Set immediately after 1x07. Kirsten's reaction to Liam. Kirsten asks Camille for advice. Eventually a Camsten story!

A/N: So this is actually my very first story! I hope you all like it. Planning for it to be a few chapters. xo :)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything (sadly). If I did, Kirsten and Cameron would have already gotten together.

*Kirsten's POV*

"Will you marry me?" he asked, with a hopeful look in his eyes.

I hesitated, and I couldn't explain it. "I... I need to think," was all I could get out. He looked confused, and hurt... at least from studying emotional cue cards, that was the most logical emotions. "I'll give you some time," he said. He closed the ring box, and placed it on the end table on the patio, turning around to leave.

Why did I need to think? Liam and I had been dating for 3 years. Granted, we were only together a few weeks over the course of the 3 years. But time didn't matter. When we were together, it was like we were always together. And I didn't miss him when he was away, since it seemed like he was always away. Should I miss him? Maybe the stitches were affecting me more than I thought. I was never concerned about missing him before.

I heard the keys in the door, Camille was home. I looked at the clock, 10:02pm. Liam had been gone for approximately 45 minutes, since it was 9:17pm when he left.

"Hey! Thanks for the advice earlier. I asked like a normal person and I got a raaaaissse!" she said, dancing around the living room. "New boots from my awesome roomie, a fixed water heater from Mr. Delicious Abs, and a raise... Wait, where is Mr. Delicious Abs anyways?"

"Uh, he went home," I said, looking up at Camille.

"Home, huh?," a quizzical look on her face. Camille studied her for a minute, and asked "is everything okay?"

Thinking that another perspective might be helpful, I figured it couldn't hurt to get her opinion. "Liam asked me to marry him," I said.

"Wait, what?!," she screamed. "Let me see the ring! And why aren't you celebrating with your gorgeous man?" she winked. She looked down at my left hand, realizing that I wasn't wearing a ring. "Oh... what did you say? Do you want to talk about it?"

"The ring is on the table outside," was all I said.

Camille crossed the room and exited the sliding glass door, picking up the small box. She opened it, staring at the ring. She came back inside, setting the box on the coffee table. She looked at me, placing her hand on my shoulder, waiting. Was that concern in her eyes?.. yes, concern.

"I said I needed to think," glancing down at my hands, playing with the hem of my red shirt.

"Okay. Think about what?"

"Well, I'm not really sure. I was hoping you could help..." I said cautiously, waiting for a response from Camille. When she didn't respond, I took that as an opportunity to continue. "I mean, I like him, and he loves me. I guess I never thought about getting married."

Camille weighed what I said. "Are you happy with Liam?"

Am I happy with him?... "I guess I never really thought about it that way."

"Well why don't you think about it. And if you aren't, I'd be more than happy to take Mr. Abs off your hands," she said with a wink.

Would I be happy with him? I can see it in Liam's eyes, that he cares for me. The way he looks at me reminds me of Lily and Scott on their honeymoon. They loved intensely and deeply. But I couldn't ever feel that way, not with my disorder. I won't ever feel that way about Liam. Is that fair to him?

What could our life be? I could never tell him about my work, Maggie wouldn't be too happy about that. At least when I told Detective Fisher, he could become part of the Stitchers program to assist in questioning suspects in the field. I don't think a cultural anthropologist would be quite as useful to Maggie. And I don't trust her enough to test that theory. She and Leslie Turner are already keeping secrets about the real purpose behind the Stitchers program, who knows what they would do if someone else found out, someone that didn't have a useful addition to the program. Would it be fair to Liam that I couldn't be truthful about working for a secret government agency, stitching into mind's of dead people.

I didn't used to be this concerned about other people's well being. Maybe the stitching is affecting me more than I realized. Perhaps residual emotions? Although Bentley only cared about feeling important and having material possessions. So that can't be it... Maybe it's more of an additive effect from all the stitches, getting exposed to different emotions.

And earlier, when I tried to surprise Liam with the new clothes and the hair and make up for our dinner out, that was pretty out of character for me. I tried to do something nice and thoughtful, and he didn't even appreciate my efforts. Did I care?

"Helloooo... earth to Kirsten. What are you thinking about?" Camille asked.

"Do I seem different to you?," I inquired.

"Different? Well we talk more. I mean, I guess maybe you're a little less Kirsten and softer around the edges. If that makes sense."

"Yeah, I think it does. I'm different now, and I can't be with Liam. He's expecting the old Kirsten," I reasoned. It feels like I've always been a little soft around the edges, as Camille put it. Not quite as hard and calculating, but still me.

"I have to go speak to Liam," I said as I gathered my purse and the ring and went to my car.

... later that night...

"Are you sure that's what you want?," he asked me as I handed him back the small jewelry box. I could see the pain behind his eyes.

"Yes, I'm sure. I'm sorry, but it's difficult to explain. I'm different now, I want more." I'm not quite sure what more is yet. But a fiance that I couldn't tell about my work, didn't understand when I needed to rush back to the lab, and didn't appreciate my gestures wasn't something I wanted.

I turned around, walked back to my car, and went home.

When I entered I noticed Camille, curled up on the couch sleeping. I closed the door as quietly as I could.

"Hey, are you alright?," Camille asked, yawning.

"Why does everyone ask if you're alright, when they know you're alright?," I replied.

"So... Liam?" she asked.

"I broke up with him. And now it feels like we've always been broken up," I shrugged.

"Well if you ever want to talk, I'm here."

"Thank you Camille," I said as I smiled at her, and turned to walk towards my bedroom.

"And you know, if you ever want to talk about any other revelations... say about Cameron... I'm here if you wanted to talk about that," she said as she grinned from ear to ear.

"About Cameron... what about Cameron?"

"I guess it's obvious to everyone except you, which makes sense, since you can't quite detect emotions as easily as others would. He has a thing for you. He likes you Kirsten. The way he's so overprotective, and the cute nicknames- stretch, princess..."

I glanced at the clock, 1:37am. After the long day and night, closing Bentley's case... then Liam. I was pretty tired. "I'm going to bed," I said. At least it was the weekend and I had off the next 2 days. Unless an emergency stitch came up, which was always likely.

"Good night Kirsten. I guess that's enough revelations for you for one night," Camille said.

*Camille's POV*

I pulled out my phone to text Linus Sooo I'm going to need your help with something.

Despite the time of night, I got a response almost instantly Oh yeah ;-)

I rolled my eyes.. of course his mind would go there. No, not for that. We need to hook up Kirsten and Cameron. I replied. This is an interesting turn of events, at least it will be when Kirsten realizes that she has feelings for Cameron too.

Um, did I miss something? I thought she was dating Liam, the perfect and selfless boyfriend.

Not anymore.. they broke up. I need you to do recon on Cameron. We'll talk tomorrow. I responded.

Yes, definitely going to formulate a plan to get them together... After some much needed sleep.