The whole damn time

Blind

"So, what's between you and Fitz?"

Simmons nearly choked on her tea. "What do you mean, what's between us?"

"Oh Simmons, as if you and him sitting by the window wasn't the cutest thing I've ever seen. There has to be something going on behind the scenes." Skye said, tapping on her keyboard.

Simmons' face went crimson. "You saw us?"

Skye glanced up at her. "Well, you weren't exactly hiding. Is there anything you want to tell me?"

"No, we're not, I mean, er..."

"I think you may need to elaborate. That didn't really enlighten me."

Simmons blushed a darker red. "You misunderstand, we're not going out or anything. It's not really a love relationship."

"Oh, Simmons. A blind man could see how much Fitz loves you."

She was speechless. Fitz loved her?

"We need a way to set you two up. Hang on, I have a great idea, just let me..." And normal, not-so-serious Skye was back.

"No! We're just friends! Nothing romantic has ever happened between us and nothing ever will, so please, just leave us alone!" She wasn't sure what possessed her to say that, but too many things were racing around her head. What if they broke up, what if it never worked out? She would never get her best friend back, and that's what scared her.

"Sorry, did I miss something?" There he was, and the harsh tone to his voice told her that he had heard. Immediately her stomach plummeted to her feet and she felt slightly sick.

"Leo, I... I'm sorry." She stammered. Skye picked up her laptop and left the room to give them some much needed privacy.

Fitz smiled, but it was twisted and nothing like his normal cheerful grin. "It's okay. At least now I know that it's only a dream." And suddenly it was too much for her, so she ran out of the lab. She didn't know where she was going, only that his heavy footfalls were behind her and the tears blinding her were falling thick and fast.

She stopped and leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. He stood before her and wiped away her tears gently with his thumb, but his were falling too and he made no attempt to brush them aside. "Jemma." Her name was honey on his tongue, and she could hear his pain in just that one word.

"I'm sorry. I just - I need some time, okay?"

"I know." He always did.

Simmons slid down the wall, her back against it and her knees curled up to her chest. He sat down beside her and she rested her head on his shoulder. It was then that she realised that her legs had carried her to that same room that they had spent the night in a few days before.

"I fell for you the way you fall asleep. Slowly, and then all at once." He whispered into her hair.

Simmons smiled. "I love that book."

"I know you do."

"I know that you know I do." Simmons said, grinning.

"I know that you know that I know you do." He continued, putting his arm around her. She snuggled into his embrace. "This could go on for a while."

"I'm the blind one." Simmons whispered.

"You what?" He asked, and she wondered how much he had heard.

"For how long have you loved me?"

"Since I almost lost you." He said, and she remembered that night in his bunk, looking through the photo album, tracing their own memories with shaking hands. "But then again, I have always loved you."

"I'm so sorry, Fitz." She said, and he took her hand, lacing his fingers through hers.

"You have nothing to be sorry for."

Simmons took a deep breath and shook her head. "I'm sorry for being blind. I just never realised that I was getting too comfortable with you as a friend to notice anything else below the surface. And I still need time to get my head around... us."

Fitz smiled again. "Take as much time as you need. I will always be there for you."

"Thank you." She said, and planted a small kiss on his forehead. He responded by kissing her cheek, very close to the corner of her mouth.

"We'll save the rest for later, shall we?" He said softly.

"Of course." And then Simmons stood up and left the room.