𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘢 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳.

Philinda Forever.

It was finally over. 

After everything that Phil and the Shield agents battled from Hydra to the Chronicoms and Nathaniel Malick, he sat in a single chair with his daughter, Daisy and the others, reflecting on everything they ever went through. He let himself smile as he listened to what they were up to a year after the final battle. The final mission. 

Then she walked in. Melinda May, the woman he loved since he first saw her in that cubicle after he was brought back to life. They looked at each other and gave each other a smile. It was no secret that they loved each other no matter what. Daisy knew it too. As did Mack, Elena, and FitzSimmons. 

In a way, Phil Coulson never expected retirement in any sense of the word. But for this one moment, it was okay because he had everything he wanted, and that was okay with him. After everyone left the room, it was just him and Daisy.

"Be careful, okay?"

She nodded and said she would always be okay, as long as he was there. And then it was just him. After he removed the virtual headset, revealing a familiar beach, he turned to Melinda, who was sitting beside him, smiling.

"You worry about her too much, Phil. She's 30, remember?"

Phil couldn't help but to chuckle. He would always worry. About all of them. But Melinda and Daisy the most. 

"You want to know something? Ever since I met you in that cubicle, I knew that you would be by my side through it all. And damn, have we been through it all. But I don't think I would trade it for a second. I finally got to tell you how I felt, and I felt the same towards you ever since then."

Melinda smiled at Phil again, glancing at him before staring at the water.

"If you had told me that we would be retiring after 7 years of fighting aliens, demons and robots, I wouldn't have believed you, but because it's you? I could get used to it. I didn't think that I would be able to find someone else after Andrew, but it turns out, it was easy."

Phil raised an eyebrow.

"Because I was there by your side all along?"

Melinda rolled her eyes in a humorous manner, but nodded in agreement.

"Yes, Phil. Because you were there by my side all along. I love you, Phil. You know that, don't you?"

Phil knew that. He always knew that. It was the only thing that kept him going all these years. Through everything they went through, Melinda was there with him. He could tell it pained her everytime they were in a battle against the toughest of forces, worried he wouldn't make it out alive. He couldn't help but to smile to himself. He looked out at the water before looking back at Melinda.

"We should think about getting married. After everything we've dealt with? I'd say we earned that much. You know, if you wanted to take it that far."

Melinda chuckled this time before placing a kiss on Phil's lips, smiling that smile he fell in love with.

"Fine, but I'm not standing in any kitchen day in and day out, or else I'm kicking your ass."

Phil smiled, before pulling Melinda close, admiring both views, and being content with where he ended up.

"I love you too, Melinda May. As I have always loved you."

And for both Phil Coulson and Melinda May? That was something they could both get used to. After 7 years of being Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., 

Retirement and marriage didn't seem so bad.

The End.