Private Toast to Us

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

It had been a very long time since she and her husband had gone out on a date. She couldn't even remember the last one. However, they were happy together, and they mostly lived separate lives. She usually remained on Commenor while he went and travelled the stars. This made each of them happy, and that is what mattered to the Master.

Remembering one of their favorite places on Naboo, she had made reservations for the two of them and made sure he knew to dress up. They might not be far from home, but she was okay with that. In her younger years, she had traveled and lived on foreign worlds. Now she preferred to stay close to what was familiar, and she knew Jax didn't like Commenor. Maybe that would change again as she aged. Only time would tell.

Feeling Naboo was as good a place as any, they arrived together, and he helped her out of the speeder she had hired. Sparing no expenses for the night, she smiled at him as they walked into the restaurant.

Jax Thio

 

[Jax Thio]

Location: Naboo
Equipment: Casual Outfit, Jax's Prosthetic Arm, Jax's Third Lightsaber, Marriage Ring to Jairdain
Tag: Jairdain Ismet-Thio

A deep sigh escaped Jax's mouth.

Though he was in tune with nature and the Living Force, he actually missed the bustling megapolis planets of Coruscant. The unpredictable chaos kept Jax alert, ready to take on anything. He even had fond memories of going to the underground and taking down criminal cartels, Dark Jedi, Sith, and other evil doers. While Jax did like travelling the Outer Rim to take on the cartels, the planets that he was on were remote in comparison.

Maybe it was the midlife crisis that Jax was experiencing, he was older now and wiser at least that's what he told himself. He spent nearly 15 years away from the Galactic Alliance and didn't bother to contact any of his old friends he made in the NJO. Ever Jax fell to the Dark Side, he just drifted from planet to planet. Eventually settling down with Jairdain and had Jayna Ismet-Thio .

"Jair," Jax said looking around the restaurant. "I have to admit, these serene planets are.... a bit boring to me. I Why can't we go to somewhere more...... active ya know?"

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

"You don't want to know the news I have to say? Okay fine. I'll keep that to myself. Where do you want to go?"

Ever the people pleaser, Jairdain was serious in what she said, but the secret wouldn't remain one for too much longer. Holding on to Jax's hand as they walked inside, his complaints came too late, and a host came to seat them.

"When we finish, you can go back to your wandering ways, and I'll return to the boring planet of Commenor. It's how things work, and I'm okay with that.

It's only for a few hours. You spend more time flying from planet to planet than we will here tonight."

Tipping her head as she made her point, they were seated, and menus were presented to them. Specials were told, and the man left to give them a few minutes to decide on what they wanted.

Jax Thio

 

[Jax Thio]

Location: Naboo
Equipment: Casual Outfit, Jax's Prosthetic Arm, Jax's Third Lightsaber, Marriage Ring to Jairdain
Tag: Jairdain Ismet-Thio

Jax had to suppress a sigh, he and Jair had a couple of back and Forths lately regarding Jax wanting to go on missions away from Commenor. While he did settle down and helped raise Jayna Ismet-Thio while taking on missions close to Commenor. Over the past few years, the desire to fight bad guys grew inside Jax. Despite being weary of the war and the injustices that he fought against nonstop, the fire inside of Jax started to burn bright again which caused friction between the two.

"Jair......" Jax replied. "Why does me feeling awkward in a place equates to not wanting to hear your news? That's a little odd correlation."

Jax and Jair were polar opposites Jair likes peace and Jax thought he liked peace. He gave it a try when Jair was pregnant and gave birth to Jayna and for a time, it was good...... for the first time in his life Jax felt like he can breathe again. But why in hell did he feel compelled to leave his family just to fight again? Was it bloodlust? Justice? To relive past glories and to fight the feeling of being old? Jax didn't know but when he went on Tatooine to break up a slaving auction, freeing the slaves and getting rid of their handlers, Jax felt..... good.

"Let's enjoy ourselves Jair," Jax said reading the menu. "Let's not have this conversation again, we're here to relax and to be couple of the year."

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

"When I've had news before, we have usually gone out. Except when you came and found me in the Netherworld."

Giving him that slight hint as to what her news might be, her wolf came out of her pocket and allowed her to look at the pictures on the menu. Deciding what she wanted rather quickly, she closed it and rested her finger on the place of the item.

"I know you've been feeling the urge to adventure again, Jax. I'll support you with that. It's also come to my attention that there is a government building near Commenor that makes me uncomfortable. Shortly, I will be moving with Jayna to Bastion.

"I have an old home there we can rebuild."

In their years together, Jairdain had told him about her life as much as he wanted to know. He knew she had been Sith at one point. This was one of her ties to that time, and safety was guaranteed to her and her family. Including him if he wanted it.

Reaching a hand across the table, she had one other bit of news to tell him. Blinking a couple of times, she finally let out a sigh.

"I'm also pregnant."

Jax Thio

 

[Jax Thio]

Location: Naboo
Equipment: Casual Outfit, Jax's Prosthetic Arm, Jax's Third Lightsaber, Marriage Ring to Jairdain
Tag: Jairdain Ismet-Thio

"Technically we can count me finding in the Netherworld as us going out." Jax snickered when he sat down in front of Jair. "Even though the circumstances were...... unusual to say the least."

A few weeks ago, Jax received the call to come back to the Galactic Alliance. The Sith once again was in Alliance space and the NJO needed every Jedi available. Jax didn't know who sent that message since he spent the past 15 years keeping a low profile and part of him wanted to reject the call so he can be with his family. Yet instead of destroying the message like he meant to, Jax felt something in the Force as if it was telling him to go back. When Jax told Jair that he was going to answer the call, it created a somber split between them. They both knew what it meant, that Jax would go off to war and there was chance that he would be killed, in fact it happened once in the early stages of the Great Hyperspace War.

"I know the Empire set up shop on Commendor," Jax said his voice becoming grim. "But it's a prelude to a strike into the heart of the Alliance. Jair, I can't ignore this anymore. For years I've been running away from the Alliance from the NJO, I must answer the call. I have to go back."

Yet Jair's other announcement sent shockwaves through the Jedi Master's body. "What?!" Jax whipsered. "Again?! I-I-" He tried to form words but they came out incoherent babbling. He was only getting used to taking care of Jayna Ismet-Thio but now with another child on the way? How could Jax handle it?

"That's wonderful....." Jax smiled. "How long have you've know?"

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

Smiling at what he said, it might have been accurate. However, she hadn't gone back into the Netherworld since and had focused on raising their family. Time passed differently there, and she didn't want to lose any more time with them. Knowing Jax was going to go back to being an active warrior scared her. Even knowing he was going to follow this calling, she hated it.

Water was given to them, and she placed her order. Nodding when he confirmed her fear, she was sad but accepted it.

"And I have enjoyed these years probably too much. As much as you know, we need to leave Commenor, and I also know you need to defend your Order. I give you my blessing to go, but I won't be able to save you this time if you die again. I don't know what I'd do without you. Just knowing that you're out there somewhere allowed me to survive when you wandered like a ronin. I'll let you know where we're moving once I've figured that out."

Allowing her news to get processed, she wasn't sure if he was pleased. Maybe she should have kept it secret a little longer. He asked how long she had known, and she tipped her head slightly before answering.

"Just a few days. This is the first I've seen you since I learned about it. So, the first chance I've had to tell you. My only regret is you leaving again. If you don't come back, this child won't have a father, and I've had to do that before. Being a single mother, I could do it again, but I don't want to."

As it seemed, she would be for at least a little while. Until the Alliance was done with him and his usefulness was used up. To say Jairdain was bitter about the Alliance was an understatement. She wasn't going to hold that against her husband, though, and they each gave the other the freedom to do what they wanted. It was a working aspect of their relationship, and it went both ways.

"When are you leaving?"

Jax Thio

 

[Jax Thio]

Location: Naboo
Equipment: Casual Outfit, Jax's Prosthetic Arm, Jax's Third Lightsaber, Marriage Ring to Jairdain
Tag: Jairdain Ismet-Thio

Jax knew that Jair wouldn't like it if he returned to the Alliance, they've arguing over him rejoining the Alliance for the past couple of weeks now. Jair said that she accepted his decision, but Jax could feel the turmoil and fear within her. Jax couldn't blame her, with Jayna Ismet-Thio and now another child on the way, Jax wondered if to was a good idea to reconnect with the NJO again.

"Damn....." Jax muttered. "You know the Galaxy is always at war," he said. "The wars I fought all those years ago took a physical toll on me. I lost an eye, gain a lot of scars, lost an arm and....." The Jedi Master gulped as he gripped the glass full of water. "My life." Jax said giving Jair lingering gaze. Even over a decade later, Jax would occasionally have nightmares over his first death. If it weren't for Jair, Jax would've been one with the Force.

"I won't die Jair," Jax said eyebrows crinkling into a frown. "I will come back for our baby, but I can't sit around and do nothing while the Sith once again invades the Alliance. If the Alliance falls, then the Galaxy will be swallowed up as well. I must answer the call Jair, I can't stop running away from it."

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

"I know. That doesn't mean I have to like it. I can't be there if you die again, and I don't know if I'd be able to live without you. Just stay safe and come back to us."

She had given him her blessing, or as much of one as she was willing to. Looking at him with a small smile.

"This is a part of your life that I can not join you in. We will find a new planet to live on, and when you've won your war, you can visit. I know it'll take you away again. It's what you live for, Jax. So go make your happiness, and I will make mine."

She just hoped Jayna would be happy. Uprooting the young teen and disrupting her life might be hard, but it was for their safety. Nitya and Marcus would have to find their places to live, but Jairdain wouldn't abandon them either if they needed to move with them. The only things she needed were the irreplaceable items from her first marriage. Those she would never leave behind.

Jax Thio