Wake Up

[Soliath Devin Talith]

He looked at her for a brief moment, as if startled.

His head shook from side to side, as if he was realizing his wife would know exactly what was on his mind, or at least that something was there. He frowned for a few moments, then walked over to the central island of the kitchen. His fingers drummed against the heavy granite for a few moments, his head swiveling back as if searching for something, or someone.

“Aela.” Soliael said cryptically.

Micah and Maleah were nothing to be concerned about.

The two were young, they were happy, and they were glad just to be with their parents. They were neither world weary nor did they care about what was happening outside of this house. Aela however was at an age where she was beginning to care, at an age where things started to matter.

Soliael knew this, because he could recall clear as day being exactly like her.

 

[Kira Talith]

The small kiss of the porcelain bowl against the granite table would follow in the wake of that singular pronoun. Kira's fingers would go sliding around the rim of the bowl, gripping tightly after a second. Uneasiness would start as a slow coil in her belly, but it was her concern over what exactly her husband was worried about that made her focus.

Although truth be told, she had an inkling on the why. Ever since Aela came back from visiting Soliael's mother, her firstborn shone with a determination and focus she'd seen in Soliael while in the throes of deep contemplation. Studious one would say. It was just their natural curiosity, much like hers, but with Sol -- with the Talith's.. well, they certainly enjoyed kicking it up a notch.

"What about her?" she would ask, drawing her hands away from the bowl to move to gather the rest of the supplies. Flour would be first, as would sugar and butter.

Her need to keep in motion was starting show as a tell.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

“I want to take her with me to see my Great Grandmother and Amorella.” Soliael said calmly, though obviously not finished. “Then show her a few planets, Hoth, Utapau, Geonosis. Places I visited as a kid, places I know.”

The meetings he was talking about were all set and scheduled for next week. Silencia needed to see him due to Moross Shipyards and its failing status, Amorella...well he just wanted to see Amorella. It had been some time since the two of them had met, and Soliael himself wanted to see how his people were doing now that they were part of the Fringe.

The other part was about having his daughter see the galaxy, something that his Oma and Mother did for him at the same age. “She's been in her room for the past three weeks either reading or studying things on the holo-net. She needs to get out, see the galaxy and actually understand some of the things she's learning about.”

Knowledge was a dangerous thing, especially when it didn't teach the right lesson.

 

[Kira Talith]

Flour. Butter. Milk. Eggs. Cin-cinnamon.

Kira would mentally go through the list to make this batch of cookies. Short as she was, she often had trouble searching on the higher shelves, her hands sliding to the side to and fro small glass jars of spices as she would hunt down the cinnamon.

Her body would be turned away from him, but there was a slight tension to her now. It made sense what he said. It did. Certainly it would be good for Aela to get out of the house more. Get more hands on training. As a Jedi, Kira would follow that same philosophy. Why study in a stuffy training room when they can get practical application and real life experiences out in the 'verse?

Only thing being is that they were well into the throes of a war. One she wasn't too keen on having Aela or the twins experience so early on. It wasn't that she didn't trust Sol with their daughter; she trusted him implicitly. It was that she wanted Aela to not be affected by the war so early on. To be a kid for as long as she could.

Uneasiness would line her body, hand curling round the spice jar of cinnamon powder.

"Old Abrion territories?..." her voice would trail off, setting the spice down on the granite. Pearly white teeth would start to worry her lower lip.

"...I'm not too sure about that."

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael shook his head.

“None of them are in the throws of war right now, and the Abrion Corporate System Planetary Alliance...or whatever they call themselves now, is practically extinct.” He was speaking the truth. After the odd events of the Netherworld, which thankfully his family had been largely unaffected by, the ACA was a shadow of its former self.

“Plus, on all of those worlds I have friends. Connections forged over decades.” Save for Hoth of course, but that didn't matter. “She'll be with me the entire time, she knows how to defend herself with the force, and we wont be traipsing into any war zones.”

“It'll be good for her.” Soliael said again, trying to convince his wife of this. He knew it was necessary, and he knew that Aela would enjoy it. His daughter would be happy to see Amorella again, she would be blown away by Silencia, and the planets they visited together would create memories she would never forget.

Not to mention she would finally see in person all the things she was learning about, creating an important connection.

 

[Kira Talith]

Turning slowly, Kira would hold the jar of flour cradled between her hands, drawing it close to her belly, almost half hugging it to her. It was a nervous tick, one that would follow the light tapping of her fingers over the surface. The pads would make an off beat thrum, her mind racing with a dozen thoughts, concerns, and those nagging whatif scenarios.

Biting her lower lip, she took a deep breath. It made sense what he said. It was perfectly reasonable. She just wasn't comfortable with it. A furrow would settle over her brow, hidden away behind a straight fringe of blonde bangs.

"And you'll leave at the first sign of danger?" she would ask. The answer of course, she already knew, but she needed to have it spoken aloud. A flutter of anxiety would drift over her expression.

Geonosis.

She knew that planet well. Particularly the slave pits she was in for months on end after her torture in Nemene's hand; and the implanted chip that would take her back to that white room when she least expected it.

Her face would blanch a shade or two of color then.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

He nodded.

With a quick few steps Soliael found himself directly in front of her. His hands wrapped around the small pot, taking it from her and placing it onto the counter besides them.

His arms wrapped around her, in a tight hug.

“I promise.” He said kissing her forehead. “She won't get hurt.”

Aela was his daughter, she along with Micah and Maleah were his life. He would rather die than see any of them hurt. That was the simple truth. If he thought any danger would come of this trip, if he thought for a moment that Aela could be harmed, he would never have suggested it.

The only world that presented any true danger in his eyes was Hoth. Utapau he was a great friend to, Geonosis he had the allegiance of an entire hive, Hoth was the only one of the listed planets where he held nothing, yet he knew that Aela would want to see the Wampas, something he was obliged to do for her.

 

[Kira Talith]

The warmth of his arms would wrap round the petite Lorrdian like a comforting blanket. Her cheek would smush against his chest, so tight was his hold on her, shoving up her bangs up her forehead.

Her hands would snake through under him, slipping past his ribcage and finding his waist. He dwarfed her, and there they stood, holding each other close. Warmth would seep at another kiss along the crown of her head; and to a degree she felt much like Aela, Micah, or Maleah in that regard.

A great exhale would drain from her then, sinking along his chest. It only made her appear that much smaller. Kira didn't like it. But life held experiences one was uncomfortable with and had to learn to move past it. She still couldn't shake the uneasy feeling, but perhaps that was what all mothers felt for their children. That desire to keep them safe, innocent, and full of joy for as long as possible.

Aela was already a serious child; perhaps the outing would do her some good. In a way, Kira knew that she wouldn't be able to garner as much interest from her daughter as much as her aunt or her grandmother would.

Another long sigh.

"For how long?" there was acceptance to that muffled question; Aela would travel with her father.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

He smiled.

Victory.

Of course this was what he had wanted. He wanted Aela to travel with him, he wanted her to grow and to learn, to become stronger and find out who she was. It had taken him nearly two hundred years and seven decades in a prison to do so, he would not have his daughter go through the same ordeal. Aela would know who she was, what she was.

Soliael would make sure of that at the very least, and eventually, when they were older he would so the same for Micah and Mileah. One statement rang through his head, one powerful urging that he received from somewhere 'Be a better man than your father'.

“Two Weeks.” He answered her. “At most.”

That was enough time to see Silencia, Amorella, and more than half a dozen worlds without rushing. It was also enough time to make Aela homesick.

 

[Kira Talith]

Two weeks.

Not too long really. Some of her missions as a padawan had her out for months on end. A rather perturbed thought came that he was being all too reasonable about this, but it quickly faded as soon as appeared.

Kira would gently rub her forehead against Soliael's chest, her messy ponytail swaying slightly at her back and over her shoulders. It would be good for Aela; she knew her daughter would enjoy the experience. Two weeks wasn't so bad.

Granted, she'll be with Micah and Maleah during that time. Maybe the three of them could go on their own adventure around Borealis. Nothing to ambitious like traveling down the Mara or into Fringe Territory... but something to keep them occupied.

Maybe do a bit of early sense training on the go. They might be young; but that didn't mean they couldn't sense the Force around them.

"Alright," came Kira's muffled acquiesce.

"Two weeks."

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

He kissed her forehead again.

“Two weeks.” Soliael repeated what she said in confirmation. Of course he had no idea what would happen, but two weeks was more than enough time.

Just to be sure he would take a handful of former Crusaders with him. Eleanin for certain would want to come along and perhaps Bolyn and Brin would go as well. Mentally he began to plot out the journey that he and his daughter would take, smiling slightly as he remembered old times of him and his mother parading around on a certain few worlds.

“Oh.” Soliael suddenly said as if remembering something. “I told Maleah we would go Skreev riding tomorrow.”

His arms unhooked from around her, and he prepared to run.

 

[Kira Talith]

“You what?!” Kira’s exclamation would burst in sudden show of bewilderment. Her jaw would drop, and Sol would attempt to flee.

Oh but he wasn’t the only one with quick hands. After all, it was this short stack of a blonde Jedi Master who had managed to freeze tag tackle Soliael to the ground many years ago.

She made a grab for his waist, drawing him closer and tight against her. Maybe this was where Maleah got it from; instant monkey lizard claim in a tangle of arms and legs as Kira would latch onto her husband.

“You’ll pay for that!” like two kids, a lighthearted atmosphere would return to the kitchen, laughter echoing in the wake of their horseplay.

The children would giggle in their rooms; Maleah having told Micah what her father had parlayed. Aela would flip one more page, the glow of the flashlight reflecting in her orange eyes.

Worries and doubt cast aside as for one more night, life was full of possibiltites and the greatest of joys.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

A week went by.

Soliael and Maleah went on their Skreev riding trip, the family continued, and Aela was told about the trip that she would be taking.

At firs the girl was apprehensive. She really would only leave to go visit Oma Qui, and Silencia and Amorella were not Quietus. Of course after some convincing, the girl was coaxed into coming along. All it took was Soliael mentioning visiting other worlds and a description of those worlds, especially the Wampas.

Kira still wasn't too happy about the idea, but Soliael knew that when Aela was home, when she had gone through this small life experience, things would be better.

“Maleah!” He called to his youngest daughter, the pitter patter of little feet being heard out in the hallway as she quickly approached him. Her head ducked out from the doorway, her eyes searching her father inquisitively. “Go find Aela. She needs to pack.”

A smirk poured over the little girls face, and without a word she rushed off.

 

[Kira Talith]

“Whoa hey there kiddo, slow down!” Kira would tell her youngest daughter as Maleah went scurrying off around her legs, giggles a plenty. A hand would tossle her messy hair, the little girl quickly disappearing to find her elder sister. Micah wasn’t far behind, but he held a gleam of devilry in his eyes that would suggest they were all too willing to help Aela ‘pack.’

Glancing up, Kira would shine a crooked grin at her husband. “And have you’ve packed already, Mister Talith?” her petite figure would give a slow amble over, hair swaying over her shoulders and back.

“Or are you going to need some help?” she’d would ask, her own eyes dancing with a bit of mirth. Really, it was all she could honestly do. Try to be happy and upbeat about it. The hardest part was explaining to the twins where their father and sister were going and why they couldn’t go with them.

A free hand would run her fingers through her hair, pushing the blonde bangs back. That was the nervous gesture. How odd how becoming a mother made an all new set of worries and concerns rise to the fore.

How had families ever been able to leave their children to the Jedi? That was a curious question for her, one she was still mulling about.

“You’re visiting Amore first?” she would ask, curious as she came to a stop beside him, reaching up to press a small kiss on his cheek.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

“Packing?” Soliael echoed as the kiss landed on his cheek.

His voice was full of innocents. “I thought the maid was doing it, though if she makes me wait any longer I'm going to have to think of some serious punishment for her.”

There was a grin on his face as he said it, an arm slipping around his wife as he spoke. He squeezed her slightly, planting a kiss on her forehead.

The trip was all ready and planned. They would visit Silencia first, then head to Amorella. From there they would go on their planetary journey, ending on Geonosis and then heading back to Borleias. It was easiest that way. Kuat was closer than Amorella, and he knew that his Oma would be eager to finish her business and see her great grandson.

Sadly, he hadn't been able to reach his mother. “Kuat first. My Oma has business to conduct with Moross Shipwright...and she'll want to meet Aela.”

Silencia was the only one who had yet to meet Kira, the only one who hadn't met his children either. Not because she didn't want to, besides Amorella she was the most matronly of all the family, but because of her circumstances. The Queen of Kuat couldn't have just anyone show up to see her afte rall.

 

[Kira Talith]

"Kuat?" Kira's eyes would widen, echoing the name of the planet where she'd had lived her early life. Her arms would tighten around him, leaning against his strength. Truth be told, she was a bit jealous about Soliael and Aela being able to meet his oma. It wasn't like she didn't understand the reasoning behind it; she did. She respected that.

Just was a thought in the back of the mind; a vague image that rose to the fore from their melding. She could get a sense of her; kind, motherly, but powerful.

Aela would most certainly love her.

"Well that should be interesting," she'd say, tilting her head back to get a better look at her husband's swarthy face. A flashing impish grin would prevail, "And the maid I hear is on strike; maybe she didn't get paid her due." she would tease.

"When time are you leaving?" came the more serious question, the twins would likely want to spend some time with their father.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

“Strike?” He repeated, his eyebrow raising. “We'll have to rectify that. Maybe provide her with some incentives to come back.”

Soliael grinned, his hand suddenly snaking down her back and grasping hard onto her rear. It was a firm grab, one that half raised her on her toes. He winked, then smiled.

He would miss this. They had not been separated in...he didn't know how long. Kira and Soliael had not been apart from one another for that long in nearly six years. Realizing that somehow sent a spike of fear through him, worry and concern that he had not thought of before. He shook his head for a few moments, dispelling the thought.

Soliael leaned down and kissed Kira on the forehead, turning to good thoughts instead of the bad. Him and Aela traveling, their return, all the good things.

“Tonight, after Maleah and Micah go to bed. Aela can sleep on on the ship.” He explained with a smile.

 

[Kira Talith]

Kira couldn't help but shiver; it was the delicious press and slide that would remind her of the differences between their bodies. Tippy on toes with a cup at her hindquarters, the petite Jedi couldn't help but flash a pixie grin.

"Mmm, yes well, guess that will require you to make haste with your travels, no?" she'd tease, pressing another kiss on the corner of his mouth. Her hands went sailing up and over the brawn of his shoulders, encircling them lightly.

"Good, Micah and Maleah are bound to ask you a lot of questions; your turn for story time then." she'd slide in with notable humor. Her expression would turn to another of query, "Will you be taking Eleanin with you?" slowly she began to sway from side to side, a bit of a silly motion to get him to turn in place.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

“I don't know. Maybe I'll let her sit and think about her actions for a while.” He smiled at her.

Of course the trip would likely not be made in haste. Aela was far too excited now to rush through everything, both he and Kira knew that. This experience would be good for her, and meeting the matriarch of their family was something that would altogether give her a new experience, a good one. Perhaps meeting the woman that even Quietus looked up to would allow Aela to become a bit more...free.

Soliael certainly hoped so.

“Aela can tell them.” Soliael said with a cheeky grin. “I'm sure she'll have many stories to tell her brother and sister to make them jealous.”

That was another part of his hope, that this would bring the three siblings closer to together. “Only until Amorella. Shell want to stay there for a bit, see the Crusaders that stayed with my sister.”

They were a tight knit group the former Crusaders.

 

[Kira Talith]

Gingerly, Kira would lift her hand, running her fingers through the length of his hair. Cafuning, she would smile up at him , "Mmm, are you taking your ship?" she would ask, referencing the one she had first met the Crusaders in many years ago. It was a large personal vessel, but fast. There were a lot of good memories made on that ship, she'd muse, this time her own cheeky grin curving.

She would continue her slight rocking shimmy, using her tippy toes to gently start guiding Soliael back, step by step, over towards a nearby couch. About two meters away, not too far off, so they had some time.

But it was a comical thing to see the short stack Jedi Master be the force of nature to nudge the two meter Garhoon hybrid back.