[Room #213]

[auroryborealis]

After the whole " fishie doom" escapade, Rory made her way back to her room and flopped onto her bed, exhausted

Comments

[whitedeathpod]

John's in his room when he gets the phone call and doesn't hesitate in his decision to go find Rory.

So, now he's standing outside her room and knocking quietly. "You in there, Rory? It's John."

[auroryborealis]

Rory was startled out of her daze at the knock, and got up to answer the door on wobbly legs.

"Hi," she said with a wane smile as she opened it. "Take it you got the messge?"

[whitedeathpod]

"Yeah," he says and comes inside, shutting the door behind him. "What happened? No one got hurt, did they?"

[auroryborealis]

Rory shook her head, holding up the letter - the letter that she hadn't actually set down yet. "He got called back to Coruscant," she said quietly. "Anakin did, I mean. He doesn't know for how long, or if he'll be able to come back at all."

[whitedeathpod]

"Oh..." John goes quiet for a moment before reaching out tentatively and putting a hand on her shoulder. Nothing to pressing. "He'll be all right. I think...you just have to believe he'll be all right and you'll see him again."

[auroryborealis]

Rory wryly raised an eyebrow. "Maybe. It's just weird, since we were just talking about this. And I thought we had a ton of time left. And I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye."

[whitedeathpod]

"I didn't either," John says. "And, maybe he didn't want to say goodbye? Aeryn told me she didn't want to say goodbye to me. Makes it final. And, knowing Anakin, you know he didn't want to go back and he wouldn't leave unless it was absolutely necessary. You know that, right?"

[auroryborealis]

"I know," Rory nodded. "The letter says as much. That he wishes he didn't have to, and that he's sorry and he lov - "

She stopped, frowning, and looked up at John. "That he loves me. And you already knew that, didn't you? The whole secret relationship thing?"

[whitedeathpod]

"I had an idea after the study group," John tells her. "You reacted to Anakin's dot going out the way I did to Aeryn's dot going out. I didn't want to say anything because it seemed like it was on the down low. I haven't said anything either. To anyone. And I'm glad that he loves you. He's a good person and he seems to make you happy. This is hard and it sucks and it's going to make you sad but you will be all right."

[auroryborealis]

"Yeah, I figured you might. Sam, too. People who saw me freak out over that dot." Rory shook her head, smiling a little. "And thank you for not saying anything. It's a whole big thing - Jedi can't have relationships. So we had to keep it quiet. And I still plan to, so that if - no, when he comes back, he won't be screwed. But yeah, it's hard. I don't know. I haven't even really thought about it yet, or really felt anything about it. I'm just sort of...here."

[whitedeathpod]

"You and me both," John says. "Aeryn's a lot like Anakin. Her military, the group she went back to, doesn't encourage long term relationships. Yet, she ignored that for me. And Anakin did the same for you. That makes you special. And awesome. He'll be back. And he'll come back with lots of presents and stuff to make you smile at him again."

[auroryborealis]

"I could care less about presents, honestly," Rory sighed. "I just - I'm starting to miss him, and I only found out he's gone. And I didn't know Aeryn's group didn't allow relationships. You guys were all...open and stuff. Whereas like, no one except a few people really knew about me and Anakin."

[whitedeathpod]

"I know you don't care about presents," John says quietly. "I know you just want him back. Aeryn was able to be open with me because relationships weren't banned but they weren't encouraged. Apparently, her military and her world is dangerous. And she could be...never mind about that. Did few people knowing about you and Anakin make it any less special?"

[auroryborealis]

"No," Rory said softly. "I mean, I wish I could have told people, but it didn't matter, you know? The only people who knew - or know, actually, since just because he's not here doesn't mean they randomly lost the knowledge - are you, Parker, Angela, my mom, Professor Tick, Angel, Bridge and Zero. And of those people, I only had to tell Zero and my mom. Everyone else kind of figured out what was happening for themselves, in various ways. And yeah, like everyone suspected, but still. It didn't matter how many people thought they knew or did know."

She sighed again. "And now I'm wondering where I was when he left, since he must have come by when I wasn't here. I haven't seen him in days. Worst secret girlfriend ever."

[whitedeathpod]

"Stop that," John says firmly. "It doesn't help. I've tried. Except I was asleep when Aeryn left and I cursed myself for being tired and for falling asleep and for not waking. Doesn't help. You were in his thoughts, in his heart. That may sound cliche and cheesy but it's true. Anakin doesn't seem like the type of guy who gets attached easily. Yet, he was attached to you. And he's probably thinking of you right now. You and Vladdie and the school and how much he wants to come back."

[auroryborealis]

"That helps," Rory said with a small smile. "Even if he does come back, though, it won't be permanent. I mean, we both knew this was inevitable. I just didn't think it'd be so soon. Or sudden."