VII.
Cora looks up from her spot on Scott's incredibly small, and lumpy single bed when she hears the sound of his door opening. She leans back against the cold wall where she wondered if a headboard was supposed to be, tugging his blue AI issue blanket up under her arms to cover herself in case it's someone other than him. When Cora sees Scott step through the door, carrying what looks like two cups of coffee in his hands, she smiles at him. She can't help but laugh when she sees him; his gorgeous brown hair messed in only a way her hands could, wearing a pair of gym shorts that hang too low on his hips, and a grin that makes her stomach flutter.
"Has anyone told you how perfect you look in the morning?" Scott mumbles as he gives her a smile that makes her flush further. "Because they should." He adds before turning his attention back to balancing the coffee in one hand when he closes the door behind him.
"Hmm.. only you." Cora giggles and quickly climbs off of the end of the bed, dropping the blanket to the floor and going to help him with the drinks. "Thank you." Cora smiles before leaning to give him a gentle kiss of thanks when he hands her one of the cups, he returns the smile and she kisses him again, his mouth lingering on hers.
"Sorry if it tastes like shit." Scott shakes his head and places both of his hands around the cup to warm his palms. "It's from the machine." He adds nodding his head in the direction of wherever the machine is located.
"It's fine." Cora smiles at him and places her cup down on the small table beside the bed that she guessed was at least three times the size could be a desk, but right now it was pretty useless. Cora sits down on the edge of the bed, her knees almost coming into contact with the table.
"Next time I'll get you a real coffee." Scott begins and she watches him lift the drink to his mouth, the steam disappearing into the air when he takes a sip. Cora smiles to herself when she sees him screw up his face at the taste. Yep, it really did taste bad.
"Next time?" Cora asks suddenly realising what he has said and looking up at him, but he appears busy hiding in his coffee. Cora takes hold of his hand and drags him down onto the bed beside her, the lumpy old mattress sagging beneath his weight. "Next time, Scott?" Cora laughs and takes the cup from him and puts it next to hers.
"You know.." Scott begins looking at his feet. "If we ever end up on the same station again." Scott huffs his voice going quiet. "We could maybe get a coffee.. or a room." He grins making her laugh and shove him in the shoulder with hers. "Just the room?"
"Mmm, that does sound wonderful." Cora giggles. "I don't think that's going to happen, unfortunately." Cora sighs and tries not to let her disappointment show. It was a lovely thought, and something she was realising she really wanted. She sees him give her a small smile and lean towards her.
"Something to get me through the lonely nights without you." Scott nods and lowers his head. Cora leans against his shoulder, enjoying the strong and soothing presence of him close to her.
"Has anyone told you that you're the sweetest?" Cora whispers; leaning her head against his shoulder and resting her cheek against his warm skin. "Because they should." She adds and lifts her head when she feels his eyes on her; he lifts his hand to her cheek and leans closer until their lips are almost touching. Cora holds her breath waiting for it until she suddenly spots a mark on Scott's neck, her eyes lowering to his throat.
"Did I do that?" Cora giggles watching him lift his head looking confused at her words. Cora laughs again and places her hand on his neck, her fingertips running over a small red mark that matches the shape of her mouth.
"Did you do, what?" He asks lifting his hand feeling for the place where she has her hand. Cora sees him narrow his eyes at her when she gives him an innocent smile. "How bad is it?" He asks as she watches him push himself up off of the bed so he's standing up. Cora sees the muscles in his back shift, and flex as he stretches as he stands.
"Well, that depends on your feelings about scarves." Cora giggles hearing him snort at her words; she can't help but smile to herself watching him pad across the room almost naked and shameless. Years in the military usually made you lose any sense of embarrassment and modesty after spending so much time with lots of people, getting dressed and undressed so quickly. There was no time for modesty in the military. He disappears into the bathroom she assumes to look in the mirror.
"Jeez, Cora." Scott laughs making her smile when she hears the sound. It wasn't her fault he'd got her so worked up. He deserved it.
Cora leans forwards and places her hands on the edge of the bed; she peers over the side trying to find where their clothes have ended up. She spots his zip hoodie, and his t-shirt on the floor, not far from the rest of their clothing. Cora glances up towards the bathroom when she hears the sound of him knocking something off of the side and onto the tiled floor. Clearly, he was cute but clumsy.
"What are you doing in there?" Cora calls in the direction of the bathroom but doesn't get any response so imagines he was still examining the hickey on his neck. Just wait till he sees the marks her fingers have made on his back, she hums.
Cora reaches under the bed to pick up his t-shirt, lifting it to slip it over her head and onto her body. Cora slides her arms inside laughing to herself when she realises it's much too big for her but it smelled like Scott. Hey, it wasn't his training gear like he'd suggested, but she decided he'd probably still be happy with her efforts. Cora takes hold of the zip and tugs it down so that he can see she isn't wearing anything underneath.
"Thirsty?" Scott asks appearing in the doorway of the bathroom, holding two glasses of water in his hands. Cora laughs hearing his words. Yes, so very thirsty she grins to herself. Cora can't help but let her eyes slowly travel over him; she didn't think she'd ever met anyone as gorgeous and enticing as Scott and he seemed so oblivious to the fact. Cora watches as he lifts the glass to take a drink and still hasn't noticed her.
"Very.." Cora giggles, if this was going to be the only time she ever got to be with Scott, she was enjoying that they were trying to drag it out for as long as possible. She didn't know when he was due back to his division, and their one-night-stand time allowance had come and gone.
Cora watches when he finally looks up at her; she sees a smile tug at the corner of his mouth when he takes in her new outfit.
"Wow," Scott mumbles when she feels his eyes on her. She watches his eyes move over her body, taking in every inch of her. "You really are perfect." Scott smiles making her feel her cheeks redden at his assessment, she could already feel how flushed she was and he wasn't helping. "You look so much better in that, than me." He smiles making her laugh.
"So do you want to take your pictures now?" Cora gives him a small smile before biting her bottom lip gently, making him sigh quietly. She tugs the zip lower again revealing more skin, watching his eyes lower to her cleavage and a grin stretch onto his face. "To remember me by wasn't it?" She giggles when she watches him place the glasses down on the table, forgetting all about them.
Cora watches as he crosses the room in one stride, she stands up off the bed to meet him, before he can reach her. Cora smiles at him when he lifts his hands to cup both her cheeks and draw her closer to him, he dips his head slightly to kiss her making her melt into him and his body. Cora hears herself sigh against his mouth, wondering when the last time was that she let herself so quickly be completely engulfed by someone like Scott. Probably never. There'd been others, but he was just so different.
She places her hands on his neck as he kisses her and she smiles when she feels him slide his hands slowly down her body and onto her behind; he squeezes gently pulling her against his body. He'd obviously found his new favourite place to put his hands.
"That really will keep me warm on those long nights." Scott whispers grinning at her, she slips her arms around his neck trailing her fingers through the hair at the back of his head. "Unless you could use your connections to get us both posted somewhere together. Then we could keep each other warm." He grins, a cold planet wouldn't be so bad with him to warm her up but there would be no chance they'd ever be posted together. She was going to be with the Pathfinder and he'd be with his squad. He'd probably forget all about her, by his next shore leave.
"I don't have any connections." Cora replies giggling when she sees him pout. How was this man so sexy and adorable at the same time? "You'll just have to make sure you get your fill of me now." Cora giggles before unwrapping her arms from around his neck and placing her hands on his chest. "Your Omni or mine?" She asks sliding her hands down onto his stomach.
"Seriously?" Scott laughs looking at her for a moment trying to decide if she was teasing him or not. Cora nods making him smile. "We can use mine." Scott nods; Cora notices that he looks genuinely happy to have a picture taken with her. Scott gently lets go of her and brings up the interface on his Omni, she sees him tapping through some options until he finds the right one.
Cora watches him hold his hands out to her when he is ready, she takes hold of his hand which he uses to lift hers above her head and twirls her so that she has his back pressed against his chest; he wraps his arms gently around her body making her giggle. Cora leans her head back slightly watching him lift his arm trying to set up the perfect picture. Cora watches their image on the display moves as he lines them up, she feels him rest the side of his head against hers and a smile stretch onto his face.
"Smile.." Scott whispers making Cora smile, a real genuine smile that makes her realise how easy it is to feel like smiling with Scott. Cora watches him lower his arm and look at the picture he's just taken, she glances at him and sees him nod his head and smile. "That looks great." Scott adds looking at her.
"I love it." Cora nods looking at the picture, she looked so happy and his smile matched hers. They did look a young couple in love. "Come here, take another." Cora giggles wrapping her arms around his waist when he lifts his arm to capture another picture. Cora watches as he turns to his head to face the camera and starts pulling faces, she presses her forehead against the side of his head laughing at his silliness. She places her finger beneath his chin and turns his face towards hers, pressing her mouth against his. Cora accepts his arms that he wraps around her and immediately enjoys the feeling of warmth from being so close to him and forgetting their pictures.
"Now," Scott whispers. "Let's get you back into that bed." He adds; making Cora smile. She screams when he suddenly bends down and wraps his arms around her legs, picking her up and throwing her over his shoulder. "I have Krogan blood in my veins and I'm ready to please my woman." He laughs making her laugh even more. Cora feels him turn towards the bed.
"Scott, don't drop me." Cora giggles wriggling on his shoulder making him hold onto her tighter. His legs come into contact with the side of the bed so he bends down to deposit her gently onto the sheets. "Such a romantic." She smiles watching his eyes taking in the sight of her again, she didn't think she'd ever get bored of seeing that look in his eyes because of her and how much he wanted her.
"You have no idea." Scott smirks making her laugh. "But, with this tight schedule we're on, I'm not sure if we can fit both romance and lots of sex, into these few hours we have." He sighs dramatically making her grin. "You'll have to pick.." Scott smirks
"Sex, sex, and more sex." Cora giggles seeing it makes him grin again. "So when do you have to leave?" Cora asks seeing him shrug lightly, she wasn't getting attached or possessive, she just really wanted to know they'd be together for as long as possible. But she also knew as a soldier he was assigned to a unit and he would have to report when he was told, he couldn't be turning up late.
Cora was going to be one of the last into stasis as she was going to be one of the first out too. They'd already started the delicate and important task of placing large blocks of scientists, merchants and soldiers into stasis. Scott's unit must be one of the last in, too.
"I'm never leaving you." Scott grins. "You are stuck with me for the next 600 years and beyond." Scott laughs making her sigh at this handsome moron. "I could live well into my hundreds." She feels the mattress shift beneath his weight as he steps onto the bed and walks wobbly-legged towards her. He lowers himself to kneel on top of the covers.
Cora giggles and tries to kick him away and when he gently tickles the bottom of her foot with his finger. She knew how brief her shore leave was and even if they tried to keep in touch, she doubted they'd see each other very often.
"Be serious," Cora giggles as he leans towards her. She watches him crawl closer to her as she makes room for him and lets him move between her thighs. "Scott," Cora whispers when she notices that he's too busy sliding his hands slowly up her calves to respond and that he lifts her legs to wrap them around his waist, his hands resting on her hips. Cora sighs when Scott surrounds her body with his own and places his hands either side of her head, his large frame covers hers so that she can look into his face. "How much time do we have?" She asks him looking up into his eyes seeing his blue pools watching her closely.
"I'm the last block." Scott nods thinking about his answer for a moment as she feels him lift a hand to trail his hand gently through her hair, she closes her eyes when she feels him lower himself until he is settled between her legs. Cora digs her heels into the back of his thighs and wraps her arms tightly around his body, holding him closer to her.
"Who did you have to sleep with, to get the last block?" Cora giggles hearing him snort. She feels him slide his hand beneath her and place it on her lower back so that he can keep a tighter hold of her.
He presses his lips against hers silencing her questions before he moves them slowly down her neck and to her throat. She closes her eyes again, biting her bottom lip when Scott trails his other hand slowly down her body. She feels him slip his hand beneath the Initiative t-shirt that she is wearing and gently cup her breast in his palm making her moan quietly.
"Are you saying I use my body to get what I want?" Scott mumbles against her neck before nipping at her skin. Cora just shakes her head in response suddenly finding it difficult to form words when he begins rubbing his thumb against her nipple. She lifts her hips to squeeze him tighter between her legs.
"I really want your body, does that count?" Cora giggles watching him lift his head and grin at her. "Please kiss me." She whispers seeing him nod lightly before leaning closer to her pressing his lips against hers.
She wraps her arms around his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair encouraging his demanding but gentle mouth. He slides his hand between them making Cora arch her back as she feels his hand slip between her legs. Cora moans when she feels him tease her with his fingertips but he quickly presses his mouth to hers again, his lips and tongue silencing her.
"Scott!" Cora feels Scott freeze when they hear his name being called from the other side of the bedroom door and then the unmistakable sound of someone's hand, coming into contact with the surface. "I know you are in there!" Comes another loud shout making him remove his mouth from hers and glance over his shoulder and to where the banging is coming from. It was definitely a woman's voice and she didn't sound happy. She hears Scott sigh before shaking his head.
"She'll go away," Scott whispers to her. He places his hand on the bed beside her head again and presses his mouth against Cora's trying to make her forget all about the noise and drawing her back into his kiss. Cora whimpers lightly when he shifts his body, moving his hips between her thighs. "Ignore her." Scott mumbles against her lips. Cora almost forgets the angry woman outside the door until the banging starts again, even louder.
"Please tell me, you don't have a girlfriend," Cora begins as she leans her head back, breaking their kiss. She lifts her hand and presses a finger against his mouth; his lips and hands were too distracting. "Or a wife?" She hisses at him seeing him smile and shake his head.
"Who has time for girlfriends?" He asks giving her a small smile. She could imagine he had plenty of both. "What is out there, so much worse than a girlfriend." Scott huffs glancing towards the door again. "I'm sorry, Cora. Let me just get rid of her." Scott adds, making Cora nod lightly, what was going on? Who wanted Scott so desperately and how did they know where he was? Were other members of his unit here and wanting him to leave with them?
Cora reluctantly lets go of him but smiles at him when he presses a quick kiss against her mouth as if promising her he would be back. She watches him carefully climb off of the bed and begin searching for his clothes; at least he wasn't going to answer the door in his current state of just wearing a pair of shorts.
"Scott!" The voice shouts through the door. "Open this door, right now! If you don't, I'm telling Dad where you are!" Comes the woman's voice again and another round of loud banging.
Cora frowns when she hears her words but she continues to watch as Scott scoops up his hoodie and quickly slips his arms into it, pulling it on around his shoulder and zipping it up his front. She glances at the door when she hears the banging again, she didn't know he had a sister and especially one that would be on this station. An uncle, yes.
"SAM.." Scott begins making Cora's eyes quickly snap from the door and to him. Cora feels her eyes widen in surprise. Scott could communicate with SAM? How was that possible? "Can you please tell my Sister, to kindly fuck off?" He chuckles. Cora feels her stomach knot; did he have access to SAM? No one but the Pathfinder team had the implants to link them to SAM. Cora, Alec, Harry, Kosta, Hayles, Sara, and Alec's son. Fuck. Scott, that was his name.
"No," Cora begins. "Your Alec's.." Cora adds her throat suddenly feeling like its closing and she can no longer breathe.
Cora scrambles off of the bed as quickly as she can and backs herself away from him and into the corner of the room, she feels the colour begin to drain when he diverts his attention away from the door and back to her when he sees her sudden movements. Cora can see that he has also noticed that something is wrong and that he looks worried. Her Scott was a Ryder.
"Oh my god, Scott." Cora whispers, bringing her hand up to her mouth.
"Are you okay?" Scott asks her quickly moving towards her, ignoring his twin that is still banging on the door. Cora holds her hand up to him stopping him in his tracks, she looks into his face and sees the concern for her plastered all over it, but she also sees how obvious it was all along.
Cora can see Scott has his father's eyes; a brighter shade of blue but she could see it now. He was so much like his father. Scott was military, but no longer in the way, he had been. He was no longer part of a unit or squad; he was on his way to Andromeda with his Father and his Sister.
"Wait, are you Harper?" He asks as Cora sees realisation and recognition replace the concern. Cora tries to fight back a sob, one that she isn't sure if it is anger at herself for managing to find his son out of all of the men in all of the galaxies, or anger at whatever force it was that had brought them together and was now taking him away from her.
"Alec is going to kill me," Cora whispers shaking her head at him, he tries to approach her again but she backs away until the back of her thighs come into contact with the table, making him falter. "I work for your Dad, Scott." Cora adds; seeing him nod lightly taking in her words but clearly, he wasn't fazed by them. She couldn't tell him the truth of her relationship with Alec.
"So? A lot of people work for my Dad." Scott huffs looking even more confused and she notices also slightly hurt. "But this is good news right?" He adds giving her a smile, she so wanted to cross the small distance between them and let him take her into his arms again, kiss him and tell him everything was going to be okay.
"Scott.." Cora whispers trying to stop herself from telling him that yes, this was the best news possible, and in any other situation, she would be so happy to be getting the chance to be with him. But he was Alec's son, and Alec was still firmly wedged in her heart like a poisonous thorn. A thorn that she loved.
"He's mentioned you before.." Scott begins. "But this has nothing to do with him." Scott whispers stepping towards her again, and of course, in his mind, it wouldn't have anything to do with Alec. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you." Scott begins and she can see the hurt on his face, he thought it was his fault she was upset.
"Well, I didn't tell you either." Cora sighs seeing him nod. Maybe if they'd properly introduced themselves to each other back in the airlock this would have never happened. They would have parted ways, she would have gone and soaked in a long hot bath and probably ended up back in the very same bed as Alec. Letting him break her heart all over again, and running back to him.
"Look.." Scott begins making Cora look into his face again. "My Dad is an asshole, okay? I don't care what he thinks." Scott continues, she feels him step closer to her again and notices that this last step he has taken has brought them together. "Don't worry about him. He means nothing to me, Cora." But until a few hours ago, when he'd broken her heart, he'd meant everything to her.
"Scott!" Sara shouts through the door, banging even louder than before. Cora smiles lightly when she sees Scott huff and hold his hand up as if he wants to pause that thought for a moment. Cora drops her eyes from Scott seeing how upset he looks. She'd only known him a few hours and she had already hurt him. Maybe she and Alec really were made for each other.
"Please, Cora." Scott turns her attention back to her again and she watches him reach his hands out to her. He falters slightly, before placing his hands lightly on her arms but looks like he will remove them if she objects. "Please don't leave. Let me just see what Sara wants." He adds, she feels his eyes on her so she just nods.
Cora didn't know if she could come face to face with Sara again, then there would be no denying she'd been sleeping with her brother. Her wonderful, perfect, brother. Cora knew that Sara had heard the whispering about her, and her suspected relationship with Alec and Cora was certain that she'd caught Sara watching their interactions closely on more than one occasion. Cora glances at the bathroom door, she'd never run from anything in her life but maybe she should be waiting this one out from behind a closed door.
The Lieutenant feels him lower his hands from her arms and nod his head lightly. He turns away from her and walks across the room to the door. There was no way Scott could understand, he, of course, would think that she was worried about what Alec would think of this situation from a professional standpoint. Scott had no idea what an awful situation she had dragged him into and no idea the size of rift she could create between father and son, with her actions.
But, Cora hadn't known who Scott was. How could she? They'd never met and she'd never even set eyes on him. Alec, however, surely must have known where she was, and who she was with. Why had she just assumed that Scott was an AI grunt? She thought he would be shipped out and she'd never see him again, but now she knew the truth. He was going to be on the same team as her and working for Alec, too. They'd be spending every day together.
Cora glances around the room and realises she is still just dressed in just Scott's t-shirt and nothing else. Scott had made short work of her clothes. She spots the clothes that he had removed from her still on the floor, so she gathers them together and retreats into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She leans her back against it, wanting to know what is happening in the room but also wanting to hide from Sara's accusing eyes.
"What do you want?" Cora hears Scott's voice from the other side of the door, she leans her head back against the cool metal, closing her eyes for a moment.
This was not how she imagined her night going, at all. Maybe part of her had always known that Alec would end things sooner or later but she didn't ever imagine it would be tonight. But he always did like to keep her on her toes. Most of all, Cora never imagined she would have ever met a man like Scott that made her feel like she mattered and could mean more to someone than she ever did, to Alec.
"What took you so long?" Sara replies and she can hear her stepping into the room. "Dad is freaking out because you didn't turn up at the hospital." Sara adds, she just hears Scott mumble his reply. "Are you okay? What's happened?" She hears Sara ask her twin, a real sound of concern in her voice, and feels her heart sink. Poor Scott. He had a lot of information to process.
"I'm fine." Scott begins, not very convincingly. "I don't know why you bother calling him that." Scott adds and Cora hears Sara sigh. "So is that what you came to tell me? I was sleeping.." Scott replies.
"You're acting weird." Cora hears Sara's reply, knowing she probably wasn't falling for Scott's story. "Have you had a girl in here Scott?" Sara laughs and Cora feels herself hold her breath, waiting to hear his response. She'd left her shoes and underwear at the end of his bed and no doubt Sara had seen them, or maybe the mark on his neck?
Cora feels her stomach knot knowing that if Scott admits to his twin that they'd been together, Sara was bound to mention the rumours she has heard about Cora, all it would take then was for Scott to make the connection. She wanted to rush out there and stop this before Scott found out the truth; he didn't deserve to be hurt by this. She couldn't bear the thought of him thinking badly of her or thinking she'd known who he was. What if he thought she had used him for revenge on Alec?
"Don't tell her.." Cora whispers to herself and just hears him sigh. Maybe the best solution all round would be for none of this to ever be spoken of again. She would talk to them both individually and ask for it to never be mentioned. Return to a professional only relationship until she was promoted or transferred away from them both.
"Uh, yeah.." Scott begins "I've been sort of, seeing Cora Harper." Cora rolls her eyes slightly when she hears his announcement, well done Scott. "Yes, that Cora." Scott adds making her smile lightly when she hears it sounds like he says her name with a smile. "I know what you are going to say." Scott mumbles.
"Don't get your heart broken again?" Sara replies making Scott snort, Cora turns and rests the side of her head against the door. She lets her hand hover for a moment; maybe she should be out there with him, holding his hand and telling him she'd never meant to get him involved in her mess. Cora frowns hearing Sara's words, who could ever break Scott's heart? He was such a sweetheart.
"You have to have a heart to get it broken, sis." Scott mumbles. "I'm a Ryder remember, I'll turn out just like Dad and destroy everything." He adds and she is sure she hears him move away from Sara and sit down, on the edge of the bed.
"Don't say that," Cora hears Sara begin and the sound of her feet crossing the carpet to join him. "You are nothing like Dad, Scott. You are like Mom and that's why he finds it so difficult to understand you." Cora hears it go quiet for a moment, she feels guilty for listening to their conversation about something so private.
Cora sighs lightly, she'd lost her parents when their cargo ship went missing, and she knew what it felt like to be without parents and to feel so alone in an ever-expanding world. Cora knew a little about Ellen and she knew that Alec still held her high above all else in his regards. Knowing what she did about Alec, she imagined their Mother had been a wonderful woman to raise Scott and Sara without him around very often.
"So, tell me about Cora." Cora hears Sara asking her brother with a teasing tone to her voice.
"She's amazing." Scott begins making her sigh. "I really like her." He adds, making her wonder how he could even think they'd be able to move past this? How was she going to be able to tell him, they could never spend time together, again? He wouldn't understand and he'd think it was something he'd done wrong. But she wanted to see him again, was that so wrong? "I want it to work out with her." He adds making her smile lightly, why did he have to be Alec's son? Why did he have to have, his Father's eyes?
"Well, she's certainly badass enough to keep you in check." Sara laughs making Scott chuckle too. "It's nice to see you smiling, again. So, she has my approval." Cora smiles, yeah maybe she was a badass biotic and it made her happy to know she was the reason that Scott was smiling. "Her power is insane, Scott. We are lucky to have her on the team." Sara adds.
"How did you even get to meet Cora, and I didn't?" Cora hears Scott asking.
"Because, you spent exactly zero days training with the team," Sara laughs. "Otherwise you would have met months ago." She adds making Cora nod, maybe if she'd met him sooner things would have been different.
Would they have become friends? Lovers? Maybe if they'd met under different circumstances, they wouldn't have even looked at each other. She had always been so focused on Alec she might not have even noticed Scott. Maybe, Alec breaking her heart was what she needed to sever his hold over her and make her see the big wide world without him in it. Alec's actions had driven her straight into the arms of his son.
"I guess so. Look Sar, I've decided I'm not going to the party either." Cora hears Scott begin, she is sure that she hears him stand up again and walk back towards the door as if he is escorting his sister out of the room. "I know we said we would go together, but I don't want to see Alec." Scott sighs.
"Scottttt.." Sara whines at him, huffing lightly. "You said we'd do this together. It's a big deal being picked for the team and we should both be there. You've got a few days to think about it, but I want you there." Sara huffs again making Cora smile, the twins were lucky to have each other and it seemed it was the two of them together against the world. "Where is your armour, anyway?"
"Now you mention it.." Scott mumbles. "I stashed it in a closet on the ship, I wonder if it's still there." Scott laughs. "I know we said we'd go, but I'm not feeling too great and was just going to get some sleep. Maybe get some training in." Scott adds Cora laughs lightly when she hears him still trying to talk his way out of going.
She could just imagine Alec's face when his children turned up at his rescheduled announcement, no doubt going to cause some mischief and embarrass him. She wondered if he was even planning on mentioning his children being on the team, all he'd talked about was naming her his second and talking about the world they would be heading to.
"You don't look sick, are you lying to me?" Sara begins. "Why are you trying to get rid of me?" Sara asks and Cora hears Scott laugh, she smiles when she hears it. It was a wonderful sound.
"I'm not," Scott begins. "But I do have this unbelievably gorgeous woman hiding in that bathroom right now and I'm hoping she will agree to let me spend the rest of the day with her." Scott adds; making Cora turn and press her forehead against the door, she closes her eyes again.
Was it so wrong of her to want him? Would it be so wrong to want someone like Scott, in her life? She didn't know him, but she wanted to.
"Now I know you are lying," Sara laughs. "Feel better Scotty, I love you and message me when you wake up." Sara adds as Cora hears the room door slide open.
"I will. I love you, more." Scott replies and Cora thinks she hears him hugging his sister as she leaves.
Cora falters for a moment; she hears Sara leaving the room and the door sliding closed again as Scott locks it. She can hear him padding across the room, his bare feet against the carpet. Cora holds her breath when she hears that he is getting closer to the door, her heart feeling like it is beating so hard it is going to burst out of her chest.
Cora feels her stomach tense knowing she is about to set eyes on Scott, not knowing how he would react to her trying to escape him. But she'd never felt this before and it was unsettling her. She knew she loved Alec, but she also knew, she couldn't be in love with him. She had loved what she had wanted to believe he was, and he had betrayed and taken her love for him, for granted. Cora steps back slightly when Scott places his hand on the controls and slides it open; she feels his eyes on her and suddenly feels vulnerable under his gaze. But he doesn't look angry or upset.
"If you do decide to stay, you should know two things.." Scott whispers. "First, I am nothing like Alec." Scott adds stepping closer to her, his actions drawing her eyes up onto his face. "Second, I don't do one night stands." He laughs lightly making her smile. She sees him pause for a moment and bite his lip in thought.
"I don't either." Cora whispers and she sees it is his turn to smile and nod, he lowers his eyes to his feet for a moment before fixing them on her again.
"Then why can't we see each other?" Scott asks, his blue eyes on her face searching for her answer. "This doesn't have to end." Scott smiles and she is sure he must be able to hear how hard her heart is beating at his close proximity. He didn't think it was such a bad for them to see each other, but he also didn't know about Alec. "Now we've got all the time, Cora. Don't we deserve a chance at something real?" Scott mumbles making her sigh.
Cora nods lightly at his words. She believed him when he said he was nothing like Alec. But he was right; they did have time. Cora could be waking up in 600 years and Scott could be there waiting for her. Cora knew that the Alec Ryder shaped shadow that she loved and sometimes saw in the corner of her vision was not real, that when she reached out to touch him he would dissolve away. Scott was real; he was exciting, passionate, kind, and right here with her.
"We deserve a chance." Cora whispers seeing him smile. Cora wanted something real too and when Scott reaches his hand out to her and invites her into his arms she can't say no. Scott wasn't fading away and when he dips his head to kiss her again she knows she isn't ever going to be able to get rid of him. This was getting complicated