Here's another chapter in so many days! I've been having alot of fun writing this story as it contains so many different elements (a love scene) that I thought I wasn't capable of writing! I've seen alot of people reading this and even though it hasn't got alot of reviews, I'm glad to see that people are enjoying it.

Chapter 14 Izzy Orec Sabela Orrelios

The next morning found Missy and Zeb giving Izzy a bath in a small tub in the spacious refresher of the rehab center. The baby Lasat seemed to be getting used to his hopefully new parents and giggled constantly as he tried to catch soap bubbles with his hands when Missy soaped up his little furry body. Both Zeb and Missy found out the baby was ticklish and he was giggling so much he squirmed making it hard to get him clean.

"I hope that Izzy can stay with us...forever," Missy said as she rinsed off the Lasat baby's body with a wash cloth. The baby kept trying to catch bubbles with his little clawed hands.

"Yeah, he's a cute little squirt," Zeb said as he let out a chuckle, "He sure loves you."

Missy leaned her head over onto Zeb's broad shoulder.

"I hope that the orphanage will let us adopt him," Missy said and looked up at him, "I love this baby more than you realize. I was meant to be his mother. I don't care that he is a Lasat and that he'll have a human mother. Being a mother doesn't have a species label."

"I know," Zeb answered as he kissed her on the cheek, "I...love Izzy too and want to be his father. I know Cynda would never forgive us if Izzy doesn't become part of the family. Look how much she played with him yesterday."

"Hey, Garazeb!" T'Pell called from the doorway, "Are you and Missy doing okay with Izzy's bath? I can help lift him out if it's too hard for you."

"Thanks, T'Pell!" Zeb called back, "We've got it!"

The big Lasat lifted the wet naked baby out of the small tub he was being bathed in. Izzy let out a squeal and a big toothy grin appeared. He laughed as he was wrapped in a towel. The Lasat baby was definitely ticklish!

"Hey, squirt," Zeb said getting Izzy dried off with one hand, "Hold still."

Even though Izzy couldn't hear his adoptive father's voice, he responded to his gentle touch. That made Missy love him even more. The human woman felt like she was the luckiest person on Naboo to have married such a loving and gentle soul.

A few minutes later with help from T'Pell, Izzy was dressed in a baby's short outfit. The Lasat baby being small for his age, fit into a human infant's clothing that was fit for a baby around six months of age. Izzy squirmed in T'Pell's arms wanting down. Cynda had gotten up awhile earlier and was dressed in an outfit fit for a child of teen years. Her little crop top and shorts made her look younger.

"Izzy!" she called out and went to get her little brother, "Can I take him to the rec room to play?"

"Of course, sweetheart," Missy said giving the girl a kiss on the cheek.

Zeb felt his heart lurch at how loving Missy was to the Lasat girl. His lifemate was indeed a great mother.

During the morning, the orphanage representative came to see how Izzy was doing and was amazed at how much calmer the baby was and hearing his giggles, coos and babbles showed that the Orrelios family was perfect for the once sad, frightened little Lasat.

"Just seeing how different Izzy is this morning shows that both of you are the perfect parents for Izzy," she said to Zeb and Missy who were watching Cynda trying to teach the Lasat baby how to build a tower with some blocks. Izzy fell over a few times but was getting stronger and sat up better. His furry little face in a big smile proved her point.

Missy's eyes welled with tears and she nearly cried. Zeb held her hand and smiled at her.

"We'll get the paperwork ready for you to come and sign for his adoption. Will you be giving him a new name? We just called him Izzy because we didn't know his real name."

"I never thought about that," Zeb said looking over at Missy.

Cynda, who had heard what they were talking about stood up and walked over to stand next to her parent's repulsor chairs.

"Can we name him after Master Sabela?" she said her big green eyes a bit teary.

Zeb and Missy looked up at her and nodded.

"Of course," Zeb answered, "We can still call him Izzy. How does 'Izzy Orec Sabela Orrelios' sound to you, kid?"

"Sounds great, Daddy!" Cynda said giving Zeb a big hug around the neck.

The rep smiled seeing how loving this strange family of Lasat and human were. Never in her years of working at the orphanage had she ever seen such a loving bond between a married couple of two different species. Garazeb and Missy were the perfect parents for Izzy and Cynda.

Later that day the paperwork was done and Izzy was now an Orrelios. Cynda bonded more with Izzy and hardly left the baby's side. She even got better at feeding him his bottle. Missy and Zeb knew someday that Cynda herself would be a great mother to a child of her own no matter what species that would be.

In the evening as they sat around in the rec room watching their children play, Zeb and Missy realized that they wanted a child of their own. Not one to adopt, but one that they would conceive. They had contacted Dr. Triplet and inquired if he could help point them in the right direction of having a child that would be a hybrid of human and Lasat. At this moment seeing their two healthy adopted children was enough to curb any fears they had of having a mixed species baby.

"Is it possible for you to have a child of your own, green eyes?" Estrella asked, "I...mean you and Missy are two different species."

"Dr. Triplet thinks it could be possible," Zeb answered seeing Missy hold onto his hand, "Lasats and humans have similar internal organs, just positioned differently. For example, a Lasat's heart is on the right side of the chest while a human's is on the left side"

"If Garazeb and I decide to do this," Missy added holding tighter to her lifemate's hand, "We will have to undergo a barrage of genetic testing and blood work to see if we can conceive a child. I won't be able to carry a child due to my quadriplegic condition and since the fetus will be of a mixed species, Dr. Triplet feels it would be too dangerous for me."

Zeb's face darkened with embarrassment and he said, "I...uh...can't exactly fulfill my duty in the conception either...due to my condition as well. If the tests show that we could have a Lasat/human hybrid child...it will be born in a laboratory."

Jesby sat listening and he had to say something.

"I have a friend that works in the genetics lab in the medical facility and he is top in his field. If anyone can help you, Garazeb and Missy, it's Dr. Pol. He's a Duros scientist that helped with some cures of biohazard weapons the Empire used in it's first days. Let me get ahold of him. He owes me a favor, anyway."

Zeb and Missy blinked their eyes and held each other's hands tighter.

"Oh...kids...," Estrella said seeing the worry on their faces, "Don't worry, I'm sure everything will work out fine."

Later on Zeb and Missy watched Cynda and Izzy play on the floor their hearts nearly bursting with love for the two adopted Lasat children. The bond between the youngsters was getting stronger by the hour. All of a sudden, Cynda began doing hand gestures to the baby and he imitated her.

"Oh my..." Estrella said her brown eyes widening.

"What's wrong, Gran Estrella?" Zeb asked a frown crossing his features.

"That little girl is teaching Izzy sign language," Estrella answered, "Look at him, he's trying to imitate her."

"Do you know sign language?" Missy asked.

"Yes, sweetie, I had a deaf friend many years ago and to communicate with him I had to learn sign. Took me awhile but I'd recognize the gestures."

"What is Cynda saying?" Zeb asked his big green eyes getting bigger with amazement at what his daughter was doing.

"Well, Garazeb, I'm a bit rusty, but she is teaching him the signs for 'mother, father, love, sister, food and sleep'. Izzy seems to be learning fast."

The Lasat baby was doing a nearly perfect impression of the basic signs. Cynda was patting his head and got him laughing. Izzy turned to Missy and signed "mother" and then turned to Zeb and signed "father".

That got the couple nearly overwhelmed with emotion seeing the tiny Lasat communicating with them. It didn't matter that he couldn't speak to them, just his gestures and hugs were enough for them.

Later on after Cynda was tucked in for the night Izzy was fed his last bottle for the day. Missy insisted on feeding him even though her left arm was getting weaker from so much use. Zeb supported Izzy's little bottom so Missy could feed him the bottle of Shaak milk without worrying about holding him or dropping him. The Lasat watched his lifemate/wife care for the tiny Lasat as if he were always her baby no matter his alien heritage. That made him love Missy more realizing how lucky he was to have a wife with a loving heart like his.

The baby was put down for the night and they hoped he'd sleep through the night. They hadn't had much time for themselves since getting back from the lake country.

"Garazeb?" Missy asked as she was snuggled up next to his side and chest, "Are you happy that we are married?"

Zeb moved his head down to gaze into her dark-blue eyes. All he saw was love there.

"I've never been happier," he said his voice quivering a bit, "I love you more than life itself..."

He moved his head closer to give her a passionate kiss. Missy returned the kiss as tears streamed down her face. She nuzzled his face and was ready to give him more passionate kisses hoping for another love making session when Izzy let out a loud wail that shook the walls.

"I wish I could get out of this bed like a normal mother could to help my baby," Missy said her voice catching in a sob.

"I know," Zeb answered, "I feel the same way."

"Missy?" T'Pell's voice came from the doorway, "Do you want to help me with Izzy? He won't stop crying and is signing for his mommy."

"Sure, just help me to my repulsor chair..."

Zeb watched her go, a single tear falling from his eye.

"Ssh...sssh...little one," Missy said as T'Pell got the Lasat baby leaned against her shoulder and chest. Izzy's sobbing began to ease off feeling the heartbeat of his human mother. Missy began humming a lullabye that Higal used to sing to her when she was a little girl. It had soothed Cynda and to her relief it was working on Izzy even though he couldn't hear her. Feeling the vibrations of her voice against his furry little face was soothing to him. Soon the baby was asleep again.

"He sure has a hard time sleeping," T'Pell whispered as she got Cynda back to sleep. The Lasat girl had started crying hearing her little brother so upset.

"I think Izzy was mistreated so bad that he's afraid to sleep. That's why he doesn't like to be alone too," Missy added cuddling the sleeping infant closer to her chest. Her left arm was shaking so bad that T'Pell had to take Izzy away from her. That made Missy's eyes tear up not being able to hold her own son. The Twi'lek woman saw her expression and got an idea.

"Missy, if you want I can attach the sling to your shoulder and chest when you want to feed Izzy or hold him. It will take some pressure off your arm when it tires."

"If it's on my left arm I won't be able to feed him," Missy said her voice shaky.

"Well," T'Pell said smiling, "We'll put the sling on your right arm. I can adjust the straps to fit around your waist for extra support. The sling will work for Garazeb too when he's caring for Izzy. That sling will even fit a full-grown Lasat."

"Thank you, T'Pell," Missy said laying her left hand on the younger woman's arm.

"Is everything all right?" came a deep accented voice from the doorway.

It was Garazeb.

"Garazeb?" Missy asked seeing him sitting in his repulsor chair a tunic over his undergarments, "How did you get out of bed on your own?"

"I flew," he joked getting a smile out of her. That's one of the things she loved most about him, his impish sense of humor, "No. Angela helped me. It sounded like Izzy was giving you a little trouble, so I thought I could help."

"Of course...my love," Missy said moving her repulsor chair over to give the Lasat a kiss on the lips. He returned it making her smile.

T'Pell got the sling put on Zeb when he gestured that he would hold Izzy for awhile. The Lasat baby opened his eyes when he felt himself close to his father's broad chest. The Lasat's big heart beat in a comforting manner that the baby fell back asleep. Missy moved closer and had T'Pell lean her over so she could put her head on Zeb's shoulder. The Lasat smiled feeling the warmth of his lifemate's skin against his neck. He closed his eyes...

The next day, Angela and T'Pell brought in a baby's chair to see if Izzy would sit up in it and they would try to see if he would eat some solid food. Missy and Zeb were up and ready for breakfast when Angela put Izzy in the chair. The Lasat baby's face puckered up into a pout and he began to cry. He beat his little fists on the chair's tray in the throes of a temper tantrum. He uttered little squeeky noises and tried to climb out.

"Uh...Uh...little one," Angela said as she placed safety straps over the baby's shoulders and around his waist.

Missy and Zeb sat laughing as they tried to eat some fruit without the help of their caregivers. They ended up getting meiloorun juice on their chins. Estrella and Jesby laughed seeing the problem their younger friends were having. Izzy looked over and saw his parents laughing. The Lasat baby dissolved into a spasm of giggles.

"Look what you started, green eyes!" Estrella said enjoying seeing the baby laugh.

"Garazeb, you have pieces of meiloorun in your beard!" Jesby said laughing just as much.

Zeb tried to get rid of the pieces of fruit by trying to reach his tongue down his lower lip. It was too short. He reached his shaky right hand up and picked off the fruit pieces.

"There," he said trying to get his laughing under control, "Is it gone?"

Jesby nodded still laughing.

"Garazeb Orrelios!" came a voice over the rehab center's com system, "There is a long distance message coming in for you from Attolon."

"Hera and Kanan!" he called out and moved his repulsor chair to go down to the communication center.

"Zeb!" Hera's voice said making his face light up in a smile, "This is going to be a quick call. Kanan and I have to go on an important mission and we won't be seeing you for awhile."

The Lasat's happy expression melted to one of sadness. A shine of tears appeared in the big green eyes.

"Hey, big guy!" came Kanan's voice and image, "How have you been?"

"Okay," he said softly.

Missy came into the room holding Izzy in his sling. Hera and Kanan saw the baby.

"Oh...Zeb...who is this cutie?" Hera asked falling in love with the baby Lasat.

"This is Izzy. Missy and I just adopted him a few days ago. He's had a hard start in life."

"Why is that?" Kanan asked.

Zeb and Missy both went on to tell them about Izzy's time at the orphanage and how he came to stay there before going home with the Orrelios family.

"Hey big guy!" came Ezra and Sabine's voice over the tranceiver. "Who's that little guy with Missy?"

"This is Izzy ," Zeb answered blinking his eyes, "Missy and I are his adoptive parents."

"Hey, Zeb you've got quite the little family now," the teenager said. Sabine wanted to go through the tranceiver to hug the Lasat baby.

A noise over the tranceiver indicated that a call was coming in for the rebels.

"Zeb, we have to go," Hera said, "You be good and take care of your family. We'll be there to see you when we can."

Zeb's eyes filled with tears and Missy held onto his hand. The Lasat had a feeling in the pit of his stomach that he would never see his family again. Missy caught the look.

"What's wrong, my love?"

Zeb closed his eyes hoping that the tears wouldn't begin to fall.

"I...I got this strange feeling that I may never see them again. It scares me. I don't want to lose the only family I have."

"Garazeb Orrelios," Missy said a bit harsh and she took her weak hand to place under his chin to raise his head up, "Don't think like that. You have me, Cynda and Izzy. We're your family too. Estrella, Jesby, Angela and T'Pell are family as well. You will never be alone. Don't let me hear you talk like this!"

She gave him a kiss on the mouth.

"Now, get thoughts like that out of your mind. Let's feed our son his breakfast..."