DISCLAIMER:I only own my OC's every other character is owned by Disney, Lucas and everyone else who has ever written anything for Star Wars. This is for entertainment only. My own and anyone who cares to read it.

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

"Come and stay for a couple of days the animals will be fine. You can set the remote feeders Essie got for you." Tula had insisted. They thought of everything, so there was no excuse. She also knew she had been spending entirely too much time alone again and it wasn't good for her. The superficial wounds from the beating had healed, although she was fairly sure one of the broken ribs was still not quite right but no-one could see that. It just made her catch her breath occasionally, especially if she twisted the wrong way and she had a little scar on her top lip, as a reminder.

She brought with her home made fruit bread, cake and cookies; She didn't do much baking now, the occasional batch of cookies that would satisfy her sometimes sweet tooth but never fruit bread or cake. She only made those when she came into town, usually as a Thank you to anyone who helped her; It would be no offence to Tula and Essie who would appreciate them, as they liked her cakes and cookies. Essie was the Aunt who could do everything, repair speeders, cut down trees, arm wrestle but she couldn't bake. Ana smiled at the memories. Her aunt had always appeared sad until she found Tula; they were soulmates, like she thought she and Rex…..

She slowed the speeder to a halt and glanced at the horizon; it always came back to him.

"Don't!" She said to herself. "He's gone." She swallowed several times and blinked back the burning tears that still occasionally took her by surprise. She accelerated, determinedly keeping her eyes on the road.

Dusk was falling as she pulled into town; it was quiet, there were a few lights on at the Cantina and The Store but that was all she could see. Thankfully the Stormtroopers that had visited her, had not stayed in town, deeming Lonlea, as not a place of interest to the Empire.

She turned into the back yard and was surprised to see another speeder parked next to Tula's old battered one; this one was more upmarket and newer than most of the ones around here, including her own. She retrieved her basket of food and entered the house, curious to see who was there.

The sound of children screaming and running, as only children could, hit her as she walked through the kitchen, it was a joyful sound. At one time she wanted this sound and accompanying picture desperately for herself but now, on seeing it, she wasn't so sure. It was only two girls, as far as she could see, but it sounded like 20, and they were riding on a mans back. She didn't immediately recognise him. Both Tula and Essie were laughing and clapping at the scene; as soon as Tula saw her, she rushed over, her turquoise face flushed a shade darker.

"So glad you could come." and hugged her as normal. "You ok?" She asked her, as she flashed a glance of concern and tucked her arm through Ana's.

"Yes, just not expecting this!" And she nodded towards the man on all fours and his riders.

"It's Jay, do you remember him?"

Tula looked at her expectantly, there were still gaps in her memory; where she put things and faces. "He's a distant relative of yours, by marriage, on your mother's side of the family. More family friend. He used to visit, with his father, when you were young." Tula continued.

"Jay." The memory of her illness slowly came back and she smiled; she also had something to thank him for, her life.

"Jay is hoping to move here from the city; he lost his wife some time ago." their antics continued and the man and children didn't seem to have seen her, "Too many Stormtroopers in the Capital now.' He says, "Apparently there was some sort of Rebel attack in the Desert, a few months ago, which brought Seelos more to the Empire's unwanted attention." She put two and two together, that with the trooper's comments and didn't like the answer she reached.

Rex and his brothers.

Had they always been Rebels?

"Here… cakes and cookies." Ana offered the tins, a distraction, and she sat down in the farthest chair, her ribs aching, as she watched the chaos unfold in front of her. She found herself smiling at the family's games and realised how unfamiliar a smile felt.

The riders finally became tired of the game and jumped up requesting some juice; they were like two peas in a pod, both had bright blue eyes and long black straight hair. The youngest one was a little on the plump side but if she grew like her sister that would drop off. The oldest looked about ten and the youngest six-ish; Ana couldn't help but laugh at the scene, as the man rose from his knees. He looked flushed and sweaty but happy beneath his black, neatly trimmed beard, which he smoothed out with his hand. Both girls stood looking intently at her over the rims of the glasses they were now drinking from, the ones that Tula had pushed into their hands.

"Hi, I'd shake your hand but I think I need to wash after rolling on the floor, no offence Tula." He said, as he realised, it sounded as if he had implied the room was dirty. Ana smiled back at him; she was beginning to remember him more, just flashes of scenes. He had to leave shortly after she regained consciousness. He did feel familiar though, like some forgotten memory on the cusp of being retrieved.

Tula produced some more juice for the children, while Essie put on the Caf and opened the tins that Ana brought. The contents were put on plates and handed around to the visitors; they didn't last long, which was always a good measure of the appreciation for them. She liked it when her food was consumed fully. It was a compliment. Looking at the plates there were very few biscuits left; she was thankful that not everything was put out or she was sure the visitors would have consumed those as well and then they would not have been able to sample Tula's roast Roba and vegetables. The smell of it was already taking Ana back to her childhood, when her mother cooked this meal regularly; there was a pang of sorrow in that but she was able to deal with it much better now.

"I'll help Tula." She said, as she joined her in the kitchen, she was starting to prepare the veg, the roast was well on its way to being cooked and Ana's stomach grumbled in anticipation. Tula laughed, "Have you eaten today?"

"Course" Replied Ana, although it was a few hours ago now, as she plucked a piece of raw Topato to chew on to keep the hunger pangs she was feeling at bay. Tula wasn't quite quick enough to stop her and just rolled her eyes.

.

Essie and Tula had pulled out the large table and there was plenty of room for family and guests around it; the food smelled good and tasted even better. As they sat down, Ana's thoughts went to Rex and his Brothers they would have devoured this food and loved every last morsel and they would probably have liked the company too.

Kriff, will I ever get over him.

She felt a touch on her arm, she jumped.

"Sorry, I was just holding your chair for you, are you Ok." Jay asked, concerned.

"Yes, fine." she flashed him a smile and accepted the chair, sitting down she felt two pairs of eyes watching her every move, she tried smiling at the two small people who belonged to the eyes but that didn't work, so she ignored them, no use forcing it.

She wasn't very talkative during the meal but watched everyone, Tula and Essie were used to that, she never normally spoke a great deal except when she had come with Rex, or when she argued with Essie. He dragged it out of her even though she preferred to observe. The children were not quiet and were telling Tula all about their previous home, how the capital city was swarming with Stormies, as they called them. They stopped everyone on numerous occasions to search them and had no sense of humour, Dad says and he didn't like all that, so he had brought them here. Away from it all, from everything, from school, from their friends; they weren't very happy about that, especially the oldest one and was very rude about Lonlea.

Although she felt as if she could drop to sleep after the meal, she volunteered, as she always did, to clear away the crockery and pots and clean them. Suddenly she remembered Rex doing that.

Kriff, everywhere reminds me of him.

"Need any help?" The now familiar voice of Jay, interrupted her thoughts. "No, let me rephrase that, I will help." He put some crockery on the side and started scraping the remains into the recycler. "Sorry about the girls, at the end, they're still angry…." Ana finished the sentence for him "because their mother died." He looked at her, a strange look crossed his face, Ana thought it was anger, but he didn't speak angrily. "Their Mother was murdered."

"I'm sorry, I didn't realise, I'm sorry." She suddenly felt ashamed, here she was feeling sorry for herself because someone had dumped her and this man and his children were having to deal with the after effects of his wife, their mother being murdered.

"If there's anything I can do to help." The words were out of her mouth before she had time to think about it. "Thanks." He replied. "We've already been made to feel so welcome, so much a part of this family."

"I think I have more to thank you for."

He smiled, "I didn't think you would remember, you'd only just regained consciousness by the time I had to leave, although Tula has kept me updated. You're looking especially well. No side effects?"

"Not that I know of."

"I'll do a full check up tomorrow."

"Ah, the real reason for the invite."

Jay looked confused.

.

He was as good as his word and the next day produced his doctor's bag; the examination was thorough. He confirmed that her ribs were still healing but the after effects of the coma were all gone, apart from the memory loss for that period, that she would never get back.

"I cannot believe the Senator has allowed the Empire to build several garrisons on the planet. Seelos City is full of those Stormtroopers, strutting around as if they own the place. It's disgusting."

"Perhaps you shouldn't say that aloud too often, people talk."

Jay looked at her shocked that such a thing could ever happen and that it could possibly cause him a problem. He was used to being able to speak his mind and to have full and frank discussions without the fear of reprisal.

"When the Stormtroopers came to see me, they had obviously been told that someone with Rex's description had been living with me. That could only be someone in Lonlea or my ex husband. Probably him but I can't be sure."

"And they beat you up?"

"Yes."

"No warning, legal rights or anything."

"I wasn't exactly cooperating."

"Still, there are legal requirements on Seelos…"

"That doesn't seem to apply to them, or the man from the ISB."

"ISB?"

"Imperial Security Bureau."

"Like spies, secret agents?"

"I don't think so, not the one I saw he was quite upfront about it."

Jay packed his equipment away and closed his case.

"I still can't believe Rex left you; he was so...so protective when I was here…" he suddenly realised, his mistake, as Ana turned away. "Are you Okay?"

"Yes." The reply was clipped and curt.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."