Nyota didn't cry often, but right now she too overwhelmed by emotion to keep herself in check. Besides, John was the one person she actually let herself cry around. He told her all the time in a million small ways how much he loved and cared for her, but the confession and proposal he'd just gifted her with would be locked carefully in her mind forever. Every word, every lilt and fall of his voice, the exact tone with which he spoke. She would remember all of it as long as she lived.

When he pulled her into his arms again she kissed him back just as passionately, almost as if she was trying to taste the words of love on his lips. "I love you too," she whispered breathlessly. "More than I thought possible. I want to marry you so badly. I love everything about you, John. Thank you... thank you for never giving up on me." Maybe it's a strange time to be thanking him for that, but it's almost physically painful when she thought about the fact that she could have lost him. "Thank you for being my best friend and the love of my life and the father of my child." She kissed him again, winding a hand in his hair.