[You might've thought it'd be impossible to go from pissed off to stunned silence in two seconds flat, but you'd be wrong. Kirk just proved that wrong. His mouth falls open a little bit, and it's so obvious that he had no idea that she felt that way about him. Both loving him and getting burnt by him.

Shit, Carol, the last they ever talked about it, they agreed to be friends with benefits. He'd felt himself edging towards crossing the line. He had no idea that she'd already crossed it and learning that... he'd liken it to standing on the edge of a cliff face and for the first time in his life, he's hesitating. And he doesn't know why.

Kirk drops his gaze again and licks his lips. Fuck. This is a mess.]

So what, the alternative is never being a part of her life? Because I did that, as a kid, I never had my father and trust me, that sucks more. [He's starting there because it seems easiest.]

And we'll never even know if you don't give me the chance.