A Delayed Realization

Due to the fact that Scarlet and Wolf were married early, it gave the gang a couple extra days to just relax and catch up. Currently, the girls are all sitting around the living room, drinks in hand, leftovers on the small coffee table, while the boys are out seeing who can throw a pitch fork the farthest and have it stand up straight – Thorne's idea. Cinder rolls her eyes just thinking about how competitive men are, no matter who they are.

Her and Kai haven't told anyone else about their engagement, she doesn't want to take away any spotlight from Scarlet's happiness, but it doesn't stop her from fiddling with her ring – worn on her right hand just to be safe. She never thought she'd be so taken with a piece of jewelry but the fact that it was Kai's mother's ring and that he wants to marry her is making her stomach flip in a not unpleasant way.

She's really not paying attention to the conversation being had until Iko lets out an earsplitting screech. All heads turn towards the beautiful android.

"I completely forgot to ask before with all the secret planning going on but where are you and Wolf going for your honeymoon?!"

Cinder starts to roll her eyes again but freezes before she can finish the movement. A honeymoon, she thinks to herself. She never even considered they'd go on a honeymoon, but of course it makes sense that they would.

Scarlet's cheeks don't change color as she responds. "We're not going anywhere right away. We're going to wait for winter when there isn't so much to do around here, but as long as we get to go somewhere it's going be warm and totally secluded." She smiles softly at the thought of so much privacy.

"Thorne and I had to make a stop in the Caribbean once, there were some pretty secluded spots there you could look in to," Cress pips up from a rocking chair that looks older than the farm house itself. Her cheeks are a little pink.

"Yeah, I've done some research, but I'll look more into it later, I just want to enjoy being with all of you for a few days and finally being married." Scarlet throws a tiny cucumber sandwich in her mouth.

"But don't you want to be alone together to have hot newlywed sex?" Iko blurts out, still forever having trouble discerning what's appropriate to say in certain situations.

A blush works its way onto Scarlet and Winter's faces, Cinder can feel her body heat up as well, because, of course, that's what happens on honeymoons – what her and Kai would undoubtedly be doing on their own honeymoon. Once again she's grateful she can't blush.

"Iko, that's not appropriate talk for ladies to discuss," Winter, always one for decorum, answers back.

"No, it's alright Winter, I don't mind answering. Iko," she starts, like a teacher to a student, "we've lived together, alone, for two years, so while a honeymoon in the middle of nowhere will be absolute heaven, it's not like we haven't already slept together, like a lot." She stuffs another sandwich in her mouth.

Iko's mouth drops open. "Wait, you've already slept together?! Why didn't I know this, we're all supposed to tell each other these things." She turns to Cress, "You and the Captain haven't crossed that line yet, right?"

Cress stops rocking, her entire face aflame. "Um, actually Iko, we have, but we've lived together for two years too, if that means anything." She looks at the wall like it's the most interesting thing on the planet.

Iko gasps and spins to Winter to ask her the same question.

Winter, seeming to have forgotten her earlier statement says, "Oh, of course we have. Jacin is a very thorough lover," her voice airy and eyes glazed.

Cinder's internal computer warns her of her temperature at the same time Iko spins on her.

"Cinder, you had better tell me that you have not slept with His Highness or I think I might internally combust." Iko glares at her the best she can, which normally makes Cinder want to laugh but not today.

Cinder, honestly has barely ever thought about sleeping with Kai. They've only seen each other in person a handful of times in the two years since the revolution and each time they did they had to catch each other up on their lives. Of course kisses were enjoyed; long, passionate, somewhat life altering kisses, but it never went any farther than that. Her mind races with the thought now.

"Cinder, answer me right now!" Iko whines, waving her hand in front of Cinder's face.

"Iko, stop it. If she doesn't want us to know that's her own choice," Scarlet warns, coming to Cinder's defense.

Cinder focuses on her oldest friends face. "No, we haven't slept together," is all she says.

"Thank the stars, if you had kept that from me I would be outraged! But I still can't believe everyone else kept it a secret, we're best friends, we're supposed to tell each other everything." Her tone is anything but offended however; Cinder knows how much this new information has sparked something in the android.

"It's not really something that comes up in a normal conversation and we don't get to see each other in person enough. That's not something you can send over a comm." Cress turns to Cinder, "and I'm guessing that's why you and Kai have never…" her voice peters out.

"No, I bet it's because they knew that if they took that step once, it'd be too hard to go months without seeing each other again," Scarlet says with a wry smirk on her face.

"Kai is an honorable man, maybe he wants to wait to get married first," Winter adds.

"Cinder, what's the real reason?" Iko asks.

Cinder takes deep breaths so her system doesn't force a shut down from over-heating.

"I don't know," Cinder whispers, she rubs her hand along her forehead. "We've never talked about it, but it's probably all of those reasons combined." Her eyes close.

"But, you want to sleep with him, right?" Iko, again.

"I…" Cinder starts to just say she doesn't know, but she's with her friends and she knows she can say more than that and they'll understand. She thinks through her thoughts and emotions as quickly as she can.

"I'm cyborg so, I always kind of thought that wouldn't be in my future, that I would never find someone that loved me for who I am. Kai is, was, such an unexpected gift the world just kind of dropped in my hands. Obviously we didn't have the best start to our relationship, what with me hiding the fact that I'm cyborg and Lunar, but he accepted everything I am in the end and I'll never be able to express how grateful I am for that.

"Sleeping with him isn't really something I've given much thought about because just seeing him in real life and not over a screen has always been enough. I guess now that I'll be moving back to Earth I'll have more time to think about it, but to answer your question, Iko, yes I would like to take that step with him." She's looking down at the ring on her finger without even realizing it, but everyone else does and they give wide eyed looks to each other.

"We didn't know you were moving back to Earth, have you and Kai settled on an ambassador position for you?" Cress tries, bless her heart, to keep Iko from screaming again but it doesn't work.

"Linh Cinder, what is that on your finger?!" Iko actually gets up from the couch and grabs Cinder's hand. Just like Cinder's did last night, Iko's computing system recognizes the ring and its importance right away. "Oh my stars, are you and Kai engaged?!"

Instead of hearing rage over not being told immediately, all Cinder hears is a child like glee emanating from her friend.

Cinder looks at Scarlet. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to announce anything and ruin this time for you. I didn't even realize I was looking at it, but Kai asked me last night and I said yes." She turns to look at Iko who has an enormous smile on her face.

The android and everyone else in the room let out congratulatory sounds and before she knows it Iko's arms are around her.

"I can't believe this! My little cyborg mechanic is going to be the Empress! I have so much to do, so much to plan. I need at least six months to make sure this will be the wedding of the century, I do get to plan it right?"

"Sure, Iko, but I get final say on everything and we're not allowed to talk about it until after we announce it to the public, deal?"

"Deal! When will you announce it? You should do right away and why are you wearing the ring on your right hand? Does it not fit on the other?"

"Iko, of course it fits on my left hand, I just wasn't planning on telling you guys just yet, so I wore it on my right hand to try and hide it," Cinder moves the ring back over to her metal finger, it slides on like it was made for her.

"You didn't need to hide your engagement just because I got married yesterday, you know. It doesn't take away anything from my day, it only adds to the joy I already feel," Scarlet comes up to hug Cinder too. "I'm not sure you and Kai will be able to get away with a secret ceremony though."

Cinder smiles, "I know, I've already thought of that but it won't matter. Kai's the only thing that matters and as long as he's by my side everything else, the reporters and broadcasts and protesters, will be worth it."

"That's beautiful, Cinder. True love really does conquer all," Winter sighs before placing a kiss on Cinder's cheek.

"Can I choose the reception music?" Cress pipes in, looking at Iko quickly before catching Cinder's eye.

"After how much I danced last night, I can't help but say yes, but let's keep in mind, everyone, that there will probably be a bunch of traditions we'll have to follow, so I'm not sure exactly how many promises I should actually be making."

"Promises about what?" Thorne asks while all the guys come into the room.

"Cinder and Kai's wedding!" Iko screams before throwing herself at the young Emperor.

Kai shoots Cinder a look while hugging Iko back.

"It was an accident, we were talking about, um, other things, and I kept looking at the ring and they guessed. I couldn't lie about it." She gets up to go to him but Thorne stops her.

"You're getting married and I wasn't the first person you told? How could you, I thought we were best friends?!" His fake hurt makes her smile.

"Sorry Captain, but if I was going to tell anyone first it would have been Iko, she has been my friend the longest after all." She reaches Kai and he puts an arm around her waist. "I really am sorry, we should have told them together."

He presses a kiss to her temple. "As long as we spend the rest of our lives together I think I might forgive you for anything, but let's tell the world together, okay?"

She smiles at him. "Okay, but we're going to have to announce it soon because Thorne and Iko can only keep secrets for so long."

"Well then, come home with me for a few days after this and we can announce it then," he brushes some hair out of her face.

"Sounds like a plan," Cinder states before moving closer to kiss his lips, but before she can Iko starts talking again.

"That way you'll have plenty of time to discuss your hon…" Scarlet quickly covers Iko's mouth with her hand, cutting off the android effectively.

"Discuss our what?" Kai asks curiously.

"Nothing, Iko is just excited," Cinder shoots Iko a don't-speak-another-word-or-else glare.

"I know, let's go milk the cow!" Winter exclaims out of nowhere. "Scarlet, you said I could try it, why not now? Let's go," she grabs Jacin's hand and pulls him towards the back door.

Scarlet weighs staying in verses going out to the barn and decides regrouping somewhere else might be for the best. "All right everyone, let's go milk the cow," she drags Iko out with her, Wolf right on their heels.

Thorne turns to Cinder. "I don't know what that was about, but I will find out," he starts to walk away, Cress following slowly.

"I'll try to keep him otherwise occupied," she promises.

Kai looks at Cinder. "Seriously, what is all that about?"

"We can talk about it later, it's really not important," she kisses him ardently before pulling away and walking towards the door. "Now, let's go milk a cow, I have a feeling you're going to be bad at it."

Kai, somewhat flustered from their kiss, grins and follows her. "I bet I'll be a natural."

Cinder knows she's not lucky enough for Kai to fully forget his curiosity, but she'll take the reprieve while she's got it.

* First time writing the Lunar Chronicles so hopefully it's not terrible. I just finished the series along with 'Stars Above' – minus 'Wires and Nerves' – and because I could always use a little more Kaider I decided to write this. They'll be one more part after this one, hopefully up in a couple days. Happy reading!