Homeport Day-Party

Posted on Tue Sep 22nd, 2026 @ 8:12pm by Cassandra Lennox & Nathan Crawford

Mission: Before
Timeline: May 2012

 

Cassie sat on steps that led to the beach with her glass of cider and just smiled as she listened to the festivities. It was a soft background sound as she looked out across the ocean and watched the Europa. How had things changed in the last year since she had turned up and collapsed on the floor at her mother’s feet and then yet again in the last 24 hours with Nathan. She did not regret any of the plot twists but it did leave her contemplating alone as she needed a moment of fresh air and no one asking anything off of her.

Heavy footsteps approached from behind Cassandra a figure in uniform sat down on the srep next to Cassandra and looked out at the same view of the ocean and Europa. Nathan didn't say anything. He just sat next to her and enjoyed the view. His own thoughts traveled back to the first time he had met the extraordinary woman who sat next to him. Her word alone had provided the Europa and her crew a safe harbour and a new home. It may have been a group effort in building the rapport, but a large part of that effort was from the amazing and tireless work done by the woman sitting next to him.

Cassandra looked up as she heard footsteps and smiled at the man as he sat down next to her on the steps. "Going to get mucky and that uniform looks so nice." She teased him as she sipped on the cider.

Nathan glanced down at his dress uniform before looking at Cassandra and rolling his eyes. He tugged at the neck collar and grumbled with faux frustration. "Already there. Who would've thought we would be pushing 28 degrees Celsius in the middle of May by noon." He gave Cassandra a decidedly look of desire in her sundress. "You look comfortable at least." He reached up and brushed a lock of her hair. "Hair and makeup too. You should give me the name of your fashion consultant." He admired the simple beauty that she had. Nothing overdone.

"The weather has turned weird with fewer humans and less pollution." Cassandra pointed out, smiling at the man he reached out and brushed a piece of hair out of her face. "Been a long time since I have worn this. I left it behind when i went to university." She laughed. "Oh, that would be the doctor. I am not the type of woman." She barely owned makeup other than a little BB cream and some mascara.

A smile crept to Nathan's face. The hand that brushed her hair traveled to her cheek and he brushed her lower lip with his thumb. "Tell the doctor she knows her stuff." Cassandra was always beautiful, but today she looked irresistible. Nathan leaned in and kissed Cassandra.

Cassandra froze as she felt his thumb brush her lip and then his lips caressed hers. This felt so different from that morning, which had almost felt secret, compared to there and then sat on the stairs down to the beach.

Nathan knew he had taken her by surprise with her sharp inhale, but the soft pressure of her lips to his made him think she found it a pleasurable surprise. Memories of the previous night flooded his mind and he couldn't deny he wanted to experience more with her. It took an enormous effort to break the kiss. "That was..."

"Very nice," Cassandra said, smiling as she ducked her head and kissed him softly so that he knew it was not just a one-time thing that he led. "So how come you followed me?" She asked in a teasing tone.

"Actually, I was sent to get you by your mum." Nathan took a deep breath and sighed. "The band is about ready to start playing and you are supposed to lead the dancing off with Captain Skye. It looked like you needed a moment of peace and quiet though."

“Why are they all so formal.” She sighed quietly to herself. “I did. There is a lot of people and noise.” The woman looked up at him better and smiled. “Are you being allowed to take off that jacket any time soon?”

Nathan tugged him jacket upward and took a big sniff. Even he could smell the tell tale scent of his own sweat. He gave Cassandra an expression that was half grimace and half mirth. "That bad?"

“You just look hot. In both way.” She said as she pushed herself up and sighed. She was going to have to go back and dance with the Captain. This was the last time she left certain people in change of festivities.

Nathan stood up as well. "I appreciate the compliment. So how about I head to the ship, take a shower and get into something cooler, but no less hot in the other sense. Just save me a dance?"

The woman could give as many compliments as he wanted and mean every single one of them. “I’ll save as many as you want.” Cassandra assured him as she leaned up for one more kiss.

Nathan returned the kiss and enjoyed it immensely. The kiss she gave him promised more than saving dances for him...much more. Nathan reluctantly broke the kiss and smiled. "Okay, you have to get back and I need to shower and change." He took a step back until they were a double arms length from one another with only their fingertips touching. "I will be back in 30 minutes and ready to dance the rest of the night with you."

Cassandra laughed and darted up the steps to head back to where people were waiting for her. “Next time things are not so formal.” She promised the Captain as he held out his hand to her.

“I live in hope Ms Lennox.” The man said as he led the woman in a familiar dance that they had agreed on until others started joining them on the dance floor that had been created by the cenotaph that now bore names for more than victims of World War One and two but now people who had been lost in world war Z as people named it. “Thank you.” He said letting her go with a slight incline of his head as he went to search out a place he could relax and sooth his own soul. It wasn’t long until another person grabbed Cassandra up in a dance leading her into a whirlwind of different partners until she got to Daniel.

“Hello you.” She greeted noticing he had already changed out of his uniform hours ago.

“Hello. You looked like you could use rescuing.” He said putting his hand politely on her waist.

“Just a little. Do not believe I have ever seen you in civies other than running gear.” They often ran together when the Europa was around.

Nathan returned wearing a pair of white deck shoes, cream colored board shorts and a very colorful Hawaiian shirt with lots of red, blue and yellow. He addressed Daniel. "May I cut in good sir?"

Daniel glanced up at the voice. “Only if you never ever call me good sir ever again Nath.” The man commented as he looked at Cassandra smiling at Nathan, the woman practically lit up with the man close by. Daniel smirked but let go of the woman.

Nathan slipped into Cassandra's arms smoothly as Daniel stepped away. He nodded over to Juliet. "Why not go ask the Doctor to dance?"

Daniel narrowed his eyes at the man. “We shall discuss this later Commander.” The man grinning more as no one paid attention to him any longer.

Nathan turned his full attention to Cassandra as Daniel walked away. He smiled, enjoying the feeling of her hands on the back of his neck and the radiant smile on her face as she looked up at him. He gave her a mirth filled grin. "Did you miss me Your Mayorship?"

“Please stop calling me that.” The woman begged grinning. “I like the shirt. I’m learning a lot about you sailors today with you in civilian clothing.” She grinned looking around noticing that only the captain seemed to be still dressed in uniform. It was normally quite easy to catch who was sailor and who was civilian.

Nathan smiled as his hands settled comfortably around Cassandra's waist. He gazed into her eyes as if she were the most beautiful woman in the world. He bent slightly to whisper into her ear. "How would you like me to address you then? Beautiful? Radiant? Aphrodite?"

“You sailors are too smooth talking.” She laughed. “I think Cassandra will do for now in public.” She said reminding him that she preferred her name. Yes she was leader but she valued people and their input. It's why there was a council.

Nathan nodded. He glanced about the dance area and realized the two of them were drawing looks. Captain Skye seemed slightly intrigued, Maureen curious and Juliet was grinning ear to ear as if their (Cassandra and Nathan) relationship shift was no secret. "Well, I don't think we're going to keep things quiet for long. You're best friend looks like she already knows and I think the Captain and you Mum may be starting to suspect."

“She does not know anything. No one does other than the way we are looking at each other.” She laughed a little as she refused to look else where other than at the man. No one else was holding her attention and she could deny all knowledge of knowing anything if she did not look at them.

Nathan shrugged as his smile softened. "If you say so. I am just glad to be here dancing with you." He gave a content sigh as he pulled her slightly closer and continued dancing with her. He wasn't especially worried about what others thought or knew. He felt like a man who could have more than duty to others now. That he had a personal reason for being here in Thistledrift.

"We do not even know what this is yet, so it's not like we can explain it to them now, is it?" She offered quietly as she thought about how to even explain anything when the time came. Cassandra worried about her mother's reaction, but only because she knew the woman liked James, but it had been over a year and there had been no word.

"You're right." Nathan looked into Cassandra's eyes and wondered what exactly they were. Less than 24 hours ago they had just been two people trying to make a life for their people. Two people that only wanted what was best for Thistledrift and the Europa. It is what he had always hoped for a safe place for the crew to rest, relax and recharge before continuing it's mission to explore and reconnect the world again. "We hold off telling the others until we figure it out."

“They can gossip all they want.” She assured him smiling still as her thumb gently caressed his neck as her arms stayed around his neck. “Figuring it out should be fun though.” She grinned knowing that he would not steady be in port and she needed to go off to get supplies and find ways for them to survive.

Nathan inhaled sharply as her thumb brushed his carotid artery. It immediately gave a rise to his pulse and an immediate rise to something else and considering how close they were dancing with one another, both were quite apparent to Cassandra as the music started to fade. He gazed into her eyes as the last note played. "It should be at that. I would love to meet you later if you are inclined to having more fun tonight?"

Cassandra smiled a little as she refused to let him go and continued dancing. “I could be inclined.” She assured him not taking her eyes off of him. People were still dancing and talking but he was the only one who had her attention there and then.

The music resumed, another slow song that drew more people to the dance floor. Nathan pulled Cassandra closer as the crowd around them grew and obscured the view from the edges of the dance area. Nathan felt Cassandra's cheek resting against his chest that did little to dissipate the rise in his pulse or the rise somewhere else. He spoke softly. "Do you think we could convince others that today's events have us both fatigued? Give us an excuse to leave the festivities?"

“I do not need an excuse.” The woman commented as she indicated they could slink off into the darkness now that the sun had set. The area was only lit by fairy lights over the dance floor so the rest of the streets leading off were quiet.

Nathan took notice of the encroaching darkness as night descended over Thistledrift. He glanced in the direction of where Captain Skye and Maureen had been sitting watching the festivities and camaraderie between the citizens of Thistledrift and crew of Europa. "Should we let your mum and my captain know we're leaving or just slip out quietly?"

"We are adults." Cassandra laughed. She had told her mum things since she was 16, and her mum accepted that she was her own person.

Nathan slipped a hand down her side and took her hand. "Well, I have a 72 hour liberty that started at sundown. I am yours for the next three days if you want." His expression turned serious for a moment. "If you want. I don’t want to rush anything or pressure you."

"72 hours shore leave? And you want to spend it with me?" The woman wondered, smiling a little as she swung his hand between them.

"Can't think of anyone else I would rather spend it with." Nathan enjoyed holding hands with Cassandra as they walked out of the dance area and started down a street to the cottage. It was still relatively early and if there was someone who spotted them he would just say he was walking Cassandra home. It wasn't as if it were the first time he had walked her home, but it was the first time doing so while holding her hand. It was a new experience and one he was was hoping to enjoy again and again. It was a short walk from the town centre to Cassandra's home. His eyes had not left hers from the moment they had left the lit area where sounds of merriment could easily be heard. Laughter and music projected the joy everyone was having. He realized that for the first time in a long time. He too was feeling that same joy and it was all because of the woman he was standing with on the porch to her house. "The last 24 hours have been the happiest in.... Honestly! Since the world ended." His gaze left hers for a moment and tracked back to where the celebration was just getting started. His eyes turned back to hers. "You've done so much to give both are people the joy of having a place to call home. I am thankful for meeting you on that stretch of beach a year ago." He wanted to kiss her. He knew if he did he would never want to stop. This cottage was her home and he didn't want to rush her. He was content to follow her lead in whatever this was between them.

Cassandra smiled and stopped. “You act so tough, Nathan and then say things like that. And you are just happy I did not put an arrow in your ass.” She laughed and leaned up, caressing his cheek. “So we have a choice... my home, which will eventually have my mother, which is embarrassing at 30, your room on the ship or… we can go somewhere else.” She grinned. It was a place she had acquired as there was space, and sometimes she just needed somewhere to think by herself.

Nathan laughed with Cassandra regarding the first time they had met. "I am so grateful you decided NOT to turn me into a pin cushion." He looked at the house and then in the direction of the Europa. "I'd rather not return to the ship. I could see someone making a request they say would only take five minutes become a five hour task." He glanced back at the upstairs windows. "I did spend my first four years in Her Majesty's Royal Navy in the SBS (Special Boat Service). I could easily climb out a window quickly and quietly if need be." He turned to gaze into Cassandra’s eyes. "This special retreat of yours, is it someplace with a few creature comforts at least?"

"It is one of the spare buildings that are connected to the power grid. I originally was going to move in there but felt safer to stay with mum when I became the leader, as she needed company." Cassie revealed. "And please do not climb out of windows. We are both adults."

Nathan smiled at the thought of having Cassandra all to himself for the next three days. It wouldn't happen of course. He may be on a 72 hour liberty call. She was not. The woman worked nearly nonstop when it came to this town and it's citizens. "Your call, but if you're planning on taking a few personal days away. I would at least leave a note with your mum in case something comes up."

"I have a radio, and I will have to do barricade watches and other important leadership things." The woman said, opening the door to the cottage and pulled him inside. "I need to get a few things." She declared smiling.

Nathan waited at the entrance as Cassandra disappeared into the cottage. He was going to have to return to the ship in the morning for a few things himself. He had barely finished his thought when Cassandra rushed back inro vie with a knapsack slung on her shoulder. "That was quick."

“I have a go bag ready at all times.” Cassandra said quietly. It was a feat if but she wanted to be prepared if she needed to leave quickly. She hoped it would never happen if she could help it but you just never knew what the future held.

Nathan looked at the bag and then gazed at the lovely woman who had brought so many pleasant surprises over the last 24 hours. He gestured to the door. "Lead on milady."