When Kayden and Ald arrived, they were shown in. Kayden took one look at Conom, saw his happy face and smiled. 'You all right now, mate?' he asked Conom.

Conom nodded. 'I really stuffed it up, Kayden. I thought you were reckless with her but now I understand you are letting her live. I thought locking her away would keep her safe yet I was being no different to her mother and stepfather. I was an idiot and she has made me see that in the sweetest possible way.'

'Conom, I understood why you took her but if you ever want to see her again it has to be with respect, not only for her but for both of us. I appreciate that you saved her but I would have made it in time as well. Please try and just trust me a little more too.'

'I do, Kayden. I went crazy and I'm really sorry. You must have been out of your mind with worry.'

'See, that's the difference. I trusted you straight up with her. I would never have let you near her otherwise. It's you, Conom, who had to learn trust, and I am pleased it was a quick lesson because I have to admit I missed her like hell. Where is she?' He looked around.

Lepius gestured to Covin. 'Take Kayden up to see his wife. I think Ald and Conom need a minute on their own,' Lepius said, seeing the way Ald glared at Conom with eyes that wanted to squash him like a grape.

Lepius watched Kayden take the steps two at a time, not wasting any time in getting to Cassie. He turned, smiling as he led the other two warring parties outside where they could do no damage if it came to a fistfight. Once out on the patio, he poured them a drink and offered cigars all round. Fumes were pouring out of Ald and Lepius doubted if a cigar would help but he offered him one. He took it and lighting it up, walked away from them both. He had something else on his mind other than Conom and they both felt it and sat down, waiting.

My Sweet Love.

Cassie heard Kayden's quiet voice and felt the touch of his hand and she rolled towards him, putting out her arms. Finally, he's come for me. She felt relieved as he gently scooped her into his arms, kissing her.

His kisses were such sweetness. She closed her eyes and let him sweep her away. She was dizzy from emotion by the time he released her.

'I've missed you, gorgeous.' He reclaimed her lips, sweeping her back into that joyful space where only he could take her. Pulling himself up on his elbow, he smiled down at her, tracing his finger around her mouth. 'I have to stop kissing you, honey, before I forget where I am.' Then he frowned and seemed concerned. 'Not only that but your father is here and is very anxious about you. I should take you down there before he and Conom go at it again. You know Conom nearly put your dad through the castle wall. He was so angry that you were hurt.'

Cassie jumped up. 'Jeez! Quick, get me to them before Pops turns him into a bug and squashes him, or worse!'

Kayden laughed, swung her up in his arms and had her downstairs in a flash. Putting her down and letting her walk the rest of the way, he chuckled. 'Not sure what could be worse than being squashed like a bug, honey, but we're here. Go do your peace-making thing.' He smiled, gesturing to go with the flutter of his fingers. 'Make haste, woman. Come find me when you are done because I have other plans for you when you're done, sexy girl.' He chuckled and she winked, turned and swayed her hips, her butt she gave a wiggle, making him laugh more.

Cassie decided to quit stuffing around and went in search of her father. He wasn't hard to find. All she had to do was follow the smell of cigar smoke. She knew Aldebaran would be somewhere close to that. Out on the entertaining deck, her father was standing with his back to Lepius and Conom. He seemed to be looking out into space, deep in thought, the tension around him thick. Conom, Lepius and Covin were sitting on chairs pulled in tightly at the table as they quietly discussed something together: probably how to get Conom out of the shit with her father. He did seem in an unapproachable mood.

But I'm his daughter and he'll talk to me whether he likes it or not. 'Hi there, Pops,' she said.

He swung around and gathered her to him, holding her with one arm while he used the other to find where she'd been hurt and to run his hand gently over her scars. There was barely a mark left and in a couple of days there might not even be that. He found them anyway, caring in such a way that it made her fret for all the times she had missed this type of concern as a child.

'Pops, I'm okay really,' she whispered.

He hugged her and growled. 'I've been such a damned fool.' His voice was deep and moving. 'If something had've happ-' He choked and let it trail off.

She squeezed him tighter. 'See, I knew you still loved me, you big old grumpy bear.'

He threw his head back and laughed, letting her know she'd broken his mood. 'Cassandra, you had me terrified. Next time if you're going to get hurt in the line of duty, at least keep a wound so I can do my fatherly thing and fuss a bit. Your powers are taking all the fun out of it!'

It felt so good to hear him be just her father again and to be getting his warm, loving hugs. His worrying just proved what she had felt all along, that he did love his daughter.

'My powers weren't that tough,' she grinned. 'I cried the next morning and if you had've been here it would have been you I blubbered all over. The doc had to give me another needle.' She showed him the bruise from the needle. 'That's how big of a sook your little girl was. It was Kayden and the team who healed me. I have nothing on my own in that department. In our future there will be plenty of scrapes I will need you to fuss over.'

He smiled again. 'I love your tears as much as your smiles so I'll look forward to going all paternal on you.' He stopped smiling and scowled. 'I hope that child-stealer has learnt his lesson and won't pull a stunt like that again.'

She nodded. 'You and he are so much alike, Pops. You both want to wrap me up in cottonwool. I think between you and Conom stealing me you have given my husband a few extra grey hairs.'

He held her for a minute, thinking. 'I did the same thing, didn't I?'

She chuckled. 'You're both naughty and terribly guilty of loving me just a little too much but I adore you both immensely for it.'

'I thought you would hate me after how I acted when I saw you last. I've been standing here, worried about what you might say when you saw me. I didn't even feel up to whacking Conom, which may I say is all I've wanted to do for the past couple of days! I'm so sorry I hurt you, Cassandra. I keep doing that, don't I?'

'No, Pops, you only hurt me if you don't do what we're doing now, and that's to talk it through. You're just like me, you're learning about something new. Let's face it, I'm not your normal run-of-the-mill daughter. But then you are not a normal run-of-the-mill father either. Sometimes we're bound to stuff up. That doesn't mean we don't love each other anymore, does it?'

Aldebaran grinned, pleased. 'No, it doesn't mean that at all. I love you more than I have loved anything else in my whole life, although I do need to come to terms with the fact that you aren't a little girl and are all grown up. I just wish I hadn't missed all those important years. I know you would have been a delight.'

'Don't worry, Pops. Wait till I start popping out the grandkids. You'll be sorry you ever wished that.' Cassie knew Kayden had told her it would be up to the gods if she were to fall pregnant. But stuff it! He needs a bit of shaking up. Get moody with me, the bastard! She chuckled under her breath at the look on his face. Perfect payback!

He laughed aloud this time. 'Don't you dare, Cassandra!' he said, still laughing. 'One of you has been quite a handful so far. Don't scare me by making me do this over again.'

She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him now that he was happy. 'Not now, but maybe in the future I'll make you a grandpa. Mark my words, you aren't getting out of it that easy. You may have been cunning enough to stay out of my childhood but I'll not be letting you escape grandfather-hood that easily,' she joked with him.

He laughed again. 'You better stop threatening me, young lady or I'll hand you back to Conom to save me.'

'And he'll make an excellent uncle for my kids, seeing as they won't have any real ones,' she said, leaning back in his arms. 'Grandpa Ald and Uncle Con ... com.' She chuckled.

'That's it, young lady,' he said, picking her up as she wiggled and squirmed, enjoying his good mood. He took her over and plonked her in Conom's arms. Cassie looked at the stunned Conom.

'Here, you deal with her, Uncle Con ... com,' Aldebaran laughed. 'I am going to have a drink and a cigar with Kayden. We deserve it.' Still chuckling, he walked over to Kayden and put his arm around him. 'She's your wife,' he said, teasing still.

Kayden laughed and joined in. 'She is your daughter.'

Conom looked down at her, smiling. 'She's my girl,' he said, putting her down.

She took his hand and dragged him back over to her father. 'You were naughty, Conom, so say sorry to Pops.'

Conom screwed up his face at her and she put on a stern expression. Aldebaran just stood looking at them with amusement in his eyes. The words seemed stuck in Conom's throat so she nudged him. 'Conom!' she growled sweetly.

He sighed. 'Sorry, old friend. I lost it-but I can't promise I'll never do it again. This daughter of yours stirs me up like no other woman I've ever met.'

Dad put out his hand and they shook hands. 'She has us both a little rattled. I think it's time we discussed more serious issues.'

He turned to Kayden. 'Give us a minute and I think we'll be requiring your expertise.' He touched her face. 'Don't stress, little one, it's just time for me to become a real father.'

Lepius Spellbound.

Lepius and Covin sat back and watched as Cassie worked her magic on the two most notorious rulers in the galaxy.

'Check her out now, Lepius,' Covin said quietly as he poured them another drink.

You could have bowled them over with a feather as Aldebaran picked her up, laughing, and came over to them, playfully dumping her into Conom's lap. How the hell she had turned Ald's mood around so quickly was beyond them. The mood he was in when he arrived, Lepius felt sure it was going to be on for young and old. Now they watched as she dragged Conom to Ald and was making him apologise.

No, surely not! I must be hearing things . Is that Conom saying sorry? Lepius was gob-smacked. She was amazing and they found it hard not to admire the power of such a little bundle of joy.

'Well, Lepius,' Covin grinned and held his glass up to him. 'To the physician and his home. Well done!'

Lepius shook his head, still trying to work out how easily that went down. 'If only our other issues were so easily solved. Maybe Cassie might work with me and melt some of my enemies for me.'

Covin coughed and nearly choked on his drink. 'That ain't going to happen so forget it. If you went all soft on me like Conom's gone, I'd have to knock some sense into you to toughen you right back up again. He's walking on both sides now and you, my king, had better stay right away from that little stealer of hearts,' he warned and even though he'd said it in jest, the underlying tone told Lepius he was deadly serious.

'Maybe. I just wish I had a Cassie of some sort to work beside me like she does with Kayden. I'd give my right arm to have a relationship like that. She's his soldier, his lover and his wife. I've watched her work so hard for him over the last couple of days as she's broken down one of Kayden's biggest threats in the universe. They're enemies out there and yet look at them here. She has them eating out of her hand and it's not false. I can feel how deeply she cares for them too. Her dedication has left me shaken. You know, not once did she ask to go home or did she mention Kayden. Conom was all she saw, yet look how in-love she is with her man.' He watched her eyes melt under Kayden's gaze. 'I have no idea why for the second time in two days, she has captured me to learn her secrets. I can't seem to look anywhere else and I'm fascinated by her. It leaves me to ponder why and wonder if I will ever know.'

Covin sat back in his chair with that faraway look he sometimes had. 'I've always thought you were destined for a very powerful woman. Maybe your Cassie is out there but she is going to have to be a lot more powerful to handle a bloody heartless brute like you,' he said, amused.

Lepius laughed loudly. Covin knows me well with women. There's no way he'd leave me alone for two seconds with a sweetie like Cassie. He raised his glass, grinning at Covin. 'Touche, my friend.'

Kayden and Cassie came in, sitting to have a chat. He had always found Kayden very entertaining. The two of them complemented each other and he found he was enjoying himself immensely. Even Covin relaxed into the mood once Ald and Conom had joined them and there seemed to be no hostility.

After a loud night of cards and booze, they woke up around midday, all suffering from the night before.

'That was some night.' Lepius sipped on a strong coffee.

Cassie and Kayden bounced down the stairs, Cassie looking as pretty as a picture. Kayden kept mucking around and twirling her about, dancing with her and making her laugh.

Ald growled at them in jest. 'Will you two stop showing us up? Bloody kids, those two never get hangovers,' he grumbled.

She giggled at her father and walked past Conom who was drinking a coffee and reading the paper. She ruffled his hair as she passed him. 'How's the coffee, ace?' she asked.

He looked up and grumped at her for annoying him. 'I was enjoying it,' he mumbled. She lent over him and whispered something in his ear and he started to laugh. 'I'll give you getting old!' He stood and threatened to throw her in the water. She squealed and wiggled so he put her down. With a flick of her hand, not even touching him, she used her powers to throw him into the water and dove in after him. Kayden and Ald were laughing while Kayden peeled his shirt off and went in after her. Still playing her game, she called out for her father to join them. 'Come on, Grandpa. Don't tell me you can't handle your booze anymore either.'

He growled like a big ferocious bear and flew in after them.

That's devotion, Lepius thought and then recalled another little girl that came to stay with them most weekends and how with her, Covin and he acted the same. Their Angie, who came to play in his palace, was still only very young and not powerful like Cassie was. He couldn't believe how she just threw Conom in the water. He was beginning to think there was so much more to her than the eye could see. Is this another message? He nudged Covin who was also watching, intrigued. 'The magic of some females.' Lepius glanced at Covin who agreed. 'Angie.'

'Well, if we can't beat 'em, I reckon I just might join them. Feel like a spa, old boy?' he asked, enjoying the good mood she had them all in.

Covin put his drink down. 'Why not? You know I haven't taken time off in weeks. I'm with you! Shit, she has such a bloody hold over me too-has done so since last night. Damned if I can fight it, so might as well give in to it and just enjoy myself.'

It was a quite some time later before the others settled and joined them in the spa. Conom mentioned he was hungry and that set Cassie off again and it was kitchen detail for them all. She kicked the servants out and had them all mixing, baking and making coffee.

They laughed and fooled around so much that Lepius was astounded food even ended up on the table. Although there they sat, consuming homemade cheese scones with butter, apple and cinnamon muffins, and pancakes with butter, lemon and icing sugar.

'Yum, these are really great, Cass. You're going to have to give the recipe to my staff,' he said, enjoying every mouthful.

Kayden laughed. 'Don't bother. Unless you make them with her they never taste the same. We've all tried.'

Cassie looked so caringly at Kayden. 'The recipe includes me to complete the mix,' she smiled at him.

There was barely a crumb left by the time they finished and settled back with fresh cups of coffee. Kayden said he needed to make a move; that Conom and Ald had him working today. Cassie went quiet for the first time all day. Every one noticed and watched her. How does she do that? Every mood was reflected in each of them.

'Okay, Pops, 'fess up,' she said quietly after a deathly couple of minute's silence.

Ald put his head down and Lepius could tell it was not easy for him.

'You've made a truce, haven't you?' she said, a bit unsure.

He nodded, looking up at her with those fatherly eyes that took away the dark pits of anger they were so used to seeing. 'I want you in my life and I can't have that while I continue to fight against you. Conom and I worked out a deal and your husband's going to take our proposition to Orion. If he accepts, it is over as far as we're concerned.'

She looked over at Conom and back at her father. 'So, you won't be our enemies anymore? We can hang out whenever we want to?' she asked them with tears running down her face. 'I love you both so much. Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou.' She gave Ald little kisses all over his face, making him laugh. She hugged him and sobbed into his shoulder. 'You really love me, don't you?' she sniffled. 'Even though I'm a big sooky babe.' She continued laughing now and wiping her tears.

'Yes honey, with all my heart.' He held her with the tenderness of a true father. 'Even the sooky bits.' He grinned at her.

'We have to have a drink to celebrate, then. What are we still doing here?' she asked, getting up.

Picking up the plates from the table, she had them mesmerised as she almost danced around, cleaning up and talking. 'We have to go back to your house, Pops. What say we go play loud music, drink and celebrate until we drop? We can invite some friends and put that new magical ballroom to good use. What do you think?' She excitedly wrapped her arms around his neck. 'Well, say something!' she giggled.

Ald shook his head and looked over at Conom.

Conom grinned from ear to ear. 'She had me at drink and celebrations.'

Ald and Conom transported them all over to his place and the servants were summoned to get the ballroom ready to receive guests. The Cloud Riders were there waiting for Kayden's return and were beside themselves to have Cassie back with them. Woody, Kayden and Ald all went off to visit Orion while Covin and Lepius helped Conom with the invites, calling the list Ald gave them. There was no way Cassie was letting go of them just yet, so they rode the waves and enjoyed the energy from her as did all of those who surrounded her.

The guys arrived back with the truce and the drinks started flowing. Before they knew it, guests started to arrive and once the news of the truce spread, there were guests turning up from all over the galaxy. Even Zoren, Kayden's boss stopped in to have a drink with Kayden and Cassie, congratulating them on another successful outcome. Covin and Lepius watched at one stage as Cassie walked around socialising, still having them by the balls, so to speak.

A very slender, stylish lady arrived, escorted by a strange winged man she called Garuda. He had a really strong, male, golden body, a white face, red wings, an eagle's head and beak and to top it off, a crown on his head. She made him wait outside while she entered to enjoy the night.

Cassie went up and introduced herself and they heard the lady say her name was Aquil from the home world of Aquila. Lepius knew that the Aquila constellation is the sign of half-man, half-bird, now understanding the appearance of her bodyguard.

She spoke very seductively. Her style was similar to the type of woman he would go for in a minute. Lepius wondered what Cassie was up to as his tongue hung out in lust for Aquil while Cassie was engaging her in conversation.

She grabbed Aquil by the hand and took her over to Conom who was standing, checking out the ladies with Woody. Who else? he thought.

She introduced Conom and put the woman's hand directly into his, not giving him a chance to ignore her. Conom's eyes lit up as he held her hand, seemingly unable to let it go. They spoke for only a minute before he walked out on the dance floor with her, still holding her hand. Conom was no fool. He nudged Cassie on his way past her. She had even found a woman to suit him. Words failed him. It was a gift from the heart for saving her and no doubt loving her.

Woody chuckled and it was obvious that he knew Cassie well and put his arm around her. He whispered something to her and she started to laugh with him, pushing him playfully before making her way over to Kayden who stood nearby, talking to a couple of his team members. 'All done now, honey?' He looked down at her and smiled lovingly.

She nodded, looking so frail, just as Lepius had seen her that very first day. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him the same way their Angie did when she had enough of something and was letting him know she only wanted him now.

The transformation to what he had just been watching was startling to say the least. Her job completed, the only people she needed were now around her. Her protectors, the Cloud Riders, now all stood guarding her like knights, all of a sudden looking huge and threatening, even dangerous. Their guard was up while hers was down.

Lepius noticed guests move in a fearful manner from the barrier you could feel radiating from them.

'Well, team, our girl has had enough. Ready to go?' Kayden gestured to Ald and he came over, the Cloud Riders only moving enough to let him through.

Ald smiled. 'My sweet Cassandra has finally worn herself out, son. I'll give you a few days to get her strength back before I visit.'