The sky above Ionian Watch was clear, allowing for a perfect view of the stars above. So it was no surprise to Kassandra that she found Natakas sitting on the slatted roof of the trellis above their home. She could see his legs dangling over the side as she walked up the stairs. His feet kicked lightly for a moment before she jumped and grabbed onto the edge of the trellis, pulling herself up. Natakas watched her as she moved carefully across the surface to sit beside him. Kassandra made sure to keep a couple inches between them just to be safe. Since their moment together earlier that day she had not had another chance to speak with him. If fact she felt as though he had been avoiding her.

Kassandra looked toward the sky, enjoying the sight of the stars strewn across the darkness and the crescent moon hanging high, before she turned to look at the man beside her. "It's a nice night," she commented.

"It is," Natakas agreed, turning his eyes to the sky again. Since they'd settled in the house he took every chance he could to stargaze. As though trying to memorize the patterns in heavens above.

Kassandra waited for him to say something else, and when he didn't she decided she'd have to try to prompt a conversation. "Something on your mind?"

Natakas was quiet for a moment before he spoke. "I'm considering if my father would be a good source of advice about women."

Kassandra quickly tried to stifle her laugh at the notion of Darius giving such guidance. "I don't think he's the best source," Kassandra managed to say between chuckles. Natakas smiled and shrugged hopelessly. "I have an idea. You need advice about women - and I just so happen to be a woman. You can ask me."

Natakas paused and considered the proposal before he nodded his head and grinned. "That's a great idea. You've traveled the world, met all kinds of people, and in being a woman yourself your perspective is ideal. It's perfect."

Kassandra smiled at his enthusiasm, and honestly she shared his eagerness. Considering that she didn't know where they stood after the kiss and didn't want to charge into a conversation about it. Maybe this way they could talk about what happened without breaking the comfortable peace they had here. "So what advice do you need?"

"Well, I've met someone," Natakas began. Kassandra put on a face of false surprise and he simply shook his head before he looked to the stars once more. "She's the most amazing person I've ever met. Intelligent, brave, strong. She's an unparalleled fighter, even better than my father. Her beauty could rival Aphrodite; the sort a sculptor could spend a lifetime tying to capture. I love spending time with her. Whenever I'm with her I feel safe and at peace." As he spoke a soft smile crept onto his lips and Kassandra couldn't help but smile as well.

"She sounds like quite the woman," Kassandra admitted. It wasn't like Natakas was the first person to speak highly of her, but it was different coming from him. Unlike so many others Natakas actually knew her. So his praise came from a deeper place. His words touched her and sparked a warm feeling in her chest. But if he had so many positive hings to say, it made her question why he seemed standoffish. "So what's the problem?"

Natakas brow furrowed as he answered her. "I know that in the past she's approached relationships in a fairly detached way. But what I feel for her isn't…I don't want a casual encounter. I don't know if she wants the same thing as me." Natakas turned to her, his apprehension all the more evident on his face. "How do I know what she wants?"

Kassandra was caught off guard by the question. Her investment, or rather lack thereof, in a possible relationship wasn't what she had expected to be the source of his concern. She'd thought it would be something more like him feeling uncomfortable with the risk of things not working out between them, or concern over his own lack of practice.

"Well, you could just ask her," Kassandra suggested. Natakas seemed unsure, and she couldn't really blame him. He wasn't terribly experienced with women so it didn't surprise her that he wasn't confident in how to begin a relationship. She decided that so long as the passive way they were discussing the subject was allowing them to talk freely she'd continue it. "Though I'm actually going through a similar dilemma myself. There's a man I'm very attracted to, and recently I made it clear to him that I was interested. We shared a kiss that would make the Gods blush." She smirked at the man beside her. It may have been a slight exaggeration, but considering what it might mean for the both of them such a claim seemed appropriate. "He's smart, funny, skilled in combat as well as the hunt, an amazing cook, gentle, caring. When I'm with him I feel like all the worries I have in the world just vanish and I feel…at home."

Kassandra couldn't read the look on Natakas' face as she spoke about him. "This man sounds pretty amazing," he finally said.

"And he's good looking too," Kassandra said with a grin.

"I would expect so," Natakas said with a small smile. "A woman like you could surely only find love with a man that could rival Adonis. But how does that connect to my problem?"

"Well, I've had casual relationships in the past," Kassandra explained. "But with him I want so much more. You remember that dream I had of living a simple life? Of fishing with my son?" Natakas nodded. "In that dream he's my son's father." The look on Natakas' face was one of surprise. At that point Kassandra was done pretending it wasn't him she was talking about. "I want something real and lasting with you, Natakas. Not just for fun. You are the reason this place is home, the reason why I keep coming back. If this was the cave back in Makedonia it would still be home as long as you were there. I would still come back to that drafty cave - if only to be with you."

A slow smile spread on Natakas' face as he seemed to let her words soak in. "I want that as well. You make me feel happy and content in a way I never thought I could. We spent so long running, but you changed that. Now, I don't think I want to be anywhere other than here, with you. And if there's a place for me in the life you dreamed then I'm happy to share in it. I never really thought about having a son, but if you don't mind my lack of experience I would be willing."

Kassandra smirked and leaned toward him. "I'd be happy to help you learn." Natakas smiled at her and leaned in as well. His arm moved around her waist as their lips touched. She scooted closer as her own hand moved to his waist and they let themselves be lost in each other.