Disclaimer: All characters and previous events belong to Marissa Meyer and The Lunar Chronicles.

Author's Note: Hi all, back again for the grand finale of this fic. All of our fine heroes enjoying the annual Easter Commonwealth Ball before the events of Something Old, Something New.

Interludes Part 2

Thorne

It was widely known that Captain Carswell Thorne was what he liked to call, a connoisseur of beauty. Some of his favorite beautiful things included: ocean shores, blonde hair, blue eyes, whiskey neat, a great pair of legs and the Pacific Ocean. Since honesty was his new policy, he had to say - he didn't find the New Beijing Palace beautiful.

Perhaps he just didn't get it.

He was, of course, familiar with the style and architecture. He'd long been on the lookout for ancient Asian artifacts; they were worth a lot of money. Jade, for instance, was one of rarest stones in the world. Even still, the gilded trim, the winding gardens, the long panelled hallways; they weren't his style.

He didn't prefer the intricately detailed walls of the Lunar palace either, but those atriums did have their advantages… Maybe he wasn't a fan of "palaces." After all, he'd been trapped in a couple, imprisoned in several, and sprinted through his fair share of passageways.

No, Carswell Thorne was definitely more of a 'spaceship guy.'

There was a tug on his sleeve and in an instant, his distaste was forgotten. Once again, he noticed the hoards of people gathered around him in varying shades of silks and satins. They were all making their way down the same hallway, towards the distant sound of music and laughter, and the tantalizing promise of finger food.

Another tug on his sleeve, and a slow smile spread over his face. He had a ball to attend, and not just any ball. The Eastern Commonwealth's Annual Ball. At last, he turned to meet the bright eyes of his faithful copilot, and date for the evening. She was pointing her finger up ahead, at a wide open gallery, where tables and tables of food were laden with rows of fresh seafood.

"Look at the ice sculpture!" Cress exclaimed, eyes wide.

Her delicate, pale finger was extended towards the seafood buffet, where a tall sculpture of the palace itself gleamed above neatly arranged shrimp and shellfish.

Thorne cringed sharply. Shellfish - also off the beauty list. He pushed aside a shudder and cleared his throat.

"Trying to find a new hobby, Ace?" he teased, near her ear. She smelled like fruity perfume and new clothes. He couldn't resist brushing his lips over the exposed flesh of her freckled shoulder.

Cress clucked her tongue and nudged her elbow into his ribs. "Like I have time for a hobby that extravagant."

They paused at the table briefly so she could admire the artful display of food and gaze up at the glistening scale model of the palace. Thorne felt his lips curl as he caught various party-goers piling their plates high with oysters and raw fish. Animals.

"Well," he said, doing his best to ignore his revulsion at the sound of cracking crab shells. "We have plenty of empty storage lately. I'm sure we could rig something for gigantic blocks of ice."

Cress looked up at him with an eyebrow raised. "Are you trying to insinuate that I need a hobby, Captain?" They continued out of the room and back into the main hallway.

With a secret smile, Thorne slung his arm around Cress's shoulders and pulled her close. The fluttery silk of her sleeves was soft against his fingertips. "No, more like trying to insinuate that you should stop working so hard. You're making me look bad."

Around them, the crowds of people continued towards the ballroom. The music was louder now, and more beautiful. He felt Cress's shoulder tense with anticipation and he gazed down at her as they walked. She was absolutely resplendent tonight. She'd been excited about the Palace's annual ball for almost a month, and now that it was here, she was practically vibrating under his touch. He had even treated her to a new dress for the occasion. (And been thanked thoroughly for the thought, if anyone was wondering.)

"Maybe I should take up dancing," Cress mused, focusing on the long corridor before them. Thorne was so distracted, he'd forgotten what they were talking about. Hobbies. Right.

"It's a little late for practicing, don't you think?"

He liked the look of her smug smile. "I'm no beginner, Captain. It used to be part of my exercise routine. Waltz, tango, quickstep." With a wink, she added, "Great for the leg muscles."

Thorne laughed distractedly and lifted his arm from her shoulders to take her hand. Leg muscles. She knew how to rile him up. "I see where this is going."

"Seeing as you already find my legs top notch, I thought maybe-"

"You've made your point," he said loudly. "We're in a public place, after all."

"I'm sure they have an atrium somewhere."

He was still chuckling when he stopped them in the middle of the corridor and twisted her around to face him. "What's gotten into you?"

She was bouncing on the balls of her feet with excitement. It was practically radiating out of her like sunbeams. "This is like a date, Carswell."

Sometimes, Cress Darnell was too adorable for her own good. "It is, isn't it?"

"And this time, I'm not trying to hide my feelings for you-"

"Yeah, you did a really good job with that last time."

"-or worry about you running off with someone's glamour-"

"Come on, I thought we got over that."

"-or in a wheelchair."

Her last somber reminder punched him right in the gut, like always. He remembered her pale yellow dress billowing around her hoverchair, and how tightly she'd clutched his hand that night. She was right, there was a certain amount of relief knowing they were there with each other, with the singular purpose of enjoying each other's company.

Thorne watched her for a moment, struck by the contagious joy she wore on her face. Her new dress was orange, like the inside of a tangerine. The skirt was fluttery and moved when she walked like flower petals. There were crystals strung throughout, so she sparkled in the low light of the passageway. He reached forward and placed both hands on either side of her face. Her cheeks burned with elation under his palms. "So you're saying you want to find a dark corner to make out in?"

Her bright eyes were shining with mischief. "Maybe."

He narrowed his eyes at her.

"Yes," she giggled. "Yes, I'm saying that."

"Incorrigible, Cress. Just an iota of manners for one night, is all I ask."

She was still giggling as he took her hand and abruptly turned them off the hallway and into another, headed in the opposite direction of the ballroom. He continued muttering to himself. "Who could possibly have influenced you to be this way? Concerned about finding a dark corner to kiss, honestly."

She was flat out laughing now, stumbling behind him as he wound them through the palace. At last, he spotted an alcove across a wide, marble sitting room. "Oh look!" he exclaimed, proudly. "A dark corner!"

With an elegant flourish, Thorne twisted Cress under his arm and into the alcove. She backed against the wall with a sly smile.

"You look beautiful tonight," he said softly, feeling the tiny thrill in his gut as he watched her eyes light up at the compliment.

"So do you."

Thorne indulged himself a slow caress of her face; one fingertip traced from the line of her hair, down her cheek to her lips. His voice was soft, even as he asked, "How long should we give ourselves? Five, ten minutes?"

Cress's hands wandered up his chest, over the navy lapels of his jacket and finally tugged on his collar. "Fifteen?"

"Oh I have been a bad influence, haven't I?"

She never answered his question, instead she pulled him the rest of the way to her lips and kissed him. He wasn't sure how long they kissed, but he did know that by the end of it, his hair was artfully tousled.

Cinder

She was going to dismantle Iko. Piece, by individual piece.

Perhaps, banish her to Mars.

Strand her in the middle of the asteroid belt?

Iko had been so amenable for so many months. She'd graciously backed down and let Cinder wear pants and shirts. Pants and shirts. Really, really nice ones - but still. Cinder had made exceptions for occasional low-profile gowns for the really fancy events. But this?

Cinder stared aghast at the icy blue dress hanging from the garment bag she'd been instructed not to open until this moment. It was long, silky, shiny, beautiful, and so not Cinder.

A comm alert flashed behind her eyes and she moved it aside. Thorne had been texting her lewd comments about her sleeping situation for the past hour. Instead, she tried to focus all of her energy on manifesting lasers out of her eyeballs. Maybe the ability had been built into her system all along, and she had merely never tried to use it before.

There was a chime at the outer door to her suite and she heard Kinney shouting before the door to her bedchamber opened.

"I know who you are, Iko, but you can't just barge in whenever you-"

"Best friends can do whatever they want. Get over it."

Cinder clenched her fists. She was far too stressed to deal with their pathetic attempts at not-flirting with each other.

"That's enough," she said firmly, whirling around to meet two pairs of wide eyes. "Iko, come here, Kinney get out."

Kinney's eyebrows shot up and he bowed stiffly. "Yes your highness."

"I'm sorry," Cinder blurted, pressing her fingers hard into her eye sockets. "Sorry. I don't mean to be like that. I'm mad at her. I'm sure you understand."

His mouth quirked up in a smug smile as he turned and closed the door behind him.

"Mad at me!" Iko's hands were on her waist, hip jutted to the left. Even in her official Lunar uniform, she looked like a runway model. Jealousy seared under Cinder's skin.

"Yes," Cinder snapped, pointing at the dress. "I thought we talked about this!"

Iko sighed in her exasperated way that irritated Cinder even more. "I thought you had accepted that I know you better than you do."

"What?"

Iko marched forward, took Cinder by the shoulders, and frog marched her backwards to the bed. She pushed Cinder down on the edge of the mattress, then skipped over to where the dress was hanging.

"Let me explain my thought process, okay?"

Cinder blinked, and tried her best to shove all of her annoyance into the action.

Iko cleared her throat regally. "First of all, it's pale and icy colored, like your kingdom. Symbolism is important, even in your clothes, and the whole world will be watching. If you wore red, you'd be aligning with Kai more than you already are, and we'd have a lot more questions to answer to."

Cinder grumbled and tried to pretend that was an irrelevant point.

"Second, it's almost silver, a tie back to your first time at the ball. Which maybe you don't want to remember, but I think it's an important comparison. Also...Peony."

There was an instantaneous sharp and painful tug behind Cinder's eyeballs and she folded her hands in her lap. Peony… "Go on," she said, looking at the carpet.

"And finally, there's Kai."

At this, Cinder's head shot up. "He doesn't care if I wear a dress. He likes me just the way I am!"

Iko held up a hand. "I know, Cinder. But listen, this event is more important for him than it is for you. You'd be content locking yourself inside the palace with the Emperor for your entire visit, and that's fine."

Cinder grit her teeth in embarrassment.

"I know I'm just a robot, but I've done a lot of reading, and watching, and human research. Human relationships require effort, on both sides. I know he loves you in all of your greasy, mechanic glory, but he's going to be so excited to see you like this. I'm half convinced he may cry because you're so beautiful."

"Iko…"

The android walked back over to Cinder and sunk down on the bed beside her. She reached for Cinder's metal hand. "If I don't push you a tiny bit sometimes, you'll wear pants and shirts forever. And that's fine...but you guys are still 'dating.' Let's not lose the romance already, okay?"

Cinder chewed on the inside of her cheek and tried to fight down her feelings. Love for Iko, most of all. Excitement for Kai's reaction, second. And guilt, because she was a jerk sometimes. "Do you really consider this a tiny push?" she asked instead, nodding her head towards the offending gown across the room.

Iko giggled and squeezed her hand. "Trust me. You wear this tonight and the world will be happy, Kai will be blown away and you might even have a good time."

At the mention of "the world" Cinder's insides were seized by angry nerves deep in her stomach. She felt sick. "They already hate me…" she sighed.

Iko sighed angrily and stood from the bed, as though she was so upset about the matter, she couldn't sit still. "That was one group of morons at the landing platform. Trust me, I've been scouting the feeds, Cinder. You being here is good. Amazing even. I know this is hard for you, but everyone will love you for this."

Cinder covered her face with her hands.

"Kai already loves you for it."

She peeked through her fingers, and caught Iko's smug smile.

"Let me do your hair while I'm in here, then you can take twenty minutes to gather the courage to put on your dress.."

Like some sort of robotic panther, Iko lept onto the bed, settled herself behind Cinder, and somehow wove her hair into a simple and artful twist at the top of her head. The pins pulled her hair, but by now she knew not to argue with Iko's hair choices.

Iko squeezed Cinder's shoulders twice in succession, then hopped back off the bed. "My turn to get ready now. Be prepared to be floored by what I'm going to be wearing."

"I would expect no less," Cinder offered, with a smile. "And Iko...I'm sorry. I know you want what's best for me."

"I know you know." Iko lifted a hand in a wave then slipped out the door.

Cinder forced herself to leave the shelter of the bed after about five minutes. She was undressed and half encased her ballgown in ten. How she didn't scream when the door opened was beyond her understanding.

She clutched the beaded bodice of her gown to her chest like a vice. "Kinney do you mind!"

Kai was standing inside her room with both hands up in surrender. "It's me," he said quickly.

Cinder stumbled on the skirts gathered around her feet. "You don't knock?"

The Emperor scratched awkwardly behind his neck. "I was trying to be stealthy, like last night. Although, in hindsight, knocking would have been a good idea, considering..." He waved his hand up and down to indicate Cinder's current state of undress.

Cinder was distracted by his mention of last night, when he'd snuck into her room and crawled behind her in bed like it was the most natural thing in the world. Kai, the emperor of the Eastern Commonwealth, was dressed in simple cotton pajamas and he'd been so warm. She'd forced her memory to record the feeling of his arm around her body, and had been replaying it all day.

As they watched each other awkwardly, she felt a surge of emotion in her chest. She used to feel stripped bare when they were together, as though being herself wasn't enough compared him and his shining, perfect self. Now she nearly was stripped of everything, and she felt more comfortable than ever.

"Do you...need help?" he offered, bringing Cinder back to the present..

She realized that she had been standing there for nearly a minute, half undressed and clutching an open-backed dress to her chest. "I don't know, honestly."

Kai laughed and strode further into the room, to her side. "Turn around," he said gently, feather-light fingers ghosting over the skin of her shoulder. She did as he said, so her back was against his front. She could feel the warmth from his body against her revealed skin. His voice was close to her ear as he said, "I'll fasten you up."

Cinder giggled helplessly into her hand and tried her best not to completely lose her mind as she felt Kai's fingers clasp her dress one button at a time. When he finished, he slid his hands up her arms and to her shoulders. When he kissed the curve of her neck, she had the instant and unmistakable urge to have him undo her dress again. She started laughing uncontrollably.

Kai remained where he was, poised above the skin of her neck, hands on her shoulders. "Are you...okay?"

She twisted in his arms so that they were facing. "I'm great," she sighed. "You just cured all of my anxiety for the moment. And you look really good."

A grin tugged at Kai's lips and he smiled crookedly at her. He pulled at the front of his silk shirt. "Why thank you. You look absolutely beautiful. How did Iko get you to wear this?"

For the first time, Cinder looked down at her dress, which was far more complicated and beautiful than she would have admitted a few minutes ago. There were tiny silver beads woven in an intricate pattern across her bodice, and icy sheer fabric that stretched across her shoulders to make her skin look like it was covered in sparkles. The billowy skirt, rippled around her ankles when she moved. "Iko convinced me. She said you would like it."

"That's an understatement, Cinder."

He kissed her in the slow, languid way he liked to save for their greetings, in private. Cinder's hands balled into fists at her side. When he pulled away, his face was serious. "I know this whole thing is hard for you, but it means so much to me that you're here. I won't leave your side all night, I promise. Tonight would be completely different than last time."

Despite the nerves that roiled deep in her stomach, Cinder was surprised when she felt a laugh bubble to her lips. "Well, I'm royalty now, I should hope I don't end up face first on the stairs."

Kai tightened a protective arm around her waist and she fitted herself against his chest. "You won't."

Cinder lifted a hand to drag her knuckle down Kai's clean-shaven cheek, to his chin. She could feel the stubble under her finger like sandpaper. His brown eyes were bright.

"I love you," she said, feeling the truth in her words deep down in her chest. "It's my pleasure to be here with you tonight."

Kai let out a breath and deflated slightly before capturing her lips in a fierce, mind-numbing kiss.

Kissing. Kissing was good.

Kai seemed to have the same idea. As he pulled away his eyes glanced quickly around the room. "We have a few minutes, do you think Iko will burst in here unannounced?"

Cinder let out a low laugh. "Absolutely."

"Do you care?"

She wrapped her arms around his neck and backed them up to the nearest wall. She felt the pins in her hair dig into her scalp as he pressed into the plaster. "Not in the slightest."

Kai's victorious chuckle was muffled by Cinder's kiss.

Wolf

The weight of the tiny box was like lead in his pocket.

He felt it with every step, every dance, and every moment that he stood alone, as he was now.

It was miniscule in his hands; a mere two inch cube, encased within his massive palm. Even as it was hidden in his suit pocket, he was convinced that someone would see it, that Scarlet would see it, or that someone would know what he had planned.

Once anyone caught a glimpse of the box, they would know exactly what was inside.

A diamond ring. Simple, delicate, and perfect for Scarlet.

Wolf knew that his ladylove wouldn't be swayed by a sparkly bauble. When he asked her to marry him, she would say yes or no based entirely on his character. This was, perhaps, why they were still together to begin with. Even still, he wanted her to have the ring, and to have something beautiful.

Scarlet was currently out on the dance floor, twisting Cress under her arm and laughing. Together their dresses looked like flickering flames; Cress in her bright orange ballgown, and Scarlet dressed in deep red. She'd spent hours curling her own hair in their room, and now the wide tendrils seemed to bounce and float as she moved.

He indulged himself in a dreamy smile as he watched her from afar, then bit down on the fluffy pork bun he'd escaped the dance floor to eat. In general, Wolf enjoyed most foods, but these… These. He stared reverently at the partially eaten pillow of fluffy dough and sweet pork in his hand, then stuffed the rest into his mouth.

His eyes were closed in food-induced bliss when he heard, "Everything is ready," in a low voice to his right.

Wolf cracked open an eye and instantly felt himself flush as the smiling eyes of the Emperor of the Eastern Commonwealth stared back.

"Cha siu bao?" he asked.

Wolf continued to chew slowly.

"Pork Bun," Kai clarified, grinning now.

He nodded.

"Cinder caught me in the same situation twenty minutes ago," he said, puffing out his own cheeks.

When Wolf had finally swallowed down his mouthful, he bowed deeply to the Emperor, and his close friend. "Thank you for your help," he said quietly, chancing a look at Scarlet to make sure she wasn't nearby. "I know she'll love that spot in the garden. It was a great idea."

Kai clapped Wolf on the shoulder once. "Come find us after, and we'll all celebrate. Good luck!"

His stomach suddenly felt like it was full of stones. 'Good luck.' Like it was actually happening. Before the end of the night, he will have asked Scarlet to marry him…

And she would hopefully become his fiancee.

Wolf tugged distractedly on the knot of his tie, feeling suddenly that it was far too tight, then swallowed hard and forced himself to think about something else. Anything else. He thought about his friends, and how Kai had said they would want to celebrate. Friends. Something he never dreamed he would have. These people - his former crew, and current friends - they were more valuable than any pack he'd served with as a soldier. Celebrating this joyous occasion with them would be more than he ever thought possible.

Across the dance floor, the girls were still dancing in the crowd, joined by Cinder and Kai now. The Lunar Queen stood stiff as a board as Scarlet and Cress twirled their skirts around her.

Before he could join them, a plate of two more pork buns lifted itself in front of his face. Wolf's eyes went wide and he felt the rush of saliva on his tongue.

"Thought you might want a few more before they start bringing out the desserts." Thorne was holding out the plate with one hand, while holding his own stash in the other. Wolf smiled, nodded, and relieved the Captain of the precious cargo.

"Very intuitive, Captain."

Thorne shrugged nonchalantly, as he took a bite. He chewed slowly, swallowed and finally said, "Just wait until you hear about my next intel. Word on the street is that you want to marry Miss Benoit over there-"

In a flash, Wolf had gripped the front of Thorne's shirt with his free hand and yanked him so that they were face to face. He could see the beads of sweat on the Captain's brow, and the whites of his wide eyes. Wolf's fangs clashed as his lips lifted in a snarl. "Who told you?" he hissed.

Thorne's half eaten bun rolled across the floor and was swallowed up by the stomping feet on the dance floor. His adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, hands closing around Wolf's wrist trying to set himself free.

"Does she know?"

The captain shook his head quickly, and desperately. In an instant, the threat was gone, and Wolf's muscles relaxed like retracting rubber bands. The increased animal instincts of his misshapen body were easy enough to fight on most days, but his current stress level was appearing to blur the line more than he was used to. Wolf released the Captain from his grip, shoved him away, and handed him another pork bun from his own plate. "I'm sorry," he offered, lamely.

Thorne's eyebrows were half way up his forehead as he took the pastry. Slowly, he looked down at his hand. When he lifted his eyes again, the fear and surprise had disappeared, replaced by his cool mask of indifference and charm. He was smirking as he readjusted the tie around his neck. "Something tells me you're on edge."

Wolf stared down at his feet, and the stupid shiny shoes he had to wear. "I don't want her to know."

"She doesn't." Thorne seemed too afraid to actually eat, even as he haughtily arranged his posture. "I helped Kai set up in the garden. That's how I know."

Wolf pressed a large hand to his face. "Of course. I'm sorry, Captain. I appreciate your help."

"It's fine," Thorne said, picking invisible lint off his slightly ruffled suit. "I'll expect you for an antidote run, as penance." He flashed one of his winning smiles.

In his relief, Wolf shoved the last pork bun in his mouth and swallowed it whole.

Thorne was still watching him. His voice was soft and serious as he said, "She'll say yes, you know."

The sentiment was more than Wolf had ever expected from the sharp-tongued Captain. He watched him carefully.

"I know, I know," Thorne sighed, waving a hand in the air, " Pretty sappy for a war-hardened Captain. But, I like to think that after the past year I know a little bit more about love, and life."

A smile pulled at the corner of Wolf's mouth.

"Look, you're both good people. Kind, caring people. The two of you together - unbeatable."

Warmth blossomed within Wolf's chest as a full smile worked its way across his broad face. "I appreciate that, Captain."

Thorne waved a dismissive hand as he said again, "She'll say yes."

"I'll hold you to it."

They watched their friends and respective dates across the dance floor for a moment. The silence shared with a friend was comforting for Wolf now. As the song changed, Scarlet twisted around and caught his eye. Her smile nearly made his heart explode. She crooked a finger at him and he bit down on his lower lip.

"That appears to be your cue," Thorne laughed. "And I just got an idea. If Cress asks, tell her I'll be right back, would you?"

Wolf hadn't taken his eyes of Scarlet. "Sure," he mumbled, distractedly. He felt Thorne's abandoned 'cha siu bao' press into his hand. In a blink, he was gone.

He placed the bun on a passing server's tray, next to four unclaimed glasses of champagne, then quickly made his way to Scarlet. The song was quick-paced, the beat driving. Scarlet was already swaying her hips in time when he placed his hands on her waist. She looped her arms around his neck and pulled him close.

"Where did you go?" she asked, eyes bright. Her cheeks were flushed from dancing.

"I needed a snack."

She snorted. "Of course you did."

"Want to dance?" He pulled her closer.

Cress

For most of her life, Cress had enjoyed being alone. Alone meant safe, quiet, and comfortable. There was no judgement, no danger, no embarrassment. On the satellite, she got to know the inside of her head and the things that made her happy; her passions, her hobbies, her indulgences. Even her obsessions…

Which lead to the next stage in her life.

Not being alone.

The moment she had finally met Carswell Thorne, she was thrown into a whirlpool of war, romance, and danger. Only for a few, horrible moments was she ever totally alone.

At first it had been foreign and strange. She found herself talking out loud when she meant to be talking to herself. She craved the security of solitude, and the protection of her most precious, secret thoughts that seemed to be slipping out of her at every turn. Even though she ached to be with the Captain, she had felt exposed.

Then, as their first adventure came to a close, and she had finally accepted her new life of companionship, she realized she would never want to be alone again. At least, not without her Captain.

Although no one believed her, she knew that Carswell Thorne was far more sweet and accommodating than any of them had ever imagined. He slipped into his smarmy ways every now and then, but it was mostly for a laugh. If everything she had read about romantic partners was true (which she assumed it wasn't), then Thorne was a far better boyfriend than most.

They argued and disagreed, of course, but at the end of the night, when they crawled into bed together, he would still wrap his arm around her and hide his face in the back of her hair. He was tender and sweet, accommodating, affectionate and kind. His hands on her skin made her body catch fire.

She'd been waiting for months to attend this ball with her Captain. So far, it had exceeded all of her expectations. The grandeur, the costumes, the hairstyles, her friends and their happiness, and Thorne, at her side. He'd brought her punch and tiny dumplings on a tray. They shared a plate of delicious, salty noodles. They played a prank on Torin and scampered away when he turned to find them tying the end of his jacket to the bamboo plant.

Now, however, she was alone and she was puzzled as to why.

Surely he hadn't deserted her, but this was their first big public event together since the Lunar Palace. In a way, she still didn't know what to expect.

Everyone she knew (which wasn't many, to be sure), had been warning her about his wandering eye. The fact was, she didn't think about it at all. He made jokes about it every now and then, mostly with company, but when they were alone… She had never imagined that he would be so devoted.

They had travelled all over the American Republic together over the last year. She'd seen everything he'd promised her; forests with trees taller than buildings, mountains that were covered in snow like frosted cakes, and oceans as blue as the sky. They spent a week on the beach in Los Angeles, where tall, beautiful blondes walked by every four seconds. All Thorne did, aside from reapply sunscreen on his chest about eight times, was remind Cress to keep an eye out for dolphins.

Cress grimaced and crossed her arms over her chest. For the first time that night she glanced at the guests with a discriminating eye. Were they tall and brunette? Were their legs long and thin?

No.

This was silly.

She trusted her Captain, and he trusted her. If Carswell was detained, it was either because he was being stupid, or that he was in trouble.

She drummed her fingers on her arm impatiently. In trouble. He could easily be gagged and bound in a room somewhere for stars knows what-

"Stars above!" she heard behind her. "That took forever." If she wasn't so relieved, she would have surely jumped as high as the ceiling in alarm.

"Where have you been?" she asked, trying her best to keep the accusatory tone out of her voice. She trusted him. She did.

Thorne's eyebrows pinched in the middle. "I know, I'm sorry. It took longer than I expected to find the DJ. He's behind a secret wall, did you know that? He doesn't actually want people bothering him. What kind of DJ, I ask you! Anyway, once I set my mind to it, I couldn't abandon the idea after I'd already invested so much time…"

"What idea?"

His face cleared of remorse, and instead became mischievous. As always, she was rendered helpless by his crooked smile. "I've already said too much. Come with me."

He took her hand and kissed her cheek simultaneously before leading her onto the dance floor and into the fray.

"Wait! I was worried! You were gone for almost an hour!"

He paused and turned enough to meet her eye. "I'm sorry Ace. I didn't mean to worry you. I would have commed you if I was in any danger - unless…"

She blinked. "Unless what?"

Couples danced around them, a constant rustling of silk and satin. They were pressed together in the cramped space, hands still clasped. Thorne's face was serious as he watched her quietly. "You didn't think that I was...that I would…?"

Before he could finish, she was shaking her head. "No."

"Because I wouldn't do that. I mean, I know I joke sometimes, but I don't really-"

Cress stood on tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his babbling lips. "I know," she said. "I trust you. I was afraid you had gotten into trouble, or tied up somewhere. I didn't know where to look for you."

Relief seemed to slither out of his limbs. His shoulders sagged and he pulled her closer. "You're right. This palace is huge, and I could have been anywhere."

"But now you're here."

"Yes, because I have a surprise for you. On your feet, copilot. I need you."

The giggle that escaped her lips was helpless and inflated in her chest like helium. He tucked her hand in his elbow and dragged them deeper onto the dance floor. When they reached what she assumed was the center of the massive room, he stopped.

"Captain," she said again, smiling up at him. "What's going on?"

This time his smile was bright, genuine and full of love. There were no traces of mischief or the facade of coolness. He was completely hers in this moment and she wrapped her arms around his waist before he backed away again. He cupped her face in his hands. "I told you. It's a surprise. A ridiculous gesture, maybe, but I wanted you to have something to remember this night by."

"I already have nearly a thousand memories," she laughed.

"Not this one. Trust me."

"You know I do."

He kissed her as the song was ending, then pulled back suddenly with a curious expression. "You weren't lying about knowing how to dance, right?"

"Of course not."

"And Quickstep, you know that one?"

Cress bounced on her toes. "It's my favorite, the satellite was the perfect size to the the promenade. But I've never done it with a partner before-"

Thorne placed his hand on her waist and moved her into position. She helplessly clutched as his shoulder as he took her right hand with is. "It's me," he said, with his most charming of grins. "I'm not just any partner."

Cress shook her head and laughed. "You most certainly aren't." A loud flurry of music suddenly filled the room, and Cress recognized the overture. Her stomach dropped to her toes. "Captain! We're dancing here? Now?"

"You and me, Ace."

She was simultaneously terrified and thrilled. When the overture gave way to the first verse, Thorne moved, and she followed. Their feet clacked across the marble floor as though they'd practiced a thousand times, and she supposed, independently, maybe they had. Her excited breaths caught in her throat. "How do you know how to do this?"

Their feet wove between each other skillfully and Thorne spun her out and back with the music. Her dress fluttered at her ankles in time with her heartbeat. "I have my ways," he said in a low voice at her ear. She could practically hear him smile as he added, "Why, do you like it?"

"It's amazing!" she cried, as he lifted her from the ground in an arc, and set her back down. "I didn't think you knew how to-"

"You know what they say about assumptions, sweetheart." He brushed his lips to her shoulder in the briefest of moments. "Now, enough talking. Dance with me."

And she did.

Spins and leaps and fancy footwork galore. Eventually she got to their favorite part, the promenade. With their hands clasped tightly together and cheeks pressed close, they lead the way across the dance floor as the music crescendoed all around them. Cress was so excited and so in love with her Captain at that moment, she was convinced one leap would send her soaring to the ceiling.

She didn't even realize that she'd abandoned the last of the dance to wrap her arms around his neck and hold as tightly as she could.

"You dizzy?" he asked, once the music had faded away into another song.

Around them, everyone was clapping and moving back onto the dance floor. Cress gazed up at Thorne in awe. "This is what you ran away to do?"

Thorne grinned. "Of course. What's a ball without a dance spectacle?"

"I wouldn't know. I just can't believe you did this for me."

He snorted. "Ace, you've been talking about this night for months on end. Who else would I do it for? Aside from me. A little bit." He held up his thumb and forefinger and chuckled.

They were being jostled slightly as other guests started dancing around them, the urge to dance now renewed after their elaborate performance. Thorne backed them away from the center of the room, before they got trampled. As they came to a stop near the edge, he flicked an errant hair away from her cheek.

"I can't believe you were jealous," Thorne said with a laugh.

Cress glared up at him. "When was I jealous?"

"Earlier, when I was gone. You thought I'd left you."

Her mouth dropped open. "Because you were in trouble not because…" she paused, looked around her, then leaned close. "Not because you were with some other girl."

"Are you sure? Because I wouldn't blame you-"

"I'm sure." Her glare was fierce, the thundering of her heart was fiercer.

Thorne's face softened. "Well, you would be the first."

Cress snatched her hand out of his with a huff. "Why are you doing this? We just danced across a ballroom like a couple of fools. Are you trying to get me to say I think you would do that with someone else? Because I don't."

"Hey," Thorne reached for her, looping his arm around her waist and pulling her back to him. With his other hand he cupped her cheek. "I don't want any of that, okay? Although, really, I'm the one who should be worried."

Cress felt the anger rise in her chest again. "What? Why?"

A smile spread across his face. "I know you're not usually overly concerned with how you look, which is something I love about you. But, you look downright heartbreaking tonight and I'm not the only one to notice."

"Oh come off it."

"It's true!"

"So you're the jealous one."

He grinned. "So what if I am?"

"I haven't even noticed anyone else!"

Thorne raised an eyebrow. "See? Doesn't mean there's anything to it."

Cress let out a frustrated sigh. "I didn't think you were with someone."

"For just a split second you did."

Her eyes narrowed. "You want me to stay yes."

"Listen," he said, leaning close. His face was dead serious. "You've been faithfully loyal to me since I met you. I'm never worried about whether or not we're on the same side. Sometimes I worry that you still think I'm too good for you."

Cress blushed and bit her tongue, as not to answer.

"I'll tell you the same thing over and over for the rest of our lives. It's me that doesn't deserve you. You could have any one of these puffy, silk-shirted peacocks at this party and they would still never deserve you. I would know!"

Now she turned away, too embarrassed and somewhat touched to meet his eye.

Instead, Thorne leaned close to her ear. "The thought of you feeling possessive over me, even though I'm an insufferable moron who doesn't deserve you? Well, that makes my stomach drop a little bit, if you know what I'm saying."

Cress sucked in a sudden breath as she felt her skin burst into flames. She definitely knew that that meant.

Slowly, and very expertly, Thorne leaned close and dragged his lips over her cheek, to her ear, and down her neck. His lips brushed the shell of her ear as he spoke. "I love you, so much, that it makes me stupid. I'd love you even if you thought I ran off with some girl, because you are worth it, Cress. And I would never, ever do that to you."

She leaned into his touch and felt tears sting the corners of her eyes. "Carswell…"

He pressed a kiss to the sensitive spot below her ear and she shivered in his arms. "So, if you want me to yourself, I'd really appreciate you saying something about it. It could work out well for the both of us."

Her eyes were closed, and she felt her entire skin prickle with goosebumps. With her heart racing, and pulse thrumming under Thorne's thumb against her neck, she opened her eyes. Rather than answer, she kissed him.

"Yes," she hissed over his lips. "Just for me. I want you all for myself."

The sound Thorne made as he kissed her hungrily should be illegal. His arms wove tightly around her body, trapping her against his chest.

"Oh my stars. Get a room!"

They broke apart and Cress was so dazed, she hardly recognized Cinder and Kai beside them, in waltz position. Was there a waltz playing?

Sure enough, everyone in the room was dancing slowly, and here they were, making out in the middle of everyone. Cress blinked a few times and looked over at their friends. Kai was laughing and Cinder was staring daggers at the Captain.

Smoothly and without a moment's hesitation, Thorne looped his arm around Cress's back and swept them back into the rhythm of the dance. "Have a room, thanks!" he said back, with a wide, snarky grin on his face.

Cinder scowled.

"I think we'll go there now, actually. Good evening!"

Cress gasped as he tugged her hand behind him and pulled them off the dance floor. "Captain!" she cried. "We can't just leave!"

They were in a hallway now, the music fading behind them. He stopped abruptly and pressed them both against the wall. He was so close that she could feel his uneven breaths against the open neck of her dress. "Can't we?"

The deep, heady sound of his voice made her head spin. "I-I don't know…"

As an answer to an unasked question, he kissed her deeply, tilting her head back with his hands. The wood panelling behind her dug into her shoulders, but she pushed it aside and grasped at the open front of Thorne's jacket instead.

When he pulled away, her lips burned. "I want to be alone with you," he growled, voice strained. "Now." His blue eyes were unrelenting as he watched her.

Cress gulped down her pounding heart from her throat. She couldn't speak.

"Unless you want Torin or somebody worse to find us here…" His body was pressed so tantalizingly close, she considered it for about three seconds.

"Is there someone worse than Torin?" she asked distractedly, watching his lips. As she spoke, they curved into a wide smile.

"Stars, I love you," he sighed, shaking his head.

Cress smiled up at him and tugged him closer for one last kiss. "Take me upstairs," Cress she said over his lips, looping her arms around his neck.

He leaned close to her ear. "With pleasure." Without delay, he swooped her into his arms and ran for the elevator.

Scarlet

When Wolf squeezed Scarlet's hand and led her away from the dance floor, she didn't think anything of it. In fact, when she saw that he was headed towards the open doors to the garden, she grabbed another glass of champagne of the nearest tray. It was only her second, but the fizzy bubbles tasted good on the tip of her tongue.

She offered one to Wolf but he shook his head and swallowed rather sickly. She supposed maybe he'd eaten too many fried chicken wings.

The garden was far from deserted as the stepped over the threshold, into the cool evening. Couples were seated on benches, leaning close or worse. Various groups were gathered within the bamboo clearings, speaking and laughing into the night. All the while, guards walked quietly along the stone pathways, bodies humming with anticipation.

They reminded her of how Wolf used to be; strung up so tightly that he nearly quivered at every touch like a plucked piano string. Now, even though he was a slave to his heightened instincts, he was as loose as boughs of willow in the breeze. He caught her gaze and returned her lazy smile.

"What is it?" he asked quietly, steering them down a smaller pathway, and away from the party.

Scarlet waved away her thoughts and focused instead on the dimly lit path before them. "Where are we going?"

"Just a few more paces. Away from the crowd."

She hummed a laugh. "Have some ideas, do you?"

His eyeroll was palpable, even in the near darkness. "Not of those kind, I'm afraid. With all of the guards around?"

"When have guards ever been an issue for you?"

"Scarlet…"

"You know, when I met you I thought you were a bad boy." She said it fondly and smiled at him.

Wolf grinned back at her, wide teeth glinting in the revealed moonlight overhead. He reached towards her, to pluck her empty champagne flute from her fingers, before setting it down on a nearby planter. His eyes were molten as he smiled at her. "It was probably all the bruises, and the fighting. I could try my hand at it again, if you're getting bored."

She clucked her tongue. "Oh please. You wouldn't be you if you weren't such a big softie."

Scarlet barely had time to gasp before she was thrown off her balance and pressed tightly against Wolf's chest in the next.

He leaned close and pressed his nose to hers. The wide grin still lingered on his face, and she was struck at how harmless it made his fangs look. "I'm not just a big softie," he growled. As if to prove his weak point, he slid one of his his massive hands down over the silk of her dress until he could squeeze her backside.

She shrieked and swatted him away, springing free of his strong arms. "Wolf!"

"See?" he laughed. "Not the same, is it?"

Scarlet let out a reluctant laugh and took his offered hand so he could tug her close. He lifted her chin with the other for a slow, tender kiss. Heat flamed in her cheeks and across her chest. When she opened her eyes slowly, she met his. Deep pools of evergreen, staring right into her soul.

"No, I think I prefer you this way," she said breathlessly.

His smile was instant, and they were still pressed so closely, that she could feel the whisper of it against her lips.

Wolf seemed more relaxed now, as his warm body was pressed close to hers. She, on the other hand, was all worked up. She was fixated on his lips, and was about to lean in for another kiss when he backed away one slow step at a time.

The resulting smile was apologetic, but bright as the full moon above them.

"Come with me, just a few more steps. I have…" he swallowed, "...something to ask you."

Scarlet suspected that the tone of his voice and the hint of 'a question' should have caused her pause, but she was so captivated by the look on his face that she didn't dare interrupt.

That look.

Bright eyes, wide smile, flushed cheeks. He was so beautiful and happy it nearly broke her heart. To think of where they'd been a year ago, and what their fate would have been if they had never met at all...

He tugged on her hand and lead her down another narrow path until they were enclosed in a wide circle of towering bamboo. A shallow mirror pond circled the clearing, with footbridges connecting all of the paths. Slight ripples on the surface hinted at the sleeping fish below. In the center was a single bench, carved out of mahogany with soft, velvet cushions. Lanterns were nestled in the clearing, among the rocks, gravel and shoots of bamboo.

The light was flickering gold, and cast wild shadows around them. The scene made it easy to forget that there were hundreds of people on the other side of the hedge. For a moment it was just the two of them, in this perfect moment.

Scarlet looked all around as he lead her to the bench, and lowered her down onto the cushion. At last she looked at him, his body backlit by flickering candles.

"Scarlet," he sighed her name, as he often did. Then, with all of the grace and slowness she'd come to expect from him - after all that they'd been through, and all that he was - he knelt on one knee before her.

His knee.

Wolf placed a hand on each of her thighs, over her dress, so that the warmth from his palms seeped into her skin. "My alpha," he said, voice low and rough. It seemed to resonate around them and inside her bones. "You've given me so much."

Scarlet grasped for his hands as an anchor. The world seemed to shift around her.

"There's been no doubt in my mind since we arrived at the farm, that we are...that you are…" He closed his eyes and growled at himself in frustration. "That you're my Alpha, and my mate."

She drew in a shaky breath.

"And that I'm yours." Tears shone in his own eyes, glimmering in the low light all around them. "You've never made me feel inferior to you, despite my origins and my...design." A grimace shadowed over his face for a brief moment.

"Being loved by you is a gift every day, and I never want you to doubt that I love you just as fiercely." His lips tugged at the corner of his mouth and his smile was back in full force. A tear fell over his cheek as he said, "Scarlet, I want to be your husband."

A bubbling laugh fell from her lips and she squeezed his hands even tighter.

"I want to marry you, and take care of you. I want to be the one that gets to see you every day that we have. Please," his voice wavered. "Marry me?"

Rather than answer, she fell ungracefully into his arms. Her body curved around the broad, strong frame of his chest, the inhuman shape of him, and all his scars across his skin. His sharp cheekbone dug into her shoulder as he pressed his face into her skin. She loved all of him, and everything they had shared.

"Yes," she whispered into his wavy hair. "Yes, Ze'ev."

He was careful not to crush her as he gathered her in his arms and lifted her from the ground. His breathing faltered against her, and his chest hitched against her ribs. "Scarlet."

"We belong to each other," she whispered against his skin. "You and me. Forever."

Even though the biggest ball in the Eastern Commonwealth was happening all around them, the night was silent except for the sounds of their hushed whispers and laughter. Eventually Wolf lowered her back to the ground, and pressed his hands to the sides of her face. She watched his eyes flit across each feature, as if he was memorizing everything in this moment. When she could bear it no longer, she stepped into him and pressed a kiss to his lips.

He pulled away abruptly and reached into his jacket pocket.

"I almost forgot."

Nestled between his thumb and forefinger was a ring, dwarfed by the massive size of his hand. A single diamond gleamed up at her, challenging her to take it.

"Ze'ev, you didn't have to…"

He laughed, like what she said was a joke. "Of course I did. I've never bought you anything before. It seemed like the perfect occasion."

Her mouth bobbed open silently, lacking words once again.

"I'll wear one too, when we get married."

Scarlet snorted. "A diamond?"

Seemingly tired of her gaping mouth, Wolf reached for her left hand and slid the ring over the fourth finger. "A ring. So everyone will know. I'm yours."

The sound of those words off his lips made her lift her gaze from the sparkling stone against her skin. "And that I'm yours."

He nodded as he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the ring on her finger.

The cool press of his fangs to her skin did something strange to her insides. "Do you want to reconsider that bad boy thing?" she asked breathlessly.

He laughed her favorite kind of laugh: big, loud, and joyous. It echoed off the stone and water around them. Then his voice rumbled against her lips as he kissed her. "Later." Another kiss. "When we're alone. I want to go tell the others."

Scarlet's heart warmed at the thought. Her friends, her new family. All here, all happy - even Iko. "Yes," she said with a grin. "Me too."

With their hands still clasped, they ran out of their clearing and back to the palace to share in joy with their friends.

Kai

By the time Cress and Thorne finally showed up, the entire Rampion crew was gathered outside in the garden with a makeshift dessert picnic, dancing and laughing to the music and their joy. Iko was hopping between Wolf and Scarlet like some sort of electric current. She would grab Scarlet's left hand, scream, then run to Wolf to bounce excitedly, then flit back to Scarlet, where they'd jump around and laugh together.

As their missing friends rejoined the party, Kai watched Thorne tug awkwardly at the unbuttoned collar of his dress shirt, which seemed to be missing its tie. His suit was slightly crumpled. Cress's hair was a little messy, but she looked as bright and excited as ever. Kai twisted his mouth to keep from grinning, and instead hid a chuckle in a low cough.

"Oh well done," Cinder laughed, eyeing the pair of them as they walked hand-in-hand towards their semi circle.

"What?" The Captain asked with a smirk as he ruffled his own hair back to perfection.

"You know what."

"Please!" Scarlet interjected, throwing her arms between them. "No arguments tonight. We're all grown ups here." With a teasing smile, Scarlet took Cinder's hands in hers. "Cinder, when two people love each other, sometimes they-"

"Oh shut up!" Cinder cried, as everyone started laughing. Thorne jokingly punched her shoulder as he walked past.

The pleasantries continued now that the whole crew was together. Kai realized how much he had missed all of them as the months ticked past. He saw Cinder more than most, of course, but there was something about being all together that was special. Eventually, Kai felt the familiar weight of his girl against his side. Cinder stood with her shoulder tucked against his, a piece of lemon iced cake still untouched on her plate. She was eyeing the festivities curiously with the tines of her fork against her lips. He wasn't able to read her face, but he could practically feel her emotional turmoil as if it were humming between them. He jiggled her shoulder to jog her out of her reverie. She glanced up at him and smiled guiltily. "Sorry," she mumbled, finally reaching for her cake and taking a bite. "This is crazy."

"What's crazy? Getting married?"

"Yes. No. Maybe? I don't know…"

Kai nudged her shoulder again. "What?"

Cinder finished her cake, then turned to face him fully. "Last year was insane. Actually insane. Sometimes I still can't believe that we're all here, unharmed, and that two people like Wolf and Scarlet are alive and together."

The sentiment was so powerful, Kai couldn't help but tug her closer. She tilted her head back to look at him as he did. "Don't you feel it too?" she asked.

He nodded, and smoothed out the sheer neckline of her gown over her collarbone. He smiled at the fluttering of her eyelids as he did so. "I think maybe I was trying not to think about it, because it felt so overwhelming," he said. "For me, this time of year reminds me of the worst kind of loneliness. I lost my father, my kingdom, and then I lost you." Cinder reached for his hand with her metal one. He squeezed it tight.

"What you said about Scarlet and Wolf - you're right. It's a fitting way to start this year. To celebrate our friends who found each other and held on."

"And us," Cinder said.

He matched her smile with his own and pressed his free hand to her cheek. "And us."

"And me!" An all too familiar voice added jovially to their left. Thorne was standing with his arms akimbo, and a wide grin. "Is it group hug time?"

Cinder's arms tightened protectively around Kai. "No. You missed the group hug."

"No worries. I'll just start another one." He wrapped his long arms around both of them for a brief moment, then stepped back. "Hey so, are you guys next, then?"

Kai couldn't help but laugh, but Cinder reach out and smacked his shoulder.

"Hey!" Thorne rubbed his arm. "It was just a joke."

It was just a joke, but Kai would be lying if he hadn't thought about it. Of course, there were political hurdles they still had to navigate; such as Cinder's abdication of the throne and the creation of her new government, not to mention the social implications of an Earth and Lunar marriage so soon after the end of the war...

"He's thinking about it," the Captain mumbled, eyeing Kai with a smug grin.

Cinder's arms tightened again. "Yeah well, so am I, but that doesn't mean it's going to happen tonight."

"Or tomorrow," Kai added in solidarity.

The information seemed to please Thorne so much, he had clasped his hands together.

"And what about you," Cinder said, poking him with her pointed finger. "Marriage bells a'ringing in that thick skull of yours?"

He looked over their heads to where Kai assumed Cress was standing and a goofy, love-sick grin spread over his face. "Maybe."

Kai and Cinder exchanged a look before Thorne snapped his guard back in place. "Anyway," he said, gaze shifting to the surrounded party. "Anywhere a man can get a whisky around here?"

"I've got a round of champagne coming, for a toast, actually. We were waiting for you." As if on cue, two ushers arrived with a tray of tall, thin glasses and two bottles of the finest sparkling wine from the palace's cellars.

"Is champagne too high class for your taste?" Cinder teased.

Thorne gave her a withering look then pinched her side, before stepping away to help pass around glasses. Once the ushers stepped away with a bow, the friends formed a circle around their newly affianced friends. Wolf and Scarlet stood awkwardly in the middle with pink cheeks and wide smiles. Wolf's arm was draped over her shoulders as he lifted his glass high. They raised their glasses in unison.

"Thank you, friends," the soldier said in a low voice. "I think maybe Scarlet would have preferred if I did this in private." He eyed her with a chuckle, "But I couldn't resist the opportunity to have all of you with us."

Scarlet tugged on his shirt collar until he bent down for a kiss.

"To Scarlet," he said when she released him.

Their clinking glasses sounded like delicate bells as they echoed across the gardens. Everyone smiled appreciatively as they sipped the cool, bubbly wine.

"Let me go first," Cinder said bravely, albeit awkwardly. "I…"

They watched her quietly.

She cleared her throat. "I was just telling Kai about what this ball means to all of us. It's an anniversary of...everything. Of the war and finding each other." She laughed to herself. "I mean, how stupid is it that we all fell in love on the same mission?"

From across the circle, Thorne arched his eyebrow in her direction.

"Sorry. Decidedly not stupid. But it is amazing. And special." She turned to face Scarlet. "Scarlet, Wolf, I've always been rooting for you. You've faced so much adversity and tragedy, and I'm so pleased and honored to know that you have both persevered together."

Kai could tell from the tightness of her voice, that Cinder was struggling through her incomplete emotional capabilities. Her throat was tight, but no tears would come. Perhaps in this occasion, she was glad for that.

"I love you both so much. I love you all, but I'm so excited for the pair of you. Congratulations."

"Congratulations," they echoed, as they lifted their glasses once more. Wolf handed his glass to Scarlet and lifted Cinder off the ground in a hug.

Cress stepped forward next, smiling sweetly and shining bright pink in the moonlight. "The night of the engagement party, when we, um, kidnapped Kai…" There was a low rumble of laughter and Kai rolled his eyes. "Wolf and I were partnered together, masquerading as guests at the party. As we were driving up to the palace, I asked him about you, Scarlet. He called you his Alpha, and I asked if you were like his star. Our metaphors were crossed at the time, but that's how I see you both. The brightest stars in your constellation, shining for each other. Thank you for guiding the way for all of us."

Another wave of cheers and sips before Iko lifted her glass above her head. "To true love!" she cried, bouncing on her toes. At this, they all emptied their glasses and, much to Cinder's dismay, engaged in another group hug. Kai reveled in it; the feeling of family and togetherness that he'd come to treasure. He felt tiny Cress to his right, Thorne's hand on his shoulder, Scarlet's laugh and yet somehow Wolf's massive arms seemed to encompass them all.

Eventually they all paired off again, too content to go inside, even though the night had started to cool significantly. Cinder and Iko were talking animatedly to one side, while Wolf, Scarlet, Thorne and Cress conversed on the other. Kai settled down onto a bench and watched them all.

He watched the way that Thorne was silent, for once. He had Cress in front of him, and one arm wrapped around her chest and shoulders. As she enjoyed a plate of cream puff pastries, and asked as many details about the engagement as she could, he stood with his forehead pressed to the back of her head. Most would probably assume that he was tired and practically asleep, but Kai could see the smile on his face.

Cinder caught his eye after that, even though Iko was in the middle of retelling how she'd found Cinder's ball gown (which Kai would never get over, by the way). His cyborg girlfriend excused herself as politely as possible and walked over to stand before him. She brushed some of his too-long hair off his forehead, cool thumb brushing over his skin. Kail closed his eyes and smile to himself.

"You okay over here?" she asked.

"Mmmmm," he hummed, keeping his eyes closed. "Look at Thorne."

Cinder twisted her glance over her shoulder, then snorted. "Is he asleep?"

Kai shook his head. "No. He's just happy."

"But he's so still."

He tugged on one of her hands so she slipped gracefully into his lap. She draped an arm around his back for balance. "I guess that's sweet," Cinder admitted eventually. "I kind of feel bad for staring." She turned back to smile at Kai. "I've never seen him like that before."

"You know what this means, right?" he asked.

Her eyes shifted heavenward as she considered the question. "That we're going to be the last ones engaged?"

"No!" he said with a laugh.

"That he's cured?"

"That we need to get Iko and Kinney together as soon as possible."

Cinder let out a low groan. "No. I have too much on my plate. I can't handle that."

"Don't you think it would work?" Kai had been fighting this battle for months. He was beginning to think he was the only one who was rooting for that relationship.

She smiled sweetly at him. "I admire your dedication. I think maybe, eventually, something may come of it. But...you dating me was a pretty big step for the world. A Lunar man dating a full android, even if she has a creepily growing emotional mind? That might be too much for even me to handle."

"Bah," Kai grumbled, waving a hand. "I bet Princess Winter will agree with me."

"Winter will agree with anyone. But you're right. I'm sure she'll help you."

They watched their friends in silence for another few moments, before Kai asked, "Are you having fun tonight?"

Cinder nodded, still staring ahead. "I really did. You and Iko were right. This dress was perfect, you are perfect, and you didn't leave my side all night. Well, except for setting up stuff for Wolf, but I forgive you for that."

He kissed her shoulder. "Think you'll come back next year?"

She smiled at him and leaned in for a kiss. "Chances are good, I'd say."

The music inside the palace had struck up once more, and Kai suddenly wanted nothing more, than to dance with his girlfriend. "Up for another dance with me, Your Majesty?"

Cinder didn't even look hesitant as she nodded and took his hand. "It would be my pleasure, Your Highness."

Author's Note: Thank you all for reading this little fluff-fest. I wrote it to deal with the end of a treasured series and enjoyed it so much. Excited for the upcoming Heartless! Thanks for stopping by!