A/N - Prompt by theladyw on Tumblr: "Jake and Cassandra helping Flynn pick out forgive-me flowers for Eve."

I received this prompt forever ago and although I started it immediately I hit a bit of a block with it and ended up putting it aside until now. Once I got back into it, this story refused to end. Honestly, the ending still doesn't really sound like an ending to me but it sort of works?

Also, a disclaimer, I'm not a flower person. I Googled the meanings of all the flowers mentioned, and I have absolutely no idea what actually makes a good bouquet or what sort of varieties they sell at flower shops and whatnot.

"Guys, that wasn't good enough!" Baird lectured as she followed the LITs into the annex. "It took me less than five minutes to disable all three of you."

Jake, Cassandra, and Ezekiel all stumbled towards their workspace, each of them clearly exhausted. Cassandra and Jones both collapsed into their respective chairs while Jake slumped forward, resting his hands on the desk.

"Well maybe if you didn't have us run drill after drill all afternoon, gave us a chance to catch our breath," Stone grumbled. "The hell you having us run drills for, anyways? We haven't done that since before the minotaur case."

"You guys have been slacking lately," Baird said as she busied herself with some papers on her desk. "I'm sorry, but I just don't feel safe sending you guys back into the field until you improve."

"This is bull!" Ezekiel rolled his eyes and stood up. "The three of us are way better than we were when we first started and you know it. Whatever you're so pissed about, Baird, I don't have to stay here and take it."

The others watched as the young thief stormed out. Stone placed a reassuring hand on Cassandra's shoulder, who looked very upset about the way things were turning out.

"Hey," Jake whispered. "Don't worry, he just needs some time to cool down. He'll be back." Cassandra smiled up at him.

"Immature as that was, Jones is on to something. We could all use a break, " Baird said, gathering her things. "I'm going home and I suggest the two of you do the same because tomorrow morning we'll be running more drills until I know you guys are up to snuff."

The Colonel left in a hurry, leaving Jake and Cassandra alone in the annex.

"What do you think's gotten into her?" Cassandra asked. "She's been in a bad mood all day." Jake just shrugged, he was as unsure as she was.

Just then the portal door started shaking violently. Cassandra jumped to her feet, grabbing a book off the desk and preparing herself to throw it at whoever was barging in. For his part, Jake grabbed the nearest chair and took a couple hesitant steps forward, putting himself between Cassandra and whatever danger was lurking on the other side.

But it wasn't danger that was coming in, as the two Librarians were quick to realize. Seconds later the door burst open and Flynn triumphantly stepped through.

"Hey! Only two of you?" he announced. "Honestly, I always thought Stone would be the first casualty. Oh well. How are you guys?"

Cassandra dropped the book she was holding and ran to Flynn, smothering him in a tight hug, leaving Jake confused, still holding his chair.

"Wait...what? What do you mean...first casualty?"

"Don't get me wrong, I'm glad you're still here, Stone," Flynn said when Cassandra finally released him. "But for a man with a 190 IQ you don't always think with your head."

Jake set the chair down, still feeling a little confused.

"He's only teasing you, Jake." Cassandra grinned, and turned her attention back to Flynn. "Right?"

"Cassandra, you were always my favourite," Flynn smiled proudly at her. "Yes, Stone, I'm only teasing. And I know Ezekiel's not dead. What I don't know is where your Guardian is."

Jake and Cassandra exchanged cautious looks before Jake finally spoke up.

"You just missed her. Consider yourself lucky, she's been in a mood all day." Jake grumbled.

Now it was Flynn's turn to look confused. "She left? But we had plans. I was supposed to meet her here and…" he stopped, suddenly realizing something. "What day is it today?"

"The 12th, why?" Cassandra asked.

Flynn frowned, slumping into the chair that Jake had recently set down, "Yesterday. I was supposed to meet her here yesterday," his eyes widened and he quickly glanced between Stone and Cassandra. "Do you think she's mad?"

"Do I...do I think she's mad?" Jake raised his eyebrows at Flynn as he asked. "Nah! She ain't mad. She's just working us like dogs for the fun of it!"

"She might be a little mad," Cassandra added.

Flynn bent forward and rested his chin in his hands. "Great. Eve and I are barely even...I mean we aren't even officially a...I don't really know what we are. But whatever it is, I've already blown it."

"That's not true, Flynn," Cassandra walked over and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Colonel Baird really likes you. I'm sure it's not too late."

"Yeah, you better do something," Jake added. "And soon! I can't take anymore of these drills."

"I'm sure if you just explained what happened," Cassandra suggested. "Baird would understand if you got caught up saving the world again."

Flynn nodded. "You know, she just might," he sighed. "She's great, isn't she? I don't even deserve her."

Jake and Cassandra exchanged glances, but didn't say anything.

"This is the part where you guys assure me that I'm being too hard on myself, and that I do deserve a woman like Baird."

"Of course you deserve her, Flynn," Cassandra encouraged. Jake stood silently beside her until the redhead lightly elbowed his side.

"Yeah... you're uh, you're sure something," he said with a smile. It wasn't that Jake didn't believe that Flynn deserved Baird, he was just never comfortable getting caught up in other people's problems.

"Still, if I'm going to apologize I shouldn't show up empty handed," Flynn started. "FLOWERS!" Cassandra jumped and Jake's eyes went wide as Flynn suddenly shouted the word. "I need flowers!"

"There's a florist just downtown," Cassandra suggested. "We'll go with you, help you pick out something nice."

"We will?" Jake rethought his tone after Cassie shot him a look. "I mean, of course we will."

Flynn jumped up and positioned himself between the two LiTs, wrapping an arm around each of their shoulders. "Did I mention yet that you two are my favourites?"

"This looks nice," Flynn eyed a bouquet of dark crimson roses. "Women like roses, right?"

Cassandra started to nod, but before she could verbally agree, Jake spoke up. "Nah, you don't want that," he started. "Crimson roses mean mourning. I don't think that's the message you want to send."

"No, I don't believe it is," Flynn agreed. "What about marigolds? They're pretty. Not overly fancy but still beautiful. What sort of message do they send?"

"Grief. Jealousy. Take your pick," Jake answered nonchalantly. Flynn made a face and continued browsing.

"Ah, the cyclamen! Now that's a fun word to say!" Flynn spoke quickly and excitedly. "Sounds like the villain in one of those science fiction shows…do I want a flower that sounds like a bad guy?"

"Considering the cyclamen symbolizes resignation and goodbye, I don't think so," Jake mumbled, oblivious to the impressed looks Cassandra had been giving him since they arrived at the shop.

"How do you know all this, Jake?" she asked him in awe.

Jake just shrugged. "Floristry is just art with flowers," he mumbled, turning his attention back to Flynn. "See, what you want to do is start with some hyacinths…"

"The yellow ones are nice," Flynn eyed the brightly coloured flowers.

"Nah, yellow hyacinths are another symbol for jealousy. What you want are the purple ones," Jake suggested. "They're apology flowers."

"Now we're talking," Flynn said excitedly.

"And maybe some striped carnations. They symbolize the wish to be around someone," Jake added, pointing out the flowers in question. Flynn nodded in agreement.

"And we'll finish up with some yellow tulips," Jake smiled, already forgetting his previous reluctance to help, and enjoying himself in the art of the flowers. "They once meant hopeless love, and nowadays also symbolize cheerful thoughts and sunshine."

"That sounds about right," Flynn agreed. "I can only hope Eve thinks so, too."

"She's going to love it," Cassandra assured him.

Since Jake was the only one who really knew what he was doing, he went to talk to the florist and pay for the arrangement while Cassandra and Flynn waited outside. It wasn't long before Stone returned with the flowers.

"These should do the trick, but if for some reason they don't, I hope you're not above begging," Jake said as he handed the bouquet to Flynn. "Baird better be in a better mood the next time we see her, or I'm holdin' you personally responsible."

"Duly noted," Flynn accepted the flowers. "Eve's apartment is just a couple blocks from here, I'll just walk over. Wish me luck." He smiled nervously before walking off.

"We should probably get going, too," Cassandra said after Flynn had left.

"Cassie, wait," Jake gently grabbed her shoulder to stop her from turning away. "There's one more thing."

Stone reached inside his jacket and pulled out a single, white tulip, holding it out earnestly to Cassandra.

"Oh, Jake," she whispered as she took the flower from him. "It's beautiful."

"White tulips symbolize innocence and purity...and also," Jake hesitated. "pure and perfect love."

"I don't know what to say," Cassandra smiled as she held the flower up to her face to smell it.

"Say you'll have dinner with me tonight?" Jake suggested, a hopeful look on his face.

Cassandra opened her mouth to speak, but found herself at a loss for words. Instead she just grinned as wide as she had the day she met Santa and nodded eagerly.

"In that case, I know the perfect place," Jake returned the smile, and offered his hand to Cassandra. She took it, and the two of them walked off together, their hectic and exhausting day long since forgotten.

Baird had just sat down, prepared to find a crappy B movie on Netflix to take her mind off things, when there was a knock at her door. She sighed and reluctantly went to see who it was.

When she spotted Flynn through the peephole she was all set to lecture him about the importance of at least calling someone if you absolutely have to cancel plans with them. But her heart melted when she opened the door and realized he was holding a colourful bouquet of flowers.

"Did you at least save the world, Librarian?" Baird asked, softly.

"Twice!" Flynn smiled, handing her the bouquet. "I'm sorry, Eve. I ended up in Australia. Different time zone, and an entirely different day. I didn't even realize I was late until I made it back to the annex."

"It's okay. This time," Baird sighed, and stepped aside to let Flynn into her apartment. "And thank you. These are lovely."

"You wouldn't believe who helped me pick them out," he said, leading Eve over to her couch so that he could tell her all about the meaning behind each flower they had chosen.

Ezekiel couldn't help but notice that everyone seemed to be in a better mood. The drills had stopped, and Baird hadn't even mentioned how he had stormed out in anger after yelling at her the day before. Stone had a sappy grin plastered on his face and hadn't made a single sarcastic comment all day, no matter how much the young thief tried to annoy him. Even Cassandra, who was almost always in a good mood, seemed a little extra cheerful that day.

Something suspicious was definitely going on, and Ezekiel was pretty sure he knew what it was.

"Jenkins!" he had sought out the older man, finding him in his office. "Jenkins, I think we've got a case!"

"Did something new appear in the clippings book? I'm sure the team can help you with it, I'm currently busy with more important work right now."

"No, I can't go to them with this," Jones said almost nervously. "They are the case."

Jenkins looked at him skeptically.

"Aliens!"

Jenkins sighed. "I really don't have time for this right now, Mr. Jones."

"I'm serious, Jenkins! Everyone is acting weird today and I bet aliens have something to do with it."

Jenkins walked out of the room, the young thief quick on his heels. "Honestly, Mr. Jones. Don't you have anything better to occupy your mind with?"

"What could be better than aliens?"

"Silence, for one thing."

"C'mon, Jenkins," Ezekiel pleaded. "If you help me get to the bottom of this I promise I won't sell you out to our alien overlords...Jenkins?"

The pair had reached a room Ezekiel didn't even know existed. Jenkins had gone in first and had the door in the younger man's face.

"Jenkins? Jenkins?" Jones knocked on the door. "Fine, be that way!" he turned away, admitting defeat.

"Guess I'll just have to face the aliens alone, then. Whatever. I kinda like alien Stone better anyways. I could get used to this," he muttered, as he made his way back to the main room.