#tripskyefic

Before Trip could respond, his mother approached the group.

“Ah, Sharon and Trip there you are. I need to borrow the two of you for a moment.”

Trip looked over at his girlfriend.

“You good, babe?”

Skye nodded.

“Yeah, I’ll take the time to get to know Steve here.”

Her boyfriend and Steve shared look before he was herded away by his mother.

“So, let’s take our drinks and find somewhere to sit down.”

Skye followed the tall blond into the living room and over to one of the couches.

“They can be overwhelming, don’t you think?”

The brunette looked over at Steve.

“The Tripletts and Joneses, I mean.”

She thought about it for a moment then nodded her head.

“As the last person to be introduced to the family, I understand what it’s like. You feel out of place but it seems like they have some kind of radar for that thing so they can change it.”

Laughing at the comment, she had to agree.

“You’re right. It only lasted for a few minutes until Glenda hugged me.”

“She’s good at that, giving hugs.”

The pair took a sip of their respective drinks.

“In all seriousness though, I get what it feels like especially when you’re not used to it, used to the energy and emotion that the entire family seems to have in spades. Sharon’s just as much a part of this as Trip but you and I, come from the outside. So, we need to stick together as much as I love Sharon and Trip.”

“Thanks Steve, I appreciate that.”

It was nice to know that there was someone who understood what she was feeling and told her that it was okay to feel that way.

“Now, knowing Trip for as long as I have, I bet he hasn’t told you his more embarrassing stories. Well, as his friend, it’s my duty to share some of my favorites.”

Skye grinned. As much as she loved her boyfriend, he did seem to come off as too perfect sometimes.

“One time, Trip and our friend Thor, parents are big fans of mythology, lost a bet to our other friend, Natasha. So they had to let her dress them up and wear the outfits out in public while saying that it was their idea whenever they ran into someone they knew which happened a lot. Of course, what they don’t know is that she planned having those people in the places she knew our friends would go.”

Skye couldn’t help laughing as she imagined what her boyfriend must have had to wear.

“Looks like you two are getting along.”

Sharon grinned then turned to Trip.

“I told you that you had nothing to worry about.”

Shaking his head as he grinned, Trip moved to sit on the arm of the couch next to Skye before stealing a kiss.

Skye leaned against her boyfriend’s side and smiled up at him.

---

The party was great and Skye enjoyed hearing the stories about her boyfriend; the ones that were embarrassing to the ones that made her adore him even more. She was glad that he brought her.

Now though, she was ready to go to bed but she was helping clean up first.

“That’s the last of it, Thank you Skye. Why don’t you head up stairs and I’ll send along Antoine shortly.”

“Are you sure, Glenda?”

The older woman nodded her head and made a shooing gesture with her hands.

Doing as she was told, Skye said goodnight to the others before making her way up stairs to the room that she had been staying in for the last several days.

Upstairs, she removed her make up before changing into her pajamas.

Skye was brushing her hair when her boyfriend came into the room and wrapped his arms around her from behind.

“Did you enjoy yourself today?”

Placing the brush down, she turned around in his arms and wrapped her own around him while looking up at him.

“I had a wonderful time. Everyone was so great and nice, I really enjoyed meeting them.”

Trip smiled at her words then kissed her forehead.

“They really enjoyed meeting you too. I told you that you had nothing to worry about.”

“Yeah, you did. I’m glad that I was proven wrong.”

Skye reached up and pulled him into a kiss.

“Mmm….I love my family but I’m looking forward to getting home tomorrow.”

She smirked.

“Why? Are you that excited to do dinner with Grant and Jemma?”

Trip gave her an unimpressed look.

“While dinner with friends is great, I’m lookin’ forward to getting you myself.”

It had only been three days but she missed being intimate with her boyfriend; whether that was having sex or showering together.

“Well….we’ll have a few hours to ourselves before we’re due at their apartment for dinner. I’m sure we can make them count.”

Skye received a kiss for that idea.

“The sooner we head to bed, the sooner we can make that happen.”

The couple headed to bed with a couple more kisses exchanged.

---

The next morning, Skye felt sad to be leaving because she adored the time that she spent with the Tripletts.

Seeing the look on his girlfriend’s face, Trip hugged her.

“We’ll be back before you know it and my parents will come out to visit to.”

“I know, Trip.”

She kissed his cheek before finishing up packing.

Breakfast that morning had been delightful and Glenda had given her the promised stack of photos which earned the older woman a hug.

Trip grabbed the bags and head downstairs with Skye following.

“You can come any time you want, dear.”

Glenda smiled, sure that her son was going to be making an expensive purchase before long.

“Thank you for having me. Everything was so wonderful.”

Skye hugged the other woman.

“Skye, you are such a delight. I can see why my son is in love with you.”

Another hug was exchanged.

“Antoine, drive safely and let us know when you get home.”

“Of course, mom. I promise.”

Trip hugged his mother.

“You’ve done well, son.”

The two men shook hands.

“Hey Skye, what are you doing up?”

The brunette turned around quickly, startled at the unexpected presence of the person she felt she deserved to see the least.

“Oh, Tr-tr-trip, hi. I, um, couldn’t sleep. You?”

His heart hurt from the expression on her face. This wasn’t the confidant Skye who teased him that he loved.

“Yeah, couldn’t sleep either. Is that hot chocolate?”

Skye bit her lip and nodded.

“Just the way you taught me. I think I made too much, if you want some….”

Trip couldn’t help smiling.

“I’d love some actually.”

His response drew a soft, small and hesitant smile from the brunette. He moved over to the cabinet and pulled out his mug then handed it over.  

Skye finished off the hot chocolate then poured it into the two mugs.

“So, wanna talk about what’s keeping you?”

Looking over at the brunette, he could tell that she was fighting with herself but he couldn’t understand why. Then he noticed that her hands were trembling slightly, like she was on the verge of crying but refusing to give in.

“Hey…it’s going to be alright,” he spoke softly as he took her mug from her to avoid any accidents.

Trip walked around the counter and pulled her into a hug despite her struggling against him. Then it hit him why she was up late and her behavior towards him since they got back from San Juan.

“Skye, it wasn’t your fault. I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I didn’t try to save you.”

The brunette wrapped her arms tightly around him and buried her face into his chest so he had to strain to hear her.

“But you almost died, trying to save me. It wasn’t worth it.”

“Yes, it was because you’re standing here alive and you know what? I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

She looked up at him with wide eyes.

“No! You can’t! Please Trip…..”

“Shhh….sweetheart,” he spoke softly while rubbing her back.

A couple minutes later, Skye was calmed down.

“Want to drink the hot chocolate you made?”

The brunette nodded her head and reached for her cup then took a sip.

Trip grabbed his own but kept an arm around her waist because it was comforting for them both.

“Mmm….you did fantastic job, girl.”

Smiling at him, Skye felt a weight lift off of her shoulders. Her guilt wasn’t completely gone and probably wouldn’t ever but this was good.

“Well, I had a good teacher.”

“Just good? I like to think that I’m better than that.”

“Looks like you’re going to have to teach me more, now won’t you?”

Trip smirked at her. He really liked that idea.

They finished off of their hot chocolate and Trip insisted on cleaning up since Skye made the hot chocolate.

As they headed back to their rooms, Skye felt herself getting sad again because she didn’t want to go back to sleep and her nightmares; then realized that Trip was leading her past her room to his. She looked up at him confused.

“Um, my room is back that way, Trip.”

“I know that, smarty pants but I think we both need this. Neither of us will be able to sleep otherwise.”

The brunette felt overwhelmed. This man really was a treasure.

The pair entered his room and he guided her towards his bed. It was messed up but neither one cared as they climbed in. Trip laid on his back as his girl curled up against his side, arm draped across his waist with her head above his heart. Then they drifted off to sleep; the best sleep they had since San Juan.

Down the hall, two people let out a sigh of relief.

“I think they’re going to be okay.”

May couldn’t help smirking slightly.

 “They’re certainly better than another couple we know.”

Coulson just arched an eyebrow at her.

“Well, if someone wasn’t so nosy, this was going to be a surprise.”

Her expression softened.

“How can I make it up to you?”

He moved around the island to trap her against the counter before leaning down and kissing her lightly.

“Oh, I’m sure you could figure out a way to make it up to me.”

Skye smirked before wrapping her arms around his neck.

“You know, I think I have some ideas.”

Pulling him in closer, she gave a kiss full of promise and desire.

“Mmm….that’s a start,” he spoke against her lips.

They were about to continue when the timer on the over went off and they separated with a groan.

“Since you’re here, wanna help me finish making the cookies before Fitz gets here and eats them all?”

Nodding her head, it sounded fun.

“I’d love to. These wouldn’t happen to be Gran Triplett’s recipes, would they?”

Trip grinned at his girlfriend, pleased that she remembered.

“Of course they are. It’s not Christmas without them.”

Moving over to the oven, he turned off the timer before removing the tray off finished cookies. He grabbed a spatula then carefully moved the cookies to the cooling racks.

“Alright, how about you roll out the dough for the sugar cookies then we can use the cookie cutters to make shapes and decorate them.”

Skye smiled brightly. This Christmas was shaping up to be a wonderful one.

Their apartment was starting to smell of delicious baking as she licked her lips while moving over to where the sugar cookie dough was waiting for her. Grabbing the wooden rolling pin her hands, she covered it with flour like she remembered seeing people on tv do before. Then she set about flattening out the ball.

Trip paused for a moment to smile fondly at his girl then grabbed his phone to take a picture.

 Hearing the ‘click’ of a photo being taken, the brunette looked up.

“Did you just take a picture of me flattening dough?”

Trip smirked.

“Yeah, I did. What are you going to do about it?”

The brunette shook her head, trying to hide the pleased smile.

“So how thin do I make this for optimal sugar cookies?”

Her boyfriend walked over and stood behind her, looking down to check out her handy work.

“A quarter of an inch is the best and….you did it. Great job, babe. Let’s grab the cookie cutters and sprinkles.”

Skye leaned up and pecked his cheek. She never had a real Christmas until she met him.

“Have I told you lately that I love you?”

He looked down and smiled.

“Yeah but you know, I always love hearing it.”

“I love you, Antoine Triplett and nothing you could do, would ever make me stop.”

“And I love you, Skye, more than you could possibly imagine.”

Skye couldn’t resist kissing him for a few moments, still amazed he chose to be with her; the woman without a family that was living day to day.

“Alright, let’s finish these cookies then make some hot chocolate that we can drink while watching a movie.”

The brunette grabbed a Christmas tree cut out, floured it then pressed it into the dough. She carefully removed it then gently popped out the dough, placing it on a sheet tray. Repeating the process, she cut out several more trees while her boyfriend did the same with the reindeer cookie cutter.

“These are good but let’s make ‘em great. Grab the colored sprinkles and pour ‘em on.”

“I am glad that I get to do this with you, Trip.”

“Me too, girl. Me too.”

Several minutes later, two trays of sugar cookies sit decorated and waiting for their turn in the oven as Trip is at the stove preparing the hot chocolate.

“Ooh, that looks good. You gonna share the recipe?”

“Now….you know, that’s a secret unless you’re a part of the family.”

Skye smirked.

“One day, Trip. One day….”

She pecked his cheek then moved to take the cookies out of the oven so the last batches could go in so they could spend the rest of their day on the couch. Of course, the moment that she turned away….the brunette missed the look of wonder on her boyfriend’s face at her proclamation.

Once the cookies were finished and cooling, the couple headed into their living room with the hot chocolate. Skye set up the movie then joined her boyfriend on the couch. Relaxing into Trip’s embrace, the brunette let out a sigh of contentment.

“Now, what was that sigh for?”

She looked up at him and smiled softly.