Residential Wing

*Belkadan was a very green world. Even from orbit that was visible, but Deralia was very blue; it didn't look blue on the surface, so Maggy had always assumed it was some kind of trick. But no, this was no trick, Belkadan was as green on the surface as it was from orbit. Possibly greener. In one direction, grassy fields stretched on for kilometers. In the other direction, forests of tall trees. It was a quiet, serene landscape...

It did very little to ease Maggy's mind as she, Shari, and Master Dionne were led by Master Terry from the hangar to the building that Master Aerandir himself had built some time ago, and had once occupied. The "Safe Haven," it was now called, formerly an active Academy, but now maintained by a small staff as, well, a haven for the Jedi Order should they need it. Far removed from the galaxy in a remote area, she could understand the benefits of such a place. And Aerandir had been here... indeed, she could almost sense his familiar presence lingering within the walls of the establishment.

If only he were here physically...

Alas, he was stationed on Felucia now, the central home of the galaxy-wide Jedi Order, and he served as one of its High Councilors. Perhaps Maggy would find herself on the jungle world someday soon, but for now, they had to recuperate from the attack on Deralia.

Master Terry prepared rooms for them, which initially were three separate rooms, one for each of them. While Maggy would have preferred to continue to share a room with Shari, she was resigned to reluctantly go along with the arrangements for now.*

"What? Master Terry, no!"

*Maggy looked over at Shari as the girl's voice protested the arrangements. Briefly, the Hapan froze like she was caught in headlights, but she quickly stammered and clarified,* "M-Maggy and I shared a room at the Temple on Deralia, and we're best friends, and she, well, we need to cheer each other up, so... could we please share quarters instead, Master?" *She gave a bow, red hair masking the red tint on her cheeks.

Master Terry had relented, and Shari failed to hide a pleased smile as the two of them were given different quarters, one suited for two people. He suggested they make themselves comfortable as he and Master Dionne departed, declaring they would return to check on them later. The human girl and the Farghul boy, who'd followed them from the hangar, looked lost for a moment before they went their own ways, seeming to recognize that both the Masters and the two girls needed their own space at the moment.

As the door closed behind them, Shari took her bag and set it upon one of the beds, laying back on it and sighing. Maggy, tired of the weight, simply let the bag drop by the door before slumping on the edge of the other bed, then crumpling onto it.

It wasn't just the bag that had been heavy.*

"Maggy!" *Shari called out, hopping off of her bed and darting to Maggy's side, sitting beside her and leaning over her worriedly.*

"I'm alright," *Maggy lied through a sob.*

"You're not!" *Shari pulled the girl back up into a sitting position, but Maggy only crumpled again, this time into Shari's arms.* "But it'll be alright! We'll get through this! We're safe, we survived, we have each other still..."

*But Maggy simply hung there limp, expression blank as her mind raced. Her peers and instructors dead, her home laid to waste, her own parents traitors... Why had Aerandir left? If he had still been there, they would have stood a chance, probably won! But the Temple, in its vulnerable state, had been overrun... and she was now on Belkadan with the only other two survivors. One of which who was very intent on being with her and cheering her up no matter the cost. Maggy supposed she should be grateful for that; she'd known Shari for years, and the Hapan had always been a good friend to her. Perhaps cared for her far more than her own parents had...

Life suddenly returning to her, Maggy's arms wrapped around the girl and held her close. Shari seemed slightly relieved at this, but Maggy only held onto the girl.* "Thanks for being here, Shari," *Maggy whimpered.

After a brief pause, Shari replied,* "I'm always here for you. I li— I care about you a lot."

*Maggy looked up into the girl's face before she could look away and hide her blushing. Even if Shari had been successful, her feelings were very palpable through the Force. Nothing new from her; she had been like this for a long time. Maggy managed a weak smile.* "You can say you like me."

*Shari's face whirled around to look into Maggy's, now pale, her eyes widened.* "W-w-what? That's silly!"

*Maggy wished she could laugh right now. In a lighter situation, she would have. But at the very least, she managed a more sincere smile, replying,* "It's obvious, Shari." *Thinking about Shari right now gave Maggy good feelings. Good feelings she needed and craved. So she focused only on Shari, thinking of the next thing to support her claim. And when it came to her, an actual soft giggle escaped her throat.* "Your cheeks get as red as your hair when you're close to me. I've seen it."

*Again, Shari appeared as though caught in headlights, unable to form a cohesive retort. She bit her lower lip, the red returning to her cheeks, and then sighed, looking down as though defeated as she nodded.* "You're right. I like you... I just didn't know if you would like me back."

*And at last, the truth. Maggy focused on it with all of her will, the notion that not only did she have a very close friend, but said friend also liked her. It was... what she needed right now. Her brown eyes met Shari's grey as the moment hung in silence for a moment, Maggy deep in thought. Did she like Shari back? Shari was her closest friend, closer than anyone else. Closer than her own conflicted parents, who'd tried to love her as best they could... but she saw now how cold they were. And yet, Shari...

Maggy suddenly leaned in toward her, faces coming close together... but at the last moment, she chickened out, opting to leave a kiss on the girl's cheek instead. Her own cheeks felt as red as Shari's as she leaned back, smiling.* "I do," *she answered.

Shari at first felt dumbstruck, then slowly her expression became one of delight. She gasped for breath when she realized she'd been holding it for a while, then beamed happily, her cheeks still on fire. Maggy knew she was pleased, but for a moment her own thoughts were briefly cast into doubt; was it only because of her desperation for company and affirmation that she felt this way about Shari? Would she have still felt this way had Shari confessed while they were safe on Deralia, the Academy still standing strong?

No... Maggy was sure about this. The devastation had merely escalated their feelings for each other. The important words had been spoken; none more were said as the two girls embraced each other, grateful to have found some small light within these dark times.*