Work Text:
Fitz: Well that's it, I'm gonna die alone.
Jemma clicked on the attached picture and sighed just as her stomach churned the way it always did when Fitz's divorce was mentioned. He kept saying the divorce would be finalized soon, and Jemma had started to believe that it never would, but after months, it looked like he had indeed just received the papers. Abandoning all hope of getting any more work done, Jemma closed her laptop, stood up and settled on the couch instead. With the heavy rain and wind howling outside, it felt like the kind of night to spend tucked under a comfy blanket anyway.
Jemma: Fitz. You're not going to die alone.
Fitz: I'm going to be divorced before I'm 30. Of course I'm going to die alone. Possibly eaten by my cats.
Jemma: You don't have any cats.
Jemma rolled her eyes. If he was getting dramatic again, maybe it meant he was actually starting to get over it and getting his spirits back. He and Sally had been separated for the past six months. It hadn't even been an ugly breakup or anything. Just a case of two people getting too caught up in their first real relationship and realizing too late that they didn't have enough in common to build a lasting marriage.
Fitz: I'll get one. It'll be nice to feel like someone needs me.
Jemma: First of all, cats are very unlikely to eat people. They're very picky eaters and I know how you eat. They wouldn't like you at all.
Fitz: Rude!
Jemma: And also, you won't die alone. You'll always have me. Whatever happens.
Fitz: Even when I'm a weird 29 y-o divorcé?
Jemma: You've always been weird anyway and that's what I love about you <3
Fitz: I love YOU!
Jemma knew he meant it in a strictly friendly, platonic way but that didn't stop her heart from missing a beat. They'd known each other for more than ten years and she'd had a bit of a crush on him for almost as long. She'd always been too scared to act on it and ruin their friendship so she'd always kind of assumed that if something were to happen, it would happen on its own. It wouldn't be something she provoked, not voluntarily at least. After all, Fitz barely ever dated and she thought she had time. But then, he'd started dating Sally and it all happened so fast. He'd moved into her flat after two months, Jemma was down a flatmate, and another two months later, they were engaged. That was when Jemma realized she should have acted on her feelings after all. And maybe she would have been bold and selfish enough to do it then if Sally wasn't so genuinely lovely.
Fitz: I just don't want people to know me as the guy with a failed marriage before he's thirty.
Jemma: Then sign the damn papers and marry me! Problem solved.
Jemma hit send with a grin then realized what she had done and gasped. He was her best friend and she told him she loved him all the time. But despite everyone always assuming they were a couple, they'd never even joked about a potential relationship between them.
She blamed Fitz for her temporary insanity. These past weeks, months really, she'd spent comforting him had been both a torture and incredibly wonderful. She knew it was selfish given how sad he was but all the hugging and the falling asleep with his head on her lap had filled her heart to the brim with love and affection for him. He might not be feeling the same but, deep down, she just knew how happy they would be together. They were so similar in some ways and in others, they completed each other. She loved how they loved the same shows and played the same games. And she loved how they finished each other's sentences and that she was the person who always knew just how to turn his frowns into smiles. And more importantly, she loved him more than she'd ever loved anyone else. If he could see them the way she did, he would know how happy they could be together. This marriage would be the opposite of a failure. It would be a smashing success and it would be forever.
Fitz: OK!
Jemma sighed as she dropped her phone and fell back against the couch cushions. She should probably be relieved that she hadn't made things awkward and he took it as a joke. It was mostly that after all.
After that, Jemma was most definitely not in the mood for work anymore so she turned on the TV and switched channels until she found old reruns of Quantum Leap. The time travel was preposterous but it was still very entertaining and Scot Bakula's acting continued to be a delight, even after all these years.
Two episodes in, there was a knock on the door. She considered just ignoring it. After all, who knocked on people's door on a rainy night but a murderer?
But there was another, louder knock, and she decided to at least look through the peephole. Her imaginative brain would conjure up all kinds of scenarios if she didn't. She loved her ground floor flat and the little garden that came with it but that meant she was also statistically more vulnerable to burglars or the odd serial killer. She started towards the door quietly, just in case, and lifted herself up on her tiptoes.
"Fitz!"
"Hi Jem," he said weakly through the door.
She quickly opened the door and gasped at the sight in front of her. His curls were in disarray, falling all over his forehead, and his sweater clung to his shoulders and chest, sending a little tendril of heat through her despite the gust of cold air that hit her at the same time. And despite that too, there was a big, although slightly shy smile on his face.
"C-can I come in? It's kind of cold outside."
"Oh my god, yes. Of course." She pulled him in and closed the doors behind him. For once, he was the one with the freezing hands. "What were you thinking? Why don't you have an umbrella?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "I forgot."
She frowned as she started towards the kitchen to put the kettle on and he followed after taking off his squeaky shoes and drenched sweater.
"Did you walk here?"she asked, startling as she found him much closer than she expected when she turned back. He had no business still smelling that good when he'd just been in the rain for an hour. He just smiled and nodded. "Why?"
"The bus was too slow. I was in a rush."
She took two mugs out of the cupboard and the box of his favorite tea before turning back again. He was fidgeting with something in his hand now but her eyes were too distracted by the white t-shirt clinging to his torso. Did he just stop on his way to shoot a perfume commercial? Had he forgotten to tell her he'd started a modeling career?
"Why?"
"Because I love you."
Her heart grew two sizes at his words but shrunk back to its original size within seconds. He was wonderfully insane for walking all the way here in the rain to tell her that but he had to stop or she wouldn't be able to contain what she felt for him any longer. She took a deep breath.
"I love you too, Fitz," she started, turning around to get biscuits from the other cupboard as she tried to keep her voice steady. "But you shouldn't--"
"No," he cut her off. He came beside her, even closer than before, closed the cupboard she'd just opened and took her hands in his.
She frowned, nodding towards the cupboard. "Don't you want--"
"I mean I love you, Jemma."
Her eyes widened. Surely, she was misunderstanding him. "You mean like..." She interrupted herself. How could he possibly mean it in a way that was different from how he usually meant it but that wasn't romantic either?
She looked down at where his thumbs were gently brushing the sensitive skin between her thumb and forefinger. The sensation was awfully nice and distracting and the movement of his long, delicate fingers almost hypnotizing.
She must have kept her eyes down longer than she thought because Fitz sighed and when she looked back up, his expression was a perfect mix of impatience and fondness. It usually didn't take her so long to understand whatever he said. In fact, he'd told her many times that her always understanding him was one of the things he loved the most about her.
"I mean that I'm in love with you, Jemma."
"Fitz." His name came out in a gasp. He couldn't be serious. He was still lamenting the end of his marriage just a few hours ago. And yet...Fitz wouldn't joke about that. He was a romantic, he took love very seriously. Her vision was whiting out at the edges and she had to shake her head and blink a few times before it all became clear again. When she focused back on him, the soft look in his eyes took her breath away. Big droplets of rain were falling from his curls in front of his beautiful blue eyes but he didn't even seem to care as he started talking again.
"I'm serious, Jemma. And it's not because I don't want to be alone or because I'm afraid of being eaten by my cats or anything like that. I think I've been in love with you for almost as long as we've known each other. And I thought I'd managed to let go of these feelings because you didn't feel the same and because I wanted to give my relationship with Sally a chance. But these past six months have just served to show me just how much I was not over you and probably never will be."
Jemma couldn't tell if her heart had stopped beating altogether or if it had beaten out of her chest.
"I know you proposed first but I also know it was meant as a joke so it doesn't really count. I did take it as a sign that I-that I should be brave. And that maybe, maybe the looks and the...everything I thought I saw in your eyes these past six months, I didn't imagine them."
With that, he let go of her hand and took something out of his pocket. It wasn't just any piece of scrap metal he'd been fidgeting with earlier. It looked like...a ring?
He got down on one knee and looked up at her with the sweetest, most adoring smile. "Jemma Simmons, will you marry me?"
"Fitz!" she cried out, half-laughing, half-crying. She was now 90 percent certain she was dreaming. Fitz proposing to her out of the blue had happened once or twice (or a dozen times) in dreams. And in dreams, it felt like a reasonable thing to do. But now, when they had never even considered the possibility of dating, had never even shared a drunken kiss, it felt... "Are you insane?"
"Yes! But you said you love that about me, so." His smile turned into a cheshire cat grin she couldn't help but reciprocate.
She took his hands in hers. "I do."
"Was that a yes?"
She chuckled as she shook her head in disbelief. This was everything she'd ever wanted for the past ten years but she certainly didn't want it to be a crazy decision like he'd made with Sally and that he'd regret in a few years.
"Fitz, you're just sad and confused and I--"
"I'm not though," he cut her off, holding on to her hands tighter and she fell to her knees without even realizing it. "I'm as clearheaded as I've ever been. And I'm not saying it has to be today or tomorrow or even a year from now. I'll wait for you as long as you'll need it."
He brought her hands to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckles, making her heart melt as tears pooled in the corner of her eyes. Joy, disbelief, shock, she wasn't quite sure what those tears meant. Probably all of that. And so much more.
"I just need to know if that's a possibility."
"Okay."
Fitz's eyes widened and Jemma's lips pulled up of their own volition. It was insane, especially considering Fitz hadn't even had the time to send the paperwork he'd just signed and still wasn't officially divorced, and yet, the more she thought about it the more right it felt.
"Okay, you'll think about it?"
"Okay okay. We were roommates for years so I already know all of your bad habits and all the ones that are very good. We watch all the shame shows. You're always so warm which is great for cuddling in the winter." Fitz blushed at that, which was both adorable and a little silly considering he'd just proposed to her. "But more importantly, it wasn't just these past six months or even a year. I've loved you for the better part of ten years and I don't want to miss another chance with you so...yeah, I'll marry you, Fitz."
"Really?"
She beamed at him and he beamed back. He'd never been more beautiful to her.
"Really."
"I mean... maybe not right away. There's probably a couple things we should talk about first and you should probably send those divorce papers but...I don't think I've ever wanted something more in my life."
"Really, not even becoming head of the lab and making Nathanson cry?"
"No."
"Not even getting a Nobel prize?"
She pretended to think for a second. "Not even that."
"Wow." He kissed her knuckles some more. "Now what?"
"I think you're supposed to put the ring on my finger."
So he did. With trembling, frozen fingers. It was a simple band, made of steel it seemed, with little stars engraved on it. It was simple and looked nothing like a traditional engagement ring but it was somehow her exact size and the loveliest piece of jewelry she'd ever owned.
"So um...I just had an hour or so to do it with whatever piece of scrap metal I could find but I didn't want to come empty handed. Obviously I'll buy you a proper ring when--"
"Don't you dare give me another ring. I love it." He smiled at that and took her hand in his once more. His hands were practically shaking with nervous energy as he looked down and back into her eyes.
"Alright, so that's done. Now we should..." His eyes were full of love and something she hadn't noticed on his face before as he looked her up and down, making her feel all hot and tingly. No one had ever looked at her like that when she was wearing leggings and a huge sweater. Jemma was suddenly very aware of his body close to her. He was still soaking wet, his white t-shirt making it distractingly evident how he had changed since they met at 18. They'd just admitted their feelings for each other, feelings so strong they'd agreed to get married before they even had anything resembling a first date and yet... "We should...what should we do now?"
She watched a droplet of rain fall from a stray curl, roll down the side of his nose and catch on his lower lip. His perfectly formed, pink, very soft looking lip.
She bit her lip. "I think it's customary to kiss a girl after you've proposed to her."
"Is it?" She nodded and his lips ticked up. "I uh...I would be amenable to that."
She giggled, nerves and anticipation making her feel like her whole body was vibrating but he brought his hand up to cradle her cheek, effectively stopping any teasing she could come up with about his less than romantic phrasing. His fingers were still frozen but the shivers his touch sent down her spine had nothing to do with that.
His gaze dropped down to her lips and when he looked back up, there was a longing in his eyes she was only now realizing she'd seen a hundred times and yet hadn't understood what it was. Their lips met in the middle. It was gentle and their lips only moved against each other for a moment but it still sent a pleasant warmth all through her body. It felt good and thrilling and, more importantly, it felt incredibly right. The warmth was turning to heat when he pulled back. So she didn't let him go. She pulled his mouth against hers once more, wrapping her arms around his neck as his hand slid into her hair with a happy little sound. Fitz captured her lower lip with both of his and Jemma parted her lips with a sigh, eagerly deepening the kiss. His other arm slid around her waist, pulling her closer and--
She squeaked against his lips, effectively breaking the kiss.
"Fitz, you're freezing!" she whispered, practically against his lips, voice more gravelly than she expected.
"Am I?" he replied and she felt more than she saw the grin that pulled at his lips.
With a last press of lips against his, she shook her head and stood up, pulling him up along with her. "Come on, let's get you out of these wet clothes and--"
She cut herself off when she noticed his cheeky grin. She rolled her eyes as she weakly swatted his chest.
"Not like that!" She turned around and started towards the bedroom. "I'm just going to give you dry clothes. You keep leaving some of yours at my place and--"
She was pulled back by his hand on her wrist and his lips were on hers before she could finish her sentence. With his arms wound tightly around her waist, the kiss quickly grew hotter. She barely registered his wet, frozen clothes this time. She was much more interested by the firm planes of his body pressing against her chest and the tight muscles of his back she could feel as she let her hands wander. Her feet moved of their own volition and she found herself pressed against a wall, one of Fitz's legs parting her knees as his hands tightened low on her hips.
She moaned into the kiss. Maybe like that after all.
"I don't leave my clothes here," he whispered against her lips as he broke the kiss. He pressed more kisses to her cheek and forehead before he moved back slightly to look into her eyes. He was practically radiating happiness. Maybe she was biased because this was probably the happiest she'd been her entire life --she was honestly still expecting to wake up on her couch in front of Quantum Leap reruns-- but he looked the happiest she'd ever seen him.
"You steal them from me."
She wanted to protest but she knew full well that he was right. Plus, he was awfully distracting with the curls and the white t-shirt clinging to his chest.
"Do I really?"
He grinned at the use of her terrible fake innocent voice.
"Mmmh. But I usually don't mind." His gaze slid down to where her hand had ended up on his chest. They were darker when he looked back up.
Oh.
Not leaving his gaze, she slid her hand to his stomach, feeling his muscles tighten under her touch. A soft growl escaped his lips when she reached the hem of his t-shirt and his hand tightened even more on her hip. Electricity coursed her. She'd be lying if she said the dreams she'd had about her best friend over the years had all been PG-13.
She slid her hand up under his t-shirt, grazing the warm skin of his stomach.
"Jemma," he breathed out. "We have lots to talk about. We should probably stop...before..."
"Mmhmm." She moved her hand further up, riding his t-shirt up more and more as she did. "I just really like that t-shirt." She pressed a sucking kiss to his stubbled jaw and she could feel him shiver. If he really wanted to stop now, he was going to have to be the one to step away. She nuzzled her way along his jaw until she reached her ear and captured an earlobe between her teeth.
"Oh. Oooooh. Ok then. I guess you can have my shirt."
She pulled the t-shirt up and Fitz lifted his arms eagerly to help get it off him. She'd seen him bare chested before, at the pool or when they used to be roommates, but that was different. With all the pent-up longing, desire and frustration, it was taking a lot of self-control for her not to rip the rest of his clothes off. She knew he wasn't exactly confident about his physique, often joking that he had the body of a twelve year old, but seeing him like that, with nothing but his jeans hanging low on his hips and those curls she loved so much, she didn't think she ever wanted anyone more.
"Mine now," she said with a wicked grin as she dropped the t-shirt on the floor.
She wanted to run her fingers down the skin of his stomach and feel his muscles react to her touch. Wanted to pull his jeans down and uncover more of those hipbones that'd been driving her mad over the years. She wanted to cover his chest and shoulders with kisses. She wanted to see him take control some more and she wanted to drive him mad with lust and desire and make him understand without words how much he meant to her.
"So about that conversation," he said, taking her hand and bringing it to his lips to press a gentle kiss on her knuckles. "Should we have tea and--"
"No!"
He raised his eyebrows as his lips pulled up into a smug smile.
"We've been talking and obviously overthinking for the past ten years. I think we should stop thinking altogether and--"
"Just do," he finished with a beaming smile.
She was so happy she just couldn't control the way her lips pulled up to beam back at him.
"I love you," she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck and started pushing him backwards towards her bedroom.
"I love you too. So much." And then his lips were on hers again.
That was all the talking she needed now. After ten years of longing for each other in secret, it seemed like acting was the way to finally get what she wanted and Jemma was perfectly fine with that.