They'd actually saved the world twice before Friday and Baird had ordered everyone to take the weekend off.

"I don't care what you do, or where you go but stay out of the Annex until at least Monday. Now shoo."

Jones had slipped out before she said shoo. Jenkins had said Hallelujah and disappeared into the back somewhere. Baird had rolled her eyes then saw something on her desk. Whatever it was made her practically run out the front door.

"Bet she got a message from Flynn," Cassandra grinned. "I hope she did anyway. She misses him."

Jake stole a look around the Annex to make sure they were really alone and pulled her into an embrace. "And I missed you. You and I whole weekend. What do you want to do first?"

"Oooh a picnic, you know, in that park near the," Cassandra blushed, "Scenic lookout?"

The scenic lookout had been the site of their first kiss and it would always be special.

"I bet you have one of them wicker picnic baskets like in the movies." Jake said, taking her hand as they walked out. "And a plaid picnic blanket."

"It's striped but yeah. "

Sometime later, lunch over with, Jake was lying on his back on the picnic blanket. Cassandra was curled up next to him, tucked under his arm, her cheek resting against his chest.

"I'm thinkin' shapes in clouds would not work for the two of us." Jake grinned. "I'm seeing some great art up there and you're probably seeing geometry."

"I wasn't really looking," Cassandra said a little dreamily. He lifted his head to look down at her, where she was watching him with a soft happy expression. He quirked his finger at her to get her to scoot up a little bit so that they could kiss more comfortably. Soft and simple, but they were in public, even if the park was fairly empty.

Jake sighed when she'd moved back.

"What's wrong?"

"Saving the world is exhaustin'. I was planning on enjoying every second of this weekend with you but . . . . It doesn't help that you're so cozy darlin'."

"Napping here wouldn't be good. The ground's not that comfortable and bugs." Cassandra shuddered against him. "We could go back to one of our places and take a nap."

He lifted his head to look at her. "Are you sure about that? We haven't . . ." He waved his hand between them, blushing slightly.

"I think we could share a bed for this." Cassandra shook her head. "And you're the one who keeps putting the brakes on. I'm not . .." She was trying so hard not to blush, but she did anyway. "A virgin."

He bit his lip and then motioned for her to move, sitting up when she did. She looked a little confused.

"Better to have this discussion face to face," He said. "I didn't . . .I mean these days... well that's not why anyway. And it's not like I don't want to . . . ." He shook his head. "Wow, we are adults right? Why is this so awkward?"

She giggled in relief. "I don't know." She took a deep breath. " I'm not terribly um experienced. There's only been uh 2 guys. One before I got sick and one after."

Jake shrugged, "Tell you the truth, we're even."

"Two? That's it?"

"Admittedly Emma, she lasted four years. She wanted to get married and well not that I'm opposed to the whole thing but you can't spend a lifetime with someone . . ."

"That you don't trust . . . ." Cassandra said softly.

"Yeah," Jake's smile was sad. "She didn't know me but that was my fault. I didn't let her. Not like. . . . Well anyway . . . ."

"I've seen you flirt, I kinda pictured you having more uh experience."

"That's an act. Flirtin' is an art form. And well, showing off to the guys meant buyin' a gal a drink. If I needed to, I'd pick them up, which was always a ride home. After a while, the girls back home knew they had nothin' to fear from me. Guy harassing 'em, too much to drink, bad date, they'd whisper in my ear and they'd get home safe."

"And your friends never knew?"

"Nope, the girls kept it their secret. I was the gentleman, the old fashioned guy. And yeah, I am both those things."

"Is that why you're careful with me?"

"Yes and no. Sex and love are the same thing with me. You understand? And I do . . . I mean I'm falling ... very close. Wow, this is hard."

Cassie's laugh was of joy, but she put her hand in front of her mouth anyway. "Jake . . .."

"This is too precious to be rushed. But I know there's. . ."Jake closed his eyes in brief pain. "There is a time clock."

Cassandra's beam faded just briefly. "There is. But we do, we have time. Not as much as we should have, but we have time. And maybe, well there's still magic out there."

"I'm sorry sweetheart. I did not want to bring that up."

Cassandra shrugged. "It's something that we can't afford to ignore. We can put our trust problems behind us, because they really are truly behind us. But this, this thing in my head, it's part of our future."

He nodded, not sure what to say.

"But that doesn't mean it's hanging over us every day. We have time to build our relationship. I'm glad we had this conversation, I was worried. That maybe you thought I would break or that you'd hurt me or even that you didn't . . . ." She motioned down at herself, looking a little sheepish.

"Oh honey, no, no. Trust me, oh trust me. Especially after I found out you have a thing for leopard print."

"Jake!" Cassandra blushed violently.

He chuckled. Glad to change the mood. "I'm being honest."

"I'm just glad I was wearing a camisole that day. My goodness. Especially in front of Flynn. I mean Baird, well she's a woman. And you're, well . . . even then." She blushed. "But Flynn feels more like a big brother or an uncle, you know? So embarrassing."

"Well, let's keep your clothes on in front of anyone who is not me, okay?"

Cassandra grinned impishly, "Why? Would you be jealous?" She slung her arms around his neck.

"Maybe. I was jealous of Prince Charming."

"Oh cuz I was getting all the chicks?" Cassie chuckled.

"Okay, I pulled that girl out of the wolf. Me."

Cassandra was more amused than anything so she kept laughing.

"But alright, one yes, ego hit. But two, as you fell more into it, you were payin' em attention and okay I was jealous."

"I get jealous when you flirt with Lamia."

"Her? She's evil. She creepily likes me. I use it to my advantage. And okay, there's ego there too. I like flirtin'. But I'll try to keep it to you, unless I need to as part of a mission."

She smiled and kissed him on the nose. "Come on, my bed has lots of pillows. That nap idea sounds really good and I'd rather be in your arms then thinking of you upstairs."

"While I laid awake missin' you. You have a point. Just no funny stuff missy." He playfully wagged a finger at her. She winked at him and he beamed at her. He really liked impish Cassie. It only came out now and again but he loved to see it. He jumped up and held a hand out to her, helping her up.

"You think Ezekiel went home?" Cassandra mused shaking out the blanket. " Should we take the back stairs just in case?"

"I'd take the front stairs. I can't see Jones not taking the back ones all the time."

"I hate sneaking around." She frowned as she folded the blanket up.

"I just don't want the hassle of dealing with him. Baird already knows about us. It's not a secret."

Jake frowned for a just a moment. Remembering a conversation he'd had with Baird before. He knew he had to have a talk with Cassie about things. But not right now, right now burying his head under a blanket and getting some shut eye with his girl in his arms was his main priority.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I was just doing inventory." He lied. "Did we pack everything up?"

"Yep."

"Then let's go home."