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A storm cloud waited on the horizon and watched; biding its time.

Braedon stood well away from the gathering, observing the arrival of the dignitaries from a safe distance. He had been studying Jon's books and manuscripts on quey'tek methods of shielding, but, he wasn't by any means ready to test his skill against another jedi master like Master Organa. Besides, she knew him too well having worked very hard to save him that night on Corellia. Yes. She would sense what she would consider the corruption in him immediately.

So much happened. He was captured and Athena had switched his body with Philip. Then he was taken to Byss where he was trained - no, he was broken and reshaped and then trained - in the powers of the darkside. He was now Darth Guaritore - sith killer and when the mood struck - healer.

They hoped when the bodies were returned to their proper owners that Braedon would loose his connection to the force or be able to shift his temperament to the light. It didn't happen. If anything, being back in his own body made his force connection that much stronger - and he was still very dark at heart.

Since escaping from Byss and returning to Dantooine, everything had been a struggle. Loosing Jon… it was like some indefinable part of him had been ripped out and a gaping hole remained where it should be. Jon gone. Braedon knew how his brother had felt about Lori - how he always said he wasn't worth her sacrifice to save him. Now Brae felt totally unworthy of Jon's.

His agony over the loss of his brother and the constant pull of the darkside were having their effects of him. His grasp on his sanity was tenuous. One more straw… that's all it would take for him to lose it and go totally beserk… one more straw. And that straw was possibly landing on his world now. These dignitaries… he sneered the term with his derision for them. The healers coming to take over HIS clinic; the representative coming to do what Jon should be here doing. Damn them all to the Maw.

Master Organa… Ariana Darklighter… and now who was this oddly dressed little… ah, yes… she must be Adrianna's newest student - the one they called the Princess. So, she's a baby jedi, is she? Prissy little thing isn't she? To think Jon thought so highly of her. Braedon sneered at her. Perhaps he was jealous that these people had been with his brother on Lianna more than he had seen him in the last year… now he was gone. The pain triggered a rage he could barely suppress. Perhaps he should welcome this little Princess.

Braedon collected darkness and reached out with his mind. He was going to greet her properly with visions of gore and anguish, severed limbs and pain, and, finally a promise to visit her in her dreams.

He was almost to her, their minds almost linked when a flurry of white wings distracted him. His Sirus running to be with Adrianna… he could hear her laughter and feel her happiness from here. Any semblance of a force connection vanished. Brae fell to his knees with tears flooding his eyes. She was his little Princess and her mother was his Mahalla. Agony overcame him. He so badly wanted to be the father and husband they needed and deserved, but, he knew this darkness that now pervaded his soul was driving a wedge between them. How long they would accept him… how long Anna would keep trying to save him he had no idea. All he did know was they were his only anchor to sanity… his only hope.

He rose and hurried back over the rise to a speeder bike he had parked out of sight of the gathering. Mounting it, he headed north… away from the Enclave and away from possible temptations. He was returning to the cabin by the lake where he and Anna had fallen in love. It was a quiet secluded spot to wait for the next straw to fall.

A persistent beeping called Braedon to the lake house's security console. Anyone arriving at the lake or cabin would be detected. Anyone not entered as family in the database would set off the alarm. Two were approaching from the direction of the jedi enclave. Now who would have followed him from that gathering? That question was soon answered and Braedon smiled despite himself. Poor Gareth.

"Gareth, go outside! He's my Dr. Bukre. He keeps me safe. He loves me."

Safe. How much he wanted that to remain true.

"My Princess," Braedon said giving her a bow from the waist. "You surprise me with you arrival."

"Oh Daddy, why did you leave me and Mama all alone? Aren't ya supposet ta stay wif us?"

Tears did trickle down his face. Perhaps some were for Jon, but, most were for being called Daddy by this little angel. No. He had to do whatever it took. He couldn't loose them as well as Jon. He would never survive were he to drive them away.

"Yes, Mehalla. I am supposed to stay with you always. Today your mother has guests that don't need me, so, I came up to this cabin to relax. I thought you were helping her greet them."

Since they were returned to their proper bodies, one oddity they both noticed was that they still shared some memories. In this case, when the Princess brushed her wings across his cheeks, he thought of Philip and Saraid and felt a pang of loss for her for her wings. Philip, too, if that other memory was accurate.

"Thanks you, my Princess. You do such a good job taking care of me."

"Jus don' tell Mama I did that for ya Daddy. We don't want her crying cuz that's something I do for her. But yer my Daddy and I'll tell her I do it for you too. Is this MY castle, Daddy? Show me MY castle."

"Of course, it can be our secret for now. This cabin your castle? Well, if you like it well enough, it can be your castle, Princess. And the forest around it… and the lake… and the waterfall… they can all be yours."

They made a quick tour of the cabin. Braedon didn't show her the access to the lower levels. That would be too much for both of them at this point. They finished their tour and exited onto the front porch.

"Princess, would you like to see the lake? I think we have time before dark."

He smiled at Gareth as they met him out front. "Please assure our Princess's mother that she is safe and that the three of us will return to the enclave before dark this evening."

He paused a moment looking at the man. "Thank you, Gareth, for taking such good care of them. I know it's your duty, but, I can tell it goes beyond that for you. Come. We'll show our Princess the lake and then we will head back to the enclave."

"Princess… the lake is down this path. I'll race you."

It was good to feel human again even if only for a short while. He had his Mehalla to thank for that.