Learning

~The Work Trip~

Ahsoka woke up with the sound of her parents hushed arguing echoing up from the kitchen. Looking at her clock, it read two in the morning. Very early for a Saturday, too early. She wondered what they were angrily discussing but knew it wasn't her place and therefore tried to ignore it. This didn't work however as their voices grew louder and more bad words were used. Ahsoka also heard her name a few times but tried to roll over on her pillow and go straight back to sleep. It didn't work. Eventually, Ahsoka knew she must've drifted off but not before she knew what was going on: Her dad was leaving for work and her mum was using her as an excuse to stay.

When she woke up probably in the morning at eight, Ahsoka did consider the possibility that she has dreamt the entire arguement. That would be nice but she had a sinking feeling that she was being too optimistic. When she went outside her bedroom and into her parents' Ahsoka saw Hosin's suitcase lying open on his bed, quite full. "Papa?" She called down the stairs as her dad appeared at the bottom. "¿Por qué está tu maleta en tu cama?" Hosin smiled slightly at her as he came up to stand beside her.

He took her hand into the room and sat her next to the suitcase. "I'm going away for a week or so because my company wants me to oversee things in a new office they are setting up. I'm going today but this was all very last minute so I'm sorry about that. I won't be gone long though and we'll talk every night before you go to bed. It'll be fine, I promise." Hosin looked around his room and starting packing some spare clothes still left out.

Ahsoka frowned, she wasn't sure how she felt about that but knew Ashla would be furious and inconsolable about this. "What does Mama think about you going away?" Ahsoka rearranged some of his items so that they easily fitted into the case while he raced around.

Hosin sighed. "Your Mother has mixed feelings about this based on the time period but it will give us a lot of money. Plus, it might be good for us to have some space for a bit, you know? It's healthy for a relationship even, to maintain boundaries as your relationship progresses or else you may feel trapped or that the things that are yours are getting subsumed into the things that are ours." Ahsoka didn't know for she was seven, had never been in a relationship and had no idea how a relationship could be 'healthy', had a vague idea of what 'boundaries' meant in terms of a relationship and no clue as to the meaning of 'subsumed'.

Ahsoka frowned but didn't press her already agitated father. "Okay..." She muttered before leaving Hosin to finish packing. Ahsoka went in search of her mother who was curled up on the couch, dozing between sleep and awakening. "Mama? Are you awake?" She asked as she sat down next to her.

Ashla stirred at her words and patted her on the arm. "Hey Ahsoka, I'm okay. ¿Qué pasas?" She pulled herself upwards and Ahsoka into a hug.

"Are you okay with Dad going away for a week?" She asked her cautiously with wide eyes. "It's just he mentioned that you have mixed feelings about it among other words that I didn't understand. I know it's a long time but he does seem to have figured out how we will keep in touch." Ahsoka knew her mum would have more to say but really didn't want her opening question to be forgotten.

Ashla sighed and rubbed her temples. "He's not wrong about how I feel but like with everything when you are an adult: It's more complicated than that." She looked down at her daughter who looked up at her expectantly to continue. "I know that you're a smart girl Hija, but this takes more than book smarts to understand." Ashla smiled before it dropped to a frown as they heard Hosin on his way downstairs with his suitcase. She stood up and stood in the doorway. "I assume that you are on your way to the airport now? Do you need us to drive you?" Ashla had her arms folded and a dark expression on her face, practically daring him to object. "Your daughter could say goodbye to you, let everyone in your company know that you're sacrificing your family for them?" Ahsoka's eyes widened at that and knew that Ashla had probably forgotten that she was here.

Hosin glared at her. "You know, a ride was already arranged. I'll manage but thank you for the offer. Ahsoka, come here. Papá quiere despedirse de ti ahora." Ahsoka ran towards him and tightly hugged him.

"I will miss you, adiós Papá." She whispered as the reality of what was happening sunk in around her.

Ashla pulled her daughter away from him and remained giving him a frosty stare. "We will see you in a week." She told him.

Ahsoka frowned. "But he's going to say goodnight to us every night!" Why was her mum being so weird about everything?

Ashla just grimaced. "We'll see." She told her through pursed lips.

Hosin sighed angrily and waved goodbye to them as he walked out the door. A black van was parked outside their house and opened its doors when he approached. A women perhaps a few years younger than Ashla but not by a lot walked out and hugged him fiercely. Another man who Ahsoka recognised as T'kara, the guy responsible for this last minute trip, also patted him on the back and took his suitcase into the boot. The other woman finally released him and together they walked to the passenger and driver seats.

Ahsoka had her face pressed up against the window and watched as he drove away, honking the horn in farewell. She turned to Ashla when she heard a noise from the kitchen. Ashla returned with a bottle of wine. "Mama?" Ahsoka started, ready to question the drink but stopped at her mum's expression. Instead she went for a different question. "Who was that other woman Dad hugged?"

Ashla huffed and opened the bottle. "Someone who needs to learn her place... And someone who will never need to know. I love you completely, remember that." Ashla smiled softly at her before going into the living room and getting drunk.

I hope you enjoyed this other flashback chapter, highlighting how Ahsoka's parents' marriage was falling apart. Apologies if it's on the shorter side. I'll update again tomorrow so bye, bye.