It's not that I've moved on. It's that I'm just a little bit stronger.

Irrational Thinking

On Naboo, Griffin stared at the newly laid gravestone. He thought back to a year into his marriage, during his anniversary. Before he was Sith, when he still believed the only thing he would protect would be peace. He and Cariana sat on a hill, in the other's grasp, and watch the sunset. Her exact words were that she knew that it was a long ways off, but when the time came, this is where she wanted to be laid to rest. Remembering her words, he broke down. He couldn't keep himself together anymore. He really wished that it really was a long ways off. Not just for him, for her too. He wished he was back at home, kids put to sleep, his father-in-law resting for the night, and his wife with him either on the couch, or in bed.

Caros then walked up behind him, and tapped him on the shoulder. "Griffin. It's time to go brother."

Griffin nodded his head, pressed his lips on his hand, and rested the palm of his hand on the gravestone. "I love you." He whispered. He turned around, and walked with his friends, back to the Snowblind. After boarding the ship, Griffin went to the sink in the refresher and washed of the tears from his eyes, and face. After drying off, He walked out to the main hold of the ship, and was greeted by his friends.

"You calmed down enough, Griff?" Matilin asked.

"Yeah." He responded.

"We've all known you for a long time." Nimas stated.

"You'd sacrifice anything to help us." Raymond added.

"Now we're gonna do the same for you." Matilin said.

"You need any one of us," Caros started. "Or all of us, we'll be there for you."

"Thanks boys." Griffin responded. He took the time to embrace his friends, before they left Naboo. Even Griffin's droid had something to say.

"Concern: Master, are you holding up alright?" CID asked.

"Not particularly."

"Response: If you wish to communicate with me on your problems, I exist to serve you."

"Thank you, my friend."

Three days later...

The Jedi landed back in the Temple, that exact day, at around three hours left in a Coruscant day. They were greeted in the hanger, by Revan. Not one member of the group told anyone they were leaving, because Griffin was in that much of a hurry. While initially clearly upset with the group, Revan soon calmed down, when a shaken Griffin told him about what all had happened on Corellia, obviously barely able to hold back his tears. Revan sent Griffin back home, and his friends back to their chambers, in the Temple. The next day, knowing full well, how much Griffin may want to find Cariana's murderer, Revan met up with his former apprentice. He forbid Griffin from participating in the War, and also mandated Griffin into taking an isolated vacation, every three months. While at first accepting of the idea, Griffin went home for the next three nights, from the Temple, and slept the same every night. He tossed, turned, left tear stains in his pillow, extended his arm out to his left, and squeezed on the sheets, wishing that his wife was laying next to him. And all that lost sleep over those next three nights, left Griffin with plenty of time to think. And the more time he spent thinking, the more time he had to desire Lord Draahg's death, more and more. But the last straw came when he got his kids back, and had to tell them where their mother was. And after calming his son down, after he began to cry, the only thing Griffin was able to think about, was Lord Draahg.

That next morning, Griffin boarded his ship. He didn't give a damn about anything other, than revenge on Draahg. The Jedi didn't mean anything to him at this point, nor did falling back to the Dark Side. The person he loved more than any other, was murdered. And unless he found her killer, he might get away with it. And that was something Griffin would never allow. He headed toward his ship, but was met at the loading ramp, by Revan.

"Where do you think you're going, Griffin?" Revan asked.

"Nowhere." Griffin responded.

"Hey, don't you dare lie to me." Revan stated, as he grabbed Griffin's arm, and pulled him around.

"Don't worry about it."

"Don't you dare tell me not to worry about it, boy!"

"It's not your concern, Revan. Leave me be."

"It is my concern, and I'm not just going to let this be. You may not be my apprentice anymore, but as a member of the Order, that I'm the Grandmaster of, you are still my responsibility. Where are you going?"

"I'm going to find Cariana's murderer! And I'm bringing that son of a bitch down!"

"To hell you are. I can't let you do this."

"Don't try to stop me." Griffin said, as he started to walk up the Blade's Edge's loading ramp.

"I don't have a choice. I understand you're anger, but if you let it consume you, I'll have no choice but to exile you from the Order."

"THEN DO IT NOW! EXILE ME! I'M NOT GOING TO SIT BY FOR X AMOUNT OF TIME, HOPING THAT SOME CAPTURES THAT BASTARD!"

"And what if Draahg wasn't the man who decided to target your wife, in the first place boy?! You'll be chasing the puppet, instead of the master. For all we know, Sith spies could have found out where you lived, discovered her existence, than waited for you to drop the best piece of information, then sent that information back to Darth Odysseus. Killing Draahg won't give Cariana any measure of peace. Stopping the Sith will."

"Then why won't you let me join the fight?"

"Because you need to convince me that you can put your anger aside, when battle is upon you. That you're focus can be more on protecting you're soldiers lives, and ensuring that innocents don't become casualties of war. That's a Jedi's objective in battle, not slaughtering the enemy." Until I trust that you realize this, and are willing to do this, I can't let you enter into the war."

Griffin was clearly struggling to keep himself under control. Part of him wanted to break down, the other wanted to scream, and even lash out at his former Master. But in the end, he thought better of it.

"Take a deep breath kid. When you're ready, head back home. Relax."

Still thinking about everything, Griffin thought about his wife, and broke down. Revan embraced his former apprentice. "It's alright kid. Give it time, and you'll be okay. You're gonna make it through this. You're a tough kid."

"Thanks Revan."

"No problem. Go home, be with your kids. They need you."

Griffin nodded his head, then headed back to his speeder bike, and went home.

I think you can expect it to be just as long, if not longer, until the next chapter is up.