One thing many people don't know about Nathaniel Taylor is that he heart-warmingly romantic. The stoic, strong, (definitely not always gentle,) confident, passionate man who runs Terra Nova is (and only has been for two women in his life) inattentively and heart-warmingly romantic. The kind of romantic Alicia Washington had read in those crappy smut novels during their down time on a deployment; the kind where the guy will unconsciously reach out to hold the girl, press and kiss to her temple as they go about various daily activities. She can't say she doesn't find it endearing, she secretly loves them. An indulgence. Too feel protected, if only for a fleeting moment.

She finds that she's made the boundaries in their relationship. She loves him, they're well past admitting those words, but his public displays of affection—as endearing as they are—put her in a place that she doesn't like. As if somehow her being in a relationship reduces her authority. It's a quirk of hers she's working at to reduce.

She's subjected to more than one harrowing occasion in which she's been forced to duck away from his public displays of affection. Everyone in the colony is aware that they are together; she doesn't deny herself the contact they both crave. Hand on her back, elbow; it's something he'd started doing after her incident with the malfunctioned—Thank you, Skye Tate—shot to the head. A physical proof that she's still there. She finds it comforting. He goes in for the kiss to her temple unconsciously. He's apologized and she doesn't hold it against him. She can recall a few absurd times, when she'd ducked away rather dramatically. Once they'd been in front of the Command Center at the back of a group of scientists, listening to Malcolm drone on about a plant that would render you in a fit of laughter (the children were all in the infirmary; one had passed out) and could be fatal (all they had to do was apply the 22nd century version on Benadryl and they'd be fine—they just had yet to find a cure). He'd had his arm around her waist and she could tell he was looking at her. He'd moved in to kiss her temple and she's ducked so fast into a squat, that some people in the group uttered yelps of surprise. She'd brought her hands to her left boot and untied it.

"Sorry. I have a rock in my boot. Carry on." They had and she'd given Nathaniel a half-assed glare. He'd found her reaction amusing.

This time is not unlike the others. They're apart from the group, enjoying a festive evening in celebration of the first set of twins born in Terra Nova. Alice and Nathan. The parents wouldn't be swayed otherwise. He has his arm around her waist and she leaning into his embrace just a little. These things she likes, semi-platonic displays of affections. She's in a good mood tonight, and when she feels him move to kiss her temple she moves her face just as fast and catches his mouth in a kiss. She feels him smile and presses a little harder. The catcalls are what pull them apart. She makes a face scrunching up her nose. He finds it adorable (and that is a rare adjective to use on her), so much that he kisses her again. The crowd erupts with cheers. She shoves his chest playfully and scowls.

"Okay, that is all I'm condoning while we're out here." She mutters, but her eyes betray the serious tone she's putting on. She's pleased and he can tell.

From that night on he's more cautious about his public displays of affection for her.