Last time: Sasha was released, but in a hoverchair. Kelce talked with the family about her recovery.

Now: They return home.


Chapter 11- Good to be Home

Sasha sat in the lounge of the Shadow Runner as the ship flew through hyperspace back to Haven. A nervous energy flowed through her as she was excited, but at the same time scared, to see home and Lana again. She missed her daughter so much, but the fact it had been weeks, almost a month since the last time she saw her made her anxious. She remained in the lounge with QT and Cien as Viran, Tac, and Kyr were in the cockpit at the moment. They were currently playing a game on the holotable to pass the time as they traveled along. Oppie, Kitsu, and Illara had returned to Haven a couple days beforehand to take care of Lana and relieve Zeran and Reya from babysitting duty.

Throughout their travels, Cien had taken her to the mediation room to take her into the mindspace to do some light training, but also to allow Sasha someplace to relax. Especially since in the mindspace Sasha's injuries didn't transfer over. She was thrilled to walk around in there for a while without any restrictions. But after a while, the two of them were tired and needed to stop with the mindspace for a while. After that, they returned to the lounge to pass the rest of the time as they were close to arriving at Artemis. Now they were playing a game of d'jarick that Sasha was barely paying attention to.

Cien looked at her worriedly and tried to figure out something to say. "Have you thought about reaching out to your aunt and uncle at all?" She asked.

Sasha looked up from her daze. She blinked as she thought about it. The thought of her blood family and relatives was something she hadn't thought of in a while. "Um… no. Not since we returned from Naboo," she answered.

"It might be nice to meet them." Cien suggested. "It may also be a good excuse for a family trip if you wanted to go relax."

"Yeah, that would be nice," Sasha agreed. "But I'm kind of done with trips for a while." She added as she lowered her gaze to the floor.

Cien swallowed, not sure how to respond. "Relaxing at Haven for a while does sound nice." She said, trying to think of something to say. "Winter will set in soon, so we'll be able to relax by the fire again with hot chocolate." She commented.

"I'd like that a lot," Sasha said looking at her. "And maybe some of Op's cookies?"

"Oh, definitely. And I can finally try the sauna." Cien replied a little wistfully.

"Sauna? What sauna?" Sasha asked confused.

"Oh, the, uh…" She paused, "Our bathroom has a sauna in it." Cien said a little sheepishly. "Doesn't yours?" She asked.

"No, just a shower and tub, and all the other basics that go with a bathroom," Sasha said.

"Oh." Cien said, "well perhaps we can have a, uh…" She paused, trying to think of the wording, "'girls night in' and we can try it out?"

That made Sasha smile. "I like that idea. It would be fun."

At that moment, Viran emerged from the corridor that led to the cockpit. "Hey, you two. We just pulled out of hyperspace and are heading to Haven," he informed them as he walked in with a smile.

"Cookie time." Cien said under her breath, stealing Kyr's line again and adding her own twist.

"Yeah," Sasha chuckled.

Viran beamed at that, seeing her smile. "Alright. I'm going to go pack our gear up and then we will be home," he said.

"Okay," Sasha said as Viran came over, placed a kiss on her forehead before heading off to the bunk room to grab their stuff.

Cien stood up, "do you need a hand at all?" She asked, glancing at the hover chair that was next to the lounge sofa.

Sasha looked at the hover chair and deflated yet again. "Yes please," she answered quietly after a long pause. Cien stepped forward and offered her hand out so Sasha could take it. Sasha grabbed her hand and adjusted so it was easier to move. With Cien's help, Sasha was able to get back into the hover chair.

"Thanks," Sasha said as soon as she was settled back into the chair.

"You're welcome." Cien said, taking a slight step back so she wasn't looming over Sasha.

Viran appeared a moment later with their bags slung onto his back. "Ready to go?" He asked them as he approached.

"Yeah," Sasha said quietly.

Kyr came out from the cockpit into the lounge, "we're home kids." He stated as he came to a stop. "And this might shock you, but Op is out there waiting for us with cookies."

"Then let's go," Sasha said, eagerly.

Viran chuckled. "Alright, alright." He said before he came around and grabbed the handles of her chair. He started pushing her towards the ramp.

He led them all over to the ramp as it lowered to reveal the hangar of the house. As they descended the ramp, Sasha noticed Kitsu, Illara, and Oppie all waiting there for them. Kitsu was holding Lana, who immediately burst into smiles and giggles the second she saw Sasha and Viran. Sasha felt tears in her eyes the second she saw Lana.

"Hi, Lana," Sasha greeted. "Hey guys." She said as she looked at the others with a small smile.

Lana struggled in Kitsu's arms as she wanted down. "Dow," the little one demand in a cute voice.

Kitsu set Lana down onto her feet, but still held her by her tiny hands until Lana moved away. Lana dropped to her knees and started crawling to Sasha and Viran as they came to a stop nearby. Doing what she always did when she tried to walk. Then Lana did something that no one saw coming. She pushed herself to her feet and started walking towards them. Sasha clapped a hand to her mouth as she watched Lana walking.

"She's walking…" Sasha breathed out. "Has she…?"

"No," Viran finished her thought with a grin to his voice.

The others looked on in shock and awe at the moment. Immediately ignoring the sling, Sasha removed her right arm from the sling and held her arms out to Lana.

"Come here, baby," Sasha said.

Lana took the last couple steps and collapsed into Sasha's arms, against her legs. Sasha wrapped Lana up and pulled her into her lap, not even noticing the sting in her shoulder at the movement. She held Lana close to her as she cried tears of joy.

"Mama," Lana said happily as she giggled in Sasha's arms.

Sasha looked at her daughter in shock at what she just said before looking at the others. She remembered trying for days to get Lana to say Mama, and it deflated her ego when she had said Dada first. But hearing the one year old say Mama after being away for so long made Sasha's heart flutter with joy. "She just said Mama. She just called me Mama," she said, overjoyed as she cried. She kissed Lana on the head. "That's right, Mama's home."

Viran smiled at the sight and hugged his two girls close. "We're both home, sweetie."

They held the hug for a long tender moment before pulling away. Sasha adjusted Lana onto her lap so Lana sat against her. She then looked up to the others, tears still in her eyes and on her cheeks. "It's good to be home," she said with a smile.


The End

Daw! Review! The Xiv's will return in book 8.