Years ago,
...many years ago...
Corellia had been her home. Were this then and not now, she might've happened upon the lost young Slicer sipping on his caffe in the diner he'd frequented for over a decade in Coronet City on Corellia.
But now?
Home was a far different place, much farther away than it had ever been, but it was home nevertheless. Over the years she'd traveled quite a bit, both as the acting Chief Healer of the now defunct Republic, and as a Rogue Master for some time after the dissolution and destruction of Corellia following the Netherworld events. Sure, she could have settled in Silver Jedi space and remained on Ossus, but that planet had never truly felt like home. Instead she'd taken to Commenor where she'd hidden in plain sight and practiced her Healing Arts in a lab coat instead of a set of robes at the Chasin City Hospital. From there she'd taken flight across the galaxy following the path of her partner, [member="Meeristali Peradun"] and landed on the Galactic Alliance's capital; Sullust. Curious events to follow would then lead her to her current and longest-lasting residence at the Katarn Homestead on Sulon, moon of Sullust.
There she made her home amidst friends and a growing family. For a Healer who had endured so much loss, it was there that she found so much life.
She'd only been back to Corellia once to pay respects to her late parents, and that had been several years ago at the side of her friend [member="Jacen Voidstalker"]. Avalore hadn't run into Johnny then, but if she had then he likely wouldn't still be frequenting that same little dinner at all odd hours of the night.
Instead she was on Sullust, fulfilling her role as Master Healer and training the next generation of Healer hopefuls. She'd long since lost touch with her old friend and had little inkling as to where he'd gone or what he'd been up to, but as with most of those Avalore had ever grown close to she thought him lost like the rest of them. Some days she thought of the boy at random passages where a colleague might have trouble with a computer. @Spark Valen had reminded her of him, too, from time to time despite having a polar opposite personality.
The day was warm and the sun through the glasteel biodome of the Jedi Temple was a welcome pleasantry after attending to her students all day in the underground Crystal Healing Chambers.
"Mum," a tiny green hand tugged gently at her robes, "what's wrong?"
She'd come to observe the Younglings Class in the gardens and found herself to be more of a distraction than an aid where her own children were concerned. S'vora was entrenched in learning about the Force in all the plants that surrounded them, Armaud was of course busy dirtying his robes while digging in the dirt. Avalore thought she spied him peering at a bug. And here at her side little Destin came to call, always seeking her attention - that one. She smiled, and patted the spot on the bench beside her, "Why would you think anything was wrong, Des?"
"You looked sad," he said, climbing up next to her.
"I was just thinking of an old friend that I haven't seen in a very long time."
"Who?"
"His name was Johnny and we grew up together on a planet very far from here called Corellia."
"Tell me more!"
Smiling broadening, Avalore reached over and poked her son in the side, "You're supposed to be in class learning about the plants."
"Plants are boring," Destin replied with a sigh, glaring over at his brothers who thoroughly seemed to be enjoying themselves, "I want to know about Corellia and your friend."
"Lunchtime everyone!" Jedi Knight Balliwick smiled and waved over at her, "Joining us, Master Eden?"
S'vora smiled and nodded excitedly, Armaud was now halfway under a shrub.
"I suppose I can do that. Come Des, I'll tell you about him while we eat," she stood and offered a hand to her son, helping him off the bench.
"What was he like?" Destin asked.
"Well..."
[member="Johnny Diamonds"]
