Liz closed her eyes, feeling safe enough in this moment to let her guard down and relaxed. She didn't know what to say yet either about what had happened… but she was fairly sure that James wasn't ready talk about it yet. So, she would wait and try to figure out a way to tell him what his murderer had told her about the Swarm… Or if she should wait until they were with Captain Blake.
"Hey Liz?" James cleared his throat, glancing at her.
"I suppose we should hide no secrets right? I. I guess I got to tell you something then." He kissed Liz's forehead and sighed.
"I have. Well. Did. Have a fiance. And she's on this ship." He dropped the bomb, closing his eyes in wait for the oncoming fire.
Liz’s eyes snapped open at the news as she sat up quickly and looked at him. ”You have a… You’re…” she started in shock. Of course, someone as amazing as James would be engaged! … and of course, she had to fall for him. “Who is she? How long have you been…” she asked, struggling to get the word out.
"You've met her." He sighed.
"But it ended. I won't say much aside from that. It's a past that I can't forget nor can I just stay silent with it. After all, someday it would've come out to you. So I might as well tell you now." He took a deep breath once more.
"Yes Lieutenant Elizabeth. I was engaged to someone, but that ended so don't worry. I haven't loved two people at once. I am not cheating on anyone. My morals would definitely stop me from doing so." He chuckled.
"Things will not change between us two I hope as well."
“I have… Oh, is she that nurse we talked to earlier?” Liz asked to be sure, considering how familiar they were and that comment about personal feelings. ”Cassandra?” she thought she remembered her name.
She smiled briefly at the comment on his morals. ”Well, I’m thankful that you told me before someone could… and that you're not the cheating type.” she sighed a little. ”I don't want things to change between us either… If you don't want to talk about why your engagement ended, I won't ask but I would like to know how long were you were together and if you feel the same way for me that you did for her?” she said softly, not quite looking at him yet.
"A while, a couple years… But after that it ended. And… No, this is more… It's brighter I guess, it's like i'm in some hypnotisation when I see you." He answered her questions. He didn't say yes or no to the previous question though, leaving it to Liz to figure the identity of that fiance of his.
Liz raised a brow slightly as she noticed he didn't confirm or deny her guess. Maybe Cassandra just knew his ex-fiancee… Or had heard of the engagement. It didn't really matter unless she was the jealous type and confronted Liz about their relationship.
She giggled a little and looked mischievously at James. ”You’re saying I hypnotized you?” she asked with a small smile.
"Uh…" James slightly turned red and meekly replied.
"Perhaps?" He smiled back at her as he inwardly thanked himself for telling her before anything happened that could cause mayhem upon their relationship.
Liz laughed lightly at his shyness and kissed his cheek. ”Well, if I did, it was subconsciously done even though I think most women have that… skill.” she teased softly.
"Maybe but… I think I only noticed you having that skill. Even if it was 'subconsciously'." He chuckled, kissing her back as he hesitantly pulled her in for a hug.
"I don't know when we're leaving for the mission but Liz? If I… Don't pull through then at least bring my body back in one piece yeah?" He smiled.
"And I have full faith in me surviving so don't start lecturing me. I'm just using that big 'if'." He added on.
She giggled a little as they separated from the kiss before sighing softly at his request. ”You will survive… but yeah, of course, I’ll bring you back.” Liz nodded slowly. ”I… I’ll have your back the whole time. It's just an ”if” I don't like thinking about. Especially after…” she closed her eyes, trying to rid the image of his burnt and mangled body from her mind. ”We’ll both make it back. In one piece.” she promised as she held him close.
"Glad I can trust you." He smiled, glancing at the time.
"So did you have any friends on this ship? Or anyone you know outside of a professional relationship?" He changed the topic.
She smiled up at him and shrugged. ”I don't know how many people on this ship consider me a friend.” she admitted. ”I mean, I’m well known but not sure about well liked… Hmmm, there’s Al. Alan, the doctor who checked me out for hitting my head during the crash.”
"Interesting, someone I should be worried about?" He grinned, hugging her once more.
"Well known for what? I don't really get involved with 'ship gossip'." He asked curiously after a few seconds.
Liz shook her head, giggling a little. ”No, I drive him crazy. When he finds out about me being in a serious relationship with you, he's going to want to examine both our heads.” she joked as she nuzzled into his hug.
She sighed at his question. ”I… You know, I have a reputation for being a flirt. Actually, the biggest flirt on the ship. But I'm not promiscuous or a cheater.” she added quickly to assure him.
"'The biggest flirt on the ship'?" James let out a laugh and smirked.
"That really does sounds like you."
She laughed a little and nodded. ”Yeah, I know. But it was never serious flirting, you know? Just playful, ”nothing will ever come of it” flirting.” she shrugged.
"That was annoying when I first met you, now I love it." He grinned, smiling at her.
"You're you, it's a side of your personality that I kinda like. Now if anyone were to hate that part of you then well, I would give them a politeful and thoughtful interrogation why they would hate such a nice and funny thing." He joked.
”I know you did.” she smiled a little. ”Pretty much everyone does sooner or later.” she said with a shrug. She couldn't help but laugh at the mental image he gave her of him defending her personality. ”That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said about my flirting.” Liz smiled and kissed his cheek.
"Well then." He chuckled.
"Hey Liz? Shall we get up now? I need to talk to Captain Blake about something." He cleared his throat and looked at her with a gentle smile.
Liz nodded a little at his question. ”Sure. We should probably tell him about us wanting to go on the mission anyway.” she pointed out as she carefully got off his lap. ”And… I have something to tell him too.” she added, biting her lip nervously.
"Hm?" James turned around the wheelchair and approached the door.
"Ok, just give me the heads up so I can leave when you wish for me to." He rolled out of the door beside Liz, smiling brightly. His previous somber mood having gone uphill throughout the day.
While his mood had, thankfully, improved… Liz’s mood was a bit more reserved and obviously nervous as they headed towards Captain Blake's office. ”It’s… I don't think you have to leave when I tell him. It's not really a secret but… I don't want to spread it around the ship either.” she admitted, considering the nature of the information itself and how she gained it. ”You can talk to him first, though, I can wait. It's not urgent.” she managed to smile a little back at him.
"Yes yes, I just want to make sure you don't get uncomfortable with me around, that's all." He explained before nodding.
"I'll talk before you then, though if you want, you can say what you want before me." He added.
She actually managed to laugh a little. ”Oh, darling, I don't think I could ever be uncomfortable around you.” she said with a wink. ”You can stay when I tell the captain but I’m not sure how you both will react to this information.” Liz admitted, slowly going back to her slight nervous demeanor. ”But seriously, you can talk to him first.” she nodded.