Star Wars does not belong to me. Just Skylar & Co.

Big thanks to laloga and ComradeGoonie for reviewing!

If Fives hadn't seen Skylar blow up on General Zey, he would have been thoroughly shocked at the way she'd just treated General Kenobi and General Skywalker. As it was, he couldn't help but think that they'd asked for it. He liked and trusted General Skywalker, but he hadn't liked the way the man had reached for his lightsaber while he glared at Sky. The ARC stiffened, shocked as he realized that he had become extremely protective of the Mando woman. Good thing no one was paying attention to me. I'd hate to think what might happen if General Skywalker caught me glaring at him... I still can't believe I did that. He made a mental promise to never let that happen again. They were all on the same side.

As Skylar and Teanna disappeared out of the hanger bay, Jinx turned back to the generals, "This is my fault, sirs. I should have mentioned that this was one of her... 'touchy' subjects. Her heart's in the right place."

Kenobi raised a brow, "I have no doubt of that, Jinx. But that is no excuse for your... sister to let her temper out of control. In the middle of a war, one must maintain discipline."

"Actually, sir, she was very much in control," Dover spoke up from Fives' right. "Trust me, Generals, you don't want to see what happens when Skylar actually does lose her temper. I'd say it's scarier than facing the entire droid army on your own."

"And he's not exaggerating," Hew spoke up from the rear of the group. The quieter clone nodded his head respectfully, "If you'll excuse me and Fives, sirs, we'll go check up on her. It's usually not a good idea to let Sky simmer."

"Why Fives, Hew? Why not Jinx?" Skywalker asked before either man took a step towards Sky's exit.

"'Cause Tea's spent more time with him than anyone else, General Skywalker. He's got to watch her so that I can talk to my sister properly."

"Very well. All of you are dismissed then," General Kenobi spoke up. Fives, Thirteen, and the commandos saluted the generals before the ARC followed Hew.

Once they were out of earshot, Fives gave Hew an accusatory glare, "Any one of our brothers could have watched Tea. Are you trying to set me and Skylar up?"

Hew chuckled, "I think you're mistaking me for either Doz or Devrin. But you're right. I didn't pick you to babysit my niece. I picked you 'cause, for some reason, just having you around calms S'ika down. If you weren't there, I have no doubt that she would have showed Kenobi exactly what the Keldabe Kiss is."

"And what is it?" Knowing Sky, it has nothing to do with kissing.

"A kov'nyn. A headbutt. She would have broken his nose."

Fives' eyes widened. Good thing I was there. For some reason, the very fact that he had that much influence over Sky was enough to make him just a little lightheaded. I've got it bad.

The younger clone was drawn out of his musings by the sound of Teanna's voice. From the sound of it, the little girl had just asked her mother a question.

"No, ad'ika," Cordav responded. "I don't hate Obi-Wan or his friend. I was just upset that they didn't know the truth about our people."

"You didn't have to yell, Buir. That wasn't nice."

"You're completely right, ner T'ika. I was wrong, I should have stayed calm. I'm sorry, sweetie." The gentle way in which the woman was talking with her daughter sent a pang through Fives' chest. I wish Sky would change her mind about us. But, judging from how headstrong Cordav had shown herself to be so far, Fives knew that there was no chance of that happening until the war was over. However long that is. And, even if we somehow manage to live through it...

Hew chose that moment to speak up, "You don't have anything to apologize for, S'ika. All three of you messed up. Best thing to do is get over it and move on."

Skylar looked up at them from the alcove that she and her daughter where sitting in. She smiled at Hew, but the look she gave Fives...

Quick as a flash, the expression was gone from her face before he could even discern what it was, "You're right, H'ika. As usual," she added begrudgingly, earning chuckles from both men. "There's no reason to sit here and stew. We've still got to get Gabe home and properly introduce you two," she looked at Tea's eyes then met Fives' gaze again," to Deena and Briika." She stood, Teanna's hand gently grasped in hers.

Hew looked extremely uncomfortable, "Are you sure that's a good idea? Teanna, I can understand, but-"

"I already know, Hew," Fives interrupted. "Sky told me by accident."

"You must really like him if you can't keep your mouth shut around him, ori'vod," Hew rolled his eyes in exasperation.

And Teanna was looking back and forth between her mother and Fives, "Buir, if you like Fives, does that mean that he's going to be my daddy?"

Said ARC trooper felt his cheeks burning and he had no doubt that his face was turning bright red. He wasn't the only one. The rush of color on Skylar's face told him that her blush probably rivaled his own. Hew was bent over, laughing so hard that he could barely breathe. Skylar gave a nervous chuckle before gently taking her daughter's chin in her hand, "No, T'ika. Fives and I are just friends."

And nothing more, Fives thought sadly.

Teanna pouted. "But I want you to be," she said, looking up at Fives. And he had no idea how to respond. He was still tongue-tied in embarrassment.

That was when Hew finally decided to stop guffawing. "Teanna. Listen to your mama," he kneeled to her level and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You can't talk like that, okay?"

"Why?"

"Because, if anyone else but one of your uncles hears about this, both your buir and Fives will be in big trouble."

The little girl cocked her head, "Why?"

Skylar snorted and rolled her eyes as Hew bit back a chuckle, "That's just the way it is. And there's nothing to be done about it." He raised his eyebrows at the little girl.

"So I have to keep it a secret?" Hew nodded, kissing the solitary white mark in the middle of her forehead before he stood up.

He gave both Skylar and Fives an amused look before looking back down at the little Togruta, "Make sure you tell your Uncle Devrin and Uncle Doz, though. Okay, Tea?"

"Di'kut," Sky hissed explosively as Fives groaned.

We'll never hear the end of this! He leveled a hostile and threatening glare at the older clone, "Remind me to shoot you later."

Hew just laughed as he took his niece by the hand and casually walked off with her by his side. They do say that it's the quiet ones that you've got to watch out for. Still, I should have seen that coming.

For a moment, both the ARC and the Sergeant refused to meet each other's eyes. When they did, Fives found himself unable to speak. I had no idea that Tea thought of me like that.

"Fives, I'm sorry-"

"I swear I didn't tell her-"

Both stopped and Skylar just started laughing. "You first," she barely managed to get out.

"Sky, I swear that I didn't tell her anything that would make her talk like that."

She sobered quickly, "I know, F'ika. And I'm sorry Tea embarrassed you like that. I'll talk with her about it, okay?" What Fives really wanted was for her to tell him that... Don't even go there, Fives. You know that it's not going to happen.

kov'nyn = headbutt

ad'ika = little one

ner = my

ori'vod = big sister

buir = mama

di'kut = moron

Please R&R.