Miriah had washed her face and put on soft pajamas, meeting Corso under the sheets. He gathered her to him, and she sighed. "What's wrong, darlin'? Today was everything we wanted it to be."

"It was," she agreed. "I just hope she's ready for everything that marriage is. I want her to be as happy as we've been."

"Only she and Torian can do that, love. No need to worry about Caly, she's fine. How are you?"

Miriah rearranged herself and put her head on his shoulder. "Just tired, and feeling a little letdown after the excitement of today." Corso kissed her head, and lay back on the pillows.

"Tomorrow we'll sleep in, then go to the cantina for a late breakfast. I think we may even talk Aric into a walk around outside to enjoy the last little bit of hot weather." He heard her hum in response, and closed his eyes. Lying down, his heart was behaving normally, and he thought that his heart had only been responding to the events of the day. He let himself relax then. I'll be fine tomorrow, he thought.

Aric had been asleep about two hours when his dream returned. Same old man, same put downs, he told himself, watching the figure of his father stalk around and yell, but this time I'm not standing still for it. He waited until his father had his back turned to stand and roar, and when his father turned to face him, he struck. Again and again, his claws met flesh, ripping at the older man. At least he stopped yelling, Aric thought, and he felt the anger lessen. He had stopped fighting in his dream when he realized he felt wet. Struggling to open his eyes, he saw that his hands were indeed wet, and slowly stood to go to the refresher. He heard Maura whimper, and turned, hitting the light switch. The first thing he thought was that there was a lot of blood, everywhere. Too much, he thought, and pulled the sheet away from Maura. She was bleeding profusely, and Aric panicked. "Honey, oh gods," he pleaded, but Marua's eyes remained shut, her breathing raspy and labored. He gently picked her up and without even dressing, rushed to the elevator, Maura unresponsive in his tight embrace.

Magdalane had taken Calleigh's shift in the medcenter, knowing her niece was spent after the wedding. It had been a slow night, and she'd napped in the staff room for a bit. Now she was making caf, feeling refreshed. It was only as she heard the shouts of the trauma team that she abandoned her task, running to the large bay where life threatening injuries were taken. She saw Aric in his boxers, and briefly wondered if he was aware of his near nakedness, until she saw her sister on the exam bed, bleeding. The team was getting fluids started and had cut away her nightclothes, revealing the large slashes on her side and back. Her lung had been punctured, and one leg had sustained damage as well. Mags was taken aback. "Aric, how did this happen?" she asked, and saw the stricken look on his face.

Aric squeezed his eyes shut before opening them again, and cleared his throat. "The nightmare, it was so real. I thought I was fighting my father, and when I woke, I found out that I was fighting Maura instead." He swallowed hard. "I'm a monster, Mags. Please, can you save her?"

"Aric, you are not a monster," Mags said gently. "I see a lot of blood and cuts, but nothing fatal." Without another word, she entered her healing trance, and Aric took a step back, afraid to touch Maura, afraid not to. He took her hand and felt her fingers flex against his, and had a moment of relief. He still wasn't sure why she didn't wake, but he felt certain that if anyone could help, it would be Mags. He looked down at himself and saw Maura's blood caked in his fur, and was grateful when one of the nurses brought him a blanket to wrap up in. He settled in the chair, sending prayers into the Aether, cursing his father at the same time.

Caly felt suddenly shy. After the months upon months of build up, she was free to give in to her sensual side, but she just felt awkward. She looked at herself in the mirror, smoothing the lace and silk, her hair down. Will he be satisfied with me? Will I like this? She saw the refresher door open and turned to Torian, placing trembling hands on his chest. He covered her hands with his own and smiled down at her.

"Caly, my heart. Come with me," he told her, and she followed him out onto the balcony of their room, where he had food and drink ready.

"Oh, sweetheart. How lovely," she smiled, and her tension lessened. He pulled out her chair and when he was across from her, took her hand and kissed it.

"It's been a very busy day, and you didn't get a chance to eat earlier," he told her. "And, everything is going to be okay, Caly. We don't have to do anything you don't want to do, okay?" Caly's chin dropped until he took his finger and gently lifted her face to gaze into her eyes. "I promise, I love you either way." She felt the knot of anxiety in her tummy unfurl and when she smiled, he sat back. "Now, eat something, love."

"I really am hungry," she replied. They began to eat and Torian kept up the light chatter. If he were honest with himself, he would have said he was nervous, too. It was a rare thing for a Mandalorian, but he identified the emotion readily. He had planned to gradually seduce her, but he knew he'd be better off letting her decide. When she took his hand and put it on her thigh, he groaned inside, but took his time with her, leading her to their bed.

Aric paced, no longer able to hold himself apart from the anxiety that tried to suffocate him. Mags was still covered in light, and he felt hope slipping away. When she finally stood, she looked exhausted, and he steadied her as she stumbled. "She's going to be okay, Aric. She doesn't even need a tank. I took a few extra minutes to remove some old scar tissue, but otherwise, she just needs to rest and rebuild her blood supply." She nodded at the tech who motioned to others who had rolled a bed into the bay, but Aric stepped up to where Maura lay, pale and still. He gently picked her up and placed her into the bed, putting a kiss on her head before they wheeled her into a room.

"I can't believe I did this," he said softly. "I love her so much, and I almost killed her."

"You can't control your subconscious, Aric. And she will recover very well. I'm sure it's just shock that..."

"No! It's disgust with myself, that I can't even keep my wife safe! My wife!" He broke then, and went to his knees in the trauma bay, sobbing. Before Mags could reach him, he had jumped up and ran to the elevator, the blanket he'd been wrapped in on the floor. Mags sighed and went to sit with Maura. Maybe he just needs a few minutes to shower and dress. She made sure that Maura was stable, and settled into a nearby chair to wait.

Aric frantically ran from his front door to the shower, and scrubbed himself raw, shame making him cry as he did. My Maura, my life, he thought. How could I ever do that? How? He didn't find any answers in the water, and when he felt clean, he scrambled to dress and hurried back to her, taking her hand as Mags looked on. Maura's eyelids fluttered and she opened one eye to smile at her husband. "Aric," she whispered, but he shushed her with his fingers on her lips.

"Don't strain, my love," he told her, bending to kiss her forehead. She squeezed his hand and he fought tears. How has Corso survived all the times he's been in this position, he wondered. At least it wasn't him who had put his wife in this hospital bed. The shame enveloped him then, and he struggled to breath against it's oppressive weight.

Mags saw Aric struggling and stepped to his side. "Let me call Corso," she suggested, and Aric shook his head. "Then, sit here and rest. Maura is going to be fine, I promise you. You could even go and try to sleep a bit. She'll be home later today." At the word sleep, Aric jumped away from her, and she saw how hard he fought his emotions.

"I may never sleep again after this," he finally said, and Mags only patted his arm as she glanced over at Maura again, reassured that her sister was on the mend.

Miriah blinked awake and was aware of a sense of dread enveloping her. She moved to sit up, and Corso grunted but didn't wake. Something is wrong, Mags is upset, but it's more than that, she thought, and reached for her datapad. She had powered it up and started to type, but then questioned herself. Maybe I'm just imagining things, she thought, and put the datapad on the nightstand again. I don't feel it now, anyway. She felt Corso reach for her and let him pull her to him. If it were something terrible, someone would alert me, she reasoned, and let Corso's warmth soothe her back to sleep.

Caly slept in his arms, and Torian knew contentment on a level he had only dreamed about. She had seemed to enjoy him, and even though it had not been his first time, it had been almost three years since he'd been with a woman, so he felt as if they were on a somewhat level field. She's amazing, he thought, smoothing her hair and just looking at her. He felt so fortunate that they'd manage to wait, it had made their first time all the more special to them both. He gently kissed her head and felt her move against him, igniting his body again. He shifted away, hoping she could rest, but her hands trailed over his hip and he realized she was awake. She smiled up at him and he was lost, her touch telling him she had adjusted to the changes in her body and was eager to have him again. I'm am truly among the lucky, he thought as he kissed her passionately.

As morning broke, Aric messaged his children, telling them that Maura was in the med center but doing well. He felt shaky, like his foundation had been cracked, and he didn't know where to turn. I alone am responsible, he thought, for this. For causing her pain and injury. I cannot continue to live among civilized people. He stood and paced. My father was wrong, I'm no more than an animal. With that thought, he started out of the room but saw Calleigh hurrying toward him. She hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek and soon Coleen was there as well, doing the exact same thing. Maura woke shortly after and he left the girls with their mom. He made his way to General Dinn's office, and carefully put a datapad on her desk, leaving quickly when he heard heavy boots on the stone floor.

Corso heard Miriah in the shower. So much for sleeping late, he thought, and sat up. When she emerged, he pulled her into bed, damp hair and all. "Since we're already awake," he grinned down at her, and she laughed, her eyes sparkling. This is what I need, he thought, and noticed that his heart was behaving as it should. When they finally made their way out, Lana stopped Miriah and told her of Maura's location, and they split up, Corso to get food for them all and Miriah to her sister's side.

Miriah smiled when she saw Maura. The girls had brushed her hair and she looked normal, but her eyes were sad. "Mir, Aric was dreaming when this happened, and he blames himself."

"Where is he?" Miriah asked, and Maura took her sister's hand.

"I saw him for a few moments early this morning, and he told me to rest. The girls saw him as they came in, but he left. I'm worried, Miriah."

"I'll message Corso, see if he can locate him," Miriah replied, pulling the datapad from her pocket.

Aric left Solasta's office and rushed home. He paced for a bit, driving himself into a state of severe agitation. He went into the bedroom and began to throw things into a bag. He took his field kit, a case of ration bars, and supplies to sanitize water. He nodded at the day crew in the war room as he crossed to the elevators, thankful they were not the same people who had seen him running with his wife in his arms only a few hours before. He emerged into the bright sunlight and blinked. He was almost to a speeder when he heard Corso calling to him.

Corso saw his best friend and instantly felt the remorse and shame rolling off the large Cathar. "Aric, Maura is asking for you," he said, and watched the pain cross Aric's face.

"Tell her I love her, and I'll be in touch with her soon." Ignoring Corso's pleas to stop and talk, he made his way out and took a speeder to Arcann's settlement, where he left it in the parking area. When his feet hit the ground, he ran as hard as he could into the forest, the tall green trees swallowing him up as he felt his heartbeat synch with the sound of his feet hitting the ground.

Corso went to the medcenter and handed over the food he'd brought, his appetite gone. He saw Miriah glance at him with a puzzled frown, and when Maura went with the medical droid to the refresher, she pulled him close.

"What aren't you telling me?" she asked.

"Aric is gone."