Yolanda was examining the seeds on offer for the purposes of planting them on her homeworld, sticking to varieties that rewsembled flowers she had seen there in her trips up. She was examining seed packets when a gruff, familiar voice startled Yolie from thoughts and she turned on instinct to face her grandfather Hadrian with his spring seedlings and a calm expression on his face, the elderly man looking at his granddaughter with an unreqadable expression.

"I had no idea you planned on gardening this year Yolanda,." He said rtoughly. Hadrian had the most... Extensive garden in the family, obsessively nurturing each plant wioth poracticed expertise Yolie absolutely lacked, planning to let nature raise the seedlings on her homeworld. She couldn't tell the old man though.

"I'm... Dabbling." She said cautiously. "Nothing so extensive as you keep Grandfather. I... I uhm. I planned more to plant them and let nature do the work. Or sprinklers."

She was... Pretty sure there were sp[rinklers working the parks. Hadrian studied her, eyes narrowing analytically. The elderly man was assessing something before selecting his usual varieties briskly before motioning to his granddaughter to follow him. Yolie know one did not disobey her grandsire in thec family and wincedm, following. Hadrian walked past the peonies and pansies, marigolds and lilacs, stopping before small trays of dirt containing flowers ready to plant and selectec the tray he deemed best, turned, and placed iut in Yolie's backet, Yolie blinking as she opened her mouth to speak.

"Violets were your mother's favorite." Hadrian began. He wasn't finished. "Your name has a history, descending from Greek Jolanthe, meaning Violet, down to Yolanda in Italy. Her husband Caligula got his niockbname in the military as a joke." Hadrian paused. Yolie had never heard him speak openly about what happened. She listened, realizing this was important to her grandsire.

He was always a b*****d to the family. Demanding. Controlling. Expectant... A perfectionist. But not... Always. He had moments. Like now as he selected another tray with the silent authority of one used to not being denied. Perhaps he knew Yolie woulsn't deny him.

"Your birth was... Hard on your mother. Caligula neverv trusted her. Valentino. But when your mother was close to term... He demanded a paternity test. He was... Aware he ewas inferile. Witheld that even from me. He wanted both of you gone. I... Tried. Your uncle... Tried. After you were born.."

Hadrian's hands shook.

"He disguised himself as a nurse. She'd filed a restraining order. I was using my connections tioo the force to try keeping him away. I made a mistake arranging them."

Yolie's eyes widened. He admitted it. A third tray of violets were placed with the others.,

"He diosguised himself as a nurse and I was the emergency contact on call for it. She died... Quickly. Poison. Security kept him from the nursury, from you."

Hadrian's hands were shaking worse, taking the last tray, playing it, eyed dampo. Yolie had never seem her grandfather cry.

"She never goit a chance to tell us the name. Regula didn't know. He was deploiyed. I arrived at the hospital to my dauighter dead and my granddaughter in danger. Idid... What t felt I had to do., I named you Yolanda because -- I wanted to give you a respectable chance at a fuiture, and honor yourc mother. I think she would be delighted to see you gardening Yolanda." Hadrian finished quietly. Yolie realized now why he was intervening.

Because...

It reminded him of her mother. It made him see something her mother loved coming back. She never knew. Nobody talked about her mother. ...She supposed she could buy seeds online for her homeworld. Or grab extras here...

"Grandfather? Will you help me plant the garden then? I... Nobody tells me about Mom. And Dad's gone...." Yolie fidgeted. Hadrian paused.

Nobody in the family asked him to help. There was good reason, he kjnew. He was ionsufferable. Difficult. He knew it. Everyone did.

But Yoliue asked. And she wanted[ to listen. His hand slowly reached, taking his granddauighter's again.

"We need toi plant today, then. Do you have tools?" He asked. Yolie faltered.

"A... Trowel?" A small one, but she had it. Hadrian shook his head, petting her hair.

"We'll pick some then. You'll need tools for weeding and proper watering and tendsing. A sprinker system perhaps. You work hard, make good money for your home. ...Shew... Had a feeling this visit might be nice, as she followed her grandfather to pick out her new tools.