Teaspoon of Honey

[Hal Terrano]

Hal, on the other hand, rather enjoyed crossing the sky bridges. Despite the notions of peril that they offered, they spoke rather symbolically of the balance, as if it was a test itself to cross forth into the realms of sanctuary. A thought that in all honesty was surprisingly metaphorical for the man to have. Did it mean something? Was that nostalgia?

Even still, apprehension remained, sitting thick within the very clouds that surrounded them as they crossed.

When Avalore faltered Hal was there, alarm upon his face and his heart having skipped approximately three beats in the process, the thought of her plummeting off of the bridge sent through his mind's eye at a rate of knots. It was no surprise that he would still expect terrible tragedy to be waiting around the corner in regards to them both.

She never had liked the bridges.

Helping the healer back to her feet, he considered apologising for making them walk to the temple. There was actually a landing pad there, but it would have been pointless to take a shuttle if there was nothing left to actually land on. Maybe it wasn't a good idea, not in her con-

“Oh...it's still here.”

Head suddenly turned to look, curiosity needing to be sated, doubt needing to be cast aside. He almost didn't believe it, mind seemingly adjusted to expect the worst.

But there it was.

From the outside it seemed untouched by all except the hand of nature, who over the years had been taking back the temple in her own name. If anything it made for a greater sight to behold. Even Hal in his blunt technical ways had to stop for a moment to marvel. Relief followed. Hope. Even a pang of happiness as his face softened in the moment, eyes reflecting his icy natural blue like the clearest of skies.

“It is still here,” he said, merely repeating what Avalore had said only moments ago. Still holding her hand from helping her back to her feet, he gave it a small squeeze, an almost disbelieving smile sat there upon his face as he looked to her once more.

“It's still here, Avalore.”

---

[member="Avalore Eden"]

 

[Avalore Eden]

"Oh..." marveling still, Avalore took in the peeks of view as the clouds and fog rolled around the precipice of the mountain. She could see the white-washed walls covered with ivy and the glint of the glass walls that made up the greenhouse. She knew it to be mostly empty by now - at least of the trees. A mission from several years ago had seen the bafforrs transplanted from here to the Homestead on Sulon, but she had left most everything else. Those plants, many of which related to medicinal or herbal uses, had more than certainly grown unchecked.

Memories of the place began flooding her mind, unbidden by anything in particular other than the very view of the Sanctuary. They filled first her conscious mind to the point that it was difficult to pick just which one she held most dear and when it became too much for her mind it overflowed into her chest and set her heart to bursting. So many things, many wonderful things had taken place in this haven. Avalore might've gotten lost in it all were it not for the gentle squeeze of her hand. The Healer glanced down to see Hal's hand holding her own and gave it a squeeze back.

"Yeah," she smiled, eyes glimmering but holding back the tears with a great deal of willpower.

Years ago, when she had returned for the trees, her only thoughts then had been how empty the place felt without its people. Without Hal.

Now here he was.

"Come on," brown gaze settled back on the way in, their path not much father now, "let's go inside."

Avalore did not let go of his hand as she lead the way in. As if maybe this might all be a dream or hallucination. That letting go might wake her up and Hal would not be there. Gently yet firmly they would see through this healing process together.

~~~

Despite the years the security systems still worked. She remembered the access codes with great clarity much as she had before, as Avalore could recall visiting this place time and again in true dreams. Even now, with a moment of hesitation in entering the last digit, it felt as though she'd dreamt this before. A deep feeling of deja vu settled over her. In her dreams she opened the doorway to see the faces of her students within, busy at work or study.

Hal would be hunched over a table with one of the Padawans, brow furrowed as he explained the subject of the lesson. So deep in thought was he that he hadn't noticed her arrival, and though in the dream it was as if nothing had changed it still felt as though Avalore had not been there in years. At the Student's distracting insistence Hal would straighten and look up, blue eyes glinting with that bare hint of a smile.

Hello Avalore...

"Avalore."

welcome home.

"Have you forgotten the passcode?" Hal said at her side.

She blinked, thinking that sometimes in her dreams when he looked up he didn't have eyes at all, "No...I remember it now."

With the last digit put in the door slid open, revealing to them the contents of the Sanctuary exactly how she left it.

[member="Hal Terrano"]

 

[Hal Terrano]

They continued across the bridge, fear now forgotten and all hesitation dispelled. The very sight of the temple in its undisturbed state providing a sense of vigour for them both, particularly Avalore, who had now conquered her bridge-related troubles and was now actively leading Hal across it.

As she lead him towards the entrance the man stared at their hands. Terrano had never been a man well accustomed to human touch, even before dire circumstance. Even a simple hand upon his shoulder made him feel so uncomfortably aware. He couldn't articulate why, or give any reason for such feelings, it had just always been the case.

But there and then his hand was in hers and the man hadn't even registered it until he looked, not even realising. He didn't want to let go.

He stood there in his silence, as they reached the door, still staring at their hands with a near-puzzled expression fixed upon usually stony features. Contact was broken as she entered the access code, his eyes still cast downwards, staring until finally he looked up upon her hesitation on the last digit. Had she forgotten? It had been so long, it would be understandable if she did. His archive-like mind would always remember if she didn't.

After his inquiry Avalore had remembered and the door opened, as it had so many times, all those years before.

Like yesterday.

His feet almost wanted to break into former-routine. Post jog. Time to warm down. Prevent any aches or injuries. Shower. Glass of water. Then to the archives. Like clockwork. Like he had never left.

They stepped inside, Hal's eyes actively darting from wall to wall, taking mental stock of the way things had been left. Had it been untouched? The man couldn't be sure, he hadn't been there. Should have been. Maybe if he had been it wouldn't have been...

Frown.

“Why did you decide to leave?” Hal asked quietly, wincing slightly as his question sounded like an accusation more than just a general inquiry, digging into memories that were likely just as painful for her than they were for him. Not his intention. Just curiosity.

“I am sorry.”

Hal Terrano apologising to [member="Avalore Eden"] while being socially ham-fisted. No, some things don't change.

“You do not have to tell me if you do not wish to.”

 

[Avalore Eden]

"Because I was alone, Hal," the answer came unbidden as if she knew he'd ask it.

Brow furrowed over a frown she willfully tried not to let stretch too far, Avalore stepped forward through the front entrance and pushed through the swinging doors that lead into the main Medical bay. They'd renovated this the year after Diana's death. With the generous donations of the Cato Neimoidia Council the entire first floor which had previously held little more than an artistically bare ceremonial meeting hall had been turned into a state-of-the-art medical and healing facility for its time. Most all of the equipment donated to them remained here covered in white sheets or collecting dust. Avalore hadn't the heart to take the things that were meant to be used here, to help the Cato people as much as everyone else. The little things had left with her, though. Medical supplies, Healer necessities, all taken with her to the Chasin City Hospital on Commenor.

"After Manaan I spent a lot of time on Commenor at the Capital city hospital where most of the fallout and refugees landed. I was there so much that I ended up renting an apartment. I split my time as much as I could ... I was obliged to continue Healing here after the Neimoidian Council agreed to put up the reward for your safe return. Then Lyra left and never came back."

The story from her end was much more complicated than it even sounded.

"[member="Kana Truden"] showed up at my door on Commenor not long after the Bounty Hunter returned to tell me Lyra's fate. We went to where she died and found her body ... brought her back here and gave her a proper burial in the Sky Garden. I couldn't bear to return here after that, so Kana helped me close the Sanctuary."

Couldn't, but she had. One final time after closing it to claim the baffoor trees and put the last remaining piece of Hal Terrano she had to rest as well. In a hand-carved and stained wooden box up in its own little burial mound rested the jar containing Hal's eyes. She'd had no idea what happened to him after receiving them and the video but at the time she supposed if any part of him would find peace, it would be the part given to her so ruefully by his tormentor.

[member="Hal Terrano"]