He wrapped his arms around her. She was so small, he'd almost forgotten. "I've missed you, gorgeous." He kissed the top of her head.

"And I've missed you!" She giggled, pushing herself up onto her toes and pecking him on the jaw.

He sat on his bed and pulled her onto his lap. "I'm sorry I couldn't come earlier and help you move in."

Cress pushed his hair back and planted a kiss on his forehead. "I don't mind. Iko was already there, so she helped." She strung her hands around his neck and grinned at him. "So, what are we gonna do to make up for not seeing each other during winter break?"

"I was thinking about that, actually." He adorned her face with a few kisses before continuing. "How do you feel about a road trip this weekend?"

"A roadtrip? To where?"

"Baltimore." She opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off. "It's only six hours! And the National Aquarium is really amazing, I hear, and I've been working all winter to be able to take you there."

She blushed. Aces, she was adorable. "Really?"

"Really."

"But six hours is a long drive by itself. Twelve hours in a single day – on top of the visit – is a bit much."

His stomach plummeted. Here came the part he was dreading. "About that. I, uh, found a hotel…"

The color drained from her face. "Thorne-"

"-It's not like that, Cress. The room has two beds."

She laughed, relieved. "Oh, stars. Okay. Okay. Fine. I can help pay for gas and I'll buy all of my own food, of course."

He shook his head. "This is my idea and I'm covering all of it."

She tensed. "Thorne, no."

"Cress, yes."

"That's so expensive, though. Just the gas alone…."

He brushed his fingers through her hair. She'd cut it to her chin over break and she looked simultaneously sophisticated and ravishing. "I told you, I saved up. I've got it all covered. Besides, the hotel is booked and the tickets are bought. We'll be leaving Saturday morning, spending all of Saturday afternoon and evening there, and then we'll be back by Sunday afternoon! What do you say?"

She sighed, resting her temple on his shoulder, her nose brushing the skin of his neck. He shivered. "Fine. Only because I miss you so much."

He chuckled. "That's my girl."

She snaked her arms around his waist. "So, are you getting a new roommate, since your friend moved to that frat house, or whatever?"

"Nope. It's just me in here."

"Sounds lonely."

"It always has been."

She let out a small hum. "I'm tired."

"Nap time?"

She nodded against his shoulder.

He stood up, taking her with him, and lay her on the bed, flicked off the light switch, and then curled in with her.

Cress yawned. "You smell good," she whispered, but she was asleep before he could give a comeback.

She was so beautiful when she was asleep, calm and serene and content. He brushed his knuckles over her jaw. He imagined what it would be like to trail kisses down it, to hold her close and kiss her neck and tell her that he–

Carswell stopped himself before he could let his mind wander anymore.

She froze as soon as she walked into the classroom.

Oh no. Oh. No.

Hoping she hadn't been spotted, Cress crept to the very last table in the back and slid in.

"Hey, Cress!" Someone shouted from the front of the room.

She reddened, but it's not like he wouldn't eventually see her anyway.

"Cress, come sit here!"

It was her friend, Stephanie. She could feel Andrew staring at her from the table over from where she was. She dragged herself to her feet and walked over. "H-hey, Steph!"

"Hey! I didn't know you were taking Personal Health this semester! You should've texted me!"

She was shaking just slightly. "Haha-oh! I forgot you said you'd signed up!"

Cress risked a glance at Andrew and noted that he was staring–no, glaring–at her. She knew he and Carswell were still kind of friends, so all she did was beg that he didn't talk to her and hoped that he was telepathic.

Her telepathy had lasted throughout Monday and Wednesday, but when she walked into class on Friday, he was leaning over her table, laughing and flirting with her friend. Cress immediately felt protective, walking to her seat and slamming her backpack on the table.

Stephanie glanced up. "Oh, Cress! Hey!"

"Hey, Crescent." His voice iced her veins.

"Andrew," she said.

He glanced down at Stephanie before leaning further over to address Cress directly. "So, hey, you and Carswell have, uh, sealed the deal, right?"

Her face heated. "Ex-excuse me? Why don't you ask him?"

"Well, I would." Andrew straightened and shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket. "Except that he's spending too much time with you to talk to me. Clearly you haven't since he's still hauling you around."

Stephanie just giggled. "Oh my god! Are you considering sleeping with Carswell Thorne?"

"No," she growled, glaring openly at Andrew. "We're just dating."

Andrew laughed. "Don't worry, Steph. As soon as she puts out, he's gone. Just like with every other girl."

He walked over to his seat and Cress started to tremble.

Carswell wouldn't do that…. He wouldn't…. He wasn't like that anymore, right?

Iko jut out her bottom lip. "I can't believe you get to go all the way to Baltimore with Carswell and I'm stuck at the apartment alone and single!"

Cress didn't laugh, shoving another shirt into her small bag. "You'll be fine, Iko. Invite someone over."

"See, the point is, I don't have a boy to invite over!"

"Then go find one, Iko," she told her.

Iko plopped down on her bed. "You okay, Cress?"

"Yeah!" She faked a smile. "I'm fine. I'm just… not looking forward to waking up early tomorrow."

Iko seemed to accept it. "Just don't be too loud! I need my beauty rest."

"Morning, beautiful." Carswell beamed, holding the door open for her.

She groaned. "It's cold."

"My car's nice and warm already!"

"Good," she muttered, sliding in and curling up in the passenger seat.

"Are you excited?" He asked, climbing back in the driver's seat and buckling his seatbelt. "I'm excited!"

She glared at him. "It's six in the morning. Ask me again later."

"So, what's your favorite marine animal?" he asked, not letting up, determined to keep her awake. He loved her when she was asleep, but even more when she was awake.

She groaned and sat up, tucking a leg under her. Gotcha. "Octopus."

His face screwed up. "Wait, really?"

"Really. They're cute. And really intelligent. I'm pretty sure I was an octopus in another life. I used to think about it a lot whenever I was in a shitty foster home. I'd make up stories about the things I did and saw, about saving princes and befriending mermaids."

He reached over and took her hand. She hated talking about her childhood, he knew, so he was glad she felt comfortable enough with him to do it. "Have you ever seen an octopus in real life?"

She shook her head.

"Well, you're about to."

When she didn't react to his words, he chewed his lip, stopping at a light. "Are you okay, Crescent?"

She turned to look out the window. "Yeah, I'm just tired."

He squeezed her hand. "We'll stop for food soon. You'll wake right up!"

She didn't reply.

After two hours, she was more awake, singing along to the songs on the radio and dancing in her seat. He joined in when he could.

When an older song came on, he changed the station.

"Hey, I love that song!" she protested.

He grimaced. "Sorry, Cress. Brings back bad memories."

She relaxed in her seat and frowned. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. Sorry, I just can't listen to it."

Cress stared out the windshield. "It's okay. We can talk about it if you want."

He chuckled. "Tragic backstory time?"

She punched his shoulder playfully. "Lay it on me, babe."

"When I was 16, back when I considered joining the military instead of going to college, I… met this girl. She was a year older than me and she was perfect in every way I could imagine. I'm talking, I could fall in love with her perfect. Even though this was way before I became the asshole I was last semester, she was still the first girl I'd felt that way about, even for a teenage boy with raging hormones and a mind that just wouldn't quit."

"Is that not the same asshole you were last semester?"

They shared a laugh. "Yeah, but I wasn't so heartless, you know? Anyway, we started dating, because who wouldn't want Carswell Thorne, you know?" Cress scoffed. "Six months later, I'm head over heels and she's telling me that she met this college guy at some party."

"She broke your heart."

"Practically shattered it."

Cress hummed.

"I handled it in the worst way, I know, but I'm trying to make up for it now, I suppose."

She let go of his hand and crossed her arms, leaving back in the seat and propping her feet up on the dash. "Yeah."

Carswell sighed. "Anyway… back to today. We're only an hour out. Are you excited now?"

She simply nodded. "Yup!"

She pressed her face into the glass. "I've always wanted to swim with the dolphins," said Cress. "It's been a dream of mine since I used to pretend that I was an octopus."

He nudged her with his elbow. She leaned back and he pointed at a sign.

She began to squeal immediately.

FEED THE DOLPHINS!

EVERY DAY, 2-4PM!

GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH OUR MAMMALIAN MARINE LIFE!

"Oh, I have to do that! What time is it?"

"1:30," he replied.

"Come on!" she all but shouted, "I bet there's already a line!"

There was – it was a Saturday, after all.

Cress was bouncing on her feet the entire 50 minutes that they had to wait their turn. "I can't believe I get to pet a dolphin," she squealed. "It's like a dream come true."

Carswell beamed. "I'm glad!"

She swooped an arm around him and kissed his cheek. "I'm so glad you brought me! This is the greatest date ever!"

He grumbled playfully. "You know, all of our other dates are starting to feel pretty bad about themselves."

She jabbed his side. "It's not my fault all our dates somehow end up better than the last one."

"So whose fault is it?"

"Beats me!" She smirked.

Cress rolled up her jeans and stepped into the pool area that she was directed to, Carswell in tow.

"You two were chosen to feed them," said one of the caretakers. "We choose randomly! We're going to direct them to do a trick, and then they'll come to you, and you give them the fish."

"You aren't afraid to touch a fish, are you?" The other caretaker laughed.

"Nope!" Cress picked a disgusting, smelly, dead fish out of the bucket and she was essentially jumping with joy.

The dolphin did a flip, nearly soaking them to the bone. Carswell gave himself a mental pat on the back for thinking to bring a change of clothes with them.

Cress squeaked and when the dolphin pushed out of the water in front of her, she tossed the fish in its mouth. She was all excitement and childish joy as she bent down to pet the dolphin.

"Thorne! C'mon, before our turn's up!"

"I'll pass," he told her. "It's all you, babe."

She made a few cooing noises at the animal before they were sent away.

"That was amazing," said Cress as they walked out of their respective bathrooms, having changed into dry clothes.

He grinned. "I'm glad you liked it, Crescent."

"Oh, I loved it. Where next, do you think?"

He flourished an arm towards a sign. "I was thinking, to the octopi."

She grabbed his arm and began to tug him towards the direction that the sign was pointing them to.

On the way, she paused. "Hey, we can go over there and pet sting rays!"

Carswell's stomach turned. "Uh, no. How about we don't do that?"

She poked him. "What, are you afraid, or something?"

"Uh, yeah. Those things are terrifying!"

"Nonsense. They're adorable! C'mon!" She rushed over and didn't hesitate to stick her hand in the tank, petting one that was sleeping on the sand. "They just feel like slimy rocks! Come feel them," she drawled.

"I'm… I'll pass."

"You're boring," she accused. "Seriously, this one's sleeping. And they won't hurt you, anyway!"

He shuffled over and tested the waters first, sticking his fingertips in, and then his fingers, and then his hand. "Oh, aces. I can't believe I'm doing this."

"C'mon. He's right there! Just touch him!"

It did feel like a slimy rock. A living, breathing, slimy rock. He stroked the thing once and then retracted his hand. "Okay. I did it. Where's the hand sanitizer?"

Cress laughed and flicked some water onto him. "Okay, loser. Time for octopi!"

He scowled. "Yay."

Her face was probably stuck to the glass, her mouth agape in complete childlike wonder. She watched as the octopus squeezed its way through small crevices no more than a single square inch – which should have been impossible for something as big as it was, and it made him feel sick.

"Thorne, are you seeing this?" she asked, her voice distant.

"Yeah, I'm seeing it," he muttered.

"I wish I could pet one of those."

She frowned. "I don't wanna leave."

"We have to, Crescent. The place is closing in fifteen minutes."

Her shoulders slumped. "Okay, but I have to use the restroom."

"Make it quick."

He began to walk aimlessly around, and he didn't get more than five feet from the restrooms when he got a snapchat from Cress.

He opened it to see a long line of women waiting in front of her for the only four open stalls. He groaned. It would be at least another ten minutes, knowing how women are.

He spotted a gift shop not too far from where he was and a hint of conspiracy rose in the back of his mind.

Sneaking in, he spotted the cephalopod section. There was an array of stuffed octopi. He chose the one that was the size of his torso and plucked it from the shelf, sauntering over to the register. "Just this."

"That for your kid?" the old man asked.

He grinned. "Nah, my girlfriend. She loves these damned things."

"Young love is a beautiful thing," the cashier said, handing Carswell his receipt. "I bet you're one lucky guy."

He smiled. "I am."

When Cress came out of the bathroom, Carswell was doing his best to keep the beast contained behind his back.

She swiped her still-wet hands on her jeans. "Man, I just about burst in there. You didn't get too bored, did you?"

He shook his head. "Not at all. I have something for you."

Her eyes sparkled. "But you've already done so much today!"

"Crescent," he said, "I… I got you this!" He pulled the octopus out from behind his back and she squealed.

"You didn't! OMIGOSH! It's so cute! Thank you!" She threw her arms around him. "I'll cherish her forever."

"What'll you name her?"

She blushed. "Little Cress."

Carswell shoved the pizza box onto the floor and leaned back against the headboard, yawning. "This movie sucks."

Cress chuckled. "I know."

He held his arms open and she crawled into them.

He kissed the top of her head. "I'm really glad you had fun today."

She nuzzled his neck. "I had so much fun. I don't think you could top it."

"Next weekend, we'll just go to the ocean. It's too cold right now, so we'll take a road trip straight south."

"Don't even joke," she muttered. "I hear the dolphins are really close to shore in the mornings. Don't think I won't go swim with them."

"On the contrary, I was kind of hoping you would. I'd take videos and everything."

Her laughter vibrated against his chest. He wondered if she knew just how weak she made him. The things he'd give to just show her the effect she had on him.

She sat up and met his eyes. "Don't think we can't do repeats," she said. "I would love to come back here a few more times before you graduate."

He enveloped her in his arms and kissed her. "We will. I promise," he whispered, moving in to kiss her again. He tasted every part of her lips, his tongue dancing across the skin, feeling her.

He loved her. There was no more denying it. He loved her.

Still with their lips pressed together, he lifted up and coaxed her onto her back, his hands staying glued to her waist, taking it slow.

But she started to resist him, her palms against his chest, her lips closed off.

He pulled away. "What's wrong?"

"I'm not... I'm not ready."

He sat back, dropping his arms away from her. "Okay. I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry, Thorne, I just… I'm not ready." She let out a whimper, scrambling off of his bed.

"You don't have to apologize, Crescent. I'd never try to get you to do anything you didn't want to do."

She sat on her own bed and pulled her knees to her chest. "I know."

"I'm sure you're tired," he said. "Want me to shut off the lamp?"

Cress shook her head, and a glimmer of a tear caught in the light.

His heart sank. "Crescent? What is it?"

She said something, but it was muffled by her arms.

"I can't hear you," he said, his voice soft.

She lifted her head, and he could see tears brimming her eyes. "I'm not–I don't want to be another notch in your belt, Thorne."

He blinked, panic rising in his gut. "It's not like that, Crescent. You know it's not like that."

She sucked in a breath. "Andrew's in one of my classes. He said–he said that this time wouldn't be any different, that you'd leave as soon as you'd gotten what you wanted. I know we've been together for a while now, but I still feel like I'm just another conquest, that you've only stuck around so long because you know you're starting to break down my barriers. I'm afraid, Thorne."

He sank down onto his bed and pushed his hands through his hair. "Crescent, listen. It's not like that. It's never been like that with you. I don't even really talk to Andrew anymore. He's no longer any kind of influence on me."

She swiped her wrist across her nose. "Stars, I'm so stupid."

"No, you're not." He stood up again, but made no movement towards her, afraid she would fall apart. "Cress–what that was just now, what I was trying to do–it wasn't just me trying to score." He rubbed his fingers across his brow. "It was just–I just… I didn't want you to find out like this."

Her gaze moved to him now, fearful.

"I love you, Crescent. I love you, and I never thought it was possible. But I do. So much. You might not believe me, but it's true. I wanted to tell you earlier today, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I'm afraid, too. I thought maybe I was reading you wrong, and I didn't want you to feel like it was too soon to feel that way. I didn't have another choice, though, did I?"

She rubbed her eyes until they were red, but the tears were gone. "Y-you love me?"

"Yeah."

She choked, but it came out more like a laugh. "I feel like a jerk."

"You had every reason to doubt me," he said. "I do wish you would've told me sooner, but I understand."

She pushed her legs out and then stood up, using the back of her hand to mop up the rest of the tears that wet her cheeks. Her ocean blue eyes found his and she took a deep breath. "I love you, too."

His heart somehow found its way back into his chest. "Thank the stars," he breathed.

Cress covered the two steps worth of distance between them and wrapped her arms around him. "I love you."

He hugged her back, held her tight. "I'm sorry for scaring you."

She pulled out of his arms and climbed her hands up to his neck, pushing herself up onto her toes and kissing him. She pulled away and then stared intently into his eyes. "Can I lay with you?"

He smirked, though he couldn't deny that a subtle kind of warmth was filling his chest. "Why, Crescent. Don't you know the many different ways that could be taken?"

She did not hesitate. "Yes."

He sat on the bed and pulled her onto his lap, kissing her again, trailing his lips down her jaw, across her neck, his hands frozen around her waist. "I love you," he whispered again. "I love you, I love you, I love you."

She ran her fingernails across his scalp, goose bumps flooding his skin. Giggling, she grabbed fistfuls of his hair and gently tugged his head back so he would look at her. She planted her lips onto his. "And I love you."

Author's Note: I can't believe I let you people talk me into writing another chapter. AND IN A SINGLE DAY, AT THAT. THIS NEVER HAPPENS. But this will NOT END UP LIKE UNCHARTED and this really is the last part of this and I swear, if anyone asks for more, I'm going to just quit writing altogether. (Okay, I won't do that, but just know that this is really the end of this fic.)