So I just finished Winter about a week ago (after my friend told me about this series - after she had been reading them the past TWO years #stillbitter) and I'm totally in love with the Lunar Chronicles! I love the characters, the pairings, the themes that were presented, and on and on. But while I like it all, there is a soft spot for the couples I'll be writing about below. I hope you enjoy this two-shot!


Cress sighed, rubbing her hand over her brow as she focused on the controls in front of her.

Not that she knew how to use them or anything. But still, she needed something to concentrate on. Something to distract her. Anything to get her mind off of what had just happened.

Feeling her thoughts start to drift back to that moment despite her fighting against it, she turned her head towards her port screen instead.

It worked, for all of about twenty seconds. But then the scene flickered through her brain. Thorne not paying attention to what she was saying. Her trying to figure out why he was distracted. Realization dawning on her as she spotted the pretty brunette coming up to greet them. Thorne's eyes checking out her 'assets'. Cress's crushing disappointment that she tried desperately to hide.

Pushing down the feeling had been hard, but apparently she had done a decent job. After distributing the antidote and checking that city off of their list, the four of them - Thorne, Scarlet, Wolf, and herself - once again set off in the Rampion, and no one acted like anything was amiss. Thorne had even leaned over and kissed her on the forehead before relinquishing the controls to Scarlet, stating that he needed a short break.

'He's acting like everything's normal, like he didn't do that in front of everyone. And that makes it even worse.'

It had only been one week since they set off on their mission, and things had been going perfectly. Cress was feeling a lot more comfortable around people, including Wolf. And with the Letumosis antidote being handed out, Levana eliminated, and Cinder now sitting on the Lunar throne, everyone was definitely more at ease. There was a lightness in the air that hadn't existed before.

They were free. Cress was free from the satellite, Thorne was free from his crimes, and Wolf was free from Levana's control. It was a wonderful feeling, and already Cress reveled in it, especially as she took in the sights of earth and it hit her over and over again that she could do whatever she wanted. After this, she could return to the places she wanted to go and explore. She could be anything and everything that she used to only be able to imagine herself as. She could be with him.

Her heart fluttered in her chest, despite her distress, at the thought of her and Thorne, all by themselves, exploring earth.

However, once again, logic kicked in, overriding the scenes that her imagination had conjured up. It wouldn't do her any good now to think that way. Not when she felt so confused.

"Okay, so are you going to tell me what's going on or what?" Scarlet's voice interjected into Cress's musings.

The blonde-haired girl started. She had completely forgotten that she wasn't alone. Glancing over at the pilot's seat, she met Scarlet's warm brown eyes. Eyes that were filled with just a hint of concern.

"It's nothing."

An eyebrow rose at her reply. Silence followed. Cress shifted uneasily, hating how Scarlet's gaze was still boring into hers.

Trying to sound firm, Cress added, "I'm just a little tired. Maybe I should go rest for-"

"Is it Thorne? And the way he looked at that girl down in Manila?"

Cress stilled at the question, not sure of how to respond. Scarlet had noticed? That meant either she hadn't done as good of job at hiding her reaction as she thought, or Thorne had been too obvious. Either one was disconcerting.

Exhaling a deep breath that she had been holding in, she looked directly into the other girl's eyes.

They held a trace of sympathy, but there was something else. Was it exasperation?

Before she could fully comprehend, Scarlet was opening her mouth to speak. No, she was laughing. The sound of it reverberated off of the walls of the cockpit, and made Cress feel partly annoyed, and partly like she should be laughing along with her. The redhead's laugh was loud and unchecked; enough to make anyone within hearing distance want to join in the mirth.

In this case though, Cress caught herself, pursued her lips, and waited.

She studied the ceiling, looked out at the bright blue of the ocean, ran another glance over the controls...and the laughter was still continuing.

Finally, after what seemed like ages, Scarlet's chuckles died off and she returned her gaze to meet Cress's patient one.

"Look, I'm sorry for laughing, it's just that-" She shook her head, -"Were you so upset that you didn't see it?"

"See what?" Cress furrowed her brows, trying to think back, to pinpoint an action that would explain the laughter that just came from the girl sitting beside her.

"Thorne looking away. Him trying not to look at the girl and trying to distract himself. He even looked at you, only you were preoccupied with analyzing the building."

Cress felt her heart leap in her chest. Was Scarlet right? Had Thorne really- but then her memory reminded her of his widening eyes and appreciative look at the girl, the way his gaze lingered on hers while Cress was standing there watching him, and she felt her heart sink right back into the muddle of anguish it had been in.

Turning away from Scarlet, she whispered, her tone bitter, "He didn't seem to be trying to me. At all."

Hearing the snort from beside her, she barely resisted turning right back around. But she stubbornly stared out the glass of the cockpit, wondering how one little thing could completely alter her entire being; her entire outlook on life. Over the past week, every touch, every tender glance, every kiss from Thorne had sent Cress into a whirl of emotions. It was better than all of her dreams while aboard the satellite, better than anything she had imagined, actually. And now it was like everything was now being questioned. Again.

'I just want to love him and to know that he loves me and to be happy. Is that too much to dream? To want?'

"Cress, I'm losing you."

A dry voice interjected into her thoughts, bringing her back to the present.

"I'm sorry if I seem like a naive little girl, but Thorne was definitely 'checking her out'." Cress said firmly, attempting to sound like that fact didn't bother her.

All she got in reply was an eye roll.

"You don't agree?"

Scarlet sighed, messing with the controls, frowning when the ship jerked a little, and muttered something about 'stupid alterations' under her breath.

Then she looked back over at her, "Wolf looked at her too. I did too, although not quite the same as I'm sure the guys did. You couldn't help it, I mean," Scarlet shrugged, "the girl was hardly wearing anything. But it sounds to me like you're struggling with more than what happened on the surface."

"What do you mean?" Cress whispered, feeling uncomfortable at the way the redhead was reading her so clearly.

"Do you trust Thorne?"

The question hung in the air, hovering over Cress with a heaviness that was almost tangible. Trust Thorne? Right now, she didn't feel like she did at all. But admitting that seemed like betrayal.

Gulping, she responded, "Of course I do."

Scarlet gave her a piercing look. "Really Cress? Because it's okay to say that you're not sure. Relationships are scary, and you've been by yourself most of your life. It what, been only a few months since you escaped?"

Not sure what to do or say, Cress just stared at her.

The other girl went on. "I'm not saying that you shouldn't trust him. I think that he's trying and needs your support. And this is reality, not a fairytale. You've got to talk things out and give him a chance to explain." She paused to sigh, her eyes softening, "I'm sorry if I sound too passionate about this. But love is about choosing to trust and believe in the other person as much as it is those butterflies you feel when you look at them. It's about working through issues and giving that other person the opportunity to earn your trust."

Scarlet's gaze went from soft to almost a wistful, far-away stare as she trailed off. The change was so abrupt that Cress wasn't sure what to say. But as she sat there and thought about the words that had just been said, she realized that Scarlet had a point. Both that Cress was in denial about her faith in Thorne, and that instead of sitting her and getting herself in a frenzy over what had happened, she needed to talk to him.

'I'm going to feel like an idiot though, bringing it up. I'm going to feel insecure and out of place, I know it. But he deserves to know how I'm feeling.'

Making a decision, she stood.

"I'll be back."

Scarlet only flashed a grin as Cress marched to the door.

'I will be brave. I will confront in a gentle and nonchalant way. I will-'

In her chant, she had swung the door open so quickly that she almost fell over, right into a surprised Wolf.

He blinked at her, mouth gaped open, as she feebly finished her thought, 'I will watch where I'm going.'

"Sorry." Cress mumbled, flushing as she eased out the door. "I got a little excited there."

Wolf just smiled, but his eyes were already on Scarlet.

'Looks like my timing was perfect,' She thought wryly.

But her thoughts quickly turned to Thorne, and the plan that was already forming in her brain.

'I will be courageous.'


Scarlet's POV

"She was in a hurry." Wolf commented off-hand, but his eyes didn't leave hers, or lose their intensity.

Flushing, Scarlet tried to avert his attention. "Yes. I was encouraging her to go talk to Thorne about something. It's probably a good thing that you came in here, so they could have some time alone."

"Is everything okay?"

The concern in his voice was cute, but she decided to not bring it up. Instead, she smiled at him as he took the seat beside her, hunkering down awkwardly like he always did.

"I think so. Cress has a lot to learn about relationships, that's all. Poor thing."

He nodded at her reply, but now he looked distracted. Silence fell in the cockpit, and it was just getting awkward enough where she was about to break it, when Wolf spoke.

"I probably do too." He laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Uh, so what was it about? Anything I need to know?"

It took a beat for Scarlet to catch on to his meaning. And his pose, the uncomfortable look on his face, the way he was avoiding her gaze…

"Hey now, it's nothing that you need to be worried about." She soothed, reaching her right hand over to touch his jaw.

Bright green eyes met hers, and it felt like her heart went into overdrive. Heat rushed through her body, and she swallowed hard.

It was crazy, the effect he had on her.

'It's just a look. But it has me wanting to crawl in his lap all the same. This is insane.'

"Are you sure?" He asked, but now a smile played at the corner of his lips, almost like he could read her thoughts.

Clearing her throat, she glanced away this time. "Positive. Just trust issues. They'll work it out."

"Trust?"

His voice sounded funny again, and she spoke without thinking, "Yes. I told her that part of loving someone was choosing to trust them."

"Do you trust me?"

Scarlet's head jerked over to him again, and was astonished when she saw uncertainty there.

"Of course I do." Her reply was automatic, and rang with conviction.

Before he could respond, and before she even realized what she was doing, she was advancing towards him, settling on his lap like she had just been tempted to.

"Wha-"

But she was still moving, and this time it was towards his mouth. Taking advantage of his thrown-off state, she quickly took control of the kiss. It wasn't long before he was returning it though, and she only pulled back when she ran out of air.

Instead of moving away, or even explaining, she cupped his face in her hands and looked him straight in the eye. "I trust you Ze'ev."

His arms came around her, settling her on him more securely, and this time he kissed her. It was sweeter than the passionate one Scarlet had just given him, but it spoke what he probably was too shy to say. So she wrapped her arms around him too and tried to convey how much she meant the words.

It wasn't until the ship hissed and jolted that she regained her senses, and realized that she was supposedto be piloting right now.

Pulling back from Wolf and muttering a curse under her breath, she shakily got to her feet and reached blindly for the controls. It was a good thing that flying was second nature to her, because her senses were in overdrive now. In fact, she barely registered what buttons she hit as the ship went back to its steady pace.

"Did I mess you up?"

A guilty voice came from behind her, howbeit as breathless as she was sure hers would be if she spoke. Dumbly, she shook her head, and then stopped to think.

"Actually, you did. But it's a good thing." In a quieter tone, she repeated, "Definitely a good thing."

"You know my hearing is excellent right?" The guilt had fled, and now Wolf sounded amused.

Scarlet had a retort on the tip of her tongue, but when she felt fingers running through her curls and a kiss being placed on her temple, the words fled. Smiling, she allowed herself to get caught up in the moment, to enjoy this quiet alone-time while it lasted.

"No comeback?"

"Nope." She answered sweetly, shifting in her seat to face him. "Not right now."

His gaze softened as he looked back at her, but he didn't move. After a few seconds, he sat back in the co-pilot chair. "I'll try not to be a distraction." He promised. "But I want to spend time with you."

The words warmed her, and without replying, she reached over and laced her right hand with his left.

'This is how I always want it to be. Me and him, against all odds.'


Stay tuned for part two! ;)