#fictober2020

You were acting very strange, in fact you had been for some time now but today was by far the most concerning to her. You had managed to keep up the charade from the others to the point El was completely baffled as to how they couldn’t possibly see something was clearly bothering you! Didn’t they know you at all? She had only known you a year and already she felt as if she had known you her entire life, naturally she had picked up on your tells very early.

So here she was, with the biggest frown on her face (quite contradictory to the baby pink strawberry ice-cream cone sitting in her hand) as her eyes sit on your isolated form back at the table. Your head was down, your face a complete blank slate as your eyes glazed over as your mind was taking you far away. Herself, Max, and the boys were currently waiting in line at Hot Dog on a Stick and while the others were currently engaged in a discussion about The Terminator, El was hellbent on figuring out why you were so distraught.

“Something is wrong.” El stated again, her attention never once wavering from you aside from the flickering glance she sends to Max in worry.

Max glances over her shoulder to find you waiting somewhat patiently where they had left you across the food court. You had offered to save the table while they got food, and it wasn’t much longer that you felt a second pair of eyes boring into you that you looked up. Max and El were staring at you from their place in line between the boys, and out of reflex you felt your eyes squint a little as you sent them a genuine smile. Max returned your smile before returning to El, muttering something that looked like reassurance judging by her body language to the anxious looking brunette who had her full attention on you.

You squirmed a bit under her stare, your eyes finally breaking away from hers hoping she would drop it. Your stomach was doing flips and a heat raged from the tips of your ears to far below your neck, your heart pounding. It was a feeling you were getting a lot lately around El, and as time crept on it was getting harder to deny these feelings. It has really been throwing you off lately, and surprise surprise, Lucas, Mike, and Dustin either didn’t notice it or were too hesitant to address it.

Unbeknownst to El, Max had in fact tried to approach you about your odd behavior. And while you had managed to avoid spilling your guts to Max, you didn’t necessarily have to for her to understand. Max was no fool either, which was brought this specific air of confidence to her now as she watched El carefully, waiting to see what El would do.

“Y/n’s just had,” she frowns thoughtfully, before fighting a smirk at El. “A lot to think about lately. It’s probably best to leave it be.”

El looks to her best friend, her eyes quickly scan Max’s face for any sign of… well anything. She wasn’t quite sure what Max was up to, and the Mayfield girl wasn’t exactly giving her much to work with. She quickly fell into a shrug, any trace of mischief quickly vanished from her face which confused El. For all she could tell, Max was serious and she quickly decided she didn’t like that at all.

You were there for her when she felt the most lost, how could she possibly even think to leave you stranded and alone if you were feeling the same? The person who twisted her stomach into knots in the best way possible, the person who visited her thoughts the most. It was Y/n.

El shakes her head, looking to Max defiantly, though her tone is lighter than her stare. “No.”

El hikes her chin, and takes off across the food court with zero hesitation. Max watches, turning slowly to watch El stalk off as she wears a blank expression.

“Wait…” she mutters sarcastically, a smile tugging the corners of her lips. “Oh no, come back. That’s not what I wanted to happen at all,”

Max watched triumphantly as your head picked up from its crestfallen state to look at El who approached the table. Already, she noticed the change in you.

“Hi, El.” You said, mustering a smile, though this time it did not feel fake. “Not hungry after all?”

Her stern glare she had held on her features in the past moment had melted immediately when she got to you. All that remained, was a soft look as she stood taking you in, specifically your body language.

“Is everything okay?” You ask finally, fighting a gulp.

“Somethings wrong.”

She watched you carefully as your eyes widened slightly, and you spared a quick glace to the party only to see them laughing and perfectly fine. You sit up a bit in your seat, scooching in further to the side for her to join you in the booth as you looked at her in concern.

“What, what’s wrong El?”

She shakes her head quickly when she realizes she has been misunderstood, and eagerly takes a seat next to you. You try not to notice the pink you may or may not be seeing in her cheeks and you do your very damn best to not focus on the fact she is now close enough for you to smell the cabin on her clothes. It was a pleasant one you often associated with your growing feelings for her. But there was no time to think about that now, not when something was wrong.

“You tell me.” She answered, catching you off guard.

Your fluster returns under her unwavering stare and you struggle to avoid her gaze. Once again, it is not hostile. She merely watches you with the softest look in her eyes. El was examining but also admiring every detail of your face at the same time.

You’re ready to spew the same response you always do, your shoulders rising in a weak shrug but the words, ‘I’m not sure what you mean?’ something completely different leaves your mouth without your permission.

“I don’t know, things have just been different I guess.”

You finally allow yourself to gulp as you look back at her with a sinking gut. You ask yourself why your heart is ready to explode out of your chest but you know the answer. The answer you weren’t quite ready to admit to yourself, let alone to El. And there was no chance things would work out, you guys just weren’t on the same page.

“Different how?” Her voice is soft, and it makes you melt a little as it had been doing.

You shrug again, looking back at the hem of your shirt as you began fiddling and as you do you see her take another bite of her ice-cream cone from the corner of your eye. “I don’t know, it’s probably stupid.”

That is when the oh so velvety soft look she always wore just for you turned to something resembling anger.

“No.” She said sternly, making you look back to her. “Not stupid.”

It’s your turn for your expression to soften as you look at the determination in her eyes. All she was missing was a nosebleed, and it would have been chilling if you didn’t know how upset it clearly made her to hear you speak negatively about yourself. In fact it cheered you up in a way, and gave you a surprising amount of hope.

And try as you might… You just can’t help but think how adorable she looks right now. She always was, that was a damn fact but as she sat next to you now with a cone in her left hand, strawberry ice-cream on her upper lip and by far the most intense stare you would ever see in your life you were certain you had never seen a girl so charming.

Slowly you crack a smile and a small giddy laugh builds up inside that’s desperate to break free. It was the kind of spontaneous laughter that spread all throughout your body, warming you up until all you could think about was how giddy you suddenly felt. El’s priceless reaction not only does nothing to help but instead fuels your happy laughter as her eyes widen a bit. Her eyebrows raise and her strawberry ice-cream mess of of lips part in a confused manner as she tilted her head. She looked like a damn puppy dog, the cutest damn puppy dog you’ve ever seen and it makes your heart melt.

“What?” She asks.

Your laughter subsides, and through weakened chuckles and a now brilliant smile you point to her lips. “You uh, got some ice cream. Just there,”

Her eyes widen again, and her hand instinctively flies up to wipe it away but she freezes before she can do that when she catches the gleam in your eye that lingered. That beaming smile still on your face as you looked at her.

The word 'pretty’, in her opinion, didn’t ever quite feel like the right word to describe the look of happiness on you. What was that word she had heard on one of Hopper’s old movies? It was one of those rare words she felt she didn’t have to ask about, it seemed to make sense to her. Something so pretty that it takes a moment to catch your breath; Breathcatching. Yeah, that must be it, El was pretty sure she remembered that right.

You were simply breathcatching, especially when you looked so happy and she was not eager for that to go away. So instead, her hand fell to her lap, and with a silly smile she looked to the melting ice-cream cone in her hand and softly jammed her upper lip into the ice-cream. You gave her a wild look of confusion despite your laugh, quirking an eyebrow at her.

“El!” You laughed, much to her enjoyment. “What was that?”

“You’re laughing,” she shrugs happily.

Her eyes are simply gleaming as the biggest smile you ever seen on her accentuates her cheekbones, her eyes never leaving you for a second. You stare at her again, your mouth agape yet still in a confused smile as you try to decipher this bizarre roller-coaster of a conversation. You shake your head, your lips pressing together in a pleased smile as you let out a small chuckle.

A cold but soft pair of lips hit yours before you can realize El had leaned in to kiss you. Your eyes popped out of your head before fluttering closed, your heart for sure exploding in your chest and dizzying your head. The kiss lasted seconds but felt much longer and somehow far too short. You were disappointed when she pulled away, your gut sinking suddenly but it disappears as soon as you see the glee in her eyes.

“El!” You yelled in hushed shout despite the smile on your face, and quickly you looked around to see if anyone had seen that before looking back to her smiling face. “What was that?”

She looked as id she was thinking about it for a moment, but she nodded reassuring herself. You didn’t know but she had been thinking about a talk she had with the party a couple weeks ago. It was about something she hadn’t really fully understood on its own, but it all clicked when she thought of you. She finally had a word for what it was that made her the way she always was around you. How happy she was, how protective she could be of you, how silly she got around you.

“Love,” she answers simply, with a shrug.

Your eyes widen again, as do you gulp a second time. If this was all some cruel sick joke the others put her up to. Tricking her into something she didn’t have any prior knowledge about… Well, you didn’t know what you’d do.

“W-?” You licked your lips out of nervous habit, your stomach doing more flups when you taste the strawberry that was now on your lips. “Love? You-? What are you saying, El?”

She nodded, her brows beginning to knit together as she studied your reaction.

“Dustin said,” she began, and your heart fell straight into your stomach in worry. “kissing is a way to show someone you love them.”

And just as fast your heart shot right back up to your throat.

El loved you? Eleven loved you? For weeks now you had been trying so hard to stamp down your hopes and expectations that she would ever return your feelings given how close she was with Mike. And while it was true she did at one point harbor feelings for the Wheeler boy, that all kinda changed when she befriended you. You were something else entirely, in your own breathcatching way and it confused her now as you seemed surprised she felt this way about you.

“You… love me?”

El smiles when she realizes how flustered you are, and like you had moments ago, she can’t help but think how insanely adorable you look. You feel her hand slip into yours, intertwining your fingers together and she leans in again. You’re happy to feel her lips on yours again, your head going dizzy and she pulls away to look at you with the sweetest grin. Her eyes now held a gentle mischief, as if asking you if you were still unsure.

“Spot,” - you dragged out the vowel in her name in feigned frustration and opened your dresser drawer flamboyantly for emphasis - “there’s still food left from this morning! What are you complaining about?”

I can see the shiny glint in the bottom of the bowl, she seemed to meow.

An amused chuckle left your lips as you shook your head at the begging tabby. Those piercing green orbs of hers always seemed to do the talking when she was quiet, but when she spoke so loudly like this, the “puppy dog” effect was in full swing. You would have given in, too, if it hadn’t been for the various feeding schedules you knew Data was testing.

He had been attempting to find her preferred supplement mix for the last couple of weeks, but she seemed indifferent to everything except the food she could always persuade you to give her from your own plate. After she refused so many of the different mixtures and flavors he had coded, he theorized that it might have been something to do with her feeding time rather than a picky sense of taste – and perhaps the added incentive of your spoiling her so much, which Data didn’t seem to mind.

After gathering fresh undergarments, fuzzy socks, and a comfortable set of loungewear, you crossed the carpeted floor and headed for the bathroom, passing by Spot as you went. “Data will be home soon and he’ll feed you, okay? I don’t want to interfere with the schedule he’s trying out.”

As if she couldn’t understand you – or perhaps she simply refused to acknowledge that answer – her meows kept coming until you turned the corner and disappeared from her sight. You set your wad of clothes on the stout countertop by the sink and began taking off your uniform, dropping it in a heap by the doorway to be put through the garment processor later on. With a tired, achy intake of air, you stepped inside the shower dome and began entering your preferred specifications on the small grade LCARS panel.

You were almost ready to engage the water feature of the shower – you much preferred the soothing effect it had on your body rather than the quick efficiency of a sonic shower – when you pondered in the last second whether or not to indulge in a higher temperature. Your finger rested idly above the panel that waited for your touch.

Would it be alright to let yourself have a hot shower for once? To just let the steam relax your aching muscles?

A knowing sigh escaped your lips.

It never ended well when you indulged yourself like this, even just in the simplest things. Hot showers were soothing in the moment, but as soon as the water turned off and you stepped out, your body was unable to balance its temperature and you would become absolutely drained and sometimes even purple below your knees. There were always consequences when it came to your autonomic issues – such as lasting fatigue, frequent trips to sickbay for sodium supplements to regulate your blood pressure, and even having to miss shifts on occasion.

You were of course grateful that the world around you had excelled to a point where chronically ill bodies were able to be more readily treated and accommodated, especially in a place like Starfleet, but there were still times when it was just all a bit much.

Your next thought was of Data. As your husband and closest friend, he was the best anyone could ask for, especially in your situation. He was always going the extra mile in your relationship to help you keep up with your symptoms and sure you were taking care of yourself at all times. He even checked in on you throughout the day by use of your combadges. He never hesitated to stop you from pushing yourself too far or doing something stupid – like taking a hot shower when you knew that the aftermath was never fun to deal with.

He wouldn’t approve of this at all.

But you were cold and sore from a day spent on your feet that had been riddled with dizzy spells, palpitations, and a myriad of other symptoms that hardly ever left your body. Very few things feel better than a hot soak after a long day, and a lukewarm shower just didn’t appeal to you.

Without a second thought, you raised the temperature of the water and let the hot entity coat your body in its calming pitter-patter rhythm. The heady feel of the steam enveloped you like a warm blanket and you released another sigh – this time peacefully, with a sense of long-awaited relief.

   Data passed through the door of your shared quarters and immediately noticed your shoes toppled over one another near the entryway. Subconsciously, he was acutely made aware of the sound of running water from the other room. He turned to follow the source, deducing that you were well enough to shower after a full day’s work, which was a tremendous feat for your body. Plus, it was purely ritual to say hello to each other as soon as you arrived back home. His turn of direction was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Spot, who nudged herself against his legs impatiently.

“Hello, Spot. It is nice to see you as well,” he knelt down and stroked the feline head to tail, contentedly smiling to himself as her curling spine conformed like putty to the mold of his hand, “I assume you are ready for your next helping of food, yes?”

The tabby meowed once before returning to a low purr.

“I thought you might be. It has been approximately eight hours and seventeen minutes since your last meal,” - Data scooped the satisfied cat up in his arms and carried her over to her dish, never breaking eye contact with her - “If my studies are correct, this should be an appropriate time to allow you your second portion since there has been ample time for proper digestion.”

It was only when Data had bent to reach for her dish that he realized she had only eaten a little more half of the breakfast supplement he had laid out for her. It had been infused with vitamins and other nutrients beneficial to the feline species, which he had hoped she would enjoy. Apparently, Spot was pickier than that.

Everything but the very bottom layer had been devoured, just until she reached the silver shine of the lowermost rim and left the rest to dry distastefully. His head tilted to the side as he contemplated all the possible causes for her sudden disinterest.

“Curious,” he simply stated.

Spot squirmed out of his arms and sniffed her bowl once before resting low to the ground in anticipation. Data picked up the bowl and set it onto the replicator tray. It dissolved into nothingness before being replaced by Spot’s dinner supplement, which he promptly placed on the floor. He refreshed her water dish and stroked her back dotingly as she scarfed down her food with an enthusiasm she sparingly demonstrated.

Data quirked his head to the side slightly, resolving to the realization that perhaps Spot was not meant to be understood most of the time, but rather accommodated.

When he stood, he turned back to the sound of running water with a lingering glance at his little tabby and made his way to the bathroom. He stopped short when he noticed the steam pouring out of the doorway and dissipating amongst the broad cast of lamplight on the ceiling. Without batting an eye, Data acted quickly. “Computer, override Lieutenant (L/n)’s controls of the LCARS shower panel and reset the water temperature to sixty-seven degrees Fahrenheit.”

There was a chirp as the computer relayed his directions before transmitting audibly in the living area where he stood. “Controls have been overridden. Temperature resetting.”

Data watched as the steam dissipated from the doorway and nodded to himself with an air of self-satisfaction. In a split second, there was a shriek of discomfort he had been expecting.

  You recoiled from the stream of chilled water and slammed your fingers against the LCARS panel, hitting every possible control to reheat the temperature. When it refused to respond, except with a blaring sound that indicated your action was blocked, you cursed under your breath. “Are you kidding me!?”

“Computer, why isn’t this panel responding?”

“You have been denied access to the temperature dial.”

“Denied access? By who?”

“Lieutenant Commander Data.”

You huffed in frustration, slowly inching yourself around the water and towards the curved glass door, sliding it open enough to fit your head through. “DATA SOONG!”

The sound of his solid and perfectly timed footsteps approached until you saw him standing in the doorway of your bathroom.

“What did you do to my shower?”

“I have prohibited you from endangering yourself with your chosen temperature setting.”

“Data, I’m a full-grown adult. I can choose the temperature of my own shower.”

With a pointed finger, he stepped closer. “You know as well as I that higher temperatures in your showers cause your blood pressure and internal body temperature to spiral. You have said yourself on many occasions that the immediate satisfaction is not worth the toll it takes on your cardiovascular symptoms,” - he paused only to jut his chin downwards and quirk an eyebrow at you in an imitating fashion as if to prove his point - “Have you not?”

A mock-gasp passed your lips. His matter-of-fact statement held a certain air of sass to it that you hadn’t expected—it was moments like these that made you wonder how people could think Data was incapable of his own emotions. It was so obvious in some moments, however vague or fleeting, that he was entirely capable of expressing himself.

“But it’s FREEZING!”

“I assure you, (Y/n), the temperature is not low enough to freeze. I set it myself. You are simply acclimated to the hotter setting of one hundred and nine degrees Fahrenheit. It is no doubt a shock to your body to experience such a steep decline in temperature, but it does not put you at risk,”

“The chills all over my body would beg to differ,” you muttered.

Timidly, your feet inched back under the waterfall, testing its discomfort. You kept the door slightly ajar so you could hear his impending lecture, slowly dipping your head under and rinsing the lathered shampoo from your hair. Contorting your back in what was likely not Beverly Crusher approved posture, you made sure your sopping wet hair of ice didn’t make contact with your back.

Data continued. “In fact, I have done extensive research regarding the benefits of colder bathing routines. It has been proven that cold water actually increases circulation and can reduce muscle soreness. Some results indicate that human hair and skin is greatly improved in shine and condition, causing a ‘glowing’ effect.”

While listening to your husband’s voice and internalizing his carefully researched evidence, you found it hard to stay annoyed. He was devoted to you in every possible way, even in the ways a human partner would hardly have the patience for. Despite your tendency to return to harmful habits for the sake of quick pleasure – even just a hot shower or a bite of dark chocolate – he was ever-faithful and willing to help you each and every time.

A fluttery sensation erupted in your stomach, just as it had the first day you had met him. You silently hoped that feeling would never subside.

  All while he talked, you managed to withstand the cold long enough to rinse the scrubs and creams from your body quickly enough to avoid the first symptoms of common hypothermia. When the water finally shut off under your input, you slid the door open and looked around for the towel you had evidently forgotten to set out.

When you tuned back into Data’s conversation, your ears weren’t prepared for the mental image they evoked. “-last meeting in Ten Forward, Commander Riker informed me that he prefers cold showers over the alternative. He enjoys the rush that the lower tempera-”

“I couldn’t care less about how Commander Riker and his naked ass cheeks bathe. I’m cold,” you shivered, wrapping your arms about your chest.

Without being prompted, Data turned to the linen closet where a smaller replicator was located for such a purpose. He tapped away on the panel until it replicated his entry. Grabbing the towel, he turned and unraveled it as he came to your side.

“Here,” he held it out in front of him for you to step into, “I replicated a heated towel, not unlike the heating pad you often use for easing pain. It should be far more comfortable for you.”

You stepped forward and let him wrap you into the warm cloth. A shiver wobbled your limbs briefly as he tucked the corners under your chin for you to hold in place. Glancing down, you found that your legs were, in fact, not purple. Your fingers and toes weren’t numb or tingly. You were tired from the exertion, but you weren’t nearly as dizzy. It was a pleasant change.

Perhaps Data was on to something—maybe a cold shower was better for you.

You smiled up at him, leaning into his chest. "I know I complain about how you help me sometimes, but I really do appreciate you, Data. I don't think I'd be able to stay here aboard this starship if it weren't for you. Thank you."

"It is one of the greatest pleasures in my life that I am able to help you succeed, (Y/n). However, I do not require praise for my efforts; it is what any husband would do for his wife, in any situation. It was a condition in our vows that I fully intend to honor."

Your smile broadened. "You'd be surprised at how hard it is for humans to help each other sometimes...and I still want to thank you, just for being you-- and how willing you are to put up with me."

"In that case, you are welcome. But I do not simply 'put up with you'. You are not a burden to me. I value your companionship above all else."

"I love you, too, Data," you leaned forward and pecked him on the lips, which he responded to almost eagerly.

  You made your way to the nightwear you had set out and carefully clambered into them while holding your towel to your skin as long as physics would permit. When you had dressed and disposed of the towel and your uniform, you shut the lights out and followed after Data.

He stood by the dresser and pulled out his own set of pajamas you had replicated for him some holiday past, and proceeded to change. Although he did not have the need for sleep, he did enjoy mimicking a normal life as much as possible. Not because he was a puppet or sought solely to please you, but because Data wanted to belong—not only in the wide universe of sentient, feeling beings, but also in the simple warmth shared between two people under the intimate haven of a soft duvet.

He preferred imitating sleep alongside you rather than keeping himself busy with other things in between his shifts, which consequently allowed him to roam his own memories and run the occasional diagnostics.

His most frequently visited memories were those he shared with you and his close friends, such as Geordi and Guinan. But his favorites, if he were able to choose in an emotionally attached sense, were the moments he had spent with you, down to the very millisecond. Every last detail.

With an exaggerated exhale, you plopped down on the bed and began to brush through your hair. Data had moved to the living area where he checked on Spot, making sure her water dish was full for the night and fluffing her bedding that sat primly under the wide coffee table. Your gaze drifted to his kneeling frame as he tucked her into her own blanket.

“Goodnight, Spot. I wish you sweet dreams, although I do not understand the use of the term ‘sweet’, I suspect it is used as a synonym for pleasant,” he stroked her gently as he spoke, earning a quick lick from her pink tongue, “I do not require grooming, although I do appreciate your effort. If you should need me, I will be in bed with your mother.”

The smile that crept onto your features was effortless.

“Her- I had no idea,” Andrea says, her eyes darting between them. There’s a blush creeping into her cheeks as she shakes Mulder’s hand. “I’m Andrea Novak, I work with Dana. She’s never mentioned you so I doubt she’s mentioned me.” Both Mulder and Andrea laugh and Scully wonders if she should leave them alone. She knows there’s no need, none whatsoever, to be jealous and yet... 

“Dana likes to keep me to herself,” Mulder says, squeezing her side.

“I, um, it’s… new. We… Mulder, what are you even doing here?”

“Ah, I thought I’d take you to lunch. You’ve been so busy lately and I wanted to make sure you eat.”

“Aww,” Andrea says, clutching her heart. “He’s handsome and thoughtful.”

Mulder beams at her.

“We should get going,” Scully says, trying to get out of the situation – and Mulder away from Andrea. The other doctor is her friend, and she knows how she is around men – especially ones she finds attractive – but Mulder has always been oblivious to the effect he has on women. He hasn’t been around people for so long that he’s like a puppy, just dancing and jumping around everyone who gives him attention, wanting to make new friends.

“You could join us if you’re free,” Mulder says and Scully wants to groan.

“That’s a- hey, Alex!” Andrea stops mid-sentence and waves at another doctor who is watching them with eagle eyes. Oh no, Scully thinks. Dr. Alexandra Tanner is her superior and she loves to gossip. She comes over, smiling brightly, her teeth as white as her scrubs.

“Dr. Novak, Dr. Scully- and who are you?”

“Dr. Fox Mulder,” Mulder says, sounding dead serious. “But my friends just call me Dr. Spooky.” There’s a pause and Scully thinks he might have blown it, but then both Alex and Andrea start laughing.

“He’s hilarious,” Alex says to no one in particular.

“He’s Dr. Scully’s husband,” Andrea says, the slightest hint of awe in her voice.

“Oh?”

“Where have you been hiding him? And why?” Now even Mulder is quiet, though he recovers quickly.

“We both lead busy lives.” Scully is the only person who knows he’s lying and as far as she can tell, the other two women believe him. Why wouldn’t they? They’re impressed by him, bedazzled even. Scully feels love swell up inside her. He’s her partner, her man. Her… husband. That’s something they need to discuss.

“You need to come to our annual Christmas party this year. Say you’ll be there, please.” It’s as though Scully is no longer there. It’s all about Mulder. She bites her lip to keep quiet. She’ll give them this moment. They’ll be on her later, wanting to know every little detail about Mulder and their relationship. Once again they’re gossip fodder, cheap watercooler talk.

“I’ll pencil it in,” Mulder says with a smile and he gets another laugh. “If you’ll excuse us now, I’m starving. I’ll bring her back in an hour. It was nice meeting you.” He shakes their hands again and finally they’re off.

“That was… something,” he whispers into her ear. His arm is still around her, keeping her close to him. “I really did surprise you, huh?”

“Yeah,” she mumbles.

“Bad surprise?”

“Oh Mulder,” she says, stopping. She faces him and cups his cheek. “You’re always a wonderful surprise.” 

“Can I kiss you?” he asks, sounding impatient. “I wanted to do it as soon as I saw you, but your colleague looked at me as if she wanted to eat me.”

Scully smiles up at him. “I think you might be right. And yes, you can kiss me.” His lips are soft against her, feel right, taste perfect. Even if the whole hospital is watching them now, she doesn’t care. Her and Mulder, that’s what counts.

“I’ve always wanted to kiss you in public,” he says against her lips.

“You have kissed me in public.”

“Not in a while,” he replies, nuzzling her nose and making her giggle.

“You told them you’re my husband.”

“Does that bother you?”

“We’re not married, Mulder.”

“I beg to differ.”

“Excuse me? I think I would remember us exchanging vows.”

“Not in the traditional sense maybe,” he says with a grin. “I feel married to you,” he continues, his face and voice serious. “Should I have said I’m your boyfriend? That’s not us, is it?”

“We’re still partners,” she says.

“In crime,” he nudges her shoulder with his.

“Is this something you want?” Scully asks him. People keep rushing past them, but she fears that if they take one step, whether to the left or right, it will destroy this moment. They should have talked about this a million times over. But they’ve always done things their own way.

“Right now I want to take you to lunch. In the future? I meant what I said, Scully. I feel married to you. I don’t need a paper to confirm it – unless you do. You’re it for me. You’re stuck with me.”

“There’s no one I’d rather be stuck with, Mulder. You’re it for me, too.”

He leans down once more, kisses her softly, and she closes her eyes, reveling in the fact that he’s hers, that she’s his. And they’re finally allowed to show it to the world. 

I stalked over to where Aang was on the ground, groaning, and helped him to his feet. "How's he supposed to learn firebending like that? You going full force at him and expecting him to pick it up magically?" I looked over Aang who was wincing and grabbing his side.

"Are you burnt? I can go get Katara if you need," I said as I fussed over Aang.

"No," he mumbled sheepishly. "Just got the wind knocked out of me."

"How is he supposed to learn with you babying him?" Zuko spat angrily at my back.

Concern for Aang flew right out the window as only anger filled it's place. I whirled around and fixed Zuko with a glare. "You mean my concern for his wellbeing? You mean that? Is that what you mean by babying him?"

"No," Zuko threw his arms down and took a step towards me. "I mean when you-" Zuko pointed a finger at me, "unnecessarily step into our training sessions and interupt my teaching."

"You call this teaching?" I took a step forward.

"Yeah I do! It's how I was taught."

"Oh right and that's the golden fucking standard!"

"It is right now, unless your useless ass can magically learn firebending."

I took a moment to recover from the last insult. I had always been very, very sensitive over my contributions to the team. I wasn't a bender, like Sokka, but I also wasn't even related to anyone on the team. I was just some nobody they picked up from the Fire Nation. I used to be a mechanic on Zuko's ship until I helped the Gaang escape and stuck with them ever since then. But ever since that one admittedly essential assist, I haven't done much.

I thought I saw some remorse in Zuko's eyes, but that couldn't be right, so I brushed it off.

"Fine," I finally bit out. "You go right ahead, Your Highness. But if you hurt Aang it won't just be me you have to deal with."  

After that, I spun around and headed back to my seat. There I saw Katara, her arms crossed, smiling knowingly at me.

"What?" I said as soon as I was out of earshot of the asshole.

"You know what," she responded easily.

I rolled my eyes and sat down at her feet, leaning against her legs for support. "No I don't, please, enlighten me." I was still high off of my argument with Zuko so I was snippier than usual with her but I knew she understood so I didn't bother to explain myself.

"You know he's just jealous," she mused.

"Jealous of what?" I played dumb even though she had been over this with me before.

"Your concern over Aang."

"Oh? He wants me to baby him?" I brought up the comment Zuko made earlier. I knew Katara had probably watched the whole thing.

"Yes, actually," Katara said and I could hear the smile on her voice.

"Yeah right," I rolled my eyes.

Katara was silent for a moment. "He thinks you like Aang."

I whirled around and stared at Katara incredulously. "No way, Aang is like a little brother to me. Besides-" I began but stopped myself before I could say that Aang liked Katara.

"Well I know that. But he doesn't."

I shook my head. "He thinks I'm useless." I paused. I wanted to say that he was right but I knew it would start a fight with Katara so I held it back.

"He does not," Katara groaned. "He's just hotheaded. You know that. He says things he doesn't mean."

"Whatever," I sighed. I didn't want to keep going on about it, especially since it was so ridiculous, so I let it drop.

The Stargate started moving and the alarms started to blare. Sam moved slowly with her broken leg but still made it to the control room before the end of the sequence.

“We have an IDC coming through.” Rodney confirmed and was surprised at the name which popped up on the screen. “It’s General O’Neill’s personal code.” He confirmed.

Sam smiled widely and started moving towards the gate room. “Drop the shield!” She called behind her.

John was already standing in the gate room looking towards the open Stargate. “I wonder what prompted this visit.” He whispered smugly to Sam.

Sam could feel the blush rise but she teased tight back “I wonder.” She said seconds before Jack O’Neill stepped through the gate.

Both Sam and John snapped to full stance and Jack approached them “At ease both of you.” He told them.

“We weren’t expecting you sir.” John grinned.

“Yes well, I thought it would be a nice surprise.” He told them. “It’s a nice surprise right Carter?” He asked her without looking.

“Always a pleasure sir.” She said obediently.

“I thought you were meant to stay off that leg?” He finally said looking at her.

“It’s not as bad as it sounds.” She tried but could see the concern in his eyes, and wanted to melt into his arms right there and then.

“I want you to take a look at this General.” Rodney said walking into the room with a tablet in his hand.

“Rodney!” John growled.

“What? It’s just a proposal for him to look at.”

“Not now!” John tried.

“What? He’ll like it, it’s space guns.”

“Space guns you say?” Jack perked up.

“Yes,” Rodney replied to Jack then looked towards John “See he likes it!”

“He’s just came through the Stargate Rodney, let the man get out the gateroom first!” John exclaimed.

“Right!” Jack said then with a grin to Carter said “Colonel, can you show me where I’ll be staying?” He asked her.

“Sure.” She said trying to suppress her smile while John didn’t even bother suppressing the chuckle. “Right this way sir.”

----

Needless to say their make out session was a little trickier with a cast on her leg, but it didn’t stop them, it had been months since they had last touched so once inside Sam’s sizable quarters they were striping and giggling over their clumsiness because of the cast when they heard her doorbell ring.

“Ignore them, they’ll get the message when I don’t answer.” She said quietly to him, although she wasn’t sure why, the Ancients had made the bedroom walls all soundproof.

“I don’t think I could stop if I tried.” He growled, squeezing her naked breast again making her gasp in delight.

The doorbell rang again and Sam looked at the door in frustration.

“Come back to me.” Jack growled nibbling at her now exposed neck. He could almost feel the tension leave her shoulders as she closed her eyes enjoying the bliss he was bestowing on her, for a few seconds more.

“Oh my God!” They heard from the door.

“Oh God!” Jack exclaimed upon seeing Rodney at the door.

“Oh my God!” Sam exclaimed, grabbing her afghan blanket from the back of the sofa doing her best to cover herself. “Rodney what are you doing?” She asked him.

“I thought your door must be broken!” He exclaimed.

“We were ignoring you!” She exclaimed as Jack lifted off her, pulling a cushion over his middle and giving her room to sit up and adjust.

“You?!” He exclaimed looking at Jack “a-aand you?!” He said turning on his heel and going out into the corridor.

“Damn it.” Sam whispered, getting up.

“Sam, you shouldn’t be walking on that leg.” Jack admonished her gently when Sam started going after Rodney.

“I have to tell him to keep his mouth shut.” She finished just as she walked out into the corridor with not a stitch on except the Afghan blanket around her.

“Rodney!” She called to him.

“How long huh? How long have you been stringing me along?” Rodney’s words rushed out as they did when he was confused or upset.

“Excuse me?” Sam demanded.

“Are you in love with him?” Rodney asked him voice audibly going up in tone.

Sam didn’t owe him an explanation about who she was with or not with, not even a little, and she thought it would mean even less to him as she thought he was seeing (she was never 100% sure with Rodney) someone else. “I don’t have to explain myself.”

“You do!” Rodney told her “After everything we meant to each other, did none of it mean anything to you?”

“Rodney—”

“No, you see because this is the part you tell me the whole thing was in my head.”

“It was.” Sam stated calmly.

“And that you weren’t right there stripping off trying to distract me from fixing the ship a couple of years ago.”

“Huh?” Sam questioned.

“Or or or there wasn’t explosive chemistry between us, that time I came to the SGC.”

“Rodney!” She started annoyed but checked herself and took a deep breath in. “The only place there has ever been anything more, then friendship between us, has been in your head. When we met in the SGC I thought I had never met anyone so arrogant, petty or bad with people in my life! Ever! And I was a Major in the Airforce! My whole life was dealing with people like that. Take a long hard look at the man I am with and you’ll know he’s not like that, at all!”

Rodney’s face dropped in disappointment, if Jack O’Neill really was who she loved the question remained “You really don’t like me?” He asked.

She sighed and studied him for a moment “You’ve made incredible strides forward in a lot of areas Rodney.” She told him honestly. “It’s made it easier for people to approach you, it’s made you easier to work with, and I have to admit an ease to our relationship which I never saw coming.” She told him. Rodney perked a little still looking hopeful “But I’ve never been in love with you.”

“Do you love him? In there?” Rodney asked, waving his finger towards her room. “General Underpants?”

Sam almost lost her composure over his inadvertent use of Vala’s nickname she’d given Jack, but soldiered on with a straight face “Yeah. For a long time.”

“How long have you been a thing?”

“Nearly 3 years.” Sam told him.

“Three years! And no one bothered to tell me?”

“It’s not any of your business Rodney!” She reminded him. “And very few of the personnel here know, we have an exception letter from the president that doesn’t matter because I’m not in his chain of command anyway but we don’t like to set the appearance of a bad example so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t say anything to anyone.”

“Does John know?”

“Rodney!”

“Right, um well, fine… fine.”

“You know it’s for the best, we would make a horrible couple.”

“I’m sure.”

“And don’t you have something going with—”

“Yeah, so it’s maybe for the best. Of course, your secret is safe with me. My last act of adoration.” He cut her off and started walking down the corridor away from her.

She closed her eyes, sighing in relief and slightly bemused.

“Oh and just one more thing.” He added, as she opened her eyes. “Just so you know my imagination did not do you justice.”

“Erh, thanks?” She questioned but the intonation was lost on him as he walked away.

Sam shook her head and went back into her quarters.

"You can see so many stars right now because the sky is darkest shortly before a full moon.", Ash explained patiently.

He would have told Eiji that stars were just self-luminous gaseous spheroidal celestial bodies of great mass which produce energy by means of nuclear fusion reactions. That stars are powered by nuclear fusion in their cores, mostly converting hydrogen into helium.

However, he got the feeling that such a highly scientific explanation would probably be considered unromantic, so he stopped himself. As far as he had learned, romance and science were mutually exclusive, after all. And Eiji looked so happy right now; he didn't want to destroy the moment and even less his pure and overjoyed smile when he looked at the sky.

Before lying down, they drank the rest of the hot chocolate they had brought with them to the beach in a Thermos flask so that it wouldn't get cold. Sitting here with his head resting on Eiji's shoulder while looking at the dark beach and listening to the sounds of the waves felt so peaceful and perfect. It was simple things like that he truly enjoyed in Izumo.

He had never had the time to enjoy such moments in New York, had never even considered them. Yet, Eiji always surprised him with such sweet ideas and explained them patiently to Ash if he didn't understand the meaning (romantic or not) behind them.

He slowly learned that enjoying himself like that was a great feeling. Eiji had taught him that not every experience had to be meaningful, that sometimes it was great to let yourself drift or go with the flow and just enjoy the moment. If you had led a life dominated by action and violence, it wasn't so easy to adjust to a quiet and peaceful life, just chill on a beach or on a couch, taking a nap or read books for hours. But he slowly got used to it with Eiji's help.

They lay back down and looked at the stars. "It's so beautiful. It makes you feel so small and insignificant.", Eiji said more to himself. Then he leaned his head closer to Ash's, giving him a sidelong glance.

"So, what constellations can you see in the sky?"