XXX.
"So I think we should have a party." Director Jarun Tann announces and Cora is sure she hears Scott laugh lightly at her side so she glances at him, and sees him lift his hand from the table to cover his laugh with a pretend cough.
"You can't be serious." Nakmor Kesh sighs and Cora turns her attention back to the leaders of the Andromeda Initiative that sit across the meeting table from them.
Cora sighs quietly to herself when she feels Scott fidgeting in his chair, knowing that this meeting has already been dragging on far too long and that they'd just been going round and round in circles for the last two hours, and were still no closer to making any decisions. She stretches her legs out in front of her, feeling him glance at her when she accidentally knocks her knee against his but leave it to rest against hers.
"Another party." He mouths at her, making her smile and lower her eyes from him so they aren't caught whispering. Surely the Initiative was close to drying up their party resources by now.
"Are you okay?" Cora mouths to him and sees him smile lightly and nod, knowing there were a million places he would rather be than sat in this room right now and the majority of them involved her and her bedroom.
Because Scott was currently the only Pathfinder on the Nexus, the task had been given him to decide which direction their first planet of EOS would move in. Between them, they had decided it should be their first centre for research and discovery, rather than opting for the military and training option. Cora couldn't help but wonder if Scott hoped for a more peaceful world going forward, and picked the opposite than he knew the previous Pathfinder would have. Despite his military background, she knew he wanted people to have a home above all else.
"I'm completely serious." Tann continues making Cora and Scott both look back at him. "We have EOS now and that is a win." He smiles and she notices he glances at Scott. "But now we can start waking people up." He nods and Cora hears Kesh snort. "People will want to see their Pathfinder." He adds and his eyes are on Scott again.
"We hardly have the resources to keep this station running." Kesh sighs and she sees Foster Addison nodding in agreement at Kesh's side. "People are hungry, and you want to throw a party?" Kesh adds and Cora can tell there is still tension between them all.
"Anyone that is hungry can't come to our party." Tann continues and she hears the other leaders sighing and notices that Addison lifts her hand to her face. "We have resources from Pathfinder Ryder, and soon from EOS." Tann adds and nods as if everyone should be agreeing with him. "I think we should wake up some of the paid members." He sighs.
"What about the recruits like me and Cora?" Scott asks and Cora sees him sitting higher in his chair when the leaders look over the table at him. "When do they get to be woken up?" He adds and none of them has an answer for him.
"If we wake up the paid members it is a sign to everyone that this is working." Tann begins but Cora sees Scott shaking his head lightly. "You aren't here to argue with us, Scott." He continues.
"I just think it would be a real kick to those that worked so hard to get us all here." Scott sighs. "They are eager to find a home too." He nods. "But they aren't as keen on parties." He mumbles and Cora watches him sit back into his seat and slide his hands into his pockets.
"Scott's right." Cora begins. "You won't make friends that way." She shakes her head lightly and feels all eyes on her now, and that Scott is watching her. "If you want to get everyone to see that this is working." Cora nods. "You are going to need them all to trust and believe in Scott." She adds and looks at him, seeing him give her a small nod.
"I think our Pathfinder team is right." Addison nods and Cora feels her eyes on them. "We can't be seen to be favouring the paid members." She shakes her head lightly. "What if we wake up a few sections from each?" She adds and Cora nods in agreement.
"That could work." Cora nods, and glances at Scott. "What do you think?" She asks and sees him smile and nod too.
"But we could still have a party?" Tann asks and Cora hears Kesh huff again and Addison laugh lightly.
"Look.." Scott begins and she watches him sit forward again and remove his hands from his pockets and place them on the table. "If you want to dress me up as your AI poster boy.." He continues making her smile. "I'm happy to do it and be seen." He nods. "But I need your guarantee that you'll bring out equal numbers of both paid and recruits." Scott adds and she can see that he's trying to show them that he won't back down, and prove Tann wrong about him.
"We also want Commander Raymond Ryder." Cora adds and sees Scott glance at her and grin and then look back at the leaders.
"Fifty-fifty split, and Commander Ryder." Scott nods.
"I didn't realise this was a negotiation." Director Tann laughs lightly. "But fine, you have my guarantee that we will begin the process immediately and I will see that four blocks from each will be awake by the end of the week." Tann nods. "I will also authorise Commander Ryder to be delivered to the Hyperion Medical Centre today."
"Thank you." Cora says, looking at Scott and noticing that he is trying to keep the large smile from his face at the thought of seeing his uncle. Cora carefully lowers her hands to her lap, crossing them on her knee and feeling like they might finally be getting somewhere.
"We should head there now." Scott begins as she watches him place his hands on the table as if he means to stand to leave.
"And you'll do a speech, Ryder?" Kesh asks and Cora notices her eyes move to Scott who nods lightly and lowers himself back into his chair. "To reassure everyone that things are working?" She adds.
"I can do a speech." She hears Scott reply quietly and she isn't sure that's a confident-sounding voice she hears. "If that is what you want." He mumbles. Cora knew Scott was trying his best to fill the Pathfinder role, but she knew he was struggling with some of the finer details that he'd never had to do before, and in truth had never been prepared for like she had.
Cora stretches her shoulders lightly, letting her head roll from side to side to try and stop the ache from sitting too long. She lifts her hand from her knee and places it on Scott's thigh, noticing her actions draw his eyes to her when he feels her giving him a reassuring squeeze. Just trying to show him she believed he could do it. She sees him smile at her, a grateful one that makes him take a breath before turning back to the leaders.
"I'll get it written and sent to you for approval." Scott nods, she notices his eyes are now fixed on them and they all nod that they like that idea.
"I'd like you to call me to discuss appropriate topics, too." Tann begins making Cora sigh lightly, she knew they'd want to make sure he was telling the AI story and not just what Scott wanted to say.
"Okay." Scott nods and she feels his eyes reach her for a moment. "Was there anything else? I'd like to see my uncle." He adds and this time she watches him stand from his chair and can see he has no intention of sitting down again.
"No, that was all. Thank you Pathfinder Team." Tann nods as they watch him and the rest of the leaders stand and move away from the meeting table.
"Are you coming?" Scott whispers and she notices his eyes move to hers.
"Of course I am. I'm looking forward to seeing Raymond, too." Cora smiles at him, lowering her voice too so that they aren't too obvious. "Its good to have a friendly face to wake up to." She adds Alec had been hers.
"Thanks, Cora." She hears Scott reply as he stands from his chair so she does too. "Hey, by the way.." Scott whispers drawing her eyes to his. "How about I make dinner for us tonight?" He asks and she notices he looks expectantly at her.
"That sounds great." Cora replies, her words looking like they please him. "My place?" She whispers and sees him nod in agreement.
—/—
"You know Scott.." Cora begins as she watches Scott begin dishing up the food that he's made them onto two plates, moving around her small kitchen as he does. "This feels a lot like a date." She adds when she moves her eyes to the artificial candles he's set up in the centre of the table, their orange flicker only seeming brighter because he's lowered the lights in her room. Cora glances back at him when she hears him chuckle.
"What makes you say that?" Scott replies and she notices the smile in his voice as she watches him picking up their plates and approaching the table that she's sat at in her quarters and placing it down in front of her.
"The candles.." Cora smiles a thanks at him when his eyes meet hers. "The romantic music, the fancy meal." She sighs quietly and lets her eyes take in the food that has been presented to her, the delicious pasta dish making her mouth water when she lowers her eyes to it and the smell reaches her nose.
"The wine?" Scott grins at her as she watches him quickly moving back to collect the bottle from the kitchen top as well as two glasses. "You know I think you're right." He adds as he places the glasses on the table and begins pouring the light coloured liquid into them. "This does feel like a date." She hears him chuckle as he lowers himself into the seat beside her.
Cora glances at him and watches him lifting his wine-filled glass to his lips and taking a small sip before returning it to the table, picking up his knife and fork. She can't help but smile to herself when she watches him, remembering the time on Theia when they'd lived together and eaten every meal together like this. Remembering how natural it had felt to be with him and share her life with him. Cora knew he'd gone to the extra effort on purpose, and it made her happy to have him all to herself this evening and knowing that he wanted to be with her and no one else. They'd spent the afternoon with Scott hooked up via SAM and able to communicate with Sara, it had been a success and she knew Scott was feeling more relaxed since he'd spoken to his twin. Cora notices he glances at her across the table, making her smile when she sees his eyes on her.
"I thought you were going to make something vacuum packed." Cora smiles as she glances at him and notices he shakes his head at her. "Or warm up some Gill's Surprise." She adds and hears him laugh. "But, this looks delicious, Scott." Cora nods and begins piling it onto her fork.
"Only the best for you, Cora." Scott smiles and she watches him eating the pasta from his fork. "I might have wanted this to be like a date." He adds and she feels his eyes on her and sees him grin again. "Is that okay?" Scott asks before taking another mouthful.
"It's very okay." Cora nods and notices her words make his smile widen. "Being on a date with you is always a good thing. We haven't done it for a while." She adds and returns his smile. "Although I don't remember you wearing this the last time we were on a date." Cora gives him a flirtatious smile and lets the underside of her bare foot come into contact with the skin and light hair on his leg as she slides it up his his knee.
"You know I always cook better with less clothes on." Scott grins at her. "Does that make this date less fancy?" She hears him add and watches him lower his hand beneath the table and briefly stroke his palm against her calf. "It's not like I'm naked." He adds and as she watches him let out a breath and lift his eyes to hers.
"It's a shame you're not naked." Cora smiles at him and hears him chuckle. "I think this is the perfect date for us." She adds as his eyes meet hers. "Comfortable, relaxed.." Cora sighs lightly as she lifts some food to her lips.
"You know I'm just trying to impress you." Scott begins, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Is it working?" He adds as she sees him take a sip from his glass.
"You don't have to impress me. I was yours the second we met." Cora giggles and notices he smiles at her response. "Does this mean you don't regret this morning?" She whispers seeing that it makes Scott pause his eating and his eyes meet hers.
"Of course I don't regret it." Scott smiles and she notices he continues eating so she does too. "Wait, do you regret it?" He sighs drawing her attention back to him. "Do you think it was too soon?" She hears him add and she watches him lower his cutlery and can see he's lost interest in his dinner.
"It might have been too soon." Cora nods lightly and sees Scott's eyes lower from hers and to his plate as he sighs. "But, I don't regret it either." She smiles when his attention is on her again. "I hope you plan on staying with me tonight?" Cora whispers as she sees him smile at her, making her stomach flutter when she sees it.
"You had me worried for a minute." Scott smiles as she watches him leaning towards her and lifting his hand to her cheek, feeling him stroking her skin with his fingertips. "There is nowhere I'd rather be than here with you." He whispers so she quickly closes the gap between them and kisses him.
"Good.." Cora mumbles against his mouth as she lifts her hand to the back of his neck and deepens their kiss. She feels him lifting his other hand to her face and drawing her closer.
Cora feels Scott suddenly remove his mouth from hers when he leans towards her too much on his chair and it gives way and slips from below him, causing him to fall forward onto the table. She can't help but start to laugh when she watches him gripping onto the table to keep him from falling on the floor and taking their food and glasses of wine with him. Cora feels his eyes meet hers before he carefully sits back on his chair which makes her laugh, even more, wondering how Scott ever managed to make it through life with how accident-prone he is.
"That was too close." Scott laughs as he leans back in his seat.
"The clumsiest man alive does it again." Cora laughs as she returns the glasses to their original place on the table and does the same with their food. "We should probably finish dinner before it ends up on the floor with you." She adds and sees him laugh and nod.
"You're probably right." She hears his reply and watches him take a sip from his wine and pick up his fork. "We can save the kissing for later." Scott smiles at her over his glass.
"If you can resist me until then." Cora returns his smile and continues eating and takes another bite of her food, wondering if she asked Scott nicely he'd cook for her forever. "This is really nice." She adds which draws his eyes back to her.
"The pasta?" He asks between mouthfuls making her shake her head lightly.
"No, the pasta is great." Cora giggles and takes a sip of her wine. "But, I mean this. You and me." Cora adds with a light sigh. "Here together." She whispers and notices that he nods in agreement and a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. "Us." She says.
"Are you getting sentimental on me, Lieutenant?" Scott smiles at her making her huff quietly so she feels him place his hand over hers on the table making her eyes meet his. "I feel the same." She sees him nod and smile again. "It feels good to be here with you." Scott smiles.
"We used to do this every day." Cora begins and notices that he nods at her words. "It wasn't until we spent time apart that I realised how perfect this feels." She adds quietly and lets her eyes meet his. "Just living my life with you." Cora sighs.
"Well, maybe it's time for us to get back to that." Scott begins and she can hear in his voice that he means it. "I want to live my life with you, Cora." He nods. "The boring everyday stuff is never boring with you." She sees him smile at her and it makes her stomach flutter at his words. "I want this." He sighs.
"I want this, too." Cora whispers and watches him lower his eyes to his food and she can tell he's trying to hide his large smile from her. "You're cute, Ryder." She adds which draws his eyes to her.
"I'm glad you think so." Scott smiles and she watches him take a sip of his drink. "You know, I wouldn't have been able to talk to Sara if it wasn't for you." Scott adds and she notices how grateful he looks.
"I just stopped Harry from scrambling your brain." Cora begins before lifting another fork of pasta to her lips. "I know I said it wasn't for my benefit." She adds giving him a small smile, it had mostly been for her benefit and they both knew it. "I'm glad I could help." Cora giggles quietly before she takes it into her mouth.
"I'm lucky to have you looking out for me." Scott grins at her and she watches him reach for the wine and offer her a top-up, pouring the last of it between their glasses. "It's nice to have someone that cares about me, and not just me the Pathfinder." He adds making her nod lightly, knowing how hard that must be for him to feel that way.
"You know it's you I care about." Cora smiles and notices her words make him look happy with her response. "It's always been you." She adds receiving another smile from Scott. "How did It feel to talk to her?" Cora asks him and she notices he takes a moment to think about his answer before looking up from his plate and to her.
"It felt good." Scott nods and takes another sip of his wine so she does too. "It was strange at first because she was confused. But, it was reassuring." He adds and she can see the smile on his face, knowing she was right that he was feeling better everything. "Apart from telling her about dad." Scott adds making Cora nod lightly.
"I'm sure she appreciated that it came from you." Cora begins and feels his eyes meet hers and that he places his hands over hers on the table again. "It was really brave of you to tell her." She adds and sees him give her a grateful smile.
"It's the least I can do." Scott nods and she notices he looks like he's finished eating. "I don't think I could have done it without you holding my hand." He chuckles quietly making her laugh too.
"Well, lucky for you.." Cora begins drawing his eyes back to her face. "I'll always be here to hold your hand." She smiles and notices he turns towards her in his seat again and feels him squeezing her hand gently.
"You got them to agree to Raymond, too." Scott begins and she feels his eyes searching hers and that he lifts his hand to brush back her hair. "You have no idea how grateful I am." He sighs and she notices he lowers his eyes for a moment. "You've just made things better for me." Scott nods and his eyes are on hers again.
"Thats what friends are for." Cora smiles at him but hears him scoff at her words and watches him shake his head. "Are we not friends?" She giggles quietly when he lifts both his hands to her face and draws her into a kiss. "You'd do the same for me." Cora sighs when he breaks their kiss.
"I would.." Scott sighs. "Thank you for being with me today." He adds as she lifts her hands and strokes them into his hair. "Look, I need to get something off of my chest." Scott whispers making her nod and settle her eyes on him.
"Okay." Cora nods lightly.
"I love you." He smiles as she feels him wrapping his fingers around hers. "And don't say you don't deserve my love or my forgiveness." She sighs lightly at his words and knows he's spoken to Lexi.
"Scott.." Cora sighs and lowers her eyes from his, fixing her eyes on his hand on hers for a moment when she doesn't know what to say.
"I love you and I forgive you." Scott adds drawing her eyes back to his face when she feels his beautiful blue eyes on hers. "You deserve to be happy and you deserve to be loved. I want you to let me love you.." He whispers and she feels him squeeze her hand again.
"You are too good to me, Scott Ryder." Cora whispers and notices he shakes his head slightly at her. "I love you, too and I want you to love me." She smiles and sees a large one stretch onto his face. "Even if we've only known each other five minutes." Cora giggles quietly and notices his smile widens.
"Isn't it more like six-hundred and thirty-four years, nine months and five minutes?" Scott grins at her making her laugh and reach to stroke her hand against his cheek. "I'm really happy with how things are going." Scott nods and she can't help but nod in agreement, maybe she was starting to forgive herself and let herself move on with him.
"I'm happy too." Cora smiles and looks into his eyes, feeling him lifting her hand to press a soft kiss against the back of it. "You are just so wonderful." She whispers.
"So are you." Scott begins as he strokes his hand through the front of her hair. "Even if you don't think you are." He adds fixing his eyes on her. "I will tell you every day how wonderful you are." Scott smiles slightly.
"I'll tell you every day what a great man you are." Cora returns his smile. "What an incredible Pathfinder your becoming." She adds and sees him laugh. "How much I love you even though you're ridiculous." Cora laughs.
"You love that I'm ridiculous." Scott laughs and she sighs when he draws her into his arms and wraps them around her body. "Have you finished eating?" She hears him ask as he loosens his hold on her and motion to their plates so she just nods.
Cora smiles when she feels him squeezing her hands again before letting go of them and climbing off of his chair. She notices he picks up their almost empty plates and steps the short distance towards her kitchen and disposes of them and the leftovers into the cleansing drawer and starts doing the same with the pans and utensils that he's used to make their dinner.
"So, what did Lexi want to talk about?" She hears him asking as she watches him finish tidying away and then turn to face her, noticing that he leans against the counter and his eyes are on her.
"As if you don't know." Cora begins with a smile and lifts her glass from the table and takes another sip. "I know you spoke to her about me." She continues and glances at him over her glass, seeing him smile at her. "I appreciate your concern." She nods.
"Well, she is my doctor." Scott smiles and gives her a small nod.
"Lexi actually told me to keep away from you because your nothing but trouble." Cora grins as she sees a smile tug at the corner of his mouth and shake his head at her.
"She did, huh?" Scott chuckles and she feels his eyes on her.
"Yes.." Cora gives him a small smile and stands from her chair, noticing he watches her closely when she closes the space between them. "I've decided to go against your doctor's recommendation." She adds and feels him sliding his arms around her waist when she leans into him.
"What did she really say?" Scott whispers against her skin when she feels him lowering his head to press a kiss against her ear.
"That you love me.." Cora sighs and closes her eyes when his mouth moves to her jaw. "That I should let myself be happy with you." She adds and notices her words make him pause and lean back so she can see his eyes.
"I'm glad you're taking her advice." Scott smiles at her and she feels his blue eyes on hers. "I love you, Cora." He adds with a positive nod of his own when she wraps her arms around him and lets him hold her in his embrace, she rests her head against his neck and sighs when she feels him sliding his hands down her back.
"I love you." She whispers and squeezes him tightly. "I want us to be happy." Cora sighs when he gathers her in his arms and makes her wish he never had to let her go. "What are you cooking for me tomorrow?" She giggles quietly and hears him chuckle.