Author's Note: Written for bellakitse's prompt Always in the Friday's One Word Fic Challenge - Week 6. Spoilers for the Season One finale but do not worry, there will be a happy ending. :)
Disclaimer: I own neither the show nor the characters. I don't earn any money with this piece. I just do it for fun.

Kiss of Desire

Approximately another four years (and 118 days) pass before their third kiss takes place, 85 millions years in the past.

Almost four months of living in limbo have put her on the edge, weeks of stalking the hallways of Hope Plaza with a grim smile on her face, one hand on her gun, the fingers of the other drumming a fast beat on her (his) knife, unable to do anything but to wait. For someone like her it's one of the worst kind of torture, to be condemned to watch from the sideline.

But then comes the moment they finally open the connection again, and when Alicia steps through the portal, she's back in control, all the pent up frustration turning into determination, set on finding him in this new (old) world. And finding him, she will. There has never been a doubt in her mind that he's still alive. Taylor is a survivor, always has been, and while she can only begin to imagine what he's been through, what it was like to be stranded all alone in a foreign world for over a hundred days, fighting to survive day by day, she just knows he's out there.

She puts Guzman in charge of guarding the portal and disappears into the underwood, sparing the blooming wildlife around her only a single glance. Jungle is jungle after all, no matter in what era, and even though this one is far more colorful, filled with much more life than those in the future, she's only interested in one life.

The tingling at the back of her neck is the first sign, soon followed by the unmistakable feeling of being watched and she follows her instincts (they have never misled her when it comes to him), lets her pack drop to the ground before slowly turning around.

The sight of him, bruised and blooded but alive, combined with weeks apart that have stripped her of her usual walls and barriers, tugs at her very soul and the soldier in her crumbles to dust, leaving nothing behind but the woman, her expression soft, open.

Taylor takes a step towards her, stops, clenches his fists at his sides. "You're really here, aren't you, Wash?" His voice is hoarse, raw with emotions, and it pains her to hear him sounding so lost. Feelings well up, trap her answer inside her throat, and all she manages is a nod, but that is already enough and a weight seems to be lifted off his shoulders, the tension leaving his body in a rush as he lets out a ragged sigh.

This time, there is no hesitation as he moves forward, crossing the distance between them fast, with just a few strides, until he's right up against her, his breath hot on her face. They've been this close before - though then it had always been dictated by outer circumstances (in trenches, during briefings, whenever she had to stitch him up) - but this time it feels different.

Alicia can smell him, earthy, spicy and something else, something that is just him, and a flush colors her cheeks as she remembers another place, another time. He's staring down at her, the look in his pale eyes intense, and her breath hitches as one hand curves around her shoulder, the other sliding to her nape, calloused fingers gripping her gently as Taylor tilts her face up to his.

Her eyes flutter and she shivers from the sensation of his warm skin on hers, a soft moan escaping her lips. With a low growl his mouth descend on hers, kissing her with a need that steals her breath and sets her nerves on fire, his tongue slipping past her parted lips as she gasps and arches against him. His answering groan is lost between them as he pushes himself closer, deepens the kiss, teeth scraping over bruised lips.

She tastes desperation and longing in his touch, knows it arises from the knowledge that this won't last, can't last, that they're going to sacrifice their happiness because there is just too much at stake, and she twists her fingers into the edges of his shirt, hoping in vain this moment will last forever.

It still breaks her heart as Taylor pulls away, brushes his lips up to her temple, pressing them to her skin there. The tender gesture wrecks havoc on her emotions and Alicia bites her bottom lip, the lump in her throat growing thicker.

Some things (they) are just not meant to be, no matter how much she wishes it were otherwise.

ooo

Later, among their fellow men, they are back in their roles, Commander and Lieutenant, the chain of command, titles and ranks, separating them again but then Alicia glances at him and finds it's still there, desire, shimmering just beneath the surface, twirling in his eyes as he watches her while he's talking with Guzman and the 'not meant to be' rearranges itself to a 'maybe one day', letting a spark of hope flicker to life in her chest.

The following days, as they start to build a temporary camp, explore the terrain Taylor thinks is suitable for their colony and prepare for the second pilgrimage, they rarely leave each other's side, and she savors every moment of it, his arm brushing hers as he reaches past her for a plexpad, a hand on her hip to steady him while he's reading the files she's holding, strong but gentle fingers wrapping around her wrist to get her attention.

When the portal opens, signaling the arrival of Lucas and other scientists, they await them standing next to each other, and just before he steps forward to welcome his son, their fingers entwine for a single heartbeat.

Over the years they let looks and touches convey what they can't (are not allowed to) say out loud. Be careful and come back to me every time one of them goes OTG, need you by my side the night Lucas betrays him, always together against the Sixers and the unknown enemy in the future, don't leave me when the virus steals his memories and feelings, I'll miss you the morning he leaves the colony to defend Terra Nova against his son and the Phoenix Group.

And it is enough, they have the promise of someday, but then it all shatters into a thousand tiny pieces as Lucas pulls the trigger.