Private Life Day Time is here again

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring
Tag: Cailen Corso

"He should be here soon," Valery told Vera, who had gotten the triplets ready to receive a guest. Last time, Valery had visited Cailen Corso and his family for a dinner around Life Day, but this time, she had invited him over. Kahlil was currently away on mission, so she wasn't expecting him to make it home in time, but the kids were all here to meet him. Vera was very eager to see him again, of course, but the triplets were curious too.

They hadn't properly met him just yet!

Aurra sat on the couch with her book, Aeryn and Adam were playing on the floor, and Valery had just finished putting some snacks on the table. Now, the challenge of keeping her gremlins away from the snacks began, but they luckily played nice today.

"Vera, when the doorbell rings, can you open?" Valery asked with a smile.

"Sure, but I'm getting snacks first, then." She grinned and hopped off the couch and onto her socks, to slide over the smooth floor towards the hallway. Every Noble was either wearing an ugly Life Day sweater, or something else for the winter times. There was a fire going inside the living room, and the tree was up with a lot of gifts underneath.

It was Life Day time.

 

[Cailen Corso]

Niv Hani
Life Day

​

Cailen took a breath before buzzing the door.

He wasn’t sure why he was nervous - it was his Master’s home, after all. Maybe he was still shaky from recent events? His mind and heart hadn’t slowed down in months. This could be what it feels like for both of them to keep sprinting forward even after the rest of his body had slowed down for Life Day.

Cailen remembered a few of Master Edo’s relaxation techniques. He lowered his shoulders, unclenched his jaw, and eased his furrowed brows. Then, he waited for the door to open, knowing that all this tension would melt away when he saw his second family.

The teen shifted a few boxes around in his hands. He'd made gifts for each of the young Nobles, and a special one for his Master. Cailen loved using his hands to create things, and he hoped they’d all enjoy the personal touches he’d added to make each gift unique. Master Kahlil was the wild card, but Cailen had a good feeling he’d like his gift. And if all else failed, he’d brought a huge tin of candied nuts and fruits his mother made.

Everyone likes food!

Just thinking about them made some of the anxiety lift from his spirit. A soft smile formed on his lips.

“You’re okay,” he whispered. “You’re safe.”

---

Tags: Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring
Tag: Cailen Corso

Bang

The door slammed open, and 13-year-old Vera, who was already about 5ft5 tall stood there with a big grin on her face to welcome Cailen. "Hey Cailen!" she said before she stepped forward and pulled him into a quick hug. Vera had always loved it when Mom or Dad's Padawans visited, and especially now around the holidays, it made the atmosphere at home even better.

"How have you been? It's so good to see you!" she exclaimed before stepping aside, so he could get into the house. Unlike the apartment on Coruscant, their house on Niv Hani was spacious and decorated to really feel like a cozy home. There were pictures of the kids along the hallway near the door, as well as family photos with Valery and Kahlil on it too. A fire was burning in the fireplace to make the house not only warm, but feel warm too.

Then, as they entered the living room, Valery offered a wave and smiled at her Padawan, while the triplets were all turning to him. There was the young little brunette with eyes like her Mom's, a more gentle looking blonde, and then there was Adam, who almost looked like a copy of his father.

Though not quite as much as Aris, who was actually a clone.

"Welcome, Cailen. Please, make yourself at home."

 

[Cailen Corso]

Niv Hani
Life Day

​

“Vera!” Cailen said with a laugh as she grabbed him with a hug. He gave her a friendly squeeze, then stepped back to properly see her.

“I’m doing alright, all things considered.”

No doubt Valery’s kids were aware of how busy things had been recently. Between the Mandalorians and Sith, the galaxy had gotten much more interesting. Even the Imperials were back to cast their lot. But none of that mattered right now. This moment, this day, was about family.

“I’m well,” Cailen amended with a smile.

After exchanging pleasantries, the Padawan stepped inside the Niv Hani home. It was certainly much cozier than the apartment he’d visited on Coruscant. Cailen's family flat on Anaxes was nowhere near as tidy and intentional as Valery's, but the atmosphere was the same. His Master’s vision had certainly been achieved here: A warm family home for her children and husband.

It made Cailen’s heart yearn for his own home.

Then, his eyes met Valery’s, and home felt like it’d crossed the galaxy to meet him here.

“Hi, Master Noble,” Cailen said wearily. He found a place for the gifts still in his arms, then wrapped himself around her in a much-needed hug.

“It’s so good to see you,” he said, still holding her. When he stepped back, he looked to the triplets nearby. Cailen had yet to properly meet them in person.

The Padawan stepped closer and smiled kindly as he knelt beside them.

“I’m Cailen Corso. It’s nice to meet you guys!”

---

Tags: Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring
Tag: Cailen Corso

"Hey there, Cailen," Valery said with a warm smile, before she stood up and waited for him to put the gifts down. There were a lot of gifts around the tree with just how many kids she had, but some had other names written on them. Cora, Shan, Marigold, and of course, Cailen as well. The Padawans were far too important to the Nobles to be forgotten on Life Day, so for the last few weeks or so, both Valery and Kahlil had been busy finding things they'd like.

But time for gifts was later — first she wanted to just give him a big hug.

"It's very good to see you, too, and the kids have been eager as well." Valery stepped back from the hug, and the triplets appeared to take a look at who had entered the house. They hadn't met Cailen yet, but two of the triplets seemed very confident and stepped forward to greet him.

"I'm Aeryn!" the oldest said. She was carbon copy of her Mom — a brunette with fiery eyes.

"I'm Adam," the one boy said with a smile. His silver hair and silver eyes made him look a lot like his father, though not as much as Aris, who was an actual clone of Kahlil.

Finally, Aurra stood hidden behind her Mom's leg, and looked at him with a gentle smile, "I'm Aurra," she squeaked softly. Aurra was a little shy, but with a gentle nudge from her Mother, the young blonde stepped around, though remained close to her Mom.

 

[Cailen Corso]

Niv Hani
Life Day

​

Cailen was practically beaming as each Noble introduced themselves. He may be an only child, but he was still quite good with kids. Cailen had a warm presence that felt comforting and supportive. He saw the good in most things, and that radiated to the people around him.

Once they were acquainted, Cailen rose to his feet and rejoined his Master. He gave a little wave to Aurra, acknowledging her quietly to avoid making her uncomfortable. He looked to Valery.

“Thank you for having me,” he said gratefully.

“Your home is so cozy. It reminds me of my mom… she likes to decorate for the holidays.”

His thoughts wandered to her. He could see her face, hear her voice. Had it really been this long since he’d been home? Anaxes was busy in the holonews lately. Perhaps it was time to go home again, see his parents and visit old friends. Things were just so busy. He felt guilty for never seeing them, but would feel guiltier for taking leave from his Jedi duties.

Maybe Valery knew how to find a balance?

“Master?” Cailen asked, head titled a bit.

“How do you find time for… this?” He gestured around the room with his hand.

“I want to visit my parents more often, but I’m worried something will happen while I’m gone. How do you balance your duties with family?”

---

Tags: Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring
Tag: Cailen Corso

"We love to decorate as well," Valery said with a warm smile. "The kids especially seem to really enjoy it. Though, nothing quite beats the gifts under the tree, hm?" She looked at the little ones, and all of them perked up a little. There was a mountain of gifts this year because of how big the family was, and each of the kids had already scouted out their own gifts within the pile. They were very eager to open them at Life Day.

Valery just hoped they'd all love their gifts, but she had a feeling they would.

Looking back at Cailen, Valery couldn't help but notice that his thoughts were starting to drift. He had something on his mind, and knowing him, Valery had a feeling what it was about. Family and times like this were important to him, and she knew just how busy he had kept himself as a Jedi.

He was likely missing home.

"Well, sometimes it's hard for me to find time, too. Being a Jedi means we're often quite busy," Valery began while she hugged Aurra against herself a little. "I really had to teach myself to make time. To just take days off and be away from the Temple without worrying over all the things that could happen while I'm gone. The strength of the Jedi is that we're all there for each other, so if I'm not there for a little while, there are others who will take care of things."

"It's easier said than done, though. Kahlil really helped me to learn that I need to allow myself some time off. And now that I have all these kids, there's nothing I enjoy more than finding the time for them."

 

[Cailen Corso]

Niv Hani
Life Day

​

Cailen frowned a bit as he thought about his Master’s words. Was it really that easy? Could he just… make time? Was he allowed to? He was so used to his duties as a Jedi taking precedent that he’d forgotten what is was like to choose for himself. It wasn’t a simple as just taking a vacation. He knew that.

But he had a choice.

“Thank you,” he said in a low voice before hugging his Master again. She may not know it now, but she’d opened his eyes to a new perspective on his role as a Jedi.

When he pulled away, he wiped the tears that were forming in his eyes. Then he smiled, and that turned into a laughter that only came from someone who felt utter relief. This year was going to be different.

He’d make sure of that.

---

Tags: Valery Noble​