Gron came over the next day, some time before mid-day, looking less worried and a bit brighter than either Zeb or Alex felt when he had commed to tell the pair that he was on his way earlier that morning. Zeb had stood in the kitchen when Alex opened the back porch door and greeted him, mostly because Alex had been the one closest but also because he wanted to observe how Gron acted when he came in their home. He knew the other Lasat better than Alex did, could see the small things that others who weren't in the Honor Guard didn't see –or didn't want to see – and knew what to look for in a familiar face. Gron had served under him, no matter how much Zeb had once tried to deny it when they had been first reunited many years earlier, and he took in how relaxed Gron looked and the small little movements of his ears. It wasn't a fully relaxed look, but it was a lot more than it had been the day before and he didn't seem to look as worried as he had then. But if he had continued the teachings of the Ashla under Chava while on Lira San, than he might be bettered schooled in keeping his ears – and his expression – in check.

"Chava has spoken to the other survivors present at the meeting yesterday," Gron started once all three were settled at the kitchen table with a cup of hot mint tea each between their hands twenty minutes after he arrived. "They're willing to listen but they want it to be on their own terms and they don't want to make it any harder on themselves right now."

"And those are?" Alex asked before Zeb could speak, giving him a look to stay quiet at the moment. He had spent most of the morning going over what the Lasan Lasat survivors might want from him, the worst being that they wanted both him and Zeb pushed off Lira San and barred from coming back unless it was on official business with the current Royal Family and government. At best he hoped all they wanted was to talk to him, maybe find an agreement for him to atone for what he did in a way that would appease everyone. As long as Zeb wasn't fully affected he didn't care what he had to do, he'd do it regardless of how much personal pain he'd have to go through himself.

"Most of them want to talk to you privately, to see what Chava and I said is true – that you willingly went up against the Empire and helped end it." Gron raised his cup to his lips, taking a couple sips before setting the cup back down. In truth he wasn't worried about the majority of the Lasan survivors, they knew that there were a few Imperial defectors among the Rebels that helped bring down the Empire and they understood that they defected for a reason. Some also did not want to know who those defectors were, either, preferring to remain blissfully ignorant about any visitors who they might walk among on the few times they left the safety of Lira San and hoped that those defectors would help them once again, even if it was indirectly. Others, like those at the meeting the day before, wanted to know more than what others have told them and hear it directly from the defector themselves.

"That sounds reasonable," Zeb mumbled, earning him another look from his mate. On one or two of the survivors meetings he had attended before the war was over, he had to explain why he did what he did when Lasan fell and why he hadn't bothered to stay planet-side in short periods of time before the Empire officially was declared over and done with. Those meetings were what helped him move past what happened, past most of the guilt that he had heaped on himself for not being able to do more, and why he wanted to settle on Lira San after everything was said and done.

"Some, like Taiki, want to know more of the details as to why you did it and want a more public meeting." Gron's eyes flickered over to Zeb. "They also want to hear the reasons why Zeb trusts you."

"That I can do." Alex turned his head to Zeb. "This needs to be done, they have a right to know these things, and I'm willing to do it."

Zeb remained quiet for a few minutes, staring down at his cup of cooling tea, his ears flickering between annoyance and acceptance of what was to come. He knew, on a personal level, that Alex needed to give a detailed explanation of why he had followed the Empire during the destruction of Lasan and why he hadn't left while it was happening or afterwards. He also knew that the survivors needed to know the why he trusted someone who had a hand in their home's destruction and why he dared to bring him to their new home; Gron and Chava were two of the few who knew everything that happened between then and now, and it was time for others to hopefully understand this. He didn't like it but it needed to be explained.

"Fine," Zeb grumbled, looking up from his tea, looking over at Gron. "When do they want to meet again?"

"They're willing to meet today in two hours, when the Temple has more visitors, and Chava has the larger prayer room set up for anyone that wants to come in to listen." He looked between the two of them. "Are you willing to do it?"

"I'll do it," Zeb said as Alex nodded his own acceptance. "The only thing I'm concerned about is Alex's safety during this."

"That won't be a problem, there's several members of the current Guard that wants to listen in while they do their daily prayers." Gron then smiled faintly. "I'm also willing to step in if needed to make sure that the peace is kept."

"And what do you want, Gron?" Alex asked softly. "What do you want of me?"

Gron didn't answer right away, looking down at his cup of cooling tea as Zeb's mouth tightened and ears pushed against his head. They, too, had discussed what both Chava and Gron might also want from him besides the detailed time from when they had crashed on the ice moon to the end of the Empire then to the present time; Chava hadn't been forthcoming on what she wanted besides Alex coming to prayers several times a week but also mentioned on a couple occasions she'd like to talk to Alex privately. Gron had been closed mouthed since the formal end of the Empire and the start of the New Republic, yet had not been so closed off before hand. He had once expressed that he wanted to see exactly how much Alexsandr Kallus had changed and while he had not gotten that chance before the pair had settled down on Lira San, he had watched from a distance a few of those changes since they had come to the planet.

"What I want is little but fair," Gron started slowly, looking up from his tea and directly at Alex. "I want you to continue to make Zeb happy, like he has been since the two of you settled here. He has spoken how much he is glad you are here with him, so as long as you continue to make him smile, even if it is not as mates, I will take that."

"I can do that," Alex said, smiling over at Zeb who, while his facial expression did not change, his ears did relax.

"I also want you to continue to prove that you've changed, that you are no longer the person who was on Lasan. You're one of the few who served the Empire that I trust, because you've so far proven that you want to make up for your past and because Zeb trusts you. And he trusts less than I do," Gron continued once, only giving Zeb a quick glance before looking back at Alex. "As long as you continue to do what you're doing, I need nothing else. I also trust Zeb's and Chava's backing of you, and I'll continue to put my voice in with theirs for you so long as you continue on your path."

"And what if I fall off that path?" he asked. "What if I make mistakes?"

"Everyone falls in their life, its how you get back up that matters." Gron then gestured to himself. "I am not innocent myself, I have done things in my life that I am not proud of, things that I've done after Lasan that I wish I hadn't done. But I got back up, dusted myself off, and got myself back on that path, even with some helping hands. And you have three pairs of hands that will help you get back up when you fall."

"I – thank you." Alex looked down at his mug then reached out and took Zeb's hand, giving it a squeeze; Zeb squeezed it back, giving him a soft smile. "That means a lot."

"You are welcome," Gron said warmly. "There is also something you can help with, the old temple that was found recently. Both of you could help with making sure it is sound enough to possibly start repairs on it, there is also some items that were found that need to be looked over, repaired, and cataloged."

"We'll talk over that, I know you and Zeb were talking about that the other day," Alex said, giving Zeb a look when he opened his mouth to answer. "I'm sure we'll lend a hand, I'd like to learn more about Lira San's history."

Gron's face lit up, his ears perking up as though their last conversation had not happened. "There's so much of it that even Chava is still learning about it. If you help, I'm sure that there will be experts in Lasat history that will gladly talk to you about it."

Alex smiled peacefully as he brought up his cold tea to his lips, leaning back as he listened to Gron chatter on about several aspects of Lira San history, Zeb's hand moving over to his leg under the table and giving it a squeeze. The two of them shared a look between them, a calmness that hadn't been there before Gron had come over that morning, something that just eased the tension off both of them. Yes they knew that they had a hard road ahead of them, Alex the most, but if they had moments like this then they could move through the hard times together. And Alex now knew that he had more than just Zeb to help him back up.

XXXX

Alex, Zeb, and Gron made their way through the temple where they had been the day before two hours later, weaving through the crowd of those who sought out prayers to the Ashla and counsel from those that could give it. It did not take them long to find the room Chava had set aside for them, mainly because there were several of the Lira San Honor Guard hovering around the corridor to what Gron had called the 'larger prayer room' and they stood straighter when they took notice of the three coming towards them. The Guard bowed respectively to each one, Zeb and Gron returning the customary bow back to them while Alex mumbled words back to them; there was no offense given when he did not return the same bow back to them, as those present were not ready to allow Alex to return that bow – the hand over fist - to them. They had their reasons, but he still gave them respectable words to them and, for now, that was enough for these present who upheld the Honor Guard.

When they had entered the room, Alex let Gron and Zeb go further inside ahead of him as he stood near the doorway so that he could take in his surroundings. The room was smaller than he expected, with several Lasat already in the room when they entered, Taiki and Misha standing closer to the middle of the room with several others that had not been present at the meeting the day before, talking in low voices with them. There were several chairs that was situated in a semi-circle, just enough for all the Lasat and the single Human, with most of the Lasat present standing in front of the chairs already, with one or two already sitting down. Chava was there to greet them when they entered, her eyes flickering over to Alex for a brief moment before she gestured for him to come inside fully. It was then that Taiki took notice of the three new arrivals, his eyes moving over Zeb and Gron before falling onto Alex, his brown fur slightly standing on edge when he saw him.

"So you did decide to show up after all," Taiki said coldly, his voice coming out in almost a hiss, as he crossed his arms over his chest as he glared at Alex."You didn't cower out."

"No, I didn't, and I won't," he said firmly as he walked further into the room, his eyes locking with Taiki's. The room quieted, eyes on the two of them as Alex stopped in front of the Lasat in question, attempting to bury the nervousness that had come up in the time since he had entered the temple. His calmness an hour and a half earlier had faded, not completely but now there was some doubt in his mind that he was doing the right thing by facing these survivors once again. Glancing over to Zeb, who gave him a stiff, but approving, nod, he continued to speak. "I am here to answer your questions, all of them. I know that besides a few in this room, none of the rest of you trust me. I don't have that right to your trust, but I do want to earn it if you have it."

"I had just started with the Honor Guard before Lasan fell, I know you were with the Empire when it did. I don't know your face, but could tell from yesterday that you had been with them," Misha spoke up before Taiki could talk, her eyes looking over Alex as she sat down in one of the chairs close to her. Her ears weren't quite low, slightly curving back to her skull, and while her eyes moved over Alex as though she was making sure he wouldn't suddenly make a wrong move, she did not seem as though she thought he would make a move to hurt anyone in the room suddenly. "Chava told us that you had been stranded with Captain Orrelios on an ice moon and that made you leave the Empire. Why?"

"Because he could have killed me on Bahryn when he had the chance too, I was injured enough that I wouldn't have been able to put up much of a fight if he had." Alex looked over at Zeb as he spoke. While his face was absent of emotion, going into what Zeb jokingly called his 'Imperial bastard look', his voice relayed softness. "But he didn't, he wanted me to heal fully to fight him properly, he wanted it to be honorable when he did. Because he wanted me to start asking questions."

"And that's all it took?" Another Lasat asked, Alex turning towards him as he acknowledged the question.

"No, not entirely." Alex moved towards the closest chair to him, one that was at the end of the semi-circle, and sat down, suddenly feeling the old break in his leg and the toll the years he had spent fighting on both sides of the war. He knew he now had the attention of the other Lasats in the room, now knew that this was as good as a place to start to tell his side. "It was a little while after Bahryn that I started to look into what the Empire was doing, what it was concealing, and what was going on that I had ignored. There were things that I could look into, with my position in the Empire, without anyone above me growing suspicious, and it took research for me to start asking more and more questions."

"So when did you decide to leave?" Another Lasat asked, sitting down in the chair opposite him. "How did you decide you had enough?"

"When I found the answers I was looking for to be worse than the lies the Empire was giving." Alex took in a deep breath and began to talk, began to answer questions that the other Lasat in the room asked him as they sat down in the chairs provided; even Taiki sat down, arms still crossed and no questions came from him, but he did listen. With Zeb sitting next to him, and the ears of the others turned towards him, this was at least a start.