Alan placed a cleaned breakfast dish among the others. He smiled. Despite a few matters yesterday, it had been wonderful to have Alvar back.

His smile melted.

Then there was the fact his youngest had lived through so much. Tortured? There was a part of Alan which knew this had to have happened at some point during the wars. He also felt as if Alvar had restrained telling him the extent of what had happened.

His finger traced the edge of the dish before falling to the counter.

Could he really blame Alvar? To know everything which had happened to his son since the day Alan had let the Jedi take, might prove to be more than Alan could handle. There was so much which had happened to Alvar just over the two wars alone. To add in the rest of his life?

A breath trembled through Alan and fled his lips.

Then there had been the feeling he had gotten from Alvar. There might be a chance he had been tortured more than just the two-time Alvar had mention. Yet, he might not remember the other time.

If it was from the emperor—

Alan closed his eyes.

If the emperor had tortured his son, then it was for the best Alvar never regained such memories. They would be far worse than those other times he had endured.

The door buzzed. Alan dried his hands and limped from the kitchen.

Reca led Commander Varnon into the sitting room of the apartments.

"Good morning, Commander," Alan greeted as he stopped just in the room.

The commander nodded to him, but his gaze moved to Alvar and Justin. The two looked as if they had broken off from the discussion over how they would start the political end of getting the Order accepted by the whole of the senate. They had started the conversation towards the end of breakfast and moved into this room to continue it.

"The results came in," the commander informed Alan's sons.

"And?" Justin pressed.

"She's Alvar's blood mother, which would make her yours as well, senator."

Alvar's expression remained even.

Alan's heart dropped. His eyes widened.

Justin rubbed his eyes. "So, they weren't lying." He shook his head.

"It doesn't change the fact the two of them sliced into Republic systems," Darrell pointed out.

Jeri?

His gaze dropped to his hands clutching his cane.

It couldn't be. She had refused to come with him. To be a real family. So they why? Why would she and their daughter – her daughter come now? They had come looking for Revan and Alan.

Alan looked out of the corner of his eye at Alvar.

They had been in Revan's presence yesterday. Perhaps they hadn't known he was Revan? Alan hadn't when he had first seen his son enter the diner. In fact, he had believed Alvar didn't even look the part of a Jedi let alone the most infamous of them all.

"We should speak with them once more before this afternoon," Alvar's voice sliced through Alan's churning thoughts.

"I'm going with you this time." Bastila's eyes locked on her husband before turned to Sasha. "Is it all right if we leave Vaner here?"

Sasha grinned, her eyes shining. "I would love more time with my nephew." She turned her gaze on Alan. "I bet Alan would like more time with him as well."

"I'm going as well." Alan would have loved more time with his youngest grandchild, but this – it was just too important. He needed to understand why now after so many years, Jeri had come to Republic.

All eyes fell on him.

Darrell stared while Justin and Sasha gaped.

Bastila and Alvar were both frowning.

"Are you certain that's wise, father?" Justin stood. "They were asking after you yesterday." His gaze moved to Alvar.

"He will be protected," Alvar pointed out. "There will be four Jedi Masters there as well as the on-duty security force. Even an unarmed professional soldier and Sith Lord would be hard pressed to face down so many."

Bastila folded her arms across her chest, eyebrow cocked. "Unless said Sith was you," she stated.

"Even I would be hard pressed without another's aid," Alvar stated with a small smile. "Darious," – he turned to his fellow master – "remain here for now. I'll send Meetra to relieve you for this afternoon."

Darious bowed his head.

"Thank you, Alvar, Darious." Sasha smiled at the two Jedi Masters.

"Be good for your mother," Justin told his younger children. He kissed Sasha. "I'll be back this evening."

She smiled. "Of course."

Alan fell in beside his two sons as they left the apartments.

"You don't need to do this," Reca told him. She was among Justin's guard. "They were adamant on speaking with you yesterday. I don't like the thought of just handing you to them, dad."

"I'll be fine," Alan assured her. Besides, Jeri wanted to see him. His heart flickered. Why? Was it because what they had tried to do when they'd been young and very foolish? There was no changing the empire. There never had been. Two people could never hope to achieve such a major undertaking.

Two people.

Alan's eyes narrowed. An ache pierced deep into his heart.

All he had ever wanted, all he ever desired was a family. To have a place he never had to fear belonging. To have children he could love and protect. To just do what his parents had denied him. So his children would never have to fear slavery, starvation, and the torment of never knowing what day was their last.

His gaze rested on Alvar.

Perhaps he had failed with his youngest son. He knew he had for his blood daughter. Her mother had raised her in the empire. For what? The false hope they could change it? Perhaps.

There was no way to tell how Sighta turned out until he saw her with his own eyes. Heard her speak for the first time in his life.

They entered the security center. Alan could just see two women locked in the fields beyond the window. His heart lurched.

Jeri?

The woman with gray hair streaked with black had to be her.

Jeri.

He closed his eyes.

Why was she here? Why now?

"Anything happen last night?" Alvar asked.

"Nothing," a woman replied.

Alan opened his eyes. It was Meetra. A sandy haired Jedi stood close to her. He yawned.

"Nothing at all. It was rather dull." He smiled. "Though I'd rather have a dull night after the events of yesterday."

Meetra smiled. "Agreed."

Alvar nodded. He started for the door. The other Jedi behind him.

Justin looked at Alan. "Father, are you certain you want to do this?" His gaze glittered.

"There's nothing to worry about," Alan assured him.

"All right." Justin followed his brother and the Jedi.

Alan was only a pace behind. His heart flickered.

Was he certain?

He needed to know why. Why, after all this time, had she come and brought Sighta with her. It was far, far too late for them to be a family again. Their children were grown. Sighta didn't know him and he didn't know her.

Perhaps, just perhaps, he was wrong, and they could try.

Alan sighed.

Right? If Jeri wanted to try to be a family, she would have followed him long ago when their children were still children. Not now when their youngest two were in their forties.

"Come crawling back to prove yourself at last, weakling," a woman sneered when Alan stepped into the room.

Weakling?

He frowned and looked at the younger of the two women. At his blood daughter for the first time since a few months after her birth.

A shiver raced through him.

Sighta was the image of Jeri. Her eyes glittered with malice. A sneer curled her beautiful features in a look of pure contempt.

"Far from it," Alvar laughed. "I still have nothing to prove to you or anyone else here."

"The test results are in then?" Jeri asked, her gaze all for Justin and Alvar. She took no notice of the others, including Alan. Granted to expect her to recognize him after all these years, without the aid of the Force, was perhaps far too much to ask for. Yet, he recognized her without it. He would recognize her no matter the time which passed and if her hair had turned full gray.

"They are," Alvar confirmed. "You are my mother."

"No shit," Sighta sneered. "You're an idiot for not believing us to begin with, wimp."

Bastila's eyebrows rose.

Meetra laughed. "Was this how she was addressing you yesterday, Master?"

Alvar bowed his head.

Jasper snorted. "Wow, is she way off."

Sighta opened her mouth.

"Can you bring your father here? Now you know we weren't lying," Jeri stopped her daughter from making a snide remark.

Sighta wasn't fully Dark side, but she was closer to it than Alan had ever gotten. He shivered. If she continued to fall, it would make both their Force sensitive children turn to the Dark side at one point in their lives. He looked at Alvar.

"I'm here," Alan stated as he moved to stand between the Jedi and Justin.

Jeri's eyes widened. "Inlust—"

Alan held up his hand. "It's Alan," he interrupted her. "I am merely a diner own, a proud father two wonderful boys and two beautiful girls."

"Ah, thanks, dad." Reca grinned.

Jeri's gaze narrowed. "You married?"

"My sister and I are adopted, genius."

"I don't see of what aid I could be to you," Alan continued, choosing his words with care.

Jeri stared at him, her mouth open. "In," – she cleared her throat – "Alan, we once had a plan, are you tell me you have no wish to ever follow through with it?"

"I am."

Jeri just stared.

"The Republic is my home far more than the empire ever was. As long as my children and grandchildren are safe, I am content."

"So, our only hope then rests with Revan." Sighta shot her mother a smug look. "I told he wouldn't help."

"Revan's not likely to help you either," Alvar stated.

"As if you would know, wimp," she sneered.

Meetra let out a small laugh. "Is she serious?"

"She doesn't realize who she's been calling 'wimp' this entire time?" Bastila asked her husband.

"I do realize," Sighta snarled at the two female Jedi. "My twin brother who was born weaker than me, sick and ripe for death."

Meetra shook her head.

Bastila's eyebrows rose again.

Jasper laughed. "Hey, master, are you really 'weak'?"

"I'm starting to feel her calling you weak is a slight on the Republic," Justin muttered.

"Besides you two aren't going anywhere given the fact you sliced into Republic systems," Darrell stepped forward. "Your relation to Alan and his family aside."

"Darrell," Alan started, turning to the commander, "how much would bail cost?"

The commander's eyes widened. "What?"

"I mean to post bail for them. No matter our current state, they're still family."

"Alan?"

"I take it you have a condition for this?" Alvar asked.

"Yes," – Alan turned back to his ex and Sighta – "the two of you will have to apply to be legal citizens of the Republic."

"As if," Sighta snorted.

"I'm not finished." Alan looked at the girl. "And you, Sighta Tarvon, will submit to retraining by the Jedi Order."

"You can't be serious? What could I possibly learn from such a weak group? From him?" Sighta spat in the direction of Alvar.

"Quite a lot." Bastila folded her arms across her chest. "Like how to control your tongue."

Alvar gave a short snort of laughter.

"I'm far better than when I was a padawan," Bastila countered.

"If you say so, princess."

She flushed. "Must you be so frustrating."

"Yes." Alvar grinned, eyes shining. He cleared his throat. His features straightened as he looked at Sighta. "The Order would be willing to retrain you. You could join the apprentices before a master is selected to train you in the Jedi way."

"We have apprentices?" Jasper frowned.

"Not on your—"

"Agreed," Jeri cut off Sighta once more.

"Mother!" Sighta gaped.

"I sort of agree with her," Justin said, "are you certain you want to do this, father?"

"Yeah, dad, are you?" Reca frowned.

"I would do the same for you, Reca." Alan looked at his daughter. He smiled. "For any of our family. They are family." He turned to Darrell and held out his credit chip.

"Alan, the diner would suffer from the amount you have to pay for them," Darrell protested.

Warmth fell over Alan's shoulder from Justin's hand. "Then I will also help to pay for this." Justin looked to Alvar.

Alvar glanced at Bastila. "It's your credits as well," he told his wife.

She bowed her head, a soft smile on her face. "Of course we'll help. We wouldn't be who we are if we refused. Besides, you were the one who got a job." Her eyes glittered as she smiled at Alvar.

"Should I ask Mission instead?" Alvar joked.

Bastila rolled her eyes.

Alvar laughed. He pulled out his own credit chip and added to Alan's and Justin's. "I would rather you not loss the diner," Alvar stated. He smiled at Alan. "After all, Rana has her heart set on taking it over one day."

Warmth spread through his heart as Alan looked at his sons.

"Hey, hey!" Reca pulled out her own credit chip. "Even if I don't like those two, I'm still part of this family as well." She held it out to Darrell as well. "And Meca would do the same thing if she wasn't working on the restoration project today." She smiled at Darrell. "Take two fifths from my account. I can talk to Meca later about it."

Darrell rubbed his eyes, sighing. "It's fifteen thousand credits," he informed them. "I'll split it five ways."

"Three thousand each, then." Justin frowned as he looked at Alvar. "Can you afford this?"

Alvar chuckled. "I can afford an apartment on Coruscant."

"A very small one," Meetra pointed out. "Near to the old temple where most people wouldn't want to live."

"Yeah?"

"It's cheap."

"Your point?"

"Will you loss it if you do this, master?"

"We're fine, Meetra," Bastila assured her.

Alan's heart flickered. He didn't want Alvar to loss his home over this. "Alvar—"

"We're fine," Alvar repeated. His gaze locked with Alan's.

All he could do was take them at their word. Alan bowed his head. "Thank you," he whispered.

Darrell collected the chips. "I'll see to the bail." The commander left the room.

Jeri and Sighta had watched them in near silence. "You don't have to do this," Jeri told him.

"I do. No matter how things ended between us, we're still family. I had always held out a small amount of hope you would one day follow." He smiled. "I just never imaged it would take you over forty years to do so."

"I would never have left the empire if not for having been nearly killed."

"Loyal to the last, even at the cost of family."

Jeri bristled. "I never said I would let my children die for nothing!" she snapped.

Alan gave her a small smile. His heart ripped.

This wasn't going to be easy. Though, it never would have been even if she and Sighta had followed a few years after him.

(Author's note: It's assumed in this book we can go off of fees for hacking and that one credit is equal to a US dollar.)