A week after Mortis, Cassandra kept her distance from Anakin. She barely spoke to him and slept alone in their bedroom. She wouldn't let him hold or kiss her, blowing off every sign of affection he tried to give her.

Anakin balled his hands into fists as Cassandra met his gaze, pivoted on her heel and left their home. He couldn't take this anymore. "Wait!" He stalked after his wife down the hall and pulled her into an alcove. "Please, Cass. Tell me what I've done!"

Cassandra attempted to push past him. "Let me through."

Anakin gripped her shoulders and backed her against the wall. "No, not until we talk."

She looked away. "I can't."

Sliding fingers under her jaw, Anakin turned her face back to him. "Why?"

Cassandra's cinnamon eyes were sad. "I don't know. I don't know why I can't get past Mortis. I just need some space, alright?"

Anakin was puzzled. He was on Mortis too. They'd been through far worse together. What happened that he didn't know? He tipped her head back and kissed her gently on the lips. She didn't kiss him back. "I love you, you know?"

Cassandra lowered her eyelashes. "I know."

Anakin felt a pang of hurt she didn't say she loved him back. "At least tell me...if there's something I did...I'm so sorry. I never want to hurt you."

"But you did." Her voice shook. "The Son showed you a vision of the future. I don't know what you saw but you joined the Darkside without hesitation. You told me I'd turn against you. I tried to reason with you and you refused to listen."

Tears rolled down her cheeks. "I know you can't remember. The old man stole your memories. You doubted me! Me! I've always supported you and it hurts so much you took a stranger's word over mine!" Cassandra looked at him with wounded eyes. "How could you do that, Anakin? How could you?"

Anakin was speechless. What could he say? When she pushed at him again, he stepped aside. Cassandra fled down the hall, conjured a portal and jumped through.

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

Why did this have to be so hard? Why couldn't Cassandra let Mortis go? She always moved past their arguments quickly because she hated conflict.

Some part of her refused to let Anakin's actions go even though she badly wished to forgive him.

Dabbing at her eyes, Cassandra crashed into someone.

"Master Pierce?" Senator Dorme stood in front of her. Her forehead crinkled in concern. "What's the matter?"

Cassandra realized she had ported into the middle of the Temple foyer after running from Anakin.

The Senator's security team and handmaidens gawked at the obviously weeping sorceress. Cassandra wiped her nose with her sleeve. "Dorme? Why are you here at the Temple?"

Great, she had made a complete fool of herself.

"I had a meeting with the Jedi Council to discuss security for the upcoming Festival of Light on Naboo. The festival is still three months away. Since Chancellor Palpatine will be the Master of Ceremonies all necessary precautions must be taken." Dorme laid a hand on Cassandra's arm. "You are clearly distressed. Is there any way I can help?"

"I..." Cassandra faltered, discovering speech eluded her. Her emotions were a chaotic whirlwind inside her, spinning and spinning. Reality was upside down.

"Well...if I may ask would you consider coming to the Naboo Embassy with me? We can have tea." Dorme said kindly. "I've been busy and haven't had the opportunity to invite you to dinner like I promised."

Cassandra thought it over. She didn't particularly like the Senator but saw little way of refusing the invitation without seeming like an asshole. "I guess that's okay."

If she sounded a tad unenthusiastic, Dorme was too polite to remark upon it. The older woman steered Cassandra to her shuttle outside. She used the flight across the district to compose herself.

The flight from the Jedi Temple to the Naboo Embassy was surprisingly short. The Senator's abode was in the heart of the city within viewing distance of the Senate. The building's gold plating flashed in the sunlight, a mark of the wealth of the Naboo people.

The shuttle docked on the top floor. The chill wind bit through Cassandra's green cashmere sweater and black slacks, and she wished she'd thought to wear a jacket. Hugging her middle she followed Dorme inside her lavish apartment. Everything was decorated in shades of blue, the carpet a vibrant sapphire edged in gold.

Dorme sank gracefully onto the sofa and gestured Cassandra to sit across from her. She watched the girl scan her surroundings with a neutral expression. The sorceress was clearly not impressed in the way Dorme's visitors normally were.

But then, Cassandra Pierce was unlike anyone she had ever met in all her years in politics. A young woman who had retained pieces of her childlike innocence mixed with wisdom more often seen in an elder.

The sorceress' eyes were still red from weeping. Only one thing caused that sort of heartache: men. Dorme curved her hand instinctively over her rounded belly. When Teckla brought the tea, she dismissed the handmaiden and Captain Typho so they might have privacy. "Will you tell me what has you upset?" She asked after pouring the tea.

One corner of Cassandra's mouth lifted in a weak attempt at a smile. "I'm surprised at your directness."

Dorme smiled back. "It seems your preferred method of communication."

"Ouch."

"I meant no insult." She told the girl sincerely. "I realize we barely know one another but sometimes it's easier to share confidences with a stranger."

"Your logic has merit." Cassandra conceded. "I'm a very private person and trust only a few. I don't know if I'm comfortable to share personal issues with an acquaintance."

"I appreciate your honesty, Master Pierce."

Cassandra added a dash of lemon juice to her tea. Everything the Senator said was logical. Talking it out with another woman could help her see a solution. But she risked outing herself and Anakin.

She tapped her index finger against the gold rim of the teacup. Maybe if she spoke of things in vague terms.... "Anakin did something on a mission that upset me. I'm worried about the impact on our friendship."

Their marriage.

"I ask that you keep the details confidential, Dorme." Cassandra gauged the Senator carefully. "This is very important."

Because she was afraid of what it said about their relationship that he didn't trust her.

"I promise."

Cassandra told the Senator what occurred on Mortis. Anakin seeing a vision of the future where he claimed she would betray him. How the Force Wielder erased the Jedi's memory. He had no recollection of his brief sojourn to the Dark Side or what he said to her. "You see the problem? Instead of trusting in me and not some vision that was probably fake, he decided becoming evil was the only way to prevent that future."

She wasn't enough.

Dorme was silent for a long while. Cassandra could practically hear the gears turning in the other woman's brain. Nervous, she picked up a shortbread cookie from the tray on the coffee table and nibbled on the corner.

When she at last spoke, Dorme's response was calm and measured. "Ani has always been a sensitive person. He grew from a nervous boy missing his mother, to an anxious, passionate young man. He feels very deeply for a Jedi." She shrugged a little. "I'm not a Jedi. I don't fully understand their abilities."

"Do you think I'm wrong to be upset about something he can't remember?" Cassandra asked anxiously.

"No, your feelings are valid. Ani acted impulsively and not wisely. The two of you are close, why do you think he made the decision he did?" Dorme questioned, as if she were trying to lead her to an obvious answer.

Comprehension dawned on Cassandra. "Because he was afraid. Afraid of losing me...my friendship."

In a misguided way her Jedi had been trying to protect her. The knot inside her unraveled. Cassandra crammed the rest of the shortbread cookie in her mouth and set aside her half-drunk tea. She rose and drew a portal. "Bai-derme." She said around a mouthful spraying crumbs on the plush carpet.

Dorme covered her mouth, hiding her smile. "You are welcome here any time Cassandra. I'm glad I could help you."

Aware of her appalling manners, Cassandra swallowed her treat and smiled. "Thank you." On impulse, she hugged the other woman. "I've got to find Anakin."

She waved at the Senator and stepped into their apartment. Marty, Threepio, and Porggy were watching the Holonet. Goose was there too, sitting in Anakin's chair. Cassandra looked around for her missing Jedi. "Where's Anakin?"

"Oh! Welcome home, Miss Cassandra." Threepio left his friends and shuffled over to her. "He has been sent on a mission to rescue Master Piel." He held out an envelope. "Master Ani asked me to give this to you."

Her heart sank. He left before she could talk to him. Who knew how long he would be gone on the mission. Cassandra's damaged hand cramped, the letter shaking in her fingers. "Thank you, 3PO."

"Do you require anything else?"

"No, thank you."

She slowly wandered into the kitchen and found a knife to slit open the envelope. She waited until the shaking passed before handling the knife. Unfolding Anakin's letter, she spread it on the counter to read.

'To my dearest love,

Cassandra, I am deeply sorry for how I acted on Mortis. I wish I could remember the things I said and did if only to understand why. But I can't. All I can tell you is I love you. I hope you can forgive me because I can't imagine a day without you in my life nor do I want to. Once I return from my mission, I hope we can put this behind us.

You deserve nothing but my trust and respect and I let you down. I promise to keep trying and hope that's enough.'

Cassandra stifled a sob. It was enough. She blinked back tears and finished reading.

'Stay safe until I return. I told Threepio and Marty to look after you. As for Porggy, I suspect you'll be taking care of him.

Your adoring husband,

Cuddles.'

Cassandra laughed at his signature. "I can't believe he signed it like that!"

Anakin hated the nickname.

Smiling, Cassandra kissed the letter and tucked it back in the envelope, holding it against her heart. They were going to be okay. Later, she'd pull out her private commlink and call her Jedi to check on him.

Cheered, she went into their bedroom to take a shower to warm up. As she was getting a change of clothes Cassandra noticed the large, gift-wrapped box on the bed. Had Anakin gotten her a present too?

Peeling the paper off, she lifted the lid. Four long blue tentacles spilled over the sides of the box.

Cassandra peered inside and screamed.

A/N: Sorry for the cliffhanger guys! Good news is, I've figured out the rest of the plot! Its been a real struggle but I've finally figured out which MCU characters will be in the story and when they will appear!