"So this is your place, huh?" Varian asked, lingering by the front door. The place smelled of vanilla. It reminded him of his mother and how she used to bake sugar cookies on the weekends. It was the most pleasant thing to come back to after being locked in a dank room for so long.

Cassandra, whilst throwing some wood in the fireplace, responded with "Yeah. I live in the castle, but my entire living quarters is smaller than the princess' bedroom. It's weird how classist these people are, and everyone just seems to ignore it. I mean, I love my job, but-" She paused and glanced up at her silent friend. "I'm rambling. Come on in. I figured you could stay with me until you got back on your feet."

Varian finally stepped into the room, and proceeded to ask, "What are you lighting the furnace for?"

"Dinner," She said, before tossing a match into the mess of twigs. "I hope you're a pork shoulder person."

When Varian didn't answer, Cassandra looked back up at him. She found him looking across the room at her. When they met eyes, they looked away.

"So, do you know where I could find a job?" He asked, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'd like to find one tomorrow so I won't have to stay with you too long. I- I mean, I'm sure we could get along just fine, but I know you want your space, and-"

"Listen. I know you have your goals, but tonight, let's just enjoy the fact that you're free. You can do anything you want, so what do you want to do?"

He knew he wanted her, but he couldn't say that. She was the only friend he had. If he crossed a line, he'd lose her. But she was biting her lip, looking up at him with those sparkling hazel eyes- but that wasn't consent to kiss her, was it? "I want to see the stars," he finally said, "I haven't seen those in years."

Her face fell a little. "That sounds fun. We can take the food outside when it's ready, and we can look at constellations."

The pork shoulder took a few hours to cook. By the time it was ready, it was dusk, almost night. Cassandra put out the fire and scooped the meat onto a dish, and carried it to her back door. "Grab four plates from the top shelf, and four forks from the drawer. I'll meet you outside."

He grabbed the forks and plates, and carried them outside to her porch. "So why do we need four if there's only two of us?"

"You'll see."

Almost instantly, something rustled in the bushes. It was big- and Varian was a little frightened. "I'll protect you, Cassie!" He called, grabbing her sword off the deck and aiming it at the bush. "Don't come any closer, I'll-"

"Whoa! Careful with that claymore, you could hurt someone." Lance said, appearing through the brush. He dusted himself off and sat by Cassandra. "I knew I smelled something good." He took a plate and a fork.

The bushes were still rustling, but Varian had set the sword down. "Does anyone want to explain who this is?"

Adira, now in the yard, did the honors. "That's Lance, my husband. We're her neighbors, and we come here for dinner a lot," She said, sitting down next to Lance. "So, Cass, I see you finally got a guy to like you enough to come home for dinner."

Cassandra's cheeks turned bright red. "That's not what this is, Adira. He just got out of jail, and he's my friend, and I- I-"

"Oh come on, you know I'm messing with you. I've got no love life. Messing with yours is the best I've got." She chuckled and took a helping of pork.

Lance followed suit. "Oh come on, you've got me, A-dear-a." He joked, nudging her side.

"Oh, I sure do. I sure do have you, my wonderful, caring husband." The two leaned against each other, laughing. "Sike!"

Varian was lost, so he whispered over to Cass, "What's going on?"

"Adira's been through a lot, he's just there for her," she answered. To change the subject, she cut a slice of pork for him, and put it on the last plate. "Eat up, Var."

He was going to ask why, but instead, he took a bite. His eyes went as wide as- well, dinnerplates- and he finished his helping in under a minute. "Cass! That was the best thing I've tasted since they gave us cornbread in prison!"

And then, as he got another helping, the sun finally went down, unveiling the stars and the moon for the four of them to see. Cassandra laid back in the grass and beckoned for him to do the same. He touched her hand- and to his surprise, she held his. And this, Varian realized, is what he was waiting five years for.