Robby the dog was thrilled to see a new animal (Queen) in the house. After lunch he leapt out from an unseen corner and in his excitement skidded right into a puzzle Prince and Paris had been working on. Now, having to resume the rest of their lessons, the children entrusted Michael and Cassie to repair the damage.

It wasn't an easy task. The puzzle was an ambitious two-thousand-piece fantasy dragon set Michael had bought.

But neither of them mind. They wouldn't have such laidback times in the near future. Michael, of course, had his album to record, and Cassie herself had a tighter schedule now that she had new groups of clients.

To Cassie, it was all fulfilling work, though. She was starting to put away portions of her earnings and building up a small fund of her own. It was a small project she had been thinking of. I can rope Michael into it too. Cassie was sure that he was willing to help.

At the moment, Cassie was peacefully sorting out the mountainous region of the puzzle when Michael's innocuous remark on earlier events reminded her of a vague fear she had.

"Your face was purple back there," Michael joked.

Cassie dropped the two puzzle pieces she was attempting to join.

"Purple ... " she repeated in a faint voice. Was she really such a failure at any uncharted territory in human-to-human relationships?

"Not literally purple," Michael chuckled, "but I could tell that you were panicking."

Cassie sighed and looked away. Michael touched her arm.

"Cassie," he said gently, "I appreciate how generously accepting you are of my family – not many people can do that, because they get jealous of the divided attention or whatever ... But just be their friend, like you've been to me."

Their friend.

That sounded much more easier and manageable, Cassie thought hopefully.

Hmm, but it's still tiring, isn't it?

A coy voice, which had lay dormant for the past several months, suddenly spoke inside Cassie's head.

Putting effort into relationships ... the voice continued, You're even considering being there for his children! Giving your heart to people whom you thought were your closest friends ... then having them let you down ... What if it happens all over again?

No.

Michael is different. Yvonne is different. They gave to me. It's loyalty and love. I have to give back to them.

This isn't charity, dear, the voice said, seeming to be frowning at her naivety. You don't receive to give back in return. Love has no reason to be.

Enough.

I've been sad and miserable for too long. I trust him.

Cassie yearned for care and affection – no, the fact did not apply to Cassie alone; it was everyone's desire to be loved and be important and dear to someone else – but at the same time, we all tend to be afraid of losing what we have. Often, Cassie was torn between the feeling of delight and ecstasy of having the person she loved most by her side – and the fear of somehow losing him to something ... someone else.

But it all came down to the willingness to trust, didn't it? The whole world wasn't made up of Beths and Madeleines and any other person who once shoved and pushed her ... No, there were always people worth cherishing.

The silence Cassie had maintained was broken by a sigh. Finally looking up, she said, "Well, I'd really need you to help me."

Michael brushed her cheek lightly. He looked steadily into her eyes.

"I won't let you be alone, okay? I'll be here for you," he said.

With a small smile, Cassie nodded. They continued on with the puzzle. Cassie wondered how could she ever let such silly fears and petty selfishness cross her mind.

* * *

There was a knock on the door.

"It's me," came Michael's voice, muffled through the door.

"Come in," said Cassie, wriggling herself out from her blankets.

The doorknob turned and Michael, who was in his pyjamas, stepped into the room. He had one hand on the door and the other was carefully holding a tray. Cassie heard the soft clinking of glasses.

"What's that?" she asked.

"Milk and cookies," he said with a warm smile.

Cassie scooched towards one side of the bed, making room. After settling the tray down on the bedside table, Michael sat down next to her.

For the first time Cassie felt that she looked positively shabby beside him. No jeans to hug her legs snugly, no collared T-shirt which fitted the slim body she was proud of ... Compared to Michael's proper long-sleeved, matching pyjamas, Cassie realized that her baggy bedtime clothes and graying sweatpants must be somewhat of a joke. But she wasn't one to be severely bothered by an appearance like this. She brushed off the trifling matter.

"There you have it. Proof that a piece of lingerie does not make up my pyjamas," Cassie said in a whisper, light-heartedly. Throughout the entire day Cassie had spoken in a voice lower than normal. Now, even with the door closed and the room occupied by no one else (excluding Queen and Mr Tubs), she still had the uneasy feeling that anyone could be passing by right behind them and catch words of their private conversations.

Michael merely chuckled at her. His dark brown eyes told of adoration as he gazed into her hazel ones. She stared back. Quietly, she traced the outlines of his face.

When the door opened earlier Cassie had instantly noticed that Michael seemed a shade paler than usual ... He had removed all traces of his makeup.

His features weren't highlighted, but except for that – and as undramatic as it felt – Cassie didn't feel anything in particular. Those were the same eyes, the same cheekbones – she traced downwards – those same lips ... His body – warm, solid, here – his close presence locked her in a near trance. You have no idea, you don't know how much you fascinate me.

Slowly, very softly, Cassie let her lips touched his. She felt Michael's hand move to her waist, holding her. For a long moment she held her lips to his, kissing him softly, before gently pulling away.

Michael closed the small gap she made, this time deepening the kiss. He shifted both their bodies and Cassie found her head sinking into the pillow. But he kept the kiss slow; it wasn't sensual, just a sweet, quiet exchange without words. All the while Cassie felt him smiling against her lips as she held his face between her hands softly.

It was by chance her eyes fluttered opened by millimetres and caught sight of a big, white object popping up beside the glasses of milk –

"Queen!" Cassie breathed quickly, pulling apart.

Michael got to his feet and made a dash towards the cat.

"Apologies, your Highness," he said, still slightly out-of-breath, "That's not for you."

Michael carried Queen into Cassie's arms.

"Baby boo, you can't drink that," Cassie cooed. Looking up, Cassie caught Michael's eyes. There was a small embarrassed grin and a faint flush visible on his cheeks. She knew they were both thinking the same thing: there was no escaping their little ones. They were like a group of ducklings either tailing them, not wanting to let them out-of-sight or waddling about getting into trouble when they least thought of it.

Shortly after they finished the snacks Michael brought for both of them. Michael switched off the lights. Other than the rough, scratchy sound coming from the scrunched-up piece of paper Queen was pawing around with, and the bubbling vibrations of the air pump from Mr Tubs's aquarium, a still silence fell over the room.

Michael placed his hand gently on Cassie's head, which had come to rest on his shoulder. Cassie closed her eyes at his touch and let out a quiet breath. She snuggled into the little space between them.

"You don't have to squish here with me, you know," Cassie said. Cassie didn't want to make Michael feel obligated as though he had to accompany her whenever possible. She often had the impression that he had an unexplainable sense of guilt when he caused what he thought was inconvenience.

"I want to squish," said Michael. His arm went around her protectively.

"Your arm will suffer cramps within minutes," she said.

Michael tightened his hold around her, refusing to budge.

"Have it your way. Don't wake me up if I fall asleep."

Michael chuckled. Cassie moved her head and lay it on his chest, listening to the deep breaths he took and the sound of his heartbeat.

Most of her nights alone were spent alone. Queen wasn't a fan of snuggling up with humans when it came to bedtime. Cassie had almost forgotten how comforting it felt to have another breathing human being lay beside her, how it was like to fall asleep in someone's arms.

"Goodnight, Cassie," she heard him murmur against her forehead.

Cassie curled up yet more closer to his body. She clinged lightly onto his shirt. "Goodnight, Michael."

* * *

From the rate and depth of his breathing, Cassie knew Michael was awake. It was either he had woken up in the middle of the night, drifted in and out of sleep like her or ... he hadn't slept at all.

She took a glance at a clock hanging on an opposite wall. It was one o' clock in the morning. Three hours had passed.

Watching his face intently, Cassie slowly propped herself up on one elbow.

"Mmf ...?" Michael mumbled, sensing movement. Warily, his eyes opened. "Cassie ...? Can't sleep ...?"

"Did you sleep at all?" Cassie asked him.

"I don't think so ... " A crease formed between Michael's eyebrows. He was very disturbed by his frequent lack of sleep. He looked on the verge of desperation, as though wishing a log would swing forward and knock him out senseless.

Michael cursed his insomnia under his breath. "I tried medications, but they don't work much ..."

"Hey," Cassie whispered gently. She brought her hand tenderly to his face. It must be a horrible feeling. Exhausted but unable to rest.

Cassie placed two fingers between his eyebrows, making featherlight, circular motions.

"Michael, relax. Take deep breaths," she whispered.

Michael gave a tired grunt.

"You go to sleep, Cass ... I've been having this problem for years ..." he mumbled.

"Shh," Cassie whispered. "Take deep breaths, and relax," she repeated softly. Her fingers made similar motions just under his ears and along his jawline and neck. Michael's tense shoulders relaxed.

"We use this bodywork on animals," Cassie explained softly. "Sometimes when they're in pain, or frightened, they're aggressive and restless ... We calm them down with this. Some of us tried it on ourselves, and it works, too. It helps with sleep, especially."

"Is it something scientific or ...? Which doctor ...?" Michael asked sleepily, yawning.

"As far as I know, it's not published in a health magazine yet. Aha, but we must be innovative. Pioneering is important when it comes to innovation," Cassie quipped.

"Yeah, I agree with you ..."

"It was you who told me that, silly," Cassie laughed gently at him. "Now, shut up and go to sleep."

It took a while – Cassie didn't check the clock – but after what seemed like quite a long period of time, Cassie hoped the slowed breathing and soft snores she heard weren't hallucinations from her own drowsiness; the bodywork itself lulled her to slumber. As quietly and motionless as she could, she lay backdown next to Michael, and succumb to sleep.

- - -

A/N: Milk and Cookies ... Coincidentally the first letter of their first names. Hehe.