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"Are you an insomniac?"
"No," Amelia laughed softly, glancing over to the doorway as Kai walked into the kitchen, yawning as they approached Amelia. "I just like being awake now."
"Why?"
"Looking out the windows, it's just so calm. No one's awake, and you feel like the only person in the world who can see the stars in front of you." She sighed and pulled her knees up to her chest on the kitchen island, leaning forward and resting her head on top of her knees. "Being a parent, sometimes I feel like there's no time for myself. And, I don't always even get this time because Scout's decided that he also likes looking at the stars and sleeping isn't cool anymore, but when I do get this time," her voice trailed off, and she sighed gently. "My life's been a lot recently. I take time when I can find it."
"Do you want me to leave you alone?"
"No, you can stay. I want you to stay." Amelia smiled as Kai pushed themself up onto the island, bracing their hands on the edge and leaning forward. "What are we doing?"
"Hm?"
"You and I, I mean," Amelia shook her head. "I've got a son in Seattle, and you live in Minnesota. And I'm just getting out of something."
"A relationship?"
"Yeah, it was pretty serious. But, he couldn't understand that I don't want to get married, and I don't want to be with someone who isn't willing to listen to how I feel." She turned to face them. "I'm messy."
"Aren't we all?" Kai reached out and placed a hand on Amelia's cheek, running their thumb over her skin. "I like you, but I think you already knew that."
"I assumed after you invited me to stay here." She glanced down to the space between them and slid closer to Kai. "My hotel didn't really cancel my reservation. I didn't have one."
"I guessed that," Kai whispered, running their thumb down Amelia's jawline. "You're not the best liar; you get all flustered and nervous, and your cheeks turn pink."
"You make me nervous. And I thought it was just because of who you are at first, I mean, I've been following your research for years, but there's something more." She turned back to the window and leaned her head against Kai's shoulder. "I like you too."
"I already knew that."
"I know." Kai's hand moved until it was hovering over Amelia's thigh, and they waited until Amelia nodded to rest their hand on her thigh, rubbing their hand over the fabric of her pajama pants. "You live in Minnesota."
"And you live in Seattle, but there are planes, I mean, you're already coming here every week, and the research is only going to get heavier from here out."
"What we're doing, it could change medicine forever. If we can cure Parkinson's, what stops us from curing anything else? Neurodegenerative diseases that have been a death sentence forever, saving patients from surgeries and medication that will have little effect on their symptoms; Kai, this research is everything, and not just to me. I can't be getting distracted in the lab."
"We can keep everything professional. I'm sure Hamilton doesn't want to walk in on us in the lab, anyway."
"I'm serious," she whispered, her tone more hushed now, and she placed her hand over Kai's. "This research is huge, and I don't want it to fail because I couldn't focus on the smallest detail in a Parkinson's patient. You make me feel unprofessional things, and I'm not the best at keeping those feelings in."
"We're not going to miss anything because you're one of the best neurosurgeons in this world, Shepherd, you're better than that, and you know it. Hamilton brought you on this project for a reason; there's a reason you've stuck here instead of another neurosurgeon; there's a reason I call you whenever I run into an issue with the mice. You're an incredible surgeon and doctor, and I'm sure you won't let anything between us distract you from our research." Amelia lifted her head, looking up and immediately meeting Kai's gaze.
"Can I kiss you?" Kai responded by leaning their head down, stopping right in front of Amelia's face.
"Is this okay?" They whispered, their breath tickling Amelia's lips, and she sat up straighter to kiss Kai.
It was hesitant, for a moment, until Amelia pushed forward and felt Kai's hand wrap around to the back of her hair, tangling their fingers in her hair and pulling her closer to them.
She leaned her head back a minute later, resting her forehead against Kai's and breathing heavily, a grin creeping onto her face until their lips met again in a quick kiss.
"I've been waiting to do that," Kai muttered against Amelia's lips, and they exhaled as they felt her lips turn up into a smile. "I was worried you'd never let me."
"I wasn't sure I would." Amelia tilted her head upwards to kiss Kai again, moving her lips slowly against theirs and placing her hand on their cheek. "I like you."
"I know that, Shepherd."
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"You never told me why you're awake right now," Amelia whispered and settled her arm over their stomach.
"I'm a bit of an insomniac," Kai laughed, brushing the front of their hair back. "And, I couldn't stop thinking about you." Amelia rolled her eyes and lifted her head, resting her chin on their chest and smiling as their eyes met.
The bedroom window let in the smallest amount of light, casting a bluish hue over Kai's face below Amelia. She placed her hand on Kai's cheek.
"What?"
"Nothing, it's just your cheekbones." Kai chuckled softly. Amelia blinked slowly and tucked her head down under their head. "What happens in the morning?"
"I'll make you coffee; we'll order overpriced danishes from the bakery down the street and just be with each other."
"No, I mean after we leave here. When we go back to the lab, and when I have to go back to Seattle." They hummed softly and slid their hand into Amelia's hair, lacing strands of hair around their fingers.
"You're the one we're paying the big bucks to have all the answers."
"I don't. I don't have any answers."
"You don't have to. We'll figure it out as we go, see each other when we can, and you'll never stay in a hotel in Minnesota again."
"I'm scared to let myself fall for you," Amelia confessed softly, her eyes shining even in the dim light around them.
"You're going to tell me you haven't already?"
"I'm scared to let myself really fall for you. To be with you, to have this time together, to let you in my life. You've been a secret because of the trial, but if I let myself feel everything I've wanted to," she bit her lip to stop herself from speaking. "You won't be a secret anymore."
"And you don't want that?"
"I'm scared as to what that would mean. I have a son, and I have a family back in Seattle of everyone I work with, and they can be a lot. I've got a messy life going on with my son's father, and I don't know how he'd react." Kai moved their hand from Amelia's hair and brought it to her face, their thumb settling on her bottom lip and running across it.
"It doesn't matter. All that matters is right here," they spoke softly, smiling as Amelia lifted her head and brought it to theirs, connecting their lips in a slow kiss. "It's just us, right now."
"It almost feels like fate," Amelia hummed, laying her head down onto them and staring out the bedroom window.
"What does?"
"You're an insomniac, and I love being awake right now. It's like the world meant for us to have this time."
"Away from everything and everyone. There's no pressure; it's just you and I," Kai smiled toothily. "Although, we definitely might regret this in the morning."
"You'll just have to make me coffee, as you said."
"I don't say things I don't mean, Shepherd." They glanced down at her head on their chest and exhaled contently. "You're not an insomniac. You should get some sleep."
"I'm fine," Amelia spoke through a yawn, scrunching her nose as it escaped her mouth. "Okay, I'm tired. I don't want to miss this moment, though."
"You won't. I'm right here, and I'll be right here when you wake up. And we can make a thousand more moments." Their eyes met, and Kai tugged her closer to them. "Get some sleep."
"Only if you say," she whispered, allowing her eyes to shut. "Goodnight."
"Night, Amelia."