So it's been forever since I wrote the first chapter to this story, but I've been wanting to get back into the fanfiction game for awhile. Since then, I've written a mini May and Daisy mother/daughter relationship fic if you'd like to check that out. Plus, there was an awesome guest that requested a chapter about May coming back from vacation. Sorry for the delay, but hopefully this chapter is enjoyable. So, this chapter takes place in season 3 right after the team discovers that Andrew is lash. Daisy tries to help May through this time, but they ultimately end up helping each other. Hope you enjoy!
It started out as a fairly normal day. Well, as far as normal days go at S.H.I.E.L.D. It began with her usual early morning training session, followed by a dreaded pep-talk/psycho-analysis by Andrew. Next thing she knew, May was walking down the hall. Of course she'd known that May was back, but she hadn't been expecting to see her. Coulson had filled her in on all the details. Hunter's attempt to bring May back in to take down Ward, and her following mission with Bobbi to try to finish the job. Apparently she was back from the mission, but from her expression, it hadn't gone as planned.
"May!" The words were out of her mouth before she even realized what she was doing. She didn't think twice as she rushed to embrace her. Things just hadn't been the same since May left. For a woman of such little words, her presence was surprisingly large. It was the small things that Daisy missed the most: their daily Tai Chi routine/training session in the morning, the empty tea mugs left in the sink, the way May scolded her for "forgetting" to make her bed, her words of advice, the small smirk that always grew on her face when Hunter did something stupid, and the rare moments when May would give her praise on her technique. But, more than anything, Daisy missed her warmth.
The hug was quick, but she could feel May slightly relax into her embrace. The conversation that followed was almost as quick as the hug itself. But, it left Daisy worried. She had thought they had left everything on a good note six months ago. May had said it herself, she didn't want to dwell on the past. She hoped that the hug wasn't too much. May wasn't one to love physical contact, and Daisy had always been hesitant around her, but she thought that May was comfortable enough with her now. She tried to shake off the feeling of anxiety, but it still bothered her. She eventually convinced herself that it must have something to do with May and Bobbi's mission, which only provided another sense of worry. But, she finally forced herself to shake it off. She had work to do. Putting up with Rosalind was going to be hard enough without this concern clouding over her. She'd just have to wait to talk to May again later.
She knew that she needed to give her some space. Daisy couldn't imagine what May was feeling. She could identify a whole slew of emotions within herself. Anger, mistrust, fear, but most of all, sadness. She had trusted Andrew. He had consoled her through the hardest times. He even helped her gain control over her powers. But, to know that he was out there mindlessly killing innocent inhumans was more than she could take.
She didn't want to impose, but at the same time, she was desperate to talk to her. She knew how private May was when it came to emotions. So, she knew that it was probably a bad idea to seek her out when she was at her most vulnerable. But, she needed to check on her. Not only for May's sake, but also for her own. She needed to make sure that she was still there. That she hadn't completely dreamt her return up. She had given her some space on the flight back to the base, and it had been an hour since they returned. But, she couldn't take it anymore.
So, ignoring her instincts, she knocked on May's bunk door. At first, she didn't think May would respond. But, after a few seconds, she heard the shuffling of feet. May must have known it was her because when the door opened, she didn't seem surprised. Without a word, May moved to the side, beckoning Daisy inward. Daisy was surprised at May's offer, understanding the rarity of moments that May allowed people in. Not only to her bunk, but also to her emotions. This action was clearly meant to allow Daisy access to both areas.
The bunk was unbelievably clean, unlike Daisy's. There was hardly anything on the floor except for a pair of black boots. Besides clothes, May seemed to keep very little possessions in the room, with the exception of a few pictures set on the bureau. Daisy slowly lowered herself to the bed, unsure of what to do. But, when May sat down next to her, she knew that she had to say something.
"I'm sorry," were the first words to come out of her mouth. May turned her head towards her with a questioning look.
"Why are you sorry?" She asked, clearly confused.
"I'm sorry that this happened to you." Daisy easily responded.
"And since when is this your fault?" May questioned.
"I don't know… I−" May cut her off.
"You don't know because you have no reason to be. You shouldn't feel pity for me, and this definitely isn't your fault."
"I know, but it's not pity. It's because I care. It's just that … this sucks." May chuckled, smirking at the girl.
"Yes it does." A few seconds passed in silence.
"Come here," May began, waving Daisy closer. She wrapped her arms around her former S.O and melted into her chest. They sat there for awhile, May's hands running through Daisy's hair.
"Why is it that you are the one comforting me. I'm not the one that found out my ex-husband has an evil night job." Daisy voice was sarcastic, but also questioning. May simply rolled her eyes and said, "You think this isn't helping me?" Hmm. That was something Daisy had never thought of before. It left her at a pause for a while.
"So, what did you do on your vacation anyway?" she eventually asked, wishing to change the subject.
"Well, Andrew and I went to Hawaii." Daisy picked her head up from May's chest, shocked by this new discovery.
"Well I guess I completely failed at changing the subject," she said under her breath, "Why did you pick Hawaii?"
"I guess I've always wanted to go. Plus, I was making up for the time that you and the team went without me." This time Daisy laughed. She had forgotten about that.
"After that, I visited my Dad. Course, that's where Hunter found me, and where I almost killed him."
"That would have been fun to watch," Daisy giggled. This was nice. There was a familiarity to the conversation. This was yet another thing that Daisy missed. She wondered if this was what it was like for kids who had parents that traveled.
"What'd I miss here?" May asked, causing Daisy to shift her focus back on the conversation itself.
"Well, besides getting Simmons back, not much. Oh, we had to get that Professor Randolph's help again." Daisy said with a groan.
"Guess I should be glad I missed that." They sat there for awhile, content with just being in each other's company. A question was still nagging at Daisy. But, she hesitated asking. Apparently May could sense this because she asked, "What's wrong?" Daisy sighed, pursing her lips.
"Why did you ask me what I would do back on the Zephyr today?" she asked, reluctantly. May let out a breath, shifting up towards the head of the bed. She rested her head on a pillow and directed Daisy to follow suit. Daisy allowed herself to sink into the comfort of the mattress. May stared up at the ceiling.
"Because I respect your opinion." She had thought long and hard about those words, but they didn't seem like quite enough. "I didn't just ask you because you're an inhuman; I asked because… you mean a lot to me and I wanted your input." Daisy scrunched her eyebrows up at this.
"You didn't make the decision just because of what I said, did you?" Daisy asked, concern written on her face.
"No. Of course not. I think that's the decision I would have made anyway. But, I asked you because you might have more of an idea of what Andrew would want than me." Daisy's face seemed to relax at that idea. She nodded her head slowly, contemplating what May had said. But, as her thoughts continued on, a pit formed in her stomach.
"What's wrong with me?" she suddenly asked, face slightly crumpling.
"What? Where's this coming from?" May asked, worried by Daisy's sudden change in mood. She turned on her side in order to talk to her more directly.
"Here you are asking for my opinion, respecting my beliefs, when only a few months ago I literally threw you across a pavilion." Tears began to form in her eyes, her breath slightly hitching.
"I thought we agreed to move past this?"
"Yes, but I don't deserve to move past this. I hurt you. I don't deserve your forgiveness."
"Daisy, why on earth would you think that? I'm fine. I understand why you did it. But, what I don't understand is why you think you don't deserve forgiveness." May questioned, placing her hand on Daisy's arm.
"Because I threw it all away. I had everything and more than I ever wanted and I threw it away for some woman that didn't give a crap about me. May, I should have never done that to you. I should have told you sooner because you're everything I wanted you to be. Not her." Tears streamed down her face, but she made no attempt to wipe them away. She was surprised when May's hands touched her face, pushing the tears away. Through her clouded vision, she was shocked to see tears in May's eyes as well.
May's lips couldn't find the right words to respond. So, she simply leaned down and planted a soft kiss on Daisy's forehead. She eventually found the courage to say, "Ditto."
"I'm still sorry," Daisy said, voice sounding drained.
"I know, but I forgive you." May could see that Daisy's eyes were beginning to grow heavy.
"How about you try to get some rest?" May asked, reaching down to unzip Daisy's boots.
"No, no. I should go back to my bunk," Daisy began, attempting to sit up, but May slowly pushed her down back to the pillow.
"It's fine." She slowly lifted Daisy's legs up, pulling the covers over the girl.
"Now will you promise to move past this?" May asked. Daisy nodded in agreement.
"Good… Goodnight, Daisy," she said brushing the hair out of her former trainee's face.
"G'night," Daisy responded in a sleepy voice. May smiled, pulling the covers over herself. She closed her eyes, noticing how tired she was. When she turned the light off, she realized that she might be able to get some sleep tonight as well.