#another au!

Okay, so similar vein to the holy god, what even is birth control AU, this is based around Theo and Philip accidentally getting pregnant when they’re around seventeen. Again, while a Chopped episode runs in the background because thats just always canon for me in all my AUs now. 

Theo’s actually alone at the doctors this time, it doesn’t even cross her mind that she might be pregnant and Aaron was at work, even though he offered to come with her. So when the doctor asks quietly if there’s anyone she can call, she thinks she needs to take a test, Theo is stunned. And she calls the only person she can think of, she calls Eliza. 

Eliza tries her best to comfort Theo as the test comes back positive but the poor girl just goes very quiet and mumbles that she has finals to do. Its not until they’re in the car that she falls to pieces. Eliza does what she can, trying to help as best she can but Theo is hysterical. 

They tell Philip straightaway before Theo loses the nerve. He cries too, though he has to confess he can’t help feeling a little amazed by it all. They’re both just very overwhelmed. Alex and Eliza decide that Theo will stay at the Hamiltons for a while. 

And with good reason, Burr does not take it well at all. He blames Philip and himself for not being a good enough dad and theres a hell of an argument. But after theres been time to calm down and rethink, he turns up at the Hamiltons to apologise. Alex seriously considers just throwing him out but Theo wants to talk to him. Theres a lot of forgiving and hugging and tears and things get better from there. 

Alex and Aaron have a sit down over mugs of whiskey spiked coffee and decide how to fix all this. Alex tells Aaron about some really cheap apartments up in Washington heights and they’ve got a lot of friends up there, Pip knows the area, there’d be help right on their doorstep…

So Philip and Theo move in together in a small apartment in the Heights. Philip already knew most of the people there, Alex has been taking his kids to the heights since they were babies. Theo makes so many friends too, Sonny and Philip rapping about the government always makes her laugh, she talks to Pete about art, Nina helps her with finishing high school through online classes, Claudia keeps them fed and Camilla gives Theo all these home remedies for morning sickness and stuff. 

Theo gets a craving for the weird and unusual slushy combinations Sonny invents, she drinks them all the time. Philip is worried because surely all that sugar isn’t good for the babies? Theo just laughs and jokes that maybe they’ll come out with tongues permanently stained purple

One of the brightest parts of Jemma’s day is being able to see Skye, the beautiful computer science girl who works on the floor below hers and who always seems to be coming and going around the same time as Jemma. Jemma considers her day made if they catch the elevator going up at the same time and if they get the opportunity to chat about their days during the descent back into the lobby. Their conversations last only a handful of minutes –sometimes a little bit longer if they find the excuse to linger in the lobby or parking lot after work- but somehow Skye always manages to make her smile and leave the grin in place for the majority of the day. Her friends tease her about it endlessly but Jemma can hardly help herself. Isn’t life supposed to be about finding little joys?

Like clockwork, the elevator goes down only one floor before stopping and the doors slide open, revealing Skye standing on the other side. She smiles brightly at Jemma, stepping into the cab and assuming her usual position beside her. “Fancy seeing you here.” She teases.

“Yes, we should stop meeting like this.” Jemma replies, as per their usual introductory banter.

Of course, Jemma wouldn’t mind if they did a little more meeting outside of elevators but far be it from her to complain about the system they have now.

“Discover any new alien species today, Dr. Simmons?” Skye questions and even though there’s a mischievous sparkle in her eyes, Jemma is pretty sure that Skye is half serious. The “research” part of SHIELD R&D is no stranger to the rumors that the other employees are fond of spreading.

Though, Jemma knows that a few of her colleagues have a habit of perpetuating a few of those rumors.

“Well, nothing new.” Including her.

It’s totally worth it to see Skye trying to work out whether she’s joking while trying to play it cool.

As they walk through the lobby, Skye fills her in on her own boring day, which consisted primarily of debugging programs from people who should know what they’re doing, seriously and, as always, Jemma feels a stab of disappointment when they both reach their cars.

Skye’s clunker of a van seems to have found its way into the parking space beside Jemma’s car more often than not and Jemma wonders if this is just coincidence or if she should stop reading into every little random occurrence in the universe.

“Well,” Skye lingers, keys in one hand, “I guess this is goodbye.”

Jemma smiles and nods. “And see you tomorrow.” Though just once she would like to say “well it doesn’t have to be goodbye” instead. She doesn’t know what she’s waiting for because it feels like Skye wouldn’t mind her saying that either.

Skye smiles and waves, pulling up the door and getting into her van. Jemma slides behind the wheel of her car, fishing out her sunglasses and going through the motions of getting everything situated for the drive home.

She hears the engine of the van rumble to a start, cough and promptly fall silent. Jemma glances out the window, watching as Skye tries to twist the key a few more times before finally getting out of the car, muttering to herself as she heads toward the engine.

By the time Jemma gets out of her own car, Skye is giving the front of the van a solid kick, letting out a string of curse words. “Listen here, you piece of shit, don’t do this to me now, not after everything we’ve been through you bastard, don’t leave me stranded in the parking lot in front of a cute-”

“Is everything okay?” Jemma questions as she walks around to join Skye.

Skye’s face quickly turns bright red and she clears her throat, gesturing toward the van. “Uh, yeah. Someone is just having a bad day.” She grumbles, glaring at the van for good measure.

Honestly, Jemma is pretty sure that the van already has two wheels in the grave but it would hardly be polite to point this out. “Is there someone you could call to have a look at it?”

Skye frowns, shrugging. “Yeah, I’m sure my friend Lincoln can do something with it.” She sighs. “But that doesn’t help me right now.”

“Come home with me.” Jemma blurts out quickly before she can lose her nerve.

Skye looks at her, surprised. “Jemma, you don’t -”

“I mean it. Come home with me.” Jemma insists, feeling bolder by the minute. “I can make dinner and then take you home, if you like? And that should give you more time to figure out what to do about your car and arrange a ride to work tomorrow.”

Skye smiles at her, shrugging. “Sure, that sounds perfect.”

Jemma feels a thrill of excitement as she turns back toward her car, pleased with herself.