XXXX.
Cora glances over her shoulder when she hears the sound of footsteps on the ramp of the Tempest behind her, wondering who it is that is jogging to catch up with her. She didn't think anyone was left on board other than her and as soon as they'd docked back at the Nexus the crew had quickly disembarked. She knew they would be desperate to get some much-needed downtime after their disastrous trip to Voeld, and she had no doubt that would include heading to the bars or their beds for the rest of the afternoon and into the evening. Luckily they'd all been granted a day of shore leave tomorrow and she had to admit she was feeling drained too and hoped she had time to catch up on all of her sleep before they were summoned again and informed of their next mission and location. Most of all, she was looking forward to spending the day with Scott and pretending even for a few hours that nothing else was going on around them and it was just the two of them.
Her eyes settle on Scott, watching a large smile stretch onto his face when he continues towards her and she can't help but smile back at him. Part of her wondering why he is here after being asked to go to the bridge by Vetra, she hadn't seen him since and knew he should be heading straight to his meeting with Addison for a debrief. Cora notices that he now has his gym bag over his shoulder and shrugs it higher as he reaches her.
"Fancy hitting the gym with me?" Scott smiles at her.
"I thought you had a meeting about Voel and Kadara?" She asks him when she feels him quickly lean to press a kiss against her cheek and then shrugs lightly as they continue to step off of the ramp and into the Nexus docking bay.
"Addison said something came up.." Scott's smile widens and she can tell he's feeling glad to have gotten out of that briefing, and that he must have rushed back to get his clothes. She couldn't blame him for not wanting to explain how they'd lost the Nomad in the snowstorm and that everything that had gone wrong. "So I have a few hours free. Want to spend them with me?" He adds with a grin and she watches his eyes meet hers.
"That's how you think we should spend them?" Cora smiles at him and sees his grin only widen. "I'm actually feeling exhausted. I do need to sleep sometimes, Ryder." She whispers hearing him laugh.
"That's my fault is it?" Scott grins at her making her nod and giggle quietly, it was definitely his fault. "I'll happily take the blame for your lack of energy." He smiles.
"Baby, you know I hate the gym." Cora sighs dramatically at him and notices her words make him chuckle even more. "I hate treadmills.." She adds with another dramatic huff. "It's not my thing." Cora continues.
"I know.." Scott begins and she lets her eyes lower to her hand when she feels his fingertips lightly stroke hers at her side. "But we can get hot and sweaty together while on duty." He adds with a smile while lowering his voice as they step past some of the dockworkers making her laugh.
"Scott.." Cora laughs and knocks her shoulder against his as they continue to walk.
"It's true." He grins at her making her smile and take hold of his hand in hers, noticing his own eyes lower to their hands and then back to her face. "Or we could spend the time just holding hands like this." Scott adds and the happiness in his smile is infectious.
"Holding your hand does make me very happy." She returns his smile and slides her fingers through his, noticing he rubs his thumb against her skin and he looks like he's struggling to take his eyes off of her. "Okay fine, I'll come to the gym with you." Cora adds laughing at his grin, knowing how much she really doesn't want to let go of his hand and be apart from him. "But, only because I missed you." She continues and returns his smile.
"I missed you, too." Scott smiles again. "It is a good excuse to spend time with you." He adds making her laugh when he grins at her. "Hot and sweaty, or not." Scott smiles and squeezes her hand. "Everything is better with you." He laughs.
"I agree, Ryder." Cora whispers and glances around them before quickly leaning closer and pressing a soft kiss against his mouth. "I love you." She whispers as she lets her lips touch his again.
"I love you." Scott smiles and lifts his hand to cup her cheek.
Cora hears him sigh happily when she gives him another gentle kiss, noticing he stops paying attention to what is going on around them when she places a final kiss on his lips. She pulls back from him and notices that he just smiles, not his cheeky grin but a genuine happy smile filled with love. Cora lifts her hand to brush the hair back from his face, letting her palm rest on his cheek which only makes him smile more.
"I'll never get enough of those kisses." Scott smiles at her and she watches him lower his eyes for a moment and shake his head lightly. "Look what you do to me, Cora. You make me smile like some lovesick fool." He adds making her giggle quietly.
"I love your smile." Cora whispers and notices he laughs at her words. "You make me smile, too." She adds before pressing a soft kiss against his mouth again. "What did Vetra need you for? I guessed it was important when you didn't join me in bed." Cora asks him with her own smile, not wanting him to know how long she'd actually waited for him and how disappointed she'd been that he didn't come back.
"Trust me, I'm as disappointed about that as you are." Scott chuckles. "I thought it would be rude to interrupt her. She asked to come with us to Kadara." Scott adds when his eyes meet hers again as they continue through the station.
"Yeah?" Cora asks noticing he nods lightly. "Why would she want to go there?" She adds and sees his smile widen at her words, they all knew the reports still weren't great about what was going on there.
"She has some contacts that might help us." She hears him say and notices he glances at her when she feels him squeezing her hand gently. "Part two of my plan to be a better Pathfinder." Scott nods as he fixes his eyes ahead of him as they continue to walk.
"What plan?" Cora asks, frowning slightly when she realises what he has said. "I didn't even know there was a part one." She laughs and notices his eyes meet hers when she fixes them on him.
"I want to do better." Scott sighs and she can't help but give him a sympathetic smile when she notices that he is serious about this idea. "I want to be better." He continues making her sigh, hating that he was still feeling like this.
"You're doing fine." She whispers but sees him shake his head slightly.
"Fine isn't enough." Scott replies as a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. "I'm going to be the best Pathfinder." He nods positively and she can't help but return his smile. "Will you keep helping me? Even if it's more work?" She hears him ask and that he rubs his thumb against the back of her hand.
"Of course I will." Cora nods and notices her words make his smile widen. "Even if I think you are doing great, anyway." She adds and his grateful smile shows he's happy that she supports him. "I'll always be here for you. But, what is your plan?" She asks him.
"Part one.." Scott begins as his eyes are on her face again. "Keep working on my body and strength." He nods making her smile at him, he had been working on his body for a long time and she thought it was perfect. "I want to be in peak condition and ready for anything." Scott continues and she watches him shrugging his bag higher onto his shoulder.
"I think you're nailing part one." Cora grins at him and hears him chuckle when she takes hold of the bottom of his t-shirt and lifts it to peek at his six-pack. "I'd give you a solid ten out of ten." She giggles when he returns her grin.
"I'll give you my solid ten.." Scott laughs before closing his mouth tight when she lifts her finger to his lips. "Sorry I forgot we're in public." He whispers making her smile when she leans closer and replaces her finger with her mouth.
"Later.." She whispers between soft kisses before leaning back and seeing him grin again. "Maybe we could both do with some additional cardio." She adds trying to bring the conversation back to the gym and away from Scott's solid anything. "We can go do it together." Cora smiles and notices his grateful one.
"I'd love that." Scott nods and she can tell he's trying to keep from showing how excited he is and the grin from his face. "I don't mind going on my own. But, it's nice having you there for moral support." He adds with a laugh.
"We're one of those couples, aren't we?" Cora asks as they finally reach their room. "That just wants to spend all of their time together." She adds with a giggle and sees him nod in agreement, even if it did feel like they didn't get much time just the two of them.
"I'd spend every minute with you if we could." Scott grins at her making her smile in return, she wouldn't mind that much time with him either and hoped when they were all settled they'd get that.
"At least we have tomorrow." Cora smiles and sees him nod in agreement, clearly looking forward to it as much as she is. "So, whats' part two of your plan?" She asks him as she lets go of Scott's hand and moves closer to the door, lifting her Omni to unlock it and giving them access to it.
She glances over her shoulder to check that he's following her and steps into their quarters, activating the lights and giving him room to come inside too so that the door can close behind them. Cora hears the sound of him lowering his bag to the floor and kicking off his shoes.
"Learn everything I can." She hears Scott reply as she watches him sit on the edge of their bed. "Read everything, listen to people that know better." Scott continues when she looks at him. "Ask for help." He nods making her smile at his words. "I wasn't prepared for what we found here." He sighs slightly.
"None of us were. But, now we know what we are facing.." Cora begins and notices his eyes reach her. "We can do this." She adds and sees him smile at her words and nod in agreement. "I hope you feeling like this isn't because of what I said?" Cora asks as she lowers herself to the bed beside him.
"Of course not." Scott shakes his head at her and she feels his attention on her. "You've helped and supported me this whole time." He adds making her nod when he wraps his arm around her waist. "You did make me realise that the things that are going wrong aren't my fault." Scott continues and she gives him a positive nod.
"Any Pathfinder would have struggled, Scott." Cora replies, deciding not to mention Alec's name and just leave it to that. But, she knew she was right. This wasn't the plan at all. "You know this isn't your fault." She adds and leans into his hold.
Cora knew that none of them had signed up for this and none of them would have known what to do when faced with damaged golden worlds and a new alien threat. Alec had experience, of course, having his years of service and being involved in the first contact wars. She knew he would have worried that he was letting people down when all of the plans the AI had in place hadn't worked out, too.
"You've helped me see that." Scott smiles at her. "That's why I'm going to take control of the things I can change." He nods and his eyes meet hers again. "Like my conditioning, my knowledge.." She hears him add.
"I understand." She nods in agreement. "Of course I'll help you. If you promise to help me in the gym, I'll help with the other things." Cora smiles at him and sees him grin and nod at her words.
"You don't need my help." Scott chuckles lightly.
"No, but you really need mine." Cora giggles and notices he laughs and shakes his head at her. "I'm always here for you." She whispers as she leans closer to him and rests her forehead against his.
"I couldn't do this without you." He replies making her smile when he lifts his hands to her cheeks and draws her eyes to his. "I'd be dead a hundred times over by now." Scott smiles at her making her laugh and wrap her arms around him so she can hug him tightly.
"You'd be fine." She whispers and squeezes him when she feels him slip his arms around her in return. "So, gym?" Cora asks as she loosens her hold on him.
"If your sure you're not too tired?" Scott smiles when he unwraps his arms from around her and stands from the bed. "I think I have some clean gym shorts here." He mumbles as she watches him moving toward the drawers where they keep their clothes.
"Isn't that what's in the bag?" Cora asks him and motions her head towards the bag that he'd brought with him from the Tempest, noticing he glances over his shoulder at it and then to her.
"Na." Scott grins at her and goes back to opening draws. "When you asked me to move in.." He continues making her smile to herself at his words.
"Officially.." Cora grins at him when he looks at her again, both of them knowing he'd been spending all of his time when they were on the Nexus with her in her room and she'd been spending all of her time on the Tempest with him.
"Officially." Scott nods at her. "I thought I'd bring a few more things to keep here. Do you have enough room for my clothes?" He smiles making her giggle when he begins lifting her underwear that he's found up and showing them to her.
"Put those back." Cora giggles as she stands from the bed and walks the short distance to join him. "I'm sure I can find you a drawer or two." She adds and notices her words make his attention turn to her and that his smile has returned, the one filled with happiness.
"You don't want to find a bigger room?" Scott asks her making her shake her head and glance around them at the room that is already full of both of their belongings and that they've already spent so much time together in. "It's up to you.." He continues. "Here is easier to send me back to the Tempest if you get fed up with me." He chuckles and his eyes meet hers.
"That will never happen." Cora smiles at him and watches him pause searching for his shorts and look at her again. "I like this room and I want you here with me. It feels more like home when you are." She continues and notices her words make him smile again.
"Cora.." She hears him sigh and lowers his eyes for a moment. "You say I'm sweet?" Scott continues and his eyes fix on hers. "I like this room too.." He smiles but then trails off when they hear a banging on the door.
Cora watches Scott glance at the door when they both hear the sound of someone knocking on it again, with clear hard raps. She feels his eyes meet hers and that he shakes his head and can tell he is also wondering who would be looking for them and not leaving them to their rest and downtime after their long few days off station. Whoever was knocking sounded like they weren't going away anytime soon.
"I'll get it.." Scott smiles at her before she watches him cross the short distance to the door leaving her to go back to looking for her gym clothes in one of the drawers, rummaging through the ever-growing collection of her personal clothing items.
"Who is it?" Cora asks when she is sure she hears him reach the door.
"Scott!" She hears his name being called and recognises the voice at once as belonging to Sara Ryder. "I'm so glad you are okay." Sara continues making Cora glance over her shoulder and watch Sara enter the room. "Both of you." Sara sighs as she throws her arms around Scott who looks equally confused and surprised at her actions.
"Sara?" Cora begins returning the clothes to the draws and pushing them closed so she can join Scott by the door. "How are you feeling?" She asks her but notices she hasn't let go of Scott yet. "Are you supposed to be out of the med bay?" Cora asks when she is sure they'd been told Sara was still recovering.
"I'm feeling better." Sara smiles with a nod. "I haven't exactly been discharged.." She adds and Cora watches her squeeze Scott tightly.
"What are you doing here?" Scott mumbles making Cora smile when she is sure he is trying to wriggle out of his twins hold, knowing the last time they had seen each other they'd argued and Sara had been shouting at him.
"Liam told me what happened." Sara continues as Cora watches her reluctantly let go of her brother and turn to her when she reaches them. "It must have been awful on that planet." She sighs and opens her arms to Cora who can't help but falter and wonder if she wants to be hugging her.
"It was.." Cora nods and glances at Scott who has his eyes are on her and sees that he is trying to fight back a smile when Cora lets Sara drag her into a hug. "But we're back and we're fine." She adds with another nod and returns Sara's hug, wondering exactly what Liam had told her. Voeld was awful and cold, but they'd been through worse.
"We were just on our way out." Scott mumbles as Cora steps back from his twin and notices that Scott motions to the door and that his eyes are on his feet. "Thanks for checking on us." He sighs.
"While she's here, Sara had something to say to you." Cora says as she nudges her shoulder against his to get his eyes on her, noticing that her words make him glance at Sara. "Didn't you, Sara?" Cora continues giving Sara a positive and reassuring nod.
"Scott.." Sara begins and she watches him cross his arms across his chest defensively. "I am sorry for how I spoke to you." She adds making Cora smile lightly when she hears it. "I was taking my hurt out on you." Sara sighs and pauses to let Scott speak but he doesn't for a while and she wonders if he will at all.
"Yes, you were." Scott nods and lowers his arms. "I didn't deserve that and neither did Cora." He continues and she feels his eyes meet hers. "But, I accept your apology." Scott nods again and Cora watches his attention return to his sister.
"We've talked it through." Cora nods turning her attention to Sara who nods in agreement, she lifts her hand to Scott's shoulder and gives it a gentle squeeze. "It's your call." Cora whispers and sees him nod in agreement.
"I don't want to talk about what happened right now." He adds and Cora notices that Sara thinks this over for a moment. "I don't want us to fight about it." Scott continues and she sees Sara finally nod in agreement.
"I don't either.." Sara replies and Cora can see that Scott looks relieved. "Can we at least catch up?" She asks her brother. "Just talk until you can forgive me?" She adds.
Cora glances at her Ryder and she is sure she can see a small hint of uncertainty behind his eyes. There was a big difference between making up and forgiving. Cora knew that Scott was too forgiving, he'd been quick to forgive her for her infidelity and she had no doubt he'd be quick to forgive Sara. Did she deserve it after how she treated him? Wasn't Sara just another person that had hurt Scott? But, Cora knew how hypocritical it would be for her to have asked for his forgiveness and not hope for the same for his twin.
"Maybe you two should talk alone?" Cora begins and places her hand on Scott's back, noticing this draws Scott's attention to her and she feels his eyes on her. "I can go for a while?" She continues but watches him shake his head slightly.
"We've got plans.." Scott replies and she can see he is hoping to get out of talking to Sara but when Cora glances at his twin she can see how desperate she looks for them to do as she's suggested.
"You two need to talk," Cora says as she rubs his back again noticing he sighs lightly and doesn't look convinced. "We can go later." She adds which makes him finally nod.
"You could show me around?" Sara asks which draws his eyes back to her. "I hardly know the Nexus at all." She continues. "I haven't had the chance." Sara says to her brother which makes him smile lightly and Cora remembers that all of the Ryder's like to explore wherever they are.
"I can do that." Scott nods and then she feels his eyes meet hers so she gives him a reassuring smile. "Why is Tann video calling me?" He mumbles when they all hear the sound of his Omni beeping to show that he has a private call and he lowers his eyes to read who it is. "He's calling you too?" He adds as she glances down to see her own is lighting up too.
"Weird.." Cora whispers as she watches Scott raise his arm to answer.
"Director, It's Scott and I have Cora here with me." Scott begins as Cora looks down at the display on Scott's arm and they can now see the image of Tann. Cora at once notices that he looks even more flustered than usual and that when he's seen them both he cancels the call to her.
"Ryder, I need you and your team ready to head out." Tann begins and Cora can't help but sigh quietly to herself, so much for some downtime and a day with Scott. "We believe we've found the Asari Ark." He adds and they can hear the excitement in his voice.
"The Asari?!" Cora asks wondering if she's heard him right, feeling the bubble of excitement when she realises they might find them and be back among them again. She notices that her excitement draws Scott's eyes to her. "This is exactly who we need, Scott." She whispers to him but can't help notice that her words make him frown lightly. "They'll know what to do." Cora continues wondering why Scott is quiet.
"We recovered pods. There are survivors." Tann continues making the smile only widen on Cora's face when she hears this. "I need you to head to EOS, and then in a few days to the coordinates, I'll send you." He nods positively.
"Of course. We'll head to EOS now." Scott replies as Tann ends the call.
Cora watches Scott lower his arm and that he glances at his sister who looks like she doesn't understand what is happening. She notices that Scott begins typing and swiping on his Omni and she knows he will be sending the information to the rest of the team that they have to leave for EOS urgently. As if he knows she is watching him Cora sees him lift his eyes to her.
"Sarissa might be alive, Scott." Cora smiles happily as she watches him return her smile but that he doesn't look convinced. "I've told you how great she is and if she is alive.." She continues and he nods. "This is so great." Cora sighs before taking hold of Scott's hand in hers to stop herself from jumping up and down.
"She does sound amazing." Scott smiles at her but she can see that something is holding him back from being as excited as she is. She feels him squeezing her hand and wonders if he's trying to ground her.
"Isn't another Ark good news?" Sara asks and Cora nods excitedly.
"Yes!" Cora replies with another large smile but then looks at Scott who sighs quietly. "I'm not getting my hopes up." She sighs when she sees him give her a sympathetic smile. "I'm not.." Cora adds with a huff and lets go of his hand so she can cross her arms over her chest, feeling a little upset that he didn't look convinced. But this is what she'd been waiting for, hoping for since they'd reached Andromeda.
"I didn't say anything.." Scott smiles lightly at her making her sigh again and shake her head at him. "You just need to be prepared that this might not go the way you want it to." He whispers as she feels him place his hand on her shoulder. Of course, she knows he's right.
Cora knew that they hadn't found any other Arks and everything they'd found so far had been destroyed or taken by the Ket. But maybe the Asari Pathfinder had survived and they'd have some help from the species that had taught her so much and had experienced more than humanity had. This could be what they needed to turn everything around. She feels his eyes meet hers and can see the reason he's not excited all over his face because he's worried about her.
"I'm going to head off," Sara announces which draws her away from Scott. "Check-in when you get back?" She asks making them both nod in agreement before Cora watches her open the door and leave them alone.
"Just let me be excited?" Cora sighs.
"I just don't want you to get hurt." Scott nods and she feels him stroking her beneath his palm again. "I know this is important to you." He adds making her nod in agreement and lower her eyes from his. "Let's just see what happens." Scott gives her a reassuring smile again making her nod.
"Just don't say I told you so." Cora smiles when she looks at him again and sees him laugh at her words. "So are we going to EOS?" She asks him and tries to keep the smile from stretching onto her face.
"Yes, we're going to EOS. We can sleep on the way, right?" Scott laughs.
"We can." Cora smiles at him. "But, what about the contact on Kadara?" Cora asks remembering that Scott had told her that Vetra had told him she had one.
"I'll ask Vetra to delay a few days." He nods towards the door. "Off we go again." Scott sighs lightly but then gives her a small smile.