AN: Yeah, I got to the tenth freaking chapter! Woo! YAY!
does a victory dance
So, to commemorate this occasion, this chapter involves a list with ten things on it!
It came to me while doing English homework (which wasn't good, I get too distracted), so I wrote it right away.
Enjoy!
Like This: List
He's sitting in a meeting between himself, Arrow, the Captain, and several members of the crew. The galley is crowded with crew members, and the captain speaks calmly, with the ease of someone who gives speeches often. She's not quite as cold to him now, now that they have begun to meet in the mornings, but he's found that she is so closed to him, and to the world, it seems, that his questions about her life, and anything remotely personal are met with a curt reply, no smile or emotion.
She rarely shows anything. And his growing desire to see her show something, anything at all, makes him hang on her every word and action.
In that brief moment, when she burst out laughing at his expense (he doesn't mind as much anymore, her teasing him seems to make her very happy), he saw someone else inside her captain's suit, someone entirely different from the captain in front of them all now, talking while she clasps her hands behind her back, face set in a calm, matter-of-fact expression. Looking down, he sees the blank paper from his notebook (he had thought perhaps he would study the Etherium life while on this voyage, but has had no time. Instead, he draw doodles and makes notes of silly things to do.) He picks up his pen, and begins to write.
Ten things about the captain
The title is all he can think of. He knows nothing about her. He suddenly wishes he did know anything at all, wishes with all of his being and it is in this moment he realizes he is falling for her. Swearing loudly at this revelation, he leaves the meeting with everyone staring at him, and goes to his room. He stares at the blank list for the rest of the night. He could not bear to stare at her anymore; the sight makes his stomach twist in a way not entirely unpleasant.
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It's been four months, and he's sitting at his desk in the library at his estate, with Amelia sleeping on the couch, a book on her lap, eyes closed and mouth turned upwards in a small smile.
He is attempting to sort through some of his papers at his desk, which is why she came over in the first place: she was supposed to help him, and keep him company while he sifted through piles of old papers, but she was momentarily distracted when she found the small book, and had sat down. Within ten minutes, she was asleep on the couch.
He couldn't get angry with her, because she had arrived at his home an hour after arriving back from an all-night return voyage from Laika spaceport. She had seemed exhausted, but had insisted upon coming over anyway. Upon seeing him at the door, she had beamed, and wrapped her arms around his middle in a tight hug.
"I did miss you," she had said, muffled because she had pressed her face into his shirt. "It's worse, and worse every time I leave. I blame you for my recent lack of precision; I'm so bent on getting back as fast as I can."
He had laughed at that.
Everything had changed, since the voyage. Jim was preparing himself for his first semester at the Interstellar Academy, Sarah was re-building the inn (with her son's help), and here he was, commissioned to do a school year's worth of lecture series on...well, he hadn't quite figured it out, yet. And then there was Amelia. She had recovered very well from her injuries, and though the two of them had had a horrible fight about how long she would have to stay on shore leave until she could sail again, their relationship had been absolutely wonderful. Amelia had been on about five voyages, one that lasted two weeks, and four others that lasted a few days. It had been a perfect four months, and he felt himself to be at his happiest.
He shuffled a few more papers aside, setting about making a pile of documents for Amelia to go through once she woke up (as punishment, he had decided, for falling asleep on him) when he found the small notebook.
He had found it open to the blank page.
"Ten things about the captain"
He smiled. It was so funny, to see how far they had come since then. He grabbed a pen, and sat down to write.
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Amelia woke up a few hours later, blinking her eyes and sitting up slowly. The book on her lap slid to the floor, and she remembered.
"Ah, Delbert!"
She turned, searching for him around the room, but found it to be empty. She felt suddenly extremely horrible for falling asleep on him...But blamed it on his amazingly comfortable couch. It was not the first time she had sat down on it and suddenly woken up later, realizing her mistake.
Rubbing sleep from her eyes, and rolling her shoulders to loosen them, she noticed a piece of paper on the coffee table. Leaning over to look, she saw it was addressed to her.
Amelia:
I left to meet Sarah for lunch; I promised her I would help with choosing window panes. I left this wonderful pile of files and papers for you to sort through, knowing how you love to look through my things, and attempt to organize them.
At this, she snorted. It was true, the state he kept his study in horrified her, but she had given up on cleaning it, discovering that no matter how many things she sorted, they were in messes the next time she came over.
I actually found something interesting on my desk, that I wrote when I first met you. You must know by now (I hope) that I was somewhat irritated with your attitude when we first met, and this list was something I tried to write out, but couldn't. I didn't know enough about you.
Now, looking back, I know too many things about you now! But, I thought perhaps you would like to read it, now that I filled it out.
She frowned, now curious as to what he was talking about. Delbert was a perplexing man; shy and embarrassed one moment, and then sweet and romantic another. It was amusing, and entertaining for her to watch. Opening up the folded piece of paper.
Ten things about the captain
one: She is not prone to showing her emotions to people she does not trust, but when she does, it is like seeing a different person.
two: She dislikes waking up early on mornings when she doesn't have to.
three: She is as clean and organized in her own home as she is with her ship.
four: When she decides to take extra time, and wear something especially lovely, it takes one's breath away (I know this happens to me).
five: Despite all of her secrecy in attempting to keep it from me, she sings very beautifully. But never in front of others.
six: She has a sometimes sick sense of humour, and seems to find laughing at my mishaps a favorite hobby.
seven: Her stubbornness is very frustrating, but she always sees that she has been unfair in the end.
eight: Apologizing is her least favorite thing, besides her brother.
nine: No matter what she says, I think she is beautiful.
ten: She will probably hate me for writing this, but I think that when she's asleep, she looks very adorable.
She hears the door open and close, and hears the voices (Jim, Sarah, B.E.N. and Delbert, of course) and runs into the foyer, clutching the paper. Delbert freezes mid-motion as he removes his jacket, looking her up and down shyly. Sarah stares between them, smiling and Jim looks at it all with casual interest.
She knows she shouldn't, and under any normal circumstances, she would never, but Delbert is one aspect of her life where all other rules don't seem to apply. She runs up to him and kisses him fiercely, and he almost falls over in surprise, finally finding support on the closed double doors. She breaks away, frowning at him.
"No one...would ever get away with calling me adorable," she whispers to him. "But because you are such a hopelessly sweet, ridiculously romantic, absolutely infuriating man, and because I simply adore that, and you, I will forgive your mistake just this one time."
He grins, and leans his forehead against hers.
"I couldn't resist it," he admits.
There's a loud cough, and they suddenly realize that all the others in the room are staring. They break apart, flushed. Sarah claps, and runs up to both of them with arms open, hugging them tightly (much to Amelia's discomfort; she never got over how affectionate Jim's mother was), Jim just laughed, and B.E.N. broke into tears, saying something about "old-fashioned romance".
A few minutes later, they sit together, sorting through the stack of papers he left for her to sort through. She turns to him, and smiles.
"Delbert..." she looks down, thinking hard on what to say. "I just wanted to say...I'm happy, with you. Really happy."
He looks at her, and the genuine affection in her eyes tells him that she is speaking the truth. He feels a sudden swelling feeling in his chest, like his heart is going to burst from too much happiness. He cannot express this feeling in words, so he simply smiles back, taking her hand and kissing her.
He wants to say he is happier than he ever thought he could be, with her. He wants to say so many things, but right now, this is enough.
It is enough.