They got up since HK wasn't the only one vying for their attention. Carth sighed and watched Saleairy pull her hair up.

"That was painfully anticlimactic." Carth said.

"Oh behave. We have to see the Council and Dustil today, not necessarily in that order, so we want to refrain from thinking bad thoughts." Saleairy said.

"Bad thoughts? Do you really think those are bad thoughts?" Carth asked, getting up and holding her around the waist as he pulled her against his chest.

"Not necessarily. You know Carth," He kissed her neck as she spoke. "Gizkas are also obsessed with breeding." Carth pulled her closer and threw her onto the bed, a startling throw for Zaalbar much less Carth. He dove after her and she laughed.

"I'm not a Gizka." He tickled her. "I won't stop until you admit it."

"Come on Carth. This isn't funny." He straddled her and continued tickling her.

"I beg to differ, beautiful." She laughed and tried to grab his hands. He pinned her hands with one of his and kept tickling her.

"Carth." She pleaded.

"I'm not going to stop until you say I'm not a Gizka." She tried to buck him off and only succeeded in making him hold her down tighter.

"Come on Carth, let me go." She pleaded with her gray eyes but Carth knew better.

"I know you really enjoy this so I'm not stopping until I get something out of it." Carth said with his traditional, stubborn air.

"Does this 'something' really have to be me admitting that you aren't a Gizka?" Her eyelashes fluttered with a demure grace and Carth faltered.

"I might accept something else." Carth said. Saleairy kissed him and her tongue brushed his lips as she drew away.

"Canderous is a Gizka too, just not as ugly."

Saleairy walked with Carth to the dining area that was small and gray, like everything else there. Dustil was the only one there and he shifted on his feet in obvious discomfort. Saleairy sensed he was shouldering a large burden, a secret perhaps. She felt the force ebbing from him, more so than when he was on Korriban. He didn't feel as angry.

"Hello Dustil." Saleairy's compassionate voice brought tears to Dustil's eyes. She extended her hand but he embraced her. She returned the embrace and shut her eyes. He made her fell like he was her son. She kissed the top of his head and ran her hand through his hair.

"Thank you for bringing him home. He wouldn't be the same without you." Dustil released her after he spokeand smiled.

"I wasn't expecting such a warm welcome." Saleairy said.

Neither was I.

Dustil's voice touched her mind and she raised her eyebrow. He was showing the skills of a true Jedi, communicating through the force.

"I'm so happy this is all starting to work out." Carth brushed away tears and held Saleairy and Dustil close. Saleairy saw a lightsaber at Dustil's belt and he brushed his jacket over it.

Poor Carth.

She touched Dustil's mind through the force and smiled. That would be a hard conversation. The people Carth loved most were Jedi. Jedi had hard lives and hard paths to follow. Saleairy felt a tear running down her cheek and started when Dustil brushed it away. She closed her eyes and leaned into Carth. This would be heart breaking for Carth, just knowing Dustil was a Jedi. Loving a Jedi was hard and Saleairy sighed. She would face it with Carth since she was a part of their family now.

He'll survive. He always does.

Saleairy smiled at Dustil and stroked his face. She already felt an attachment to him. Force or otherwise it was strong. She kissed Carth and hugged him.

"I love you both so much." Saleairy gasped at Carth's grip and he loosened it.

"You don't have to tell us." Dustil said.

"We know." Carth blinked and furrowed his brow.

"I love you too." Saleairy said, brushing the hair from Carth's face.

"Are we interrupting a family moment?" Canderous asked, an eyebrow cocked.

"We're fine. Let's have some lunch and try to sort things out." Carth said.

Saleairy sat in between Carth and Dustil and felt the calm radiating from everyone. Now that she and Carth were straightened out, the group was getting along. Dustil fit into the group by adding a younger voice, less weighted by worries and trials but also with the strange air of Jedi serenity. The serenity was only a slight inkling because he was still training but Saleairy noticed the contrast from the snarling Dustil on Korriban. Dustil looked at her and she knew they would speak of it later. He looked like he needed a Jedi who had faced Sith to talk to.

Carth touched Saleairy's hand and Saleairy took his calloused hand in hers. Her white knuckled grip made Carth grin and he kissed her knuckles. Saleairy looked into his face and felt a stab of pain. This was what the Council didn't want her to have.