MHA #6- Sunday afternoon

[solo_sword]

Ever since communications back to her universe had opened up again, Jaina had been making daily attempts to book a portal back. It had always resulted in an error message, and then she'd put her phone down and try again the next day, just in case.

Today when she did it, her request went through.

Right now Jaina was in the best mood ever, even after calling Portalocity to make sure they had her request in the system and threaten them with descriptive violence if her portal was canceled or even delayed, but she'd been pretty cheerful when making said threat. In retrospect, that was probably scarier.

And then she sent out a quick text to anyone who might care: Portalocity came through! Finally getting home tonight!, just in case anyone wanted to call or visit while she packed up.

Best day.

[Open for visits, texts, etc! Jaina's last post on island this summer.]

Comments

[sith_happened]

How long until then? Anakin asked in reply. Do I have time to get back?

[solo_sword]

A few hours. First one doesn't leave till tonight and if they cancel it I will raze Portalocity.

[sith_happened]

I'll help.

Probably not a good idea, Anakin, given your history.

Give me twenty and I can bring pastries from that French place by the house.

[solo_sword]

Deal. See you soon.

[sith_happened]

Twenty minutes later and Anakin was knocking at the door, holding a bag of chocolate croissants and drawings from Juliet and Christopher.

"Still here? Not murdering gnomes?"

[solo_sword]

"Not yet," she said, opening the door to let him in. The good thing about not living with a lot of stuff was that the apartment was not currently a disaster. "Thanks for coming."

[sith_happened]

"I'd've been sorry to miss it," Anakin said. "Rory sends her best. She's back home with the kids."

[solo_sword]

"Give then all hugs for me," Jaina said. "Even though it's not like I'm gone for good or anything. Because Portalocity damn well better know better..."

[sith_happened]

Anakin laughed. "They should. I'm assuming this trip and the next thirty are free for you?"

[solo_sword]

"Or everyone gets maimed, yes," Jaina said. "So what's you bring?"

[sith_happened]

"Chocolate croissants," Anakin said, "and pictures from the kids. Juliet said to make sure you knew that's you on the flying pony thing."

Also that the thing was supposed to be a flying pony.

[solo_sword]

"Awww," Jaina said as she looked over the drawings. "She is quite the artist."

Which meant it was good he'd clarified about the pony thing.

[sith_happened]

"Which is not the same as good," Anakin said dryly, "but she really enjoys doing it."

[solo_sword]

"That's what's important. And if she likes it a lot, there's a ton of time to get better," Jaina said. "And I might have to remind Jag of that when I bring it home."

[sith_happened]

"Or tell to Jag to draw her something back," Anakin said. "I think that's him. The glare-y stick figure. That might be me, though."

[solo_sword]

Jaina frowned. "I cannot imagine what Jag would draw. There'd probably be a uniform involved."

[sith_happened]

"I'd love to see what he'd send back," Anakin admitted.

[solo_sword]

"He'll do it," Jaina promised. "Ooh, maybe it'll be a schematic."

[sith_happened]

"Oooh, a clawcraft? I'd love a schematic!"

He coughed. "I mean Juliet would."

[solo_sword]

"Maybe he'll do two," Jaina said with a lopsided grin. "Or just give you- I mean Juliet- one just like that. I make no promises."

[sith_happened]

"Well, he's a busy man," Steve said. "I don't want to add too much to his schedule."

He really, really wanted that schematic.

[solo_sword]

"Not extremely do these days. He works with the Jedi on things like strategy now," Jaina said.

[sith_happened]

"In that case, yes, Juliet would love a picture from him."

Sure, Juliet would.

[solo_sword]

"I'll make sure to send it," Jaina said. "As soon as he's done looking at me funny."

[sith_happened]

"If that's all it takes, he's going to be looking at you funny a lot," Anakin said.

[solo_sword]

"'Hi, honey, I'm back from being stuck on another planet in a different universe. Can you draw some things and make one a schematic?'" Jaina said with an eyebrow raised. "Gonna get looked at funny."

[sith_happened]

"It's for my grandfather from a different reality and his second family...not making it better, no," Anakin admitted.

[solo_sword]

"When you really think about it, that man puts up with a lot," Jaina said.

[sith_happened]

"He really does," Anakin had to admit. "And you've missed him."

[solo_sword]

"I have," she admitted. "I mean, until last year we always spent huge amounts of our relationship apart, but that was supposed to be over."

[sith_happened]

Anakin nodded. "I know that frustration well."

Beat.

"Except in my case, no one knew I was married, so it was slightly different circumstances."

[solo_sword]

"I'm actually a little jealous of that," Jaina admitted. "But then, my engagement and everything around it was on the news every day."

[sith_happened]

Anakin made a face. "I was on enough for being in the war. I can't imagine what they would have done if I'd been married."

[solo_sword]

"It's s lot of speculation into things that didn't happen, if you mess up literally anything you get taken down for not being good enough for the other person or ruining the relationship, and weirdly they get more open about critiquing your wardrobe," Jaina said. "I feel like it would have made you even angrier."

[sith_happened]

"I didn't need a lot of help to get angrier," Anakin admitted, "and Padme being under the crosshairs always pushed me too far over the line. I would have just fallen faster."

[solo_sword]

"Probably," Jaina agreed. "Though you also wouldn't have been able to get away with anything because there'd be cameras on you constantly."

Had she mentioned how glad she was that Jag wasn't in charge of an empire anymore?