A Familial Eve (ME/NR)

[Aditya Fitz Kierke]

“Good luck. It’ll take at least a couple of decades. Back out now, live longer with less stress and fewer grey hairs. See? Even my own turned grey.” I put on a smile with more bravado than I feel, fingering a lock of once midnight black hair in my fingers. Nevermind that the body Prazutis created for me came with grey hair… Shhh.

My feet stagger as [member="Adenn Kyramud"] wraps me in his arms, threatening the funk, which stole across me. The sky doesn’t smell like ash. I’m safe and on Vanquo, Yasha’s not a child but a mother of children the age she was those years prior. Now, Aditya. Be in the present, the handsome faced crazy Mandalorian says. His fist runs along my cheek, lips brushing against my hand.

“Never be pregnant during a cataclysmic event… got it. Lesson learned.” Did it get hotter in here?

“Ooooh, I can think of a few soft places. Some even visible!” Yes. Yes it did. Dang Mandalorian. Being all sexified and attractive. How dare he! The cheek and nerve! The… blissful sensation of laying on a floating blanket with a warm, attractive and interested man. Ideas on experimentations, family ties and nosy sisters fledge away, their baby feathers moulted for flight. I kick off my shoes, nuzzling onto my side. My nose brushes against his jaw, and it feels as swell as I imagined.

“Huh… You really do like it here, I mean on the blanket… the chair-bed… you sure one of the times you hit your head didn’t mentally damage you? ‘Cause… cause this is… nice.” My smile defeats the nerves, eyes shutting softly, as I cuddle up. Put my top leg over his closest knee. There it is… the sensation I’d forgotten existed has a name. “Contentment… let’s talk contentment. Seems like I do need furniture after all, if… you’re looking at coming back at all… you know… if you wanted. Oh what am I saying? This is the best I’ve felt in… gods. Ages…”

My arm strokes across his chest, nose tucked in by his chin. His touch on my side feels like the sort of warm fire, that banishes a cold night.

“… don’t stop.” I whisper, barely audible, lips teasingly close to his neck.

 

[Adara Raxis]

There was nothing for it! Nothing at all, but the positively worst and best thing Adara could ever do. She stuck her tongue out at the retreating forms of [member="Adenn Kyramud"] and Aditya Fitz Kierke. [member="Beth Cadera"] got a hug and a narrowing of her little sister’s eyelids.

There was hanky panky going on between Beth and @Cleru… there must have been for her sister’s cheeks to flush like that. If only someone would explain to the 'absolutely, unconditionally old enough to not be a child' ten year old what hanky panky was, maybe the girl child wouldn't be so suspicious. Pouting her lips, Adara wondered about her plan of attack. She had to protect her fragile older sister’s… virtue? Free time with which they could go shopping?

… Whatever it was Adara felt protective over, she quickly forgot, when [member="Darlyn Excron"] set his flask aside. Curious how an adult in the presence of [member="Kaine Australis"]’ children thought better than drinking publicly. Maybe Adara should ask…

She curtseyed for Darlyn, a further belonging diffusing the space between them. He understood the Dark, it seemed, or if not that, he wasn’t afraid of the Dark in her. Used to folk being repulsed, Adara’s smile grew more childish and genuine.

“I would like to talk very much, thank you, ba’vodu. And… especially after spilling my cousin’s tea!” Adara was about to curtsey again, when Reyn climbed up on the back of the couch Darlyn was sitting on, and reached over to poke at the shoulder pad of his suit. Adara held her breath, eyes bright with mischief, and turned to [member="Loreena Arenais"].

“You got here right after me, then! Oh Lori, I wish I could bring you to School with me, it’s so lonely without our family around.” She giggled at the thought of Lori sneaking up on her, “I didn’t have a single clue you were about to pounce! Your infiltration skills are flawless… perhaps we could… engage in a spot of trouble? I’d love to see your fighter… wait… WAIT!”

Adara gasped, mouth agape as she looked from Lori to Darlyn, and back to Lori.

“You flew your ship yourself!? Aah! I am awash with jealousy! Overcome!” Adara put the back of her hand against her forehead, and with as much drama as a ten year old could muster, tossed herself onto the couch beside Darlyn in a ‘faux faint’. The skirts and petticoats of her dress ‘floofed’ around her, settling below her knees. Two seconds later, Adara opened one eye, and grinned. “Nobody will let me near the controls of a ship. They all say I’m too little, and… and… and it’s… inconvenient! Then again, it would be hard to fit all my bodyguards on a training fighter… it wouldn’t be such a big deal if people stopped attempting to kill me for that ridiculous bounty. Daddy says I’ll defeat it when I’m older, but I do wish there wasn’t such waiting when one’s a child.”

 

[Mandalorian Prophet]

Cleru let out a nervous laugh once he noticed [member="Yasha Cadera"] 's reaction. He quickly made a mental note to not so casually let his feelings for [member="Beth Cadera"] overtake his common sense. It wouldn't be worth much if he ended up with a hole in his stomach after all. Dragging was pretty accurate as the Chiss went with Beth to Manda'lor, glancing between her and Beth. At least they got along well.

Once they were in the kitchen he let out a held breath, rubbing the back of his head. "The flight was pretty boring, but anything is worth seeing you again." He laughed at her description of her family. "Yeah, I can see that. There's certainly.. A lot of them. Took me by surprise actually. They're uh.. Pretty free spirited huh?"

 

[Adenn Kyramud]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Aditya wishes him luck, and Adenn chuckles. When she says to back out, Adenn simply shakes his head, smirking.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10.5pt]"[/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]I'd rather live a short life, with those I care for, and doing something I enjoy, rather than have a long life, but not really live.[/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]" He chuckles again at her speaking of stress. "[/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]Chances are I'll be dead before I'm old an grey, besides, grey is a nice color.[/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]" At that, Adenn gently taps her hand that's fingering the lock of hair.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]When Aditya staggered in the hug, Adenn pulled her closer to himself, stroking the back of her hair down her back. Chuckling again as she speaks of not being pregnant during a big event, Adenn smirks again. His helmets off now, and he grins as she says there are a few soft places he could kiss. He sees that as a challenge accepted, and looked at her eyes then her lips before focusing on her eyes again.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]"[/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]Oh, I wonder, could you possibly mean this place?[/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]" At that he places his hands on the sides of her face, smirking. He leans forward to her, smiling gently the entire time, eyes looking into her eyes. Then, smiling a quick small smile, Adenn leans forward fully and quickly pecks her on the lips(or longer if dragged in ). He leans back shortly thereafter, smirking mischievously. "Did I get the right, soft, and visible spot? Or should I try again." He smiles again, bringing his hands down to her neck. "Or should I try here." Adenn teasingly ran his fingers across the base of her neck, gazing deep into her eyes.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=10.5pt]Once they’re on the blanket, Adenn keeps smiling and looking at Aditya. When Aditya kicks her shoes off, Adenn can’t help but chuckle lightly. He was still in armor, and she was in this nice, soft dress that was the complete opposite of his beskar. Then she brushes her nose against his jaw, and Adenn gasps, his grip on her side tightens for a second, in shock, before he loosens it again. He pats her side again, that had felt good.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]When she says that he likes it here, Adenn nods his head. He did like this, a lot… when she asks if he had been mentally damaged, Adenn lets out a light chortle. Relaxing himself more, Adenn is glad that he’d left his weapons at the door and tables. When Aditya places her leg over his, Adenn lets out a soft gasp of surprise, and then pleasure. Sighing in pleasure, Adenn lets his hand trail down her side and to her hip, he lets it rest there for the moment.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]She speaks of contentment then, and Adenn nods his head. Aditya asks if he’d come back, if he wants to, and Adenn smiles gently.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10.5pt]“I love it here, for the chair, but mainly for the company, for you.” He pats her hip then, laughing a small laugh. “Contentment? Yes, this is very nice, and I’m, dare I say it… content.” She speaks of getting more furniture, and Adenn lets his hand trail up her side again, ending at her shoulder. Squeezing gently, he trails his hand back down and rests it back on her hip. “If I get this treatment every time I come back, then I say no more furniture is needed. This is nice, very, very nice. But I wouldn’t say no to more. And of course, I’ll come back, I’ll come back as often as I can, as often as you'll have me. Or I'll ask you to come with me, out there.” Adenn makes a gentle sweeping gesture with his free arm towards the sky. “The feeling is mutual Aditya, I love this feeling and I don’t want it to end.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]As she strokes her arms across his chestplate, Adenn smiles in pleasure. With every stroke, he returns with a gently squeeze on her side as he rubs up and down her side, or lets his hand rest on her hip. He keeps his hand there every now and then, before with a gently motion, moves it back up her side. When she whispers to not stop, Adenn lets out a light gasp. Her lips are so close to his neck, it’d drive him insane if he weren’t already. But at those words, Adenn places his free arm up and gently takes one of her hands in his own. Bringing it to his lips, Adenn then turns his head down to her, and breathlessly speaks into her hair.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10.5pt]“I won’t, ever…. I’ll hold you forever and ever….” With that, Adenn squeezes her gently closer into his side.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]He enjoys the way her leg is over his, the way her arms stroke over his chest, even if he only feels it through the beskar. A fact that irks him to no end, and he sort of wishes to take it off, so that he can feel it closer, in a more intimate way. Adenn enjoys the way her lips are so close to his neck, the way her nose is almost, and sometimes is, touching is jaw. It’s pleasurably, so pleasurable that Adenn lets out another sigh of contentment, and of peace. He closes his eyes then, gently stroking along Adityas side, stopping sometimes on her hip, or her shoulder, and gently squeezing.[/SIZE]

[member="Aditya Fitz Kierke"]

 

[Aditya Fitz Kierke]

“You’re on par with that short life, keeping me around.” I can’t help but smile, nuzzling my nose into his jaw. Seems like he balks at it… must not be used to the sensation. “I thought that. Turns out, I died with not a grey hair on me. Didn’t help.”

[member="Adenn Kyramud"]’s hands stroked my face, and for a brief period in what is known as time, I am paralyzed. I continue to remain in a state of semi-paralysis beyond the time it takes to linger beside him.

Him. This curious and crazy man.

“Then… then come back. Come back, Adenn… and… out there? You… you want me to come with you out there? The Galaxy’s gotten a lot bigger and a lot more complicated, since I came back…” My breath comes and goes, a signal of life abundant. I cuddle into a man’s side, one I don’t know supremely well, one I wish I knew better… and I don’t care.

This is where contentment lies. He gasps. I nuzzle in. His breath lingers in my hair. I shut my eyes and squeeze, clear and sweet in my intentions.

 

[Caz Australis]

He kissed her. [member="Cleru"] kissed Beth right in front of Yasha’s maternally minded face. A stroke of fierce protectiveness shunted through the Infernal, fists clenching before she reminded herself that Bethany was old enough to make her own decisions… as much as Yasha wanted to… to what?

She didn’t know. Times like this, Yasha wished Beth’s father was near. Kain’ik would know what to do with a child, who grew up. He’d parented before. But truth be Kaine hadn’t been around in some time. After Eshan and the birth of the twins… Yasha huffed a breath out of her nose. No. It would do no good thinking on the painful past. On how she shut herself into the business of rebuilding… vastly without him. Grounded. That’s what he’d been.

“You’d better be.” Yasha growled, piercing her gaze at her eldest daughter [member="Beth Cadera"].

“Caz? Babe, I swear I had a mug of stim-caf…” Yasha turned to [member="Caz Australis"]. Caz’ika would know what to do.

All this time Caz had quietly been following Yasha around as she greeted family and absent mindedly looked for her stim-caf... and the whole time Caz had been holding the mug of stim-caf in her other hand. She could feel the rollercoaster of emotions that Yasha was feeling with each new person, and every time she thought she had a second to stop her and hand her her mug, someone came and commanded her wife's attention.

"Yasha," Caz laughed, "Stop moving. I have been trying to hand you this mug for almost an hour." Caz pulled the mug in front of her face and widened her eyes at Yash. "Although it's probably cold now, and not as tasty. I could go warm it for you, but if I leave you now you will be half way across the property by the time I bring it back to you. I haven't been around this many people in quite some time."

 

[Adenn Kyramud]

Adenn chuckled again as Aditya spoke. When she smiles, Adenn smiles back at her. As she nuzzles into his nose again, Adenn moves his head so that she has some more access. It had felt nice, and it made him feel things he'd never felt before. Then she speaks about her hair, and Adenn brings his hand on her side to her head. There he slowly strokes her hair, twirling it lightly around a finger. After a few moments, he returns his hand to her hip.
"Short life, long life, I don't care. As long as I can spend it with those I love, it doesn't matter to me. As for your hair, I like it the way it is."

Adenn notices how Aditya seems paralyzed, and Adenn finds it cute. Brushing a hand along her cheek again, Adenn smiles. She says to come back, and Adenn nods his head. He will come back, as often as he can, and as often as she wants him to
"Yes, out into the galaxy. To explore it, and discover what it really is. It may have changed, but that's part of the fun. The more complicated it is, the more fun it is to ignore the complications, and go about it simply." Adenn chuckles then, patting her hip.

As she continues to cuddle into his side, Adenn simply keeps smiling. However, she also kept rubbing her arms across his chest, and Adenn had finally had enough. He pats her side, and speaks.
"Hold on Aditya, please, for just a moment."

With that, he leans forward slightly, and begins unclasping his upper armor pieces. It doesn't take long, and when he's done, he quickly places the pieces on the ground next to the floating chair. Then he leans back down next to Aditya, and turns to face her. He only has his undersuit on now, at least for his chest area.
"That's out of the way now," Adenn smiles brightly at her. "I couldn't resist, you drive me crazy with that. The good kind." With that, Adenn leans forward and pecks her on the lips again. Leaning back, he smirks. As Aditya squeezes him, Adenn wraps both arms around her, and squeezes back. Placing his forhead against hers, he speaks again, voice just a whisper. "I want to prove her wrong." He hopes it's obvious who her is.

As if to accent that claim, Adenn wraps one arm around her shoulders, and the other goes back down to her hip. There he rests a hand on her hip, smiling to her. It may have been fast, but he couldn't resist. She was too beautiful, too perfect, and he decided to say as much.
"You're beautiful, and you're perfect. And I want to make it up to you, for me being so stubborn so far." He pecks her on the forhead then, before smiling down to her. He keeps brushing his hand up and down her side again, and rubs the other hand up and down her back. He's smiling, a sweet and gentle smile, one that promises fun, and pleasure, and everything to her. Adenns eyes glitter with amusement, and interest. But he waits, letting her choose, yes or no.

[member="Aditya Fitz Kierke"]

 

[Yasha Cadera]

"Yeah, Caz'ika just a second, [member="Nicole Sarah Feanor"] was trying to ask me something and now... Frick. Where did Aditya and [member="Adenn Kyramud"] go!? Did... Did Mom bail on the party?" Should she have slept a full night before this party? The more Yasha saw of her family, the more she wished she had. But work called. Preparations needed to be done, and the venue perfected. While Tamar helped, and the construction teams worked without ceasing, Yasha fell into bed with [member="Caz Australis"] around the time the sun was peeking above the plains. They were woken scant hours later, by bouncing five year old twins on the bed.

"But... But this party was for Mama… How else was I going to introduce everybody? It was… it was her birthday…” Yasha's face sank, as she searched for her mother [member="Aditya Fitz Kierke"] and found nothing but her absence. In the pause of a child's disappointment, Yasha's spouse swooped in with one small mercy.

"W-wait... You have my stim-caf!?" Yasha rubbed her hand on her forehead and burbled out a sigh. "Sorry, love I ought to pay more attention to what you have in your sexy, capable hands."

Tipping her forehead to Caz's, Yasha breathed in, nose brushing against her wife's. If she didn't have Caz, was there anything left to cling to? Her eyes fell to [member="Noah Corek"] and [member="Alexandra Feanor"] sitting on the couch with the twins. They had each other in a way Yasha never knew. A purity to them, an exclusivity that was endearing.

“Where’d she go… Oh, Caz, cold stim-caf is fine. You're right. I'd be in the next post code by the time you got back. I can't... Stop... Moving. Just... Wanted Mama and the Panathan family to meet everybody. Hey, let's... Let's sit down. The kitchen's got food, Tamar's got the twins covered, Lov and Lam are chasing around Reyn and Adara... Life is good." A brave face. That's what Yasha needed. Who cared if she missed conversations, her younger daughter was constantly away in boarding school and Bethy brought a date more physically into her than half her bodily organs? And the guest of honour was missing with her surprise date. Yasha and Caz's Riduur was in sequestered exile, Morgan tried to show Yasha something and she missed it...

And as the bustle around her built with natural conversations, Yasha pressed her lips together as tight as she could, tapped her stim caf mug in both hands, and sat down beside [member="Darlyn Excron"].

“Hey, Lori, can't wait to catch up… I’d cough or nudge you Darlyn, but... By Manda help me. I know you're carrying." Yasha waggled her lukewarm, no, cold mug of stim caf in front of Darlyn, hoping for a dash of his favourite liquid. Reyn crept along the top of the couch, not believing his luck!

His Buir didn't see him! This was going to be great!

"RAAAWR!!!" Reyn pounced on his mother's shoulders... And down.... Dropped... the mug of stim-caf.

"FETH!" Yasha cursed, as cold, brown liquid dumped all over her pale yellow dress. Her favourite mug shattered on the hardwood floor. Yasha grabbed her son by the scruff of his neck, and yanked him to her lap. "REYN ÆTHELRED NEREUS AUSTRALIS CADERA!! The actual heck are you doing!? RECON, ad'ika! You don't jump vode with stim-caf in their hands, it could be hot! Feth! Caz... Take him! Goddess!"

Reyn gasped and shut his mouth, when his mother wasn't proud of his sneaky skills at all. She was... Mad!? Yasha pushed to her feet, liquid seeping through her dress and dotting the floor. Her bare foot scraped against a shard of pottery, and Yasha yanked her foot up to see the beginning ooze of a cut to her big toe.

“Son of a… Frick! Darlyn, did he get you, too? And your suit! Your purple suit, it's so rocking and... Feth I'm sorry. Caz, do we have kitchen towels unpacked, yet?" Yasha limped through the crowd, trying to keep her toe elevated. She cursed a long string into the kitchen, only to see [member="Beth Cadera"] sitting on the counter in front of a darlingly love struck @Cleru. "Fething boy needs his karking father and Kain'ik's fething not coming and... Gorram it! Where’s the towels and… Beth! Sorry just... Pass me that towel? Your brother spilled my stim-caf. I think I cut my toe…”

She yanked a napkin from the stack of perfectly folded serviettes she’d folded at 2 in the morning, remembering a foggy time, when Mama took her to a place where the adults drank tea from fragile cups, and ate tiny sandwiches… Applying it to her toe, she checked and groaned at the small amount of blood which absorbed into it.

“Do we have a cleaning droid out yet? Oh gosh, you wouldn't know, you haven't moved back yet... Right. Sorry, I'll be out of your way in... Just... I just need some stim-caf." Towelling herself off, Yasha turned to the only salvation she had left. The pot of stim-caf. That would save her. A sip of stim-caf and all would be right with the world. She tugged a mug off the sideboard, and grabbed the pot, which sprang up...

... Empty. Yasha bit her lip, and put the mug down, shutting her eyes.

"Buir? Buuuuiiiiir! Morgan and me and Junior and Girak are firwsty! Juice, Buir! We need djuce! But with a lid 'cause Junior tipped his sippy cup and... Buir?" Little Magnus scattered to a stop, when his mother, standing in a stained, be sodden wet dress, with a napkin on her toe, shattered the empty glass stim-caf carafe in her bare hand. "....... I don't need juice anymore..."

 

[Aditya Fitz Kierke]

“Love’s a strong word. Not unwelcome... but strong.” My nose nuzzled back onto his neck and chin, smiling at the way he gasped and adjusted. Was [member="Adenn Kyramud"] as nervous as me? His gloved hand on my hip and cheek burns like warm coals in winter.

“What it is… gosh. When was the last time I looked at the Galaxy so innocent? But… if you’re going to explore, you might need an engineer. Someone to keep you from getting killed.” If he keeps patting my hip, I’m going to lose it. Lose it!

“Wh-aaah?” I sit up and watch Adenn remove the armoured plates, seeing them fall and leave him unprotected in my home. Oh my lanta. The man isn’t all chest plate, and I’m not all pink, but he won’t know that, yet. A Mandalorian taking off his armour is more than comfort sitting on an impromptu couch.

“I drive a lot of people crazy… usually not like that.” Mandos only take their guard down for family. My breath catches, and I honest to goodness gulp, watching the way he pulls me in, forehead to my thick skull. Even my thick skull feels the kiss he peppers on me.

“Y-yyhhhh” I’m pulled in, a satellite to his celestial orbit, and I don’t mind. “You’re about to, if you keep that up…”

Perfect. “Oh, Adenn… you hit your head on Nellogant so hard, you got brain damage. Prattling on about perfection. Perfection is a mathematical impossibility, you know? Due to Chaos Theory there’s always going to be some intrinsic fault in any dynamic system, and… Adenn? You can start the making it up to me by shutting me up…”

Yasha won’t even know that we’re gone. It’s not like this party was important. I drift into him, teasing and light. He’s a wide eyed youth, been through enough things to come out on the other end without some major depressive mental disorder. Adenn’s softer than I thought, tender and goading. Safe.

I could get used to the way safety feels.

FTB​

96/100 Cough. Twins.​

 

[Darlyn Excron]

He probably could've stopped Reyn, honestly. His reflexes weren't that slow, and even if he couldn't he should've been able to catch the mug, the Force was as much a part of him as his arm. So to be frank, he put it on his own shoulders that poor Yasha dropped the mug on top of herself, or at the least to the shattering of it. Honestly most of what followed was more or less his own fault, for sitting quietly and not doing much. So, he sighed quietly and wiped himself off. Fortunately for his cleaners most of the suit was fine, it wouldn't be a serious problem.

He let Yasha leave first, giving her a minute before he stood himself up, and turned around to face Reyn, before Caz or anyone else got a chance to speak. He made sure the boy didn't have to look up to him, lowering down to his level wherever that would be, and spoke calmly and clearly. A benefit from occasionally playing the role of policeman, he could speak with a sense of authority without putting him down. "Reyn, listen. There is a time and a place for things, jumping on people, surprising them, and there is a time to stop yourself from doing that. Sometimes it's not easy to tell, but you'll learn. What you just did was not a good thing, you picked a bad time to try and surprise Yash. You should take some time to sit quietly and think about what happened, and consider why you were in the wrong. Then when both of you are ready, apologize to her. Alright?" He gave a small smile to make sure he didn't think everyone was angry at him, and gently patted his head before glancing at Adara. "I'm going to check on her, we'll talk later alright?"

With a small wave to [member="Loreena Arenais"], he left her alongside [member="Adara Raxis"] as he went to follow behind his niece. He didn't like the implications of age nor appreciate how awkward it felt to be a part of a family, but he did care a bit when he could tell someone was upset. He hardly paid much attention to [member="Cleru"] or [member="Beth Cadera"] as he went into the kitchen. So much going on, back here it was quiet a bit despite everything. Course there was the shattering of glass but to be frank, things weren't going her way today and he couldn't blame Yasha. Instead, he simply walked up behind her and began to sweep the pieces of glass up with the Force, collecting the shattered remnants and setting them on the counter while reaching out to take hold of [member="Yasha Cadera"]'s wrist. "Looks like someone got to you before me, maybe I am growing old. Let me take a look at the damage."

It wasn't that he thought the glass was a risk for her, more that he wanted her away from more shatter-able objects. For their sake and little Magnus who was probably still watching.

 

[Caz Australis]

There was a cacophony of squeels around the women as children of all ages moved around them. Yasha hadn't even gotten a sip of her stim-caf and it went flying and the crash of the mug on the floor stopped the flow of conversation. Caz grabbed a towel without thinking and started to mop off her wife's dress while Cook cleaned the floor. Caz was grateful that she had grounded and shielded herself before the party, or she'd have hit exhaustion already. She'd finally got Yasha's dress dried enough when she heard that voice. The voice that made her heart skip a beat after all these years. He had been gone so long, and we weren't sure he'd make it here tonight. She squeezed Yasha's hand as a smile spread across her face. Children piled on him as he tried to make his way to the ladies. They clung to him so excited to see their buir. He finally extricated himself from the young ones and Caz moved to hug him. "My love! We weren't expecting you to be home!!! I'm so grateful to see you!"

 

[Gaia Sunaris Cadera]

Beth sat on the stool, taking Cleru’s hand in hers. “Once you and them get to know each other, they’ll love you,” she said with a smile. “I’ll ask them to speak more basic around you, too,” she said a second later with a nervous laugh. “And… I did warn you,” she commented more absently mindedly as she heard the large group of family members descend into the kitchen.

She sighed, “Well… They followed us,” she muttered as she watched the whole scene unfold in front of her. Beth blinked as it took her a moment to realize what was happening.

“What happened?” She asked as she handed the towel over to Yasha, “Want me to heal it? Won’t take but a second?” She offered, although her face visibly darkened at the mention of [member="Kaine Australis"]. Her father-in-exile. How much of her life had he missed, now? All they had was 5 years when he was arrested. And he was technically in prison during that time! And while the kids had been to see him frequently, Beth hadn't visited him once. Maybe a couple holocomm calls over the past several years. Distant. Away.

She gave an apologetic look to @Cleru. “Mom, sit down here, please. And calm down, let me handle some of this.” She muttered as she swooped in to boop Magnus’s little nose. “I’ll get you three some juice, alright? You guys hungry?” She said with a smile before they all took off to a well heard voice. Kaine Australis was home. Buir. Bethany Cadera took a deep breath as she glanced to Cleru, Yasha, and back to Kaine. This… Was not what she was expecting. Her boyfriend and the dysfunctional part of her family was not supposed to happen on the same day he met her entire family.

Beth stayed back as [member="Caz Australis"] moved to hug her husband, overjoyed that he had arrived. Beth’s face visibly darkened as her ears went nearly sideways. Great, he was back. What would happen now? Another screw up? Another disaster? Another heart wrenching moment that Beth hated? Another 5 years of an absent father? Or maybe another 5 years of her completely cutting herself off from him? What would it be next time? Beth folded her arms as she watched the scene unfold in front of her. Her heart only warmed by the love from her brothers and sister to seeing their Buir again. They were too young to feel the pain that Beth felt.

Beth stayed back in the kitchen, watching, completely forgetting whatever Magnus said about juice and hunger. No, no matter how much she missed her dad, how she wished he was there with all these missed years. No, she wasn’t going to cave in. She didn’t quite know what to do, in truth, actually.

All she knows is she was hurt. And her eyes stung, angry, sad, and disappointed. And she felt terrible that Cleru had to see her, and this situation, like this.

 

[Noah Corek]

[member="Yasha Cadera"] - [member="Alexandra Feanor"] - [member="Darlyn Excron"] - [member="Cleru"] - [member="Beth Cadera"] - [member="Kaine Australis"] - [member="Caz Australis"]

Noah groaned as he roamed the halls of the Cadera estate. For the last half hour he had been roaming the estate, trying to find somewhere peaceful and secluded that he could have a smoke. Smoking, a habit Noah had abhorred in his youth, dabbled in in his days in the Commandos and finally had succumbed to during his days in the Omega Pyre. He had smoked almost two packs a week since he had been in the Pyre, This had not changed until he had married Alex. Ever since they had married Alex had slowly been weening her husband off of the habit until he now only smoke a few a week....at least as far as she knew.

In reality he had fallen back deeper into the habit only a few short months ago, the stress of his job starting to get to him he had fallen back into the habit. Admittedly he hadn't fallen back into the habit as he had before but still smoked quite often, usually when not near Alex and somewhere he could take a shower before going home. Right now was of course an exception to that rule. As he walked the halls he decided that maybe the kitchen was the best are for him to steal a quick moment. Oh how wrong he was.

Walking into the kitchen, his preferred brand of filtered cigars in his left hand and his custom Zippo lighter in his right hand, he caught the situation that was currently going on. Yasha with a shattered carafe in her hand, Beth and Cleru sitting off to the side, Caz trying to clean and Kaine showing up outta nowhere. Eyes widening he hooked a thumb over his shoulder. "I'm gonna just uh find somewhere else."

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

Lori just laughed at [member="Adara Raxis"] and her over dramatics. The two of them would have had a lot of fun growing up together. But life chose different paths for them. At least they got to reconnect every once in a while.

Just as she was about to make a suggestion, all heck broke loose with Reyn causing trouble. [member="Darlyn Excron"] was quick to get after him before he tended to [member="Yasha Cadera"] as well, leaving her to just stand there and watch.

More and more people were arriving and it was getting quite crowded. Maybe it was a good thing that she didn't pounce on any of them.

Lori turned to Adara. "Do you wanna ask and see if I can take you up in my fighter? We'll be fine.
And if they insist on an escort, then they can follow us. I'll even let you take the controls for a bit if you want. This way we'll be out of everyone's hair."

She spotted [member="Kaine Australis"] and gave him a little wave as he was busy with his family.

 

[Yasha Cadera]

“No, we didn’t expect you home. You’d better have your escort standing outside my house, Kaine.” The voice echoed [member="Beth Cadera"]’s grimace with a shiver. After all this time, so many words between Kain’ik and his Yash’ika remained as silent as the room had been, when Yasha’s mug shattered on the floor.

“Yes, Beth, please do... sorry does He not speak Mando’a or Epicant? Darlyn, I think I got the shard out of my foot, but I’m not sure.” Giving her uncle as appreciative an expression as she could muster, Yasha hop-hobbled over to a bar stool and sat down. For any who checked her foot, a shard of her broken mug was lodged in her toe, easy to remove, but finicky.

“Sorry, the @Cleru. I speak Basic for you.” Yasha’s grasp on Basic was woeful at best, worse without her translation software in her HUD. While she perpetually chattered in her first language of Epicant, Yasha through the years was fluent in Mando’a. Her Basic carried a heavily Panathan accent, aristocratic and lilting from her mother’s family. “Did not rude me... oh... did not wish being rude. Me, I did not wish to you rude... of the Basic I will speak.”

“Thank you, Beth’ika. How can I handle any of this without you?” Yasha said in Mando’a. Having known her mother so long, Beth and those close to Yasha would recognize how stressed the woman was, when even her skills at language failed her. Cheeks flustered and the kitchen filling, Yasha looked back to [member="Noah Corek"] and her face fell a little farther.

How she longed to catch up.

“Noah! The porch, it’s right there. I’ll come join you once my foot stops bleeding.” Yasha said in Mando’a, pointing to the double wide kitchen doors swerving out onto a finished porch facing a not-so-finished garden or landscape.

[member="Caz Australis"] in her infinite love and patience answered [member="Kaine Australis"] with affection. Their Caz’ika was a saint of patience and unconditional love. For how many times their lives swerved toward a stellar mass without exit velocity, Caz was there to gently modify coordinates.

Those words left unspoken for five years would wait a few minutes more. While Kaine got his first wife into a hug, his second remained on her stool as Beth healed her foot, and watched Magnus, who ran and clung to his father’s leg. The heart which betrayed her on Westralis betrayed her once more on Vanquo. She wished she could rush into those arms... but after all they’d done... dare she?

“The damage feels deep, [member="Darlyn Excron"]. Like I stepped in a land mine.” All Yasha wanted was the opportunity to show her chosen family the mother who kept her alive.

“Can... can we go sit on the porch, please ba’vodu?” Yasha sniffled, unfolding another of the origami folded napkins. She couldn’t even get that right.

 

[Adenn Kyramud]

Smiling as Aditya spoke, Adenn nodded his head. Lightly gasping again as she nuzzled further in, he squeezed her gently. So, he had an innocent look on the galaxy, nah, Adenn believed he simply didn't care what the galaxy thought of him. Well, unless it was in a good light, then he'd like to know how good. Then she said he might need an engineer, and Adenn smirked gently to himself.
"Yes, an engineer to make sure my armor is 100% operational. And so I can clearly see you."

He takes his armor off, and Aditya sits up with him. He smiles at her when she says she drives people crazy, brushing a hand against her cheek then, smiling. Running that hand down to her neck as she gulps, Adenns smile widens. Then they're lying down again, and she says that they'll prove her wrong if he keeps it up. And so, Adenn keeps going, doing what he was doing, aiming to drive her crazy, in the good way. She then talks about nothing being perfect, and Adenn gently shakes his head. So, he can start by shutting her up. Smiling, he goes in for another kiss, this one longer. Then, leaning his head back, he speaks.
"Then explain why I'm looking at perfection now." Before she can answer, he kisses her again. Then she drifts into him, and he drifts into her, smiling, teasing, playing, enjoying the moment.

FTB​

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------​

It took time, a lot of time, but eventually it was over, and Adenn was very satisfied. He hoped that Aditya was as well. Speaking of her, Adenn turned back to face her on the floating blanket. They hadn't stayed there, but had returned to it eventually. Leaning down, Adenn pecked her on the lips again.
"Hello Aditya." Adenn smiled, looking her over again. "How was that? Because you were great." He smirked then, he had put his lower clothes back on, but his upper body was still bare. Rolling onto his side, Adenn looked down to her, smiling the entire time.

[member="Aditya Fitz Kierke"]

 

[Caz Australis]

Her husbands arms felt good around her,and his kiss warm. She missed his touch. She felt the energy in the room shift with his presence. She could feel his sadness as thoughts of Beth entered his mind.

Was he a perfect man? Absolutely not... there were times where she loved him but wanted to scream because of the things he did. She was never afraid to be blunt with him and call him out when he was wrong. Throughout the years, no matter what though, she loved this man, unconditionally.

She knew they needed to talk, the three of them. So much time had passed, but now was not the time. There was too much going on around them, and too many feelings about him being home. If Caz didn't insist on calling it an early night for her wife and husband, Yasha might not make it through the time with family. All the lovely chaos was a lot for her to process all at once, and now Kaine was home.

Caz smiled at him and whispered to him "It will all work out my love." She turned to the crowd around them, smiling broadly and casting love around the room. No matter what others thought of her family she would always act through love.

"Yash'ika my love, are you alright?" Caz stepped away from Kaine, only for a moment and leaned into Yash'ika to whisper to her "My love, soon the three of us should retire to our suite. There is much to discuss and you need to rest." She looked up at Kaine and gave him the look that told him she had things under control, as she always did.

 

[Gaia Sunaris Cadera]

Beth stared at her father, [member="Kaine Australis"]. The now tall, 6' young woman with her whole future ahead of her - raised mostly by [member="Yasha Cadera"] with [member="Caz Australis"] assistance. Five years... A clear scowl on her face. It was rare for Beth to be this upset and while she believed her father was redeemable, she just... Couldn't handle it, not today. "Sorry," she muttered to [member="Cleru"].

With lightning speed, Beth was down at Yasha's foot. "Might hurt a bit," she murmured, as she carefully removed the glass in her toe. "Poor big toe," she muttered as she let her hand wave gently over, the white light with the smallest traces of light pink flowing over the wound. And within seconds, Yasha's toe was brand new - with no little scar, even.

Beth stood back up at this point, while she put a hand on Yasha's shoulder, giving her a small squeeze. "It's okay, I'll keep an eye on the kids," she said quietly to Yasha, trying to give her the best smile she could muster considering everything. Babysitting was her de facto career, after all. So many babysitting sessions. To be fair, Beth loved it. She loved spending time with her siblings and extended family, either way.

Her eyes laid suspiciously on Kaine as he began to use the Force. Yeah, she felt it. Beth knew he loved her. She knew he loved Yasha. He didn't have to use the Force for them to know that. And while it was admirable how he seemed okay despite it all, Beth was not. "Stop that, you can't use that as... Some kind of crutch, not now, and at least not on me," she said a little louder than she expected. Beth was finely tuned with the Force. While not an expert by any means, she was connected more than most and she could easily feel when it was used.

And it irritated her that he'd use it, on her. After everything, he would do that? After using it to resurrect Adara, but choosing to become Force Dead? He may have gotten the Force back but Beth remembered his emptiness when the girl had only known him for a year. And she didn't fault him for it, no. It was worth it to save Adara. But that didn't change the impact, how scared it made Beth. If he hadn't had the Force, Beth would never have known he was her father. He would never have known she was his daughter. And this entire life... Wouldn't exist. And there he was, empty. A void in space.

10 years ago​

​

Beth had fidgeted so much sitting on that little chair in that tavern - a tavern where people with credits came. People not like the orphaned, homeless, and scared little girl who lived in a tent and scavenged berries and made her own campfires to stay warm. She didn't even know what to do, in her winter outfit which covered her ears.​

​

Kaine Australis instructed her to sit, and wait. Being in a restaurant was fun, supposedly. People waited on you.​

​

And Beth, in her ignorance, waved a small, tiny hand subconsciously - with a simple request, a few extra meals with a touch of Force persuasion. A skill she learned to simply survive her time on Mygeeto, after she was abandoned on the cold, icy planet. How else could she get enough food? Beth thought she'd been successful - Kaine had given her the look that many gave after she used it.​

​

Instead, he told her: You'll never be hungry again.​

​

Beth didn't really know what to think. Concern? Worry? The girl hadn't had that type of reaction before. And then he asked... About her mother. A mother she never knew. A mother she had always lacked. Beth held her necklace of the Goddess of Shiraya. Minutes later... A blood test confirmed. He was her father. And the waiter, because Kaine knew Beth would have thought it was a lie, confirmed the results. And Beth felt a moment of true joy. A joy she had never felt before, not in her short life. She had found her dad.​

"Cyar'ika, you'll never have to worry again. Of course you can come with me. You have a home and a family."​

​

"I need to see Beth."

Beth's eyes teared as she stared at the man who promised her she'd never have to worry again, the small droplets finally escaping her eyes. "You can't just... Walk back in here, like nothing has happened, and use your space magic to think we're all okay. It's been 5 years, dad." Her long, Elven ears stuck between pulled back like cat when it's angered and depressed. She just wanted to... Run. Get away. Her hand clenched along Yasha's shoulder in some fit of anger and sadness with the realization that she had to finally face him again. It had been much easier to avoid, reject the holocalls, and just live her live pretending it never happened. That he didn't exist.

 

[Aditya Fitz Kierke]

Well! Did we ever prove Yasha wrong! And proved and proved and... he’s checking me out, and our lips connect, again. I moan out a chuckle, licking my lips and brushing my fingers across his cheek.

“I like being alive. Double-y so, after that. You’re going to have to give me a repeat performance sometime.” I grinned, hazy eyes opening as I stroke a hand down [member="Adenn Kyramud"]’s arm. He might be half dressed, but mine is... where is it?

“Whelp! Guess I’m changing my clothes!” My eyes crane up, to the ceiling fan. Cuddled in the blanket, I pad down the hall and into my bedroom. Peggy knee my size, well enough to buy me clothes anyway. We bicker like mad cats on a lava floe, but we love each other. “Hey Adenn! Blue or yellow?!”

I stand at the door, holding two dresses up for him to voice whatever opinion a man, who dresses in armour prefers on his lady companion. Not that his opinion matters, but I don’t mind showing them off. Once he picks, I robe up, tying my hair in a clumsy bun atop my head, and sticking a stylus through it to hold the bun in place.

The sunlight coming into the room shifted, time passing gently on by. “I’m starving. Are you? Care to join me for some actual food in the kitch-“

“ADITYA!!! Adi, git your flamin’ pink epicanthix back end out that door and back to y’r party!” Peggy slammed her open palm against my front door, knocking so hard and long I groan with a wince.

“Leave me alone, Peggy! I have a date!”

“You gearheaded lump! Yasha worked for days to give you this party! Whole thing’s s’posed t’be for you to meet the family! And your birthday! At least git your face away from the buckethead long enough to blow the candles out on your own fekkin’cake! Git! Git on out of there before I git in there and knock you one!” Peggy shouted, and my stomach drops ten metres.

“Yash... oh... ooohhhhfeth. That’s why she kept begging me to come... ooohhhh shoot! Adenn! Where’re my shoes!?” Of course. How would I remember?

“I forgot... it’s my birthday.”

 

[Darlyn Excron]

"Well technically if you stepped on a landmine, it wouldn't hurt at all unless you lived. Still probably feels a bit different either way." He tried to cheer [member="Yasha Cadera"] up, considering her request to go sit. The Force was a wonderful thing, giving ample strength to do just about whatever the user dared to dream. In this case, after giving [member="Beth Cadera"] ample time to heal poor Yasha's foot, it meant he actually could amplify his body just enough to not buckle under the strain of lifting the Mand'alor up in his arms. Of course first he had to get Beth to let go of her shoulder, and gave her a halfhearted smile. "If it makes you feel any better, at least your Father didn't leave you to die. Go give him a punch in the face or two until it stops hurting. Worst thing you can do is avoid that conflict." Now if only he himself could follow his own advice. He gave [member="Caz Australis"] a small, "I'm borrowing my niece here," before picking Yasha up like an overgrown child, one arm under her legs and the other holding, well the rest of her honestly, he made his way out to the porch as she asked.

Of course by the time he set her down his arms and back felt like he just went for a delightful swim on Mustafar, but he'd managed to set her down on a couch on the porch. "Right so stop me next time I do that, if you can. That was a mistake I will promptly forget in about ten minutes." He smiled a bit as he sat down next to her, taking his flask from inside his coat and offering it to her. "It's no tihaar but, it works." Regardless of if she took it, he gave her shoulder a small pat and sat back a bit.

"You're pretty lucky you know, all things considered. Not dead, you can understand most everything the family is saying, and somehow you manage to at least somewhat lead a nation on your own. I can only share in one of those." It was a bit clunky, and still clearly something he was practicing, but considering last time he spoke Mando'a it was a vast improvement, in vocabulary if not pronunciation. "Not to mention somehow you manage to be a parent too."