A/N: This was intended as a one-shot, but it turns out that Pete had some thoughts too. I'd love to know what you think.
-RFDS-
Pete leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes, savouring the feeling of Eliza's body against his. He didn't want this moment to end.
Until this morning, he hadn't considered that Eliza might go back to Ed. When she arrived with Henry, she'd seemed totally unattached, so he'd allowed himself to be transfixed by her beauty, skill and wit. There's been no mention of her husband. Quite the opposite: the fact that she'd come back to his place that first night certainly gave him no indication that it was a current relationship.
The speed of their connection made it hurt that much more when she refused to divert to Nate and Rhiannon's accident. He'd been so angry with her, but now even he had to admit that she'd probably made the right call, and even if they'd diverted it probably wouldn't have made any difference. And she was still beautiful and brilliant, and there in the plane with him so often. He couldn't resist at least being her friend.
As they got to know each other better, he'd realised how recent Eliza's split from Ed was, and how raw she was as a result. He'd taken it slowly, letting her recover rather than rebound. He searched his memory: was there any indication for her that things with Ed were unresolved rather than over? If there was, he couldn't see it. Even when she found out that Ed was coming back with Henry, it hadn't stopped her from continuing a relationship with him. He thought she just wasn't looking forward to seeing him.
He was hurt, and also a little angry, that Eliza had apparently been dishonest with him. But at the same time, he'd been busy processing everything with Nate and Rhiannon, Taylor and Wyama, and hadn't exactly opened his heart to her on those issues. They'd had a lot of fun together and gotten to know each other in many ways, but there were many subjects they hadn't explored at this point. He'd thought they had plenty of time.
Then he'd watched Eliza's reaction to Ed's arrival, and something in him shook. Surely, if the relationship was truly over and they had both agreed to move on, there would have been less awkwardness. Some awkwardness would remain, certainly, but not to the degree that he's seen. She couldn't even get their names straight. That was when the doubt crept in.
He'd cornered her as soon as he had the opportunity, even though isolating their headsets wasn't exactly protocol. And her brief answer had cemented his thoughts. She hadn't told Ed about him because in some form, she and Ed were still together.
All day long, he'd watched her whenever he could, trying to get inside her head. He wondered if he should do the gentlemanly thing and bow out, let her go back to her husband. But he couldn't let her go quite that easily.
When he came to her at the end of the day, she looked exhausted. He reminded himself that she'd worked the night before as well as the day, and hoped she'd had a little bit of sleep on the flight back. It hurt to watch her struggle, but he was glad to be the person that she would let her guard down with. But despite their moment of closeness, she wouldn't even come out for a drink with him. His heart sank just a little more.
As he'd driven her home, he debated with himself. A thought flashed through his mind, avision of her walking upstairs and reconciling with Ed, without knowing how much he felt for her. So in halting tones of uncertainty, he'd told her that she meant something to him. He didn't call it love - that felt like too big a word for tonight, too much pressure. But he thought his message had hit its mark.
It must have had some sort of impact, he reasoned. She was here now, resting in his arms instead of going upstairs. He wondered how long it would last, how long they would sit there. If it would keep her in his life, he'd sit there forever.