A month had passed since they had been rescued! A full month of recovery, physically and emotionally.John leant against the balcony rail just looking out to sea. Elizabeth had returned to work today, personally he had thought it was too soon but she overruled him.

He had been by her side the entire time she recovered, talking about everything and nothing. Never once thoughhad they approached the subject of them. John knew that he loved her and would do anything for her. It had been the last two months that had put it into perspective for him. He still didn't really know how she felt, had her confession of love been real or something that happened in the heat of the moment when both of them had thought it was the end?

Everything was a mess. A complete and utter...

He heard the balcony doors open, "I thought I'd find you here!" a soft voice exclaimed.

Turning his eyes took in Elizabeth Weir, from head to toe. Dark curly hair to military standard boots. She was gorgeous, he thought as she reached his side.

"Hey. How is everything?" He asked her.

"Nothing's changed." she replied smirking, "I still have scientists after me and a stack of paper work to get through."

Clearing his throat, John knew he had to approach the subject that until now had been taboo. "Elizabeth?"

"Hmm?" she replied absently.

"Where are we?" he asked quietly.

The question got her attention and she frowned slightly, "I'm not sure what you mean,"

Turning quickly to invade her personal space, he heard her intake of breath. "I love you!" he whispered close to her ear, "Where does that leave us?"

"I don't know?" she murmured against his chest.

"Do you love me?" he questioned her, moving his head back so that he could search her eyes. John didn't know if he actually wanted to know the answer.

"I…I…Yes" she finally agreed. Relief coursed through him and a cocky smile started to light up his face.

Noticing this Elizabeth continued knowing what she had to say would take the smile right off his face.

"It doesn't matter John. Everything still exists. The same danger and the same command problems!"

"Are you saying you want me to give up on us? on this?" he argued his face losing the previous moments joy.

"NO." she disagreed vehemently, "Not give up, just wait. Now isn't our time." she whispered before reaching up to stroke his cheek with her fingers.

Leaning into her touch, John moved in and captured her lips with his own. He needed this contact with her, had missed it. The way Elizabeth was responding proved that she had missed it too.

Breaking away, she was breathing heavily, "Your making it harder than it should be."

"How? I want to be with you! Be able to touch you and tell everyone that your mine." John claimed possessively.

"It has to be this way, for now." Stepping away from him was hard but she knew she had to do it.

"I love you." she whispered.

He closed his eyes briefly as if it were an effective way of blocking the pain. "I know now."

Elizabeth watched his face as he contemplated his next words.Johns face showed fierce determination and she was curious to know why.

"I will be with you!" he vowed.

Turning and walking off the balcony was the hardest thing she had ever had to do but if she stayed she would give in. give into what they both wanted but couldn't have...just yet. She would have to love him from afar and in secret until their time came.

"Elizabeth?" Johns voice caused her to turn.

"I won't let you down again."

"You've never let me down!" she replied honestly before returning to her office.

John watched her leave. He knew that loving her at a distance and in secret would be hard and painful. Not being able to express his feelings for her, not being able to touch her and not being able to claim her wouldbe astrain on his self control buthis years in the military would help him. His feelings for her would have to be buried again but one day they would be free and he would be able to show the world.

The End

A.N: I was thinking of a sequel?