One day you'll be home again.

[Allyson Locke]

Allyson appreciated the words and the concern from Kaili. She knew she couldn't live through that again. Her family was already gone and all she had was Kaili. The thought of losing the blonde was something she hated to think about, but it was a very real possibility. Standing on the road, Allyson softly kissed the Borleian back. One of her most darkest moments of her past was finally revealed and she felt a weight off her shoulders.

“I love you, you know that.” A smile and a slight shake of her head. “We can handle the headstones later. I don't want to think about this place for a few days.” Looking back, Allyson somewhat liked the makeshift work, but respectfully she should have a proper one made.

“Let's go somewhere fun, you had the day planned out didn't you?” Allyson kept her arm wrapped around Kaili's waist as she kept the girl protectively close to her. She didn't fully trust the planet just yet, there could be vong still lurking - even a Sith or two.

[member="Kaili Talith"]

 

[Kaili Talith]

[member="Allyson Locke"]

“I love you too.” Kaili whispered back. “If that’s what you wish then I say we wait as well.”

Allyson still believed that Kaili had a plan and the blonde couldn’t help but let on an awkward chuckle and grin at the idea. Her hand rubbed at her neck and she gave Allyson a half-apologetic glance. As far as plans went…

“I never had one. At least not a very solid one.” Kay whined out of embarrassment. “I wanted to go see the sights, eat a meal and then get here. That was really just it.”

She eyed the road for a pickup, or anyway to actually get out of here.

“How about you decide?” Kaili said and leaned in against Allyson. “Like, for example, do you happen to know how to get back.”

“Please tell me we don’t have to walk.”

 

[Allyson Locke]

Allyson chuckled, she was under the impression that Kaili had planned the entire trip out. Though, she really wasn’t all that surprised when the blonde stated that she didn’t have any sort of plan besides visiting the cemetery. A sigh and Allyson grabbed the girl by her waist and pulled her close into a hug. She held her there for a moment while her hands carefully ran up and down the other woman’s back. Kaili was her rock and she wondered at times if their codependency was dangerous. Her mind wandered to the threat Carnifex presented, Allyson was already overprotective and now she was only going to become more protective.

Pulling away, Allyson looked at her watch and sighed. “We would have to head back to the city to see more of the typical sights. We can head back out this way to see where I grew up.” Looking up and down the road, she had a feeling that the busses had stopped for the time being. Looking towards Kaili she chuckled. “You have two options. We could walk that way towards the small outskirt town where I grew up is – or I give you a piggy back ride back to the city and we can check stuff out there.”

Either way, Allyson knew that Kaili was getting a piggy back of sorts. They were in the middle of both the town and the city. It was the drag of living so far from the city and she remembered when she was younger especially a couple of years before she snuck onto Ember’s, how she wanted to see more of the city and the galaxy. She smiled, “You’re getting a piggy back either way, so you better be ready for it.”

[member="Kaili Talith"]

 

[Kaili Talith]

[member="Allyson Locke"]

Lips brushed against Allyson’s neck in the embrace that Kaili found herself within. Twice she inhaled the security of her lover and twice she exhaled before letting Allyson pull her away. It was a choice between going back to the city or a small town to see where Allyson had lived. Piggy back rides were out of the question with Allyson’s current state, and seeing where she came from wasn’t all that bad of an idea.

“I am not letting you give me a piggyback ride.” Kaili said with a deadpan expression. “You are injured, and I am taking care of you. I’ll ride you later, but not now.”

Her eyes shot out in the direction of home.

“If you don’t mind, I would prefer the small town you came from.” Kay said and wrapped her arm around Allyson to start heading in that direction. “At the very least to grab something to eat, right?”

Kay let her free hand pat at her growling stomach.

“I am fairly certain I need it.” She spoke with a grin.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Allyson fought back a laugh as she listened to Kaili. The woman obviously didn’t realize what she was saying and it was a reason why Allyson adored the blonde. Comments like this were reminders of where Kaili had started from when they had first met. The mousey blonde that had no desire to venture out into the real world – she would have rather be buried under her work than experience life. Remembering simple times like that usually brought a wide smile to the Corellian.

“You’re light though and it would be good strength recovery for me. I don’t want to become weak you know.” Not wanting to argue the point, Ally looked towards the road that lead to the small town she grew up in. It was negligible compared to the large city, but her home town was still big enough to have hotels and restaurants. “As for me being hurt, I’ve come a long way so if I want to give you a piggy back ride you’re going to accept it.” Allyson smiled as she grabbed Kaili’s hand and they headed towards the small town.

“And I’m sure you’ll ride me later, especially when you’re wearing a dress like that” Grinning, Allyson made a point to show Kay what she had said. The walk wasn’t too long and they arrived. Looking around Allyson was surprised that it looked just like she had left it. The builders seemed to not want to take advantage and remodel the place. A part of her was happy as she sighed softly. “This is where I grew up, I went to elementary school and junior high here – after that my father had me transferred to the high school in the city, but let’s say I had other plans.” Another grin as she remembered the day she cut class to stowaway on Ember’s ship.

Wandering a bit more, Allyson found a small inn that was attached to a small restaurant. “They serve pretty casual Corellian cuisine here also we can share this room tonight and head back on the bus tomorrow morning or something. Sound good?”

[member="Kaili Talith"]

 

[Kaili Talith]

[member="Allyson Locke"]

Oh it was a tactical change of topic. Kaili’s jaw had dropped in surprise and her full attention had shifted to staring at Allyson by the time they started talking about how Allyson was hurt and having come a long way. The shaking finger lowered and Kaili turned back to look at the road again. Their fingers intertwined and then it was all dropped for a mere second before Allyson raised the point of what Kaili had said.

Her cheeks flushed for a second as she looked around to see if anyone was around only to be met with nothing. A fist gently patted against Allyson’s shoulder with an awkward slide off of the forearm to broadcast Kaili’s spontaneous case of the flusters.

By the time they got to town Kaili was already back to leaning against Allyson again.

“I was tutored from home.” The blonde spoke with a slight smile. “I spent a lot of time with my friends and family, friends of family too, getting a very force-centered education. I mean, I got the rest too, evidently, but… You know… I wasn’t very social, I guess it fit me just fine.”

She still wasn’t very social. It hadn’t really changed.

“I would love to share a room with you. It’s like we never do that, like, ever.” Kay deadpanned at Allyson and leaned in for a kiss. “Food, sights, sleep. We have a plan for the evening.”

“Anywhere you recommend in particular or should we take this place here?”

 

[Allyson Locke]

Allyson poked Kaili dead center of her forehead. A smile followed as she shook her head. “I know we share a room all the time, but I was making sure this Inn was fine.” Leaning forward, Allyson kissed gently the place she had poked Kaili and smiled. Being back in her home town was nice, she wondered if she would ever bring anyone else here. The town was alive and that made Allyson happy. You couldn’t tell that this place had been in shambles and covered with rubble with sith spawn taking over. A wash of sadness came over her as she remembered her parents and how a moment like this would have been amazing to have them be here. If only they could have really met Kaili.

Closing her eyes softly, she exhaled and tried to think of how it would have played out. Her mother would have cooked while her father and brother watched the latest scores of the pod racing along with huttball scores. Her brother was obsessed with the sport and her dad couldn’t get enough of pod racing. Allyson could hear her mother calling for her along with the others as the table would be set – she would have had to find a way to pull herself away from Kaili to finally arrive at the dinner table. Smiles and laughter as they got to know the blonde girl – of course embarrassing photos and stories of Allyson when she was young would take over most of the conversation. At the end of it all, her mother would place her famous cheesecake on the table and they would all share.

“Oh, sorry.” Allyson pulled herself out of the thought and chucked softly as she rubbed the back of her head. “I get lost in thought when I’m here. It’s pretty amazing how it looks now – it’s like nothing ever happened…” Looking away from Kaili she looked towards the inn. “Let’s go here, my mom used to help out here a while ago. The cheesecake they serve is her recipe.” Smiling, she grabbed Kaili’s hand and they entered the inn and restaurant.

It was simple and very home like. They were sat quickly and Allyson looked over the menu, a smile spread wider on her face as she seemed relieved. “Everything is like it used to be!” Hugging the menu slightly she began to work her way through the items, most of them were things that Kaili had been served from Allyson through their travels and morning afters. “Anything you like yet?” [member="Kaili Talith"]

 

[Kaili Talith]

[member="Allyson Locke"]

There was peace radiating between them and their bond. Kaili let herself remain within the embrace of Allyson as her lover got lost in thought, her head finding comfort of her own in resting against the brunette Corellian’s shoulder and chest. By the time Allyson snapped out of her daydream Kaili had since began to separate herself. Her hand was grabbed and pulled off into the inn up ahead.

They took their seats in the restaurant and only then did Kaili really get the chance to register her surroundings. Eyes wandered across the room with great curiosity to take in the rustic interior of what must have been one of Allyson’s favorite places when she had still been a child or teenager. The smell of wood, old wood, seemed to linger in the air despite the fact that it had been rebuilt within the last twenty years or so.

Then again, there was a chance that it hadn’t been. There were traces every here and there that you could only really spot if you really looked at it. Cracks in the facade where the old met with the new. It looked deliberate, as if there had been a renewal when they built this place, or perhaps simply repaired it. The windows were very modern, but the worn down ridges in the floors reeked of an unspoken history of a place that bound a community together. The smells of food, of pastries and sweets mixed with the musky smell of the floor. The metal to wood paneling kept it all contained within the same small confined area.

It was homey, it felt like a great place to have met friends once. It still did, of course, but considering Kaili didn’t live here she couldn’t apply the same appreciation for what the establishment seemed to be.

An elderly woman stepped out from kitchen. Kaili’s eyes met them and they shared a warm smile. Her datapad was raised to start an order.

“May I take your-” She spoke with warmth before turning to Allyson and stopping in her tracks. “Gods alive…”

The woman’s jaw almost dropped, her voice flooding with joy at the sight of the brunette.

“Allyson, is that you?” She nearly couldn’t speak through her gasp. “It is you!”

“What’s that racket?” A man called from a small window peeking into the kitchen.

“It’s Allyson!” The woman called back.

“Allyson who?” He seemed quite confused.

“Locke!” She seemed quite frustrated.

A brief moment of silence swept through the establishment until finally the door swung open again.

“It is her!” The man exclaimed happily as he came up to the table.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Allyson peeked over the edge of her menu and blinked as the woman and then soon a man along with others came through the kitchen doors excited. She blinked quickly as the people who were excited to see her hadn’t seen her since she had returned to help with the burials and recoveries. She didn’t think anyone would recognize her from the pimpled face kid she was back then Her face red from crying and covered in soot as she moved rocks and rubble with her bare hands. Putting the menu down, she smiled happily at the owners of the restaurant.

“I didn’t think you guys would recognize me. It’s been too long I’m sorry I’ve stayed away.” She stood and hugged everyone that had come through to see her at her table. Small chatter happened as she laughed and shared small jokes that occurred while she was younger. Apologies about her parents and how proud they would be of her. Looking towards Kaili, she introduced them. “Kaili, this is Maria and her husband Marcos. They own this place and knew my parents well.” She went on to introduce the rest of the kitchen and then turned to introduce Kaili. “Maria and Marcos, this is [member="Kaili Talith"] she’s my fia—” Catching herself she chuckled and brushed her hair out of her face. “She’s my girlfriend, we’ve been together for almost six years now?”

Chatter continued, when suddenly Maria looked at Allyson and gasped. Her eyes had fallen on the first class bloodstripes. The woman had known that Allyson had received the second class while clearing out rubble and burying the dead, but to receive first class and not be dead was something else. Pulling the girl aside slightly she looked at her. “Mija, those…those are first class – did you…?” She didn’t want to sound like she was suggesting that Allyson had stolen them, but she was curious. Shaking her head, Allyson patted the woman on the shoulder. “I earned them, suicide mission and I survived.” The woman nodded and didn’t ask any more questions then returned to the celebration. Allyson looked towards Kaili with a smile, she would have enjoyed introducing the woman as her fiancée or wife, but that wasn’t where they were right now.

 

[Kaili Talith]

[member="Allyson Locke"]

Six years. Kaili had caught what Allyson was about to say, yet her mind lingered on just how much time had passed since they had first met. The blonde’s mind took on the autopilot as she faded away into her own thoughts. Whatever the others spoke of would have to wait as she felt a strange sense of clarity strike her.

Six years was a lot of time. Six years was more time than many other relationships had lasted. For six years Kaili had been loyal to Allyson, and Allyson had been loyal to her as well. They had their ups and downs but the ups and downs that they had shared had in the end only served to strengthen the bond that they had. If that wasn’t the sign of…

Kaili needed to think but her mind seemed to make the decision for her.

Her hands shifted behind her back and reemerged to grasp at Allyson’s hand, warm metal pressing itself between the Corellian woman’s little finger and ring finger and a strange sense of calm emanating out of it much like it had the last time Kaili had shifted it. There were no forests around to make it more romantic, and there was a crowd, but this time around Kaili would be earnest about it.

“Six years is a long time.” Kaili said and gave Allyson a smirk at what she could only assume would be a very confused expression. “We’ve been meaning to make it official, but between missions away and me being… Well, me, it’s been a nightmare.”

“But we are both ready for that now.” Kaili whispered to Allyson in particular as she wrapped her arm around Allyson’s. “She is my fiancée. We just haven’t set a date yet.”

The two restaurant owners were quite clearly unsure how to take the news. One of them gave Kaili a curious look and the other stared at her with a hanging jaw trying to find the words.

“I love this woman.” Kaili got herself even closer to Allyson. “I owe her my life in every single meaning of the word. She is my hero.”

 

[Allyson Locke]

Allyson as well as the others were surprised at this revelation. She looked at Kaili with a confused look and tried to figure out what was going on. Nothing was said on the matter as Allyson needed to think about this part herself. It wasn’t how she wanted to do this, but it seemed it was how Kaili wanted to. Shifting into her seat, the crowd of people moved and returned to work. Their table was filled consistently with food as there were comments that Allyson had lost too much weight and needed to eat.

Food came and went and Allyson was told it was on the house. Bowing and smiling Allyson thanked the couple and promised to return while they were staying on Corellia. A silence fell upon the girl as she led Kaili up to the room they were staying at to settle down for a moment especially after a large meal and to speak in private about some things. Sitting on the bed, Allyson pushed her brunette hair from her face and tried to think of a way to start this.

Kaili had been so against being engaged that a part of Allyson let the thought of it die off. Yet, the part that almost called her fiancée down there was still alive and kicking. It seemed odd and forced, which was something Allyson never wanted Kaili to feel. A sigh and then the Corellian looked up at the blonde.

“What was that about? You didn’t have to do that you know…I know how you feel about all of it.”

[member="Kaili Talith"]