When he wraps his arms around her, Alex almost wants to cry with relief. It feels so damned right to be in his arms like this, just as it had felt right to have herself tucked under his arm and her head practically on his chest as he made her watch stupid movies and then told her about how he preferred Star Trek to Star Wars.

This was a line that they're danced near crossing, one step forward, two steps back, their toes hanging over the edge of it like high divers about to leap before they end up chickening out and drawing back. There were reasons for it of course, so many reasons like the show and their professional ethics and everything else.

But none of those matter now, and she just wraps her arms around his neck.

"Yes. We waited too damned long." She knew why. He knew why. But now Alex and Richard don't need to wait. Pressing her lips against his again, she just whispers: "I love you."