Cassandra was a bit wary when Obi-Wan showed up at the hospital to pick her up when she was discharged. Irrepressible anger welled up.

He nearly got her killed because he was mooning over Duchess Satine. She didn't feel safe with him and made her opinion known. "I'd like a different bodyguard. I need to feel safe, and I don't with you."

Expression unreadable, Obi-Wan removed the tan coat draped over his arm and held it open. "Due to limited resources, I happen to be the only one available."

What made her angriest is that she received no apology for his mistakes. Cassandra always let things slide but thanks to Anakin she realized she had the right to be angry when someone wronged her.

Was entitled to be furious.

Turning her back to him she slid her arms into the coat's sleeves. "If it weren't for luck and a bit of magic, you'd have to explain to Master Wong why I ended up dead. I don't imagine the Jedi can afford to be at war with sorcerers too."

Cassandra was stretching the truth a bit. She wasn't that important. Master Wong would be pissed but the Sorcerer Supreme's mandate was to protect Earth. He wouldn't leave their planet vulnerable to seek revenge.

Obi-Wan didn't know that though.

Cassandra stiffened as the Jedi moved behind her, adjusting the fabric over her shoulders. He smoothed out the sleeves and buttoned up the coat. "While I'm curious who would triumph, sorcerer or Jedi, its not a prosaic discussion."

"My money's on the sorcerer."

"Of course it is." Fastening the last button, Obi-Wan studied her with fresh eyes as if seeing her for the first time. "I can't deny you are a formidable young woman. However, in this matter you are mistaken. I am not your enemy, regardless of what you think."

Under the coat Cassandra wore a pink gingham dress and white ankle boots with Anakin's medallion tucked securely under the neckline. "I'm not living with you. I'll stay at Anakin's."

Obi-Wan plunked a matching gingham newsboy cap on her head. "We'll discuss this later." He extended his elbow to escort her.

Cassandra brushed by him into the hall. She stalked out of the hospital with her head held high. She was a survivor. There was pride in that.

Cassandra hadn't liked Satine's superior attitude, but she could see the benefit of a neutral system for a galaxy at war. When both sides were ready to come to the negotiation table, they would have a neutral place to meet.

Unfortunately, neither the Republic nor the Separatists were giving up ground. Anakin was out there fighting, putting his life in danger every day.

His disregard for his own safety troubled Cassandra. He wouldn't hesitate to jump on a grenade to protect someone else.

A velvety night sky stretched out over the megalopolis. Lights twinkled from windows and neon signs cast a rainbow glow over the steel skyscrapers. Coruscant could give New York a run for the title 'The City That Never Sleeps.'

On the landing pad, Obi-Wan opened the speeder's passenger door and helped her into the vehicle. Cassandra fastened her seatbelt and tucked her cap under her thigh so it wouldn't blow away during the flight.

During the drive, Cassandra didn't talk. It's hard to carry on a decent conversation in an open-air speeder when she has to shout to be heard over the whine of the engine. Given her companion, she wasn't inclined to make the effort.

Angling the nose of the speeder down, Obi-Wan sped toward the ground. "Mind if we make a detour?"

"Do I have a choice?" She shot back petulantly.

"No." Obi-Wan wove through the traffic like an expert, parking the speeder in front of a place called Dex's Diner. He turned off the engine and turned to her, red hair windblown and cheeks flushed with cold.

"What are we doing here?" She asked, donning her cap.

His blue eyes sparkled with mischief. "I'm taking you out for cake like I promised."

The Jedi jogged around to her side and opened the door with a flourish. Cassandra ignored his outstretched hand and leaped from the speeder. She raised her brows warningly. "I swear if I get shot, stabbed, poisoned or blown up I will hit you with a curse so bad, your dick will shrivel."

"Kamar Taj sorcerers don't cast curses." Obi-Wan reminded her.

"For you, I'll make an exception." Cassandra swore coldly.

The Jedi winced, cupping his groin reflexively. "Consider me warned then, Master Pierce."

Smug, Cassandra strutted into the diner feeling fantastic. Was she being mean? Yes. Did Obi-Wan deserve it? Heck, yes he did.

A few tables were occupied, the diner largely empty. Obi-Wan chose a booth near the front. "Dex's has the best cake in the galaxy."

Cassandra propped her elbows on the table and played with a saltshaker. "I do deserve the best."

Obi-Wan reached across the table and gripped her hand. His fingers were frigid from their flight. "Cassandra...I'm sorry. You saved my life and then I failed in my duty to keep you safe."

Cassandra yanked free of his grip balling her fist in her lap. She averted her gaze. "I don't want to talk about it."

Obi-Wan glanced over her shoulder and smiled broadly. "Hello, Wanda."

Cassandra's blood turned to ice. Leaping from the booth, she conjured a light sword, scanning for the Scarlet Witch. "Where is she?"

Her gaze darted panicked over the occupied tables and a waitress droid hovering in the aisle.

Obi-Wan was puzzled by her erratic behavior. "Who?"

"Wanda." Cassandra growled, still searching for the witch.

Unperturbed by the sorceress' weapon, the waitress droid rolled forward. "What can I get you, hon?"

Cassandra spun in a slow controlled circle, seeking her enemy. "Where's the Scarlet Witch? Where's Wanda?"

Everyone in the diner stared at her like she was nuts. Cassandra's pulse roared in her ears. She didn't sense any magic besides her own. Slowly, she lowered the sword to her side. "I...don't understand."

"Blast! I forgot about the witch's name." Obi-Wan looked embarrassed. "Wanda is the waitress droid."

Flushing, Cassandra stared at the waitress. The sword evaporated. "Um...yeah...sorry." She sank back in the booth, wanting to vanish right through the floor for causing a scene.

Gradually, the other patrons returned to their business when they were sure the crazy lady was contained by her Jedi companion. Cassandra buried her face in her hands. She was utterly humiliated.

"Hon?" The droid prompted.

Obi-Wan placed their order. "Two cups of Caf and two slices of Sic-Six-layer cake." He glanced back at her. "Cassandra."

Tugging the brim of her cap, Cassandra hunched her shoulders. "I'm so stupid."

"No, you're not." The Jedi said gently, his tone free of judgment.

She found the courage to meet his soft gaze. "We'll agree to disagree."

The cook, presumably Dex, waddled out from the back; his apron stretched across his broad middle. He didn't look happy. The alien propped all four arms on his hips, two on each side. "What the kriff was that about?" He demanded.

Obi-Wan explained about the unfortunate coincidence of his droid sharing a name with an evil witch who was Cassandra's nemesis. "A case of mistaken identity, my friend. I apologize for the disturbance."

Dex's stern expression melted. "Ah, It's alright. We're all on edge these days. How're things in the Temple, Kenobi?"

"I can't complain. How are things in the Senate District?"

"Well..." Dex hedged. "Food is becoming scarce. Those in the lower districts are having a tougher time than usual."

"I'll speak with the Chancellor; advise we send aid down here." Obi-Wan promised.

"Thanks, my friend. We can use it. I have to return to cookin'. See you around." He clapped the Jedi on the shoulder and returned to the kitchen.

Wanda zipped over with their slices of cake and coffee. Cassandra stared at her rainbow-colored dessert; appetite gone after Dex's news.

Obi-Wan sipped his Caf with an appreciative noise and applied himself to the cake. "Try it." He encouraged.

Cassandra forced herself to eat the cake. Wasting it would be worse. She stabbed her fork into the red layer. "If the people are hungry why isn't the Senate or the Jedi doing more?"

"The situation is complicated. Coruscant is a city-planet. There are no farms. All the food is imported. The Separatists have disrupted our supply lines making things difficult." Obi-Wan licked a smear of frosting off his utensil and continued. "I'll speak with Chancellor Palpatine to discover what can be done."

After finishing their cake and Caf, they decided to take a short walk to burn the calories off and scope out the condition of the district. The further they walked from Dex's Diner the more dilapidated the buildings became, broken windows, peeling paint, graffiti sprayed on every flat surface.

A teenage girl in rags bumped into Obi-Wan and snatched his money pouch from the folds of his robes. Standing beneath a damaged sign, the Jedi watched the girl sprint down the street, the neon light casting a bright pink glow on his face. He didn't pursue.

Cassandra said nothing as the thief ducked down a dark alley.

The city was crying out for help.

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

The gunship swerved to avoid a volley of laser bolts from the tanks below. Anakin widened his stance to keep his balance. "Land over there." He jabbed at a cliff to the left. "We need to get out of the flak."

"Yes, sir!"

A nearby gunship blew up, the draft of the explosion slamming into the side of the ship. Anakin fell against the wall, scraping his wrist on a loose bolt. "Hurry up, Pyro!" He barked.

Another blast thudded against the ship's hull.

Staggering, Anakin clambered around clones to reach a gun. Peering through the scope he fired at an enemy fighter that was on their tail, taking it out.

When the ship landed, he dashed out seeking cover behind a thicket of trees. His commlink beeped.

"Sir?" Rex whispered, sensing Anakin's hesitation.

"We have to meet Master Gallia at the rendezvous point outside Koibito. The battle droids are holding the Capitol."

"You should answer the comm, it might be important." The clone suggested, peering out from his hiding place.

Rex was right. Anakin swallowed his impatience and pressed the button. "General Skywalker."

Admiral Yularen's stony face appeared in the hologram. "General, the final droid base has been destroyed. I'm taking out the stragglers now."

"Good work, Admiral. We're ready for the final push into the Capitol." Anakin replied calmly, deflecting a stray laser bolt with his lightsaber. "We'll rout the enemy before sunset."

The next part of the mission would be the most dangerous. The droids were trapped in the city and lined the ramparts. A direct assault was their best option.

"Sir, what are your orders?" Rex asked.

Anakin summoned a confident grin. "Now, we turn those Seppies into scrap metal, men! Move out!"

"Yes, sir!"

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

Cassandra rolled onto her side, the sheets tangling around her waist. She lay in bed wide awake, unable to get the thief's gaunt face out of her mind. Obi-Wan was quiet after the girl pickpocketed him in the city.

How desperate did a person have to be to rob a Jedi?

Pretty damn desperate. She decided.

Sprawling on her back, she watched the shadows dance on the ceiling. Guilt pricked her soul for living in a luxurious building while others had nothing. What could Cassandra do? She possessed no political power or money of her own. She was an alien from the far side of the universe.

Goose mewed inquisitively from a nearby pillow. Cassandra turned her head and met a pair of glowing green eyes in the dark. "I'm alright, girl. I just have a lot on my mind."

The Flerken rested her chin on Cassandra's shoulder, purring.

Growling in frustration, Cassandra jerked up right and kicked off the blankets. Padding over to the wall, she hit the light switch. "Since I can't sleep, I might as well check on Anakin."

Through a private commlink, Cassandra had kept in constant communication with Anakin since his deployment. Checking on her Jedi, encouraging him. She missed him something fierce and knew he felt the same.

Pressing the button to activate the commlink, Cassandra curled up on her bed to wait for him to respond.

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

After a very long and bloody campaign, his battalion had won Tanabata back from the Separatists.

Not without cost, however. The emperor's palace was a smoldering ruin. Remarkably the gardens were untouched by the bombs and laserfire. The cherry trees in full bloom.

Anakin clasped his hands over his mouth, releasing a muffled groan. He lost a lot of good men. In the setting sun, the flickering flames of their funeral fires burned in the courtyard. A grim reminder of the steep price the clones paid for the Republic.

Anakin's gut twisted with guilt, wishing he could do more to aid them besides taking the lead on the battlefield.

Kneeling in the grass, the burden of command bowed his shoulders. As a General, his soldiers dying was inevitable as the setting up the sun.

Fatigue settled in his muscles and his bones ached from days of running, leaping, and swinging his lightsaber. It was all too much.

Pink papery petals fell over him from the flowering trees, starkly beautiful after the hell of the battlefield.

Anakin's first thought was how much Cassandra would love to see the cherry blossoms. His second, was how romantic it would be to kiss her under the rain of flower petals. His lips curved in a rueful smile.

A beautiful, foolish fantasy that he abruptly wished to make a reality with every fiber of his being.

Anakin sprawled under a nearby tree, tipping his head back against the rough trunk, the bark digging into his spine. He closed his eyes picturing their last meeting at the hospital. When he gave Cassandra the medallion, and her eyes lit up like the sun.

His private comm buzzed in his pocket almost like Cassandra had picked up on his thoughts. Fishing it out, Anakin eagerly activated the device. "Cass, is that you?"

A hologram of an eyeball floated above the commlink. "Who else would it be, silly?"

"I'm getting a close up of your eye. Pull back so I can see your gorgeous face." Anakin directed, chuckling at her error.

"Oops." The hologram flickered, the blue light bouncing. Cassandra's sheepish expression flickered into existence. "It always takes me a minute to adjust the feed." The medallion he gave her hung around her neck over a long-sleeved shirt. "I've been discharged from the hospital. Thought, I'd share the good news."

Anakin appraised her carefully, finding no lingering sign of her illness. "You look fantastic."

"Aw, you always say the right thing, Anakin." She tipped her head to the side, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Obi-Wan force-fed me cake. I think he feels bad for what happened, but I didn't let him off the hook."

"Good." He was proud Cassandra was standing up for herself. Often, she let others get away with mistreating her.

"I threatened to curse his man parts." Cassandra declared smugly.

Anakin choked on a laugh. "I wish I could have seen his face."

"I scared the pee out of him."

"I'm sure you did." He replied indulgently.

"In other news, Porggy pooped on your pillow. 3P0 forgot to check on him and he had an accident."

Anakin sighed exasperatedly, unsurprised. The Porg had ruined his pillow on multiple occasions. "Other than cursed cocks and defecating birds, is everything alright? Are you safe?"

"Yep, I threw up some wards and I'm holed up in your rooms with Goose."

"Alone?" Anakin cried urgently, feeling a ball of panic in his throat.

She frowned at him. "Relax, I've got this, Cuddles."

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Anakin prayed to the Force she was right. "Be careful." He urged.

Cassandra's face smoothed. He gave her credit for keeping her composure. "How are things on Tanabata? Did you take the Capitol?"

"Naturally, I won." Anakin said with forced bravado.

"Naturally." She echoed.

Cassandra regarded him levelly, seeing behind his mask. She always saw him. "Seriously, how are you doing?"

The whole story spilled from him. The final push. The dozens of deaths of clones as they retook the Capitol. Anakin shared his remorse and anger at the cost to his men. How he could have done better. Been more.

"I felt the same way on Ansion." The sorceress confessed, playing with the medallion's chain. "I blamed myself for not getting to Dr. Khal and her team in time. I've made my peace with what happened. It's not my fault. This isn't yours either. By being there, you saved more lives than you probably know."

Anakin raked his hair back, fisting the strands. "In all this madness, Angel, you are the only thing that's real. That keeps me together."

"Anakin...if you need me, I can come to Tanabata." She glanced at something out of view. "I'll have to steal a ship from the Temple hangar. Plus, I don't know how to fly one. We haven't continued my lessons. I guess I can make 3P0 fly."

"That's an awful plan, miss!" 3P0 protested off screen. "Imagine, me flying a ship!"

"Why not?" Cassandra demanded. "I know you're a protocol droid, but can't you pilot a ship too?"

"Oh, no!" The droid cried in dismay.

Cassandra had no scruples about stealing from the Jedi for him. She barely tolerated the Council on a good day. Anakin quickly back-pedaled, not wanting her to get in trouble. "I appreciate the sentiment. Tanabata is still an active war zone even if we hold the planet. It won't be entirely stable for days."

Cassandra sagged defeatedly. "I understand. Will you be okay?"

"Yes. I feel a lot better after talking with you."

The sorceress brightened. "I'm glad. I miss you."

"I miss you too."

"How about I give you a kiss?"

"Um.... you're a hologram." Anakin was compelled to point out, biting back a grin.

She rolled her eyes. "Stating the obvious like Legolas, I see."

Who the kriff was Legolas? Anakin wondered. A sorcerer at Kamar Taj most likely. "Interesting. I'm curious how you'll accomplish this."

Cassandra pursed her lips above her palm and blew him a kiss. "See? No magic or Force involved."

Tenderness filled his heart. The next time Anakin had her in his arms, he'd tell her he loved her and trust that she was ready to hear the words he'd longed to tell her for so long.

A/N: This chapter was so much fun to write. I basically combined two of the old chapters to make it. As always, I hope you loved reading it. 💕