"My name is Jemma Simmons by the way, it's lovely to meet you," the young girl explained with a smile as she stared at the strangers in wonder.

"Um hi, my name is the Doctor and this is Rose," the Doctor explained as Rose smiled and waved, "and this is Grant," Grant nodded at the little girl.

"Hello! How did you get here? I was standing right in front of where you just appeared out of thin air! You weren't here a minute ago and then all of the sudden you were! Is that a spaceship? Are you aliens?" She started speaking probably 100 words a minute.

"Slow down sweetie, catch your breath," started Rose, "yes it is a spaceship, the doctor here is an alien called a Time Lord, but me and Grant are normal humans just like you."

"You said he was called a Time Lord, are you three time travelers?" Jemma asked excitedly.

"You're very smart aren't you?" the Doctor asked with a smile, "how old are you?"

"I'm 8! But my mummy and daddy and scientists so Fitz and I know a lot of stuff because of them."

"Who's Fitz? Is he your brother?"

"Oh no, he's my best friend! Come on, I'll take you to meet them!"

"Oh uh... Ok" said the Doctor as she grabbed his hand and pulled him along towards her house. Rose and Grant stared at them for a few seconds before bursting into laughter, a little while later they ran to catch up with the Doctor and Jemma.

______________________

"Oh good you're home, Jemma would you mind setting the table- oh!" Mrs. Simmons exclaimed as her daughter opened the front door to reveal three strangers standing sheepishly on her doorstep.

"Hi mum! This is the Doctor and Rose and Grant! They're time travelers that also travel through space and they just popped right out of thin air right in front of me! And the doctor is an alien!" she said the last sentence slowly as she pointed at the Doctor for emphasis.

"I see..."

"Sorry to intrude Mrs. Simmons, but your daughter started talking to us and before I knew it she was dragging me by the hand to come and meet you," the Doctor explained as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"No it's fine," said Mrs. Simmons with a warm smile, "Jemma loves making new friends," she smiled teasingly at her young daughter.

"Mum! Their spaceship is broken and they don't have anywhere to stay can they stay in our guest house? Pleeeaaasssse?" Jemma asked with puppy dog eyes.

"Oh Jemma dear it's fine, we can just go get a hotel," said Rose.

Mrs. Simmons protested, "absolutely not, we have a guest house just about a block away from here, I insist you stay until you can get everything of yours sorted out."

"Well thank you very much Mrs. Simmons."

"Here let me show you the way," she turned the oven off, grabbed the spare key and led them out the door. As they were walking Jemma would occasionally point out different shops and places that she liked to eat. Everyone else could barely get a word in.

"Here we are!" Said Mrs. Simmons, "you can stay here as long as you like, we have dinner at 6 every evening so feel free to pop in whenever you need, just please remember to return the key when you finish your stay here."

Jemma ran up to the bedrooms to show Rose and the doctor where they were going to stay but Grant stayed downstairs.

"Something wrong dear?"

"No, it's just that, you only just met us a few minutes ago when your daughter told you we were time travelers and yet you trust us enough to give us a key to your house and shelter in one of your guest houses. Why are you so trusting? Do you normally take in strays or something?"

"Well we took in my daughter's best friend Fitz when his dad died, his mother had to work even harder to support the both of them. We also rent this place out occasionally," she shrugged.

"I just don't get it, how you can trust us after only a few minutes?"

"I'll let you in on a little secret, I have something like a superpower, it's not a really a superpower, but I like to call it that. I can tell when people are telling the truth, and you and your friends were- so I believe you."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that."

"Well then, thank you, Mrs. Simmons," Grant replied sincerely, even though he was still unsure about the whole ordeal.

"No problem, dear, now go get settled, and please tell Jemma that it's time for us to return home."

"Of course, Mrs. Simmons, we'll see you tomorrow then I guess."

"That sounds fine."

--------3 months later--------

"Grant! I need you to test this for me please," yelled Mr. Simmons from the living room.

"What is it?" the teenager popped his head in as he heard his name being called.

"I think I've finally modified the dendrotoxin gun, can you shoot it at that target over there?"

"Sure thing, Mr. Simmons," said Grant as he picked up the gun in his right hand. He aimed at the target and hit it straight in the center.

"So... how is it?" Mr. Simmons asked excitedly.

"I think it's your best one yet."

Mr. Simmons wrapped him in a hug, which Grant gladly returned. The Simmons family and Fitz had become like a family to him these past three months.

"Grant!!!" Said Rose, "the doctor's fixed the TARDIS, we can go home now!" Rose exclaimed as she walked through the front door with a smile.

Grant's face fell, "Rosie, there's nothing left for me back home. Do you think that I could stay here, buy my own apartment and the join the S.H.I.E.L.D academy that the Simmons' are always talking about?"

"Oh, well I suppose...if that's what you really want."

"It is."

They both looked sad at the thought of never seeing each other again. Rose tackled him in a hug, "I'm going to miss you."

"I'm gonna miss you too. But do me a favor?"

"What is it?"

"Tell the doctor how you feel, who knows? He might feel the same way," Grant smirked over her shoulder.

"I don't know Grant,"

"Just think about it."

"I will," she gave him a kiss on the cheek, "goodbye Grant."

"Bye Rose, thank you for everything."

After a few moments, everyone had said their goodbyes and the doctor and Rose had left. Grant turned to the Simmons family, "thank you for letting us stay at your guest house- here's your key."

"Here's the thing Grant, you're only 15. You're technically not even a legal adult so you wouldn't be able to buy your own place for three more years." His face paled as he realized what they were saying. "So we've been talking about it for the past few weeks and we've decided, if you're okay with it of course, that we'd like to adopt you."

Grant stared at them with wide eyes in shock.

"Are you serious?"

"Very serious," said Mrs. Simmons, "you've become like a son to me and my husband and a brother to Jemma and Fitz, and we would love to have you live with us."

Grant got all choked up. No one had ever wanted his this much before, "yes."

"Really?!" Said Jemma with hope in her voice, "you really want to stay?"

Grant smiled down at her, "yeah Jems, I really do."

She ran to go hug him and her parents did the same.

"We already have a room for you upstairs," said Mrs. Simmons, "so you don't have to live in the guest house anymore."

"Thank you. All of you. So much. For everything you've done for me. It really means a lot."

"You're welcome, my boy," said Mr. Simmons, "you've become like my son so we figured we'd like to legally and officially be able to call you our son.

Grant had never been happier in his life.

----- 3 years later -----

"Grant! Breakfast!" Jemma waited, then called again, "come on you lazy oaf! It's time for breakfast!"

She barged into his room and started jumping on his bed.

"I'm up! I'm up! Geez Jemma, you're not 8 anymore, you're 11 now, and you're a lot heavier than you used to be."

"Sorry," she grinned, not looking sorry at all. "Come downstairs! It's breakfast time!"

"Why are you so excited about breakfast?"

"Isn't food a good enough reason?" The eleven-year old rolled her eyes at her older brother. She then smiled, "and because there's a surprise for you."

"Really?"

"Yes really! Would I lie about something like this?"

"Yes," he dead panned. "Like the time two weeks ago when you told me something was very important so when I was walking down the stairs to see what you were talking about, I stepped on a trip wire and got a pie in my face."

"Yeah..." she grinned, remembering his face, "but this time I'm not lying!"

"Ok, ok, I'll be down in a minute."

"Ok bye!" She said as she ran from his room like a cheetah on a sugar rush.

"Note to self, never give that girl any sugar. Ever." Grant sighed as he rolled out of bed. He walked down the stairs and ate his breakfast, which was cereal, when his dad came into the kitchen.

"Grant! You have mail!"

"Me? Really?" He asked, curiously.

"Yes! Open it! Open it," the man urged.

Grant took the letter from his dad's hand and opened it. It was from S.H.I.E.L.D. He held his breath. This was it, the results of his testing telling him if he could get into Operations Academy.

Dear Mr. Grant Ward,

After reviewing your testing scores for you application to our Operations Academy, I believe you possess great potential.

I am pleased to announce that you have been accepted to the Academy as a first-year student and your term will begin on September 1st.

Please report to Agent Coulson when you arrive and he will tell you all that you need to know.

Nicholas J. Fury

Director of S.H.I.E.L.D

"Oh. My. Gosh."

"What?" Jemma questioned, though she already figured out what it was.

"I got in. I can't believe it, I got in!"

"To the academy?"

"Yeah."

"That's great!" Everyone ran to hug him.

"I always knew you were going to get in," said Mr. Simmons, "S.H.I.E.L.D would be fools to not let you enter."

"I'm so proud of you honey," said his mom, "I always knew you could do it."

----- 7 years later -----

"Jemma wake up. We have a surprise for you," said Jemma's mom, "it's waiting for you downstairs."

"Mum, I need sleep," the eighteen-year old girl grumbled.

She chuckled, "I know you do but it's time to get up and see your surprise. I told you that you shouldn't have stayed up so late experimenting."

"Yeah I know, I know. But once I start I just can't stop. I'll be down in a moment," she sighed begrudgingly as she peeled the blankets back.

Jemma's mom smiled and walked down the stairs. "She'll be down in a moment and she'll be very excited to see you. Do you have it?"

"Yes I do, and I'm very excited to see her too."

"I know you are, you two haven't seen each other in almost a year."

Just then they heard Jemma coming down the stairs, "so what's this big surprise then? Can it wait until after breakfast, I can't function without food," she explained as she walked down the stairs rubbing her eyes.

"Huh," the guest said, "I would've thought I was a little more important than breakfast."

Jemma turned her head, "Grant?!"

"Hey there," her older brother greeted her with a smirk.

She ran at him and hugged him tight while he spun her in a circle before setting her down.

"Look at you, you've grown since the last time I saw you."

"Grant you saw me just a little less than a year ago, I haven't grown that much," she rolled her eyes.

"I beg to differ, you're now a few inches taller and...Oh yeah, happy 18th birthday."

"Best birthday present ever," she smiled as she released him.

"I once again beg to differ. This is for you." He handed her an envelope from the pocket inside of his leather jacket.

She opened it.

Dear Ms. Jemma Simmons,

After viewing your outstanding work and off the charts testing scores, I am pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into the Science Academy. Under the supervision on Agent Weaver and your parents, I believe you'll make a great agent in a few years.

Nicholas J. Fury

Director of S.H.I.E.L.D

"Oh. My. Goodness. This is the best day ever!"

"Congratulations baby girl," said Mrs. Simmons, "I always knew you could do it.

"Me too," said her father, "I even think you and Fitz will be able to graduate early. You may end up only having to do 2 years at the academy instead of 4."

"Congrats," Grant smirked.

"Thanks guys," Jemma said as she hugged them all.