Venisa Doza could feel her daughter's excitement. She didn't know the reason for Torra's mood, not yet anyway. Venisa had a feeling she would soon find out. All Torra had told her so far was that she had something very important to tell her. Torra had said this immediately after the Aces had returned from their mission to evacuate Resistance recruits from Dantooine.

"Mom…"

"Yes, Torra?" Venisa answered, halting when Torra caught her arm before they entered Aunt Z's. "Are you all right? You look flushed. Have you eaten today?"

"I'm fine, Mom. I had some Tuz juice before the mission." The fruit juice had the highest vitamin ABCD content. She steered the conversation back on track. "I didn't tell you this before the mission because I felt it could have distracted you."

Venisa raised an eyebrow, looking quizzically at Torra. "So what're the details?"

Torra had overheard Kaz saying that he would be in Aunt Z's to wind down after such harrowing do-or-die maneuvers. To say the least, several numbers of times he'd thought he'd been about to die. He hadn't been able to shake the feeling that Tam had been one of the TIE pilots. He'd also had the sneaking suspicion that she'd had many chances to blast him out of space, but she hadn't been able to do it. Did he know why? He had nothing concrete to go on. Just that he wanted to believe their friendship still counted for something. Maybe there was some small chance that Tam would come back to where she really belonged…with them.

"Uh, it's just that before we go in, I'd like you to know that…uh…well that—"

"Just spit it out, Torra. You know how much I love being kept in suspense. Whatever it is, I'll stand behind you." Venisa gave her a smile brimming over with affection.

"Mom," Torra said, sighing. "Okay. Here it is. Kaz and I are kind of like together. Hmm, like—I'm his girlfriend. He's my boyfriend. I never thought I'd like someone as much as I like Kaz."

Venisa studied the squeamish sincerity on Torra's face. Her mother caressed her child's youthful face. "Well, my dear, this is…" She winked at her daughter. "Quite the revelation." I wonder if Kaz knows. Venisa kept her face as straight as possible, seeing how serious Torra was.

"Kaz is already here. At the tavern. He didn't come right out and say it, but I suspect he's waiting for us to join him. I thought this would be the perfect time for you to get to know him better, Mom."

"So…he's waiting for us, is he."

"Yeah. Knowing Kaz, he just didn't get around to telling me. He can be a little, uh…forgetful."

"And how do you know he's expecting us, dear?"

"Because I overheard him say he was coming here," Torra exclaimed, her voice exhilarated.

"And you are supposed to meet him here."

"Yes, Mom!"

"Even though he never actually told you directly you are to meet him here."

Torra frowned, can't believing that her mother was turning this into a cross-examination. "What are you driving at?"

"All I'm saying, Torra, is that our showing up might be considered unexpected. An imposition. He could be…here, catching up with old friends."

"Old friends? We're his friends, right here on the Colossus."

Venisa reasonably pointed out, "I'm referring to old friends like Hugh Sion, and Norath Kev. I'm sure the three of them have lots to talk about." Her body language suggested that Torra and she should take themselves elsewhere instead of crashing Xiono, Sion, and Kev's get-together.

"There's one way to find out whether or not he's with them. Let's go see, making sure he doesn't see us. If he's with them, then we won't bother them. We can visit with him another time. Okay?"

Nodding, Venisa agreed. "I like your Plan B. You head in first, Torra."

"Sure, Mom."

Daughter and mother made their entrance into the tavern as inobtrusive as possible. The place was packed, so it wasn't too difficult for them to remain inconspicuous. Torra scoured the tavern visually, but wasn't seeing Kaz anywhere. She whispered to Venisa, "Maybe I heard wrong, Mom. I don't think he's here."

I have a feeling we should leave now…Torra could be in for disappointment.

Just as it appeared Kaz was nowhere on the premises, Torra spotted him at a booth far from the entrance. He wasn't with Hugh, or Norath, but he wasn't alone. Her demeanor of hopeful anticipation sagged, and she let out a, "He's here…here with Synara." She felt her heart bunching up.

"Synara San," Venisa clarified, now feeling her child's sharp dismay.

"Lately, she's with him a lot," Torra voiced in a tone of blatant disapproval, and naïve wonder.

My sweet, I know you think he has only eyes for you, but plainly that isn't the case. The young man is smitten with the Mirialan, in all of her fascinating beauty. Torra, you are still very young. Hopefully, you'll have plenty of time, which is why the First Order must be stopped, to find the love of your life as I found mine in your wonderful father, and my beloved husband.

"Come, Torra, let's go." Venisa led the way. Confirmation that her intuition served her well, intact.

"Mom, Kaz looks really happy doesn't he?" Her sentiment was close to whining. "I thought he liked me more. He's always so nice to me. He's never looked at me the way he was looking at Synara."

"Yes, my love, he does look contentedly happy. Let's leave him to his happiness. And you and I will have a little talk. A mother-daughter meeting of the minds, long overdue. Joining the Resistance was, and is important, but you are, and always will be, my priority."

Torra slipped her arm around her mother's trim waist, and Venisa settled her arm around her daughter's supple shoulders. They walked off together, in perfect sync. "Mom, I'm so glad you're back."

"It's good to be back. Seeing you, growing to be a strong, resilient, skilled young woman. You make me so proud, Torra."

"I love you, Mom."

"I love you, Torra."

"Do you think I'm silly for thinking Kaz was my boyfriend?"

"Never! How you feel is the measure of your heart. You have a very large one, my sweet girl. Never allow it to shrink just because how you feel isn't reciprocated. Keep allowing your heart to grow ever bigger and wider."

"I still care about Kaz, even though he doesn't feel the same about me like I do about him."

"You keep right on caring about him, because, in his own way, Torra, he cares about you. This I know."

"I will. I will. Even if he isn't my boyfriend, he'll always be my friend."

They reached the station's command center, and when the elevator's doors opened, they walked out onto the deck, made their way to the observation window, gazing out into space. "You keep being his friend. No matter what."

"I will, Mom. I promise."

"That's a good girl," Venisa praised, squeezing Torra's shoulders tight.