Thomas woke peacefully, wincing and covering his face to block a sunbeam from blinding him. He was back in his room, which was strange since he couldn't remember leaving the roof.

He sat up, and tried to dredge up the memories of last night. He could remember his confession, and that kiss, God that kiss. A smile came to his face just thinking about it. But then he started to remember the rest.

"Tommy, I'd love to sleep in your room, but won't everyone get suspicious? I want to wait a bit before telling everyone about us, is that ok love?"

"Yes, Lizzy, I understand. We can keep it to ourselves as long as you want."

He swung his legs off the bed, letting out a sigh. Keeping a secret about something he was so excited about was no easy feat. The man hadn't be so enthusiastic about something in years, he was sure people would notice his change in behaviour. But he had made a promise to Lizzy, and it was one he intended to keep.

"I need to see her" he muttered to himself, jumping up from the bed and leaving his room, only to be stopped before he could cross the threshold.

"Thorne! What time do you call this? You slept through Fanny's wake up call and missed Patrick's talk on tent construction!" The Captain scolded, glancing Thomas up and down. "You look a mess Thorne, what on earth is the matter with you?"

Usually Thomas would retort and snap back with some snarky comment, but today he didn't. He was in to good a mood at the thought of seeing Elizabeth that he simply replied with a "Sorry Captain" and moved past him.

The Captain was both surprised and annoyed by Thomas's dismissive nature. "Thomas! What in the Bally hell are you playing at man? Do you think you can just dismiss a commanding officer?"

Thomas let out another long sigh and turned around. "Look Captain. Something wonderful happened to me yesterday, something that has improved my quality of existence tenfold. And while I know it's a little bit of a routine for you to shout and command your way around this house like you still have a shred of authority, today I won't have it. Because nothing on this Earth could possibly dampen my mood."

With that, Thomas turned and continued down the stairs, his smile only growing. He felt such a strange sense of pride, he didn't dislike the Captain, but his constant commands did get on his nerves. Now though, he only had one objective, find Elizabeth.

——————————————————————

"Rock, paper, scissors!" Elizabeth and Robin said in unison.

"Hah! I win! Rock beat scissor!" Robin declared, a proud smirk on his face.

"Oh fine! You get to give your talk on making spears, for the hundredth time" she sighed, slumping onto the sofa in defeat. "I wanted to tell everyone about my tour in Japan."

Robin scoffed, "we hear that story hundred times! You need new material."

"Says you!" She laughed.

Elizabeth would be lying if she said she hadn't missed Thomas today. She'd gone to wake him up a few times, but had decided to let him sleep. The man hardly ever slept much, and she'd concluded that some extra sleep wouldn't do him any harm.

As she lounged on the sofa, she thought back to last night. Thomas's blushing face, his soft lips against hers. It was like a dream, she longed to feel that again.

"I have to see him" she thought, rising from her place on the sofa in search of her poet.

She made her was to the downstairs living room, her face lighting up when she saw Thomas at the other end of it. No one else was in the room, so she took the opportunity to throw her arms around him and bury her face in his neck.

"Hello to you too" he chuckled, placing a and on the back of her head. "I missed you, even though we've only been apart a short while."

"I missed you too Tommy. Did you enjoy your lie in? That's the most I've known you to sleep" Lizzy smiled, pulling away and taking his hand in her's.

Thomas chuckled lightly, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. "I didn't realise I'd slept in. I got an earful from the Captain. Waiting outside my door he was!"

Elizabeth let out a sweet laugh, causing Thomas's smile to widen. That was his favourite sound. The sound of the woman he cared about expressing her happiness. It made his heart soar.

"Lizzy, about what you said last night. About...keeping our relationship under wraps" he said, softening his tone towards the end. "May I ask, why?"

Elizabeth, drew back slightly, he'd smile fading a little. "Well, it's because I don't want our relationship to be all that anyone talks about. You know how it'll go. We'll tell everyone and for months that's all anyone will talk about. I don't know, for now I just want to enjoy this for what it is. You make me so happy Tom, and I just want to savour our privacy for a while."

Thomas nodded in understanding. "That's really considerate of you Liz. I know how they can get. But I suppose when not much happens, and announcement like that would be monumental."

As the couple spoke, expressing their love and exchanging compliments. The Captain turned to walk away from the wall he'd been listening behind. "Time to use that shred of authority, Thorne."