"A secret study," Alice mused longingly, glancing around the room as Ford led her in, his six fingers neatly notched with hers. "Behind a vending machine..."

There are books, everywhere, and a large desk with a globe. Everything one would find in the study of a scientist who studied anomalies. Creatures in jars stared back at her, and Alice noticed that one of the walls was bare, the frame of pictures long gone left in their wake.

"It's... amazing," She whispered, her free hand reaching up and brushing along the shelves of old books.

"I'm glad you think so," Ford replied. "I've spent countless hours here, studying and collecting specimens."

"Oh my god!" Alice suddenly gasped, releasing his hand and carefully pulling a book from the shelves. "Is this... Is this a first edition of "Jude the Obscure'?"

"Yes, it is," Ford confirmed, pausing next to her. "It's one of my most prized possessions, actually. Thomas Hardy's works have always fascinated me, but "Jude the Obscure' holds a special place in my heart."

"I couldn't even get my hands on one of these," Alice whispered under her breath, fingers grazing over the pages with a feather-like touch. Carefully opening the book, Alice let herself get lost in the pages, the smell of aged paper soothing her. "Now I have to be jealous."

"You don't have to be jealous," He reassured her, his voice light and teasing. "You can always come here and read it whenever you want."

"No, I mean..." Alice laughed lightly, shaking her head as she replaced the book on the shelf. "I collected paintings and books back in Connecticut when I had space for it... It's almost insulting to know that someone has something I didn't."

She shook her head, pushing her hair behind her ear and glancing back at him.

"I suppose that's the old life talking."

"You collected art and books?" Ford asked, leaning against his desk and watching her close. "That doesn't surprise me. You always did seem like the cultured type."

Alice chuckled, shaking her head and stepping toward him. Pushing himself off the desk, Ford moved closer, a sly smile on his face.

"You know, I always liked a little bit of competition," He mused, his voice bordering on teasing. "Perhaps I should invest in something rare you've never had just to get a rise out of you."

"Oh, how dastardly," Alice replied sarcastically, slipping past him and leaning over his desk, observing a jar with some kind of octopus inside. "I would never recover."

"You would survive," He reassured her, stepping close once more as she observed the jar. "You're far too strong and resilient to be defeated by something as trivial as collectible items."

The desk creaked as he leaned on it, Alice could almost feel the warmth of his body next to hers. She straightened, starting when the one eye of the octopus opened and glared at her.

"Oh-" She breathed, stepping back and finally noticing the label reading 'Cycloptopus' on the jar. Ford chuckled next to her.

"Ah, yes, the cycloptopus," He explained, gesturing to the jar. "One of the rare few species of the Cyclopoda family to still exist today. This particular one is quite... temperamental."

"Delightful," Alice breathed nervously, her gaze fixed on the jar as the creature stared back at her, annoyed if she were to put an emotion to its one eye. Stepping back, Alice glanced around the rest of the room. Old notes were scattered across every surface, each of them marked with Ford's neat handwriting.

It was a mess, but it was a fascinating mess.

"Sorry about the mess," Ford apologized, running a hand through his hair. "I tend to get quite engrossed in my work, and organization usually takes a backseat."

"I like it," Alice reassured him, picking up a sheet of notes and flitting through them, her eyes scanning the pages without taking in the words. The images drawn by his hands were perfect, she could almost imagine the creatures in front of her through the strokes of his pen.

"It's like getting a peek into your mind," She smiled, running a finger over the edge of the page. "And I already knew it was spectacular there."

"You make it sound as if my mind isn't a mess of tangled thoughts and half-finished ideas," He chuckled, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Ford crossed to her, gently taking the notes from her hands and settling them back onto his desk, taking her hand in his free one and twining their fingers.

"Why'd you bring me here?" Alice asked, securing her hand in his. "Not that I'm complaining. It's nice to see more of you."

"I brought you here because I wanted to share this part of me with you," Ford answered, squeezing her hand and giving her a small smile. "This study is... well, it's practically an extension of me. It's my refuge, my sanctuary. And I wanted you to see it, to know this side of me that not many get to see."

Alice turned to him, a small smile creeping across her face as he spoke. The warmth and sincerity in his voice felt like a conviction, a devotion to the space he was letting her into. Her hand squeezed his, her gaze following his until she was staring at him.

"I'm glad I get to see it," She said, her voice coming out softer than she expected. Turning to him, Alice led his arms around her waist. "I'm going to be happy knowing you want to let me in, Ford."

"I want you in every aspect of my life," He confessed, his voice low as he pulled her closer. "My work, my thoughts, my hopes and dreams. You being in here, in this space that is so important to me, means more than I can put into words."

Alice let out a breathy laugh, bowing her head as his words hit her, a blush forming across her cheeks.

"You know how to make a woman feel special, don't you?" She asked, letting her hands rest on his chest. "Sweep her off her feet and show her your secret study, very charming."

"Charming, hm?" Ford mused, pulling her closer still and grinning. "And here I thought I was just showing you my secret lair."

"And a despicable one it is," Alice chuckled sarcastically, shaking her head. "You'd make an interest supervillain, Ford Pines."

"A supervillain, you say?" Ford grinned at her, tilting his head as if considering the idea. "Now that's something I've never been called before. but if it means having you as my... What would you be? My villainess partner?"

Alice snorted, shaking her head as she gave way to laughter, leaning into him. His heartbeat was strong against his chest, albeit quick when she leaned against him.

"No, more like the hapless sidekick," She glanced up at him. "No supervillain-ness for me."

"Hapless?" Ford repeated, raising an eyebrow in mock offense. "I think you're underestimating yourself."

His hand rose to her face, cupping her chin and running a finger over her bottom lip, eyes never leaning hers. Alice sucked in a breath, caught by his hand and his eyes.

"You could be my evil genius, the mastermind behind the schemes," He suggested, his voice strong and unwavering. "The brains to my brawn."

Alice sucked in a breath, trying not to think about his finger on her lip, or how close they were. It always felt like there was something between them, not just the affection and understanding, but the tension that consistently reared its head.

"You..." Alice started, her words catching in her throat. "We have enough brains between us..."

"Perhaps," He agreed, leaning closer, his breath ghosting over her ear as he spoke. "But having two brilliant minds working together is always better than one."

Her heart was hammering in her chest as she leaned against him, unable to deny the part of her that wanted to be close to him. The rough hem of his trenchcoat was warm under her fingers.

"That's true," She mused, trying to smooth her words. "But I think the simple life with you will work so much better for me."

Ford's breath caught in his throat, and Alice paused, meeting his gaze. There was a moment when Alice could almost see the gears turning in his mind, the thoughts that were passing.

"A simple life?" He repeated his voice barely above a whisper. "With me?"

"You asked me to stay," Alice assured him, wrapping his arms around him and leaning into his chest. "And did. I might not know much, but I know something good when I see it."

Ford pulled her tight to him, his face buried in her hair.

"I'm glad you stayed," He murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "And I'm grateful every day that you did."