Chapter Text
Christine and Lou seem to dance awkwardly around each other for the next few weeks, unsure of what to say to one another besides checking in on ship duties. One late night, Lou is standing and looking over the front of the ship out at the dark horizon. The moon is full, but it almost always is here. Christine sees him. He boots against the wood make her presence known as she climbs the few stairs to the raised part of the ship, but Lou doesn’t turn around. She stands behind him, admiring his strong form against the moonlight. She swallows some nerves in her throat and says what’s been on her mind since the hectic homecoming started to settle into routine.
“You told me you love me,” She says. Lou turns around, back to the waves and front to her.
“I did,” He says, his posture stays stoic but his voice betrays his surprise.
“You told me in that vision. I didn’t know who you were, but you told me anyway.”
“I did,” He says again, then swallows and explains a little. “I had to take the gamble that it would bring you back.”
“But you meant it,” I check.
“Of course,” He confirms instantly.
“You almost told me another time, too. It’s foggy, but… I’m seeing it. We talked about our ‘earth lives’, and it reminded you that I was going to leave you. You tried to ask me to stay. You said ‘the crew loves you, I-”
“I love you,” Lou cuts her off. Her heart feels like it stops. She blinks and her mouth hangs open a second before she finds the will to close it, unable to find words. Lou takes it upon himself to elaborate. “I’ve loved you since before that day. I’ve loved you since you put that everputty on those statues and proved me wrong about their danger. I wanted to say it every day after that but I never did. That day, when I almost said it, you cut me off. I took that as a rejection. At first, at least, I did, but then… I couldn’t imagine the crew without you being a part of it. When you left, I swore I’d tell you as soon as I saw you again. You had to know.”
They stared at each other for a long, heavy moment.
“I felt something as soon as we touched, when I came back, I mean. For a second I was confused, and if you had told me we were already together I would have believed it.”
“I would never do such a thing,” Lou protested.
“I know,” She agreed. “But I felt that connection. I knew we were something.”
Christine stepped forward so that they were less than a yard apart.
“I know I belong here. There hasn’t been any doubt since the first night we were all drinking together, even before I remembered who everyone was. I feel like a part of you all, I feel like you’re all a part of me…” She fades out, losing her train of thought, unsure where she’s going with all this. “I guess all I’m trying to say is that I love you too, Lou.”
Purpose takes over Lou’s eyes and he rushes forward, taking her in a tight embrace. His hands on the small of her back draw her in magnetically to him. She wraps her arms around his neck, takes in the smell of the sea in his skin and his clothes, feeling where his hair meets the base of his neck. They pull away, and Lou puts his hands on her face like he did the day of their reunion. Their faces crash together like the waves that surround them and they kiss, tasting and smelling and feeling each other as an apathetic universe spins around them.