Naboo's Skywalker Amphitheater

[Colleen MqCray]

*A member of the audience who had a backstage pass comes backstage holding hands with his wife. The two of them look around, feeling a bit lost.*

*Catches sight of the newcomers and immediately tenses up, eyes narrowing.* ::What are they doing here?::

*Colleen notices Skyler's abrupt change in mood, and follows his gaze. She hurries over to the couple to greet them with a smile.* "Mr. and Mrs. Vortex! I'm glad you could come."

"Thank you for inviting us, Colleen. Your music is so beautiful." *Gazes over at Skyler. The expression on her face is at once loving, longing, and apprehensive.*

*Remains quiet, looking at Skyler. His expression is inscrutible.*

[Safiya]

Heather grew instantly nervous upon hearing that the man and women were Skyler's parents, she could also sence that Skyler didn't seem the fondest of them being there either. When she saw the look on his mother's face though, a bit of her heart melted, remembering that look on her own mom's face. She tried to keep a friendly smile on her face and in her nervousness she slipped her hand into Skyler's hand.

[Colleen MqCray]

*Colleen leads the couple over, looking nervously at Sky. She had been in touch with his parents for almost as long as she knew him. She had invited them to this concert hoping that they could finally put the past behind them.*

*Skyler's jaw worked tensely back and forth, his teeth grinding. He felt like either turning and running, or screaming at the top of his lungs at them, or running to them and embracing them, asking them for their forgiveness. His tone was a forced calm.* "Mother, father."

*Denis Vortex's tone was very similar to Sky's.* "Son."

*Kyora had to swallow first before finding her voice.* "Oh, Skyler, I've missed you so. I'm so proud of you!" *Goes to hug her son.*

*Wanting to embrace his mother, Skyler found himself stiffening and, taking her shoulders, backing away from her instead.* "Yeah, now that I'm famous, you suddenly want me back, is that right?" *The cold tone shocks even himself. He can't stand the hurt in his mother's eyes, and turns around and rushes to a dressing room and locks the door behind him.*

*Looks back at her husband with tears in her eyes.* "He hates us!"

*Embraces her.* "No, I think he was just shocked to see us." *His voice held sorrow and hopeful comfort.*

*Colleen was shocked at Skyler's reaction.* "Sky!" *With an apologetic look back at his parents, she quickly goes to the dressing room and knocks on the door.* "Sky! Please, don't do this. Open up!"

[Safiya]

Skyler's actions shocked Heather, but seeing his parents reaction she felt compassionate. She turned and walked to the dressing room. "Colleen, may I?" she asked, looking the woman in the eyes "I'd like to talk to him if I can"

[Colleen MqCray]

"Why did you have to bring them?" *Sky's tortured voice was muffled behind the door. Within the room, Sky leaned with his back against the door looking up at the ceiling, tears flowing.*

*Colleen wipes a tear from her own eye as she looks at Heather and nods* "I just wanted..." *She closes her eyes and shakes her head.* "I thought this would be a good thing."

*It breaks Leith's heart to see tears come from Colleen's eyes, and he goes over and puts an arm around her shoulder.* "Come, it'll be alright. Let him settle down."

*Leans against Leith and lets him guide her to a seat. Looks over at the elder Vortex's.* "I'm so sorry."

*Leads his wife to sit on the couch with Colleen, opposite Leith and pats her shoulder.* "No need to apologize. This wasn't unexpected. Pain and anger exist on both sides, and we have to work through it. I'm only sorry you are caught in the middle."

[Safiya]

Heather knocked softly on the door "Skyler...." she said in a quiet tone but loud enough for him to hear her voice.

[Colleen MqCray]

::Oh shaak patties, why did they have to come when she's here?:: *Can't bring himself to say anything. He sinks down the door to sit on the floor and puts his head in his hands.*

[Safiya]

"Skyler please open the door" she said softly, gently rattling the knob "I just want to talk to you"

[Colleen MqCray]

*Sky takes a few deep breaths and forces himself to stop crying. He wipes the tears from his face before getting up and unlocking the door. He doesn't open the door though, but walks across the room and stands against the far wall, arms folded against his chest, trying to keep the tears from coming again.* ::Mynock pellets, you're acting like a sissy, Skyler, stop crying::

*Watching Heather, Mrs. Vortex quietly asks Colleen:* "Who is she?"

"Heather. She's Sky's girlfriend." *Hopes they don't ask how long Sky knew Heather*

"Lovely girl."

*Tenderly runs a finger down his wife's cheek.* "Not as lovely as you, my sunshine."

*Blushes with a tearful smile and leans her head against his shoulder.* "I hope she can get him to speak with us."

[Safiya]

She heard the click of the lock and opened the door slowly then stepped inside "Why are you hiding?" she asked softly as she crossed the room and hugged him. Slightly surprised at her own actions she blushed then pulled away from him.

[Colleen MqCray]

"Please, don't pull away. I need you." *Swallows as he looks at her with moist, pleading eyes and feeling scared and vulnerable as he hadn't since that day.*

[Safiya]

"You need them too" she wispered then hugged him again.

[Colleen MqCray]

*He couldn't say anything. He just hugged her and wept, burying his face in her hair.*

[Safiya]

She didn't say anything, giving him a chance to cry for a bit. ::Tears are the safety valve of the heart when too much pressure is laid on it:: she thought to herself.

[Colleen MqCray]

"I'm sorry." *He pulls away from her just slightly, but keeps an arm around her as he wipes his face with his hands.* "I... them being here... it just caught me off guard! I... oh crud, I treated them so awful!"

*He looks down, ashamed, as he thinks of the pain on his mother's face.* "I'm pondscum!"