A/N: This one-shot was based loosely off of the "Jacinter Fire" prompt that Cheesehead101 had left in a review for me on my Reunion, Rampion story. Thank you! Hope you all enjoy!

Title: An Eternal Flame

Rating: K

Summary: Their fires of love burn brighter than the stars.

Winter was wandering. She always ended up wandering. It didn't matter what was on her mind or what she was doing. She always ended up pacing back and forth trying to find him.

Even when he was right in front of her, she found herself wanting nothing more than to reach out to him, hold his hand, something. The words between them were never enough. They were words of friends, best friends, children who had known each other for forever. Not words of people who wanted, needed, the other's love. Winter loved him. She always knew. She never forgot.

Just the very thought of him sent tingles of excitement and nervousness down her spine. His split-second smiles, dancing eyes, teasing smirks... The way he held onto her shoulders and looked her in the eye, ordering her to focus on his voice whenever she had hallucinations... Yes, there was no doubt about it. She loved him. She would never stop.

There was a fire of love that burned so passionately within her - a fire that burned so brightly that it was rivaled by only the supernova of a dying star. Even that supernova would never be bright enough. The fire she had inside her was enough to burn away any trace of fear, any touch of doubt. When Winter was with Jacin, she loved as she never had before. She knew with unwavering certainty that that love would never be extinguished.

Jacin paced back and forth. His mind always returned to her. Why?

Maybe it was the way she talked, so openly, that urged him towards her. Maybe it was the way her melted honey eyes could read everything and nothing about him all at once. Maybe it was the way she laughed so easily, brightening the days and nights around her.

Whenever she spoke, he always found himself wanting to touch her, hold her, something. The last time he had done that, he could hardly remember when. He always persuaded himself he held her for a reason and that's all. She had had horrible hallucinations. She had a nightmare. Levana had humiliated her. He held her because it was his duty, his purpose.

Deep down, he knew that wasn't the cause. Jacin had fallen in love with her. Winter was the only person who never got intimidated by him. She accepted him fully, for who he was. Jacin had never been very insecure, but Winter lit up a flame inside of him. A small, flickering flame that was always there, no matter what he was doing, where he was.

When Winter smiled...

When Jacin smiles...

Time seems to slow.

The birds stop singing to watch.

When Winter laughed...

When Jacin laughs...

Everything was brighter and happier.

The cruelest heart would stall and give a second thought.

When Winter looked at him in that special way just for him...

All he wants to do is kiss her.

When Jacin's eyes soften, just a little, just for her...

All she wants to do is kiss him.

Someone crashed into Jacin. He looked down, ready to reprimand. But he couldn't. It was Winter.

Winter crashed into someone. She looked up, ready to apologize. The words stopped in her throat. Jacin.

Jacin looked down at her, eyes wide. She looked surprised, before smiling, just a little. She flung her arms around him. His heart was beating erratically. "What's wrong?" he asked.

Winter, on an impulse, wrapped her arms around him. It was almost magical that Jacin was the one she crashed into. He stood there, still as a corpse. Winter was scared. What if he didn't want to hug her? What if he didn't love her? What if she was just making this awkward for everyone? Then he asked, "What's wrong?" She leaned back and smiled, though still nervous. "Nothing's wrong," she replied, dazed.

"Nothing's wrong." Jacin felt his brow crease in confusion. Winter usually didn't hug him or anything unless something was bad was happening. He was going to ask her why she was hugging him, but that sounded like he didn't like it. Instead, he wrapped two lanky arms around her. It was about time that he should hug her anyway.

Winter was caught off guard. "You're hugging me for no reason then?" he asked into her hair. Winter shook her head, pulling back a little. "No, Jacin. I am hugging you for a reason ." She smiled a little. "I'm hugging you because I want to."

"...Because I want to." What did that mean? Could it be...

"Why are you hugging me back?" asked Winter. Jacin stiffened. There was a long, awkward silence and Winter wished she could take back her words. Then, finally, he replied. "I'm hugging you because I want to," he said. Winter smiled up at him.

Where did those words come from? He was very good at stifling that flame inside him. But as soon as she had touched him, all his sense went down the drain. They silently separated from each other and started walking together down the hallway. Not for the first time, Jacin longed to hold her hand. But for the first time, he actually did.

Winter felt the fire inside her flare up. It would consume her if she didn't get it out now. "Jacin," she whispered. She turned to face him.

"Jacin," she whispered. Jacin couldn't help being afraid, and a tiny bit hopeful.

"I love you." The fire burned brighter than ever, but it didn't threaten to burn her this time.

Those words. The words he had thought, lived, and breathed ever since he was old enough to understand. She had said them. He had never been able to. Now, here she was, eyes hopeful, a little sad, but ever so passionate. Jacin took a deep breath then looked her in the eye - blue against gold.

"I love you too, Winter Hayle-Blackburn."

They both had heard it. It wasn't a lie.

Her ears deceived her. She loved him, and he loved her back.

He was a blasted idiot, but he didn't regret it. A look of wonder and love spread across her face like a wildfire. That look was worth all the pain in the world. She stood on her tip-toes... and kissed him.

He hesitated. Then his arms wrapped around her, holding her close. His lips were warmer than she expected. When had she started to expect anything? Her eyes fluttered shut.

He loved her. He loved her, he loved her, he loved her. Why had he ever denied himself the truth? She loved him back. That was the miracle. How could someone as sweet and loving as her ever love someone like him. But she had. Winter Hayle-Blackburn had said it herself. And in that moment, he knew he would repay each lost moment with her for the rest of his lifetime. Gladly.

And they knew, in that moment, that their fires would both burn and brighten. It would keep their love alive.

Those fires would smolder for an eternity... and then even more.

A/N: Sorry if this was a little strange... I just started and couldn't stop... but I like it, so that counts for something. :) Thank you all! Aurum19

(I don't own the Lunar Chronicles. Otherwise the whole series would be like this XD )