Sam opened the door to a very happy looking Cassie. Janet stood behind her daughter with a 'what can you do?' look on her face. Cassie wore a headband with two little cat ears attached and it seems she had managed to draw black whiskers on her cheeks with a pen of some sort – Sam just hoped it wasn't a permanent marker.

"Good morning Cass, ready for a big day?" Cassie strode on past Sam with a quick hello. She knew the house well and Sam knew she was already in the lounge perusing her bookcase. Sam allowed her to borrow two books each time she visited.

"Here you go," Janet handed Sam, Cassie's backpack with a wink. "Good luck, I'll see you tonight."

..

After Cassie had picked her books Sam managed to wrench her away from the bookcase and out into the garden. It was a beautiful sunny day and damned if they would spend it inside!

"You should wear my cat ears." They lay side by side on Sam's deckchairs a glass of lemonade each. Sam opened one eye and looked over at the girl. She had a very serious look on her whiskered face so Sam decided she had better acquiesce. It was obviously a big deal sharing her cat's ears.

"Sure," she sat up and took the ears from Cassie's outstretched hands and perched them on top of her head with a silly grin. "How do I look?" Cassie rolled her eyes and stood up.

"Let me fix them." She removed the ears and gently tucked Sam's hair behind her ears and then set the headband back on her head, this time in the correct position… obviously.

"Hey Ladies," Sam's head shot up in surprise at the voice. What the hell was the Colonel doing here? Cassie bounced over calling out his name and throwing herself into his open arms. Jack in turn picked her up and swung her around before setting her down on the bottom step leading up to the deck.

"What are you doing here Sir?" He was very relaxed around Cassie and she knew how much the girl enjoyed his company. He raised both eyebrows at her and said nothing. She cocked her head to the side and felt something shift on top of her head. Oh shit. She was still wearing the cat ears.

"Meow," she waved a hand like a paw in front of her face and let out a small giggle. Cassie thought it was hilarious and insisted she meowed again… and again…. and again. The Colonel perched on the deckchair across from her with a slight smile on his face.

"When I pictured you in a cat ears… it wasn't quite like this…" He teased. She felt a blush rise to her cheeks and ducked her head in embarrassment. "Sorry," he chuckled. "I had to put it out there."

"Sure you did Sir," she managed to control her emotions and finally look him in the eye. "There is always Halloween." She grinned.

"You could be cat woman!" Cassie cried, her face the picture of innocence. She had no idea the undertones in their current conversation.

"That I could," she sent a cheeky smile over at the Colonel and he pretended not to notice.

"I learned about Halloween. Janet said if I'm good we can have a party. I want you and Jack to come." Cassie told them nodding her head seriously. "You guys are my best friends in the whole wide world!" She opened up her arms for emphasis.

"Sounds like fun Cass," Jack answered, glancing over at Sam. "So what are your plans for the afternoon?"

..

The End.