Thayla sighed, listening to the cheap plastic chair creak under her weight. She pulled her cloak more tightly around her when the gate opened, until she saw that it was Teller and Jon approaching.
"Why are you out here?"
She looked up at Jon, determined to hold back the tears welling up in her eyes. "I needed air."
The two of them looked at one another for a long while and Teller let himself fade into the background.
"Well, I need to grab her. Do you want to come?"
Thayla nodded, excitedly but wordlessly, compulsively wiping her eyes even though she hadn't cried.
The two of them disappeared into a nearby building, while D0-1T rolled his way up to Teller.
"Hey, there. I hear you're the one who brought the ship around and saved me."
The droid beeped a gleeful reply.
"Thanks, little guy. You saved my life."
Teller looked back at the doorway, seeing that Jon and Thayla were really gone.
"While we wait for them, I need you to answer a few questions for me."
Thaya used every breathing technique she knew and yet nothing could make her calm.
Jon could sense the turmoil within her, but also knew that he was the last person who could abate it. The situation was just ugly, all around.
The door slid open, one of a dozen in the tiny apartment building, and Jon quickly set to work grabbing cans, bags and supplies from off the shelves.
"Jamie! Can you come in here?"
The eleven year old strode into the room with tiny footsteps. "Dad?"
"Hey, little wookie. Have you been brave?"
"Yes!" she called out, running up and wrapping her arms around her father. "No bad guys got in, while you were gone."
"Perfect. You've been so brave every time I go out, but now can you go pack for me? We have to go again, super fast."
The young girl looked at him, skeptically, and Jon suddenly realized that she was going to get along with Teller very well.
"Yes, I will give you all the cookies you want."
Jamie threw her hands up in a victorious pose, as her father moved to grab more of his supplies from the rest of the house.
All the while, Thayla simply stood by the doors, crouched down on her knees and staring.
She had spent every moment deliberating in her head. Should she inject herself between them? Should she try and speak?
Would a hug be appropriate to ask for or maybe just a handshake? Perhaps she should just stand and be quiet.
Should she run? Should she never come back? How hard was this going to be? Should she try and hug her? Had Jon ever shown Jamie a picture of her? How far back did she remember?
How many credits and favors did she need to spend, how many milestones did she need to shatter, how many clouds did she need to pin to earth, how many horizons did she need to walk to just for the chance to hold her daughter in her arms?
"Who are you?"
Those words cut deeper than any vibroblade.
"This is Thayla," Jon said, now feeling very awkward himself and simply wanting to interfere, giving Thayla the chance to compose herself. "She is a friend of mine from a long time ago."
"From the Temple?"
The two adults exchanged glances. "Yes, wookie. We knew each other back at the Jedi Temple."
"I'm going to be a Jedi, too," the girl proudly exclaimed.
Thayla smiled. "I'm sure you will."
"Ok, it's time to go. Grab your stuff," said Jon, and Jamie quickly did as she was told.
"Is she doing ok?"
"What?"
"Is she ok?" Thayla asked again, fighting the battle not to cry. "Is she getting school work done, while you're gone? Does she have friends her age? I've been reading about kids her age and it's really-"
"Calm down. She's smart. Too smart sometimes."
Jon hugged her. Thayla gripped him for dear life.
"How long did you know I was in Davn?"
"A few weeks," he told her. "I had Dolt drive us, nonstop. They impounded my ship, as soon as I got here."
"I should have left with you."
"Dad?" Jamie asked, walking back into the room with her own miniature versions of the duffle bags Jon used.
He expected her to say something, but Thayla just turned toward the door. "Ok, little wookie. Do you have everything?"
Jamie nodded.
"Perfect. We're going to have one more friend going with us, so it might be a little tight, but everything is going to be alright. Ok?"
"Ok."
With one last sigh, Jon picked up his daughter and headed out the door. Thayla couldn't take her eyes off of her.
