Aric drove the speeder as close as he dared and between he and Maura and Miriah they managed to get the tall Mantellian into the rear seat. He hadn't even moved. Miriah crouched beside him as they drove back, and Maura could hear her softly murmuring to her unconscious husband, begging him to be okay. "Just take us to the ship," she told Aric, "we have better facilities there than the spaceport." Aric nodded, his face grim, Corso's blood dried on his arms and clothes. "I'll send Garza a note, let her know we're in orbit."
"Tell her we're going home," Miriah said. "She can reach us on Dantooine." Her voice was a command, not a request, and Maura knew from lifelong experience there would be no changing her mind. Maura sighed, why did things always get so complicated? The voice from the back seat said, "And we will be having a meeting to discuss the future of our little company." Aric turned his head to look at Maura, who shrugged.
When they stopped outside the ramp of the ship, Corso opened his eyes and tried to sit up, Miriah gently supporting his weight when the dizziness of the position change proved too much. "No damned kolto tank, right?" he smiled weakly at her, trying to get a smile from her. Her face remained grim, the afternoon draining her energies and her worry evident. Aric helped him up the ramp, and the kids ran to them, not noticing the blood. Aric took Corso directly to their shower, sitting him down on the built in bench. "Thanks, man, I'm going to be fine," he assured his brother in law. Aric patted his shoulder.
"I know, I did a great job with the kolto," he grinned, and they both laughed. Miriah walked in and began to undress her husband, and Aric scurried out. She was turning the water on, adjusting the temperature, when he reached for her hand. She turned to him, concern the only emotion in her eyes. As much as she'd talked to him while they'd waited for Aric and Maura, he realized she'd not said a word to him since.
"Kitten, please, I'm going to be fine." He pulled her to him, his eyes searching her face. She looked pale and worn, he thought, rubbing his hand up her arm. She tried to smile at him, but it didn't reach her eyes. She pulled him up, and he could feel that he was getting a little stronger. She had already stripped, and he could see the blood being washed away from them both. He watched her, her eyes on the floor, her shoulders slumped and the tremors still affecting her. When they could see no more blood, Miriah sat him on the bench again and retrieved warmed towels from the cabinet. She wrapped herself up then dried him, Corso trying to tease her into a better mood. Finally he sighed, and stood to dress in the soft sleep pants she brought him. He caught a glimpse of her face, the silent tears streaking down, and he knew. She was blaming herself for sending him to the spaceport to begin with. He held her against him, and she broke, but only let him hold her for a few seconds before pushing him toward their bed. He was in no position to argue, feeling the fatigue wash over him again, and made his way to lie down. She finally spoke.
"I'm going to get you some food, you need to eat and rest," she sniffed, and turned to leave.
"Wait, sweetheart, please? Come here," he said, patting the edge of the bed. She looked uncertain, but slowly walked over and sat. He took her hand in both of his and waited until she raised her eyes to him. "The only person to blame is Rachel. You can't think of it any other way. She killed my parents," and he choked up a little, "and would have destroyed us both if we hadn't stopped her. It's over, love." She glanced away, at the door, where he saw Maura carrying Devin, who had been crying.
"Mama, you're the only woman for this little man," she said, over Devin's hoarse cries for her. She stood and went to them, taking her son in her arms. He snuggled to her, as he always had, and instantly quieted. She stroked his hair, and down his little back, and the little boy sighed and closed his eyes.
"I know how he feels," Corso told her, "there's no better place to be than in your arms. We both love you, Miriah, please don't do this to yourself." She nodded, a few tears still escaping.
"I'm going to put him in his crib," she said softly, her voice carrying a weariness that worried him, until he remembered they'd been up most of the night before, and he smiled to himself. Maybe she just needs sleep, he thought. He was still waiting for her to return when he drifted off.
Aric had his arm around Maura, sitting in the lounge. They'd fed the kids and put them to bed, and tried to get Miriah to eat. "I'm worried about her," Maura said, "more than Corso. He seems to be recovering well, physically at least. Not sure if you ever recover from hearing that someone you trusted betrayed your parents and had them killed." She put her head on Aric's shoulder. "What do you think she meant when she said we had to talk about Advantages?"
Aric thought for a minute. "Well, hon, she's been through a lot in the last few months. Both she and Corso have been injured and I know she worries about Dev. Then there's Mina's death." He squeezed her shoulder gently, "Whatever it is, we'll figure it out. She needs a break, we all do." Maura nodded. She saw Miriah come from the bridge and called to her. Miriah looked at the couple and walked over, taking a seat across from them.
"I want to explain what happened out there," Maura said, ignoring both Aric and Miriah's protests. "No, I need to. I felt like I did nothing, but guys, there was a reason. I think I'm pregnant." That shut them up, she thought. Aric grabbed her in a hug, and Miriah tried to smile at her.
"Well then, let's go do a scan to find out," Miriah told her sister, getting up to go to the medbay. Aric and Maura followed, Aric stopping every few steps to kiss her. Miriah got her sister to lie on the exam cot and pulled the large scanner with the video screen over to her.
"You are indeed having a baby, Maura. Only one this time." She smiled at her sister, pleased for them both. She pressed a few buttons and asked them, "Want to know what to prepare for?" They nodded, holding hands. "The twins will have a little sister," she told them gently, seeing Aric's face light up. She left them in the medbay, going to get some food for Corso.
He was sleeping when she walked in, but she knew he needed to eat and drink. She walked to his side of the bed, setting the tray she'd brought on the nearby map table. She traced his cheek with her fingertips, and he opened his eyes. She saw the relief in his eyes when he saw her, and before she could pull away he'd pulled her in to kiss her, dissolving any idea she had that he was upset with her. He could feel how drained she was, though, and gently pulled away from her. "Hey, gorgeous," he told her. "Dev is down for the night?" She nodded. "Then get yourself in this bed, so we can both rest." She pulled the tray of food over for him.
"You need to eat, sugar. And drink at least one bottle of water."
"Okay then, I will if you will. Nightclothes, please." He grinned at her, enjoying watching her undress and stretch. She climbed into bed and pointedly looked at him.
"Now, eat," she told him. It wasn't replicated food, but it wasn't her cooking either. C2 was adequate, but she is a much better cook, he thought. He would eat a couple of bites, then insist that she have at least one. She's losing weight again, he had noted when he watched her change clothes. This past week had been hard on all of them, but physically, Miriah had the least reserves. He finished most of what she'd brought him and she got up to take the tray to the galley, pulling two more bottles of water out. Maura and Aric were giggling in the medbay still, and Miriah rolled her eyes, a small smile on her face. She returned to her quarters, handed Corso another bottle of water, and climbed in beside him. "Maura's pregnant," she told him, "I just did the scan for them. A little girl." He grinned, happy for his sister in law.
"That's great! Wow, another baby in the mix." He pulled Miriah over to him. Even though he knew they'd sleep tonight, he wanted to feel her, all of her, against him. He'd just gotten settled when she heard Dev whimper, and got up to go to him. Aric will be excited about another baby, but I'm not sure I want to share Mir any further right now. She was back pretty quickly, blushing. He looked at her, puzzled.
"It wasn't Devin, it was Maura," she said, blushing deeper. That made Corso laugh and he nuzzled her neck, pulling her closer, falling asleep quickly. She lay awake, so tired that she couldn't fall asleep. Ironic, she thought, that after the day they'd had she couldn't sleep, but was so tired she couldn't think. After a couple of hours, she had shifted to face away from Corso, and heard his quick gasp as he startled awake. She expected nightmares tonight, but so far he'd been resting peacefully.
"I caught your scent when you passed me stealthed," he said quietly, sensing she was awake. "I knew I'd be okay then. I also know you wanted to kill her slowly, and I don't blame you. In fact, I told her you would. I feel like I avenged my parent's death with one shot." He put one arm around her, and she turned to face him again. "I needed that, Mir, more than even I knew." She nodded, not trusting her voice to be steady, and kissed his nose. He was asleep again in minutes, and to her surprise she felt her own eyes grow heavy.
Aric was still on top of the galaxy at the news of another baby. Maura was sleeping in his arms, after their celebration, and he gently hugged her to him. He'd told her how happy, how blessed he'd felt, but words just didn't do the feelings justice. It was very early days, and they'd decided to wait with the news for a few weeks, just in case. She'd agreed to take things easy, and they planned to take at least two weeks off from Advantages, just to recover from this madness of a mission they'd just finished. Maybe I'll even go to the ranch some, help with the animals, he thought, it seems to relax Corso. He fell asleep, finally, smiling.
The next morning found them still in hyperspace, but knowing they'd be landing on the ranch that evening. Corso felt a little tired but otherwise fine, and congratulated Aric and Maura when they got up. Miriah had already fed the kids and sent them to the playroom, and Tanno and Corso were sitting in the lounge, caffa in hand, talking huttball and pod racing. She still looked pale, and while she served breakfast to them all, Corso saw that she ate very little. He watched her, her face looking normal but her actions still reflecting the stress of the past few days. Dev can feel it too, he thought, it's why he's been clinging to her. As he thought that, he saw his son run past him from the playroom, and looked at Miriah. She didn't see him at first and he tugged on her leg. She bent to pick him up, and he gave her his loud, smacking kisses, making her genuinely smile. He put his head on his mother's shoulder, and she rocked him side to side, and he fell asleep, his little hands full of her hair. She walked over to where Corso sat and sat beside him. Corso reached over and kissed his son's head, releasing her hair from her son's clenched fists. "I think he does that so that you can't easily put him down," he told her.
She grinned a small grin at him. "So why do you do it?" she asked, watching him blush. He grabbed the same section of hair he'd just gotten out of Devin's hand and pulled her to him to kiss.
"That's why," he said softly.