Last time: Kait and Sasha bond.
Now: Kait asks Cien for advice.
Chapter 7- Ner'kar'ta Gar'dinuir
"You destroyed my star destroyer!" Kyr exclaimed, as Cien twisted slightly in the chair to look back at what was going on over at the gaming table. Kyr, Oppie and Viran had been engrossed in a new game Viran had gotten, a holographic strategy game that had them vying for control of the galaxy.
"They seem really into that." Kait observed, also twisting around a bit. The three girls, after having spent the day sledding again, had dragged the plush, comfy chairs over closer in front of the hearth of the roaring fire, and their feet, safely ensconced in thick, soft socks, were up on the hearth as they relaxed with drinks after dinner. This was the last night for Kait and Op before they had to take off the next day, and she was relishing this last opportunity to relax by the fire.
"Yeah, a couple of the guys from the 19th introduced it to Viran the last time we were there and he grabbed a copy of it," Sasha said, smirking. "They have played it a few times since he got it. Or it's the same game, I'm not sure. They said it would take a long time to play it."
"It looks kind of fun, I suppose." Cien said, taking a sip of her hot cider. She relaxed back into the chair. "Though a very simplistic take on the idea of galactic domination. No concern for logistics, or any of the gritty details it actually entails." She said in a relaxed and rambling way.
Sasha snorted at that. "Well, I think it's meant to be more for fun for younger people than to actually plan galactic conquest," she said.
Cien furrowed her brow, "what's the age range it is meant for?" She asked.
"I think it said like seven to fifteen," Sasha tried to remember. "Or somewhere around there."
"Sounds about right." Kait said with a grin.
"Maybe a little too advanced, actually." Cien said with a smirk.
"And here I was thinking they were too old for it," Sasha chuckled before looking over to the guys. "But no, you're right."
"Oh, definitely too old for it." Kait said, taking a drink of the Stargazer Sasha had made for her. "This is sooo good." She said.
"I'm glad you like it," Sasha said, smiling. "It's my favorite."
"I kind of want to try one, in a few months." Cien said, looking curiously at the sparkling beverage.
"I promise to make you one once the twins are born and you've recovered," Sasha promised.
"Have you ever had or made a Mohitan?" Kait asked Sasha.
"I have made a couple before, but it's been a very, very long time since I have," Sasha said after a moment.
"They're one of my favorites from back in the day when I had stuff like this more often." Kait said, taking another sip.
"Well I might need to look up the recipe again and see if we have what we need to make them, but I would be willing to try and make that the next time you are here," Sasha offered. "But I warn you now, it has been a very long time. I might mess it up the first few times."
"Well darn." Kait said, flashing a smile, "I'll just have to test them for you."
Sasha laughed lightly at that. "Yes, what a shame we have to all hang out again."
"I can help test too." Cien declared, "I feel like I'm getting more used to drinking stuff like that."
"The more the merrier. But if I cut any of you off, just know I'm doing it because you are very drunk and you need to slow down and drink water," Sasha said, in a serious tone even though she was smiling.
Kait looked at Sasha a little strangely for that declaration, not sure what had spawned it.
Cien narrowed her eyes slightly, "I think my tolerance for alcohol has improved considerably." She said, taking a sip of her hot cider.
"I know, I know. It really has," Sasha said, chuckling. "That was just something I used to say whenever I had coworkers or customers that wanted me to help test drinks only because they would be completely wasted and I was the one stuck with calling them a taxi ride home."
"Well luckily if it's the two of us, we can just stumble back to our rooms." Kait observed with a grin.
"One of the benefits from having a drink at home or a friend's house. You don't have to travel far," Sasha chuckled before taking a sip of her drink.
"So what's next for you and Op?" Cien asked Kait, since they were leaving tomorrow morning.
"We're, uh." Kait started, "we're going to go see my parents for a few days at their new house." She buried herself behind taking a sip from her Stargazer.
"Really?" Sasha asked, surprised. "They at least know you guys are coming right?" She joked. Cien smiled lightly but said nothing.
"Yes." Kait said, "since Op and I ended up with an extra week and we were going to come here, we figured we would come here first with the extra time and then go visit my parents." She replied a little sheepishly, and a little nervously.
"How did he react to that?" Sasha asked. "Because if I am correct, when a couple is meeting the parents or family is a big deal, right? Like a big step in their relationship?"
"Kinda, yes. It is." Kait said, swallowing. "I think he was just thinking he would come back here on his own again, and then we talked about it and suggested I could come back. Even though I'd met you guys all already, this was the first time I was 'meeting' you as, well..." Kait trailed off. "And I joked that he should probably meet my family too, and he looked at me funny for a second before agreeing."
"That sounds like Op," Sasha snickered. "But that sounds like it will be a fun trip. What are your parents like?"
"Very parenty." Kait said, sinking into her chair a little, and realizing that neither of them would actually know what that meant. "I think they still see me as their little girl, and they kind of treat me like that. They're very supportive but I'm sure they'll embarrass me even though they don't mean to."
"Is it a bad thing that they still see you that way?" Sasha asked, confused. "Sorry, even though I am a parent and Cien is expecting, we don't really know a whole lot about what other parents are like."
"No, I guess it's not." Kait replied, after thinking for a moment, "it's hard to describe," she said, trying to figure out how to explain to them, and realizing how much they had missed out on, having such basic questions as these. "Dad will be a little over protective, mom will probably adore Op. I hope. But they'll tell embarrassing stories about me, or both of them will probably bring up stories best left in the past." She said, shuddering a little remembering the only time she had brought someone home before this, though he'd ended up being a jerk in the end. Just like dad had warned.
"Ah I see," Sasha said, understanding now. "Well, I hope they like Op and don't embarrass you too much."
"And if they do, come back here and we can embarrass Op more for you to balance it out." Cien suggested.
Sasha laughed at that. "We can be really embarrassing sometimes, can't we?" She teased Cien.
"Yes." Kait said with a grin. "This trip has been a lot more fun because of it."
"I've been trying to be on my best behavior, I'd hate to embarrass Oppr'ativ." Cien said, taking a sip of cider.
Kait looked over at her, then to Sasha. "Is that his full name?"
"Yes, yes it is," Sasha confirmed. "And just like Ke'vaan, he hates being called that."
"Ke'vaan?" Kait asked with a grin.
"Kyr's actual name. Both of them hate their names." Cien said with an evil smirk. "They were named after their grandfathers, right?" Cien asked Sasha.
"That's what Kitsu said," Sasha nodded.
"Did she ever explain why they don't like them?" Cien said, curious. Kyr had explained once but she was curious if there was more to it.
"Illara said it was because their names were old fashioned and embarrassing from what I remember," Sasha said, shrugging.
"Oh man, I'll have to call him Oppr'ativ all the time now." Kait said evilly.
"Do it and see what happens. Don't say we didn't warn you," Sasha giggled.
Cien chuckled, "I call Kyr Ke'vaan every now and then, just to keep him on his toes."
"Viran is lucky he only gets called Sport, otherwise I would do that same if he had another name," Sasha said, taking a sip.
"What's that other name you and Kyr call each other?" Kait asked Cien, "sheereeka and sheerridoor? Is that Mandalorian?"
Cien looked at her then down at her drink. "Yeah, it is Mando'a, cyare is the root word, it means loved or beloved. 'Ika is a suffix that means…" She paused, a little embarrassed to explain "little one, or adorable one, and riduur means spouse."
"Awww, that's cute." Kait said, taking a sip of her drink.
Cien looked at her sharply in mock annoyance, and with slightly narrowed eyes at using the 'c' word again.
"I think it's sweet," Sasha said smiling.
"Do you both speak Mando'a?" Kait asked, looking between them.
"I've spent the last few years studying it, I learned a little when Kyr and I first met, and the last few years I have worked to become fluent." Cien said.
"I know a little here and there from learning from Kyr, but I have been teaching myself on my own," Sasha replied. "But I don't speak it as often as these two do." She gestured to Cien at that.
"What about Op?" Kait asked.
"I think he speaks some, but I don't know how much." Cien answered, looking to Sasha in question.
"I… I have no idea really," Sasha shrugged, unsure. "I think he knows some, but I have never heard him speak more than a word of it."
Kait shrugged and took a sip of her drink, finding that interesting. "I've only spoken basic and learned a little bit of gutter Huttese."
"Well being around these guys, you start picking up on words here and there of Mando'a," Sasha said, sipping her drink. "And you speak Huttese? I know a little myself as well as Twi'lek."
"Twi'lek has always seemed like such a beautiful language, I've never had a chance to pick up any of it though." Kait replied.
"If you ever wanna learn, I could teach you," Sasha offered. "Both of you if you wanna learn too." She looked at Cien.
"I wouldn't mind, I always find new languages interesting." Cien said.
"Yeah, I might take you up on that." Kait said, nodding.
"Awesome," Sasha beamed. "So when the twins are born, we can drink and learn new languages." She was half joking, half serious with that. "Seriously, I'm excited to do both things."
"Drinking and learning a new language at the same time, what could go wrong?" Kait asked with a smirk.
"So much," Sasha laughed. They fell into a comfortable silence for a moment with the guys chatter in the background. Sasha spoke up after a while. "Kait you mentioned back on Caranas that you had a brother. May I ask what he was like? I understand if you'd rather not talk about it," she asked carefully.
She was quiet for a little while before speaking. "No, it's okay. He was a couple years older than me. He was fun and outgoing when he was younger, maybe a little too much but he didn't do as well in school, and our relationship wasn't the best later on. But we were there for eachother. He chaffed a little with my dad, especially as he got into his late teens. He was on the sports teams in school, but didn't do well, and he tried to get into college but wasn't able to make it workout, so he dropped it. He and I never really seemed to connect well, though." She said, with a tone of regret in her voice. "He was a good person but he just struggled with a lot of things. And I think that weighed on him and sent him down a dark path."
Sasha frowned. "I'm sorry. That must have been really hard to go through."
"It was, for all three of us. I think it hit my dad the hardest, after what happened he ended up just taking an administrative job and stopped being a beat cop. Mom buried herself in work for a while, and it definitely pulled my life into focus." Kait said. "Which is, I guess, why I'm here."
Sasha looked from Kait to the fire, staring into it. "We all have things that haunt us that still hurt when we think about them, but if it wasn't for those events, we wouldn't have been able to all find each other like this and have this family we have," she said after a moment. She looked between Kait and Cien. "Now, you're part of this family too. And just like Op, we will be here for you too."
"Well, I'm not quite there." Kait said, a little sheepishly.
Cien chuckled a little. "Yeah, but this is a strange 'family.'" Cien said, swallowing. "Kyr and I started our relationship when we were off taking care of something separate from everyone else. I was welcomed as part of the family when we returned, even though we had only been together for a few months, and we didn't take that larger step until a year later. You don't need to be related by blood or vow to be a part of this family, Kait."
"Yep. We even consider the Copperheads as family too," Sasha added. "It's kind of what we do." She smirked lightly.
"Well, thank you, then." Kait said.
"Of course," Sasha nodded, then took another sip.
"Is that a mando thing, or a you thing?" Kait asked. "I've done a little research on Mandalorian culture and I remember reading that was a thing. At least for some groups."
"Both I guess," Sasha shrugged. "I know it's a Mando thing for sure, but I know I have really adopted it as these people mean a lot to me."
"If things keep on track I'm looking forward to my parents meeting you guys." Kait said, taking a sip. "After they're done embarrassing me, I think they might fit in really nicely with all of this, and appreciate it."
"Maybe that day will come," Sasha said, smirking. "It would be nice to meet them based off what you have described thus far."
They settled into a comfortable silence for a few moments before Cien spoke. "I think I'm going to get more cider." She said, getting up to refill her mug.
"I'll come with you, cider sounds good." Kait said, getting up. "You want anything?" She asked Sasha, seeing her glass was almost empty.
"I'll just take some water. Thanks," Sasha said, shooting back the last of her drink.
Kait followed Cien into the kitchen, where Cien started refilling her mug from the thermos on the counter they had poured the cider into after they had made it. Kait walked over and got a mug from the now familiar cabinet in the kitchen, and leaned back against the counter.
"So you've become fluent in Mando'a?" Kait asked Cien.
"Elek." Cien said, with a slight smile as she topped her mug off. She gestured to reach out for Kait's mug. "Yes." She said, since Kait seemed unsure of what she had said.
"Thanks." Kait said, handing her mug over. "The last couple months I've looked up a bit about Mandalorians, but I gather that Op isn't a very traditional one."
"No, he's much more of a Jedi." Cien said with a light smile. "He has his moments when he is kind of Mandalorian but not in the armor wearing way."
"So you don't think that Op speaks very much Mando'a?" Kait asked.
Cien thought for a second as she filled Kait's mug. "He doesn't speak it very often but I think he understands quite a bit of it. Over the last few years I suspect he has studied that and Mandalorians a bit to try to reconnect with his family, to better understand them. I've caught him laughing too much at some of Kyr's comments to not have understood what he was saying." Cien said with a slight chuckle.
"So…" Kait paused, "if I wanted to tell Op I love him, how would you say that in Mando'a?" She asked carefully.
Cien looked at her, and then down at her mug for a second, with a studiously calm face. "Ner'kar'ta gar'dinuir." Cien said, after a moment. "It means 'I give to you my heart'." She explained quietly.
"Ner'kar'ta gar'dinuir." Kait repeated quietly to herself, and under her breath a few times. "Thank you." Kait said to Cien, looking her in the eye.
"Ba'gedet'ye vod'ika" Cien said smiling. She grabbed her mug and headed out back to resume their warm seat around the fireplace, and Kait followed after her.
After the end of the gaming session, Kyr, Viran and Op came over to join them at the fireplace and they talked for quite some time, enjoying the warmth of the fire as it faded to embers. Cien, after the full day of sledding and playing in the snow, was tired, and she and Kyr called it a night. Viran and Sasha went back to go check on Lana, and Op got up to take the mugs to the kitchen since it seemed like things were winding down for the evening. Kait got up, stretching, and feeling the slight buzz of alcohol from the fabulous cocktail Sasha had made for her, and wandered over to the windows. The last several days the sky had been hazy with cloud cover from light snow storms that had rolled in, delivering them beautiful fresh powder overnight that they gleefully had sled upon the next day.
But tonight the sky was crystal clear, the kind of crystal clear that came from a cold winter's night after the sky had been scoured clean by days of gentle storms. She wandered over to the window to get a better view. She briefly considered stepping into the dining room, since it seemed to have the best view in the house, but she decided to walk out onto the balcony instead. She grabbed her coat, which was still by the door, and stepped outside.
The air was cold, bitterly so, as she slipped her heavy coat on. But after being at the fire for the last few hours it would feel nice for a few minutes. She leaned against the railing, marveling at the starscape that spread before her, gently reflecting off the fresh and deep blanket of snow that covered the landscape. The moons were only partial, and they had already risen and gone over the house, so the scene was still lit by them but they were mostly out of sight. It bathed the view in bluish tinged dim light that made the snow glow like an ocean spread before her.
She heard the door open behind her and she didn't have to turn her head to guess it was Op.
"I'd have thought after that computer room you wouldn't want to be cold like this for a while." Oppie said with a grin in his voice.
"Oh, no." Kait said with a slight laugh, "so long as I can turn and walk back inside to a nice warm bed I don't mind so much. The stars are gorgeous here." She said.
"They really are." Oppie said, coming over to lean on the railing next to her. "It's one of those things that after you live here for a while you almost take it for granted, which is a shame." He said. "But on a night like this it definitely reminds you of how special this is."
"Do you miss being here at home?" Kait asked, "Sasha said what happened on Myrkr made her realize that this was her home, where she always wanted to be. And I kind of feel like the last few months I've been keeping you from home."
Oppie looked at her, trying to think of what to say. "This may be the house where my family is, and I love being here." He said, "but the last few months it hasn't felt exactly like the home it used to be." He said quietly. "Being out with you on those assignments, that's where I wanted to be, that was where my home was."
She looked over at him, and wasn't quite sure what to say. "Op, what did I do to catch your attention?" She asked quietly. "That's something I've never been able to figure out these last few months. I thought coming here, I might understand better, but I'm just even more confused now." She said, looking back out over the valley.
Oppie looked over at her, confusion on his face. He'd been wondering the same as to why she was with him. "I've spent my entire life in service to others." He said quietly. "First to the order, where we were taught to be selfless above all. The only people I dealt with were other Jedi, or the people that needed our help as Jedi. Then when '66 happened I needed to keep Sasha and Viran safe. I met Kyr when he tracked me down, asking for my help to avenge our family. Everything since then, I've spent my life helping everyone around me, training them, fighting beside them and for them. I wouldn't have had it any other way. I love my family. Sasha, Viran, Kyr, Cien, I was happy to be there for them in that way, in any way, and do what I could to be there for them. I definitely don't resent it, I hope it doesn't sound like that, I've been happy to do that my entire life."
Oppie cleared his throat, while she leaned against the rail listening, still looking outward. "But you were the first person I met who didn't really need my help, who didn't need me. On Nivon you actually got mad at me for trying to help." He said with a slight smile, "on Caranas too, after I yelled at J'onz. You were able to wade your way through the mess there on your own, you even watched out for Sasha when I couldn't be there. You're kind, you're determined, and you watch out for everyone around you, including me. You don't need me, but you let me be there as a partner at your side. And that means a lot to me." He said quietly, looking back out at the valley.
She was quiet for a moment before speaking slowly. "But you're wrong." She said quietly, "I do need you."
Oppie looked over at her as she said that.
"Ner'kar'ta gar'dinuir." She continued quietly, "if I've given you my heart, where would I be without you?"
Oppie stared at her for a moment, before replying softly. "The same place I'd be, since my heart is yours as well."
She smirked softly in the crisp snow light. "That seems like an even trade."
"Not to me." He said quietly. "What did I do to deserve such a gift?" He asked.
She looked over at him, slightly incredulously and was about to say something, before she paused for a moment to collect her thoughts. "Because even if you don't think I need your help, you gave it anyway. You started my career with such a simple but meaningful insight that it stays with me to this day. You saved me on Caranas, from J'onz, from Cordova. You stayed with me until what I thought was the end. And then you were there when it wasn't." She said, looking downward beyond the railing towards the ground below. "And the only thing you've ever asked of me in return is to be at my side." She said quietly, and swallowed. "I love you Op."
He reached over and gently pulled her into what she thought would be his usual hug, but she was shocked when he leaned forward and kissed her, deeply. She closed her eyes and melted into him before he pulled away after a moment, and she looked at him in a daze.
"I love you too, Kait." Oppie said.
Her breath fogged between them as she breathed, looking up at him.
"It really is cold, do you want to go inside and warm up?" He suggested. He noticed they were both starting to shiver.
"Yes." She said vehemently as she finally recovered. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and guided her inside, opening the door for her like he always did if given the opportunity. And she stepped though, and they walked across the living room to get over to the entry to their wing.
"Sasha makes a pretty mean Stargazer." Kait said after a moment, trying to break the silence that was not quite awkward between them.
"I've never actually had one." Oppie admitted. "They look good, though."
"Definitely got a lot of booze in it." She said with a slight smirk. "Even just the one made me a little tipsy." She said.
"Glad I'm here to escort you home, then." He said with a slight smirk of his own.
"Oh yes, who knows who might have taken advantage of me in my drunken state." Kait said with a grin as she looked downward.
"You're walking a straight line, I don't think you've had too much." He said jokingly.
"Nope." She said as they stopped at her door. "I guess this is my stop." She said, looking up at him with a slight shiver. "I think I might need some way to warm up still, though." She said, as she swallowed. She pulled a stray lock of hair out of her eyes.
"A bath sounds nice, I suppose." Oppie suggested.
"It does." She agreed, whole heartedly. She swallowed, "my rooms got a great bathtub." She suggested.
Oppie nodded. "Yeah, mine does too. All the rooms here seem to." He observed, and she could swear, absolutely swear, that she saw the glimmer of a smirk studiously hidden behind his clueless demeanor. Maybe. He stepped forward, and she closed her eyes for another kiss. She melted into him, just as before, and she looked at him through a daze as he stepped away. "Have a wonderful bath and a good night taylir'be ner'kar'ta." He said, turning and started walking back down the hall towards the kitchen.
She stood there, leaning back against her door and turning just her head to watch him until he went around the corner. She turned and entered her room, and closed the door behind her. She leaned back against the door again and slid downward a little, holding that position for quite some time. After a while to collect herself she went to draw her bath, still shivering but not entirely from the cold.
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