Kyp walked aimlessly around the great Court Yard of the Fountain Palace as he waited for Leila's arrival. He admired the surroundings with its grand fountains. Above was a glass domed roof of many colors. When the light shined through them onto the spilling waters of the fountains, it caused the water to shine with brilliant light making it appear to be a fountain of rainbows instead of water. He was admiring an opulent statue when Leila came up beside him silently.

"Do you know what you're looking at?" She asked as she observed his wonder.

"It appears to be a woman holding some sort of flower."

"The flower is the important part of the statue. It is an Amorisia, an ancient flower thought to have had the power to make people fall in love."

Kyp backed away from it slightly. I suppose being friends with the Queen Mother you were given a full tour of the Palace long ago."

"True, but I learned that from my studies. The sculptor's name was Arpod Droedian, an artist of some renown. I've studied more than just the Jedi arts master Durron." She said with mocking reproach.

"Obviously so." He said with a warm smile. "Are you ready for this?"

Her smile faded into a serious expression as she lowered her head to the floor. After a space of a few moments, she gave a slow sure nod.

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be. I need to do this. Thank you for taking me."

"It is my honor." He said with a slight tilt to his head.

"So, tell me more about this sculptor." He said, lightening the moment.

With a smile, she began to tell him what she knew and he listened attentively, asking questions where necessary. Their voices echoed in the domed Court Yard as they made their way to the speeder Kyp had reserved for them.

She and Kyp carried on light conversation throughout their trip. However, as they approached Anakin's funeral site, the conversation lessened until it had given way to a grave silence.

Kyp parked the speeder a respectful distance from the area where Anakin's funeral had been held. He wanted to give Leila her space. So he was surprised when she asked him to join her.

He walked a careful distance behind her. She stopped abruptly at about the spot his pyre had been. Kyp saw her wrap her arms around her shoulders. He felt waves of grief coming off of her so strong that he could not filter them out with his Jedi senses.

Tears wetted her cheeks and she felt their salty touch on her lips. The years rushed back to her with abandon. She had been separated from Anakin since the beginning of the war and even before then they had not spent a lot of time together with him having gone to study at the Academy before her. Once she entered the academy, he had left to spend time at home and later became their uncle's apprentice. What Leila grieved for the most was not the times that they had shared but all that she had missed.

At that moment, her Jedi training failed her and hate came into her heart. She hated this War. Would it ever end? Would she lose someone else she loved?

She sobbed softly as she placed her face in her hands. Kyp could see her shoulders shaking with grief and could hear the pain of loss in her cry. His chest tightened at seeing her despair. Without thinking, he placed a hand on her shoulder.

She did not remove his hand but rather gripped it lightly in appreciation.

"Jaina tells me that you offered quite a speech at Anakin's funeral."

"His death was a great loss to the Jedi but I believe that through his sacrifice there has also been great gain."

"And you will no doubt one day say how Anakin saved your life." She answered, echoing his eulogy.

That took him a little by surprise. Had his speech been that memorable? As if sensing his disconcertedness and being amused by it, she turned and offered him a smile through her tears. He smiled back and gently wiped the tears from her eyes.

"I'm ready to go." She said finally.

He stretched out his arm, motioning for her to go ahead of him. They walked in silence back to the speeder.

"It is a shame that you have to leave so soon." She said, breaking the silence. "There are many issues among the refugees that could use a Jedi's help." She turned and looked at him seriously. "Would you stay a little longer Kyp?"

"I would be honored." He found himself offering.