"Thorne?"

Her voice, chipper and pleased with herself, filled their apartment. After delivering the antidote, true to his word, Kai had pardoned Thorne and hired Cress as the head of intelligence. They had a small but nice apartment in New Beijing, only a few minutes from the palace. And best of all, Cinder would be moving in soon! To the place of course. As Thorne had been reflecting, Cress snuck up behind him.

"Thorne!" This time her voice was sharper, but still amused.

"Yes, darling?"

Cress rolled her eyes. "I found this interesting article comparing us to 2nd-era characters from popular folk lore."

"What am I??"

"Mmm.... you weren't mentioned, Sweetie."

While Thorne stuttered incoherently with anger, Cress pulled up another page.

"See? I researched the princess they compared me to, Rapunzel, and I found this 2nd-era movie. I thought it would be fun to watch it!!"

Cress looked so adorably excited that Thorne found himself nodding, quite against his will, and muttered "I'll get popcorn."

Cress nodded, kissed his cheek and skipped into the living room, hugging her port screen.

A few minutes later, when he returned with a massive bowl of popcorn and two steaming hot chocolates,  Cress was curled up on the couch facing the wall screen, wrapped in a blanket. The movie was queued up and ready to go.

"Tangled?"

"That's what it's called, Thorne, sit down."

"Yes sir!"

"Shut up and come snuggle."

"I cannot refuse an offer like that, although I'm not sure about the shut up bit," Thorne quipped, but nevertheless, he did sit down next to Cress.

As Cress started the movie, Thorne faked a yawn and Cress giggled, resting her head on his chest.

The movie began in earnest, with Cress completely absorbed in the film and Thorne trying very much to be the cynic and failing miserably.

By the time they reached the scene where Rapunzel hits Flynn Rider with the frying pan, they had eaten 90% of the popcorn, and Thorne had finished off both hot chocolates.

"HOW is this guy not dead?" Thorne repeatedly questioned, at least 6 times throughout the movie. Other annoying repeated phrases included, " WHY ARE they singing?" And "WHAT? That makes no sense."

After about an hour and a half of this, Cress paused the movie.

"Why'd you do that?" Thorne whined.

Barely containing a small smile, Cress said, in a dangerously low and very annoyed tone, "Because I wanted to watch this movie, not criticize it. I wanted to enjoy time with you, not listen to you yell at a cartoon. Now shut up and enjoy the movie Carswell Thorne, or so help me Stars, no kisses for a week!"

Thorne looked ashamed of himself and meekly apologized as Cress started the movie again. Another half hour in, Thorne wrapped his arms around Cress, hugging her nearly into his lap. She twisted into a more comfortable position, which actually brought her closer to him, and smiled.

Finally, near the very end of the movie, Thorne spoke. "Cress?"

"Mmm-hmmm?"

As she spoke she twisted up, so her face was nearly level with his as he spoke again. "I love you."

"I love you too, Captain," she whispered.

"Good." Thorne's tone was cocky, but his face showed only tender care for the girl next to him as he slowly leaned down and planted a sweet soft kiss on her lips, which left them both smiling.

Two days later, Cress was singing songs from Tangled as she typed something on her port.

Three days later, Cress caught Thorne singing Tangled songs while doing the laundry, but she never told a soul.

That is, she never told anyone for nearly two years. But when Kai and Wolf were planning Thorne's bachelor party, she suggested to Cinder that they put some Tangled music on in the background.

Imagine his surprise when he walked in to the sound of, "And at last I see the light! And it's like a fog has lifted!"