Chapter Summary: Vestra makes amends. (Direct continuation of Chapter 1.)

Lana glanced up from her terminal when the door slid open, and Aelirra walked in blindly, eyes glued to the datapad in her hand. She took a few steps before coming to a halt, just noticing that the ops room was occupied.

"Oh, sorry. I thought this room was empty. I'll just find another–"

"It's alright, Aelirra. There's space for two."

"Or you just want my company."

Lana smiled. "It is always appreciated." She eyed the Commander with amusement, as Aelirra set her datapad on the other end of the table, along with the veritable pile of data cards she'd held in one hand. "Someone just made her rounds, I see."

"However can you tell?" Aelirra sighed, stirring the heap of datacards with her fingers, before a look of instant regret crossed her face. "I shouldn't have done that, damn it."

Lana bit her lip as Aelirra pouted and started sorting the data cards according to the coloured strip on their edges – one colour belonging to each branch of Alliance operations. Leaving Aelirra to her task, Lana turned back to her own terminal, settling back into her work with ease. It was not uncommon for them to claim one of the smaller ops rooms for use on a slow day, and Aelirra was one of the precious few with whom Lana could share a workspace without feeling stifled.

Minutes passed with the dull click of data cards on the table, before Aelirra finally slotted one card into her datapad and leaned back in her seat.

"By the way, how is Darth Avriss? I heard she's having some kolto time."

"She's fine. She and her crew had an encounter with the Eternal Fleet before they arrived."

Aelirra nodded. "Right, Ashara mentioned that. She seems...upset over what happened."

"Sounds about right," Lana said off-handedly. Then she noticed that Aelirra's eyes were still on her, with a curious quality to her gaze.

"She wasn't very forthcoming with the details."

"I'm afraid I won't be, either."

"I see."

One thing about Aelirra – her discretion and honesty were often at odds with each other. Though she sounded neutral, ready to let the subject drop, there was an audible note of dissatisfaction with Lana's vague answer. She would hold no resentment, Lana knew for certain, but if there was one person who could be trusted…

Lana tapped a finger on the table. "It's nothing to worry about. Avriss will make a full recovery, and...she just had a falling out with Ashara. That's all."

Aelirra nodded again, thoughtful. "Was it a serious falling out? Because Ashara is quite eager to join our Force Enclave."

With a tilt to her head, Lana took a moment to consider the news. She had been the one to suggest that Ashara spend some time with the Enclave, but hadn't expected this. "How eager?"

"As eager as someone who wants to get out of a bad situation."

"Ah."

"Should we be concerned? I don't wish to cause friction between Darth Avriss and the Alliance, but if Ashara is...seeking shelter, I will be happy to provide it."

Lana's brows rose in surprise, and she couldn't help but break into an exasperated laugh. "I apologise if I've read you wrong, Aelirra. But it sounds like you think Ashara is being mistreated."

Aelirra grimaced. "Yes, she comes across that way. She has been tactful, but I feel a lot of resentment within her."

"Yes, I've felt that too. But rest assured, she is not being...mistreated." Lana tested the word on her tongue, and wondered if that wasn't the truth, at least partially. "Ashara was Avriss' apprentice, but she has since come into her own, and has always possessed a strong sense of agency. If Avriss truly does abuse her, she will not take it."

"Oh."

"This isn't the first argument they've had, and it won't be the last."

"I see," Aelirra said slowly. "Then I apologise if I've overstepped. But if I can be of assistance…"

"Just listen to her, like you've been doing. I'll speak to her when I get the chance."

"That'll be great. Thank you." Aelirra smiled, but didn't look down at her own datapad yet. She still looked curious, and spoke when Lana cocked a brow. "You seem to know them well."

"Yes, you could say that. We've worked together for years, and there isn't a crew I would trust more." Lana fell silent in thought, then leaned forward, voice low. "Aelirra, there is something I'd rather you hear from me, before...anyone else."

"Yes?"

"Avriss is my partner."

"Your...partner?"

"In every sense of the word."

"Oh." A second passed, then Aelirra's eyes grew wide. "Oh! So that's what Theron meant when he said you two…'danced together'?"

"He did?" Lana repeated blankly, then shook off the confusion. Of course Theron would run his sly little mouth, as if his amused glances in the war room weren't enough. He was making a point with this deliberate un-subtlety, and Lana was glad the initiative had remained hers to take. "And...what did you think he meant?"

"I just thought you two worked together? Like, really well? As in, you have the same rhythm and move to the same tune and–, and I'll shut up now." Her head had fallen lower as she spoke, and her face was now buried in both hands, with a furious blush on her cheeks. "I swear, I'm never good at reading into these things."

"To be fair, he was being very oblique," Lana comforted her, though she could barely mask her own laughter.

"Yeah," Aelirra said, muffled, and spent a few more seconds in her hands. Then she straightened herself to take a gulp of air, calming herself. "Alright, I'm over it now. Thanks for telling me, Lana. I'm happy for you."

Lana nodded. "Actually, I had a motive."

"Hm?"

"As you know, I will serve the Alliance to the best of my ability. But, if my judgement is ever impaired due to Avriss, please do not hesitate to take action."

"I trust it will not come to that."

"I do not see it happening either, but...I do sometimes find myself in unexpected situations with Avriss. I would feel at ease knowing that you will be the voice of reason when mine has fled."

"Of course. You have my word." Aelirra smiled, then settled back in her chair, drawing Lana's gaze with a chuckle. "Lana Beniko, losing her voice of reason? Now I'm tempted to see it."

"Please," Lana said, dry as a desert. "Beware what you wish for."

Where the crew would usually have dinner in a room off the main cantina, Lana found Ashara alone at the table in the corner, cheek resting on her palm as she tapped idly at a datapad on the table. Her gaze was clouded and faraway, but came back into focus when Lana sat in the booth beside her. She lifted her head and offered a smile, taking the datapad in her hands as if to project a studious image.

"Hey, I almost never see you in this cantina."

"I prefer having my meals somewhere quieter."

"Me too. I come here mostly because of…" She pointed a thumb at the empty seat to her left, where Andronikos had presumably sat. The only hints of his visit were an empty plate and pint glass.

"Where are they?"

"Niko went off to the hangars, to look at the ships. Khem's at the kolto tank."

"And you?"

"Having some peace and quiet. Such as it is." She waved at the room, where groups of Alliance personnel had gathered, filling the air with the buzz of conversation. "And studying." Ashara tilted the datapad to Lana, who glimpsed an analysis of the Force and the manners in which it was used. "Have you read Sana-Rae's notes? The way she writes is really flowery and roundabout, but the way she sees the Sith and Jedi… She has so many angles I'd never considered. It would've helped our studies back then."

Lana smiled when Ashara looked at her expectantly. Though no longer a padawan, Ashara still carried that excitable quality she'd always had when presented with new knowledge. "Yes. Her views are very similar to the Voss Mystics' writings that Ves shared with me."

"Yeah?" Ashara sounded flippant, but the effect was immediate. She broke eye contact, expression turning pinched, as if she was trying to keep something out of her mind.

Lana steered her away from that first. "You've been spending a lot of time at the Enclave."

"It's a nice place to be."

"But?"

Ashara sighed. "Am I that transparent?"

"You get vague when you're unsure."

"Ugh. I'll have to change that." Ashara fiddled with the datapad, then set it down, lacing her fingers together. "I don't really...fit in."

"Because you are neither Sith nor Jedi."

"And there's no place for those who are neither." Ashara cocked her head thoughtfully. "Actually, there is. But it's a really small, sad corner."

"You could carve out a niche, given time. If you have the inclination."

"I...maybe." Ashara took her mostly-empty mug, raised it halfway, then set it down with another sigh. "I've been chatting with the Commander lately."

"Oh?"

"She's really nice. I'd expected her to be like other Jedi Masters – stuffy, stodgy, lost a lightsaber up their asses. But she's really laid back, and she doesn't judge me like the rest, you know?" When she looked back at Lana, there was a hopeful glint in her eye – and it made Lana's heart sink, just a little, on another's behalf. "She actually listens, and she cares. At least, she acts like it."

"She does care. It's not like Aelirra to pretend."

Ashara nodded, lost in thought. "I got to thinking, it might be nice to work with her."

"Instead of Vestra?"

Ashara couldn't quite hide her scowl as she lifted the mug to her lips this time, draining it of every last drop.

"You know you'll have to talk to her when she gets out of the tank."

"Maybe I don't want to."

"Ashara."

"I dragged her back to the ship, Lana!" Ashara's voice was still level, quiet enough to keep their conversation private, but her tone carried a sharp bite. "I lost sleep while she was in medbay. I changed her bandages and cleaned her wounds. I had to force a breather mask onto her face every time she was about to pass out. And she just turns around to bite my hand? 'Put me into the ground'? After I kept her out of it? Kriffing bitch."

Her empty mug landed on the table with a thud, but it hardly drew any attention from the hubbub around them.

"She doesn't mean it."

"Yeah? Then maybe she should learn to shut up before she says things 'she doesn't mean'."

"It's a lesson long overdue."

Ashara snorted, but a smile lightened her scowl. Lana set a hand on her wrist, giving a gentle squeeze.

"Give it some thought, Ashara. Whatever you decide, I will support it."

Ashara looked at her, gaze turning wistful, and patted her hand. "Thanks, Lana."

The ward was empty, save for Lana and the medical droid – per her arrangement. She waited as Vestra was brought out of induced sleep, heart skipping a beat as drowsy yellow eyes gravitated towards her, softening in a smile that was not so much as seen but felt. Lana could feel the mute hum of their bond coming to life, with affection that bloomed the moment their eyes met. It was an honesty they shared on sleepy mornings, when they could steal just a moment longer, wrapped in each other's arms, ensconced in tenderness that made each stolen second feel like blissful eternity.

Years. They'd been together for years, yet Lana could still feel as breathless as the first time she'd met that stranger whose eyes were still a soft shade of the earth.

An age passed while the tank was drained of kolto, its transparisteel screen lowered, and Vestra removed her mask to reveal the smile beneath. Her gaze never left Lana as she handed the mask to the droid, and sauntered to where Lana stood, somehow still looking regal with kolto dripping off her half-naked body.

Vestra's smile took on a crooked curve, and Lana wondered if she hadn't betrayed her thoughts through the bond. No, she decided; after all, she hadn't quite bothered to hide the fact that she'd raked her eyes over her partner's toned figure.

Vestra leaned in, but was stopped last minute by a towel in her face. She gave a muffled protest as Lana patted her face dry, but her pout was chased away by a soft kiss on her lips.

"Sleep well?"

"Only because I dreamt of you."

"Really."

"No, but it made you smile."

Lana rolled her eyes, though she didn't bother to hide said smile. She threw the towel into Vestra's face, forcing her to catch it.

"How long was I in there, anyway?" Vestra asked, wiping herself off as she followed Lana to a nearby bed, where a fresh change of clothes was laid out for her.

"Five days. And someone thought she didn't need it."

"I'm pretty sure you kept me in there longer so I can't make trouble." Vestra tossed the towel aside, and stripped off her wet underwear.

"Not that you didn't cause any before going into the tank," Lana said, running her eyes down Vestra's bare back. Her recent wounds were gone without trace, thankfully, but Lana noticed a few new scars she'd never seen before.

Vestra kept quiet at the remark, opting instead to pull on a new set of underwear, black pants, and a form-fitting grey undershirt. While she draped a short maroon robe over her shoulders, Lana reached for the clasp on the back of her head, letting down her damp hair from its updo. She ran her fingertips through black tresses, combing them into respectable form, as Vestra secured a belt at her hips. When she was done, Lana took her by the shoulders, and turned her around.

"You need to talk to Ashara. No, wait – let me be clear," Lana added when Vestra opened her mouth. "You need to apologise to her."

Vestra let out a breath, averting her eyes.

"She deserves better than the way you've treated her."

"We'll see." A low rumble left Vestra's throat when Lana frowned. "Fine. I will."

Lana shook her head. "I don't suppose I have to tell you to be nice?"

"I am not nice."

"You will be."

"Yes, Mother."

"Not ten minutes out of the tank, and you're already insufferable."

"Yet you suffer me still."

"Because, for some reason I cannot fathom, you are the one I love."

A twinge in her chest – an echo. Lana tilted her head, as a humourless smirk curved Vestra's lips. Before she could read into it, Vestra turned and knelt in one smooth, nonchalant motion, pulling on her boots by the bed. She took her time with the straps, then stood and smoothed over the faint crease of her robe beneath the belt. When she turned back, her gaze was drawn to Lana by the gloved hand cupping her cheek.

"Just so we're clear – I suffer you gladly."

Vestra blinked, fixing her with an unreadable gaze, before breaking into a small, close-lipped smile. She turned her head, placing a kiss on Lana's palm.

"I know," she murmured, closing her eyes briefly as a thumb brushed her cheek. Then she lifted her head, reasserting herself with a deep breath, clasping both hands behind her back. "Now, please tell me you have some food ready. I am starving."

"Of course I do." Lana nodded at the door, moving towards it with Vestra falling in step beside her. "The only thing more demanding than you, is your stomach."

"Guilty as charged." Vestra chuckled and caught her hand, lifting it for a quick kiss on her knuckles, and Lana lamented how swiftly Vestra let go when they stepped out of the ward.

Vestra was strolling across the Commander's private airfield, relishing the warmth of the sun's rays on her face, and the softest crunch of grass beneath her boots, when she stopped dead in her tracks. Lana had asked to speak with her privately aboard the Fury, but it wasn't Lana whom she felt inside the ship. Instead of potent energy hidden beneath the calm of discipline, it was a naked candle's flame, burning steadily with gentle strength – which started to flicker the longer she concentrated on it.

Clenching her jaw, Vestra tapped the comlink on her wrist.

"Yes?"

"Lana, what the hell is this?"

"This is me, getting tired of you refusing to play nice."

"You know that I tried!"

"Telling Ashara that she can leave whenever she wants, and that you wouldn't care, is not playing nice."

"You were there, you heard her call me a–"

"Let me stop you right there," Lana cut in. "Like you've said before, I have a lot on my mind. And playing mediator for you is the least of my priorities."

"Lana–"

"It has been days, Vestra. Pull yourself together. Either make up with Ashara today, or you can take the couch tonight."

"You can't do this–!"

"I can, and I will. Goodbye."

"Lana. Lana!"

Vestra was left glaring at the comlink, before throwing her hands up in exasperation. She paced in a circle, and considered marching back into the base out of pure spite. But Lana had a way of cutting through her shit, and certainly will make good on her threat. She'd angered Lana on a few occasions before – a few, scary occasions that she'd rather avoid repeating if she could help it.

Not that it was her primary concern in this particular situation.

Vestra slowed to a stop, gritting her teeth. Taking a deep breath to compose herself, she squared her shoulders and marched resolutely up into the ship.

She found Ashara in the cargo hold, sitting on her heels in meditation. When Vestra entered, she made no move to acknowledge her visitor. Was it her own influence, Vestra mused drily.

Crossing her arms, she waited longer, then spoke.

"Ashara."

It took Ashara a moment to come out of meditation, bowed head rising slowly as the energy swirling about her dissipated. "Lana managed to trick you here, then."

"I see that she did the same to you."

"No, actually." Ashara rose to her feet, patting off her knees. Her voice was level, betraying no sign of anger that had flared in their last few conversations. "She asked, and I agreed."

"Really."

"Apparently, I have more emotional maturity than a former Dark Lord."

Vestra bit her tongue – literally – and fought to keep her expression placid as Ashara turned around to face her. "And what did she ask of you, exactly?"

"To listen to you before I made my decision." She met Vestra's penetrating gaze, so steadfast that her former master couldn't help but feel a touch of pride.

"What are you expecting?"

"For you to grovel for my forgiveness, ideally." A wry smirk lifted the corner of her lips, as if she knew very well how close she was to pushing Vestra over the edge. "But I will settle for a simple apology."

Vestra's mouth curled downwards, her eyes falling shut as she schooled her rising temper.

After a moment of silence, Ashara asked, "Do you need a laxative?"

Vestra growled a long, low note, and uncrossed her arms, clasping both hands behind her back – where she could curl her fingers into fists. The sting of nails on her palm grounded her, and Vestra loosed a slow breath through her mouth, looking back at Ashara.

"I...apologise."

"For?"

Her jaw worked in silence, as she pushed past her indignation. "For treating you poorly when you took care of me."

"And?"

Vestra frowned. "And for what I said to you."

"About putting me into the ground?"

"Yes."

"Good. And?"

"And...for all the people I've killed to date. What else do you want me to say?"

"What you said about me joining the Enclave?"

Vestra stared at her, quiet. "I meant what I said."

"So you're not even going to try? You're just going to let me–" Ashara's head fell into one hand, scowling, before she snorted and turned around with a bitter laugh. "Forget it, then."

She walked over to the short stacks of crates in the corner. Vestra's gaze followed Ashara, and she noticed for the first time that Ashara's portion of the hold – where she'd kept her tools and relics that she studied with Vestra – was unusually clean and empty of clutter. Two grey cases sat on top of the crate Ashara approached – one was locked, while the other was open, half-filled with datapads and writings she'd collected during her time away from the crew.

Ashara was packing – and the realisation sent a cold drop of panic into her stomach, which twisted uncomfortably. She swallowed through a throat grown tight, fingers wringing behind her back. Vestra took a step forward without thinking, but forced herself to stop.

"I've told you before – you are not beholden to me. You never were. You have the freedom to leave whenever you want, and I won't stop you if you choose to go."

Ashara didn't react, continuing to carefully fold flimsi notes into the case. She had an unusual fondness for writing notes by hand, and it wasn't uncommon to hear the scratching of her pen while working quietly in a room together.

Damn it.

Willing her voice not to waver, Vestra tore the words out, "But I would prefer that you stay."

Ashara stopped, setting a hand on the edge of the case, and looked back at her. "Do you mean that?"

"Don't make me repeat it. I might have to bite my tongue off."

Ashara's eyes narrowed by a fraction, but she pushed away from the crate, and walked back to Vestra. Ashara eyed her steadily, and Vestra became very interested in the crate where she'd stood.

"Do you mean what you said?"

Vestra took a breath, which left her in an involuntary exhale. She hated how her feet shifted uncertainly over the floor – if she were dealing with another Sith, they would've pounced on her at this sign of weakness. But not Ashara. Never Ashara, even after all the bantha shit she'd had to put up with.

"Yes."

Ashara regarded her longer, and when Vestra finally met her gaze, she broke into a smile. Vestra stiffened when Ashara's arms wrapped around her shoulders, but she forced herself to relax, laying her hands gingerly on Ashara's back.

"You're a damn mess. But I've said it once, and I'll say it again – you have a good heart under all those bitchy, thorny layers."

"You're starting to tread on thin ice," Vestra warned, voice flat.

"And I am very tempted to stomp a hole with my boot. But I won't." Ashara gave her a reassuring squeeze, and Vestra leaned more into the hug, resting her cheek against a lekku – which twitched subtly under her touch, before Ashara pulled back.

"You still give lousy hugs, by the way."

"Lana thinks otherwise."

"Yeah, 'cause you give them to her naked."

Vestra scoffed, and pushed Ashara away. But it didn't dampen Ashara's lopsided grin.

"I take it back. I don't want you to stay."

"Liar, liar."

Vestra rolled her eyes, but a burgeoning smile betrayed her. She straightened her robes out of need for distraction, then noticed that Ashara's gaze was still upon her, though with a touch of hesitation.

"I...would still like to study with the Enclave for a while. If that's alright."

"That's fine. As long as you remember your way back." She searched for more to say, perhaps to encourage Ashara's search for knowledge, but felt awkwardness trickling in while she stood before that expectant gaze.

Vestra sighed, waving a dismissive hand as she made for the door. "Now, if we're done here, please excuse me while I go drink myself to death."

"I'll have my best robes ready," Ashara replied, laughter dotting her voice.

Before she could make her escape, Ashara spoke again, stopping her at the doorway. "Vestra. I promised to help you face whatever the future brings, and I will. But that means you'll have to allow me to care about you too."

Vestra tilted her head, but didn't turn back.

"It's been ten years. Well past time to let us care for you, don't you think?"

Vestra felt herself slowly tense in response. Ashara was reaching for untrodden territory, where only Lana was ever allowed to walk. Her fingers started to curl, but she forced them to stay still. Ashara was coming from a place of good intent, she reminded herself, as did the rest of the crew.

She looked back at Ashara, but couldn't find the words. The hopeful glint in Ashara's gaze cracked her impassive facade, and Vestra conceded a curt nod, before walking away in silence.

A/N: Things I'll let Ves get away with:
- Murder
- Treachery
- General assholery

Things I won't let Ves get away with:
- Being mean to Ashara

Ashara's a little more hard-headed and aggressive in both chapters, because she does care for Ves and won't let her destroy herself. After the 5 year timeskip, Ashara's already spent some time to build herself up away from Vestra, and now operates as Vestra's equal (which also means she butts heads with Ves more often). And, one does not simply live with Ves without losing some of one's shit.