Cati wandered into the main hold of the Ebon Hawk when she stopped, berating herself. She'd been aimlessly pacing again, her mind consumed with thoughts of him.

She heard a clanking sound behind her, and moved out of the way so the assassin droid could pass her as he did his rounds. Undoubtedly he thought she was crazy for wandering the way she did. Then again, he couldn't seem to make sense of the motivations of "meatbags" anyway.

Unexpectedly, Cati heard a deep male voice greet the droid, and her heart skipped a beat. Unable to stop herself, she ran over to join him, knowing he wouldn't mind. He wouldn't care one way or the other, but it never seemed to stop her heart from hoping.

"Greeting: Hello, Mandalorian meatbag. I understand you will be drinking yourself to sleep again tonight?"

Canderous grunted at the droid in what was neither an agreement or a denial.

"Statement: Then all is on regular schedule." With that, HK continued on his way.

Cati hopped up next to Canderous, sitting as close to him as she dared. It wouldn't have been so bad if he would just acknowledge her presence. But he paid more attention to his drink than to her.

Just touch me, she thought, but nothing happened. She stared at his hands, imagining what it would be like to have them move over her skin, wishing he would pay her the least bit of attention.

The Mandalorian finished his drink, and set his glass down, not even looking in her direction.

"I love you," she said in desperation, but he didn't answer. He wasn't listening. He never did.

Canderous poured another drink, swirling the amber liquid before pressing the glass to his lips and downing half the contents.

Before Cati could make another move, Revan waltzed in and sat next to the Mandalorian. Cati sighed. Now she'd never get his attention. Nobody surpassed Revan, at least in Canderous's eyes.

"What are you drinking, mate?" Revan asked, nodding at the glass in Canderous's hand.

"Juma," he grunted. "The last of the Tarisian ale went the other night."

Revan poured herself a glass, and the three of them fell once again into silence. Cati hoped Revan would leave once she had finished her glass, but she had no such luck.

"I can't believe it's over," Revan said softly. "I don't know what I'll do now. I'll have to face the Jedi and the Republic and then... I don't know."

"You could try spending some time off this bucket. Get away from these bloody gizka." Canderous glared at Cati. "I thought you got rid of them all."

"I must have missed one," Revan said, giving Cati a stroke.

"Don't pet it, you'll just encourage it," Canderous grumbled.

Cati hopped away from Revan and closer to the Mandalorian.

He narrowed his eyes at her. "Don't even think about it, shorty. I do not pet gizka."

"Oh, give it a try, Canderous. She's not going to bite you," Revan said.

"I'm not afraid," he protested.

Revan just smiled at him.

"I'm not! Why would a warrior like me be afraid of this little froggy thing?"

Revan still didn't answer.

Canderous heaved a sigh. Slowly, tentatively, he reached out one hand. Cati's skin tingled in anticipation as she watched his hand come closer. At long last, he touched her, and it was everything Cati had known it would be.

Revan patted him on the shoulder. "I'm so proud. Now, it's late, and I'm going to leave the two of you alone." She got up to leave.

"That's not funny," Canderous called after her.

Cati hadn't heard a joke, but she fully agreed. This wasn't funny, it was joyful. She'd never been happier in all her three weeks of living.

And now she had him to herself for the rest of the evening.