said.
Alya rolled her eyes. “Please.”
“You’re rolling your eyes too much,” Fitz said. “They’re going to pop out of your head.”
Alya’s eyebrows pulled down in a deep frown. “I no think that’s real.”
“You don’t think it’s real.”
Alya sighed. “Haven’t had my tea.”
Jemma laughed. It was a little hysterical, maybe, but that was okay. She was still a little hysterical, if she were honest with herself.
Fitz dropped a kiss on her shoulder, then let her go.
“Right then,” he said. “You going to help me, monkey?”
“Yes!”
She held her arms up to Fitz, who picked her up and set her down on the kitchen island. Jemma’s heart ached at the sight. Fitz, trying to replicate a meal routine Alya wouldn’t have exactly the same ever again.
Alya’s eyes were darting all over the room.
“Do we live here now?” Alya asked.
Jemma swallowed hard.
“No, we’re just staying here for a bit,” Fitz said. He was in the cabinets already, pulling a box of pancake mix out. “Remember? We talked about a new house.”
Alya looked down at her hands and studied them. Jemma exchanged a concerned look with Fitz, then forced herself to go into the fridge for milk and eggs. She couldn’t force Alya to talk. Alya would tell them when she was ready.
“Want to crack the eggs?” Fitz asked.
Alya perked up. “Really?”
“Really.”
“I no get shells in them this time.”
“Yeah, you probably will.”
“Hey!”
-
Jemma kept glancing through Mack’s glass wall. Alya was perfectly safe, May was playing a light game of tag with her right on the other side, but Jemma found herself unable to stop looking.
Fitz was doing the same thing, she realized. Neither of them were truly comfortable in the Lighthouse any longer.
“So,” Mack said. “How long do I have you?”
Fitz caught Jemma’s eye. She gave him a small, reassuring nod. They were still on the same page.
“Honestly, we’d like to leave tomorrow,” he said. “We just…”
He shook his head.
Mack was clearly sad, he wasn’t trying to hide it, but Jemma knew he understood.
“Okay,” Mack said. “I get it. I really do, I promise. I’m guessing you’ve already prepared what you could?”
“We have,” Fitz confirmed.
“And we’ll discuss consulting?” Mack asked.
Fitz looked at Jemma.
“Not right now,” Jemma said.
Mack slowly nodded. In the corner of her eye, she saw Fitz’s eyebrows shoot up. She’d expressed to him that she wanted to do that, that she needed to work, she’d go mad without work, but now-
“We just. Need some time,” she said.
-
She woke up with her heart in her throat.
She couldn’t find Fitz.
She sat up, but she didn’t know what to do. There was a soft light somewhere but she was frozen in place, she didn’t know how to get to it, she didn’t know where she was, she-
“Hey, hey,” she heard.
“Fitz,” she choked out.
And his arms were around her. She pressed her face against his neck and let out the sobs trapped inside her throat.
“You’re safe,” he murmured in her ear. He held her tight and stroked her hair. “You’re safe. You’re with me, on earth. Alya is asleep in here with us. You’re safe. You’re with me.”
“I lost you,” she sobbed.
“I’m here. I’m right here. You’re not lost and neither am I.”
She ducked her head down and pressed her ear against his chest. He let her, shifting his hold on her like he had so many times before, so she could hear his heart beating without him letting her go.
Fitz.
She clung to his shirt and inhaled heavily, trying to focus on the way he smelled.
“I’m here,” he kept saying. “You’re safe. I’m here and you’re safe.”
She lifted her head and kissed him, tasting their tears in the desperate press of their lips together. Fitz ran his fingers through her hair and cupped the back of her neck.
She had her Fitz. She’d lost him, but she’d found him again. He was there. She let their lips part.
She clung to his shirt and tried to get a hold of herself.
“You’re here,” she said. “We’re safe.”
“We are. I love you.”
“I love you.”
He kissed her forehead. She actually let herself smile at the feeling. She loved it when he did that.
“Mama?”
Jemma rubbed her eyes. She managed to sit up, though Fitz kept his arm around her shoulders.
Alya was standing next to Jemma’s side of the bed, holding her stuffed monkey tight. Her eyebrows were drawn together tight with concern.
Jemma tried to smile at her. “Hi, darling. I’m sorry.”
“Why you sad?”
“Why are you,” Fitz corrected.
Alya huffed. “Da. Is now the time?”
Jemma laughed. She really laughed.
“I’m a bit of a mess, aren’t I?” she said. “I’m sorry. I had a nightmare, that’s all.”
“Crying isn’t bad,” Alya said. “You say.”
She climbed up onto their bed and wiggled her way between them.
“She does say,” Fitz agreed.
“It isn’t bad, I know, but I don’t like to scare you or your father,” Jemma said.
Fitz leaned across Alya and kissed Jemma’s forehead again. Her shoulders relaxed.
Her breathing was finally back to normal.
“It’s okay,” Fitz said. “We take care of each other.” He looked down at Alya. “Right, monkey?”
Alya nodded. She let out a wide yawn.
“Would you like to stay with us for the rest of the night?” Jemma asked.
They didn’t let Alya stay in their bed much- Jemma and Fitz both felt strongly about keeping that boundary up- but she needed her little girl close then, too.
Alya nodded. “Let’s get comfy and cozy,” she said.
Fitz softly laughed. He laid down again and smoothed Alya’s hair away from her face, then glanced up at Jemma.
Jemma drank them in.
She curled up, too. Her hand found Fitz’s and he tangled their fingers together. She drifted off to the feeling of his thumb stroking hers and their daughter’s belly slowly rising and falling in sleep under her palm.
-
The bed was shifting. Why was the bed shifting? It had to be early. Jemma muttered something she herself didn’t even recognize and buried herself further under the covers.
Warm lips touched her forehead.
“You can keep sleeping,” she heard Fitz murmur. The words brushed against her skin. “Just going to feed the monkey.”
Jemma let out a long sigh as his hand stroked over her hair. She was so tired.
“Sleep, love. You need it.”
She drifted back off.
-
When she woke up again, she was disoriented. She blinked heavily, trying to both wake up and understand why she was alone in bed. She shifted and her hand brushed a piece of paper. She picked it up from Fitz’s pillow and squinted at it.
Making Alya breakfast xx
Right. She wondered how much longer she’d slept. She didn’t like sleeping through breakfasts with Alya, it was always a highlight of their day, but her body had badly needed it. She was still exhausted. Still, she managed to drag herself out of bed and get herself in some semblance of order.
She walked to the kitchen. As she got closer, she heard Alya’s bright laughter, mixed with Fitz’s soft baritone chuckles. She smiled and walked faster.
Her smile widened more when she walked in. She was greeted by the sight of Alya sitting directly on the table, digging into a stack of pancakes half as tall as she was. Clearly, her daughter was in charge that morning. Daisy, Mack, and Sousa were all sitting at the table in actual chairs and they were smiling, too.
Fitz turned the moment her feet crossed the threshold. Her pulse fluttered when their eyes met.
She felt a bit like a kid again when she saw him- like they were new again, with all the wonderful ways that had felt, but still with that bone-deep contentment that came with a settled relationship, one with the sturdy foundation they’d built and reinforced over all their years together.
They loved each other in so many timelines. It was magical.
“Good morning,” Daisy called.
“Good morning,” Jemma said.
Fitz held his hand out toward her. She was happy to hug his waist and let him pull her close with an arm around her shoulders.
“Hey, love,” Fitz whispered. “You sleep more?”
She nodded, but Alya got their attention before she could respond.
“Mama, Da made pancakes again!”
“I can see that,” Jemma said. “Is there a reason you’re not in a chair?”
Alya shrugged. Her face was covered in maple syrup, Jemma realized.
“It works,” Alya said.
She stabbed her fork into some more cut pieces and popped them into her mouth.
“Four going on fourteen,” Sousa said.
Alya was still okay, then. The sheer novelty of being in a new place was probably keeping that brain of hers occupied. A meltdown was inevitable- Alya was going to go through a lot of change very quickly, and it was only a matter of time until it caught up with them- but Jemma wasn’t worried. Their little girl was strong.
-
After they ate, they covered a dubious Alya in sun cream and took her hands in theirs.
Jemma was excited. She’d never seen her daughter in the sunlight. Fitz hadn’t seen the sun in years. It was going to be a good day.
They got into the elevator and Alya suddenly fell silent. Jemma exchanged a look with Fitz.
“Everything alright, monkey?” Fitz asked.
Alya was frowning. She looked at the ground.
“What if I don’t like it outside?” she said.
“That would be okay,” Fitz said. “You don’t have to like it.”
The elevator dinged when they reached the top floor. Together, they stepped out onto the landing and Jemma and Fitz gently tugged Alya along towards the door.
“Ready?” Jemma asked.
Alya shrugged. Jemma’s heart ached.
“Are you nervous?” she said.
Alya gave a little nod.
Jemma took a deep breath.
“That’s okay. You can take your time.” She gently swung her and Alya’s hands between them. “The steps you take don’t need to be big. They just need to take you in the right direction.”
“You say,” Alya said.
“I do say.”
Alya looked at the door. She visibly swallowed.
“Okay,” she said. “I ready.”
“I’m,” Fitz corrected.
Alya huffed. It made Jemma smile. She reached over and pressed her hand against the scanner. It beeped, and the door unlocked. Fitz reached for it and opened it, leading the two girls after him.
Jemma watched Alya’s face as they stepped into the sunlight. Jemma herself shivered a little, delighted by the light hitting her skin.
Alya looked surprised.
“I’m warm,” she said.
She tilted her face back and closed her eyes. Jemma felt tears prickling at the corners of her own.
It was nice to have a good reason to cry.
-
The day after their international move, it happened.
She knew it would. She still wasn’t prepared for it.
It was a psychological phenomenon: once you were finally out of fight or flight, your body gave in to the trauma. They’d been in fight or flight for years. Even when they’d been taking their time in space, part of Jemma had been quietly biding its time, waiting to burst out and protect her family at a moment’s notice.
They had a new life with their daughter in the place she’d dreamt of since she was a girl.
But were they safe there?
The fear found her sitting on her new couch, sorting through an old box of odds and ends. She was fine, and she wasn’t. She hadn’t been fine in a long time.
She sat back against the cushions and tried to breathe.
“I think we should get a dog,” she said out loud.
Fitz looked up from the box of books he was unpacking.
“Uhm,” he said. “A dog? Really?”
“Yes.”
“I thought you wanted a cat.”
“I could have a dog. We could be a dog family.”
Fitz crossed the room and sat next to her on the couch.
“I love dogs,” he said. “I would, in fact, love to have a dog.”
“I know. I’m a good wife.”
“You’re a great wife. I’m still not sure where this is coming from.”
“I just want a dog,” she snapped. “Is that so weird?”
He frowned. “Why are you mad at me right now?”
“I’m not mad.”
“Simmons-”
“I don’t know,” she snapped again.
“Jemma. Talk to me.”
“I just think it would help!” she said. “It’s so quiet here, I don’t- we don’t have- I know our security is good, we did it, but we could still have more. There could be more.”
“You want a dog for security?”
“Yes!”
“Okay, I am fine with that,” he said. “We can get a dog tomorrow. That’s fine. Are you going to tell me what you’re actually upset about, though?”
“Nothing!” she cried. “There is nothing to be upset about! We are safe. We’re in the home I’ve always wanted. Our daughter is playing upstairs with your mum, we’re away from SHIELD, I have a garden, I don’t-”
She cut herself off with a shake of her head.
Fitz leaned in and kissed her firmly. She kissed him back without thought, searching for comfort. He always helped.
He pulled her into his arms. “It’s okay,” he said softly. “We’re okay.”
She was crying again. Why couldn’t she stop crying?
“I'm fine,” she said.
“You don't have to be.”
She tucked herself against his shoulder, and she let herself cry.
-
A few nights later, Fitz had his turn.
Jemma expected it, just as she knew he expected hers. They shared so many nightmares, after all.
They’d had years to process and talk and fight and love each other. They’d gotten a lot out. Most of it, she thought. That didn’t mean the ghosts wouldn’t come back. Jemma knew it was a matter of time after Fitz experienced Jemma forgetting him and their daughter.
She woke up to the feeling of him gently stroking her hair. She opened her eyes and rolled over to face him.
The light spilling in from the crack around the door was enough to illuminate his face. He was silently crying. He leaned in and nuzzled his forehead against hers.
She shifted her leg in anticipation of his reaching down and touching her knee. Sometimes he had to make sure that the bullet wound the Doctor gave her wasn’t still present, just like she sometimes needed to hear his heart beating. His warm palm curled around her leg and he exhaled hard, tracing her knee cap with his thumb.
“Jemma,” he whispered.
“We’re okay,” she whispered back.
She could see him consciously working on slowing his breathing down. She cupped his cheek. She loved the feeling of his stubbled skin under her palm.
“I love you so much,” he breathed out.
“I love you, too.”
She kept her own breathing slow and even, and she watched him slowly work through it.
He could take his time. She didn’t have anywhere she had to be.
-
She couldn’t get herself to relax.
There was nothing wrong. Their days were quiet- so quiet, in fact, that they’d discussed doing some consulting after all. Jemma missed work.
She didn’t know how to do this now. She didn’t know how to just- be. She’d come too close to losing it all.
She put down the mug she was washing with a sigh.
Fitz’s voice interrupted her musings. “We have a machine for that, you know.”
Jemma blinked down at the running water.
“Oh,” she said. “We do, don’t we?”
They hadn’t on the Zephyr. She’d gotten so used to washing everything by hand.
“Mmm-hmm.”
Fitz crossed the kitchen and picked up their dishtowel. Gently, he dried her hands off. She smiled at him.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing.”
He raised his eyebrows at her. “Jemma.”
“No, I know,” she said. “I don’t…nothing is wrong, Fitz. Really.”
“But you’re on edge.”
“I am,” she said. “I don’t know why.”
He looked worried. He gently squeezed her hands with the towel, then put it down.
“Security’s fine,” he said. “Alya’s asleep. Dog’s fine.”
Her lips quirked. She still couldn’t believe they had a dog.
“It’s too quiet, maybe,” she said. “I don’t know.”
Something behind Fitz’s eyes shifted. He gently smiled.
“Come with me,” he said.
He took her hand and led her to the back door. She glanced into the sitting room as they went, reassuring herself that yes, like Fitz said, Alya was asleep on the couch and the dog was awake and alert before she let Fitz take her into their garden.
The air was cool, but the sun was out. She let the soft sigh she hadn’t known was caught in her throat escape.
Fitz tugged her right into the middle of the plots they had yet to tame and turned to face her. He took her other hand in his free one, too. She softened at the way he was looking at her. She’d missed that look so much when they were apart.
“Space was quiet,” he said. “Silent, even. I wondered if you noticed you were doing it- you always had music playing, or an audio book, or the tv playing whatever dvd was on top of the coffee table that day. At night, though? There was nothing. I needed to listen to your breathing to remember it was safe to fall asleep.”
She was tearing up and she didn’t know why. “Oh, Fitz.”
“It’s okay. We’re okay. And it’s not quiet here, Jem. Close your eyes.”
She stiffened. She glanced into the house. She couldn’t see Alya.
Fitz squeezed her hands before she could bolt. “She’s there. I promise, she’s still there.”
Jemma forced a deep breath. She focused on Fitz’s face.
“We’re safe,” she said.
He nodded. “We are.”
She took another deep breath. She closed her eyes.
“Listen,” he whispered.
There was rustling. Wind, she realized. Wind stirring the grass. One of their neighbors must have been playing music, because she heard some soft melody far away. There was buzzing, too- bugs.
There was the sun on her face and Fitz’s hands in hers. He stroked his thumbs over her knuckles.
She smiled before she opened her eyes.
“We’re home,” she said.
He nodded.
“Yeah,” he said. His voice was rough. “We are.”
She tugged him close for a kiss. She settled a little more. He tasted like home, too.
With a loud creak, the screen door banged open. Fitz started laughing before he stopped kissing her.
Alya leapt off the step and hopped towards them.
“I’m awake!” she yelled.
“Good,” Fitz said. “Get over here.”
Alya threw herself at Fitz. Fitz let go of Jemma’s hands just in time to catch Alya. He swung her around. Alya’s bright laughter spilled over their garden, filling it. She filled up their home, too, and so did Fitz.
And so did Jemma.
Fitz let Alya go and the little girl ran, still laughing, across the grass, throwing smiles over her shoulder.
“You can’t catch me!” she shouted.
Jemma smiled.
She kicked her shoes off, and she ran.