Gordon stood before her. He hadn't been released back to active duty yet, Claire was being very careful based on the severity of the injuries, but he was allowed to walk around the ship. He was dressed casually, just black pants and a red shirt, but Alara couldn't help but think that he looked better than he ever had before.

"Hello Alara," Gordon said softly, a shy smile upon his face. Clearly he wasn't ready to see her either.

At hearing his voice, Alara couldn't help herself. She rushed forward, wrapping her arms around Gordon, holding him closer to her. Hearing his heartbeat against her ear was the most comforting sound she could think of, proof that he was alive.

Tears filled her eyes as she held him, her thoughts going to how she had almost lost him. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she held him tighter against her. It was only when she heard his whispered voice saying her name that she realized that she was squeezing him tighter than she anticipated.

"Oh God!" She pulled back and watched as Gordon took a deep breath. "I'm so sorry!"

"Guess you were glad to see me," Gordon said with a small smile between the deep breaths he was taking.

Alara wiped her tears and chuckled slightly. "Yeah."

Gordon stepped forward and reached out, gently touching her cheek. She looked up at him and almost started to cry again.

"I thought Malik was going to kill you," she said softly.

Gordon nodded. "Me too."

"Then why did you go against him?"

Alara had been wondering this since the moment Gordon showed up in front her on the planet alone. He had been willing to give up his life on the Orville so that she could remain on the ship. Why? She had to know.

Gordon took a deep breath, his thumb caressing her cheek softly. His gaze softened as he looked at her.

"You are so beautiful."

Alara couldn't help the blush that filled her cheeks at those words. Her heart was pounding and there were butterflies in her stomach. She took a breath. "That doesn't answer my question."

Gordon's soft smile was unlike any expression she had seen from him before. It filled her with such tenderness. She wasn't sure how to interpret that look. It filled her with hope. Hope that her feelings weren't just one-sided.

"Malik was threatening you, he was going to take you away. The only way to give you freedom was if I separated myself from you. The choice was easy. I went down to planet to tell Malik myself that I would give him exactly what he wanted, if he freed you. I didn't expect him to change his mind."

"You almost died!" Alara said firmly. "You would have died because of me."

"Alara," Gordon said softly, "You would have been free. At the time, all I could think of was freeing you from him."

Alara stepped closer to Gordon. "If you had died I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself and freedom would feel meaningless," she said softly.

Gordon stepped closer to her, bringing them inches apart. "I'm alive, Alara," he said, his voice growing low and husky, a tone she had heard once before that sent shivers through her body. He took hold of her hand and placed it on his chest, over his heart. "You can feel my heartbeat."

Alara looked at her hand on Gordon's chest, could feel his heartbeat beneath her fingers. Gordon's larger hand covered hers. She could feel his breath on her cheek as she turned to look up at him. She was aware of every touch, every inch of his skin touching her own.

"Gordon..." Alara wasn't sure what she was going to say to him. She wanted to say something, but found herself transfixed. He was so close to her, his eyes dark with desire.

The tension was thick between them, Alara was aware of nothing else but the two of them in the lift. She leaned into him, needing to be closer to him, he seemed to do the same towards her.

"Ahem."

Both Gordon and Alara jumped at the sound of the voice, the tension replaced with embarrassment. Alara felt her cheeks flush as both she and Gordon turned to see who had interrupted them.

"I'm sorry," John said, datapad in hand. He was clearly in the middle of some work and just happened upon them. His grin said that he had been standing there longer than just a few seconds. "But, I need to get back to Engineering."

It was only then that Alara realized that she was standing in an open lift and had been seconds away from jumping Gordon. She flushed a brighter red.

Gordon, however, seemed unmoved despite his initial jump at being startled.

"No worries," he said, his hand grabbing hers suddenly. He stepped forward, past John, pulling Alara along with him. "We were just leaving."

Alara barely had a second to wave at John before Gordon pulled her away.

Somehow the lift had directed them to the same floor as her quarters. Gordon didn't speak until there were before her door. He turned to her.

"We should talk," he said, his eyes showing a flurry of emotions.

Alara nodded. Stepping forward she opened the door and she and Gordon stepped inside.