He took in a shaky breath, listening intently as her beautiful words formed a lump in his throat. He was going to die here. Here at the bottom of the ocean, with Jemma never knowing.

Maybe it was for the best, he thought. If he had told her how he felt before, their last days together might have been strained, distant—everything that Fitz didn't want.

But as she continued to speak, somehow making his chest ache by describing simple science, he knew. He had to tell her. This was his only chance to let her know. To let her know that she was everything to him. That being separated from her would be like having a limb torn off. That all he wants in the world is to be with her—to laugh with her, discover with her, learn with her, and perhaps wrap his arms around her, pulling her close and running his fingers through her hair. To kiss her deeply and for her to kiss him back.

"Jemma…" he managed to speak, drawing her attention away from the window.

Her eyes met his and Fitz could no longer take it. His eyes welled up and his words got caught in his throat, and a pathetic sob managed to make its way out of his mouth before noticed her move toward him.

"Oh, Fitz," she whispered in his ear, pulling him into a tight hug. As she pulled away slightly, Fitz noticed she was crying as well, looking at him with such sadness he had to look away. He couldn't get the words out. He was going to die not telling her how much she meant to him. He managed to look back up at her.

She seemed to be struggling for words, too. After a big intake of breath, she said, "Fitz, you mean the world to me. I just want to say how grateful I am to be your friend." Somehow she pulled a smile through the tears, pulling him for another hug.

It was now or never. "Jemma," Fitz shakily began, looking into her face, "I, um…"

"It's okay, Fitz," Jemma said, "You don't have to say anything."

"No, I need to say this," and he looked at her determinedly, "Jemma, I think I'm in love you. I think I have been for a long time." He let out a sigh of relief, then braced himself for her reaction.

Her face paled into an expression he had never seen before. "W-what?" was all that she could manage to get out.

"I just wanted to let you know, before I didn't have the chance to."

Once again she pulled him into a sob-filled hug, clearly not having any words to respond to him. She finally sat back down next to the window, trying to calm herself down.

"Fitz, I—"

"It's okay, Jemma, I'm not expect—"

"No, let me finish. I love you more than anyone else in the world. I don't know if that's in the same way as you, but I love you so, so much. Okay?"

Fitz's heart swelled. It didn't matter right now how she loved him. They loved each other. That's all he needed. "Okay, yeah, good," and he smiled at her.

She smiled at him, too, before directing her attention to the window, and picking at something at the base of it

"Fitz," she said, suddenly. "Fitz, the glass!"