One Long Flight 💙

Hour Seven

The color seemed to drain from her face as they heard the announcement that they'd be arriving in London in about an hour. Chris reached for her hand, a reassuring gesture. "It's going to be okay, love," he said. She nodded, her gaze not meeting his. He let out a sigh and handed her an earbud, watching as she settled back in her seat. As "One Call Away" by Charlie Puth began playing, she turned to him with a smile, causing his heart to skip a beat.

"My grandmother always said that music is like the language of the soul," Aisling offered softly. "It can convey emotions that words sometimes can't." Chris gestured for her to come closer and she nestled her head on his chest while he rested his head on hers. "I miss watching my grandmother play the piano. I used to sit by her for hours," she shared, lifting her head to look at him. "Do you have a video of you playing?"

Chris chuckled and nodded, reaching for his phone. He showed her a clip, saying, "Just a short one, not the entire piece."

"That's my brother Scott," Chris leaned over and pointed to his phone.

Aisling chuckled, "Oh my god, you guys are adorable."

He nodded, reclaiming his phone, "Anything to make you laugh, love."

"I like Scott's voice," Aisling commented.

Chris laughed, pretending to be offended, "Not mine?"

She shrugged playfully, "Can't really hear you as well. But you guys are so cute. Is everyone in your family musically inclined?"

"My mom taught us to play the piano. I'm the only one who still plays. It's mostly just Scott and me," he explained.

Aisling nodded, a smirk forming on her lips, "And the tap dancing?"

He groaned, "You remembered that, huh? Well, my mom was a tap dancer. She taught us that too."

She laughed and nudged his shoulder, "You're really a giant dork, aren't you? Walking around like you're so cool. Really pulling the wool over people's eyes, Evans."

"First of all, I never claimed to be cool. Second of all, I'm Captain America. Doesn't that make me cool?"

"You mean, a comic book character?" Aisling teased.

Chris laughed, "Well, you're just mean, aren't you?"

She shrugged with a grin, "I never said I didn't love Captain America. I merely stated that you being him doesn't automatically make you cool."

Chris nodded, his fingers absentmindedly running through her ponytail, "Does it disqualify me from our date in Boston?"

She shook her head playfully, "If anything, it only helps solidify it."

He smirked as they heard the announcement to fasten their seatbelts. She let out a sigh, complying with the instruction and then grabbed his hand, intertwining their fingers. As she looked at their joined hands and then back up at him, he was already gazing at her.

"I like the way your hand feels in mine," she confessed.

He smiled, lifting her hand to his lips for a soft kiss before returning their hands to their resting place, "Me too."

She leaned her head back against the seat, closing her eyes tightly. Landing and takeoff were her least favorite parts of flying. Once the plane finally steadied, she glanced over to see his smile. "Thanks for making the flight more bearable. I'm sure you're tired. I'm sorry."

He shook his head, his expression warm, "It's fine, Aisling. Really. I was happy to sit here and talk to you the whole time."

Nodding, she retrieved her bag and purse, following him off the plane. Once they were in a less crowded area, he turned to her, extending his arms. She gladly sank into his embrace, feeling the security of his arms around her for the first time.

When they finally separated, he cupped her face gently, his voice tender, "Whether you get there in time or not, she already knows anything you'd want to say. Okay?" Tears welled up in her eyes, and she nodded in response. He let out a sigh and pulled her back into his arms. "Would you like me to come with you? I will," he offered.

She stepped back, wiping away her tears, "No. I need to do this alone."

He nodded, understanding, "Okay. But call me if you need anything. To see me, or even just to talk. Please."

"I will. I promise. Just kiss me again and then walk away," she requested.

"I don't want to walk away," he admitted.

She groaned knowingly, "I know. But you have to. Please." She met his gaze and he gently lifted her chin, their lips meeting once more. The kiss began gently, but urgency crept in as their tongues tangled. Their moment was interrupted by his ringing phone, causing him to pull away. She lightly hit his chest, teasing, "You can't kiss me like that before you walk away, Christopher."

He chuckled, "Looks like I just did. Consider it an incentive to see me again. I have to go. I'm sorry."

She nodded, her smile a mixture of happiness and sadness, "I know. Me too. Go. I'll message you." As he hesitated before walking away, she watched him go, feeling a sense of connection that she hadn't expected to find on this flight.