#tynea

She woke up fully before her eyes opened.

Instead of following routine - roll out of bed, get a pot of caf going, wake up Jerhal - Tynea lay perfectly still, eyes closed, listening to the muffled sounds outside.  The hotel room was decadent, but Vyen'a had insisted on paying for it, pressing the cred chit into her hand with the wide, teasing grin Tynea'd come to appreciate.

She stretched her toes, her fingers, feeling the soft fabric of the blanket brush their tips.  The heavy weight of Jerhal sleeping soundly next to her radiated warmth, and for a moment, Tynea thought about curling back up and sleeping some more.  Any other morning, she would have.  But today....

Today was different.

She mentally pictured the room around her.  Plush bed, picture window overlooking Senate Plaza, its heavy drapes pulled, and the carefully wrought, fragile-looking table pushed against the wall.  On the table, the piece of flimsi.  The one with the signature that made it all true.

The look on the face of the Senator at the hearing the afternoon before had sunk her heart into her shoes.  He had made up his mind before even seeing her; Tynea could tell that just by the look in his eyes.  But something made him change his thoughts.  Whether it was Jerhal's complete removal of her as a partner, instead breaking down her assets on a military basis, or Master Ihlrath's reminder that the Republic had the responsibility to provide all sentient beings sanctuary, or Master Moirianna's recollection of the fear she'd sensed.  

It didn't matter what it was.  Something changed his mind.  And in the end, it came down to a handshake, a signature on a piece of flimsi, and a few appointments in the future.

She was safe.  

They weren't sending her back.  Or to Belsavis.  Or anywhere but wherever she wanted to go.  She could focus on getting better, without the fear of SIS snatching her from in front of whatever little cafe she was sitting at, without the fear of no one coming to help should a Sith or an Agent working for the Empire decide to try and make trouble.

She would take the oath.  She would become a citizen of the Republic.

And nothing would stand in her way again.

A small smile crept across her face, and she opened her eyes.