Miriah blinked in the bright light of the Windwalker. She stopped, the pain in her side making her grab the bulkhead, unable to stand up straight. She'd come in search of Lana, and saw her friend's blond hair over the back of the sofa. She was attempting to control her breathing before approaching Lana, but the force alerted her target, and she peered over the back of the sofa.
She looks spent, Lana thought, and jumped to assist Miriah to sit. She's pale and shaky, and needs to be taking things easier. "Captain, you must allow your body to..."
Miriah make shooing gestures with her hands. "I know, I need to heal." She took in a few more lungfuls of air before continuing. "I should be resting, but this is important." Lana moved quickly to the galley and snagged a bottle of water from the cooler, returning to her friend with it. After a few sips, Miriah's speech was less ragged. "I need to know some details, before I make a decision." Lana nodded, she'd figured there would be questions. "Where do we go from here?"
"Well, we have several very reliable contacts who are looking to join us..."
"No, that's not what I mean." Miriah drank more of the water, and they were both startled with Corso burst into the room.
"Mir, what are you doing? You know you need to rest and not reopen any wounds," he said, concern heavy in his voice. Miriah gave him a weak smile, she knew he was right, but she felt she had to have more information.
"She wants answers," Lana said, and put her hand on Miriah's arm. "I have a place already in mind, where some people have started to gather. It's a planet out here, and it's unique. It is rich in the force, but perfectly neutral. I've already sent ahead to get it ready for you and your family." Miriah nodded, grateful.
"How do we get the rest of the family there?" she asked, and put the water bottle on the low table, her strength waning. Corso sat beside her, and she leaned into him.
"Koth and I are working on a way to throw anyone watching them off the trail," Lana said. "A series of planet hops along with a couple of ship changes should do it. They need to know what's going on, what to expect."
"Mags has been keeping Mom updated through their force link," Miriah explained, closing her eyes. She hated that she was so weak, but she knew Corso was there, and she felt herself sinking into him, her reserves almost gone.
Corso saw her fatigue and paleness, and stood, taking her in his arms. "She's just not up to this much activity yet," he said softly, seeing Lana agree with him over his wife's head.
"Where?" Miriah managed to say, and Lana shook her head.
"When plans are firmed up, I'll tell you. Until then, you'll have to trust that I will find the perfect place to keep everyone safe," Lana said. "Go, rest. I will have answers for you later today." Miriah nodded before Corso took her back to her bed. She was unable to even protest, and when he pulled the soft blanket over her, she sighed and felt sleep overtake her.
"She's trying to do too much," Corso said to Mags when he'd left his wife to sleep.
"Nothing new about that," Mags said. "But we have to let her figure that out. She's too stubborn to just accept her limitations, she has to push until she realizes what they are." Aric brought a tray of caffa cups and cookies, Maura following with the carafe. They settled around the treats, Felix and Devin joining them.
"Mir is resting, right?" Maura asked, seeing both Mags and Corso nod. "When she tells Lana that she'll lead this, we need to get everyone off Dantooine to somewhere safe." Maura frowned when Corso chuckled.
"She made it to the other ship to grill Lana on that very thing," he said. "That's where I found her. Lana said she'd have details for her this evening."
"Mom already knows what's coming, she's going to talk to Colin and Calleigh. Michi is staying put," Mags said, and her concern for her daughter and granddaughter showed on her face. Michi's husband had grown up on Dantooine and didn't want to leave it, and while Mags understood it, she longed to have them with her. Felix put a comforting arm around her, but his face was sad.
"She'll be okay, Mags. We're going to do everything possible to make sure all of the galaxy is free of Arcann's rule," Aric told her. He was reasonable certain the twins would be with them, since Colin had already stated he wanted to be part of the fight. Coleen was in school, on Nar Shaddaa, so he felt she was being cared for. Calleigh would be a valuable part of the medical team, wherever they landed. They hadn't noticed Logan and Elara had joined them, and when Logan spoke, he caught them off guard.
"I am going back to the ranch," he said, glancing at his wife. "We are going to have a baby, and I think I'd sleep easier knowing Elara wasn't in danger." There was a momentary silence before the congratulations started, and Corso's huge grin was the only thing Logan could really see. He'd been afraid that they would all be upset, but according to the happy sounds around him, he'd been wrong.
"Your mother is going to be over the galaxy," he said, hugging his youngest son. "We'd better go tell her now, though. If she finds out we all knew before her..."
"I know, I know!" Logan said, and rose, pulling Elara up with him. They made their way to the captain's quarters, where Corso woke Miriah with a kiss, and Logan made his announcement. Miriah reacted predictably with happy tears, and hugged them both.
"I am so happy for you both," she said, wiping her eyes. She hugged Corso last, and he could feel how quickly she had tired. Logan and Elara left to celebrate with the family, and Miriah struggled to sit up.
"Just be still, darlin'. I know you want to be healed, but you're just not yet." He pulled pillows around her and helped her recline before going to get water for her. While he was gone, she fell asleep again, and he left her with a soft kiss on her head. This time, he swore, he'd keep her safe and quiet until she really healed. Not like other times, when she would convince him she was fine when he knew her insides still hurt. No matter how badly Lana says she's needed. He nodded to himself to confirm his resolve, and joined the others.
By dinnertime, Miriah was feeling stronger, and joined the family in the galley. She ate little, but being with everyone made her feel better, and she smiled through the meal. When she leaned on Corso, he tucked her into his side and bent to whisper to her. "Ready for bed, darlin'?" he asked her. She thought for a moment, then declined.
"Lana owes me a destination," she whispered back, and Corso grinned at her. When he had Lana's attention, he motioned her over to where they were sitting. "Where?" was Miriah's question, and it brought a smile to Lana's usually serious face.
"Odessen. It's already being set up, and your mother and daugther and neice and nephew are already en route. It will be a couple of standard weeks before they arrive, but they will be there." Miriah reached out and pulled Lana in for a hug instead of trying to speak, and Lana felt the quiver in her muscles. She looked at Corso and saw that he'd felt it, too, and stood. "By the time we arrive, you need to be in command form. That means, you need to actively work on your recovery." Miriah nodded, and Corso helped her to stand. Once she was again in her bed, Corso sat beside her.
"I know you don't want it, but I think you need to go ahead and take the pain meds, darlin'. You need to rest, and I can tell you're in pain now, in your eyes. Please?" he asked. She nodded her consent, and when the injection was done, she sighed.
"Don't you ever get tired of it, sugar? Taking care of me?" she asked, her eyes already closed. He took her in his arms, ever gentle, and kissed her, taking his time. When he broke the kiss, she smiled.
"I will never, ever, get tired of loving you, Mir. And that means all of you, with the injuries and the stubbornness and the constant demands of everyone else." He kissed her again, and settled her on the pillows. He saw her relax and let out a breath. She has to get better, he thought. I miss her vibrant self, and hate that she's suffering. He took himself to the shower, and then joined her, hoping she would be pain free all night.
Later, Devin was lounging on the sofa, a Huttball match playing on the holo, the sound low. He had felt that his mom was sleeping deeply, and was half asleep himself. He was startled when Mia sat on the other end of the sofa, her pillow and blanket in her arms. "I wanted to be near," she explained, "in case your mom needed help in the night." She knew that Corso would be beside Miriah, and she couldn't lie to herself, she wanted the opportunity to repeat what had happened the night before.
Devin felt her true motivation, and hid his smile. He'd had trouble getting that kiss out of his mind as well, but he didn't want to make her nervous, so he stayed where he was. They watched in silence for a few minutes before he heard her sigh, and reached for her hand. She seemed to relax once he threaded his fingers through hers, and before he knew it, she was sleeping. He shifted her small frame to rest against him, and stretched out on the sofa. He fell into a deep sleep with her, feeling perfectly balanced and happy.
Corso woke early, anxious to get moving. They had planned to start their journey toward Odessen as soon as everyone had rested. He stopped on his way to the galley and stared at his ebony haired Jedi son lay on the sofa, with a silver haired Jedi stretched out beside him. His grin threatened to take over his face, and he was tempted to startle them awake, but didn't. Instead, he started the caffa and gathered a few things to take back to Miriah, hoping she was awake to share this news with.
Miriah woke and started to stretch, yipping when she pulled on healing flesh. She lay back then, rubbing her side gingerly. Corso found her wincing, but struggling to sit on her own. He let her get upright, and sat beside her, handing her some juice. He told her what he'd seen that morning, and she laughed, her eyes sparkling. There it is, he thought, and hugged her to him. He'd waited to hear that laugh for so many years after he'd thought she was dead, it was music to his ears. She molded to his body, content to be in his arms, happy that her family was near.
After breakfast, Miriah cornered Logan. "Son, I love you so much. I know you are doing what you believe to be the right thing, and I concur. So, I transferred the ownership of the Windwalker to you. Please, take your time going back to Dantooine and be safe," she told him, ending with a hug.
Logan held his mother tightly. "Thank you, Mom. I love you, too. Life seemed to stop when you were gone, and is just now feeling right again. I feel like I'm deserting you and Dad when you need me."
"No, son. You're taking the future generation to be safe, and I would have told you to do that very thing if you hadn't already seen it." Miriah turned to hug Elara then. "Take whatever you need from the main house, or even move there if you want. I don't know when we'll be back there, but you let us know when my grandchild will be born, and I'll be there. I promise." Elara couldn't speak through the lump in her throat, but nodded.
Devin cleared his throat. "Grandson, Mom. It's a boy," he said, unable to hide his smile. After the hugging and celebrating, the Dreamweaver undocked from the Windwalker, and Logan said goodbye over the com link. Corso watched his wife closely, knowing the emotions were the only thing keeping her going this morning. He helped her to the bridge, where she sat in the copilot's seat.
"You okay, my love?" he asked her, seeing tears in her eyes. She brushed them off her face as they fell, and turned toward him.
"Let's get going. I'm anxious to see this new place," she told him, turning to the nav computer. I hate us all going in different directions, she thought. But at least I'll see Caly soon. Odessen. The name sounds nice, she mused.
Corso leaned over to kiss his wife before engaging the hyperdrive. Lana had left a couple of hours earlier, and he didn't want to be too far behind. He leaned back in the captain's chair, watching the stars elongate and blur as they shot forward.