A/N: Wow, I feel like I haven't updated this story in forever. So I'm going to get a short chapter out and upload a longer one soon or hopefully soon if I can get my lazy butt to do some writing. Yeah you guys probably didn't need to know that. Oops. Moving right along, this is chapter 48 in Winter or the chapter that Cress and Thorne are reunited. I hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Lunar Chronicles.

These goddamn Lunars don't know when to quit. Thorne was tired. Tired of fighting. Tired of losing his friends. Tired of this revolution. Tired of missing her. Even thinking her name brought so much pain, guilt, and regret into his heart.

He should have gone after her. If they hurt her, he would… Well he just didn't want to think about her getting hurt. At first Thorne was relieved that she was alive, but when he saw what they had done to Scarlet, he wished she was dead. As a shell and a traitor, she could be killed on the spot. On second thought, that was probably the best option. They could torture her for helping Winter escape or force her into telling Queen Levana their plans. They could…

Thorne's thoughts were distracted from yet another guard. They struggled, and out of the corner of his eye, he could see Iko tackle an unsuspecting guard who was trying to shoot Thorne. Iko was lucky that she was an android and couldn't be suffocated because that guard was trying really hard. It really seemed hopeless until two gunshots rang out. The guard he was fighting dropped to the floor, and all was silent.

The owner of the gun stood in front of Thorne, staring him down. With a shock, he realized he was looking at Jacin. He blinked slowly, processing the traitor standing there. He didn't want to know how he got there or why he was there. All he wanted to know was where she was. He was about to ask when Iko yelled out.

"CRESS!" His heart skipped a beat, almost not believing Iko's glamor resistant eyes. Thorne was almost scared to look, but when he turned, he saw her. Cress was mostly blocked by Iko, who was tightly hugging her, but that was her short blonde hair. If he wasn't so shocked and relieved himself, he would have laughed at her searching eyes. He knew that she was looking for him. Once her blue eyes, brimming with happy tears, met his, Thorne finally moved from his spot to envelop them in a giant hug, something he was afraid he'd never get to do again.

He rested his chin on her head, amazed just by the fact she was standing there in his arms. He breathed in her scent and decided that he never wanted to let her go again. Of course Jacin had to ruin the moment by saying, "We need to go."

Iko complied, but Thorne only took her place. He gently held Cress's face, looking over every inch of it to recommit it to his memory. Her wide eyes that were filled with joy. The freckles, which were almost like stars, splattered across her nose. And her pink lips that he had a very sudden urge to kiss again. Wasn't that what a hero was supposed to do when he reunites with the girl? Stop it Thorne. You aren't a hero. It's enough that she's safe and unharmed.

Slowly, he wiped away a hot tear that had spilled onto her cheek. Then Cress burst out into an adorable mess of laughing and sniffling. She dried her eyes and said, "No crying. It's dehydrating."

It had seemed almost too good to be true, but once Thorne heard her say that, he had no doubt this was Cress. Only she would know what he had said to her when they first stepped into that desert. He pulled her closer.

"It is you. Thank the stars." And in that moment, Thorne wasn't tired anymore. He was happy.

A/N: That was not easy for me to write. Jeez, like the words were just not cooperating. I hope it wasn't that bad. Please review and tell me what you think. I welcome criticism, just don't kill me okay? Okay. (Ha ha see what I did there?) I'm thinking I'll do the time when Thorne is captured next. What do you guys want to see next?