XVII.
Cora wraps both of her hands around her mug, feeling how warm it is beneath her palms, and how strangely comforting she finds it. She lifts it to her lips and takes a small sip of her coffee, enjoying the heat and bitterness on her tongue, and testing its temperature. She begins to walk away from the kitchen, her bare feet padding from tile to carpet as she does. Cora looks over the top of her mug and through the steam, towards the living room, where she sees the back of Scott's head over the top of the sofa.
"Are you sure you don't want anything?" Cora asks him as she takes the last few steps to reach him. "Last chance before I get comfy again." She smiles and watches him look over the back of the sofa at her, his eyes on hers.
"I'm good." He smiles and she watches him lift his arms above his head and stretch his back and shoulders. "Come back and get comfy with me." He adds and she sees him nod his head towards the sofa where he is sat.
Cora smiles at him and notices that he turns his attention back to the large screen that is currently playing a movie that they'd been watching together, and she sees him relax back onto the sofa. She lowers the mug, carefully moving around the side of the sofa so she can get back to her seat.
Cora leans over and places her mug down on the coffee table, fixing her eyes on the film when she tries to decide if she's missed anything important. Scott had been keen to watch it but she wasn't entirely sure she even knew what the plot was, it involved a lot of explosions and gunfights but she couldn't be certain there was a story.
"What did I miss?" Cora asks as she steps carefully along the edge of the cushions, turning her body and lowering herself back onto Scott's lap. She feels him shift slightly and spread his legs out in front of him and on the cushions, making sure they are both comfortable as she settles back against his chest. Cora smiles to herself when she watches Scott wriggle his toes in front of him.
"Well, that guy ended up being a double agent." Scott begins and she feels him place his hands on her thighs. "There was a big shoot out, and they had a high-speed chase in those transports." He adds and she can hear the excitement in his voice.
"Not much then." Cora giggles and she hears him huff and then laugh. Cora feels him rest his head against the side of hers, and turn his head to nestle his mouth against her.
"I know I didn't pick the best movie." Scott laughs and she feels him press a soft kiss against her cheek. "But I really needed this time with you." He whispers making Cora nod and focus on the screen.
Cora sighs when she feels him lift his hand from her thighs and place them on her shoulders, beginning to rub the muscles in her neck with his thumbs absentmindedly as he continues to watch the film. Cora closes her eyes a lowers her head slightly when she feels his thumbs press into her shoulders, trying not to react to the amazing feeling his hands are creating.
She could tell that Scott was feeling upset after the blow-up with Sara and Alec this morning and in particular Sara attacking him because of his knowledge of her relationship with his Dad. She could tell Scott was worried about her too, and what she'd told him about Alec trying to get her back.
That was why she'd suggested a film and a relaxing together on the sofa, hoping it might make him feel a little better, but she'd seen him checking his Omni and guessed he was waiting to hear from his twin and worried that they'd soon be leaving without making up. Cora was feeling awful too, she'd added so much upset to Scott's already difficult family life. She'd also cut ties with Alec, and as much as she knew it was the right thing to do it still hurt and she was already missing him.
"Scott." Cora sighs quietly and she feels his hands pause on her back when she realises he's heard it, she glances over her shoulder at him and sees him grin. "You have magic fingers." Cora whispers and hears him laugh.
"I know." Scott grins and she feels him slide his hands onto her shoulders again, and then place a hand between her shoulder blades. Cora feels him place some pressure on her until she bends at the waist so he can reach her whole back. "How does that feel?" Scott mumbles when she feels his hands move higher, beginning to massage her tight muscles in her shoulders with his fingers.
"So good," Cora whispers and lowers her head again; closing her eyes when she feels how much tension he is rubbing out of her back. She feels his hands move to her shoulder blades, his thumbs just the right amount of both hard and soft pressure to make her moan lightly.
"You already knew I was good with my hands." Scott chuckles behind her and she feels him begin to press his fingertips into her back, making wherever he touches feel warm and like the knots are disappearing.
"Lower." Cora sighs when she feels him slowly move his hands lower, his thumbs pressing gently into her lower back. "Right there," Cora whispers and she hears him clear his throat behind her. "Harder, Scott." Cora giggles until she feels his thumbs and fingers moving harder into her lower back. "God that feels good." Cora moans quietly.
"You're making me blush Miss Harper." Scott mumbles, a smile in his voice. She glances over her shoulder at him and sees him grin, so she smiles innocently at him. Cora feels his fingers on her hips and that he holds her beneath his palms, massaging deep into her muscle with his thumbs, harder as she'd asked him to do.
"Me too." Cora giggles when she feels him kneed the centre of her lower back with his thumbs making her sigh again. She feels him trail his hands up to her shoulders again, and circle his fingertips into the base of her neck. "You're missing your movie." Cora whispers when she feels him lean forward and kiss her neck lightly.
"I don't mind." Scott smiles and she watches him lift his hand and dismiss the movie, making it disappear from the screen. "Would you like me to do your front?" Scott grins and she can feel his smile against her neck. Cora laughs quietly when Scott removes his hands from her back and slides them around onto her stomach.
"Can you feel how tense I am?" Cora whispers and can't help but giggle loudly when he begins to move his fingers against her to tickle her, making her scream when he does. "Scott!" She shouts, trying to grab hold of his hands.
Cora hears Scott laughing when he continues to tickle her, digging his fingers into her sides which makes her wriggle in his lap and try and get away from his hands. Cora continues to try and twist away from him until she feels him wrap his arms around her tightly, drawing her back against his chest so she can't escape his hold.
"Stop your squirming." Scott laughs making her laugh even louder when he continues to hold her in his arms and rests his head against hers. "You want more?" Scott whispers making her shake her head.
"No." Cora huffs, trying to keep the smile from her face. "No more tickling." Cora laughs and she feels him press his mouth against her neck, and then onto her cheek.
Cora feels him loosen his hold on her and reach forward with his hand and place it on her cheek, turning her head towards him until he can reach her mouth. She can't help but sigh when he captures her lips with his, making Cora turn her body in his arms and on his lap, so she can kiss him back. Cora wraps her arms around his neck when she feels his hands on her back again, his fingers gripping her waist.
"I love you." Scott sighs in between soft kisses making Cora smile when she hears it "More than anything." He adds making her wrap her arms around him tightly and hug him.
"Me too." Cora smiles and she feels him holding her and rubbing his hands against her back. "I'm sorry for what happened this morning." Cora whispers and feels his hands pause and he fixes his eyes on her.
"It's not your fault, I told you." Scott shakes his head lightly. "This is all on Alec. He used and hurt you, he is the reason Sara is upset, he's never tried to make things right with me." Scott continues making Cora sigh.
"I should never have got involved with Alec." Cora whispers and she hears Scott sigh. "Now you are Sara aren't talking because of how you feel about me." Cora sighs again when Scott wraps his arms around her again. "I can't be the reason you lose each other, Scott." Cora mumbles as she kisses his cheek.
"Babe.." Scott sighs and she feels him place his hands on her shoulders and lean her back so he can look into her face. "Sara is angry with Alec, and she shouldn't have taken it out on you. You've been hurt by him too." He mumbles as he strokes her cheeks beneath his fingers.
"She has every right to be angry with me," Cora whispers. "I'm just as guilty as he is." She adds with a light sigh. "But I just wish I could explain to her what happened, that it was never my intention to hurt either of you," Cora adds. "I'd never even met you." She whispers and sees him smile lightly and nod.
"You aren't guilty of anything, other than believing his lies." Scott gives her another light smile. "We're all guilty of that." He adds making her nod. "You did the right thing cutting him off." He sighs and Cora nods, she feels his hands slide down her back.
"I hope so." Cora nods again and sees that his eyes are on her, she sees him smile trying to reassure her. "No more Alec trying to interfere." She nods. "Now I can focus on the team, the mission, making our home together, and you." Cora adds and sees he smiles and lifts his hand to brush her hair back from her face.
"I can't wait." Scott grins and she feels him cup her cheek with his palm and she moves her hands to his chest. "I'm going to ask Sara to come over.." He sighs. "See if we can talk this out." He adds making her nod.
"Are you sure?" Cora asks and sees him nod again.
"Worth a try." Scott smiles. "Besides, we're together and that's not going to change," Scott adds making her smile when she hears his words and squeeze him beneath her hands. "So we need to clear this up before cryo." He nods.
"Why don't you invite her and I'll make us some lunch?" Cora smiles and lifts her hand to his hair and trails her fingers through the front, she sees Scott grin at her. "What?" Cora huffs. "My cooking isn't that bad." She giggles and hears Scott laugh.
"No, no it's good. I mean you haven't poisoned me yet." Scott begins making her giggle. "I'll message her, then I'll come to supervise." Scott laughs making her smile when he leans to kiss her gently and wraps his arms around her waist.
"What would I do without you hmm?" Cora smiles and kisses him again, placing both of her hands on his cheeks and scratching his facial hair lightly with her fingertips.
"You'll never have to find out." Scott grins and she notices him lean his head closer to her touch, Cora trails her fingers over his jaw and places a final kiss on his lips.
Cora feels him unwrap his arms from around her as she places her hands on his shoulders and uses them to help her climb out of his lap, and off of the sofa. She squeezes past Scott and the edge of the sofa until she is clear of it and can head back to the kitchen, glancing briefly over her shoulder when she watches Scott lift his Omni and start typing out a message to his sister.
Cora walks across the apartment and into the kitchen, pausing at the fridge as she does. She lifts her fingers to press on the control panel to see what she could make for lunch that wouldn't go too wrong. She knew she wasn't the best cook, she'd grown up so poor and on a ship that they never knew where their next meal would come from or what it would be. So the first 18 years had been hard, and food had always been a life or death necessity rather than something enjoyable.
When she'd joined the Alliance she'd found their basic rations a luxury compared to what she grew up with, even though everyone else hated them. But Scott was right, he did most of the cooking but what she had done she hadn't killed him off.
"How about some eggs?" Cora shouts to Scott when she scrolls her finger along to the next page. "Or steak?" She adds and glances over at him, watching as he peers over the sofa at her.
"Sure, eggs are good." She sees Scott nod and grin at her and then goes back to his message to Sara. They were going to have to get through all of this food before they left, but Cora despite living on the station for eighteen months, still wasn't completely used to food but she did like it better than the powder they passed off as food.
Cora selects the eggs, and scrolls through to get some veggies, bacon, and other ingredients she thinks she needs to make Scott a tasty lunch. She waits for the panel to turn green before it opens and she can retrieve the food, gathering it in her arms and carrying them over to the kitchen island. She takes a moment to collect together the utensils she'll need, as well as a pan that she lets rest on the hob that she turns on, before picking up the knife to prepare the ingredients.
"Sara is going to come over." She hears Scott from the lounge, glancing over at him and seeing that he looks relieved about that as she starts chopping the veggies.
"I'm glad." Cora smiles and sees him do the same. "Is she nearby?" She asks, wondering how much time it would be until she arrived and if she should be making enough for her too.
"Yeah, not far." Scott nods and she turns her attention back to her chopping. She uses the board to gather the vegetables together and turns towards the pan, scraping them all in with her knife and hearing them being to sizzle quietly.
"Are you coming to supervise?" Cora grins at him when she turns back to start preparing the bacon, glancing towards him and nodding her head for him to join her which makes Scott chuckle.
Cora lifts her eyes to him and watches him climb off of the sofa and begin walking towards her, stepping into the kitchen as well. She sees him stop at the fridge and selects water for him and juice for her, pressing his hand against the panel until it turns green and he can collect it. She watches him place the drinks down on the breakfast bar before approaching her and moving to stand behind her. Cora smiles to herself when she feels his hands on her hips.
"Looks good to me." Scott begins behind her, leaning to look over her shoulder at what she is doing. "The food too." He laughs and Cora smiles when she feels him move towards the hob and knows he will be looking into the pan.
"See.." Cora smiles when she watches him wander around the kitchen again and go to sit at the breakfast bar, lowering himself onto one of the stools. "I'm not that bad." She adds and hears him laugh. "We didn't exactly have a kitchen on the ship." Cora whispers and glances up at him again and wrinkles her nose at him.
"Well, you're doing great." Scott grins and she watches him lift his drink to his lips, gulping water into his mouth. "I can't wait to try them." Scott nods making her smile, even though she knew he eats anything and everything.
Cora turns back to the hob and begins dropping the bacon into the pan, picking up the utensil to give it a stir, which makes it sizzle even more. Cora hears music start playing and realises that Scott has selected their playlist and is playing it throughout the apartment, loud enough that she can hear it over the noise of cooking.
She glances over her shoulder when she hears Scott humming along and that he gives her a large grin when he notices that she is watching him. Cora takes the eggs substitute in her hand and cracks them into the pan followed by some milk alternate, seasoning, and stirs it all together around the vegetables and meat.
"Can you grab me some plates?" Cora asks and she hears him start moving behind her and that he's left the breakfast bar. She watches him lean down and open one of the cupboards that she knows they are kept in.
"Here, beautiful." Scott begins and she feels him behind her and that he reaches around her and places them both on the worktop beside her.
Cora reaches for the cutlery and hands him two forks, feeling him move away and back towards the breakfast bar and taking his seat again. She turns off the heat and lifts the pan off of the hob, using the spoon to dish some onto the two plates before returning it to the top. Lots for Scott, and not quite as much for herself. Cora picks up the plates in her hand and walks towards him, placing it down in front of him and taking her seat at his side.
"Yum." Scott grins and she watches his eyes move to the food and then back to her and smile again. Cora sees him pick up his fork and begin preparing himself a large mouthful.
"You haven't tried it yet." Cora giggles and sees him shake his head and grin again. Cora picks up her fork and does the same, scraping some of the eggs onto her fork and stabbing a piece of pepper onto the end.
"You made it." Scott nods. "So I'm going to love it." He grins and watches as he lifts the fork to his mouth and takes a large mouthful of eggs and bacon, seeing him nod when he tastes it. "It's really good." Scott grins again, Cora noticing that he sounds genuine about that.
"You're sweet." Cora smiles and watches him continue to tuck into his food, she lifts her fork to her mouth and eats some of her own. Smiling to herself when she finds it surprisingly tasty and feeling pretty good that she'd made it.
"Hello? Scott?" They both hear Sara's voice from across the apartment and realise that she has arrived and is at the door, both of them looking up from their seats. "Are you here?" She calls into the room. Cora feels Scott's eyes on her, and she notices he looks nervous.
"Just in the kitchen, Sar." Scott calls back before leaning towards Cora and pressing a quick and hard kiss against her mouth before he steps down from his stool and begins walking towards the door.
Cora continues eating her lunch, starting to pick at the food with her fork when she notices that her appetite has almost completely gone now that Sara has arrived, and how nervous she is too that she's going to get shouted at again. She glances towards the door when she hears Scott and Sara approaching her, and then back to her plate as she lowers her fork.
"I didn't realise Cora was going to be here." Sara begins as Cora looks up from her plate and giving Sara a weak smile. "Hi." Sara sighs and nods lightly.
"Cora does live here." Scott begins and Cora watches him sit back on his stool, lifting his fork to continue eating. Cora glances at him, seeing that he has left Sara standing looking awkward but he's gone back to his lunch.
"Sorry, Sara.." Cora sighs. "Would you like some lunch? We've only just dished up. Or a drink of anything? I'm sure Scott was about to ask you." Cora smiles and she hears Scott chuckle. "Please sit, make yourself at home." She adds.
"No thank you." Sara begins and Cora notices she looks uncomfortable. "Although, maybe some water?" She adds with a nod making Cora smile and slide off her stool and head to the fridge to get her a drink. Cora glances over her shoulder and notices Sara finally lowers herself the stool across from Scott, and that she is trying to catch his eye.
"This place is amazing." Sara begins and Cora watches her look around her, her eyes moving over the kitchen, the lounge and then back to her brother. "Much nicer than six." Sara smiles lightly and Cora sees Scott nod.
"Yeah, we like it." Scott laughs lightly and Cora notices that he has finished his lunch after mostly shovelling it into his mouth. "There's a gym and a hot tub." Scott adds as she takes Sara's drink back to the breakfast bar and hands it to her before sitting on her stool again. "You finished babe?" Scott asks Cora and she nods lightly, she'd definitely lost her appetite.
Cora watches as Scott collects their plates together and takes them back towards the kitchen, lowering them to the worktop and knowing that they would clean up later once Sara had left. She sighs lightly when she notices the silence between her and Sara, but just as she is about to try and break it Scott comes back and sits next to her. She turns to smile at him when she feels his hand on her knee.
"We thought it would be a good idea to talk about.." Scott begins and Cora hears him go quiet, not knowing what else to say. "This morning, and everything that has happened." He adds and she sees him nod.
"I feel a bit ambushed, to be honest." Sara begins and Cora sees Scott shake his head and fix his eyes on his sister.
"That's not what this is." Scott begins and Cora sees Sara nod lightly. "This involves Cora, as much as you and me." He adds and Cora feels his eyes now on her. "As much as you don't want to hear it, Alec has hurt her just as much as he's hurt us." Scott continues but his words make Sara huff lightly.
"Sara, I'm so sorry you had to find out about me and Alec." Cora begins and she feels Sara turn her attention to her, and Scott squeeze her leg gently in support. "It was never my intention to hurt you, or to make your relationship with your Dad difficult." She whispers and sees Sara lower her eyes.
"But you did." Sara sighs. "It's bad enough knowing he was having a fling, let alone with someone young enough to be his daughter." Sara continues making Cora shake her head.
"It wasn't a fling, Sara." Cora begins and she hears Sara scoff quietly. "I know that's difficult for you to hear, but my relationship with Alec was long term and between two consenting adults. It's not what either of us intended, but it happened. It took place for the entire time we were here together on this station." Cora adds and she feels Sara's eyes on her, and her surprised expression.
"What?" Sara whispers as Cora glances at Scott, feeling bad that he had to sit and listen to this again. "But he's been here over a year?" She asks and Cora nods.
"We were together and living together for eighteen months." Cora continues. "So please don't let him make it sound like I was just some one night stand, because I wasn't. Don't let him just dismiss the time I spent with him as something insignificant." Cora continues and suddenly realises she is finding it hard to speak when he words choke, she feels Scott wrap his arm around her waist.
"It's alright," Scott whispers and she feels him bend to kiss her shoulder. "You're doing great." He whispers and she feels Sara's eyes on them.
"Eighteen months?" Sara's eyes widen. "But he said you were nothing, and just a fleeting thing." She adds making Cora shake her head, of course, he did. Alec was a liar and it had to make him sound like the good guy at all times.
"Alec broke Cora's heart, Sara." Scott begins and Cora glances at him, grateful that he's helping her. "He ditched her like he's ditched us in the past too." He adds and Cora sees Sara sigh. "He used her, he was abusive to her, and now he says he loves her." Scott huffs.
"Why didn't he tell us, if you were together so long?" Sara begins and Cora watches her take hold of her glass, her hand slightly shaky as she lifts it to her lips to drink.
"He wouldn't let us tell anyone," Cora whispers and lowers her eyes for a moment. "I always thought he felt ashamed of our relationship." Cora nods. "All he ever talked about was how much he loves Ellen, and how much he loves both of you. I was never part of his long term plan." Cora mumbles and sniffs lightly and she feels Sara look at her.
"Then I met Cora at the party. We had no idea who each other were." Scott nods and she feels his hand move to between her shoulder blades. "This wasn't about revenge, or getting back at Alec." Scott continues and shakes his head lightly. "Our meeting each other wasn't planned." He adds.
"But you said you knew Cora had been with Dad?" Sara sighs and Cora watches her cross her arms over her chest, and now she is looking directly at Scott.
"Yeah.." Scott begins and Cora sees him nod and fixes his eyes on his twin. "Alec told me. But, we'd already decided we wanted to be together." Scott nods and she feels him turn his attention to her. "I saw how he was with Cora with my own eyes." Scott sighs. "She doesn't deserve that Sara, no one does. You have no idea what he's done to her." Scott nods.
"I'll forever be grateful that I found your brother that night. He helped me get away from Alec, he stopped him from hurting me." Cora sighs and leans closer to Scott. "He's made me so happy and showed me what it's like to be loved by someone so wonderful," Cora whispers and she feels Scott lean his shoulder against hers.
"Alec tried to keep us apart." Scott nods. "All he's done is lie, and manipulate all of us. He's made Cora look like she's in the wrong when she isn't. He's made me look like I wanted to take Cora from him, and he's playing us off of each other and knows you'll want to defend him." Scott sighs. "Please tell me you can see that?" Scott asks and Cora sees Sara sigh.
"He said Cora is with you to make him jealous." Sara begins making Cora huff and shake her head. "That she used him to get on the team and be his second." She whispers.
"That's not true, at all." Cora begins and Sara nods lightly. "I didn't know Scott was Alec's son. We'd never met, and I didn't even know his name." She adds and she sees that Sara nods again. "We'd already decided we wanted to see each other again before we knew." She sighs.
"Cora got where she is now because of her hard work and skill, nothing to do with Alec. He kept promising her things to keep her loyal to him, and then took it away from her." Scott mumbles and Cora watches him take a drink from his glass. "We all know what that feels like."
"Why did you stay with him? If he was so unkind?" Sara whispers and Cora feels Scott's eyes on her before lowering them to his feet. Cora watches Scott place his hand on the counter so she lifts her own to rest beside it, feeling him nudge hers with his fingertips.
"Because I thought he loved me." Cora whispers and she hears Scott sigh lightly and notices Sara gives her a sympathetic look. "I thought he wanted me. I thought we were going to start a new life together. Because that was what he promised me." Cora whispers and sees Sara nod. "Then I met Scott, and I knew that I didn't love Alec like I love your brother." Cora adds and she sees Scott smile at her.
"So please don't be angry with Cora." Scott huffs lightly. "She isn't the bad person here, it's Alec and will always be Alec." Scott continues and she sees Sara nod. "He's caused all of this, and he doesn't deserve your loyalty." Scott sighs. "Cora has cut all ties with him, and maybe you should do the same." Scott nods but she sees Sara bite her bottom lip for a moment.
"He's our Dad, Scott." Sara sighs lightly. "He's all we have left." She continues making Scott shake his head and squeeze Cora's hand. "Yes, he's done wrong and hurt us.." She sighs. "But he's still our Dad." She whispers.
"He hasn't been our Dad for most of our life." Scott begins and she sees Sara nod lightly. "He didn't raise us." Scott adds and Cora feels him huff lightly and lift his hand to rub the back of his neck. "His involvement in our lives has only ever been to punish us, and to provide us with unauthorised training so that we can continue his legacy." Scott laughs lightly and shakes his head.
"If you are still going to spend time with Alec, please just be careful," Cora whispers and sees Sara nod. "Please don't let him come between you and Scott." Cora adds and she feels both Ryder twins look at her. "Scott loves you, and he would be so miserable without you." Cora smiles and sees Sara does too. "I'm sorry if you feel I've come between you both," Cora whispers and nods lightly.
"I was just lashing out.." Sara sighs. "I'd heard the rumours about you and my Dad." She continues and Cora just nods letting her continue. "I just thought you were using Scott, and I was upset because I thought I was going to lose him too." Sara mumbles and Cora watches Scott lift his hand from hers and hold it out to his sister.
"You aren't going to lose me." Scott smiles and Cora does too when Sara takes her brother's hand. "We're in this together, always will be." He nods and it makes her smile. "I love Cora, but that doesn't mean I'm going to push you aside." Scott continues. "I've only known her five minutes remember?" Scott grins making Cora laugh quietly when she sees Sara smile and blush.
"I'm sorry about that." Sara nods. "I didn't mean it, and I'm sorry that everyone knows about you and Dad, Cora. It wasn't my place to say anything." Sara mumbles and Cora gives her a reassuring smile.
"It's fine." Cora nods and gives her another smile. "It's not ideal that people know, but it doesn't change anything," Cora adds and glances at Scott. "Let Alec tell them it was a fling if it makes him happy." Cora sighs. "We know how I feel about Scott." She adds and Cora feels him place his arm around her again.
"Cora is great, Sara." Scott smiles and she feels him looking at her. "She's not going to hurt me and this is the real deal." Scott nods making a smile tug at the corner of her mouth. "We're not going to let Alec interfere with our lives anymore." Scott smiles and she feels him stroke her back.
"Sorry, we've sort of talked at you." Cora smiles.
"I just want Scott to be happy." Sara nods and she notices the twins look at each other. "I always thought us trying to be a real family would do that." Sara mumbles and lowers her eyes for a moment.
"I am happy, Sar. A lot happier than I ever thought I'd get after everything that happened." Scott smiles and Sara nods lightly. "We don't need him to be a family, we've got plenty of people around us that want to be in our lives." Scott continues. "Like Cora, like Liam." He continues and Cora sees Sara smile at the mention of Liam.
"Your brother is nervous about Andromeda, but he wants an adventure with you and everything you two planned." Cora smiles. "We've got a great team, and the four of us are going to get to experience all of this together." Cora nods and glances at Scott.
"Yeah, you're right." Sara nods lightly and Cora sees her smile at them. "I've got a lot to think about, about Dad.." Sara whispers. "I'm sorry again for what I said." Sara adds.
"Me too." Cora nods. "Maybe we could meet up with you and Liam tomorrow before we go into cryo?" Cora adds seeing Scott nod in agreement.
"It would be good to smooth this over before we leave." Scott adds and Cora watches him take another sip of his drink and wait for Sara to agree. "Or we could meet you at six." Scott smiles lightly; Cora knew he didn't want to go back to the tower.
"Yeah, that would be good." Sara nods and smiles at them both.
"Thanks for listening Sar, we know we sprung it on you." Scott whispers and Cora watches as he lowers his hands from her and slides off of his stool, walking around the bar towards his twin.
"I nearly didn't come." Sara smiles as Scott wraps his arms around her and lifts her off of her feet making her laugh. "Put me down, you idiot." Sara adds and Cora laughs watching Scott squeeze her tighter.
"We're glad you did." Cora sighs lightly, feeling relieved that they'd managed to talk it all over and the twins were back together. "I'll walk you out." Cora nods as Scott lowers Sara back onto her feet.
"Thanks, Cora." Sara smiles and she turns to Scott. "Be good, little brother." Sara smiles lightly and hugs Scott again.
"No promises." Scott smiles and hugs her back.
Cora steps off of her stool and begins walking towards the door, feeling Sara following behind her. She glances over her shoulder at Scott who smiles at her, looking just as relieved as her. She presses her hand against the panel to let Sara out, knowing she could do it herself but wanting to get a moment alone with Scott's sister.
"Sara, I just wanted to apologise again." Cora begins and feels Sara's eyes on her. "I never meant to hurt either of you and I know it will take time for you to trust me, but even if it's for Scott's sake, I hope we can get along. I hope you believe that I do love him." Cora adds sighing lightly.
"If Scott trusts you, then that's good enough for me." Sara nods and Cora watches her step through the door. "I want him to be happy," Sara adds and glances at Cora. "I'm sure we'll get through this and be friends on the other side." Sara smiles. "See you, Cora." She adds with a small wave.
"Yeah, see you." Cora nods, lifting her hand to wave and letting the door slide closed behind Sara.
Cora looks over her shoulder when she hears Scott approaching her, she spots him smile as he does and giggles when he quickly moves behind her and wraps his arms around her. She crosses her arms across her body and rests her hands on his arms, smiling to herself when he presses a kiss against her cheek. Cora sighs when he leans his head against hers.
"That could have gone worse." Scott mumbles making her smile again when she hears it. "Don't you think?" He whispers making her nod.
"Much worse." Cora laughs lightly. "I was wondering if I was going to have to use my biotics and remove her from the apartment if she started shouting at us," Cora adds and hears him chuckle. "Do you feel better?" She asks and feels him nod.
"Yeah, I think we'll be fine." Scott nods and she feels him unwrap his arms from around her and place them on her shoulders, rubbing her neck with his fingers again. "I'm sorry you had to talk about him again." Scott whispers and she nods lightly. "I know you're upset." He adds and she sighs.
"I am." Cora nods and turns to face him, feeling him slide his arms beneath hers and cuddle her close to him. "But it'll get easier, and you were right." Cora whispers. "It was the right thing for me to do." She adds and sighs when she rests her head against his shoulder and he lifts his hand to stroke her hair.
"It's his loss, not yours." Scott whispers and she feels him kiss the top of her head when she rests her hands against his shoulder blades. "I know it's easy for me to say, but as someone who has tried to remove Alec to improve my life." Scott begins, making her smile. "It does get easier, believe me." Scott adds and she feels him kiss her again.
"I believe you." Cora nods and loosens her hold on him, placing her hands on his cheeks and giving him a thankful smile. "I'm confident I'm investing my time in the right Ryder." Cora nods and sees him grin.
"You are." Scott smiles. "So seeing as this is our last full night together, did you want to go on our date?" Scott adds and she sees him nod his head enthusiastically making her giggle.
"How could I say no to that face?" Cora giggles when she sees a smile at Scott's mouth. "I thought we'd had our date?" Cora whispers but then sees he starts shaking his head.
"Not the one that I'd planned, just for us." Scott smiles. "You checked yourself into the hospital remember?" He adds making her laugh lightly and nod. "But to go on our date you are going to have to trust me." Scott grins and she feels his eyes on her.
"Trust you?" Cora giggles and bites her bottom lip. "With what?" She asks and sees him grin again.
"Everything." Scott smiles.