It was still dark out when Cassandra tiptoed through the cabin to the kitchen. The droid had adjusted the temperature controls for the cabin so she could walk around without being bundled up like a snowman. The one silver lining about the Chancellor's isolated cabin was the pool and hot tub.

At every opportunity she swam in the pool and soaked in the hot tub while Obi-Wan meditated in his room. After their disastrous dinner together, Cassandra took advantage of what space was available to keep a wide berth between her and the Jedi.

Hitting the light switch, she dug around in the pantry, grabbing a basket of potatoes and placed them on the counter. When she was out of balance, she wanted old-fashioned comfort food like her mom's fried potato hash, scrambled eggs, and pancakes.

The potatoes were an unusual green color. Cassandra hoped they tasted like normal otherwise breakfast would be a bust just like last night's dinner when she made grilled cheese accidentally with very spicy bread that sent her into a violent coughing fit.

Soon Anakin would be here, and she'd be rid of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Her Jedi was expected to arrive in Caranda sometime today. Just thinking about it made her giddy.

She shimmied excitedly across the floor, her bare feet sliding on the polished floorboards. 'I can't wait to see him!'

Digging through the drawers Cassandra located a paring knife and went to work. Hopefully, Anakin would arrive when breakfast was ready. She'd like him to share one of her favorite meals with him. A little taste of home away from home.

As the skins dropped, she replayed the sexy dream she had about Anakin that left her painfully aroused and disappointed when she woke up in the shadowed walls of her bedroom alone.

Cherry blossom petals drifted over Anakin and Cassandra like rain as he kissed her. Lips softly gliding over hers.

Swiping the back of her hand across her perspiring forehead, Cassandra grabbed the next potato from the basket.

His fingers stroked gently down the column of her throat and over the thin silk covering her breasts.

Growling, Cassandra slammed the knife down bracing herself against the counter. Heat pooled low in her belly and her breasts tingled against the cotton of her pajama top. She clenched her thighs together reflexively. 'God, Anakin's not even here, and he's driving me crazy!'

She traced a finger over her bottom lip, imagining what it might feel like if he kissed her. If his full lips were as soft and gentle as they looked.

A gust of wind struck the side of the house, snapping Cassandra out of her daze. Breakfast. She had to make breakfast and not have inappropriate fantasies about her friend!

Cassandra returned to her task, grimly determined to ignore the visceral reaction of her body. Once the potatoes were frying in the skillet, she'd start on the pancakes.

*********************************************************************************************

Anakin disembarked from the Falcon, the carrier with the Flerken in his gloved hand. The bitter cold tugged at his robes as he waded through the snow to reach Palpatine's cabin eager to be reunited with Cassandra.

The inside of the house was quiet. A banked fire glowed steadily in the living room hearth and a blanket was balled up in a chair. At first, he assumed everyone was in bed until he spied a faint glow coming from another room. His spirits lifted at the evident sign of life.

Lowering the carrier, Anakin released the Flerken. Goose shot into the darkness with a hiss.

Cassandra's note crinkled in his pocket as he strode through the hall, a tangible mark of her regard for him.

The smile tugging at his lips stretched into a full-on grin when he saw Cassandra standing in front of the stove flipping panna cakes. A flour dusted apron covered her pajamas and her feet were bare.

Spotting him, Cassandra brightened, her joy flowing through the Force. "Anakin! You're here!" She squealed, dropping her spatula on the counter, racing across the kitchen.

The sorceress crashed against him flinging her arms around his neck. "I'm so happy you're okay!" She kissed him affectionately on the cheek. "You are okay, right? I mean, it seems like it, but are you?"

Anakin laughed at her excited chatter, sliding an arm around her waist. "Slow down, Cassandra. I promise I'm fine. Actually, I understand I have you to thank for still being here."

Cassandra's face crumpled. "Considering you got hurt protecting me I don't deserve any credit."

"It's not your fault." Anakin tipped her chin up, forcing her to look at him. "The only one to blame for what happened at the theater is the assassin."

Anakin had been in worst scenarios than being struck by a stray poison dart. Truthfully, the entire incident bothered him. He couldn't put his finger on it, but something wasn't right. Why had the assassin entered the crowded chancellor's box when there were numerous spots around the theater for them to take a kill shot without exposing themselves?

What he wouldn't tolerate is Cassandra blaming herself for someone attempting to murder her. Regardless of what she believed, the sorceress had saved Anakin's life with her quick action.

She brushed flour off his robes from her impromptu hug. "I've missed you."

A delicate flush graced her cheekbones. Anakin smiled down at her. "I've missed you too. How has everything been here? Any trouble?"

The Flerken padded into the kitchen and hopped onto an empty patch of counter. It started purring loudly.

Shaking her head, the sorceress embraced him again. "Everything's right as rain."

Anakin stooped to hug Cassandra, pulling her flush against him, hand splayed against her back, stroking her spine.

She leaned into his touch, her arms tightening around him. "I'm glad you're okay. Don't ever do anything so dumb again!"

Still smiling, he cradled the back of her head. "I can't promise that. I'll never stand by when you're in danger."

Cassandra melted against him, her eyes shining like a field of stars. "I can take care of myself. Next time I'll protect you."

Anakin laughed gently at her exuberance. He wiped a streak of flour from her cheek. 

Over the top of her head, he spied a curl of smoke rising from the skillet. "Let's hope the authorities catch the assassin and whoever sent them. Uh, by the way...your panna cakes are burning."

"Shit!" The sorceress sped toward the stove, grabbing the smoking skillet with a potholder. She hurriedly dumped it in the sink and ran cold water over the skillet. "Luckily, this was the last batch. There should be plenty for the two of us." She gestured at the table. "Have a seat."

Shrugging out of his outer robe, he draped it over the back of a chair. "Need help?"

"Grab the milk carton. I got the rest." Cassandra told him.

"What about Obi-Wan?"

Cassandra placed a platter of panna cakes on the table and sniffed. "He's probably meditating."

"Probably." Anakin agreed, knowing his master spent most of his free time connecting with the Force, a habit learned from Master Qui-Gon. "Got any cinnamon?"

"Hmm, I'll check the pantry." Cassandra ducked into a side room and returned with a bottle she plunked down in front of him. "Here, you go."

She sank across from Anakin and drizzled a panna cake with honey and heaped a scoop of eggs and diced greasy potatoes onto her plate. "Try the potato hash, it's my mom's recipe."

Anakin ladled some on his plate. "Your mom?"

Cassandra regarded him cautiously. "Is it okay...if I mention her?"

Anakin squirted syrup over his panna cakes. "Of course, it's alright. I imagine its hard with her being so far away."

"Yes, but I'm used to being on my own now." She shrugged, still uncomfortable. "Mom worked so many long hours at the hospital when I was growing up. No matter how tired she was, she was always there for me."

"What about your father?"

Cassandra dropped her fork. "I don't know him. Anakin, I'm adopted."

"That's nothing to be ashamed of."

She shot him an irritated look. "I'm not ashamed! I love my mom and have no interest in learning who my real parents are. They threw me in a dumpster when I was less than a day old!"

Anakin was stunned, unsure of what to say. Despite their circumstances, Shmi saw to it that Anakin was as happy as possible. She always put him first. Always found a way to smile and be kind. Although, his background was different from Cassandra's he understood her feelings about her mom.

"Luckily, I was tossed in a dumpster outside the hospital. My mom heard me crying and found me on her lunch break underneath an empty pizza box." Cassandra stabbed a potato viciously with her fork. "She couldn't have children and decided to adopt me." Her voice quavered. "Mom, gave me a home, a family, a place to belong."

"Why are you telling me this?" Anakin wondered. It was a departure from her usual behavior.

The sorceress smiled sadly, her eyes watering. "Because you exposed the most vulnerable parts of yourself to me. When I saw you lying in the hospital, I was forced to acknowledge I haven't been the best friend. Sharing with others doesn't come naturally. I...do trust you Anakin which is why I want you to know me."

He curled her fingers over her fist, carefully unclenching her fingers where her nails dug into her palm. "I want that too. We'll be here for a while, so you don't have to push yourself and tell me everything all at once. I know this is hard, Cass. I am grateful you trusted me with this part of yourself."

"Cass?" She wiped her nose on her sleeve, leaving a trail of snot on the fabric. "You called me that before."

"Do you mind?"

Cassandra laughed wetly. "I guess not. Maybe I'll come up with a nickname for you too. What about Anakin Bananakin?"

Anakin winced. That was terrible. "Please, no."

"Okay, I guess that's pretty bad." She acknowledged.

The Flerken hopped onto the dining table and buried its face in the scrambled eggs on his plate. Anakin cursed. "Hey!"

Purring, Goose wore a smug expression as it nibbled on Anakin's breakfast. Kriffing, Flerken! It did that on purpose.

Cassandra bit her lip, her cheeks puffing out as she held back a laugh.

She was so adorable.

Anakin pushed his ravaged plate aside and smiled tenderly. 'She's so lovely when she's happy. I put that smile on her face. I'm glad. I hate it when she cries.'

The thought left him deeply satisfied until the Flerken turned its head and hissed at him, ruining his moment of triumph.

He scowled and fixed himself a fresh plate. Ungrateful beast.

Cassandra alternately cuddled and cooed at the Flerken. "Where's Porggy?"

"I left him with 3P0. It didn't seem like a great idea to have the Porg and Flerken together." Anakin might begrudge Porggy's presence in his life, but he didn't want the Flerken to devour him.

Cassandra scratched Goose's ears. "You're such a good Flerken. I'll make you cheese pizza for dinner."

Goose purred in approval and rubbed Cassandra's jaw, scent-marking her. Seeing the Flerken act like a house pet disturbed Anakin on so many levels.

Cassandra reached for her knife to cut her panna cake. Not paying attention, she grasped it by the wrong end and yelped. "Ouch!"

Anakin rose immediately and grasped her hand. Blood welled on her fingertip. "It's not bad." He wrapped a napkin around the bleeding digit. "Where's the first aid kit?"

"Under the sink."

Obi-Wan swept into the room and blinked. "I thought I sensed you, Anakin." His gaze flicked to Cassandra. "What happened?"

"Nothing." She lied, glaring daggers at the Jedi.

Anakin opened the first aid kit and surveyed the supplies. "Looks like we have everything we need."

Flopping onto a stool at the counter, Cassandra allowed him to take her hand. He sprayed the small wound with bacta and wrapped gauze around her finger, sealing the bandage with a piece of medical tape. He stroked the inside of her wrist and carefully rested her hand in her lap. "Be sure to keep this dry for the next cycle."

She blushed. "Okay."

Obi-Wan cleared his throat. Anakin moved away from Cassandra, grinning sheepishly.

"Now that Anakin's here I'll prepare to return to Coruscant." The other Jedi spotted the Flerken on the table devouring the food. "Funny, I thought the Flerken was in quarantine."

"Plans change." Cassandra replied coolly.

"Indeed." Obi-Wan nodded shortly, unwilling to argue about Goose. "I'll leave you to it then."

Anakin watched, amused. Cassandra had to be the first woman he'd ever seen glare at his master. He wondered what had happened between the pair to make the sorceress so angry with Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan hesitated in the doorway with one hand placed on the doorframe like he wanted to speak.

Shaking his head, the older Jedi left. Part of Anakin was glad he did. He knew Obi-Wan wanted to lecture him about forbidden attachments.

Anakin was a grown man. A Jedi Knight. Obi-Wan needed to learn that he could handle things without him. "Why are you so angry with Obi-Wan?"

Crossing her arms, Cassandra leaned back against the counter. "He interrogated me like a suspect. Like I'm to blame for what happened at the theater. That I'm spying for Master Wong."

Anakin was outraged on her behalf. "That's ridiculous."

"Tell me about it." She frowned in the direction Obi-Wan disappeared. "Look, I know the Republic is at war and suspicions are running high but I'm not up to anything nefarious."

"Don't worry, I believe you." He said without hesitation.

"Now, enough of this crap." Cassandra retrieved a broom and thrust it at him. "Sweep the floor. I'll wash the dishes."

Anakin hadn't done chores in years. "Where's the house-keeping droid?"

She snorted. "Beats me. Maybe its sleeping?"

"Droids don't actually sleep. They power down when they rest." He told her.

"Whatever." Cassandra thrust the broom at him again with a pointed look.

Grinning, Anakin swept up the potato peels and traces of flour from the floor. The two did their chores in companionable silence.

An hour later, Obi-Wan left the cabin and part of Anakin was glad to see him go after learning how he'd treated Cassandra. The Jedi's ship lifted from the ground and shot into the sky.

Snow fell thickly around Anakin, gathering in his hair and eyelashes. An icy wind blew strands of hair into his face. He swept them back. The cold didn't bother him. He knew it should, given his childhood on a desert planet with bitterly cold nights but he loved the snow.

Anakin remembered the first time he saw it spinning down from Coruscant's sky. A new Padawan, he was in the training room with the other younglings. Master Yoda had chuckled at his awe and allowed the students to go into the gardens to play in the snow. The white powder was cold and soft, nothing like the coarse sand of Tatooine he despised.

A/N: This chapter was fun to write. I'm happy with the outcome this time and I hope you are too.