Does the Fire Still Burn

[Judah Lesan]

Aden had taken the time to build up the courage to seek out @Meah'la Dral. He wanted to see his son, and by his own estimation they were still married. It was within her right to break their riduurok, but Aden wouldn't accept those terms. Had the roles been reversed, had rumors of Kable being alive come to her, she would have taken the chance. Maybe that was his thought process to justify the fact he'd been gone for over a year, near two.

The ship was Strider's again, and when he left Aden would have a choice. He could stay, or her could leave with Stri'buir. If the blonde would take him back his mind was made up, though he didn't expect all to be forgiven, Aden did hope she would be acceptable to allowing him into the life of his son and hers as well.

Aden checked the homestead and had been told he could find Mesh'la working with the refugees. Of course she was. Caring for those who were injured was something that ran deep in the women of her family. It wasn't the best facility, portable in fact, but it would do for what was needed. His Gray and blue armor was newer. Mesh'la wouldn't recognize it as his, but his face was all too familiar. He'd gotten older looking though, and added muscle. Aden had to in order to move about with Strider.

Dark eyes settled on her. The red armor still familiar to him. With a few cautious steps me approached. A stuffed Zakkeg was in his hands for their son. "Mesh'la... can we talk?"

Great... that was a great way to start... probably not.

 

[Alleycat]

Concord Dawn
Refugee Encampment

Ever since that dreadful day on Mandalore, Mesh'la Dral had not been back to her homeworld though she had been helping the refugees that had fled like her to Concord Dawn. Clan Munin had set up an emergency shelter center on the plains outside the township of Lokaium, which they for the most part oversaw. The Mandalorian Medical Corps provided a Rapid Response Mobile Surgical Unit (RSMU or Rimsoo for short), then situated emergency shelters were made available to families and singles alike and set up around it. Population wise it was almost small rural town size now. Plans were underway to start building more permanent housing and municipal services for those that intended to stay on planet long term, but for now this was home to many Mando'ade from all walks of life.

Today the young baar'ur was in charge of registering new refugees that showed up at the encampment, and doing their medical intake. At nearly six months out from Manda'yaim's destruction, the numbers had trailed off significantly to just a trickle. Concord Dawn was not Mandalore, but one could definitely make a living on the agricultural rich planet. It was a simpler life; rural towns rather than metropolitan centers, sprawling farms over sky rise corporate buildings, but a worthwhile place to hang your helmet and raise a family. At least that was what Mesh'la was trying to do with her young son with the help of her mother and stepfather.

Mesh'la had her golden head down perusing a datapad at a desk when a familiar voice rang out from the entrance of the encampment's office calling her name. Bright blue eyes looked up at the dark-haired silver and blue armored Mando'ad walking into the hut with a stuffed toy in hand. At first she didn't recognize the very muscular young man standing there, then it dawned on her exactly who it was... Valen's father!

Those blues flashed dangerously at her wayward ex-husband as Mesh stood up. "Me'copaani, [member="Aden Dral"]... Tion'jor cuyir gar olar? Ni rejorhaa'ir gar at ba'slanar mhi at joruui!"

Spoiler

What do you want, Aden Dral...
Why are you here? I told you to leave us alone at the gathering!

 

[Judah Lesan]

Aden knew [member="Mesh'la Dral"] was gong to be upset. Though he had not considered she was completely serious that he was to stay away from his family. At the time of Strider's death, she was all he had. Their son was not part of the plan, but he had welcomed the idea of being a father. Being eighteen at the time had made him young, but it was what it meant to be a Mandalorian. Granted Aden had not grown up immersed in the culture, one couldn't help but adapt when being raised by the hound of Keldabe. The language was still something he had to work on, but he understood a lot more than he had when he and Mesh'la had first met.

"Gar va subay taylir ni teh kaysh,” Aden answered initially not expecting Mesh’la to be so fiery in a potentially public way. He didn't deny her the right to be angry, but he did contest the fact she was telling him to stay away from their son. “Kaysh cuyir ner ad mr.”

Aden sighed and set the stuffed toy on the desk. He hadn't come to fight, but to ask Mesh’la for another chance. What was he supposed to say that she didn't already know? He'd tried to apologize at the gathering of the faithful, but she had rejected it then. His head shook as he began to walk off. Didn't she understand that his world kept getting turned upside down? Every time something seemed to go right another thing went terribly wrong. Aden couldn't just walk out again though. His Mando’a was not good when he was not upset.

“Look the last thing you expected was me to show up… the last thing I expected was to find out Strider was alive. I had to find out… I'm sorry I left you behind… our son, but I had to know.”

He pointed at the gift.

“I'm trying to make peace… I want to be part of your lives, to be a family. I get it you're not interested, but our son deserves this…”

Spoiler

You cannot keep me away from him.
He is my son too.

 

[Alleycat]

Mesh'la just nodded to the words spoken by her ex. She knew she couldn't keep Aden away from his son. It just wasn't the Mandalorian way, but she had to at least say that. The petite blonde so just wanted to be mean spirited, well continue to, he deserved it, but this was not the place as her replacement had just arrived to take over for the evening shift in the encampment office.

"Su'cuy, Talc... Been all quiet on this front, and the paperwork is up to date. Ret," she quickly offered the medic, then picked up the stuffed zakkeg and followed after the young merc out through the door.

"Taylir laam, vod!" Mesh called out to the grumbling form ahead of her to get his attention.

When they were outside the structure standing on one of the erected pathways that linked the emergency settlement together, Mesh'la donned her helmet so the two could converse in privacy on a comm channel the Drals used to have, well if the di'kut still had it within his HUD's database. [ My question to you [member="Aden Dral"] is... Are you staying for good or just blowing through because if it's the latter it would be best not to involve yourself in Valen's life. He's been traumatized as it is with everything that happened on Mandalore. Val is very bright for two, and experienced it first hand. Stability is what he needs right now, not a Disneyland Dad as aruetiise call it. ]

Me as well...

Spoiler

Hold up, mate!

 

[Judah Lesan]

Mesh'la followed him at least, and when she donned her buy'ce, he did as well. No one needed to be part of the conversation they were about to have, and this was the best way. The comm channel was flipped over to the frequency which they had reserved as their private comm. Her voice came through loud and clear, though he was still not happy with what she was saying. There was nothing which invited him to even try, and he had hoped there would have been that at least. Aden kept moving as his emotions had always been worn on the surface. He never lied about them either because they were always too obvious. Mesh'la had always seen through him anyway.

["That's why I'm here, talking with you. I gave the ship back to Stri'buir, so when he leaves Dxun I'm on it with him, or I'm here with you and Val'ika. I wouldn't be asking this if I wasn't ready to do what I have to do. I messed up, and I'm trying to fix what I can."]

The well built sniper continued along the path knowing full well where the homestead was. His son was either with Briika, or a caretaker, he was certain. It pained him to think Valen had experienced the devastation first hand. Aden didn't know, and that hurt even more so. Tears came, but Mesh'la wouldn't see them, and Aden refused to let them come through his voice. No matter how much he tried to hide fro Mesh'la they had always been best of friends before their relationship had become a romantic one. Perhaps it was why his actions hurt so much. He'd robbed her of not only a life partner, but best friend.

["I should have been there, I know... I certainly don't deserve your forgiveness, but I'm asking for it anyway. I'm not sure it's any consolation, but you should at least know there hasn't been anyone else..."]

[member="Mesh'la Dral"]

 

[Alleycat]

The petite medic's short stride kept up with Aden's much longer one as he led them along the pathway in the direction of the Munin homestead. How did he know where it was... Probably had stopped by there to find out where she was at. Should've figured [member="Aden Dral"] wouldn't just let things be. Mesh'la was so confused right now.

After the little talk she'd had with her ba'vodu, the 'single' mother was conflicted. [member="Kad Tor"] had told his niece not to lose her family, or better yet why not just screw her ex and see if she liked it still to help determine the outcome of things. The man was a drunk, what could one expect from his advice, right?! Though the Goran had lost his own family thus one could understand the hurt he was enduring and where that bold comment might come from. What the young Drals had done or didn't do during their time apart wasn't the issue for her. It was more so what had happened previously when together. There was principle here the stubborn Tor-based woman had to stand on.

[ Well forgiveness has to be earned in my book... friends, lovers or what not. I'm staying on Concord Dawn with Val for the time being. I have vode depending on me here. Ner buir is planning to go to Dxun with her riduur to help get the old Mandalorian outpost up and running there. Mand'alor has been good enough to grant me use of a yaim on the homestead property since the occupant has marched away. It's small, but cozy. There is room for you to stay, but that is all I am offering at this juncture. ] Mesh said matter of fact, her red and black helmeted head tilting to pass a look up at the strapping sniper walking beside her.

Boy had Aden matured in all the right ways, but it was more important how he had done so in his heart and mind that mattered most. Time would only tell on that front.

[ So do you want to meet your son then and commit to being his dutiful buir? ]

 

[Judah Lesan]

A room was better than nothing. However he rolled his eyes when he was told he'd have to earn forgiveness. It seemed like a passive aggressive slap in the face considering he could have stayed out of their lives. Aden could have kept his distance, but that was not what he wanted, and despite what Mesh'la had said at the gathering, she didn't want that either. At least Aden refused to believe that. They were a family regardless of whatever decisions had been made, and they both knew the importance of that.

["I've always been ready. Why do you think I kept Strider's crew running, kept sending credits back whenever I could... you make it sound like I've never been ready to do what I must for you or Val'ika. It wasn't like I had the skills to provide a living aside from running the merc crew."]

It was Aden's reality. His father had been a mercenary, and that was his Aden had been brought up. The young adult found himself a sniper on a team of mercenary warriors, and killing had become his trade. It wasn't a marketable skill on Manda'yaim, and in Strider's death Aden had to keep everything together. He'd always come home until that one day. It would have been easy to let Mesh'la think he was dead, but easy wasn't always best or right.

["If the room is a genuine offer, then I will tell Strider I'm staying. I don't know how long he is here, or if Dxun is his destination. The man has his own mind and own way, and I can't always predict it. If it were an environment for our ad'ika I'd ask you to come with us. A medic is always needed."]

He sighed as they approached the small yaim.

["I will still need to find work. I am grateful for Manda'lor's provision, but it's mine to provide,"] he said sounding more like a true child of Mandalore than when he'd left. Despite their relationship, Aden had not been as immersed in the culture as Mesh'la had been. His time away had forced him to be among his people without any reprieve. This had not only led to Aden looking like a Mandalorian warrior, but speaking and thinking like one as well. Would Mesh'la notice?

[member="Mesh'la Dral"]

 

[Alleycat]

They walked at a brisk pace towards the sprawling homestead. Mesh'la could tell the young sniper was in good shape. He was able to carry on a full conversation without missing a beat or seeming too breathless. She was too because the medic walked this path each and every day twice. It gave Mesh the chance to let go of her frustrations, anger, and sorrow as she was still going through the stages of grief over the loss of her grandparents. Deep depression threatened to take hold of the petite blonde, but she was determined not to let it swallow her up whole. She had to live for her son. Little Val was all she cared about at the moment, well him and the refugees that were just like her.

[ I know what you did for Strider's crew... I was there, remember?! Well... that is until you pushed us away. And the credits that I received were banked. I never used them so they are there for you if you want or need to use them. ]

There weren't a lot of expenses living with her mother, and the income from Mesh's medical work paid any bills that did arise. The female Mando was self sufficient if she had to be. Being a single mother was hard, but she had managed... well that was until Mandalore happened. Mesh'la had lost everything there and was starting anew on Concord Dawn.

They stopped in front of the small log cabin like structure. Mesh back the stuffed animal to Aden, then popped off her helmet and reattached it to her utility belt. Bright blues looked into her ex-husbands's dark browns. For a moment she searched them, then put her hand on the wood railing of the steps up to the small porch that huge the front of the yaim'ika.

"Elek... The offer is genuine. Just be aware that you need to go slow with Valen. Your ad hasn't seen you since he was an ikaad. Don't expect too much right off the bat. He'll need to learn your trust as well, though I will help as I can."

With that said the two young parents made their way inside where they would find the two year old boy playing on the wooden floor with a toy speeder while the elder clanswoman rose from her chair at the long table.

"Vore, Merja... I will let you know if I need you tomorrow," Mesh smiled, then she took a couple of steps over to the sandy brown-haired toddler. He pushed up from the floor and reached out with his stubby arms so his mother would lift him up for a cuddle.

"Ba'gedet'ye, ad'ika," the older woman replied with a warmth for her noted, then she let herself out, giving the silver and blue armored Mando the once over when moving past him to the door.

"Boo, boo!" he called out all excited. That was his short for buir, which was normally pronounced 'boo-EER'

"Ner cyare, Val'ika!" Mesh said with her blue eyes twinkling with a mother's love, giving the little guy an endearing hug, then she turned towards Aden adjusting the youngster on her hip.

"Valen... I want you to meet your other buir. Say Su'cuy, buir," she said with an encouraging tone. Now to see how the father and son reacted to each other. It had nearly been two years... a long time in a kid's life.

[member="Aden Dral"]

 

[Judah Lesan]

Mesh'la knew how to frustrate him. She had always known how, and it was part of the reason he had fallen for her. Everything had been a competition between them as children, a friendly one. Now it seemed there was a bit of a bite to it. He sighed choosing to ignore the fact she had told him that his contribution was not needed. His only response was a simple one.

["Keep them in trust for Val'ika then, but I do not want them back."]

His buy'ce was removed as Mesh'la removed hers. For a moment their eyes had met, and he was uncertain what the blonde was searching for. Was she trying to get a read on if he was actually there, going to stay? Was he genuine? Mesh'la had to know he was. She might not trust him after the stunt he pulled in taking off to find Strider, but she could trust that he was genuine when it came to his son. It was painful to think she thought so little of him when the majority of their lives together had been good. They had been good friends, and that friendship had blossomed into the small child which played on the floor of the house as they entered. He was the proof that they had loved each other. Did they still? Aden knew the answer for himself, but he was not certain it would be the same as Mesh'la's.

The caretaker gave Aden a cold response. Was it known by all who he was and what had happened? Aden let it slide and looked down at his son. The stuffed toy was offered to him. Did Valen even know what a Zakkeg was? Suddenly Aden was thinking he had made a mistake. It dawned on him that he had missed everything of his son's life so far, and warrior who wore his emotions on his sleeves let a few tears fall past his cheeks.

"Su'cuy, Val'ika... ni cuyir gar buir."

[member="Mesh'la Dral"]

Spoiler

Hello, little val, I am your father.

 

[Alleycat]

The two year old's blue eyes looked at the new face yet old in a confused way as if he knew the person yet not. Valen buried his sandy brown head into his mother's blonde hair and arms wrapped tighter around her neck, then after a few moments his gaze peeked out cautiously going to the stuffed animal in the hands of the man standing there saying he was his father. He looked up to Mesh to get an okay, which she nodded to, then the little boy leaned out a bit from the safety of his mother's embrace and grabbed the zakkeg with his cubby hand. A small smile grew on his face as Valen pulled the new toy to his chest.

"Voh....... boo," Val uttered in a small kid voice, not quite getting the pronunciation right for thank you, father, but close enough, then the toddler motioned in a restlessness to be put down. He wanted to play with the armored, red four-legged lizard.

Mesh'la placed the little boy down on his feet, then walked further into the kitchen area to where there was a lidded pot on the stove. "There is red gourd soup for evening meal and a fresh bread loaf Merja was kind enough to make. She has really been a godsend with helping me out..." she said, taking the lid off the cooking pot and giving the contents a stir followed by a taste.

"Mmm... If you want to clean up before we eat, there is a fresher in the back there under the stairs that lead up to the loft. Might see if Valen wants to go with as I'm sure he needs to potty and wash those hands of his... That is if you feel comfortable with doing that while I get the food on the table?"

The petite blonde moved over to the cupboard and started to get out three bowls, one small, then three glasses, one small again. "Erm After we eat, I'll get the second bedroom ready for you.... Val can just sleep with me for now as he normally ends up there anyway."

[member="Aden Dral"]

 

[Judah Lesan]

Aden was wounded when Valen clung to his mother. He didn't want to think that everything was going to be this magical fix, but he had hoped his own son would be warm to him. The stuffed lizard helped, but he could only buy his way into Valen's life so far. The person he had to impress was Mesh'la. Until he won her over they could never be a real family again. They had to make it work for Valen, but he was certain she didn't see things that way either. He sighed as the boy wanted down to go play. This was going to take a long time.

He nodded after looking at his hands. They were dirty from helping with repairs on the Avril.

"I have been working a lot today, and I hope she made plenty of soup. I eat a lot more than I used to," Aden replies as he walked toward the fresher.

His wands were washed, and his face. For now his armor would stay on, but as he returned to the table, Aden found a place to set his buy'ce. The sniper was much more Mandalorian than he had been when the two had first met. The food, the customs, they were very much part of who Aden was. As he sat at the table he took a moment to bow his head and made his daily remembrance. The older Tor's were included as he still considered them family. When he looked up Mesh'la had mentioned the room.

"I can help you. There is no need for you to do that all just because I've suddenly walked back into the picture. I've disrupted enough, but I'm here to stay if that's what we decide. My intent is not to wander off again. Not on our son, and not on you."

[member="Mesh'la Dral"]

 

[Alleycat]

"There should be more than enough soup probably for another meal at least," she responded with her back turned to Aden as she ladled the soup into the bowls.

When Mesh'la turned around with two of the three bowls, the petite blonde noticed her ex-huband hadn't taken their son with him to the fresher. Valen was still playing with the zakkeg having fun crashing it onto the toy speeder and visa versa. She sighed, but let it go putting setting the bowls down, then going back to get the smaller one that was the toddlers. A few saltine like crackers were crushed and placed in the hot red liquid.

Next, the young medic poured a glass of water for her and blue milk into a tippy type plastoid container and set it down where the toddler would be sitting at the end of the table in an armed chair with a booster seat. Val's parents would be on either side or so Mesh set it up that way. When Aden came back from the fresher and placed his helmet on the bench near the front door, her bright blue gaze maybe watched a moment as he did so noting how much he had changed physically... The young sniper had gotten much more filled out and truly looked like a Mando'ad now.

She diverted her eyes quickly and reached for the oven mitts to take the warming loaf of honey oat bread out of the oven. She put it onto a wooden cutting board with a cube of butter on a rectangular plate and a serrated knife on the side next to it, then walked it over to the set table.

"Help yourself to what ever to drink with your meal. Ner ba'vodu left some bottles of ne'tra gal. They are in the fridge if you want one," Mesh said, then strolled past him to gather up their son and bring him to the table from where he was quietly playing with his new toy. Pottying would have to wait until after dinner.

"It won't take but a minute to do, and I'm glad to hear that, Aden."

Mesh'la quickly washed Val's little hands off with a wash cloth, then put a bib on the toddler with a large pocket on the front around his neck and handed him his big boy spoon, and of course he started right in not quite getting all the soup in his mouth but close.

"So how is your buir... I was so, well surprised yet so happy to hear the old Hound of Keldabe was still alive. That must be a story to behold, hmm?" she said with a curiosity to kill a cat, then picked up a slice of the bread and buttered it before dipping the corner of it into the soup.

[member="Aden Dral"]

 

[Judah Lesan]

Aden looked at Valen. He forgot to take him to the bathroom. "I'm already messing up," he said looking at the toddler. "I'll take him after we eat..."

He just looked at the bowl of soup nervously. Aden was desperate to make a good impression, but knew he wasn't doing so well. Mesh'la was being nice, more than she needed to be, it was making the decision to stay easier. She'd offered some ale, but he shook his head. Aden still didn't touch the stuff. While he wasn't considered underage he'd watched a crew of men drink themselves stupid and didn't want that to be him.

"Water is fine, but I can get it later."

She wanted to know about Steider. It made sense. That was why he had left after all, and no one had known. He already taken a bite of soup and swallowed before answering.

"I hadn't believed it myself, so when I heard, I had to find him. I know I should have written, called... something... He's great. His voice is rhapsy from the wound, but he's as alive as you or I. I've always been crazy where it concerns him, and I truly am sorry ner cyare."

He knew those words would make her uncomfortable, but he had to say them. He didn't care any less.

[member="Mesh'la Dral"]

 

[Alleycat]

While Mesh'la ate her portion of soup diligently, the blonde listened thoughtfully as [member="Aden Dral"] spoke of his father. Yes, you should have let me know, then we might not be in this messed up situation, you di'kut, she said to herself, but didn't verbalize it. She brought the water glass up to her lips in order to keep that snarky thought in. Mesh didn't want to fight and especially in front of Valen, who seemed to be getting more comfortable with his father's presence at least at the table as the little boy wasn't letting it get in the way of his hunger.

"Well I am glad to hear Stri'buir is doing well. It's hard to think he survived from all the blood I saw on the floor of the Oyu'baat that night... though I guess the Manda wasn't ready for him yet, which is good for us who cared about the ol' hound," she nodded with a tender smile as Strider had always been friend of her family, then the young medic cut a slice of fresh bread and broke it into small finger size pieces for their son to munch on.

"I know you are sorry, Aden... It just will take time to sort this all out. Two years is a long time to think we can just jump back into things like no time had passed at all and assume we are the two people we were," Mesh offered, then shoveled in the last spoonful of the red liquid in her bowl. The truth was she wasn't that naive girl any more as being a single mother and surviving near death had matured her beyond where the young Mando wanted to be at this time.

"There is some leftover uj cake, if you want it. It's Merja's recipe, though still very good."

"I wanna some, gedet'ye!" Val yelled out putting emphasis on the please part. Of course the todder's face was anything but clean or the area around his bowl. He was a hardy eater, but hadn't quite mastered feeding himself yet.

 

[Judah Lesan]

"That's why I didn't believe the rumors at first. I will never get the sight out of my mind. Finally I just had to see for myself. I'm glad you're happy about him at least," Aden said knowing there was no real joy in her heart for him to be back in her life, at least it seemed that way. Something was wrong, and she was not quite herself. Being alone as a mother wasn't the issue either. As far as Aden was concerned she seemed... wounded. He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

It was foolish of him to think he could just walk back into their lives. His dark eyes looked down at his bowl of half eaten soup. The conversation was souring his appetite. "I know..." His words were soft and carried a genuine tone of regret. He knew she had been the best thing to happen in his short life, but he'd been so overcome with grief and the news that his father was alive he'd lost site of it all. He quietly stood and found the uj cake and began cutting some pieces. "But the things that made us who we were are still there, and I won't quit until we find what binds us again. I never stopped loving you or Valen, but I understand if you have."

The cake was set at the center of the table. Aden didn't touch it. He was facing the reality of what he'd done, and it was the first he'd dealt with it since his return. For a strong man he was extremely nervous, and it would be obvious to Mesh'la. They knew each other too well, and he knew she could read him like a book. His heart was pounding in his chest as he feared hearing confirmation that she no longer felt love for him.

"I'm not going to pretend this is something we will fix overnight, but I also won't pretend we can't." His eyes looked over to their son, and Kad gave him some uj cake. "He is the best of us."

[member="Mesh'la Dral"]

 

[Alleycat]

The petite blonde's bright blue eyes followed [member="Aden Dral"] as the young sniper walked over to the kitchen counter where the uj'alayi was kept in a covered dessert container, then as he spoke that gaze went to their son; the one they had conceived out of love and grief the night Strider had thought to have died by a Death Watch assassin's cowardly blade on the steps of the Oyu'baat as the seasoned Field Marshall was giving a rally speech to the Mando'ade.

The grief was no longer there for the old hound as he was alive and kicking thank the Manda, but what about the love for her once best friend and husband? Mesh'la didn't have a true answer for that. The young woman's heart and mind was so confused on what she actually felt or wanted now. She had broken their riduurok on the grounds of abandonment, but that wasn't the case as facts had come to surface that wasn't totally true rather it was all just a big, immature, and costly miscommunication between the two young lovers. Though the fact it has been nearly two years still frosted her cookies to no end... A simple message would have saved all the hurt feelings that now threatened to tear them apart for good, well at least on her side of the relationship coin.

Valen's baby blues lightened up when the Mando dessert was brought back to the table by his father and placed before him. His cubby little hands grabbed for his prize and gobbled it all up in a second. Gods now he'd be wired from the excitement and sugar no doubt!

"He definitely is," Mesh nodded affirmatively without hesitation to that truth their son was the best of his parents.

Mesh'la could tell that Aden was nervous about what he'd asked for; her declaration is she still loved him or there was still even a chance for them in that way. But how could she make that known when they didn't even know herself. Mesh needed more time to determine that for both her, him, and Val's sake. There was so much other stuff the young medic was dealing with this just kinda overwhelmed her already volatile emotions, not to mention fighting a bout of PMS that just made her hormones rage in a bad way.

Pushing up from the table, Mesh'la grabbed Val's empty bowl and placed the smaller circle into her bigger one, then stepped around to pick up Aden's unfinished one seemingly as it looked like he was done with it. Though before doing so, she put her petite hand upon his now broadly armored shoulder and flashed her ex-husband a small smile yet sad. "I'm sorry, but I cannot promise you anything yet as far as we are concerned, Aden'ika, because I simply don't know how I feel to be honest. I need time, we need time as a family to see where the cards may lay for our future together. I do know though from what I see that despite your long absence, you do love Val just as much as I do, and that will have to carry us for now."

​With that said, the golden blonde grabbed the bowl, then walked over to the sink in the kitchen; a teary-eyed look about her face though Aden would not be able to see it with her back turned to him. Gods how she needed some fresh air.

 

[Judah Lesan]

Aden nodded. He knew Mesh'la could make no promise as to their future. She had taken enough of a step by offering him the extra room in the small home. She had said it. Their love for Valen would have to carry them for now, but for how far. If that was all they shared then when he was his own man what would become of them. No, Aden would fight for the love of Mesh'la again. He'd won her heart before, and he would again. Time was what they needed, and Aden simply needed to be the man she fell in love with. Despite what had changed he knew what was in the core had not.

While Aden didn't see the tears, he could feel the tension. It was because of him, what he had been saying. He simply nodded again. "I you want I can stay with him for a while..." Aden offered reminding Mesh'la that she could hide her face, but not her feelings. As much as Mesh'la had learned to read Aden, he knew how to read her. Everything screamed she was trying to be strong because Valen was in the room, but if she needed to get out of the house, then Aden wasn't going to keep her from doing so. She would be back. Valen would always bring her back.

"C'mon Val'ika. Buir, needs me to take you potty, and then we are going to wash up that face of yours. Then she is gonna make up the room for me so that you can get to know me better too." Aden grabbed Valen's little hand and had him wave at Mesh'la. They were going to be okay. All of them were just going to get used to it.

"Alright Valen, time to learn how to aim," he said walking into the fresher and then closing the door.

[member="Mesh'la Dral"]

 

[Alleycat]

"No, you'll stay here. It will only take a sec to get things situated," she replied back still turned away from him now drying the bowls off and trying to get her emotions under control for Val's sake.

Mesh'la wiped the tears away with the back of her hand discretely before turning around to see [member="Aden Dral"] helping down their son from the boosted chair, then taking Valen's little hand in his. It warmed her heart at the visual. The petite blonde waved back at the two as father and son walked away hand in hand.

If only we hadn't screwed every thing up so royally, she thought to herself in a melancholy way.

Deciding it would be best to take advantage of her free time, Mesh'la climbed up the steep wooden staircase to the loft above the main room. There were two modest bedrooms, one a bit larger than the other, but not by much. She had been trying to get the toddler to sleep in his own bed, but usually he would just end up in hers, and taking up most of the full-sized bed by laying sideways instead of longways. Sometimes Mesh would just end up going to his smaller bed to get sleep rather than be kicked all night long.

Mesh'la quickly stripped the single bed and put on a pair of fresh sheets, then tidied up the room a bit putting the few toys the little boy had into a wooden bin in the corner of the room. She set out Valen's favorite bookpad to read on the nightstand. It was 'The Little Lost Bantha Cub' adventure series; a new one to replace the old one lost in the massive earthquake.

So much was lost there, really everything except what was on their backs at the time, but life goes on; one minute, one day, one month at at time. If only Mesh could go back in time...

 

[Judah Lesan]

Aden nodded. He knew better than to argue with Mesh'la even though he knew she was needing space.

Valen had warmed up to him quickly, which was something that made Aden happy. He had been nervous as to whether his son would want to be with him, but he was at the age where it was becoming increasingly important to have a father in his life. Had it not been for other men around him, Aden would have been different perhaps. He knew he was since meeting Strider, but that was long after the most formative years of childhood.

When Mesh'la eventually came downstairs she would find her "boys" wrestling on the floor. The two were bonding quickly over play, and though he was much larger than Valen, Aden let his son win a few times. It was a game of back and forth to see who would best the other. Valen was laughing and giggling. He would be tired enough that he would sleep through the night once he was out down to bed.

Laying on the ground, a belly full of laughter, Aden looked over to Mesh'la. "Come and save me," he teased as Valen climbed on top of his chest and dropped onto it with his bottom. Aden coughed as it had been on his sternum, the armor plates had been taken off for the fun. Aden was setting Valen onto the floor as he rolled up to prevent that from happening again. "Okay... that actually did hurt. Sturdy boy!"

[member="Mesh'la Dral"]

 

[Alleycat]

Mesh'la heard a commotion downstairs so she finished up in Valen's room, then walked out to the loft's railing and looked down to see what was going on. [member="Aden Dral"] and their young son were wrestling about on the living room floor area. For a moment it brought a smile and a stifled chuckle from the petite blonde, then realization came back to her of the current situation and it was lost.

Booted heels came down the stairs and came to a halt in front of the two. Mesh'la made a scrunched face as in 'oh that gotta hurt' type when Valen sat down hard upon his father's chest. She had to bit her lip from laughing out loud. Aden would learn... the hard way.

"Takes after his buir," Mesh acknowledged, then corralled their wild son as he ran around the furniture pretending to shoot the bad guys.

"Okay you... Time for bed," she said in her motherly voice, then promptly took him upstairs to change into his pj's before the little boy could put up too much of a fuss. He was wired on sugar and the excitement of playing with his new playmate, his father.

After a few moments, Mesh'la came out her bedroom, then came back downstairs and sighed. "Val insists that you read him a bed time story... and sleep with him in the big bed. I leave the latter one up to you. He's a digger with his feet, and hogs the bed."