Kess and Yana had long since changed into workout clothes and mismatched socks. One bottle of wine was empty and a second one was almost gone. Music played softly in the background, but neither were listening to it. They cuddled side by side on one couch, sharing a blanket, as Yana flipped through old photocaps and Kess watched the memories go by.

They practiced a bit of the sign language, and Yana agreed it was a workable solution - the med staff had already suggested it - but she insisted it was a temporary one. She was considering one of the implants, she admitted, but she wanted to secure another steady career first. Since the Chamberlain's office truly needed all hands on deck for the reformation, Yana was hesitant to leave her post on a childish want to be able to talk.

That's how she worded it when she typed it out in the data link, 'a childish whim.' Kess wanted to correct her that it wasn't, but sensed that Yana was only trying to compartmentalize it into something she could delay. Kess felt sympathy for her, and offered to visit regularly so they could practice sign language together. It wasn't a common language, but it wasn't entirely uncommon either. Yana treated the idea as 'better than nothing', and often reverted to texting on the data links instead.

But even datalinks had a severe drawback. In order to communicate, the recipient of her message had to be willing to stop talking and read. This too was a temporary solution, and really only worked with friends and respectful colleagues, for if Yana was in a situation where there as an argument, she could be too easily interrupted and dismissed by those not willing to read what she had to say.

Now, in the midnight hours, they stopped trying to talk at all. Yana rested her head on Kess's shoulder and thumbed through the old photocaps, occasionally picking up the data link for a question. "What was his name?" or "Where was this taken?" Kess asked a few questions herself, "When did that happen?" only to find out there was a lot more partying going on that she didn't know about because she was off training in the jungle with Luke somewhere.

When they reached the photos of the South Base Warehouse party, they smiled bitter sweetly at the memories in silence. Most of the pictures were of random people, acquaintances they hardly knew and now didn't know where they ended up. The Tigrian who ran the supply warehouse. The lady who had great guys jokes at the salon. The Togrutan roommates across the hall from them. Naturally, someone got a snapshot of the four of them sitting on that old bunk by the wall. In the photo, it was Kess drooping her drunk head to lean on Kayla's shoulder. Joanne was laughing at something. Yana was hiding her eyes with a shy giggle. And Wedge's knee was just barely visible where he had sat for a moment on the edge of the bunk to report to the girly girls: he did ask Luke if he could take Kess out on a date, but the Jedi Master said 'no'.

Yana paused on the photo, more so for the images of Kayla and Joanne smiling and laughing, having a grand old time at the party. Those two lived their lives to the fullest, Kayla flirting with every guy she could bat her eyelashes at, and Joanne the foodie who was willing to try anything that might excite her taste buds.

They both died for something they believed in. Yana and Kess lingered on the image with sad smiles. Somber, yes. Missing them like mad, of course. But it didn't feel entirely 'wrong.'.

After a minute, Kess pointed at the knee in the photo.

Yana lifted her head and eyed over, knowing this discussion would come up sooner or later. She reached for the datalink.

Kess lifted her own link to see what she typed.

He wanted you.

"Not really," Kess chortled with deep honesty, then added. "If he did, he would've fought Luke a lot more about that decline."

Yana shook her head and typed more. You don't know how much they fought over it. Her eyes were knowing.

Kess shifted her chin. She wanted to ask, but Yana's top secret security clearance meant she could still not reveal any of her observations in the CIC bunker.

"I don't want to know." Kess finally said. "Because it doesn't matter."

It does to me.

Kess read that and scrunched her brows. "Is that why you're so hesitant?"

Yana shrugged and typed more.

He's a pilot.

"So?"

So I don't want to deal with another Mintalo again. She looked over and added. Do you blame me?

Kess knew of Mintalo, but she didn't know him. Still, she heard the stories. She shook her head. "No one can blame you for not wanting a repeat of that. But Wedge is no Mintalo. Not by a long shot."

Would you have?

"Would I have what?"

Dated him?

Kess had to think on that. "If I weren't Force Sensetive? Maybe. If the whole Jedi thing wasn't a factor? . . . Yeah. Probably. But, Yana, that's not the way things are."

Yana sat up from and reached for her wine glass.

"The war is over, girly girl." Kess said gently. "People change."

Yana looked over her shoulder at Kess. Her mouth flattened. Bullshit.

"I asked him about it. At the picnic that day. I asked him about you."

Yana shrugged and blinked for patience. And?

"He said he was ready to land. That's how he put it. He was ready to find a home port. And he was looking at you when he said it. Not me."

Green eyes shifted.

She typed.

I hardly know him.

Kess sat up and picked up her glass. "Well that is a problem we can repair." She lifted her wine glass in a toast. "If you let us."

Yana grinned appreciatively, but with overwhelming uncertainty, and acquiesced to that point with a clink of the wine glass.