He falls into her on purpose and grabs at her hips. "What, right now? I thought you were taken."

She pushes him away and off of her before he can get any more hands on her.

"Fuck off. We're saying goodbye now. Remember you have to ping me once I'm on the other side. You remember the codes?"

"Gonna make him do it for me."

"No. He mightn't be able to get to you." She pulls him back closer and wraps around his shoulder, faces close. "Repeat after me and remember. This is important.."

He kisses her and wraps around her waist again, pulling her flush. "Don't go, Joss. This is all bullshit. Not even gonna tell me whats going on."

She bites his lip, but doesn't pull away. "You don't need to know. It's better. I'll tell you everything when we meet up at the checkpoint."

Bloody kiss.

"Fine. I remember, you don't need to repeat it."

Relieved sigh. She knew that. But she couldn't have taken the chance. "Thank you. It's important. Maybe the most important thing."

"So of course you're trusting me with it."

"Would you have preferred I ask Bran?"

He squeezes her hip tight. "I'm your man, Joss."

"Of course you are."

As the last few items are loaded onto the ship, Dr. Valentine Morgenstern finally steps out of the shuttle at the edge of the port. A small circle of security surrounds him, and there is a box in his arms, held carefully and with purpose.

He pauses in front of the open shuttle door once he's on his feet, searching the spaceport crowd as he waits.

Joss pushes Paris away then and walks over to him. She ignores his security.

"I thought you might have stood me up, Doctor."

So many months after they met, the deer in the headlights has left his expression when he looks at her. It's all fondness with just a hint of nerves, now.

"Of course not, Sergeant." He offers the box, "I've brought your package."

She ignores the box, steps closer to him and unbuttons his suit jacket. "Are you sure you don't wanna come along? It's been so long since you've been off-world. I could show you all the cool places."

His smile turns wry as he watches her fingers.

"I can't abandon my projects, can I?"

She straights his shirt, but her other hand is on his waist. "Not even for me?"

"I'm afraid not," he is mostly unaffected by her actions, aside from the slight pink tint high in his cheeks.

The box is small, yet he still doesn't want to hold it off to the side in just one hand. Even if care isn't strictly necessary. Unfortunately, this means he can't do anything about the fondling.

(The security around him are alternately amused and exasperated.)

She moves closer still, now pressing against him. Unconsciously mirroring her and Paris' actions from before.

"Maybe we could sneak away for a little bit? I'm sure the crew could use a more time on prep."

He quirks a smile, leaning in to give her a slow kiss.

Mmmm. Her hand is under his shirt now and touching his back. She kisses him, making an effort to convince him.

After a moment, he pulls away.

"No."

He nudges the box between them into her chest.

- she laughs. It's loud and startles the security closest to her. "Tease. Okay, fine. But you better send me those pictures you promised. A girl can't go so long without something."

Okay now he's noticeably blushing.

"I-" he half glances at one of his guards, who is studiously examining the crates off to his left, "-Yes, alright. I wouldn't want to deprive you." The flush deepens, but then so does his smile, into a bit of a smirk.