A slow smile melted over her lips, as she looked at him. She realized she didn’t really care what he had done. She had her fair heap of baggage too. She didn’t want a perfectly blameless man. She wanted one that would understand. He was the only one who had ever looked her and not seen a sinful disgrace.

“Say something.” He said hesitantly, his eyes trying to find some hint of her thoughts in her countenance.

“Not much to say. Your past is something you carry. But it isn’t you. And…” She bit her lip, glancing at her shoes.

Hawkeye tilted his head, his hand lifting her chin so he could see her eyes. “And?”

“And I’m falling in love with you.” She quietly said, her breaths coming shallow and hurried.

He beamed at her, “Then is it safe to say you won’t go for my jugular if I kissed you?”

She laughed but before she could respond there was a loud knock on the hatch below.

Hawkeye cursed under his breath, moved away from her and unlocked the hatch to open it.