1 year Anniversary (1/2)

Posted on Sat Aug 8th, 2026 @ 12:06pm by Cassandra Lennox & Nathan Crawford

3,037 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Before
Location: Officers Lounge
Timeline: May 12th 2012

Nathan stood next to the counter and poured two cups of coffee from the coffee pot. He glanced at the lovely woman sitting at the Wardroom table going over the scheduled events for the following day. Tomorrow marked the one year anniversary of when the Europa first made port in Thistledrift, making it the ship's new homeport and base of operations for the ship's ongoing mission. He poured a little milk, added two sugars and a single teaspoon of caramel syrup to one of the coffee mugs before returning to the table and sitting back down. He placed the mug with additional ingredients in front of Cassandra before taking a sip of his black coffee. He gave a nod to the handwritten agenda in front of her. "Looks like a busy day for you and Captain Skye, what with speeches in the town square and accompanying the children on the ship's tour for the children and then there is the banquet aboard ship tomorrow night. Think you can handle it Madam Mayor?"

“Alright first lieutenant or do you prefer executive officer?” Cassandra wondered grinning at she looked up at him. “Oh thank you Nathan.” She said politely as she looked back at the man as several men snickered a little as they came back in. They looked at little happier knowing that they were going to be off the ship tomorrow.

“Hello Cassie.” One of them declared brightly.

“Hey Daniel.” The woman greeted back.

Nathan gave the question some thought. "I go by both depending on who you ask. Captain Skye refers to me as First Lieutenant for the most part. NATO dispatches state I am Executive Officer, the officers and crew general call me sir or Commander Crawford over communications. It's been some getting used to since Commander Milton resigned his commission to marry Abigail Blume (Thistledrift school teacher) two months ago. Is it true? Abigail is already expecting?"

Cassandra laughed a little as he carried on talking as if she had not been teasing him. Daniel smiled into his cold cup of coffee as he watched the pair. “She is indeed. Good for them. First baby born hopefully.” Cassandra was happy for them.

“Hope I can find take one like that.” Daniel said quietly as he leaned back and looked at the instructions for the tour he was going to give tomorrow.

Nathan chuckled. "I'll take the children's tour for if you want. There's a group of six who have voiced an interest in service aboard Europa if you want to take them on a tour."

Daniel sat up straight and looked at the man like he had grown a second head for a moment before he shook his head. “No thank you sir.” The man said quickly. “I would rather jump over board than do that.”

“Okay they need inspirational content not Daniel telling them about his conquests in Barcelona.” Another officer spoke up making Cassandra laugh harder. Daniel rolled his eyes but he could not argue.

“Thank you for the coffee.” Cassandra complimented as she took a sip and realised it had some caramel in it just like she liked.

Nathan offered Cassandra a smile. Daniel wasn't the only one to have benefited from a stop in Barcelona. Nathan had picked up the caramel syrup from a market vendor during their port call in Barcelona. Nathan had been working closely with Cassandra over the last year. He knew how she liked her coffee, her tea. He knew her favorite drink. He also knew she enjoyed stargazing. He looked down at the agenda sheet before her. He looked up into her eyes. "We've been working on this agenda for more than two hours. It's a warm, clear night. How about we take a break on the weather deck. We can take our coffee, get some fresh air. Meteorology says there's a good chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis tonight off to the North East. What do you say? Up for a ten minute break?"

"You should, Cass. It has helped my brain." Daniel said as someone commented that nothing could help that, but Daniel rolled her eyes. He was the butt of people's jokes, but he, at the very least, knew he was the person everyone relied on. Cassandra frowned as she looked up at the clock on the wall and realised that they really had been there for hours.

"I had not realised it had been so long. Sure." She had not seen the northern lights before, so that would be nice, especially that low in the UK. She grabbed up her cardigan and coffee and waited for him to lead the way.

Nathan tidied up the anniversary paperwork for Cassandra and slipped it into the pocket folder. He glanced at Cassandra. "We pass by my office on the way. Figured we can secure the paperwork there until after the break." He took the folder in one hand and his coffee mug in the other and led the way. A few minutes later they arrived one the weather deck after the brief stop by his office.

Cassandra had not thought the paperwork security needed but she was not going to judge him. Maybe Daniel and the other officers could not be trusted. She stepped outside surprised that it was so late that the sun was setting. “Well this is nice.” She decided stepping towards the ledge leaning against the barrier.

Nathan leaned on the railing to. He glanced inland first to the setting sun and then turned to look out over the harbour and out into open sea. He caught Cassandra's thoughtful expression as she looked out over the railing. He took a deep breath and caught her scent. He had always tried to interact with Cassandra with the utmost respect and professionalism in the year he had known the woman, but the last few weeks he was finding it hard to ignore his attraction for this lovely and formidable woman. Just looking at her brought a sense of warmth to him. He smiled as she looked out over the railing. "So, have you given any thought to your speech tomorrow?"

“Nope.” She said glancing at him slyly before shaking her head. “Of course I have. It’s all written I have only commented once on nearly shooting you in the ass.” She promised grinning over mug at him before she looked back at the small fishing vessels coming back and the anti zombie netting being put back into place.

Nathan grinned and nodded as he looked at Cassandra. She had a smile that made him feel tingly all over. He felt a sense of relief for the beard he wore as it often hid the blushing of his cheeks. He saw something in her expression, an almost playful something that lasted just a moment. He wasn't entirely sure it had even happened. "You know. Tomorrow isn't the only anniversary there is. Today marks one year to the day we met one another."

Cassandra stopping sipping her coffee and laughed a little more. She had not thought about that at all just had been so focused on the village and the community that they had built out of the chaos. “I had not thought on that but you are right.” She remained as she turned around and leaned her back against the solid metal barrier looking at him.

Nathan inhaled deeply as she turned and faced him. "I was thinking...perhaps we might have a drink together. Perhaps celebrate our knowing one another for a year. I have an unopened bottle of Bailey's in my office. If you feel inclined to having a celebratory drink with me."

“Bailey's?” Cassandra looked at him and raised an eyebrow. “First my coffee had caramel in out of no where and now baileys?” She questioned wondering if he was just making lucky guess and being kind or if he was finally responding to her flirting after all this time.

Nathan had kept his eyes on hers. His eyes caught the rise of her chest as she spoke about both the Bailey's and caramel syrup. He glanced passed her out to see as he offered up his explanation. "Last time we were in port.... I overheard you speaking with Doctor Parrish at the pub. Talking about how you wished you still had caramel syrup for your morning coffee and how you wished the pub still had some Bailey's on ice. I picked up both during our last cruise. I thought you deserved a nice indulgence for yourself what with the commemorative ceremonies tomorrow. I will understand if you would prefer to wait until tomorrow though." His expression held a mix of hopefulness and desire for a private moment. "So would you be interested in having a drink or wait until the banquet tomorrow night?"

“I was talking to Juliet about things I missed but I felt that they were wasteful with our current supply issues around sugar.” She commented glancing around at the crew that were around still just enjoying the warm evening. “Oh I would love a drink Commander. Lead the way.” She said quietly indicating he should show her where they were going as she had never been to his office or any where other than the ward room, sickbay, bridge and officers mess.

Nathan nodded and gestured to a nearby hatch leading to the interior of the ship.He took the lead as the passageways in this part of the ship were a bit narrower than the former passenger accommodations. They passed a door with his name and arrived at a door marked First Lieutenant's officer. He unlocked the office door and gestured for Cassandra to enter. "After you."

“Almost forget that this used to be a cruise ship.” She laughed as they passed the area that used to hold the shops that had been turned into office and bunk space. She smiled up at him as they stepped into his room. “Well this is fancy Nathan.” She teased.

Nathan glanced around the small office space and shrugged. "Just someplace quiet to get paperwork done or have a one on one meeting with an officer or crew member." He pointed to the door along the right wall. "I have a shower and head in there and my sleeping quarters just passed that." He opened a small refrigerator and pulled a sizeable bottle of Bailey's and passed it to Cassandra. He opened a cupboard door above his small desk and pulled two short rock glasses out. He held them aloft for Cassandra to pour.

“That is huge Commander. Are you trying to get me pissed so I forget my speech tomorrow?” She teased as she took the bottle and poured them both a glass before securing it back in the fridge. She listed the glass in a mock salute to the man and took a sip. “It’s perfect.” She sighed happy as she sat down on the small couch.

Nathan matched her salute with the glass. "To a wonderful anniversary celebration tomorrow." He took a seat next to her on the tiny couch, which was more of a love seat. He swirled the remaining liquid around and set the glass on the end table on his side. He felt her thigh against his. One arm rested on the back of the love seat his other gripped the arm rest. He felt warm sensation he was not accustomed to as he looked at her content expression. He glanced at the rise of her chest as she sighed and looked into her eyes. He knew he had just been caught looking at her for exactly what she was to him, a beautiful and very desirable woman. His hand reached up and his thumb lightly brushed her lips for a moment. His arms wrapped around her one high across her shoulders, the other around her waist as his lips found hers. The sensation was incredible and the kiss deepened as Cassandra responded as well.

Cassandra was surprised by the kiss but she was not unhappy about the kiss at all but her hand still gripped the glass which left her unable to keep him close. She moaned softly as she pulled back and looked at him. “Well…” she said quietly as she put down the glass on the floor.

Nathan moved back to his side of the love seat. He was speechless. His mind raced as he realised what he had just done. He felt frozen in shock and wondered what she was going to do next.

“Commander? You kissed me mid drink in the air and now are running away.” Cassandra commented as she shifted a little bit with now both her hands free to leaned over and tugged his blue shirt collar so she could kiss him this time. It was softer this time but she found herself able to run her fingers through his hair.

Nathan felt her lips on his. Soft, pleasant kisses as she shifted position. His hands found her hips he shifted as well. He felt her filgers running through his hair as he shifted himself beneath her. His mouth found her throat and he kissed her as his hands slipped under her cardigan to gently caress her body over the thin cotton blouse she wore. There was no doubt she knew what the closeness of their doing to him now that she was straddling the bulge in his trousers.

The woman was surprised when his hands shifted her even more and she found herself straddling him. She could feel every muscle of his body and hitch of his breathing beneath her. “Well that certainly broke the tension.” The woman whispered as his lips found her throat. She moaned softly as she leaned back out of his reach looking down at him.

Nathan looked up at Cassandra. His breathing was shallow gasps. His hands descended from her torso to rest lightly on her thighs. Her expression seemed stuck between wanting to continue and wanting to put a stop. His body felt all tingly. "I apologize. I...just...I have wanted to kiss you ever since Europa's last port call a month ago."

She smiled at the confusion on his face, she had never seen him close to looking human.“And you didn’t kiss me or respond to my flirting because?” She wondered quietly as she looked at him running her thumb along his beard grinning. She had flirted on and off since the first moment she had met him.

Nathan lifted one hand and gently caressed Cassandra cheek. "Honestly. I didn't want to do anything that would endanger our friendship. We have both worked hard to build something for our people." He thought about his arrival to Thistledrift. Cassandra had endured a great deal on her journey back home. A lot she was still reluctant to speak about. "We've both been focused on that work. I...also promised your mum that my intentions towards you were, would be always about the respect and admiration for your dedication to the people of Thistledrift. Leaders...often must sacrifice their own desires for the good of the people they lead"

“I was flirting with you. I was sending signals that I liked you. Bloody hell Nathan, even Daniel caught the bloody signals and kept telling me if you were not interested he was.” She laughed a little shaking her head at what he said about her mum. Maureen had nothing to do with anything concerning her love life.

Nathan locked his gaze on Cassandra's. "I am interested Cassandra. I've been interested for quite some time now. I'm showing you right now that I'm interested." He paused for a moment. His thumb caressing her lips. "There's nothing I want more in this moment then to show you how interested I am. How much I want to kiss you. Touch you. Hold you in my arms and...and never let you go. You...just have to want the same thing." He brushed several stray hairs back into place. "Do you?"

Cassandra levelled him with a look and pressed her lips against his gently. She was not sure how any of her actions in the last ten minutes had not made it quite obvious that she wanted the same thing but hopefully her hands in his hair and her lips against his hopefully assured him of that.

Nathan's response was instant. He responded to her gentle kisses with tender ones of his own. His hands slipped back under her cardigan and gentle cupped her breasts. The bulge in his pants throbbed powerful enough for her to feel through their multiple layers of clothes. His thumbs began a slow swirl on and around her nipples through the fabric of her blouse and bra. He was in no rush, content to match her passion and pace as she saw fit.

Cassandra was surprised as his hand found her breast and she almost let out a finally comment but held herself back as she kissed him back. She was in no hurry, she was not a teenager desperate to get to the end nor was sure they were going to get that far without protection. “Nath… I…” she stopped as the intercom crackled to life and declare code Oscar. “Who the fuck has gone overboard.” She breathed pulling back reluctantly knowing he would need to answer.

Nathan was on his feet the instant Cassandra disengaged her self from their embrace. He moved to and through the office door and was on the weather deck in seconds. He began barking commands for spotlights to begin scanning and for the rescue team to deploy on the ready launch. He grabbed a wall mounted phone and spoke quietly over the shipwide circuit. "Division Officers and Lead Petty Officers initiate accountability checks. Report up the chain of command as soon as possible."

Cassandra chuckled a little and stayed where she was as she watched the man run out the room and could hear his voice booming orders. She was better staying out of the way as she could hear people running around the ship and people shouting. But that certainly slowed down their evening.

 

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