-Twilight-

She's sitting in the garden again, watching little fireflies flit around, when a lithe blonde figure emerges from the falling darkness and drops to sit next to her on the bench. Tahiri is barefoot, as usual, which makes Jaina smile.

"You're not the usual type for quiet contemplation," Tahiri says. "Your meditation technique usually involves punching things into submission."

Jaina laughs. "I did that earlier. Decided to take a walk, got distracted by the glowy bugs."

Tahiri watches the lights blink and flicker as the insects zoom around the garden. "They didn't have these on Tatooine, or on Yavin."

"I know there are a bunch of places that have them, but I've never really gotten a good look at them before," Jaina says. "They look so magical."

"Even when you know they're a bunch of glowing butts," Tahiri quips, and the two women laugh.

Tahiri's officially been back in the Order a little under two years. Her life has been as convoluted and heartbreaking as Jaina's, just in different ways. Around the same people, though.

Jaina's only a little resentful when Tahiri brings up one of them.

"So. When were you gonna tell me you and Jag got divorced?"

"Eventually. I just haven't . . . Announcing it seems like admitting failure." She looks over at her friend. "Who told you?"

"Jag."

Jaina nods.

"We still talk," Tahiri says. "We became friends when I was his Hand. But I'm surprised to learn it from him and not you."

"I'm sorry. I should have told you when it happened, I just . . . couldn't. I still haven't told most of the Council."

"But you told Kyp."

"It's a little difficult to keep secrets from Kyp Durron."

Tahiri laughs. "That is very true."

Then she asks, "Why? I mean, why did you and Jag split up?"

"What did Jag say about it?"

"That you chose the Jedi over him."

Jaina shrugs. "The way I see it, he chose the Empire over me. It's always been the source of our problems."

Tahiri nods. "And you're not suited to the Empire."

Jaina's laugh is explosive. "Me? Not in the slightest. You're more suited to that than I am."

The other woman tenses. "Why, because I worked as Jag's Hand, or because I was an apprentice to a Sith Lord?"

Sighing, Jaina shakes her head. "It's definitely not because of Jacen, Tahiri. Don't do that. I know who and what my brother was and I know what he was doing to you. I just meant . . . You think more like an Imperial than I do. Jag had nothing but praise for you after you helped him with Daala and the election and Abeloth."

Mollified, Tahiri relaxes. "Sorry. It's still . . . touchy."

"Understandable."

The blonde clears her throat. "So, speaking of the Empire, Jag had some news."

Jaina suddenly has a bad feeling about this.