bakerstreet | they are the hunters, we are the foxes

they are the hunters, we are the foxes - and we run

the ON THE RUN meme

Sometimes, these things happen. Sometimes, you're in just the wrong place at just the right time, or you've made the wrong (or right, depending on your intentions) person mad. Sometimes it's better for everyone if you just go. Sometimes there isn't time for good-bye.

LOST
You've managed to lose yourself somewhere out there, for whatever reason it was. Maybe you took someone with you (willingly? not?), or you found someone else who needed to disappear as badly as you did. You're in your car, or a cheap hotel, or a house by the side of the road. What else can you do but watch, and wait?

FOUND
It could have been as simple as being glimpsed at the 7-11. Your phoneline wasn't as secure as you thought. You locked eyes with the wrong person across the room. Now the house of cards is collapsing, and maybe not just your life, but the lives of everyone you love could be in jeopardy now. The walls are closing in, and your arms are giving out.

RULES
- post with your character's name and canon. if you have an on-the-run AU, or scenarios you might want to play out, mention them here.
- find others. tag them.
- and then, run.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I love you too," Sarah murmured once the kiss came to an end. It was hard to not initiate any kiss and another and another until they were drunk off of them. That would only lead to them laying down between the sheets and cuddle up. It was too soon to initiate anything sexual, they needed time to heal from everything. But even saying she loved him helped heal the cracks in her soul.

As for not leaving her side, she would do the same. Never again would she take off on him, hide and disappear, even if she thought it was for the best. No, she wouldn't want to be apart from him for so long. If she planned anything, she would involve him first. Though, she had to clarify what she meant. As much as she was happy to know he wouldn't leave her or their child, she had to explain what she meant.

"I meant, when the baby is born, don't leave her. Don't let her out of her sight, stay within arm's reach. I don't care what'll happen t'me, just make sure Kira is in your arms." That's what was most important, to make sure no one else would hold onto Kira any longer than they had to.

They would be in a very vulnerable time frame. As wonderful of a time of their child's birth would be, it would dangerous. This would be the time for HYDRA, or any other agency to try and steal their child or kill one or both of them. It only reaffirmed her choice in staying away from hospitals. There were too many variables there for them to control. They would need a special place for when she went into labor. God...she couldn't wait for that to happen.

"Promise me, Trip...please promise me that."

"I promise. I promise she won't be taken anywhere away from us," he swore with eyes meeting hers. Antoine hated hearing her say that she didn't care what happened to her but understood. There was comfort in seeing how Sarah had bonded with the idea of their child. His worry had been that she would terminate the pregnancy when they first discussed the news. She had never said what decision she had made that last night together.

There was still so much unknown about how the pregnancy would conclude or her health after. It would be a cruel fate to have Sarah back only to actually lose her. Trip had no guarantee that he wouldn't have to mourn her a second time. He'd bury his grief in raising their little girl. "Kira will never be out of sight, ever." His voice was reassuring even though he still had a number of concerns. They would have to pry their daughter out of his cold dead arms...but he'd keep that thought to himself.

His arms slid from the embrace around her torso back to one hand resting on her belly and the other at her back. "Have you eaten?" he softly asked, wanting to veer away from the topic of 'worst case scenario' for the moment. The feeling of loss was too fresh an open wound for him. Sarah being close was a balm as long as he didn't have to continue entertaining the idea of losing her again. Trip was uncertain of his role in her life now. He wanted to find some clarity there.

However, they could stand to get some breakfast first. Or maybe it was time for dinner? The day had gotten away from him, catching up on loss sleep over the past months. He also could do with a shower after sleeping on the couch for twelve hours or more. Yet he only looked tiredly at Sarah to see what her needs were.

Sarah released a breath she didn't know she was holding until Trip swore to her no one would take their child away. It was scary to know her child could be taken away. She knew what sort of tricks and tactics HYDRA would implement if they knew she was carrying a child. They would view it as property that needed to be retrieved. As for her, they would want to either put her six feet under, or do other tests to see if she was capable of carrying more lives. Whatever the case, she wouldn't have to worry about that for the moment. No, all the worrisome thoughts could be placed inside a small box and tucked away. They needed a moment to get back into the grove of things. They needed time to be intimate, to get reacquainted with one another before their child came into this world.

"Good..." she murmured, closing her eyes briefly to press a soft kiss to his forehead.

As for his question, she didn't need to eat. Well, maybe she should have some water to keep herself hydrated, but no, she wasn't hungry. Him on the other hand, he needed to take care of himself. A shower, food, and a chance to lay down on the bed. Maybe not in that order, but he needed to recover.

"I'm fine. You though..." there was a weak smile on her lips. "You look like shit." Before he could utter anything else, she pressed her forehead to his. "Let me make you somethin'. You can shower and I'll have a sandwich or pastry warmed up for you." A chance for her to take care of him. to make up for the lost time in Miami. though, if he refused, she wouldn't argue. She wasn't placing her needs first, right now she wanted to take care of him.

"Or if you're fearful of my cookin', there's the coffee shop two blocks down."

There was his Sarah. Calling it like she saw it. She'd been that way since day one and it was what had kept them together since the admission of being Hydra. A force stronger than both of them put them in the other's life as a compliment to one another. He was patient, caring and kind to her while she had been brash, independent and relentless. It almost seemed in the moment that they had reversed roles; she took care of of their unborn child while he was hellbent on avenging her.

She always had a nurturing side though she didn't seem to see it. This wasn't her first time offering to take care of him. Even before her reveal, Sarah had cooked and helped care for any injuries he suffered on an assignment. She had a few cuts to look after again now in addition to making him a meal. "When have I been fearful of your cooking, Woman? You know my mom even tried making me Bangers and Mash not too long ago?" The question was rhetorical.

He gave her a tired smirk while continuing on. "Her way of trying to make me remember good times." Antoine gave Sarah a soft peck on the lips then helped her stand. "I'll eat whatever you make," he concluded before having to talk about how he grieved over the past weeks. Once upright, he pulled off his shirt which revealed new scars since she saw him last along with fresh bruises. The cuts were on more exposed areas rather than the layers of shirts and jackets that he wore.

Trip slung the shirt over one shoulder before picking up his backpack to look for a fresh set of clothes. The first item out of the bag was the last item he packed from his quarters on the bus; a picture of them that took the place of the one he usually carried of him with his mother. There were other pictures in his laptop, tablet and phone but he always kept at least one hard copy. He was a traditionalist that way. The picture was set out on the coffee table while he continued digging in the bag.

After some ammunition, charges and tech were also set out--he finally got to his clothes. It was probably confusing for Sarah to understand the logic behind what he packed. Or maybe not. She couldn't blame him for preparing the way he did. He obviously didn't know what was going to happen when arriving to the hotel she told him about. Plan for the worst, hope for the best. The miracle was he could still manage to hope.

"Well my skills might be a bit rusty..." Considering how she had to lay low that didn't mean she could make trips to a store for proper ingredients, or find a hotel that had a stove in it. Luckily for them, she found one similar to the condo they were staying in back in Miami. She managed to make eggs and toast for herself. The hardest thing about that meal was making the eggs without throwing up. She didn't know why her pregnancy was making her so weird around eggs.

Her weak smile turned into a softer one hearing what Trip's mum did for him. She wanted to whisper how sorry she was for leaving him, but the words never left her lips. There was nothing she could about what happened, only try to make up for it with the time they had together. She slowly got up and off of his lap, moving towards the kitchen. Out of the corner of her eye she saw him take his shirt off. Craning her head, she paused to look over the scars on his body. Guilt filled her then, knowing she was the reason why his body was damaged like that.

Swallowing her words, she moved to the kitchen to make Trip toast and eggs too. She rummaged around to find some mushrooms to add on top of the eggs. A simple breakfast would do him well. She didn't want to give him anything that might send his body into a short state of shock. Though she watched him from afar, she wasn't aware of what he was eating, or not. If he was working out and starving himself of carbs or sugars, giving either to him now might give him an upset stomach, or heartburn. So it was best if she stuck to something flavorful and simple.

In the midst of cooking she looked back to him again, noting the picture he had of them along with the ammunition and tech. He was preparing for an all out battle with her, something she could not blame him in the least. If anything, she would've carried twice as much just in case she thought back up wouldn't be too far away. Breathing out a soft sigh, she plated his breakfast, grabbed a napkin and utensils then went back to his side.

"I didn't burn the rye this time." Because she had actually paid attention to the temperatures on the toaster oven. Her eyes flickered to the photo of them, blinking back some wetness in her eyes.

"Didn't think you'd actually like that picture of us." Taken during one of the colder seasons where rain continued to fall. They looked happy then...granted, it was taken when she was still a HYDRA agent, but even she could see the love in her eyes then.

"You might want to get another frame." She moved to the bed, going through the files that were scattered around before taking out a picture he would want to keep. Sarah moved back to him, giving him the photo of her last ultrasound.

"That's what I was doin' yesterday. I was hopin' you'd come here so I could at least give you that."

Playfully, he scoffed lightly at her talk about being rusty at cooking. They weren't in a place with a state of the art kitchen but it was a lot like their condo in Miami. She knew him well enough to know that anything made from scratch was what he'd opt for over fast food or junk food. Sarah used to like ribbing him for being a momma's boy, preferring a home cooked meal than bar food or a drive-thru. He grew to like her cooking as much as he liked his mom's because it was made with love.

She never believed him when he'd smile and say he could taste love in the food she made. They hadn't come around to admitting feelings for one another but Trip would use the word often, he loved her laugh or smile or cooking or watching her on top... a number of loves, he shared with Sarah. Until finally telling her that he loved her. And she him. That love created life. A little girl they both had yet to meet but already loved.

The shower helped him shake off the slight haze he felt from all the sleep. Water stung on the taped cut over his brow, graze on the side of his neck and the nicks on the top of his hands. He didn't even flinch at the pain. It was laughable over what he experienced the past couple of months. In fact, the sting helped wake him up a little. The bruising on his torso was more uncomfortable than the cuts but that didn't faze him either.

Antoine was out in fresh clothes with a towel draped over the top of his head until he placed his dirty clothes in a laundry bag from behind the bathroom door. The room was pretty top notch. He liked the feeling of the carpet under his bare feet. The towel was hung over the shower curtain bar to dry before he returned to her in the kitchenette. "Love every picture of us," he responded after a bright smile at her word on not burning the toast.

He already took a bite when she mentioned him getting another frame. His appetite was returning. It wasn't as if he lost weight in her absence, his body was battered but a lot more muscular. Trip spent the time he couldn't sleep or work on a mission by working out and training. He was already in good shape before where this hardened version almost didn't seem like him. At least, that was what Skye and Jemma kept telling him.

The bangers and mash were one of the few real meals he ate in Sarah's absence. It would be amazing if he didn't inhale the eggs she made as hunger returned with his spirits improving. However, he put the fork down and picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth and hands before looking at the photo she brought him. He walked back to where the photo was that he brought and opened up the frame, placing the small picture just under their faces and putting the picture frame back together.

"And baby makes three," was all he commented after putting the picture together. A smile had remained on his face since exiting the shower. He kept the frame to look at the ultrasound picture, propping up the item near where he'd been eating. It was time to talk about where they would go and how they'd proceed but Antoine couldn't bring himself there yet. "You and the baby healthy?" he asked while shoving the bite of food in his cheek to talk then continuing to eat.

Sarah wasn't expecting him to pick up the photo and place it in the same frame as the one he currently had. She thought he might want to keep them separated, though knowing him he wanted their family to stay together, even in photos. Family meant a lot to him, something she never quite understood until their feelings for each other were known. When his life was in danger, a bullseye painted on his back by HYDRA, she finally understood why he would do anything for family. It was more than just blood, the ties, the emotions and connections were what he wanted to protect.

He wanted to protect his family. Some how he included her into his world, expanded hers and created a new world for themselves with their child. If anyone ever asked Sarah what her life would be like, she would have never expected this. A life with someone who loved him, not a lab experiment, not under the rule of an organization, or with a child in her womb. It was all surreal at times. As though everything was just a dream meant to keep her mind occupied while she slept and body tested for any defects.

There were some nights when she woke up panting for breath, a cold sweat and wondering if HYDRA conducting their tests. Even when she was with Trip in his old apartment, she woke up in the same fashion, wondering if there was a scientist around the corner with needle in hand to knock her out. In the beginning she explained it was a nightmare that woke her up, but after revealing her true nature to him, it became clear why. He held her during those times, kissing the side of her head and helped her fall back asleep. When they were separated she had no idea she would come to miss his touch so much at those points.

"Yeah, the doc at the clinic said vitals were normal. Could use more sleep, though." To which she just shrugged her shoulders. She could get more sleep when she was dead. Being on the run, taking the prenatal bills, and eating were what she could accomplish to keep their child healthy. Thus far she had been doing a damn good job of it.

Sarah moved away from him to grab him a glass of water, though she slightly hesitated, wondering if he wanted milk instead, but went with water. If he waned milk, he could tell her.

"Before the base was destroyed I grabbed my files, or anything relating t'me. They're on the bed." There were some answers there, or at least she hoped there were. Maybe Simmons or someone else would be able to find something to keep her from dying too soon. Her eyes roamed over to Trip's body again, noticing how much he'd change. Not just with his scars but the added muscle there. It wasn't how she remembered him, granted he was smiling, but he wouldn't have to go to the gym for a while.

"I'm due in another 5 or 6 months. Still have time." To get things ready or figure out what the hell they were going to do.

"You're five or six months," he gently corrected. The date on her ultrasound picture showed twenty-three weeks which was consistent with the time lapsed since he last saw her and the way her belly showed. "We only have three or four more months." Trip didn't think much about her slip. Sarah easily could have had her mind on her showdown with Hydra. She would have had five or six months left then.

He didn't call attention yet to her words about needing more sleep. Antoine could sympathize with her there. Maybe she wasn't grieving a death but Sarah had taken on a faction of Hydra while a life was growing inside her. He also remembered the nightmares she used to have. Granted, in the beginning, she made up a story about her bad dreams but eventually he learned the truth. She was alone having to deal with those fears again.

The breakfast she made was quickly gone. He was sipping on water as she looked at the picture frame. "So you've had almost two months to look at them. Find anything?" Sarah had been sleeping with the papers strewn about the bed. There had to be something of interest she continued looking at. It was better to focus on something in the present than continue thinking of the past. He set his glass down after finishing the water and swaggered over to the bed where the papers were.

His eyes scanned the printed text, pictures and graphs. The truth was that Antoine didn't really feel like looking at data. He turned to look at Sarah, observing her better than the paperwork she mentioned. He didn't hear a word of her response to his question with his mind reeling. She was alive and pregnant. More than that, healthy. There was a bit of a circle from lack of sleep under her eyes that matched his. A bit of swelling from the tears shed. He couldn't stop staring at her.

She would possibly be mad that he couldn't focus on work at the moment. His mind slowly started singing Can't Take My Eyes Off of You. It wasn't lust driven as it had been at times in the past. Sarah was radiant, regardless of her tired eyes. He didn't just want her physically. Trip felt as if he could only be whole with her in his life. With that thought, it should have been important to look through the files and find any information on her mortality.

He silenced the song in his head and took a seat on the edge of the nightstand, looking over the papers. Sarah would probably repeat what she had said if he didn't give any kind of response.

"Come again?" Sarah swore she had more time than a handful of months. She should have five months left before her delivery date. Not three or four! Yes, her mind had wandered back to HYDRA when she was talking about what she was able to grab and learn from her files. But she didn't think she got her dates mixed up....did she? Unless she was thinking of something else, and now her stomach was starting to rumble. God, she swore nothing she ate would ever be enough for her body.

The brunette had to get her mind wrapped back around the files at hand.

"No, it's..." her eyes fell back to the files before letting out a frustrated sigh. She raised her hand to push back her bangs, not realizing Antoine's mind had wandered away from what she was doing to elsewhere. If she found out what he was doing, yes, she would be upset. However, that would imply she was that observant at this moment. Lately her mind had a tendency to wander, despite her best efforts.

"It's frustratin' and I can't make heads or tails. It's more about the genetic sequences that make up my DNA, but even that's blacked out at some points. Whatever is there....I don't know if it's about my biology or how much of a pain in the arse I am."

She moved away from the bed to head back into the kitchen to grab a strip of bacon she cooked from earlier, opting to nibble on that. The salty, sweet taste was amazing...and now she wanted more. And now she was getting a craving for rice as well, or stir fried rice and...she hated her hormones, really she did.

"Think it's more frustrain' with this feeling t'eat constantly." Like really, she could eat breakfast then two minutes later crave something else. So far she had been doing a good job of limiting how much she was indulging. When she went back to HYDRA for those brief weeks, she couldn't let anyone know she was pregnant. She had to keep her morning sickness to a minimum and resist to eat anything in sight. Now that was free from those binds, she snacked here and there...but she wasn't about to eat every single thing in sight.

Her hand reached back for another strip of bacon, nibbling on that and hoping it would silence her stomach's growls. She tilted her head to the side wondering if Trip heard her. He looked pensive...or he had spaced out.

"You okay there?"

Edited 2015-03-07 14:57 (UTC)

His smirk grew into a grin at her question. "I'm great. Great," he repeated while leaving the paperwork and closing the distance between them. Trip wrapped her gently in his arms and gave the side of her head a kiss. "You need to eat and rest. Let me worry about this for a little while. There's some caffeine free teas out there that I'll get you. And healthy stuff you can snack on that won't leave you feeling guilty. You're more than halfway there now. Then we'll have Kira to fuss over."

He kept a positive grin though his heart fell slightly at his own words. There was no getting back the time lost but Trip was still grateful to have the time that they had together now. A moment in time didn't compare to not having Sarah at all in his life. He might have zoned out while she was talking but his field operative training honed in his skills of acting as if he knew what he was talking about and assessed between the paperwork and watching her pick at food.

Hopefully she wouldn't be cross with him, possibly having said something important that he missed. "But until then, you've got my undivided attention to fuss over you. I'll find what work I can do without leaving you for more than a couple hours. You gotta promise to tell me if you're getting sick of me. No taking off again. Not even to the store. I can't feel like you're gone again any time soon," he concluded with a very serious tone and pleading eyes.

"Tell me how it's been," Trip changed gears slightly into the topic of filling him in on what he missed while she was gone. He spoke with a hand rubbing her belly after yet another kiss to her head before stepping away to start cleaning up the kitchen.

Sarah still cast a wary glance at Trip, not completely buying his reply, but didn't question it. If she didn't know any better she would have sworn he wasn't paying attention to her, though given how round her middle was, it didn't a genius to know what she was talking about. Food was a semi-top priority for her, but it wasn't until she got pregnant that she forced herself to be more aware of what and when she ate. How much she was eating, what was in certain foods and the like. Really, reading labels and the like could make anyone go crazy after a while. Thank God she wasn't counting her caloric intake too.

She leaned into his embrace, smiling a little at the mention of tea. A hot cup of tea would do her good right now. Maybe lemon, raspberry, or the peppermint blend he bought her to help battle her morning sickness.

"'S not like I'm feelin' guilty, but its the fact that I have t'eat." Because it wasn't her that was hungry, but their baby. Kira was the one who needed more food in order to grow. Sarah was always reminded of that whenever her stomach growled and she felt some movement. It was as though their daughter was trying to throw a fit when she wasn't being fed enough.

"Pretty sure you wouldn't mind eatin' constantly," she teased.

There was a slow nod of her head, understanding she wouldn't so much as open the front door without letting him know what her intentions were. Honestly, she couldn't blame him considering how much hell she put him through. She would need to rebuild that trust with him. If that meant letting him know what she was doing and where she was going, then so be it. Besides, there wasn't much for a 'dead' person to do anyway.

"It's been...hectic...chaotic. Goin' back t'HYDRA was hard, especially with them breathin' down my neck. They're not the most...forgiving people." That was the nicest way she could put it. They put her through stressors, trying to break her body not knowing of the life she carried inside. Sarah had to be careful to hide her pregnancy, monitoring her own behavior and mannerisms. If she ate too much people would talk, if she crawled to the bathroom to throw up, she might get tested. She had to keep her guard up at all times.

"But...that's in the past.." she murmured, moving to lean against the kitchen counter.

"...How will you tell them?" No doubt SHIELD would want its best agent back in a matter of days. She knew Trip well enough to know he wouldn't consider leaving his team abruptly.

He had always been the one between them to be more concerned with food. Trip kept up his energy by snacking between meals and trying not to miss any when possible. Her teasing was spot on and earned a genuine smirk. If Sarah were a terrible cook then maybe he wouldn't eat them out of house and home. Only with her pregnancy symptoms had he taken over the cooking of meals. She had always been good enough to cook for him before, even if it might have been under the idea of poisoning him for Hydra.

Those days of him being her target were long gone as far as he was concerned. He appreciated her accepting his terms for the future and filling him in on the time recently gone. "With the destruction of that site--it was all of Dyad, as far as anyone can tell--there isn't any evidence left of Project Leda. You'll be safe from Hydra. You and Kira will be safe." His words were steady, keeping emotion out of what was spoken.

It was hard thinking of what might have happened when Sarah had initially returned to them. Had she or the baby been exposed to anything? Weeks had passed from the last he saw her until discovering the destruction of the base. Antoine focused on the fact that mother and child were now safe, and healthy. They did have to leave things in the past in order to move forward which was what he truly wanted.

"The team?" The question was rhetorical mostly. It wasn't as if there were many other options. He was certain she meant SHIELD and not his relatives at the moment. "I think it'd be better to just show 'em. You'll have to explain skipping out to Coulson. That should come from you. But I'll explain where we go from here. Which is that we're not raising a baby on a base. I'll do what I can for the team and SHIELD in the capacity of being a dad who's mostly home..."

It was strange hearing himself speak though he spoke with conviction. Antoine readily accepted the news of becoming a father but honestly couldn't say that was how he yet saw himself. However, he knew it would happen once their daughter was born. He stood also leaning on the counter, unconsciously folding his arms over his chest--careful of the cuts and bruises on his body. "...Not sure if Miami's where we should be raising a little girl. We gotta give that some thought too."

There was a slow, solemn nod of her head. It would be best for her to tell Coulson what she did. No doubt everyone would be shocked about what happened. Skye would probably throw a fit, May might glare at her and...the others whose name she could not remember for the life of her, she would probably get heated remarks from. Whatever, as long as Trip was happy with her return, that's all that mattered.

As for raising their baby, well, she cocked an eyebrow there. So he wanted to be an agent and be a dad at the same time.

"That'll be interestin' t'juggle. I can only imagine what you'll tell our child about your job--!" Her eyes went wide for a moment, pointing a finger at him. "Don't you dare tell her you're a superhero. I don't want her t'put on a cape an' try t'fly around like bloody Superman and shit." God no, she would not have her daughter thinking that was okay. Superheros did exist, but they didn't wear capes or have the urge to fly around to show off. If anything she would train their daughter to be a cross between her and Trip; strong enough to physically take down anyone, and mentally sharp to outwit someone.

As for where they would raise her...Miami seemed to be the place. They seemed to fit in there and they knew the area well enough. No one would think to look for them there.

"We could think about it, or just do it. We managed well there..." Minus her morning sickness and running off...but everything was fine there. The beach, the warm weather. The only thing that was unsettling was the potential for tsunami's and hurricanes, but they knew how to handle themselves in those instances.

"We just have t'keep a low profile. As long as we're not stuck in Amish country, we'll be fine."

Sarah didn't have to worry about having an audience when she explained to Coulson. The SHIELD director would see her alone or maybe just with May present who wasn't one to wear her feelings for anyone to easily read. Not even someone as highly trained by Hydra as Sarah had been.

That didn't mean the others wouldn't have questions or pass judgment. If his friendship meant anything to them, they would behave around the woman who was carrying his child. Then again, maybe because they considered him a close friend would some of them voice their unhappiness with the ruse Sarah carried out. Skye would probably be the loudest and most difficult to convince that the pregnant woman wasn't carrying an ulterior motive.

He would cross that bridge when it came. After everything they had gone through over the past couple of months, each friend had to know the toll it took him to lose Sarah. There was no confusing his love for her. Either the team would come on board or Trip would part ways. If made to choose, the choice was obvious.

Antoine could only chuckle at her leap to what he might tell their child about his job. "Superman's an alien. You don't have to worry about me ever telling her that." His smile waned but his expression remained soft. "We have time to worry about what she understands and what she doesn't." He leaned back against the counter, hands at each side resting off the edge as they talked. His head leaned to a side as he thought about what she said.

Miami wasn't a far stretch from the weather in California that he grew up with. His granddad had been a fan of the east coast but made a move to keep his family safe. That didn't mean Antoine didn't make trips with his grandpa. The same could be said for Kira. He sadly knew she wouldn't be able to grow up around his family until the numbers in Hydra were almost wiped out. "What's wrong with Amish country? You look good in black," he teased with a wink.

Sarah stared at Antoine with a glare in her eyes. Regardless of where his cuts and bruises were, she raised her hand to slap his arm. No, she would not move to a place where people had to use horse and buggy to get around. She would end up losing her mind if she couldn't do something more advanced than churning butter. Nor would she let her daughter grow up believing everything outside their home was evil. But, she was taking all of this seriously. He was joking and her mind just ran with the idea which made her skin crawl.

"I should have hit you harder for that." the words were muttered, uttered softly beneath her breath. She moved to stand next to him, to the other side of him that she didn't hit. Being apart for so long, she didn't like the idea of being too far apart. For once, she maybe the one who wanted more contact between the two of them, than him. It wasn't like her to reach out and initiate anything unless she was in the mood. Granted, she was, but now wasn't the time to reconnect on that level. Besides, she wasn't even sure how they would go about it, considering her baby bump.

Though now, her mind was more focused on what they were going to do once she went back to talk to Coulson. She wasn't fearful of her own punishment, but how they would take it out on her child, or Trip. Whatever, she could get through it. If they wanted to take her into prison, then fine, she would go through that for Trip.

"But...Miami wouldn't be bad. Nice weather, no one would notice us...could see more than just the four walls of a condo." Something she couldn't do because she was ready to throw up every five minutes. It was just an idea, but they could virtually move anywhere, provided it was safe and secure for them to raise their daughter.

Though, in moving...that left the question of, would Trip want more children? Or could she have more kids or even get through the next number of years without dying? They had more heavy topics to talk about, but she didn't want to ruin the nice and calm atmosphere they established now.

There was the Sarah he first met! He liked the softer side since her admission and pregnancy but Antoine never expected her to completely change from the woman he had fallen for. That woman didn't care if he was injured, smacking his arm at him uttering something outlandish. He chuckled, barely wincing at the hit--little to do with her strength and everything to do with the pain being minor compared to what he felt over the past few months.

He leaned over and kissed her temple when she moved to his side, regardless of how annoyed she might have been with him. "Can't blame me for finding you sexy," he quipped before Sarah went on about Miami. Trip knew full well the hit had nothing to do with him finding her attractive. His arms moved off the edge and carefully crossed in front of his chest. Again, his head dropped to one side in thought.

"You finally gonna wear a two piece for me?" he teased again with a little nudge of his hip toward her. It was no secret that all his feelings were still there for her. Trip didn't think Sarah was remotely in the mood but he was also returning to his old self. That old self flirted and teased while looking to the bright side of nearly everything. He would want more kids if she could safely have them. The most important thing to him was being with her for as long as possible.

He smirked before sporting an earnest grin, a sign of simmering from teasing to joining her in a real conversation. "Sounds like you're sold on Miami." He gave a nod as if to accept the idea. "I'll go wherever you want. Wherever you are, that's home." His arms unfolded and one moved lightly around her. Antoine lowered his head again to give her head a kiss as if to seal what he said with the action.

The softer side of Sarah took her for a loop, never thinking she could be motherly or be remotely connected to the word. She was jagged, sharp, and dry most of the time. Never one to take anyone's BS except HYDRA's. Then she withstood SHIELD's own policies and crap before going rouge--something she wasn't planning on doing again ever. She didn't want to leave Trip, herself, or their child in such a vulnerable state. If she dared to even think of doing anything like disappearing every again, she was sure Trip would never forgive. Never look her in the eyes, or want to be in her presence.

Prior to falling for him, that wouldn't have bothered her at all. She would have taken that opportunity to shoot him in the head, in the back, or fired off multiple rounds. HYDRA's goals always came first. They wanted him dead to do who knows what to his body, or just to pick off another SHIELD agent. Sarah didn't care, once an order was given she would bitch, complain, but still get it done.

Now, she couldn't fathom the thought of doing any permanent damage to him. Sure she could swat his arm, take him down in a spar, or fire off several rounds at target practice, but not him. She would not lose him.

Did she want to hit him again? Yes, but after that kiss to her temple, Sarah simmered down. Sooner or later her patience would have to be strengthened considering she was due in a matter of months. Best to practice now than when she had a crying new born in her arms with several days of little to no sleep. Though, she would have to learn how to deal with a newborn and still withstand some of Trip's more endearing (and at times very annoying) quips.

Sarah rolled her eyes at him. "What is wit you an' a bloody two piece? You've seen me naked, I would think you'd want me like that than with anythin' on." Or if he really wanted her in a two piece she could just wear her bra and panties. It was basically the same thing, right?

But, since they were sold on Miami then she would have to find a decent one, wear it for him, and then have him finally shut up about it. There was a light scoff as those arms came around her. She slowly returned the embrace, leaning forward to rest her head on his shoulder. All corniness aside, she was trying to do right by him.

"I want us t'have a home together. I don't want it t'depend on me, but us."

"Hell, yeah I want you naked, but not for the whole world to see. I plan on us leaving the house from time to time. You in a bikini when we go on the beach is eye candy until I get you home," he answered through a grin while wrapping Sarah up in both arms. Her head had rested on his shoulder as the perfect invite to snatch her up. Everything had been so grin for too long. The team would be awed at seeing him come around the way he was with Sarah.

The spark in him had been snuffed out and the man who always had a smile for everyone was a distant memory in the past two months. He had chastised himself terribly for the loss, guilt ridden at not having protected Sarah better. Who she saw now was far from the jaded and cynical man the SHIELD team had put up with for weeks. There was no doubt in his mind that his friends would be anything but happy for him now.

Yet he wasn't rushing to give them the news. Trip recognized that there were things to hash out between him and Sarah first. "Babe...home'll be wherever we are. That's all I'm sayin'. Us together. Not in the tundra, that's for sure. I'll take a pass on Canada and the Midwest too while we're at it. If not Miami then maybe Myrtle Beach or the Outer Banks up in the Carolinas. Kira'll grow up around the four seasons. I think the schools are better in Miami though..."

Visibly, he drifted from the conversation in thought. "I spent that week after you left looking into stuff for her," he uttered softly. His shoulders gave a light shake as if to shake feelings from the past away. "I think the condo will be a good start for us. She'll be a baby for a year. It'll give us time to figure things out." The thought of Sarah's health hadn't evaded him. He might not have talked about the darker things but it didn't mean he had forgotten them.

There would be time for more difficult conversation. His heart couldn't take preparing for a life without Sarah again so soon. He'd stay dedicated to SHIELD in hope they could find a cure for her. Trip knew his daughter would also need proper looking after medically under the circumstances. Having mother and their child to be in his life returned hope of a happy life. There would be a silver lining. All three deserved that much.

"I want you to get some rest today. Tomorrow we see Coulson and the team."

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they are the hunters, we are the foxes - and we run

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