"You could have joined the briefing," She told him as they headed towards her quarters. It wasn't a place they agreed to go, it was simply the direction Melony turned – probably just a desire to be someplace familiar to her.

He shrugged.

"I didn't want to interrupt, and I woke up late."

"You were sleeping soundly when I left," she agreed.

"I wish you would have woken me…" he said as they reached her door and she opened it, gesturing for him to go in first. "I was hoping to talk to you…"

She headed for her coffee pot, and the fresh pot of coffee she'd made that morning before leaving for the briefing.

"I was going to, but I chickened out," she admitted. She poured him a cup of coffee, and then another for herself, and motioned for him to have a seat. Since the only place to sit was on her bed, he did, but just on the edge.

"Why?"

She shrugged.

"I wasn't ready to face you just then." She looked down into her cup. "I'm not positive I'm ready to face you now."

He felt his heart sink, and he looked up at her from his pot on the bed.

"You're not afraid of me, are you?" He couldn't handle that.

She shook her head.

"No. I'm uncomfortable around you…" She sighed and sat down beside him, close to him, but not touching. "I don't know what to expect from you next…"

"I'm not going to do anything."

"I'm not worried about you doing anything." Talon would never allow it – even if Melony was taken by surprise again.

"I don't know what to say to make things all right between us," he told her, looking at her. She could see the pain in his blue eyes, and felt a stab of guilt and pain herself. "I never wanted this to happen…"

"Me, either…" She leaned slightly against him, resting her cheek against his upper arm, almost on his shoulder, and Carson brought his free hand up to touch the side of he face for an instant before lowering it again in case she didn't want to be touched.

"I love you." He told her. "Whatever it takes to make you feel better near me, that's what I'll do."

She felt the sting of tears, but quelled them. Now wasn't the time to cry. She'd been doing enough of that lately.

"I love you, too."

He turned and looked at her, utterly surprised at the admission, and when she saw the shock in his expression she couldn't help but smile – although it wasn't much of a smile.

"You're surprised?"

"I'm surprised you're willing to say it," he told her. "After-"

"What happened doesn't change my feelings," she said, softly, the smile fading. "I do love you." Which was one of the reasons he'd been able to hurt her so completely. Rodney McKay never would have had this affect on her.

"How do I fix things?" He asked her. She had to know how he could make it better between them. He didn't have a clue.

She shook her head.

"I don't know, Carson… this is new for me, too…" She sighed, closing her eyes, and trying to relax against him. "You could try holding me. I'd like that." And she hoped he would, too.

He set his coffee cup on the floor and pulled her into his arms, gently gathering her close as he turned slightly to bring her up against his chest and tucking her under his chin as he was so fond of doing. When she didn't pull away, he tightened his grip on her just a bit, and she could feel him shaking just a little. And felt guilty for making him feel like he had to walk on eggshells around her. One hand was still holding her coffee cup, but the other was free, and she wrapped it around his hip, shifting just a little against him so she was more comfortable.

"Are you all right?" He asked, loosening his grip.

She nodded and turned her head slightly, pressing her lips lightly against his bare neck to reassure him. In response, she felt his arms tightening just a bit, and she sighed at the closeness she'd missed.

"I'm going back to the planet to check on the cavern we found." She told him, her mouth still close to his neck.

He nodded, feeling her warm breath on his skin and loving the close contact – even though he had no intention of doing anything but hold her.

"I heard." Meaning he'd been listening to the briefing even though he hadn't interrupted by joining it.

"Would you like to come?" She asked.

He pulled away just enough so that he could look down at her, his expression surprised once more. "You want me to come?"

"If you want to go," she amended. "It's not a very exciting place, and if it's raining, we'll probably get drenched, because there's a hole in the top of my cavern. Are you claustrophobic?"

"Not that I know of."

"If you want to come, you're invited," she repeated. "It might help you feel a little less left out – and I'd like your company."

"I'd like that." He told her, hugging her close once more and daring to press a kiss against the top of her head, brushing his bearded chin against her soft hair. "When are you going?"

"After lunch."

"What are you going to do until then?"

"Do you have anything you need to do?"

He shook his head, and even though she didn't see it, she could feel it.

"My schedule's free…"

"Will you stay with me, then? For a while?" She turned and brushed another kiss against his neck, and this time he lifted his chin to give her better access – and in a silent plea for her to kiss him again.

"I'd love to, Melony," he whispered, as he felt her kiss him again in response to his movement. He hugged her close, and then released his right arm from around her and brushed his fingers against her cheek, watching her as she lifted her eyes to meet his. "Can I kiss you?"

There was only the slightest of hesitations before she nodded.

"Yes."

He bent his head and brushed his lips against hers, the touch electrifying. It wasn't a deep kiss, but it didn't need to be. There was no way he was going to rush her – not this time – and there was no reason to. She was giving him a chance to start again, and he wasn't going to mess it up.

She sighed against his lips, the vibration of her lips against his pleasant and as wonderful as the sound of contentment coming from her. He pulled away and brushed his hand against her cheek once more.

"I love you," he repeated.

"I love you, too, Carson."

He bent his head and brushed another gentle kiss against her lips.