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The Perk - Saturday late morning

Nell had said she'd meet Lana here today, but she was already regretting it a little. Not the meeting Lana part, she'd certainly missed her the past nine years. It was the looks and whispers that followed her and her bruised face.

She'd spent most of the last nine years alone and so many people around, even if they weren't staring, was a bit uncomfortable.

The barista who got her her coffee and a decadent pastry, leaned in and told her Nell she didn't have to put up with abuse, and encouraged her to talk to the police before saying that her order was on the house. Nell thanked her, assured her that she was safe now and left a generous tip before retreating to a quiet corner to wait for Lana.

[Perk is open, of course!]

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Lana wasn't going to stare, because Marc had told her about Nell's bruising. She was, however, going to look her over closely as she came up to the table, taking in that and any other differences.

She started over, then paused. "Are you still a hugger?"

"I'm..." She really wasn't anymore. Hadn't had a hug from anyone in, well, nine years. Hadn't been touched in kindness in nine years.

"Not really," she said, but she did and moved towards her. "Out of the habit, I guess, but since you gave me my last one, might be nice to have my first from you."

Just be gentle, there were a lot more bruises under her clothes.

"Only if you want to," Lana said, but she was absolutely making herself available for a gentle hug. "Also I can Force-heal those bruises, if you like."

Nell stepped in for a very gentle hug, but stepped back fairly quickly. "Force-heal them?" she asked.

Lana wiggled her fingers. "It's one of the things I can do with the Force. Accelerate healing. Not if you don't want it, though." Sometimes you needed to keep your wounds; she could appreciate that.

"If it'll stop people staring at me I'm all for it," Nell said.

"Screw them if they can't keep their eyes to themselves, I just don't want you hurting," Lana said. She held out a hand for Nell to take.

Nell took her hand easily. "Is this going to hurt?" she asked. "It won't change my mind, I'd just like to prepare."

"It shouldn't, but it might feel odd," Lana said. "Tingly, maybe cold."

She drew on the Force and channeled it from her to Nell, seeking out the worst of the damage and speeding up the healing, watching the bruises fade.

Nell braced herself anyway, but relaxed as the pain of her injuries started to fade.

Lana searched out every hurt she could feel and sent healing Force energy into them until they were gone, then surfaced and took a deep breath. "Feeling better?"

All the pain faded away. Nell reached up with her free hand to touch her face. "That's amazing. Thank you, Lana."

Lana smiled. "I'm glad I could help you. And now I need some caffeine." She caught the barista's eye from where they were, gave her a hopeful look, and got a nod in return.

She took a moment longer to look over Nell. "Apart from that, you look good. Older, but I'm hardly one to throw stones about that. How have you been?"

"Went home, found myself right back where I'd started from with my husband yelling for his dinner," Nell said ruefully. "That was not what I was expecting, but it saved me a lot of questions about where I'd been for four years."

"Good and bad points, then," Lana said. "Did nobody notice you were four years older?"

"It was really only John," she said. "Nobody else saw me long enough to wonder. He died about five years ago and then it was just me. Except for market days when I could exchange a word or two with customers and occasionally some of the church women."

Nell smiled a little. "Made a sort of friend of one of the librarians. Saw her on market days for a few minutes when I exchanged my books and checked for online orders."

"I'm so pleased you were still able to read. And that you had a friend," Lana said. "Should I offer my condolences about John?"

"There's no need," Nell said. "We both know it wasn't a love match and I grieved far more for Leah than I did for him. But he left me the house and Soulwood and enough in insurance money to help me start out here and still pay for someone to keep an eye on Soulwood for me, so I have to be grateful for that."

Lana nodded. "It sounds like at least he left you well set. Do you need any help back there?" Gathering Sith lords to take out the church was still an option.

"If I have to go back for my sisters I'll be looking for help," Nell admitted. "But for now they want to stay where they are."

It was such a source of helpless frustration, but there was nothing she could do about it.

Lana gave a sympathetic grimace. "And all you can do is respect their choice. But if they do need help, you know I'm with you."

The barista that was going to get a very large tip brought Lana her coffee, and she sat at the table. "Tell me what you've been up to for the last decade, then. How is Soulwood?"

"Soulwood is wonderful," Nell said. "I brought a lot of soil and wood from it back here with me to let me stay at least somewhat connected."

She smiled a little sadly. "Went home, took up my marital duties, got married legally in the eyes of the state when I turned eighteen - or, you know, twenty-two really. John had been pretty sick since shortly after I got home, so I nursed him till he died - about five years ago now. Since then I've been on my own. I fought the church in court for the rights to my land and won. Things were fairly quiet, if lonely, till about four months ago."

"I'm glad you fought them, though I imagine it wasn't easy," Lana said. "I'm sorry you were lonely." Though it sounded as if the problems came after.

"Better to be lonely than in the church," Nell pointed out.

"Definitely," Lana agreed firmly. "You were still your own person. Do you want to tell me what happened?"

It was easier a second time. Telling Marc had helped her put it all in words.

"About four months ago I helped a woman named Jane Yellowrock get onto church grounds. In return she helped me get over a hundred and thirty abused kids out of the church." She couldn't help but smile a bit even if it as a grim smile. "Things got bad with the church after that - threats, watching me from a deer stand just off my land."

Her voice caught a little, "Killed my three dogs and left them on my porch for me to find."

It was a good thing none of the churchmen were there now, because Lana was feeling particularly Sith. She reached for Nell's hand, though, if she wanted the support. "Good for you, getting them out. And this time, I am sorry for your loss."

Nell nodded, head down as she tried to keep her voice steady. "Thank you. Only things that ever really just loved me. Even John thought it was amusing how much they loved me."

After a moment she continued. "Beginning of this week a group of them came for me. I, I tried, but one of them got the drop on me, beat me, tried to - well, you saw the result. I got out of it, sent him running back home with his tail between his legs."

She shrugged, trying to maintain her composure, but her voice and hands were shaking. "Two days later they sent eight kids to either bring me back or kill me. I could have - I had John's rifle, but kids. I couldn't... Someone showed up unexpectedly and ran them off, but I knew that the next time..."

She shook her head. "So, here I am. Arranged for someone to take care of my house and land, packed up what I needed, and left."

"And I'm glad to have you back, if livid about the situation," Lana said. She thought Nell was perhaps being too lenient, but it wasn't her call to make. "What can I do to help now? You have a place to stay, everything you need?"

"Got a place," Nell said with a smile. "43 Unicorn Street. Going to turn it into a shop for my plants and vegetables and teas and all. There's a two bedroom apartment upstairs and a greenhouse they built for me on the roof. All mine."

"Oh, wonderful!" Lana said. "I can't wait to see what you sell when you have an entire shop. And I'm sure the greenhouse will be lovely. Would you like any help setting up, or is it best if you do that yourself? I could bring over sandwiches or something and keep you company."

"I'm always happy for help," Nell said. "And I'd love to show the place off to you."

"Whenever you like," Lana said. "Just let me know."

"Well, for the time being I've got my old job back at Covent Gardens," Nell said, "So I'll be there Mondays for a while, but any day other than that."

"Why don't you call or text when you'd like me to show up?" Lana suggested.

"I can do that," Nell agreed. "I feel like I should ask what you've been doing these past ten years, but it's only been a week for you all apparently."

"It has, but believe me, I understand the impulse," Lana said, grinning. "It's very strange, isn't it?"

"Very," Nell agreed. "And it's been a very long time since I was around so many people. At least now they won't be staring at my face. Thank you again for that "

"You're very welcome," Lana said. "Is it all a bit overwhelming?" she asked.

She nodded. "Very. In a good way, but still. It will take me time before I stop jumping at sudden noises."

"Understandable," Lana said. "And in Fandom, not necessarily always unwarranted. If you ever want backup for a while, call me. No matter if there's something going on or you just want someone you can trust nearby."

"Thank you," Nell said. "I have to remember that there are people I can call if I need things again."

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The Perk - Saturday late morning

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