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Joren wasn’t able to sleep at all that night. When the others had learned his secret, he was expecting that they would want to spend hours discussing it. He assumed that there would be yelling and name calling, and that they would be angry at him for lying to them for so long. 

However, there was none of that. In fact, Dono never brought it up, and instead, poured himself a glass of Corellian Ale and went to bed. Nyna also said nothing to him, instead she went out to the Dreams to sleep in her quarters on the ship. It wasn’t because she didn’t trust him, or Brya for that matter, it was just that she felt most comfortable in her own quarters. Brya had offered him an Ambrostine to take the edge off, but he had declined. Kelsa simply took his hand and urged him to join her in bed, which he eventually obliged. While they lay there in the dark, Kelsa pressed against him, nuzzling her head against his chest. However, he just lay there staring at the ceiling, sleep unable to claim him. 

When the first light of dawn broke through the darkness, Joren quietly gut up out of bed and went into the kitchen, where he watched Tatooine’s twin suns rise over desert. He opened the door to Brya’s home and made his way toward the Dreams. When he boarded the ship he found Nyna already awake and working on replacing the damaged battery regulator. Joren walked over to her, and sat down beside her as she finished securing the new part.

“You’re up early.” Nyna said to him.

“Never went to sleep.” Joren said, before adding. “You’re one to talk.”

“Yeah, I figured I’d get up early and make sure the new battery regulator would work. What’s your excuse?” She said nonchalantly.

Silence filled the air between them as neither knew what they wanted to say next. Joren knew Nyna, they had been best friends from the moment they met one another. They were more than friends, they were more like family. Joren knew that Nyna hated being lied to, and was afraid that she would never forgive him for withholding the truth about his past. 

“So, when were you going to tell us?” Nyna finally asked. It was a question that Joren didn’t want to answer, one that he hoped would never be asked, but now that the trth was out, he knew that there was no use running from the issue any longer.

“I wasn’t.” Joren told her honestly. The answer wasn’t what Nyna had expected, and she shot Joren a look that told him as much. Her expression flashed from surprise, to anger, and then confusion. 

“Nyna, that’s not my life anymore. It hasn’t been for a long time.” He said.

“But why wouldn’t you tell us? Why would you want to hide that?” She asked.

“It’s complicated. I guess I was afraid that people wouldn’t accept me if they knew the truth. I mean, you saw Dono. He was…”

“He was shocked.” Nyna finished for him. “We all were. But we’re still here. And we’re not going anywhere.”

Relief washed over his entire being and as it did, a small smile formed to the edges of his mouth. He put his arm around her and gave her a slight squeeze. It was the kind of embrace that a brother might give his little sister. 

“Thanks.” He said.

“So, can I touch it?” Nyna asked, suddenly invigorated with enthusiasm. 

“What?” Joren asked, taken by surprise.

“You know, your lightsaber.” Nyna said.

“Oh no...you’ll probably cut off your arm.” Joren teased. Nyna playfully punched his arm, and the two began to laugh, and for just an instant, everything seemed right in the universe. 

After several moments Joren felt something, or more accurately, someone. It was a familiar presence, though, it was one that he hadn’t felt in quite some time, not since he left the Jedi Academy on Yavin 4.