Macavity glanced over at Coricopat as the Chancellor got out of the air taxi, almost instantly being greeted by all the other dignitaries and Senators. "You're turn to play poster boy," he murmured.

Coricopat shook his head, "Oh no you don't. You had as much planning in this as I did. I am not dealing with the senatorial dignitaries on my own..."

"I am not sitting through the endless speeches," Macavity replied. "You deserve your glorious day with the politicians." He paused, looking past the main gaggle. "Besides, one of us needs to report to the council and... well, I think someone's been missing you."

Coricopat looked past the majority of the senators to Mistoffelees. He finally sighed, "Alright, go on then."

Macavity clamped him on the shoulder and left-not sure if he was going to report to the council, curl up in a ball and shake, or try and find Victoria first.

Coricopat watched him go and then made his way toward the senators, managing to disguise the fact that his lower back hurt with every step pretty well.

Mistoffelees stood to one side, having already greeted the returning Chancellor, seeing as he was the Senator from the man's original homeplanet. Once that duty was discharged though, he fell back, soon enough standing next to the Jedi. He turned his head to finally take a long look at the other, having wanted nothing more than to throw himself at the other the moment he saw him. "Are you alright?" Mistoffelees asked Coricopat softly, laying one hand on his arm.

The Jedi nodded, "I'm fine. Tired, a little shaken, but fine."

Mistoffelees looked him over again. "Mhm." He glanced at the gaggle that was moving further away before saying softly. "Do I have to take you to a hospital or will icing whatever hurts work?"

"I'm fine."

"I've fulfilled any obligations I have today," Mistoffelees said, just as softly. "Can leave now with little problem. And, seriously, I can read your body language well enough to know we're at least picking up ice on the way home."

Cori sighed, "Fine, ice will be adequate."

Mistoffelees offered him a faint smile before taking a step back. He took the longer route to the airspeeder, walking just a bit slower than usual. Coricopat considered how much he'd hear about ducking out alter and decided he didn't care, heading toward the speeder.

Offering him a grin, Mistoffelees got into the pilot seat and started it up. Coricopat settled gingerly in the passenger's seat, glancing at the smaller man and offering him a slight smile.

"I promise to be a responsible pilot," Mistoffelees told him, taking off and heading for the apartment, through rather light traffic for the planet.

"Good to hear. How are you doing?"

"Alright," he replied, voice soft. "Some days it feels like the Senate is falling apart and I hate the fact that years later we're still at war. And, everlasting force, I miss you."

"I miss you too. And the war's starting to come to an end..." Hopefully.

"I hope so," Mistoffelees said, voice still soft. "Because if it doesn't end soon, I'm not sure we'll be able to call ourselves a democracy anymore, considering the amount of emergency powers that man has been gathering..." he scowled at the thought of the Chancellor. He'd never much trusted the man, and couldn't understand why everyone else did.

"You don't care much for him."

"No," Mistoffelees answered faintly, daring a glance from the road to Coricopat. "Do you?"

He shrugged, "He's the chancellor. I've only a select few politicians I can abide, and frankly I'm not certain he's on that list."

"I really hope I'm on that list," Mistoffelees said, offering him a grin before it slipped again. "I... the first time I met him was right after the Battle of Naboo," he said, tapping a finger against the steering wheel as he talked. "He seemed so smug to have been named Chancellor, and like everything had come out according to his plan but... so many people had died during the occupation and during the battle and all he cared about was getting his power. Now it's like a bigger version of those events as it's not one planet but the entire galaxy he's got at war, and he's gathering up even more power."

Coricopat sighed softly, "That...is probably a rather reasonable assessment, but there's not much we can really do..."

The Senator sighed. "There should be. That's the point of a democracy. But I know, especially now, at this moment, there's not a lot to do. I just wonder if the war ever does end, what would happen."

"We need to worry about ending the war first. After that we will see."

Nodding, the Senator landed the speeder at the apartment, almost scrambling out and waiting for Coricopat inside. Coricopat carefully made his way into the apartment, arching an eyebrow at the senator as the door closed behind him.

Catching the Jedi's face between his hands, Mistoffelees leaned up to kiss him as soon as the door was closed, carefully considering the fact he was sure the other was at least somewhat injured. But he'd wanted to kiss the other since he saw him, and took the chance as soon as he could. Coricopat ignored the twinge in his back as he wrapped an arm around Mistoffelees, drawing him closer as he leaned down into the kiss.

For a long moment the smaller man lingered in the kiss before finally drawing back, resting his forehead against the others. "Should get you some ice?"

Coricopat shrugged very slightly, "I'm fine."

The Senator didn't look terribly impressed by that answer. "Coricopat..."

"Hm?"

"You're injured aren't you, and not admitting to it?"

"It's not that bad."

"Cori..."

"I'm alright!" he protested.

The Senator gave him another look, starting to pull his robes off. The Jedi sighed, shrugging off his cloak and managing not to wince. Mistoffelees managed not to roll his eyes when he noticed the suppressed wince and got the tunic off, glancing at Coricopat's back. "It's already bruising," he sighed. "Go lay down already and I'll get the ice. Or bacta maybe in this case."

"Ice will be fine." Coricopat replied shortly as he made his way to the bedroom.

Closing his eyes, the Senator shook his head, fetching the ice and darkening most of the windows as he went through the apartment, making his way to the bedroom, pausing for a moment in the doorway and just soaking up the presence of the other.

Coricopat turned his head to look at the smaller man, "Hm?"

"I missed you," Mistoffelees said, coming forward and sitting on the edge of the bed, putting the ice carefully on the already rather large bruise. "I didn't know when you would be able to come home again..."

"I missed you too. And I'm home now, and hopefully here for a while at least."

"I hope so too," Mistoffelees said, leaning over enough to kiss his shoulder lightly, before curling up on the bed next to him. Coricopat offered him a slightly tired smile, twining his fingers with the other man's.

Mistoffelees gave him a smile in returning, bringing their entwined hands up to lightly kiss the back of Coricopat's. "I'm glad you're back, for however long it may be. How... how have you been?"

"I've been...decent. Missing you."

Mistoffelees nodded. "Well, decent is better than it could have been then."

Cori nodded slightly, "Indeed it is. And I'm back and in one piece."

"I'm glad," Mistoffelees said and sighed. "Damn it, I just wish the war was over..."

The Jedi nodded slightly, "I know. I think we all do."

"True," he murmured softly, kissing the back of Coricopat's hand again. "It's a little selfish of me too but..." he shook his head. "I'm just glad you're home. Hopefully it means I'll be able to sleep the next couple nights..."

Coricopat sighed, releasing Misto's hand to trace his hand down the senator's cheek, "You've been having visions again?"

Mistoffelees tilted his head into the hand, nuzzling against it softly. "Yeah. Sometimes. I don't always need to news to tell me when there's a big battle anymore."

"Oh, Mistoffelees..."

"It's not... it's not that bad usually but..."

"But?"

"But sometimes it is," he said softly, with a sigh. "Sometimes I wake up and I'm not sure you're really alive still or not."

Coricopat shifted, turning to prop himself up on his elbow, disregarding the fact that it caused the ice to slide off of his back. He gently drew the other close, "Oh, love."

The Senator tried to protest for a moment longer, pretend that he was fine, really, and gave up, burying his head against the Jedi's chest and shaking slightly. "But you are. You're alive and you're here. So it's alright..."

"I am, but that doesn't mean that it's any less worrisome for you when I'm not."

"No," he agreed. "It's not any less worrisome. But I'd rather not worry so long as you are here. I'd rather just enjoy the fact than fret."

The Jedi nodded, running his hand over Mistoffelees' hair. Mistoffelees sucked in a breath, settling down further against the other. "Missed you," he murmured softly. "Love you..."

"I love you too, so very much."

"I'm glad," he said, voice still soft, shifting against the other. "Everlasting force am I glad..."

Coricopat settled back, keeping his arms around the smaller man.

o.o.o.

Several hours after landing the remains of the ship, Macavity found himself at the door to Victoria's hotel room. She was luckily back on the planet again, as far as he knew undergoing treatment again.

Victoria looked up when he entered, motioning for her handmaidens to leave. She rose carefully. "Macavity..."

He offered her a smile, exhausted. "Hey, Vic," he said softly.

The queen moved over to him, taking his hands gently. "Are you alright?"

"Sure," he said, attempting to bluff and realized it, shaking his head slightly. "No. But I will be. How are you?"

"I'm..." She shrugged, "Doing alright. Tired, far more than I like, but alright."

"Good," he murmured, leaning forward and kissing her temple. "Good that you're mostly alright."

She leaned against him, sighing, "How long can you stay?"

"I don't know," he said, wrapping his real arm firmly around her, and resting his mechanical hand lightly against her waist, burying his face in her hair. "They should allow us some time..."

Victoria nodded slightly, "Alright...Is something bothering you, Macavity?"

He shook his head. "No. I'm just tired. And sick of war..."

She pulled back enough to study his face before nodding, "…As long as you're sure."

He nodded, a bit firmly. "Yeah. Everything's alright."

"...Very well." She sighed softly, glancing toward the couch, "Come sit down?"

He paused and nodded. "Alright, sounds good," he murmured, leading her over and sitting down hard.

She settled down next to him, moving gingerly. The queen kept her hand twined with his, her other hand on her abdomen. "I've missed you..."

"I've missed you too," he said, turning enough to look at her, and noticing where she was holding her hand, frowning at it slightly.

Victoria arched an eyebrow, "Hm?"

He shook his head. "I don't know, too tired I think. Are you sure you're alright?"

She nodded slightly, "Yes, Macavity. Are you?"

He shrugged. "I'm not the one sick..." he murmured. "I'm just fighting a war."

She looked down, "'Just.' It's hardly a matter of 'just.'"

"No," he said with a sigh and pulled her closer again, resting his head on her shoulder. "It's not just. But it's part of what a Jedi does..." *And I am such a bad one...*

She sighed softly, "I suppose..."

He nestled a bit closer to her with a sigh. "It'll be over soon though," he murmured. "It has to be... there's only one general left..."

"There's what..?" She pulled back just enough to look at him.

"General Growltiger," Macavity said. "He's the only one left alive. ... Genghis is dead."

She paused at that, "What happened?"

"A battle," he replied, voice neutral. "Like any other battle. He was killed during it."

"I see..." Something was off about his tone, but she didn't pursue it.

He swallowed and nodded. "So there's just Growltiger left. And then we should have peace."

She smiled softly, leaning her head against his chest. "I..."

"Yeah?"

Considering for a moment, she finally shook her head, "It...it can wait."

"No, what?" he asked, pulling back enough to meet her eyes. "Did something happen?"

She managed a slight smile. "Sort of? I.." Victoria took a deep breath, "I'm expecting, Macavity."

"Expecting...?" he asked with a blink, not quite comprehending.

She took his hand and placed it on her stomach, meeting his eyes, "I'm pregnant."

Eyes widening, he stared at her for a long moment, then down to her stomach, and then back up to her. "You're...?" He was floored, unable to respond yet.

She nodded very slightly, "Yes…"

"With mine?"

"Yes."

He blinked, and with a soft cry engulfed her in his arms again. "I... Oh Vic..."

She wrapped her arms around him, "I..."

"Are you... are you going to be able to carry the pregnancy?" he asked softly, the thought hitting him like a ton of bricks.

"I...I think so. The doctors seem confident," came her quiet response.

"Good," he murmured, holding her a bit tighter but still carefully. "Good..."

She leaned her head against his chest, swallowing hard, "I..I love you."

"Everlasting force, I love you too, Vic. We'll get through this, just like everything else, yeah?"

She nodded, "Y-yeah."

"I love you," he murmured, kissing the top of her head again.


Two things: Oh god, Misto matured. I'm not sure what to do with that, but he's come quite a way since the first story. Though... let's see, if he was 19 or so in the first story, 24/25 in the second, he would be... almost thirty in this one if the war was going on 5 or 6 years, which I want to say it was. Huh. So he's matured.

Secondly: Sometime during the war Mac and Vic clearly gave in. It occurs to me, we meant to write that as a side story/interlude, which we might still, or we'll leave as is. But they've been together romantically for at least a couple years now.

Cheers all, and remember, reviews are like cookies for authors. Thanks so much for all the feedback we've been getting!