The Academy does not run quite the way a university would—after all; it's a training ground for special agents. Still, it breaks itself into fall, winter and spring terms with a week off between each and a month for the summer. Like many of the other, granted few and far between, international students Fitz and Simmons find it hard to justify either the expense or time to travel home during the week long breaks after fall and winter terms.

Luckily, their second week in they'd been assigned lab partners and had been fast friends ever since, helping to keep the homesickness and loneliness at bay. Now, however, they're waiting at baggage claim at Heathrow and simultaneously keep an eye out for their families, home after nearly 11 months away.

Fifteen minutes later, suitcases in hand, greetings and introductions exchanged, they part ways with a quick hug and the press of Simmons' lips against his cheek. "See you in a month," she smiles. He nods, flushed with embarrassment, and gives a squeeze, neither really contemplating just how long 4 weeks is.

He hasn't even made the long car ride back to Glasglow with his mum before he's missing her. 11 months with Jemma Simmons no more than a ten minute, cross-campus walk away and suddenly he's staring at twenty-nine long days. His mother is too filled with excitement and plans to notice his sudden shift in mood (and he's glad, because he certainly doesn't want her to think he's not thrilled to see her again, he is).

He toys with his cell phone as they chat, fighting the urge to interrupt her family time just because he suddenly finds himself clingy and needy for her friendship when he'd never been that way with anyone before. They stop in Lockerbie for dinner, still a ways off from home, and he can't bring himself to leave the phone in the car, slipping it in his jeans pocket. His hand rests twitchingly over it whenever he's not in the midst of eating.

They've been back on the road ten minutes when he feels his cell vibrate in his pocket. At first he figures he's imagined it, but the sensation startles him again, not fifteen seconds later and once more after that before he's able to pull out the phone.

J Simmons (6:23 PM): I keep pausing midsentence, waiting for you to finish my thought or a story. I think my brother thinks I've lost it.

J Simmons (6:24 PM): Which is a strange way to convey that I miss you—which is silly, it's only been six hours.

J Simmons (6:24 PM): But then I think 29 days and feel a little less silly.

Fitz smiles, both at her words and his own relief. He's not alone then, in feeling suddenly oddly lonely. He ponders how best to respond, trying to think quickly, knowing that somewhere in Sheffield, Jemma Simmons is probably still feeling very silly, despite her comments otherwise.

L Fitz (6:27 PM): Skype later tonight?

He knows that she'll understand that he feels the same without having to say it. The request to put forth effort to talk to someone not something he makes lightly (only for her or his mum). Sending off the text, he imagines the brilliant Jemma Simmons smile it will likely invoke and lets the thought of seeing it for himself in a few hours hold the missing-her at bay.

J Simmons (6:28 PM): Yes definitely—I'll call at 10:30? You can't be home yet and I'm sure you mother will want some time with you there.

L Fitz (6:29 PM): Forty-five minutes away yet. 10:30 is good. See you then.

He would feel ridiculous about how much better he suddenly feels except he doesn't care. Instead, he spiritedly launches into a story for his mother and spends the last of their ride inquiring about the people in their neighborhood and letting her familiar voice share news about the people that make up her world.

By a little after ten his mother has managed to fill him to the brim with tea and pie, show him every new thing she's done to their small house since he's been gone and pack in months worth of fussing before turning in for bed. He assures her he's not long off himself, just a quick chat with Jemma first, and soaks in the warmth of her smile as she tells him how glad she is he's found such a lovely friend.

Fitz grabs a quick shower to rid himself of the ick of travel before unpacking his things in his familiar old bedroom, laptop set up and just waiting for Jemma's Skype call. Punctual as always, he's in the midst of hanging up a sweater when she rings through at precisely 10:30. He drops the blue fabric to the ground in favor of answering and is greeted in exactly the way he expected: a dazzling, breathless grin and her eagerly launching into a greeting followed by a story about her brother and sister, with scarcely an inhale between them.

They talk for over an hour before the long day catches up with them, swapping yawns and trailing comments, both of them stretched over their own beds with the laptops on their stomachs.

"Maybe a little earlier tomorrow night, yeah?" He asks, surprisingly confident in the request. He's never been one to put effort into friendships before but then again, he's never had a friend like Simmons.

"Yes please," she replies without even a pause to consider. "Maybe a movie night?"

Twenty-nine days and twenty-nine Skype sessions later, they're both badgering around with hanging up. They've got early mornings ahead of them—especially Fitz, who has a far longer drive to Heathrow than she does—but both are as hesitant to end the call as the other. Finally, chivalry wins out as Fitz notices Simmons dipping in and out of sleep.

"Simmons, get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow afternoon okay?"

"Mmm," she mumbles, smiling pleasantly despite being half asleep. "Be prepared to put up with an embarrassingly excited hug at the airport."

"Can't wait."

Skype was prompt #17 on my tumblr prompt request list, Palindromic Sets. I just kind of invision them going home for the first time and feeling suddenly very lonely at the idea of so much time without seeing each other, so they end up Skype-ing every night. (Also, please note I've only used Skype once, so apologies if the usage language isn't entirely correct).

As always, by the by, don't own anything but the writing here.

Thanks for reading (& to all those leaving support) and if you have any suggestion or ideas, please feel free to let me know.

Best Wishes & Take Care,

AOR