"About time."
Her lips quirked as she remembered. This was a man who could change the mood of a crowd within seconds, with a few impassioned words and an undeniable presence, yet when it came to the very personal, 'I love you' somehow morphed into 'About time'. Not that he hadn't shown her, the look in his eyes was clearer than a fleet wide broadcast.
"About time."
He wasn't wrong. She had loved him for so long. She couldn't say for sure when it had started but she could clearly remember the first time she knew for certain it was true, when she had heard that he had been shot and might die. She was in jail, wasn't sure she would be able to get her next dose of chamalla and facing withdrawal, was the President by default of less than 50000 people who were all that were left of a population of billions, pursued relentlessly across space by the same beings who had already destroyed their homeworlds, oh and yes, she was dying, a slow painful death from cancer. But the one thing that made her lose sight of hope, was the possibility that he would die.
"About time."
She had immediately pushed the thought aside. Buried it deep beneath the responsibilities, the protocols and of course, the knowledge of her impending death. She refused to allow it conscious thought, even as they grew ever closer, as they comforted and argued with each other, as they healed and hurt one another.
"About time."
He loved her. She knew this. It was obvious by his actions. He had stood by her, supported her, believed in her. Gods be with him, he had made her rounds of diloxin treatments bearable by his presence, reading to her, sitting with her, holding her as the side effects kicked in.
"About time."
Two warm arms wrapped around her and a whisper on a breath murmured, "I love you." She knew, she had known, but it felt good to hear the words.
"About time."