I definitely have a million more important things to be doing than writing this fic but…here we are. I have zero idea what's going to happen in the finale so I'm just skipping past that to the calm, mature discussion we probably won't get. Also I've written like a TON of finale fics already so I promise this is the last one (I mean, before the finale, I can't promise about after).

"We're really bad at this."

Walter turned his head briefly to look at her. Paige was still staring determinedly at the ceiling, just as she'd been doing for the past ten minutes in virtual silence. It was…disconcerting.

But she was there. He wasn't sure if his frantic attempts to talk her out of leaving had worked, or if she thought he shouldn't be alone after his vicious argument with Toby. It didn't much matter. For one horrible moment, he'd felt her slipping through his fingers, and then suddenly she wasn't. He would've accepted months of oppressive quiet for that.

Walter said the only thing he knew to say. "I'm sorry, Paige."

In his peripheral vision, he could see her small nod. "I know. It's written all over your face." She sighed, crossing her ankles. Her boots were still on, presumably readying her for a quick escape if necessary. Walter dismissed the unsettling thought. "And I can feel your tension from here. I know you want me to say everything's okay, but I don't know how to process this yet."

That, he could certainly understand. The genius clasped his hands over his ribcage, repetitively counting the chipped tiles in the ceiling, unprepared for whatever he might see in Paige's expression.

"I know you don't process things the way I do, but, um…" He cleared his throat. "Facts are still u-useful. If you have questions, I'll address them honestly."

Paige didn't answer for what felt like an eternity. Perhaps that was the wrong approach. Walter kicked himself for being so clueless about what she needed at the moment.

He opened his mouth to apologize again when Paige asked, "Why did you go?"

"To the lecture?"

"Yes."

It seemed so innocuous then. If he'd foreseen what a mess it would become, he would have thrown those tickets straight into the trash. "I knew you didn't want to go. A-And that was okay," he added quickly. "I like when you come to those events with me, but I understand that you only do it for my benefit. I didn't want you to feel obligated. I didn't want you to be bored with me."

"I'm not—." Paige stopped, letting out a breath. "Why her?"

"No one else was available. It was an area of interest for Florence. The event was sold out and I didn't want to waste the other ticket." Reciting a list of facts sounded grating even to him, but in hindsight, they were still the only factors that led to his decision. "Happy and I used to attend lectures regularly. It seemed no different to me. But clearly it was." He bit the inside of his cheek, trying not to panic at her lack of response. "I'm sorry that I don't always recognize when I'm making a mistake. Lying was—."

"I know why you lied," she said calmly.

Walter blinked, shifting partially to his side on the bed. "You do?"

"I asked you to," Paige acknowledged, pressing her lips into a tight line before releasing them. "Don't think I don't see my part in this, Walter. What I don't understand is why you kept the secret for so long. Even when I asked you point blank."

"F-For the same reasons I suspect you kept space a secret from me." Paige finally met his eyes, her own filled with the exact pain he'd been desperately trying to avoid. "I didn't see what purpose telling you would accomplish, other than to hurt you. Lying was starting to tear me apart, but I thought…b-better me than you."

"You were furious when you found out about space. That the whole team knew before you did. You fired me."

Walter stiffened slightly, the memory still causing aftershocks even with the time that had passed. "I handled it badly. And I-I can't take that back. But I understand that you did what you thought was best. Everyone did. I d-don't expect you to forgive me right away, but eventually I hope you'll know that I was doing the same."

Paige ran a hand through her hair before grasping the top edge of her pillow. Her other palm splayed on her stomach, fingers toying with the edge of her blouse. "You said I was the love of your life," she murmured after another minute.

"Yes," he said slowly, waiting for her to elaborate. When she didn't, he realized that the question was implicit in her statement. "Y-You're wondering if I meant it or if it was a cover to avoid telling you the truth."

She nodded.

Walter swallowed, his mouth alarmingly dry. He'd promised her complete honesty and this was one aspect of his life in which he'd stopped lying to himself and her years ago.

"That was genuine, Paige. Truthfully…" The genius braced himself, figuring she couldn't fault him for being too honest. "I d-don't know what would happen if I lost you and Ralph. I don't know w-what I would be like. I don't think…it would be good." He looked away, feeling his throat tighten and forcing the rest of the words out. "Perhaps it's unfair to put that on you. I-I wouldn't want you to stay because you were worried about how I would react. But I just…I want you to understand that when I said you were the love of my life, it meant I don't see the possibility of a life without you. N-Not a satisfying one, anyway. Even when I mess up, t-that's…that's always true."

Paige reached over, lacing her fingers through his and squeezing his palm. Walter had grown so accustomed to the weight on his chest that when it lifted, the air rushed in almost too quickly. "Me too."