Private Now There Are Two Of Them

[Judah Dashiell]

MARAMERE

"Keep up, you're acting like someone's grandma....oh...wait..."

Judah grinned at his own incredibly lame joke, quite pleased with himself. Right now he was currently in a large shopping district, in a building set over five stories of nothing but items for babies and young children of various species. Having called Thessa Kai to help assist in training a contingent of workers on a new salvage vessel, his ex had remained on planet a day longer than training. Having a need to catch up with her, he decided on something with little pressure ; a shopping trip centered around items for their granddaughter.

Having something else to focus on just made it less awkward. Besides, both of them probably should get the ball rolling now that their daughter-in-law entered the second trimester.

"At least knowing it's a girl is going to make this easier. I'm happy we waited to find out what Makai was until he slithered out but we had so much green. It's like we were about to parent an extraterrestrial."

Not that he was one of those 'pink and purple' for girls only type of people. Knowing simply made it easier that such things were an option rather than sticking to a narrow lane of items. Neither of them knew exactly how much they would be involved, but he couldn't see either Makai or Myra not having them be active in the girls life. As such, they'd need a few things at their respective residences at the least.

"Thanks for coming to assist by the way. I knew you would be able to break down the new vessels quickly and easily for a large group. Granted, not exactly a fighter but...." Shoulders shrugged. "...I appreciate it all the same. I direct deposited your payment too, I knew you'd protest otherwise."

 

[Thessa Kai]

"Keep up, you're acting like someone's grandma....oh...wait..."

"Careful, or my eyes will roll so hard they will pop out of my head Judah Dashiell." A quiet huff and shake of her head as she paused at the end of an aisle. There were onesies galore with baby mittens and shoes and tiny socks. "I'm glad to see we aren't in danger of you being out of practice with your dad jokes for your grandpa jokes."

A dry quip as she disappeared further down the aisle. Piling all sorts of cute clothes and baby things in her arms.

"Of course I would protest. You always pay me far too much. Now I think you just enjoy doing it to be a pain in my arse." A dimpled, fleeting smile in Judah's direction as she grabbed another outfit. This one with a baby pink lothcat design all over it. "I forgot how cute this stuff is." Her thumb ran across the fabric. A tender smile on her lips. "You ever wish we'd had another?"

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"Of course I would protest. You always pay me far too much. Now I think you just enjoy doing it to be a pain in my arse." A dimpled, fleeting smile in Judah's direction as she grabbed another outfit. This one with a baby pink lothcat design all over it. "I forgot how cute this stuff is." Her thumb ran across the fabric. A tender smile on her lips. "You ever wish we'd had another?"

"If I wasn't a pain in your ass, who would be? Seems like I am doing you a service frankly. A valuable one at that. I'm getting kind of hungry, you can buy me a snack later on."

He had no issue paying. Salacia was much larger than her flight school, and since he could afford it he didn't feel odd paying for Thessa when they were out and about together.

Looking over the infant items, he wondered how they even were able to get such clothing on small, squalling infants. Obviously they had done it with Makai, but a good portion of his brain blocked out some of the more difficult parts. Lack of sleep was a core memory though, seemed no one would forget such a thing there.

"I do. I wanted to try for another when Makai was three or so....you were already back flying by then and into the swing of things. Didn't want to interrupt what you loved and put you behind even further. A second child would have really put you out of commission....so..."

Shoulders shrugged.

"What about you?"

 

[Thessa Kai]

"I kind of want one now." She dumped her haul into the hovercart that followed them along the aisles. "Baby fever is a real thing. Back then? I'm not sure how I would've reacted. Don't think we ever chatted about it?"

LIke many things about her past, she couldn't remember much. Nothing had come back fully after that head injury even with all the modern technologies they'd had.

"Maybe I just felt like we were in survival-mode for so long. With Makai. With each other. After," voice trailed off as she spotted a few bibs and tossed them into the cart. "But the beauty of having older kids is now we can be grandparents and live vicariously through them. Spoil their little ones rotten and at the end of the day they go back to their parents."

She paused, cerulean blues looking up to Judah. "But what's really on your mind Mister Dashiell? We may no longer be married but I know you."

He'd brought her out here for more than just a casual grandbaby shopping trip.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"You kind of want one now? I'm sure that can be arranged, you aren't that old. As for us, no I don't ever remember talking about it. As you mentioned, we probably didn't have time or busy with the one terror to think about adding another to the mix. As for returning grandkids to their parents, yes. Even an extended stay of a week or two has an end date. All of the spoiling, none of the difficult work of parenting. Its going to be great."

Judah could give the kid a copious amount of sugar and send them home. A bonus indeed. He peered down into the hovercart, pretending to be interested in what she just tossed in, trying to avoid answering. A long moment of awkward, very awkward silence. There was no beating around the issue though.

"So...I found out I have another kid. Much younger than Makai, about seven or eight years younger. Didn't know he existed until very recently. Basically an adult now."

Thessa Kai

 

[Thessa Kai]

"You kind of want one now? I'm sure that can be arranged, you aren't that old.

Eyes narrowed and she harumphed. A single light brow lofted beneath whisps of blonde bangs that feathered across her brow. "Wow, hon. Thanks. You also kind of need a partner for that, no?"

Finding a package of tightly bundled diapers, she shoved them into her ex-husband's chest.

Then a shake of her head as her eyes rolled at his choice of words. She was still listening though, even as her back turned. Even as she paused in front of a lot of stuffies and began rummaging through the shelves.

Then she froze.

Her husband had a lot of talents and gifts. His delivery could use some work. A low whistle as she composed herself and turned to face him.

"Wow, Judah. That's...quite some news. Are there any other children of yours runnin' around the verse I should know about?"

 

[Judah Dashiell]

You also kind of need a partner for that, no?"

"I've fathered one of your kids, I can father another. Not sure how I'd feel about being a father and having a grandchild the same age but hey, if you change your mind.."

A grin broke out on his face, only half-joking. He wasn't sure at this stage being a father to a young child again would be wise. Things had changed and his body was older, which meant a toddler might do circles around him. Plus, being busier than ever meant not much time to be a father, even to adults like Makai and Bale.

Tossing the diapers in the cart, Judah helped with the stuffed animals. He immediately found an adorable smiling shrimp and held it up. Immediately he knew it was going to his granddaughter. Hand was still holding it as Thessa Kai asked her question.

"No idea. Depends how many more times I got blackout drunk. I am hoping none."

 

[Thessa Kai]

She nearly choked on...well, nothing since she wasn't eating or drinking anything. She was sure he didn't mean what she took from that sentence. Sure of it. But still. The phrasing.

Throat cleared and she gave that shrimp stuffie a small, affectionate pat.

"Stars, Judah. For a second it sounded like you volunteered to knock me up again for this second child."

Another chuckle as a hand rose to brush sandy hair away from her face. She suddenly felt awkward and turned away. She knew he didn't think about her like that anymore. Probably for a long time. Makai even told her he was dating someone else. And over the years, she'd seen the way he looked at Danger. Just the last ball she went to with Judah she saw the way he kept looking to the door. Hoping and waiting for a certain red-haired someone to arrive.

How did she know?

Because it was the same way she sometimes looked at Judah when she knew he wasn't aware.

"So tell me more about him. How did he figure out you were his father? I'm assuming you've had the proper tests done just to fact-check?"

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"Stars, Judah. For a second it sounded like you volunteered to knock me up again for this second child."

"I thought that was clear. I was volunteering. Wouldn't be difficult. A little pre-planning, a little time away together. Next thing you know another half-Galan Dashiell."

He was with Azula but this seemed a more "donation" type situation. Part of him though sometimes mentally entertained just getting back with Thessa. There was a lot of trauma surrounding their past, one that was hard to get past. So many days he struggled just wanted her back and now that she was here...

It was like riding a bike. Seamless. He knew what to expect. There were zero surprises. They had a history. They got on reasonably well. At this point in life he was just looking for quiet. Someone who at least cared about him. He wasn't sure if he would be in love again - that passionate, burning type of romance. A little depressing to consider.

"Jedi kid. Looks like me, acts like me. Found out cause Makai has some eye problems and encouraged me to get genetically tested. Balun was in a database and I went from there. I did a test and it was confirmed."

He paused.

"I'm just trying to figure out my role in his life."

 

[Thessa Kai]

He wasn't kidding?

Growing feelings of becoming flustered rose within her. Not able to stare at the shelf of different baby foods any longer, she spun to face her ex. "Judah?" She began lowly. A stark contrast to her roaring emotions and heartbeat. "How can you say that? I realize the way you laid it out it would be nothing more than a business transaction to you."

That was something else she had to wrap her mind around.

"Regardless, there is no way the woman you've been seeing would be okay with something like that. I would never do that to her or to you."

She took a breath and then another, trying to calm her hammering pulse with a continued look to him. Was he drunk? High?

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Tossing in the smiling shrimp plush toy, Judah could only shrug. Perhaps hearing the reality of making her dream of a second child a realty was a bit like a cold splash of water to the face. He wasn't ever certain she was serious. Eyebrow arched a little, clearly she had been perhaps the 'joking' or 'wouldn't it be nice' type of category when speaking. Thinking out loud?

"Understood, hearing you loud and clear."

Thessa Kai continued to stare at him, causing him to look around to see if she really was focused on him. The answer was yes, the nearest person was two sections over, debating between two different types of burp cloths.

"You're still staring at me."

 

[Thessa Kai]

"Judah," she chided softly. "I appreciate the offer. I really do. I just...do you agree with me? Wouldn't your girlfriend have a problem with it?"

And yes, she was still staring at him.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"Oh." The phrase was short, as if pondering the information. "I'm not sure. I'm not sure how much she likes me. So if it's just a more friendly-benefits situation with her then she may not care."

Shoulders shrugged, a clear sign he didn't know. A lot wasn't clear in his opinion. He wasn't trying to look too far into things. Looking too deep tended to get him hurt. Skimming the surface level was where he resided at for now.

"However, relationship status aside, I'm too old to be chasing a small child around. At least the granddaughter will be a part time, send her back home thing."

Thessa Kai

 

[Thessa Kai]

She frowned and finally looked away. Not really at anything in particular, just away from the face she'd always thought was handsome. She never thought she'd be in a position where she'd be the one comforting her ex on his relationship status.

And she didn't like it.

"Don't sell yourself short, Judah." She said quietly before her eyes finally panned back to his own. "If I ever get serious about having another kid again, I'll let you know."

She looked around and pushed the hover cart along.

"Now what else do we need to get?"

It was safer this way. Not to let him in. Because she'd never risk hurting him again. And she didn't want to hurt herself, either. Because again, she'd seen what someone his eyes went to in a room.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"I mean you don't have to. You're basically one of the few friends I have left, of course I want to stay informed of your decisions, but I get having privacy too. Especially after I just offered to...well...moving on....still...feel free to bounce things off me. I can't say my advice is amazing but I can provide an ear."

Looking around then looking into the cart, he shrugged. What did grandparents need for a potential visit from a grandchild? Or to potentially have if the grandchild spend the night? Same as the baby, or did the parents bring all that 'stuff'? He truly was unaware, although he doubted the kid would be spending the night anytime soon.

Tossing in a block set next to the plush shrimp, he shrugged.

"No idea. Shouldn't the kids bring stuff over if she's staying with us?What did we do when we dropped Makai off at your parents for a break?"

Thessa Kai

 

[Thessa Kai]

Turning, she faced Judah again. A ripple of frustration followed by gratitude across her brow. Her face grew softer as she reached forward and squeezed his hand. "No...I appreciate that Judah. Appreciate you. You've always meant a lot to me and still do."

She took a breath and released him.

Hand came to rub at the back of her scale-speckled neck. Life was complicated and hard sometimes. Navigating between what her relationship was with Judah now was difficult. But still more than worth it.

"Knowing Makai and Myrra, they will definitely come prepared. So, you're probably right. I'm sure they'll still appreciate if we have plenty of diapers and the things we've gotten. So how are you and this new son getting along? Gotten to know him...good kid?"

 

[Judah Dashiell]

The aisles seemed to stretch on forever. A massive store, there was more than any one person could need. The pair drifted towards the furniture as they talked, rows of cribs and hair chairs set up. Judah figured he would just order what he needed and get it delivered. The idea of lugging items with Thessa Kai didn't seem appealing.

"Oil and water some days. I want him to go to University and put this Jedi stuff to the side. Of course, he has other plans. What do I know?"

Judah stopped to look at a high chair, pausing mid conversation as he spoke.

"Overall he seems a good kid. Can't complain. Would have been liked to have been told about him ages ago but there's not much I can do on that front now."

 

[Thessa Kai]

It's one of the things she'd fallen in love with Judah for. Beyond that rough exterior. That stubborn tilt of his jaw was a man who always cared a lot. Cared for those in his life and took that seriously.

"I'm sure it means a lot that you're in his life now. And even if you don't agree on the future, just that conversation shows that you care."

She squeezed his shoulder in encouragement. It was a small gesture. One she was sure she'd done a thousand times when they were dating...and after. Before things got really bad. Before she lost her memory and the divorce. Letting her hand quickly drop, she looked at their list and the cart.

"Well, I think we got the whole store." A bright smile like the sun glittering over the water. "You ready to go?"

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"Of course I care. The exterior is just a little grumpy."

Judah smiled but it didn't quite reach his eyes, a small joke at his own expense. It seemed their time was up and it was going to be back to their separate ways. He didn't know how to feel about that most days. He had spent years waiting for her. Pining over her. Patiently waiting for a day that came much, much later than he had expected.

He was still thrown for a loop at times.

"Yeah, I guess we can go."

Pulling out his credcard, it wasn't long before they were back to their separate ways. Their separate lives.

Thessa Kai