-Winter of 2012-

Tony leaned against the cool marble countertop, watching the first light of dawn filter through the curtains. The kitchen was silent, save for the gentle hum of the refrigerator.

Kerry appeared in the doorway, her eyes still heavy with the remnants of sleep. She paused, taking in the sight of Tony, the man who had become her world, her secret world. She walked over to him, her steps hesitant.

"Hey," she said softly, her voice breaking the quiet.

Tony turned, offering her a weary smile. "Hey."

Kerry reached out, her fingers brushing against his. The contact sent a shiver through both of them, a reminder of the intensity of their connection. She took a deep breath, searching for the strength to say what she needed to say.

"We can't keep doing this," she whispered, her eyes locked onto his.

Tony's smile faded, replaced by a look of pained understanding. "I know," he replied, his voice barely audible. "But how do we stop?"

Tony's hand tightened around hers. "This exists..It's real, Kerry. More real than anything I've ever felt."

She pulled her hand away, wrapping her arms around herself as if trying to hold herself together.

The room seemed to shrink around them, the weight of their situation pressing down from all sides. Tony took a step closer, his eyes searching hers for a glimmer of hope, a sign that they could find a way through this.

Kerry looked so sad, her voice barely above a whisper. "Tony..our careers...we can't make this public…and besides all that your fa-"

"I don't care about my career, I care about you!! I'd give it all up for YOU!!" Tony's blue eyes burned with passion. "Kerry, what we have is worth fighting for. Even if it means keeping this private for now. As long as we know the truth, isn't that enough?"

She shook her head, a tear finally escaping down her cheek. "I don't know, Tony. I've been thinking about all this..it's overwhelming. I just want to do the right thing."

Tony's own eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I feel it too. Every single day. But I can't let you go, Kerry. I can't."

Kerry looked away, her heart breaking at the sight of his pain. "How do we make this work without destroying each other?"

Tony reached out, gently turning her face back towards him. "We take it one day at a time. We cherish the moments we have, no matter how fleeting. We hold onto the love we share, even if it's only in whispers and glances."

The room was so thick with tension, it could be cut with a knife.

Kerry finally reached out and laid her hand on Tony's. "Give me a few days to think about this." She glanced at her watch. "We need to get going to set! We are going to be late!

Tony's stomach immediately turned into knots and his breath caught in his throat. He could barely muster out an "ok" as he turned to start making coffee for them both before they left.

Nervous thoughts ran through his mind like a carousel that never stopped turning. What if she said no? He couldn't bear to lose her like this. What would they be resorted to..colleagues? Friends? He grimaced. Definitely not the popular friend zoned "Brother and sister". He shuddered.

He snapped out of it by realizing he had to get ready. He went to the bathroom for a quick shower and got ready in record time, handing Kerry her coffee as she came out of the closet.

"Well aren't you the most efficient President ever!" She teased, giving him a smile and a kiss.

"Well aren't you the most amazing and beautiful woman ever!" He replied with a smile, rubbing her back.

They got into the car together and started off for set. The ride there was quieter than usual and a bit more awkward. Kerry finally reached into her bag and pulled out the script to review her lines.

Her mind started to think about other things. Maybe she shouldn't have said she would think about this. Their chemistry was amazing, she knew that before even stepping on set. They had not even done a chemistry screening. She sighed, caught up in the storm of her own thoughts.

Tony, as if he could read her mind, instinctively placed his hand on top of hers, the other gripping the steering wheel. She smiled up at him and he smiled back, a warm comforting smile and enveloped her like a hug.

Before they knew it, Tony was pulling into the parking lot of the set. They both got out of the car. Kerry noticed Darby parked a few spots over, also getting out of her car. "Good Morning Darbs! Ready to take on this day?!"

Darby smiled slyly at the sight of them, raising her eyebrows and giggling. "Good morning Kerry, and of course I am!"

Kerry smiled and continued walking to set. Darby was a good friend. The whole cast was like a big family and they had each other's backs.

Later on that day, Tony watched Kerry talking to the cast about a change in the script. The set was bustling with the usual activity—lights being adjusted, crew members moving with purpose, Tony standing on the fringes of the chaos, his script held loosely in his hand, his eyes still following one person: Kerry.

She was a vision of grace and determination, her every movement a testament to her talent. Tony watched as she interacted with the crew, her laughter ringing out like music against the backdrop of the set. He felt a familiar ache in his chest.

He couldn't shake the thoughts that plagued him, the endless questions about how this was going to go. What if she didn't feel quite the same as he did. He knew they had something special, she loved him, he knew. But what if…

Tony's gaze lingered on Kerry as she moved closer, her eyes meeting his for a brief second before she looked away, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. His heart leaped, hope surging through him. Was that a sign? His eyes were glued to her, trying not to have his every feeling controlled by the look on her face.

"Hey, Tony," Kerry's voice brought him back to the present. She was standing before him now, her eyes searching his face for something he couldn't quite name.

"Hey," he replied, his voice a little too soft, a little too eager. He cleared his throat, trying to regain some semblance of control. "Ready for the next scene?"

She nodded, but her eyes remained on him, as if trying to read the thoughts that lay hidden beneath his calm exterior. "Yeah, just needed a moment to catch my breath."

Tony smiled, the corners of his mouth lifting just enough to hide the turmoil inside. "You and me both."

There was a brief silence, a charged pause filled with everything they couldn't say. Tony wanted to reach out, to touch her hand, to feel the warmth of her skin against his. But he held back, the uncertainty gnawing at him.

The scene began and they both got lost in pretending to be Olivia and Fitz..but it seemed like it was close to resembling their personal life at the moment too.

The day on set was over and Tony fully expected Kerry to ride with him as usual. Instead he saw her walking towards him with her keys in her hand.

"Tony, I'll be spending the night at my place tonight. Darby's giving me a ride." She patted his cheek.

"Ok." Tony froze in place, his eyes following her as she walked out to the parking lot with Darby.

What kind of sign was this..?