Continued from here

“How did I know… that I loved him?” Satra’s smile came slowly after that, memory reviving in her eyes, and yes it was silly and girlish, but if one couldn’t relish the feeling that love brought even now, there were many things in the world one couldn’t feel. Emptiness may seem like freedom, but it was a cage in itself after too long.

“You may understand this since we are often alike, but I think I knew… when I found I was happier with him than when I was alone. Several people… other people had made me happy before, but never happier than I was to be by myself. So I always broke it off, because I felt great satisfaction with my life just how it was. But he made it worthwhile to go out of my places of comfort. He made me more satisfied than even I was on my own and I thought I was perfectly happy on my own. I suppose that’s how I knew.”  

Her smile at last reached her eyes, leaning in toward her daughter, gaze sparkling. “Are you asking because you have someone particular in mind?”

Rey instantly turned red when her mother used the ‘L’ word, her eyes moving away almost instantly, hands in her lap. Her heart pounded against her ribs as she listened to what Satra told her. She knew she loved her father because he made her happier than when she was alone. She understood that completely. She blinked a few times and glanced at her mother again when she asked if Rey had anyone particular in mind. Her eyes widened even more as the pink blush across her cheeks now turned crimson and went up to the tips of her ears. 

HER  CONTENTED  HUMMING  CAN  ONLY  BE  HEARD     between bites;   such is the eagerness with which she attacks her meal ,  no poise or grace to be found here.    her fingers hastily scoop crumbs from her chin and the corners of her mouth ,  no food ever left uneaten ,  cheeks puffing with the pace at which she inhales her helping of grobread   —   as if trying to quiet and appeal to her growling stomach after having deprived it all morning.    she starts to slow once she’s downed nearly all of her vegmeat ,  and then there’s another little hum ,  this time with a lilt to it ,  her expression gone a bit sheepish as her mother points out the obvious   —   though in her defense ,  her father has as terrible a habit of it too ,  if not actually even worse.

❝   beyond the colonies ,  really  ?   ❞        rey echoes once her mouth isn’t quite so full ,  unable to contain her excitement at the thought of yet again exploring new worlds.    perhaps even getting to pilot their ship there herself ,  once they’ve got what they need for repairs.    with a spot of well - placed needling ,  she's almost certain she could convince them of that and more ,  but first   .  .  .   she toes at a piece of landing gear at their feet ,  sizing it up as though they haven’t all already poked along every inch.    still ,  she hadn’t been poking at it with this news in mind;   maybe there’s something she missed ,  after all.

one hand dangles above her plate while the other idly nudges her satchel towards her mother as per her answer.    there’s little that this family doesn’t share anyway ,  little that they can keep private in such close quarters.   and though she knows it’d be the nicer thing to do to take apart her haul for her mother rather than leave her to do it herself   .  .  .   her mind can’t help but drift to the stories.   beyond the colonies there are worlds like endor and bespin ,  naboo   .  .  .    even if necessity doesn’t ultimately dictate long stays ,  they could at least manage the odd visit ,  surely.        ❝   were you thinking of the western reaches  ?   or more the mid rim  ?   ❞