An assembly includes a first cable assembly with a first housing having a first mating face and a retention member. A first ferrule has a plurality of first optical fibers positioned therein. A first beam expanding element is generally aligned with each first optical fiber, and each first beam expanding element expands an optical beam generally to a beam diameter. A second cable assembly including a second housing with a second mating face. A second ferrule has a plurality of second optical fibers positioned therein. A second beam expanding element is generally aligned with each second optical fiber, and each second beam expanding element expands an optical beam generally to the beam diameter. A second retention member interacts with the first retention member to retain the first cable assembly to the second cable assembly.