A Life Day Story

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

A few years from now...

For the last few years, Life Day had been spent as such - quietly. On Ossus, that was usually an easy thing to accomplish, and for that Loklorien s'Ilancy was thankful.

When her time was not spent aboard her ship, it was almost assuredly spent on the planet, and often enough she could be found in the home that she now shared with Zem-El Vymes. It was a humble home, and nowhere near the grandeur that was often the norm even among the ruins of the estates on Schwartzweld. It was simple, welcoming, and in all sense of the word, it was home.

It was where she had so often wished to spend those tender moments, those times that were so poignant. It truly was where her heart resided. Anywhere that her children wished to be, so to did she. Anywhere that he wanted to stay, she wanted to stay. In the truest sense of the word, it was their home. Their house. Their place of safety. Each often sought solace within these walls, and each found comfort within these walls.

And so it was no surprise that this year they once again spent Life Day here. They had become a family that was held together by the truest of intents.

Teagan, in her eighteenth year, had certainly grown up to become exactly like her mother. Her mannerisms and behavior mirrored the Elder Lupine almost perfectly, and for her part, s'Il couldn't help the pride that she felt the times that the two spent time together.

Markos, having turned eight a month previous, was of course full of energy. There were times when he so sharply reminded her of his father, but those times were few and far between. His time with the Jedi had so shaped him. He was so much more that what he would've been if Dan had lived. The boy was vibrant, energetic, and curious of the world around him. It gave her so much joy.

And now, sitting in contentment upon the sofa beside Zem, s'Il watched as her children so diligently went about opening their gifts.

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

Teagan sat in quiet happiness, pulling the wrapping from her current Life Day gift with precision. She used her fingernails to cut through the clear tape, making her progress slow. It was a process, and one that she performed every year on this day.

A sideways look was sent to her mother and Zem, giving them both a smile.

Her brother however, was not so quiet in his excitement, and he attacked the wrapped presents that lay around the bottom of their tree with a zeal that she could understand. Being older though, the younger Lupine had found just as much joy i a slow unraveling of the day as a quick burst of energy, and so she took her time.

Mingled in with Markos' excited yells and words, the sound of the fire in the fireplace could be heard, flames crackling and sometimes popping as they slowly consumed the logs within.

She looked down at her present, in the middle stages of being opened, and after a moment she set it on the arm of the chair she sat in so that she could slide to the floor, reaching forward to grasp one of the gifts that still rested beneath the tree. This she hefted up, and twisting her upper body, she held it out for Zem to take.

"For both of you," she smiled.

[Zem Vymes]

Zem enjoyed Life Day mornings, being in orbit and on the periphery. He got to partake in the delight of the youngsters who had effectively adopted him as their father figure, and he could do so with a hot cup of caf in hand. It was a pleasant abdication of the usual duties and demands of a Jedi Master, which combined with years had started to actively grey his hair. But he felt a little younger each Life Day, a part of an unlikely family.

"Both?"

He glanced to Lok, who seemed equally perplexed by the conditions of the gift. Zem shifted his attention to find a suitable place to set aside his steaming cup, and once done, inched closer to Lok's side to receive Tak's gift in tandem.

[Markos]

He'd been suitably distracted by his older sister's actions and words.

Stopped in the midst of tearing open yet another gift, Markos shot a funny look to his older sister before turning his eyes straight to his Dad. He beamed wide, knowing that whatever deep moment of gift-giving his sister wanted to have, he could ruin with a few choice words. He wouldn't be so mean though, and so Markos only gave an unreadable, generic smile.

"That's from her... "

As if in some sort of contest, the boy leaned to the side so that he could swipe out a haphazardly wrapped present from beneath the lower branches of the Life Day tree.

... but this is from me."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

She knew that she was supposed to accept her daughter's gift with as much attention as Zem, but now presented with another from her son, the elder Lupine found herself inundated on two fronts. She gave a fleeting look to Zem, then instinctively held a hand out to Markos so that she could take the gift that he now held out for her to take.

It was a new thing in its own way, her children giving her gifts.

Normally any Life Day gifts that she received were a few days after, and usually involved sundries that she'd been intending to purchase anyways.

Leaning back into the cushions of their shared sofa, s'Il set their gift from Markos in her lap as Zem did the same with the wrapped gift he'd been handed from Teagan.

She gave him a smile, accompanied by a kiss to his cheek.

"How sweet," were her low words.

[Zem Vymes]

Fortunately Lok sorted the delicate logistics of receiving two dual-owned gifts at once, leaving her to open one and Zem to open the other. Teagan's gift was creased crisply along the contours of the package, meticulous in it's presentation. It made it easier to unwrap in a plodding and deliberate fashion that she was accustomed to, and Zem's aged fingers moved along the lines, fingernails finding purchase against the anchored taped spots, where he carefully curled back the adhesive to preserve the paper beneath. Yet despite the meticulous action, Zem was mindful not to draw the process out excruciatingly. After all, he didn't want his caf to grow cold.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

She'd not even begun to consider opening Markos' gift; instead giving a strange look to Zem, her head angled to the side as she leaned back to recline upon the soft cushions of their sofa.

On hand shifted, moving to help hold the package in his lap.

"I have a knife... "

She went no farther than that however, at the knowing and rueful look from her partner.

"No matter though," she let her body lean against his, and her head angled slightly upward so that she could lay a kiss to his cheek.

"You've got it, of course... "

She held Markos' gift close, then held the small package up to indicate that she wished him to pull away the paper.

"You should open your son's gift, as well."

[Zem Vymes]

Your son.

Small words to describe something so big and hard to explain. How he'd been brought into this family, to become father to children who needed a father figure in their lives. He'd never felt particularly honored to be a Jedi. He simply was. It was his obligation and responsibility, an appointed place of destiny. But to be a father was these things and something joyous and rarified. A disarming smile creased his face, and he paused his careful dissection of Tak's gift to reach a hand across and grab purchase on the opposing end of the crudely-crinkled edge of wrapping paper. It only took a bit of effort for the fraying to begin.

"Wouldn't want Markos to wait, I suppose."

The two children (well one, Tak was quickly arriving to the point where she was all grown up) had their attention fixed, both with knowing expressions of accomplished gift-givers who were ready to reap their reward in earnest displays of appreciation. It would do no good to disappoint.

The paper began to shear apart.

[Markos]

"It's a press," came the triumphant declaration.

His Dama had told him many time of the desires his Dat'ya had had of something to make sandwiches on his old cast iron 'whatever'. But there was something else too, and the boy was more than happy to elaborate as he moved from his previous spot to slide next to Dat'ya's leg.

"Dama says you like your sandwiches a certain way... "

He gave his older sister a smug smile.

"And she said once, a long time ago, that you liked your eggs a certain way or something."

The latter explanation was in regards to the small iron pan that accompanied his main gift.

"Something about having a pan that was just the right size for nuna eggs."

The boy looked up to his father.

"I dunno, but Dama said you'd like it... "

[Zem Vymes]

Markos had jumped the gun slightly, letting out the details of the gift before the paper was fully off. It at least explained the weight. Zem's interest piqued as he shifted in his seat a little, inspecting the piece of cast beskar before him. The contours were brutishly simple and utilitarian, and the weight belied sturdiness that went without saying, but Zem turned the tool over with an expert's attention, running fingers along the business end that had a nearly glass-like smoothness. The press was seasoned well, and judging by the look of it, wasn't a first-hand item. The best ones almost never were.

"Where'd you find this?"

Genuine curiosity on his face, Zem's fingers dawdled on the edges of the press, a happy smile on his face.

"And you and Dama are both right. I like it very much."

[Markos]

Unwilling to divulge exactly how he'd come across his Life Day gift, Markos gave a smug smile while at the same time passing the question on over to his mother.

"Dama told me about it," he shrugged, "I just did a little bit of searching around the 'net."

A triumphant look was sent to his older sister, and Markos leaned back against the love-seat that sat opposite the sofa his parents sat upon.

"I knew you'd like it," he grinned, making sure to inspect Dat'ya's expression for any minute reaction.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

There was a smile, and a knowing look that was sent to the aether as s'Il leaned back, her eyes upon the gift that Zem held. He was taken with it, and the elder Lupine hid a knowing smile behind a sidelong look to the far wall of their home.

"He's resourceful," was all she felt the need to offer, still looking away. She met her daughter's eyes, and the younger woman gave a good-natured roll of her own eyes.

Instead, s'Il opted for something a bit more diplomatic, and leaning into Zem's side, she gave a pat to his knee.

"Just like his Father."

[Zem Vymes]

He replied only with a smile at that, a knowing expression that carried the weight of years between them. With care, he set aside the beskar press, and gave Markos a nod of his head.

"You did good, boy. Real good."

Looking back to Lok, he gestured once more to Teagan's tidy parcel, making a gesturing motion.

"Well, best help me do the honors in turn."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

s'Il gave a knowing nod, holding Teagan's gift in her lap even as the gift from their son was set to the side. Both children would be given their due, and s'Il was determined to allow her daughter's thoughtfulness to be acknowledged. It was how things went on this day, to her recollection at least. She'd been on the receiving end only a few times on this special day, and was determined to make the most of it.

As she made sure that the parcel was rested upon (in some way) her and Zem's legs, the elder Lupine swiped a hand along the unopened tape, slicing through the translucent strips with an ease that her own daughter had yet to master.

The paper was peeled away with care, and set to the side after being meticulously folded. The box held within was given much the same treatment, and as she lifted the top, s'Il pulled a small bit of packing paper up and away.

What lay nestled inside she slowly lifted.

It was a frame, and inside of that pewter colored frame was an expertly printed old photograph of herself and Zem. It was old. The background of the old temple's library testament enough to that fact.

And for a moment, s'Il held it between herself and Zem, so that the two of them could look upon the sight of each other from so long ago. So... so very long ago. Before the Purge, even. A flash of remembrance, and the elder Lupine felt her lips part as she recalled the holo when it'd been taken; when she and Zem had been caught unawares in the library, trying to find...

... by the Bloodline she couldn't even remember what they'd been looking for!

Whatever it was, the holographer had caught them in a rare, early moment of togetherness, both looking in the pages of the same book.

s'il looked to her daughter in a fair amount of shock.

"Where did you find this?"

[Zem Vymes]

It was like looking in a time machine. It was only natural that an old relic like that ought to have Lady Jocasta supervising nearly out of frame. The ever-hovering librarian was every bit a fixture as the myriad shelves and desks, but the two people in the forefront made Zem really think hard on exactly how much time had passed, and all the portent the years between truly held.

"This was just after the sieges."

Well, after they'd begun. It was where they'd met, after all. Zem redoubled the look of surprise at Teagan, and looked back once more.

"We'd only just met...maybe a month before."

[Markos]

His brow scrunched in curiosity, Markos rocked forward, using the momentum to get to his knees, and a moment later he was up on his feet. Moving quickly, the boy skirted around the low table in front of the sofa. He sidled in next to Dama, eyes narrowed in a studious look.

His gaze shifted from the picture to his parents, his mind processing the difference in years from when the holo was taken till now. It was staggering, and he let out a quiet 'wow' before stating the obvious.

"You guys got old."

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

In the midst of taking a sip from her own caf, Teagan had used the action to mask her smile while watching her mother and Zem look over their gift. Of course, she also couldn't help the snort as Markos offered his estimation of the difference between the picture and now.

"I have sources," she answered cryptically, her smile turning sly.

Another sip, and she swallowed her drink while gesturing with her free hand at the box still resting in Zem's lap.

"There's another in there, too."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"Another... ?"

s'Il gave her daughter a somewhat surprised look, having managed to pull her eye away from the glimpse of her and Zem's past.

She smiled then, leaning back against the cushions of the sofa.

[Zem Vymes]

"Well, I got old."

Zem grimaced at Markos' assessment, and glanced to Lok.

"Your mother just appreciated."

He returned to look at the picture, almost as if he could leap into the glass and through time. It was a fallacy to think of a time of galactic war and strife as a rosy nostalgic time, but despite everything wrong that was happening, it was still before things hit bottom. They'd only begun to make amends in the most recent of years with the state of the universe. Maybe when they were truly old, they'd leave behind a world better than the one they were born into.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

With a tsk, s'Il reached over to the small package once more. Beneath a layer of soft packing paper, she felt the corner edge of another frame, and carefully the Lupine began to pull it from the box, angling it slightly so that she could slide a finger underneath to allow her a better grip.

The picture that she pulled out was framed with a rough-hewn wood, old and gnarled in a few small spots. But the picture within...

"Oh my goodness," was all she could whisper.

It was a small cabin, overgrown by weeds and underbrush from decades of neglect, but even despite nature having reclaimed it, the Lupine knew exactly what she was looking at. She could see in her mind's eye exactly how it looked from those many years ago, and her eye could tell where the small outside firepit had been, as well as the clearing that she and Zem had spent so many days; her learning whatever he had deemed necessary for the day's lesson.

The colors were soft and gentle, warm and inviting.

s'Il brushed a gentle hand over the glass. When she spoke again, her voice was still quiet.

"It's still there... "

[Zem Vymes]

"The cabin on Pakuuni."

Zem's hand grasped the side of the frame near to him. The years hadn't been kind to the old lean-to, but Zem was surprised it was there at all. It wasn't exactly built to last.

"I can't believe that old thing hasn't fallen in on itself. Those were hard days back then."

[Markos]

Leaning in, Markos made a face as he looked at the picture. He looked to his older sister then in confusion, but it wasn't long before he turned back to stare at his parents.

"I don't get it," he huffed, shifting his weight so that he halfway leaned against his mother's leg.

"Who built it?"

[Zem Vymes]

"Well, we did."

Catching a look from Lok, Zem grimaced a little.

"Well, your dama did mostly. I'm not much of a builder, it turns out."

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

"Uncle Rasmus took me a few months back," Teagan explained, her smile still tugging at the corners of her lips.

"Took a little bit of searching, but we eventually found it."

The younger Lupine took another sip of her drink while waving a hand toward the box.

"I took more than one picture, and they're all in an envelope in the box. Figured you guys would want them all."

[Markos]

It was still a bit confusing, and Markos pursed his lips.

"So you guys built a cabin somewhere."

He shook his head, trying to figure out the significance of it.

"What's so special about it?"

[Zem Vymes]

"Well, we were just on in the early days you see."

Zem scratched the side of his nose as he leaned forward, looking from the picture to Markos again.

"Being on the run, that is. The great purge had happened, what, just half a year since? We'd go from place to place looking for friendly faces or just some place to lie low a spell. Some places we'd go, we couldn't stay a whole day before we felt heat coming and had to pull up stakes. We got to Pakuuni and lit out for the foothills. There were settlements a ways in the distance, but mainly pirates and their type. We didn't want nothing to do with them and likely they didn't want nothing to do with us, so long as the Empire stayed clear."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"We had finally found somewhere that we could sleep safely," she explained further.

"We were so tired of running."

Her eye remained on the picture, a finger tracing the contour of the wooden frame before shifting, her hand going to sweep through Markos' shock of blonde hair and rest along the back of his neck.

How long did you guys stay there?"

"About a year, I believe," she looked sideways at Zem. "Yes?"

[Zem Vymes]

"Ten months and a week was what I counted."

The old Jedi held a wistful smile.

"Though I didn't start counting at first. But once it felt safe, I took solace in every good day we got. Days we weren't looking over our shoulder. Weren't wondering where we'd get food or supplies. We didn't have much at all then, but it felt like a whole lot."

[Markos]

Markos gave a small nod as he listened, but it wasn't long before another question spilled out.

"Did you guys have Life Day back then, too?"

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Her son's question caused a wry grin to cut her features, and the elder Lupine let out a soft laugh.

"In a manner of speaking, I suppose."

[Zem Vymes]

"Oh yes."

An exasperated laugh, and Zem nodded along.

"We took every chance we got to live a little. Including Life Day. Well, it wasn't much like what you see, on account of being on the run and all. We did as best we could, but I think that's when you know it's heart-felt, I suppose."

[Markos]

Sufficiently intrigued, Markos moved up onto the sofa, sitting snuggly beside his mother.

"So then, like what did you do?"

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

She knew the early rumblings of a story, and always happy to listen, Teagan unfurled herself from her chair, her half-unwrapped gift set aside as she stood. She'd need more caf though, and from the looks of things, so would Zem. Her pace slowed as she held out a hand to him, knowing that he would indeed hand her his mug.

"More caf?"

[Zem Vymes]

He handed Tak his mug in unspoken affirmation.

"Well let's see. I'd gone the day before to one of them pirate camps. At least I think they were pirates, or at least smugglers or bootleggers. Don't much do good to go asking questions around that sort, so any time we did venture that way, it was more or less transactional. We'd live off the land well enough, and there were these fat otters down on the bottom creek that'd sun on the rocks and we'd trap 'em for pelts. Well, come to find out they fetch a good few credits. Of course, credits don't do us a lick of good, so we'd end up bartering and that sort for sundries."

Teagan returned at that point with a steaming cup, and Zem happily took it.

"First on that list was a tin of ground caf and sack sugar. So I'd gone up the ways to bring pelts, picked that up and a little something else, and hauled it on back."

[s'Il]

* * *

From her cross-legged spot in front of the firepit, s'Il looked up from her task of reading. The small leatherbound journal was hastily closed before being tucked beneath a leg, and without getting up, the young Lupine watched as Zem made his way back to their small home.

The unmistakable notes notes of ground caf met her nostrils, and she made a face.

"I think I heard somewhere that caf stunts your growth," it was one of her many grumblings about his much-loved addiction.

"You should switch to tea."

[Zem-El Vymes]

Zem-El shot her a cross look.

"If I wanted to sip water with some grass clippings in it, I'd just go down to the pond."

He didn't even ask how she'd smelled through the tin. Talk about blessings and curses. That meant she'd be enduring all manner of scents less subtle than that. Settling in by the fire, he eased down onto a stump, setting his pack aside to warm his hands.

"Didn't expect you to be up. Glad you stoked the fire up."

[s'Il]

She gave him a strange look, then huffed out a breath from her nose.

"Well, it was either stay in bed and listen to you grumble about the fire when you got back, or get up and start it back up. Both ways I can be warm, but only one way lets me be so without the complaining."

Words not spoken to accuse, but more to poke fun. Still, there was a small amount of truth to them as she'd been through more than one morning of his grumblings during the cold months. Not to mention, she had reading to do.

Leaning over, the Lupine reached a hand out to pull his pack closer. She already knew that there was caf inside, but her curiosity got the better of her as she wordlessly pulled at the top flap's clasp.

"What'd you get?"

[Zem-El Vymes]

He rapped at her hand quickly.

"Easy now. You wanna go ahead and spoil the surprise?"

Maybe she'd forgotten what day it was, but he hadn't. Pulling his pack away once more, Zem-El carefully opened it, retrieving the caf and sack sugar, and secured the rest of the bulging pack.

[s'Il]

She pulled her hand back suddenly, not expecting his reaction. Watching as he pulled out the caf and a tightly bound paper sack, she eyed him carefully as he went about securing once more the pack.

"What surprise?"

There was a coy look to her gaze though. She knew well enough what day it was, but opted to play - albeit poorly - the part of ignorance.

Shifting forward so that she rested on her knees, s'Il gave him a stare.

"What's in the pack, then... ?"

[Zem-El Vymes]

There wasn't going to be any way around her needling. Zem-El rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Alright then. Saves me the trouble of wrapping them I suppose. Don't hardly have anything fit to wrap with anyway."

He tossed the pack back to his lupine colleague.

"Happy Life Day, kiddo."

[s'Il]

"Oh, it's Life Day?"

She wasn't fooling him, that much was evident. She supposed that the crooked grin that'd crept over her features didn't help either.

No matter.

Catching the pack he'd tossed to her, s'Il set it down gently before rising to stand.

"Hold on, I got some stuff for you too."

And with that, she turned on her heel, making her way into their small cabin. Disappearing through the doorway for a short bit, she soon enough returned with three expertly wrapped parcels, the wrapping paper a shiny red, and each one wrapped with thin, gold-colored ribbon that'd been tied into a bow, the left over strands curling into themselves.

Stopping in front of Zem, the Lupine held her gifts out to him, smiling wide.

"Happy Life Day."

[Zem-El Vymes]

He gawked at the sight before him. Already upstaged before the first gift was even unveiled. The paper was lovely and wrapped as well as in any boutique in Theed, or at least nearly so. Zem-El paused a moment, turning the first gift over in his hands, looking back at Lok incredulously.

"It's...it's beautiful."

Had she gone to the bazaars as well? He didn't see any wrapping paper, or else he would've snapped it up. Not that pirates were the sort to pay heed to holiday festivities.

"Where'd you get the paper?"

[s'Il]

She gave a shrug and a non-committal shake of the head.

"There's a lady out at the edge of one of the camps up river. She gets a few things every now and then."

Setting the other two gifts beside him, s'Il lowered herself to sit cross-legged in front of him, her back to the firepit.

She gave an impish smile, and a small gesture.

"Open it."

[Markos]

* * *

"Hold on."

Firmly tucked between his parents, Markos turned a critical eye to first his mother, then his father.

"That doesn't make sense. How would traders on some old planet have fancy Life Day wrapping paper?"

There was a moment of inner wondering, as he lifted a hand to his chin in thought, his eyes taking a far off look as he tried to figure out this sudden curiosity.

"It doesn't make sense."

[Zem Vymes]

Zem's eyes passed to Lok before returning fully to Markos's attention. He gave a knowing smile.

"Space is vast and hyperlanes are old. Sometimes the least expected things turn up where no one might expect them. Turns out the lady up the river caught a Sullustan smuggler trying to siphon off her generator fuel so he could make the next system. Guy was down on his luck with a cargo hold full of small-time Imperial contraband - Life Day paper included."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"Mm."

It was a wordless agreement, given as she leaned into the arm of the sofa, allowing Markos a little bit more room.

"The Life Day Spirit works in mysterious ways, Son."

A sly smile then.

"Or maybe I fibbed all those years ago, and made the paper myself?"

Markos turned an incredulous look to her, and she shrugged. "Pakuuni river squids have vibrant ink; bright enough to stain paper."

[Markos]

He scoffed at that, rolling his eyes in the way that so many children knew how.

"Sure, Dama."

Once more his attentions went back to his father.

"So then what happened?"

[Zem Vymes]

Vymes took a comforting sip of caf, cradling his mug between both hands.

"Well, the smuggler didn't have two credits to rub together. If he did, he would've lit out days before. And the lady up the river wasn't letting him off the hook till he paid up. So your dama had to strike a deal. Turns out, the lady up the river needed a favor done. A little fishing."

Zem grinned behind his mug, glancing to Lok again.

[s'Il]

* * *


He still hadn't opened the gift, and s'Il pulled a sour face as she continued to stare at him.

"It's not a trap, you know. There's nothing in there that will bite you."

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

* * *

"Hold on."

Now it was her turn to interrupt. This was a part of the story she'd not heard before, and Teagan couldn't help the healthy bit of skepticism.

"Mom doesn't... fish."

There was no mistaking the disbelief in her voice, as she went on.

"Unless it's at one of those Cizerack fish bar joints."

She could still remember the last time her mother had met her on Jovan; it'd been Zem, herself, Markos, and Uncle Feint. Dining at the 'catch-your-own' fish joint - whatever it had been called - hadn't exactly been a hit.

Markos let out a groan as he too remembered that particular 'adventure'.

[Sanis Prent]

"There's a lot about your mom you don't know." I grinned in recollection, surveying the view on the beach. Glee Anselm wasn't exactly the traditional sort of Life Day holiday spot, but I usually hated traditions and kitsch anyway.

"She probably didn't tell you she could play the valachord either."

The bartender at the cabana produced three drinks. One cocktail for me, and two mocks for the drinkers-in-training. Why on earth I'd been given chaperone duty for the day, I had no idea. The cynical answer was that mom wanted to dump the kids in my lap to do stress-free shopping, but Lok s'Ilancy wasn't tidy enough to explain completely with a cynical answer.

"She's scared of water, but as long as her feet are, you know..." I stomped my bare feet against the thatch cabana floor a few times. "...she's alright."