A/N: boyxboy kiss. Don't like? Don't read.

Cinder almost laughs.

She can't believe that they're back in school.

It seems outrageous that they can be back at their lockers and nobody else knows what's happened or what they've gone through.

Winter's still not in because she'd caught some kind of flu and Jacin's mysteriously ill, totally not because he wants to stay with his girlfriend, no...

Cinder doesn't have any classes with Kai so she kisses his cheek goodbye before heading to her computing lesson.

Not that she pays any attention.

She concentrates in class and gets the work done, ignoring the curious whispers of those who just want something to gossip about, but if you'd have asked her to recall individual moments or conversations, she most certainly wouldn't have been able to.

She doesn't start properly focusing on anything until she gets to the end of the day, meeting Kai at the Oak Tree.

"Hey, Empress." Kai smiles.

Cinder beams. "Hey, Emperor."

"I have a cavity," Thorne declares dramatically, clutching his chest.

"Shut up, captain," Cress orders as she elbows him.

Cinder laughs as Thorne yelps, scowling.

"Thanks, Rapunzel." Kai puts an arm around Cress' shoulders as they walk.

Throne groans until Kai and Cress break apart, returning to their respective partners with matching smug grins and a shared eye roll.

Scarlet laughs behind them, "You're all so immature."

"You guys freak out over fruit!" Cinder argues.

"Just the tomatoes!" Wolf exclaims defensively.

"You're not really making this better," Thorne says, laughing.

"Where are we headed?" Cress asks.

Apparently, only Kai hears her so he's the one who chooses. "I say we head to the new ice cream place!"

"Why are you choosing?" Thorne asks indignantly.

"I'm choosing because none of you were paying attention to Rapunzel."

Cress giggles. "Yup, it's your own fault."

"Why are you arguing with ice cream anyway?" Cinder asks. "You've never had a problem with it before."

Thorne sighs, "Fine. What's this new place anyway?"

"You guys remember Émilie?" Scarlet asks. "My friend from last year?"

"It's her place?" Cinder asks, shocked.

"Yeah. She decided that she wanted something cooler than a restaurant," Scarlet says, failing to keep a straight face.

Even Wolf laughs as the six of them walk on.

The place is surprisingly empty when they walk in, perhaps because nobody wants to be seen out in public wearing a distinctive school uniform.

"Scarlet!" Émilie grins as they enter. "Long time, no see!"

"We had some family things to sort out."

Cinder smiles to herself at that, truly considering this varied bunch of people as a family.

"Introduce me?" Émilie asks.

"I'm Thorne," Throne says before anyone can say anything. "And that's my girlfriend Cress and that's her girlfriend Cinder and that's her boyfriend Kai and unfortunately his boyfriend Jacin and his girlfriend Winter aren't here but that's Jacin's boyfriend Wolf and you already know his girlfriend Scarlet, right?"

"Uh..." Émilie frowns.

Cinder feels bad for Émilie but Thorne isn't wrong and they've agreed to let him introduce them in his style because, no matter what order he says everybody in, it's always hilarious to see the other person's reaction.

The six of them settle immediately, Scarlet going up to order because she refuses to make Émilie work so hard when they're friends.

Cress makes a face as Thorne and Wolf start taking about sports class.

"I could just give us all the highest grades?" she suggests casually, as if hacking into an education system is an everyday thing that loads of people discuss all the time.

"That would be cheating." Kai shakes his head. "Plus, it's not as if the school would believe that."

"They couldn't prove otherwise, could they?" Cinder asks.

"It would just give them a better reputation." Thorne shrugs.

"We're not doing that because we're all going to study and pass," Scarlet declares as she sits back down beside Wolf.

"Thorne will just copy Kai's english papers anyway," Cinder laughs.

"Just write it about how terrible Thorne is." Wolf smirks.

"That's not a bad idea!" Kai grins, nudging Thorne, who's literally pouting.

"Yeah well, Wolf's just going to copy Scar's food tech exam anyway," he grumbles.

"That's because I let him." Scarlet rolls her eyes.

"Let him? You practically order him to," Cress says, smiling.

"What's your excuse?" Cinder also Thorne.

"Scholar Boy doesn't complain!" Thorne replies.

Kai throws his hands up. "Do you suffer from temporary memory loss after each time we argue?"

"Even I remember most of them, and I don't even pay attention." Cinder raises an eyebrow.

"Your opinion isn't equitable anyway! You just side with your boyfriend..." Thorne mutters.

"That's because I'm correct," Kai laughs.

"Ice cream!" Émilie announces, somehow balancing six bowls in two hands.

Each of them laugh in appreciative astonishment, taking their bowls from her.

"Why don't you join us?" Kai asks.

Émilie shakes her head. "Are you kidding? I'd be even worse of a seventh wheel than Leo was."

"Who's Leo?" Wolf asks.

Émilie smiles. "Enjoy the ice cream, guys."

"You got caramel too?" Thorne asks Kai, his jaw dropping.

"Well, you know what they say..." Scarlet smiles mysteriously.

"What?" Thorne asks.

"Two people with the same taste in ice cream are two people destined to stay together in life."

Cinder laughs, sharing a smirk with Kai.

Kai leans over and kisses Thorne's cheek, winking at Cress. "Sorry Rapunzel, the ice cream speaks for itself."

"I'd be annoyed but Thorne's expression is hilarious." Cress seems to be finding it hard not to laugh.

Thorne narrows his eyes at Cress. "Would you prefer if I did this?"

Kai's eyes widen in shock just before Thorne leans forwards and kisses him. Properly kisses him as if a natural action they both do every day and as if they're both used to it.

Cinder, Cress, Wolf and Scarlet stare at them in shock.

Both Thorne and Kai have expressions of disbelief written on their faces as they pull back, catching their breath.

Émilie whistles.

Kai and Thorne both salute at her, shaking their heads and laughing.

"I'm impressed, I didn't think you'd do that," Wolf admits, chucking.

Cinder smirks. "I'm sure it wasn't that bad, Kai's a great kisser."

Kai runs a hand through his hair as he grins. "That was an interesting experience."

"I second that." Thorne rubs his neck.

"You're both crazy," Cress shakes her head.

"That's the way we like it," Scarlet laughs. "Now, everyone eat their ice cream."

Émilie laughs from across the shop, apparently having used them as entertainment.

Thorne and Kai share a bewildered look before shaking their heads again.

Cinder smiles at them.

Especially when Kai keeps one hand laced with hers, both of them managing to successfully eat their desserts with one hand.

The six of them finish ages later, spending way too long just talking.

They go back to Winter and Jacin's apartment once they're done, because obviously they're not spending a day without all of them together.

They don't do much, squashing onto the sofa so they can watch a film.

Eventually, the guys all head off to the other side of the room to play Ludo, the girls shifting closer together and settling properly with the cushions and everything.

Cress absently starts to braid Cinder's hair and Scarlet helps Winter braid Cress' in return.

"Anyone else want to reveal crazed members of their family so that we have some kind of warning next time?" Scarlet asks.

"I don't actually know what happened to Levana so..." Cinder says.

Cress sighs, "Great."

"Where did Levana go?" Scarlet asks. "She can't have just vanished into thin air."

"Maybe she vanished into thick air?" Winter asks, laughing.

Cinder yelps as Cress accidentally tugs her hair whilst laughing too hard.

She sees Kai's head snap up in alarm and laughs, but her heart smiles anyway.

She also sees Thorne nudge him and mutter something that causes the two of them to start another rapid argument. They might joke about Thorne copying Kai all the time but he's one of the few people who can keep up a fast paced argument with him for so long, even longer than Cinder can, not that Cinder and Kai ever really argue.

The four of them carry on languidly fixing each other's hair, only half paying attention to the film in the background.

Cinder has to join in with Cress' hair once Cress is done with hers, the three of them having to work around each other to finish the braid they'd started. It comes to them with ease, the four of them used to such things by now.

"Why did you start such a complicated one?" Scarlet asks once they're done.

"It just sort of happened," Winter replies, shrugging.

"Thanks," Cress says, twirling as her hair flicks around her waist.

Thorne's behind her in an instant, picking her up and spinning with her. She shrieks, laughing and grabbing onto Thorne to steady herself.

"And you call us sickening?" Kai asks, laughing.

"You're sickening," Thorne retorts, rather pointlessly.

"That's not what you were saying earlier!" Cinder calls.

Cress giggles, "He wasn't exactly saying anything."

"Scar, we have to go," Wolf says, changing the mood of the room.

Scarlet glances at Cinder's watch before making a face and jumping up. "I almost forgot! Let's go, let's go, let's go!"

"You act like I'm not the one who reminded you," Wolf mutters, but not unkindly.

The two of them head off, waving goodbyes and rushing farewells as they shut the door behind them.

Winter laughs. "They're so in love."

"Aren't we all?" Jacin asks.

"All in love with each other?" Cinder asks.

"Of course," Kai grins.

"That's what most people must think anyway," Thorne says, obviously referring to his confusing introductions.

"I'm pretty sure the whole school avoids talking to us in case they get seven people after them," Cress admits.

"Well, they're not wrong." Kai winks.

Winter jumps as the film starts to play the ending song.

"Which film is that anyway?" Kai asks.

Winter shrugs. "No idea."

Kai goes to ask when Cress suddenly stumbles, elbowing Cinder, who headbutts Thorne, who falls into Winter, who hits Jacin, who accidentally kicks Kai.

"Ow!" all of them grumble.

"My bad." Cress blushes.

Winter gasps as there's a knock on the front door. "That's the landlady. I'd forgotten that we'd invited her over today!"

Jacin groans, "Guys, you need to avoid the front door."

"The back door awaits." Thorne winks.

Cress, Cinder and Kai follow Thorne as he heads to the kitchen door that leads to the garden. The four of them wait until they hear a conversation starting before sneaking round the front of the house, running to the stairs as quietly as they can, which is very quietly because they've done this way too many times.

They whisper goodbyes to each other as they enter their own apartments, Cinder letting herself laugh out loud as they shut the door.

"We're all terrible," Kai declares.

"Terribly talented," Cinder corrects.

Kai shrugs. "Same thing, when it comes to us."

"So, what's the plan?" Cinder asks.

Kai raises an eyebrow.

"No, we're not playing chess," Cinder says immediately.

Kai laughs, "Still not over that?"

"It should be called a castle!"

"Castles don't move!" Kai argues.

"And the little ones should be called soldiers!"

"They aren't initiating a battle!"

"Since they don't have free will, they should at least have a good title!"

"And I suppose you consider 'soldier' to be the best title they can obtain?"

"It's better than what they're called!"

"Do you even know what they're called?"

Cinder huffs, "It obviously not that good a name if I can't remember it."

Kai chuckles, kissing her.

She gasps, the feeling of warm explosions spreading across her skin and her eyes closing with the comfort of the gesture because no matter how many times they do this, the bubble of love that builds insider her stays the same.

His arms are around her waist, his hands flat against her back, and her hands are tangled in his hair as Cinder tilts her head back and Kai leans down, both of them turning their head slightly so their noses don't crash.

Cinder smiles as they pull apart. "Now that's something I can remember."

Kai laughs and brushes his nose against hers. "And what's that called?"

Cinder shrugs. "Kai."

"I love you," Kai whispers.

"I love you," Cinder whispers back.

"Why are we whispering?" Kai whisper asks.

"I don't know," Cinder says normally.

They both laugh, settling onto the beanbags they'd put in their living room instead of a sofa.

Kai puts an arm around her shoulders and she smiles, leaning against him with a soft smile.

"I think you're the first person that I've truly loved," Cinder admits.

"I think you're the first person that I've truly fallen in love with," Kai confesses.

Cinder's never felt so content in her life.

She finally understands why people say that home doesn't have to be a place.

She's at home when she's with Kai.

She's at peace.

I can't believe I've managed to upload every day but hey, what do you know?

Thanks if you've read along! Hope you enjoyed!

PS. One more bonus chapter (a birthday present) to come in a few hours ;)