I have no idea what discussions (if any) have taken place regarding "support" aircraft. The MASC project as was appeared mired in apathy with a default assumption of using surplus Merlin HM1 to provide the ASaC capability. LM have recently shown a "modular" mission systems fit aimed at that requirement.
No idea re F35 buddy stores (or more precisley wet wing hardpoints). Daft way to use a $150M strikefighter if you ask me. The only reason the USN do it is because their O&M budget has been continually cut, forcing them to retire anything that wasn't a strikefighter, as of course there is NO submarine or surface threat to shipping.