How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You

1| Christmas with the Coulsons

Phil's known May for eight years now.

They'd been best friends since they were recruited into their respective academies seven years ago, and every holiday, they'd travel back to see their families together. This year, they went to Phil's house first.

"You ready to go?" May asked, swinging her way into his dorm room. She had a bag slung over her shoulder. "I've been good to go for ten minutes!" she teased with a sing-song voice. She sat down on the bed. "Staring at pictures of your girlfriend again?"

Phil glanced at her over his shoulder, a small grin on his face. "No," he said. "And it's ex-girlfriend, now. Audrey broke up with me, remember?" Phil put on his jacket and picked up his bag. "Let's go."

They walked to the hangar quickly. "I wonder what your mom's going to make for dinner," May said eagerly, climbing into the pilot's chair. "Have I mentioned that I love her food?"

He rolled his eyes, sitting down beside her. "About a thousand times since last week," Phil retorted. "A gazillion since we've met."

"All deserved." May inspected the display and flicked a few switches. "I hope she makes her apple pie. I'm in love with her apple pie."

"I'm waiting on your dad's soup," Phil replied, helping her reach a button she couldn't. "He makes really good soup."

"It's mediocre at best," she said, finally taking off. "But at least you like it. It's one of the few things I can actually make. It's chopped vegetables in hot water." May made a face. "Maybe it's just 'cause I've had it for my entire life."

"Probably. Your dad is awesome."

A few minutes of mostly silence later, Phil got out of his seat and grabbed his ukulele.

"You brought that with you? Again?" May asked him, amused. "Don't you ever get tired of lugging it around?"

He took it out and tuned it. "I've been 'lugging it around' since you gave it to me. I won't ever get tired. Also, don't you love the music?" Phil strummed a C major chord. "Any requests?"

May considered for a moment, though never for a second taking her eyes off of the sky. "I Will."

Phil's smile grew as he sang the song. "Who knows how long I've loved you/ You know I know you still/ Will I wait a lonely lifetime?/ If you want me to, I will." He hummed the picking part as he continued, enjoying the small grin on his best friend's face. "For if I ever saw you/ I didn't ask your name/ But it never really mattered/ I will always feel the same."

May joined in at the chorus.

"Love you forever and forever/ Love you with all my heart/ Love you whenever we're together/ Love you when we're apart." Phil hummed the last verse as May began their descent, not wanting to distract her too much. "It's a pity I didn't bring it out earlier," he sighed.

"Relax, you'll get to play it all weekend," May said, rolling her eyes. "Your mom won't mind, and neither will mine, as long as your songs don't have swear words."

They rode to Phil's childhood home in a standard SHIELD-issued car, watching it drive away before knocking on the door.

Immediately, it opened to see a stout, plump woman with a wide grin and a twinkle in her eye, just like Phil's.

"Hi, Mom," the cadet said, giving the lady a hug.

"Hi, Ms. Julie," May said politely, also receiving a hug. "Happy holidays."

"Merry Christmas to you too, Melinda," Julie said delightedly. "Come on in! I made cookies. And don't you worry, Philly, I went to Mass with my friends this morning. You won't get smothered by the priest, his wife, or his daughter this year."