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Topic:
Lifeday Candles - (Zekk, Peckhum), MMM vignette
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ZekksGoddess
Registered:
Oct '04
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Date Posted:
3/31 4:57pm
Subject:
Lifeday Candles - (Zekk, Peckhum), MMM vignette
- Date Edited:
3/31 4:58pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
ZekksGoddess
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Lifeday Candles
By: ZekksGoddess
Disclaimer: All things Star Wars belong to George Lucas. Although, I suppose that means 'Berniers' is copywright to me, now.
Timeframe: Before/During YJK
Summary: Lifedays are times for family celebrations.
Characters: Zekk, Peckhum
Genre: mush!
AN:Look! Something happy with Zekk in it!
My first Monday Mush Mania attempt.
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“Twenty minutes.”
In response, there was a vague grunt from the corner.
Zekk grinned down from his cross-legged position atop a pile of heavy boxes. “Nineteen minutes.”
Grunting again, an old man rolled over on his cot to glare up at him. “Boy,” he grumbled, his voice thick, “Don’t you know old people don’t like to be reminded they’re getting older?”
“Which brings us to another matter…how old are you going to be?”
“Old enough.” He responded briskly, closing his eyes as though trying to close the conversation.
Zekk pointedly ignored the hint.
“Come on Peckhum, I need to know how many candles to light.”
Peckhum pulled the blankets closer to his face. “Don’t need candles.”
“It’s your Lifeday; of course you’re going to have candles.”
Sighing, the grizzled old spacer sat up, letting his blanket fall down onto his lap.
“Really, Zekk” he said firmly, fixing the younger boy with a hard look. “I’m old, old enough to have had enough lifedays to stop caring ‘bout ‘em. I don’t need… candles or anything.”
Zekk frowned from his high perch. He knew Peckhum wasn’t really annoyed, it was just the old man’s nature to keep things simple, living day to day life as usual without much of a break in the routine. Of course, Zekk had taken it upon himself to dote on Peckum now and then, for becoming his friend and something of a grandfatherly figure to him, if not for taking him in instead of sending him to an orphanage.
“It’s an awful nice thought, of course.” Peckhum continued groggily, “but if you really insist, just a simple ‘Happy Lifeday’ would do.”
Zekk cocked his head, still frowning although the hints of a smile lurked at the corners of his lips. “But Peckhum,” he murmured slowly, “don’t you want to know what I got you?”
Peckhum wiped at his bleary eyes with the back of his hand, looking up at Zekk quizzically. “You got me somethin’?
“Course I did.” Zekk answered nonchalantly. “It’s your lifeday.”
“Really, you didn’t have to go an-“
“Fifteen minutes”.
Sighing, Peckhum pushed back the covers and swung his legs to the floor. He prided himself on staying pretty limber for such an old man, but it seemed that every day, it took a little more effort to get his joints going.
Grinning again, Zekk jumped down and disappeared into the kitchen.
Peckhum’s eyes passed over the small apartment. He and Zekk’s bedrooms were actually one big bedroom, but piles of boxes, old parts Zekk had found scavenging, and who knew what else made a makeshift wall to separate the two. It was a small apartment, with a small living area and an even smaller kitchen.
He could remember the first years he’d lived there by himself. Naturally, as a supply runner, he had lived a fairly lonely life, and the apartment had certainly reflected that.
Now, though; Zekk brought home his finds from scavenging and the odd knick-knack he thought Peckhum might like, and there were a few things Peckhum had brought home for Zekk.
It was very different having Zekk around. Peckhum wouldn’t say it aloud, but he certainly wouldn’t want to go back to living alone. He liked the life they’d settled into together, two lost souls who’d found a family with one another.
“Alright, Peckhum!”
Peckhum started at Zekk’s voice. With a last glance over the apartment, wearing the smallest of smiles, he crossed the couple of steps to the kitchen to find that Zekk had cleared them some table space, and set up the kitchen for the occasion.
Streamers of green, blue and yellow hung from the ceiling, and the arms of Peckhum’s big armchair. In the center of the table, there was a small cake, just enough for two people to dig into. Zekk sat at the other side of the table, quietly- although Peckhum could tell the boy was eager for a reaction.
Peckhum shook his head, lowering himself into his chair. “You’ve got too much spare time, kid.”
Zekk nodded at the cake, smirking. “I guess it doesn’t matter about the candles- they wouldn’t have fit anyway.”
“Candles shmandles. This is just fine.”
Zekk jumped up from his chair, returning a few moments later with a decent sized box wrapped meticulously in shiny blue material. Looking at the wrapping job, Peckhum raised an eyebrow at his young friend.
Zekk grinned and shrugged. “Let’s say I had some help finding these…she insisted on the wrappings.”
Peckhum chuckled; carefully pulling the paper away from the box- it looked expensive. Pulling out a small utility knife, he went to work on the box, muttering something nearly inaudible about Zekk and lifedays.
Zekk just grinned and studied the older man’s face.
Finally managing the last fold of the box, Peckhum pulled out a new pair of boots.
“These…they still make these?”
“Guess so.” Zekk shrugged with a suddenly shy grin. “You must’ve been right about quality boots, though- took forever to find them and get hold of them to actually get a pair.”
Peckhum chuckled, still shaking his head. That boy never failed to surprise him. It must’ve been nearly three months ago Peckhum had ripped open the seam on a pair of cheap boots and found himself nostalgic for the old Berniers he’d had when he was young.
And here in front of him were a brand new pair of Berniers, shining, and strong with the ‘new smell’.
“You’re somethin’ kid, you know that?”
Zekk looked down, obviously pleased.
And then, Peckhum got up from his chair and hugged the younger boy, surprising them both. Zekk hugged him back, and they both pulled away feeling a little embarrassed.
It was new to them both, having a family.
But a family it was.
Their family.
-----signature-----
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RK_Striker_JK_5
Registered:
Jul '03
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Date Posted:
3/31 5:02pm
Subject:
RE: Lifeday Candles - (Zekk, Peckhum), MMM vignette
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*Grins* Awesome. Nice to see something happy with Zekk. That was cool of him to get Peckhum those boots. He's a good kid. Not many people remember that about him. Nice to see it here.
-----signature-----
E-married to the wonderful DarthIshtar. Now also her Padawan. Member of the Y.J.K. Revolution Staring into the Darkness http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/27537567/p1/?23
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Goddess-Jaina-Redick
Registered:
May '05
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Date Posted:
3/31 5:08pm
Subject:
RE: Lifeday Candles - (Zekk, Peckhum), MMM vignette
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This was great!!!  I really liked the way Zekk was so eager for Peckhum's lifeday to come and then to give him his gift. It was cute. 
Awesome job!
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I <3 Duke.
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Jade_Pilot
Registered:
Dec '05
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Date Posted:
3/31 6:25pm
Subject:
RE: Lifeday Candles - (Zekk, Peckhum), MMM vignette
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Yes, this is great! Wonderful response to the challenge!
Well done! 
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I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult. - Rita Rudner
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earlybird-obi-wan
Registered:
Aug '06
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Date Posted:
3/31 9:11pm
Subject:
RE: Lifeday Candles - (Zekk, Peckhum), MMM vignette
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Lovely response to the challenge
-----signature-----
writer and Star Wars fan
FANART [link=http://boards.theforce.net/fan_art/b10020/25793899]fanart[/link]
stories in my bio
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VaderLVR64
Title: Fan Fic Manager in Combat Boots
Registered:
Feb '04
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Date Posted:
4/1 8:13am
Subject:
RE: Lifeday Candles - (Zekk, Peckhum), MMM vignette
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That was SO sweet. I loved it.
It was new to them both, having a family.
But a family it was.
Their family.
How true.
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If you have to choose between tears and laughter, remember that laughter burns more calories.
Proud New Army Mom - off to bootcamp!
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Golden_Jedi
Registered:
Jun '05
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Date Posted:
4/1 8:31am
Subject:
RE: Lifeday Candles - (Zekk, Peckhum), MMM vignette
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That was so sweet!
-----signature-----
The country is that place where chickens walk around uncooked - Julio Cortázar Unexpected Blossom http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28693266 Sailing Little Boats http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28747916
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jedi_of_ennth
Registered:
Mar '05
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Date Posted:
4/1 10:18am
Subject:
RE: Lifeday Candles - (Zekk, Peckhum), MMM vignette
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*obligatory fangirl flailing at the thought of kid!Zekk*
I do so love fics that explore the relationship between Zekk and Peckhum. Peckhum is one of the most endearing underused characters in the EU. I love the old man, and I love the way he and Zekk take care of each other. Cute little fic.
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"I'm your friend. I love you."
-- Zekk to Jaina, LotF: Fury
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Emerald_Lady
Registered:
Dec '06
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Date Posted:
4/2 2:25pm
Subject:
RE: Lifeday Candles - (Zekk, Peckhum), MMM vignette
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Zekk cocked his head, still frowning although the hints of a smile lurked at the corners of his lips. “But Peckhum,” he murmured slowly, “don’t you want to know what I got you?”
Peckhum wiped at his bleary eyes with the back of his hand, looking up at Zekk quizzically. “You got me somethin’?
“Course I did.” Zekk answered nonchalantly. “It’s your lifeday.”
AWWWWWWW. This is so cute/wonderful.
He liked the life they’d settled into together, two lost souls who’d found a family with one another.
I really like this way of putting it--I'd never thought of it in quite these terms before, but it's so true. 
Zekk sat at the other side of the table, quietly- although Peckhum could tell the boy was eager for a reaction.
Peckhum shook his head, lowering himself into his chair. “You’ve got too much spare time, kid.”
Zekk nodded at the cake, smirking. “I guess it doesn’t matter about the candles- they wouldn’t have fit anyway.”
 I love their banter.
Zekk grinned and shrugged. “Let’s say I had some help finding these…she insisted on the wrappings.”
*obligatory squee-ing at the implication of young!J/Z*
Peckhum chuckled, still shaking his head. That boy never failed to surprise him. It must’ve been nearly three months ago Peckhum had ripped open the seam on a pair of cheap boots and found himself nostalgic for the old Berniers he’d had when he was young.
*sniffle* That's our boy. I love how thoughtful he is, and how he noticed and remembered something like this so that he could get it for Peckhum.
This was very sweet. You wrote Zekk and Peckhum's relationship so well; it's just how I would imagine it if we'd gotten to see more of it in canon.
-----signature-----
"Maybe he'd smashed her like a bag of chips in his drive to get some."--Jacob Black, Breaking Dawn
"Every time you say Zekk abandoned Jaina in DJ, the Force kills a kitten."--jedi_of_ennth
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Klimt_Of_Tornesdal
Registered:
Dec '99
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Date Posted:
4/2 2:37pm
Subject:
RE: Lifeday Candles - (Zekk, Peckhum), MMM vignette
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ZekksGoddess posted:
“Twenty minutes.”
In response, there was a vague grunt from the corner.
Zekk grinned down from his cross-legged position atop a pile of heavy boxes. “Nineteen minutes.”
Grunting again, an old man rolled over on his cot to glare up at him. “Boy,” he grumbled, his voice thick, “Don’t you know old people don’t like to be reminded they’re getting older?”
“Which brings us to another matter…how old are you going to be?”
“Old enough.” He responded briskly, closing his eyes as though trying to close the conversation.
Oy, I know the feeling so well. Mine's in a couple of weeks, and I don't even wanna THINK about that number. Nice work Goddess.
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ZekksGoddess
Registered:
Oct '04
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Date Posted:
4/5 5:47pm
Subject:
RE: Lifeday Candles - (Zekk, Peckhum), MMM vignette
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RK_Striker_JK_5:
Nice to see something happy with Zekk.
I figured it was time to give the poor guy a break from the angst, right? 
That was cool of him to get Peckhum those boots. He's a good kid. Not many people remember that about him. Nice to see it here.
He was such a sweet kid- ah, I love little Zekk and his cuteness. Thanks!
Goddess-Jaina-Redick:
This was great!!!
Thank you!
I really liked the way Zekk was so eager for Peckhum's lifeday to come and then to give him his gift. It was cute.
Zekk's such a thoughtful kid, huh?
Jade_Pilot:
Yes, this is great! Wonderful response to the challenge! Well done!
Thank you! Very much!
earlybird-obi-wan:
Lovely response to the challenge
Thank you!
VaderLVR64:
That was SO sweet. I loved it.
Thank you- I really appreciate it. 
Golden_Jedi
That was so sweet!
Aw, thank you!
jedi_of_ennth:
*obligatory fangirl flailing at the thought of kid!Zekk*
*giggles*
I do so love fics that explore the relationship between Zekk and Peckhum. Peckhum is one of the most endearing underused characters in the EU. I love the old man, and I love the way he and Zekk take care of each other. Cute little fic.
Thanks, <b>Joe</b>! I was trying to think of something I could do for the challenge, and then I got to wondering where Peckhum had disappeared to, or what plothole had overtaken him in canon, and vavoom- here we are.
Emerald_Lady
AWWWWWWW. This is so cute/wonderful.
Thank you!
I love their banter.
I love writing it. It's so much fun.
*obligatory squee-ing at the implication of young!J/Z*
YAY! You caught it!  I wondered if anyone would.
I just had to slip it in, I couldn't resist.
This was very sweet. You wrote Zekk and Peckhum's relationship so well; it's just how I would imagine it if we'd gotten to see more of it in canon.
Thank you very much! It's too bad we couldn't see more of it in canon, but now that Peckhum's mysteriously disappeared from the EU, I don't think we'll be seeing any interaction between them at all...
Klimt_Of_Tornesdal:
Oy, I know the feeling so well. Mine's in a couple of weeks, and I don't even wanna THINK about that number. Nice work Goddess.
Well, thank you very much. And happy early birthday!
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Lusa_Thul
Registered:
Sep '04
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Date Posted:
4/7 2:56pm
Subject:
RE: Lifeday Candles - (Zekk, Peckhum), MMM vignette
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AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!
I really don't have a much more coherent response than that. It was wonderful.
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iamobiwan1970
Registered:
Aug '05
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Date Posted:
4/7 3:15pm
Subject:
RE: Lifeday Candles - (Zekk, Peckhum), MMM vignette
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Sweet...sweet...sweet! I love young Zekk's thoughtfulness and the interaction of those two.
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Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there, with open arms and open eyes.
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Jade_Max
Registered:
Jun '02
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Date Posted:
4/10 7:03am
Subject:
RE: Lifeday Candles - (Zekk, Peckhum), MMM vignette
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AN:Look! Something happy with Zekk in it!
That hooked it for me 
What a fun little Viggie. It was great to see Zekk happy about something... and so like him to remember something offhand that Peckhum said and store it away for life day 
Fantastic "happy" Zekk fic!
-----signature-----
You'll Like me when I'm Dead - V/P Dark Drama - http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/29236355 Don't think, write. And have faith that your subconscious mind is smarter than you.- lazy RIP my little Nibbler
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ZekksGoddess
Registered:
Oct '04
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Date Posted:
5/13 1:50pm
Subject:
RE: Lifeday Candles - (Zekk, Peckhum), MMM vignette
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Lusa_Thul:
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!
I really don't have a much more coherent response than that. It was wonderful.
Well, I find your incoherence rather flattering. Thanks!
iamobiwan1970:
Sweet...sweet...sweet! I love young Zekk's thoughtfulness and the interaction of those two.
Thank you muchly!
Jade_Max:
AN:Look! Something happy with Zekk in it!
That hooked it for me .
Fantastic "happy" Zekk fic!
Thanks very much!
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Neo-Paladin
Registered:
Dec '04
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Date Posted:
5/21 6:44pm
Subject:
RE: Lifeday Candles - (Zekk, Peckhum), MMM vignette
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This was a fun and sweet story! It was fun seeing a slice of life that was happily plesant.
-----signature-----
Just because your voice reaches halfway around the world doesn't mean you are wiser than when it reached only to the end of the bar.
Edward R. Murrow
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