Ninety Nine

Gem watched as Ben walked Piia around the apartment, talking quietly and sneaking small kisses on her forehead. She was the most content she had ever been in her life now she was a mother. So much so, she had decided to learn more about Eremena Torr and her time as a Knight of the Jedi Order some twenty odd years earlier.

"Ben, what do you remember about Jedi Torr?"

He stopped moving and looked at her, "Gem, please tell me you're not going there again?"

"Oh come on Kenobi," she jested, "it's not like last time. In fact I feel as though I owe it to myself, and Piia, now I know she has a strong Force signature as well."

"What do you remember Gem?" He walked towards her and she thought he was going to hand the baby over, "no, I have her," he smiled. Piia had a way with all the men it seemed, her birth was a fresh start, a new hope during a difficult time.

"Well," she said sitting opposite them, "I only remember the time she came back, and the argument she and father had, it was bitter. I hid behind the kitchen door, and stared at her light sabre, the hilt was – is," she corrected herself, "beautiful."

"You should take it off Plo now you have a daughter."

"It's of no use to her. If Piia is to become a Jedi, she would have to find her own crystal on Ilum."

"You have been doing some research?" Ben was curious. He knew how much Gem abhorred the Jedi Faith, and listening to her ask questions was indeed, a step in the right direction.

Maybe she would change her mind after all and not be so dogmatic in her opinion of them?

Gem just smiled and watched as Piia settled down to a restful sleep on his shoulder.

"I remember my mother and Eremena being the best of friends. There was an image of them together in the lounge area on Stewjon, do you remember that?" Obi-Wan smiled at the thought.

"Yes, I do."

"You look so much like her Gem it's unnerving; her hair, her eyes. Even her height."

"I thought she had golden coloured eyes?"

"Yes, but the shape is still the same. You are also as tempestuous as your mother. To be honest, I'm glad you never became a Jedi, one free spirited general and Padawan has been more than enough to handle! I am glad however that young Piia here is the complete opposite."

"You sense it also?"

"Yes, she has more of her father's qualities. She is strong minded, but she has a level of control, even at this young age, I've never encountered before. It's quite remarkable actually." He strained his neck to look at the sleeping infant. She may have looked like her mother with dark hair and eyes, but she was her father's daughter through and through.

A powerful combination that had been felt by others on Coruscant.

"Jocasta Nu is taking me through the Jedi annuals in the library, I must admit the time Eremena was a Jedi was quite fascinating."

She never called her 'mother.'

Then she saw it the flicker across Obi-Wan's face, his presence shift to one of uncomfortableness.

"Gemma, you should think twice about opening up old wounds. Quite frankly I can't see how delving into the past can offer you any solace."

"That's strange, I thought you of all people would be happy with me learning more about my heritage, I - "

"I am just saying there is no point bringing up the pain that is associated with your mothers time here on Coruscant."

There was no misinterpreting what Obi-Wan Kenobi was saying.

He placed Piia back in her mother's arms and kissed his sister good bye, "can I call again tomorrow?" He smiled at the sleeping child. He was smitten, there was no mistaking his feelings for his niece; she was as close to a family he would ever have.

For now.

"You're always welcome Ben," and she watched as he disappeared from the apartment.

She continued to sit and look at her daughter. "Well, the past definitely got a whole-lot-more interesting, what do you think Piia? Yes? I couldn't agree more."

.

"Freya, I, I- ," he was at a loss for any sort of words.

"Echo," she replied walking over to him. Freya reached out but noticed him flinch. She forced a smile and caught his eyes. She could see it then, the change in his personality. She persisted; she was more resilient now and put her hand up in another attempt to make physical contact.

"Echo, what happened to you? Where have you been lost all this time?" He looked up into her eyes pleading for him to answer.

He couldn't avoid her any longer.

This was it; if ever there was a time to unburden himself of the past it was now.

Everything Echo had been through; the disappointment of being left behind, the loss of his legs the endless physical therapy, the new prostheses and the attachment he had formed with Marlo.

She could feel the angst, the rawness of his grief apparent. She watched as he closed his eyes and swallow before continuing in the faintest of voice.

"I have been in the most horrible of places. I, I never let a day go by, not even in my darkest of moments, that I didn't think of you," he whispered. "I want you in every way Freya, in every part of my being, but I'm not the same person. I'm not the same man that left and I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not being there when you needed me most and for not finding a way back to you sooner."

He was honest, shaking in shock of seeing her again and finally verbalising the thoughts he had imaged saying to her over and over again in his mind, pouring out the truth of his dreams.

"Sshhh Echo," she moved forward more slowly. He was damaged, anyone could see that, but deep down he was still the same man she had fallen in love with a small lifetime ago.

Echo allowed her to touch his arm, his eyes closing and letting go of the tears that held so much emotion, "bare with me Freya? I'm going to need time, please, just give me time."

"Oh my darling man," she said with such tenderness, lifting her hand to cup his cheek, "that's something we have plenty of."

.

It didn't take long to pack up her small apartment, close off accounts and board the small yacht along with the former ARC and former Jedi.

Freya was placing all her hope for a future with Echo based on their past.

Things had changed, they both had.

A child had also been delivered into the world.

His child, his flesh and blood. No DNA manipulation, no genetic engineering, just a product of two people's love for one another.

She had to try and make it work, for all their sakes.

Wasn't this what she had spent night after night praying for?

Freya had stood against her family when she thought she needed them the most. Their reluctance to accept the 'clone's bastard child,' as her father referred to his grandson as, only fortified her, making her more determined to prove them both wrong. The only member of her family that had supported her was her younger brother. He had turned out to be the most unexpected ally, and Marek always enjoyed his weekly visit from Anton.

He was the man that had his arm around his sister the day Echo found his family again, and he was the hardest person to leave behind. Her brother had solidified the sibling bond she thought she had lost the night her son was born.

There was no denying that things were awkward, but the need to get off Corellia and return to Scillal unnoticed was paramount.

All the other things would eventually fall into place.

Hopefully.

.