Corso watched as Rona rode away, taking a back route rather than the obvious one. She's being hunted, and she came here. Stupid girl, he thought. He went in search of Akaavi rather than in his own house, concerned now about anything suspicious around the ranch. He spoke to the Mandalorian for a minute, satisfied that she would check out the area and let him know. Miriah was back outside now, too, her blaster strapped to her, ready to defend her home.

"No, no, no," he said, walking toward her. "Devin needs you here, with him. 'Kaavi is doing a perimeter search, and making sure there's no data trail." She apparently didn't hear him, because she started toward the front of the house, blaster in her hand. "Miriah, stop!" She stopped, and turned slowly toward him.

"Do you really think I need protecting? Need your blessing? What? I'm protecting my family, just like you are." Her silver eyes flashed anger and a little fear, and he calmed his voice before replying.

"Darlin', I'm only saying that you need to be close to the house to protect Devin. Akaavi is going to scout north, I'm going south. You need to be here with the baby. Okay?" His tone combined with his logic reached her through the red haze she saw, and she relented, going to the swing instead. He turned to go, figuring it would be better to just ride than risk further conflict with his wife, but she called to him. When he turned to look at her, she was launching herself at him and he caught her, her legs around his waist, her mouth on his. She broke the kiss to look into his eyes, and slowly put her feet on the ground again.

"Please, please be careful. And let me know what's going on. Okay?" He nodded, and kissed her forehead, then turned and rode south along the stream. He saw nothing unusual, even at the point where it seemed approach to the house would be easiest, and turned to go back to the house. Akaavi was sitting with Miriah on the porch, seeming calm. As he got closer he could see the Mandalorian's weapon had been powered down. Good, he thought, she found nothing either. So Rona's statement might be a figment of her addled brain.

"I saw nothing," Akaavi stated as Corso walked to the swing to sit with Miriah. "But I will remain vigilant. The data trail does not exist. The woman must have used false documents to gain access to the planet." Corso nodded, as a Black Suns member, she would have easy access to that. Akaavi left them then, sensing tension between them, and Corso studied Miriah out of the corner of his eye. She sat quietly, looking off in the distance, for several minutes before she spoke.

"Corso, I love you. I always will. But you need to realize and accept that I cannot sit idle when there is a threat to my own. I am a perfectly capable person, and while I appreciate your desire to protect me, I am not helpless." She sighed. "You used to accept that, when we worked together. We faced more enemies than I can recall, and you had my back. We fought together. I don't understand why now I'm seen as less than I was then." Her voice was calm, even, but he felt the undercurrent of hurt and anger, and wasn't sure how to respond.

He cleared his throat around the sudden lump there. "I know you are capable, strong, and more intelligent than even I knew when we met. I also know that in the past few months you've been beaten and strangled, drugged even. And I know that you haven't totally recovered from all that. Besides, there's Devin to think about. He could survive if something happened to me. He wouldn't survive losing you. I wouldn't, either." He looked at his hands, and missed seeing her turn her face to him. "Wouldn't want to. You've been hurt so much, Miriah, I just wanted you and Devin to be okay. I don't see you as less, I see you as more- mother, protector, my one and only love. My heart. I was protecting my heart."

She considered his words, and then the conversation she'd had with Mags when they'd returned. He's a soldier at heart, she'd told Miriah, he can do nothing less. She put her hand on his arm, and he reached for her, pulling her into his lap, holding her close. That's how Aric found them, and it made him smile.

"Not really any news," he said, "Akaavi called with the info on Rona. As far as I can see, she left no trail. But we want you guys to come up to the house anyway, at least for tonight. Maura said she'd kick my tail if I don't bring you all back with me. Don't make her do it," he grinned. Miriah smiled at him, knowing her sister would make good on her promise, and went inside to gather a few things.

Aric took the opposite end of the swing. "Everything okay? Looked like you guys were making up." He glanced at Corso, seeing that the younger man was worried.

"Yeah, as usual I went over protective and pissed her off. Maybe though now she'll understand it more." He shrugged. "I really can't help it, it's more a reflex than anything."

"I know, Cor, it's in all of us. Some of the worst dressing downs I've ever had are for putting myself between Maura and whatever threat there is. Miriah's a very smart woman, she'll figure it out." She came out then, a sleepy Devin in her arms and a gear bag on her shoulder. Aric took the bag, knowing from experience that the little boy was clingy when he woke up, and Corso took the opportunity to quickly kiss her. She smiled at him, seeming to have gotten over being mad, and Corso felt relieved. They followed Aric back to his house, but said nothing during the ride, although Miriah did hold his hand. Devin was fully awake by the time they arrived, and ran behind his cousins into their playroom.

Marua met them at the door with a hug, and pulled Miriah into the guest room on the ground floor. "I figured you'd be more comfortable here, since the smaller room joins through the refresher, and Devin can sleep there." She examined her sister, "So what are you two arguing about?"

Miriah sighed, "Nothing really, I got mad that he followed his instinct to protect me." Maura nodded, understanding immediately.

"They don't mean to, I think, it's just the first thing they think of to do." They agreed and joined the men in the kitchen. Aric was telling Corso that he'd contacted Cole Cantarus, but the CorSec agent had no info yet from Alderaan.

"So, with what Rona said, I don't know what to think," Aric said, searching through the office common account for any further comms. "Garza's stuff is up to date, so we can relax. Spitfire, did you get a chance to rest?"

"She didn't, we met Rona as we got off the speeder at home," Corso answered for her, then winced as he realized he'd overstepped again.

"I didn't," she confirmed, gently touching Corso's arm, "but I'm fine. I'd like something cold to drink though." She moved to the cooler, "Anyone else?" She handed drinks around, and then told Maura, "Let me cook then, I hate to impose on you guys."

Maura snorted a laugh, "Yeah, right, you just know you're a better cook than I am. It's fine with me, Mir, and since we spent a couple of weeks both on your ship and at the ranch, I actually feel like I get to pay you back some."

Corso joined her in the kitchen, and they worked together, as they did at home. She was chopping herbs when he couldn't stand the distance between them any longer, and stood behind her, his arms around her, and bent to kiss her neck. She shivered with pleasure, her eyes closed, and leaned into him, savoring his embrace. "I love you, Miriah," he whispered.

She replied, also whispering, her eyes still closed, "I know, sugar, I love you, too." She turned in his arms, and he was kissing her when Maura entered, abruptly turned and went out. When they parted, Miriah went to check on Devin, passing Maura, who followed her to the playroom.

"Sorry, Mir, but I'm glad you guys are okay," Maura said, smiling at her sister. Miriah smiled, recalling something he'd told her when they were in the swing.

"He told me that I was his heart, that he was protecting his heart," she said to Maura. "How can I be mad when the man says things like that?"

"Wow, " Maura said, a wondering look on her face, "that's incredibly romantic, Mir."

"Yeah, he is," Miriah said shyly, "I really got lucky, you know? We both did. I look at Mina, and Rona, and I feel so incredibly lucky." They walked together to check on the kids, who were happily playing, and returned to the living room, sitting on the soft couches to talk. Corso joined them after a few minutes. He sat next to his wife and pulled her gently so that her head rested on his shoulder. He found he couldn't be near her anymore without touching her. They were discussing Rona's visit when Aric joined them.

"Just got a message from Cole. They found Ethan, but before you get excited, he's in a hospital, has been unconscious for almost a month now. He was a major dealer, so he may be who she was either working with or went to rob. Something happened to him after Mina died." He sighed, "I just don't know where else to go with this. I wish Rona had stayed for a bit, even if she was a target. Do you think she'll be okay, Cor?"

"No idea, really, but she always manages to come out on top somehow. I learned a few years ago that all I can do is offer her help, I can't make her take it," he said, kissing Miriah's head. "Someone very smart told me that." He gently moved his wife, and went to check on dinner, and she followed him, leaving Maura and Aric.

"They made up?" Aric asked her, holding her hand in his.

"They so did. Corso says the most romantic things." She sighed, a small smile on her face.

He leaned over her and growled, "If I said half the things I thought, we'd never leave our bed, beautiful." She giggled and pulled him to her, their kiss interrupted by the holo chime. "Dammit, every single time, and I just know it's Garza." He stomped to the holo and hit the receive button, and the general came into view. Aric heard Maura snort behind him, and he barely suppressed a sigh. "Hello, General."

"Jorgan, I had an official on Alderaan complain that your group is asking for security video of their spaceport. I have them sending it to you but since it's sensitive, it's being brought by special courier rather than electronically. Just wanted you to be aware that it's on the way. The current missions are going extremely well, and we thank you. Garza out." A typical call from the general, he thought, and turned back to Maura, who was now covered with children. He sighed, but joined in the tickle party on the couch.

Aric told the others about the security video being sent at dinner, and after the kids had been put to bed, they all went to bed early, the long day catching up to them. Corso loved Miriah gently, taking his time, his actions showing her what she already knew- that she was loved. When they settled for sleep, her mind was at rest, and he held her, spooned against her back. Aric and Maura showered together, touching and kissing there, then moved to their bed, Aric anxious to make up for their interruption earlier. By morning, both couples felt much better and met in the kitchen for breakfast. Miriah was cooking again, Devin already picking cereal up from the tray on his chair, the twins having oatmeal. Aric poured them both a mug of caffa and they'd just started to eat when the door chimed. C2 answered, and brought the package to Aric and they left their food uneaten to view the video footage.

Aric queued it up, and they watched as Mina, her wookie, and what appeared to be a Jedi knight walked through the spaceport, from her ship to the taxi area. Four seconds of footage, and their whole working theory was gone, replaced by a man in a brown robe.