Time as it always did slipped by like a rain swollen stream. The Captain was a source of good news from the colonists and her presence was a balm to their hearts. She didn't approve of what she called 'sentimental dreck' and really only became herself when she was with Phineas.

Their trials for the TTD became shorter and ended with their talks which Phineas looked forward to more and more. Eventually it replaced the trials entirely. Though decades apart they saw eye to eye on most things. Really upon reflection she was practically his contemporary, simply untouched by time. It was to him she turned for comfort and advice. It was nice to be needed plus she did little things for him. Fixed his coffee the way he liked it, fussed about his caffienoid consumption, made him laugh even if she looked foolish. But mostly they sat in companionable silence, basking in the calm brought by the other's mere presence.

Yet it was becoming more and more difficult to ignore the warmth he felt when she was beside him. Especially the time they both dozed off on the couch and he idly thought how nice it would be to wake up beside her every day.

No, she couldn't possibly feel the same way.

Then once when she, in an attempt to put him in a better mood coaxed him into dancing with her along to Frank Sinatra bent her head toward him and he retreated. "What are you doing?"

Her eyes flicked back and forth searching his face. "Using the scientific method." She answered.

He frowned at her deeply unamused. "Have you lost your mind?"

"Maybe?" Her tone, at first playful and coy, began to shrivel up.

"What. Are. You doing." Phineas demanded in a low voice.

Somehow he found himself on the other side of the room and the Captain followed, rushing ahead of him blocking his progress- using her TTD the little cheater.

"Phineas I'm sorry but I can't-" she paused fumbling for words. "I can't go on without knowing if- oh I'm babbling, sorry, it's just- it's just I care about you so much you're the sweetest most brilliant man, I've never met anyone like you-" pausing again she searched his face again, for what he didn't know.

"No."

The word fell like a dead weight between them.

Her voice cracked like glass "What?"

His hands were on her shoulders now. "Listen to me." Phineas stopped himself. It hurt like hell to see her pain but she must know he was aching too. He soldiered on. "Listen to me. I will put this as plainly as I can. My work would keep me from you and I've never done anything like this before. Besides, wouldn't you rather be with someone closer to your age?"

Her head dropped. "I'd rather be with someone I love. " Then she met his gaze her voice thick with emotion. "You can't stand there and tell me you don't feel something, too."

It was at that moment Phineas realized he fucked up. Following her lead he'd spilled it all. Let down his guard and show his fears."You've always been forthright. "

The Captain sniffed. "That's a really nice way of saying 'emotional wreck'."

He shook his head. "Not at all. It's a quality I admire. I'm having some difficulty."

Raising her head she faced him again, eyes still shiny with unshed tears. "I knew what you were going to say, Phineas. 'I'm old' yeah, well I'm older."

"A technicality. You're physically half my age and mentally a quarter of it."

She laughed silently, her shoulders shaking. The tears fell anyway. "By which you mean I'm fun and keep you young."

"Exactly. "

She hugged him, pressed her cheek to his chest. It felt nice. Phineas held her for a while. Oh no. Well no wonder they called it falling in love. Looking up she did that thing where one eyebrow went up and the other went down.

"If you're worried about physical things, we can work something out."

She laughed -out of mirth not spite- and Phineas knew he must be blushing. "Don't be shy, I know that's what you're thinking about. It's not super important to me."

He tried to find somewhere else to look besides directly at her. "It's more my desirability as a partner I'm worried about. "

Maneuvering so she was within his line of sight again, she grinned. "Well I'm more about romancing the mind above all. I'm a champion hugger. There are other ways of being intimate and if you change your mind…"

His fears abated, he brushed a thumb across her cheek. "I had hoped...but how will we make this work?"

"We'll do as we've always done. But with more snuggles!"

"Then I must set to finding optimal cuddling positions."

"Deal!"

Then she kissed him. It was so sudden that Phineas wasn't sure it happened at all. So he went back for more, arms encircling her waist. Inexperience gave way to instinct and longing. No wonder the serials glorified it so much. She could slow her perception of time but this was better. Pretty soon her arms were around him too and he was no longer troubled by this or that. Only the perfection of this- this single moment. He forgot his myriad of excuses, his misgivings.

Touching her forehead to his, the Captain smiled. "Whatever happens, we'll work through it. Together."