Chapter Six: Reconciliation

Lana woke up the faint chiming of bells, followed by the deep bellow of a gong. When she looked out the window, the sky was just beginning to brighten. Sunrise.

How close did Ema live to the temple, again? Lana remembered a longer walk, but she also remembered a lot of turns. Maybe the absolute distance wasn't all that much. Still, Lana didn't think she would want to live near a place that played music at dawn every morning. How did Ema sleep through this?

Oh, right. She didn't seem to sleep here much at all. It was only an impression Lana had, but it was one Ema hadn't done anything to deny. Nor had the silver-tongued regent she called a boyfriend.

Nahyuta Sahdmadhi. Lana fell back and groaned just thinking about him. His face in the news, his comments at dinner, his attempts to appeal to her last night. Lana tried and failed to be against him as a person, but she was stalwart in her thoughts about him and Ema together. It just shouldn't happen.

Ema didn't belong here. She didn't belong in a world where religion was favored over science. She didn't belong in a world where power was gained by staging a coup against siblings and spouses. She didn't belong in a world where protesters were beaten and arrested for seeking a fair trial that discerns the truth of a crime. She didn't belong in a world where she and Lana were once again apart.

Ema had been given a choice, and for the life of her, Lana didn't know why she'd chosen here. No man deserved the power to control her life. It wasn't personal, and yet, it personally irked her. It wasn't something Lana could comprehend.

But... if she and Ema kept fighting like this over it, it would only serve to push her sister away. Lana was all too familiar with Ema's stubbornness, even as she refused to acknowledge her own.

She tried to fall back asleep, to no avail. As the bells continued to chime, the faint sound of chanting began to fill the air. Hundreds of people in places all over the city were taking part in their morning prayer. The louder it got, the more impossible it would be for Lana to sleep through. And so she got up.

Lana walked into the living room of her sisters house, barefoot and in her night clothes. On the couch she found Ema, sitting and staring at her.

"You came back," Lana said.

"I got back hours ago. I was helping Apollo with his paperwork. We lost track of time." Ema tilted her head. "Were you worried?"

"A little," Lana admitted. "How was Mr. Justice?"

"Busy, but that's normal. He appreciated the help, but told me to get back here before midnight so I don't upset you even more. But by the time I came back here, you were already asleep. I figured you deserved it after your long flight, and left you to it."

"So you told him about our... talk, last night?"

"Yeah." Ema cringed. "I... said some things I shouldn't have. I'm sorry, Lana."

"It's okay. My responses were no better." It was then that Lana remembered. "The regent knows as well. He came here last night."

"What?" Ema's eyes went wide. "What was Nahyuta doing here?"

"He came to deliver some pashra'sueet. It's on the counter." Lana cocked her head.

"That doesn't explain why he knows about our fight. Does he know it was about him?"

"He figured it out, yes."

Ema sighed. "I wish he hadn't. He isn't the problem here." Lana disagreed, but her sister wasn't finished. "I am."

"Hm?"

"I talked it over with Apollo while I was with him, and he helped me realize a few things. For one, all you really know about Khura'in is what the American media says. Did you know Khura'in has less than half the crime rate of LA, and only a third of the murder rate? They also only have half the population, but that's beside the point."

Lana hadn't known that. "That doesn't change the fact that Khura'in is a deeply religious nation. How is that a good fit for you?"

"It's actually working out okay. Despite what I said earlier about Khura'inism being a requirement of citizenship here, there's an entire passage in the scriptures talking about how it's impossible to force anyone to convert to a religion and acknowledges the existences of other gods in other parts of the world. Plus the people are mostly tolerant of me, in a 'don't ask, don't tell' sort of way." Ema pulled her glasses over her eyes. "And besides, one of the aims of the revolution is to bring better forensic science to the country and give it more weight in courtroom proceedings. It's in the official proclamation and everything!"

Advancing a country's use of forensic science was one of the main missions of the courtroom revolution? The news outlets back in America certainly hadn't covered that. Still, it was no wonder Ema was all over it. Lana imagined her experience with the field made her one of the most knowledgeable experts on the topic in the country, so that must feel good.

The longer Lana was here, the harder it was to hold on to her original position. Perhaps it was time she admitted so.

"Perhaps I was a bit quick to judge the situation," Lana conceded. "But I was worried about the same thing for you."

At that, Ema's eyes softened. She put her glasses back on the top of her head. "Apollo helped me notice that, too. I'm sorry I didn't ask you before we moved. I know we were just starting to be close again. But I don't want to have to choose between working here and getting along with you. I invited you here hoping I could have both. I want you in my life, Lana. But I also want to feel like my work has a purpose. Like there's more than just you in my life that appreciates me. Like I have a shot at real love."

She paused for a long time, staring at her sister. "Please don't draw a line in the sand. If I have to choose, I know I'd be unhappy no matter what choice I make. I promise I'll think this all through. But please be there for me while I do. I don't want to feel like I'm losing you again." Ema was close to crying. "Please?"

Lana reached out for her, and took her hand. "I see that now. And while I still don't know how I feel about any of this, I don't want to lose you to this place, or see you miss it all your life." She gave Ema's hand a squeeze. "All I've wanted for you in life was to make sure you're well taken care of. So much that I forgot that you can take care of yourself. Just... don't run off on me again, okay? I barely handled it this time."

"So we'll figure it out together?" Ema asked.

Lana hesitated, then nodded. "Together."

Ema smiled, brushing back the tears that had started forming in her eyes. "Great! I'll get us some breakfast. Did you know pashra'sueet makes a great breakfast?"

Lana shook her head, resisting the urge to laugh. "Do you have any coffee?"

"Oh yeah! I'll go get you some! And after that, we're gonna do some sightseeing!" Before Lana could get another word in, Ema had disappeared into the kitchen.

Was Lana excited about Ema moving to one of the less developed regions of Asia? No. Maybe she never would be. But the more she thought about it, the less it seemed worth it to fight her on the issue. Ema made her position clear, she was an adult, and if Lana wanted to better their relationship... maybe it was time she acknowledged that.

She would help Ema put rationality behind her future actions. She would always want to make sure her sister was safe. But her days of playing mother hen were over. The role she'd been suddenly thrust into so many years ago would be of no use to her here. And that was okay.

Ema was her grown up sister, not a child. If she made rash decisions, she would have to face the consequences. Lana could help and offer advice, but she ultimately had no control. And that was the thought Lana had avoided acknowledging for so long. It was easier in prison, back when her only exposure to Ema's life was when she visited and called. She visited Lana in the same room each time, from age sixteen to age twenty-six. Because of that, it was easy to pretend things hadn't changed. That when Lana stepped out of her prison cell for the last time, the world would be the same as she remembered.

Until she did, and it wasn't. Lana had gotten used to everything else being different, but somehow, she never came around to Ema. And by the time they were closer than ever and spending serious time together, Ema moved to Khura'in. And Lana wasn't ready for it.

She didn't know how Ema's relationship with a royal man would end. But she decided she wanted to be there when it did.

And that was enough.

A/N's: Kind of a short resolution, but I don't want to make it longer. I think it works the way it is, with Ema and Lana patching things up and Lana reflecting on their relationship.

It's funny. I started out this fic wanting it to be an observation of Ema and Nahyuta's relationship (courtesy of Lana), but along the way, Lana and Ema's relationship became equally (if not more) important. Honestly, I think I like it better this way. I've found woefully few fics about Lana and Ema being sisters after Lana leaves prison, and none about them connecting after SoJ. It's like the developers (and a lot of fans) forgot Lana existed. And that makes me sad, because I really like writing (and reading) about her.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this little fic, don't forget to leave your thoughts, and I'll see you on the far side!