And a double hitter! Thank you everyone for your beautiful reviews, and Taraum for you well loved editing job.
"There is no moon here," Neno sighed sadly, upset by the fact. I jumped, startled by his sudden appearance. I blushed, grateful that I wasn't sleeping nude. Instead, I had opted to wear a short pair of sleeping trunks and a tank top.
"No, there isn't," I shook my head.
"Can I sleep with you?" Neno asked, voice wavering. He sounded so much younger than he actually was.
"Always," I assured him as I pulled back the covers. He crawled in and snuggled up against my chest.
"Are we on a moon like back home?" Neno asked, looking up at me.
"No. Alderaan doesn't have any moons," I said. "But there are fire bugs that fly around at night. They are little bugs that light up as they fly around looking for food."
"Can we look for some?" Neno grinned, becoming excited.
"Not tonight," I laughed softly. "Or morning…I have no idea what time it is. Did you have a bad dream?"
"It's just dark outside," Neno shook his head. "It scared me."
"Was Plo still in bed?" I whispered, reaching out in the Force to sense him, only to feel a gentle kick in my back. Turning my head, I saw that Plo had already crawled into bed without waking me. He had already cuddled up between Chopper and me, his bunnyflop in his arms.
"Nope," Neno giggled as I rolled my eyes. "Are we going to have to stay here forever? Will mommy and daddy come to live here too?"
"No, sweetie," I promised. Aayla and Bly had explained to the children why we had to come here, and why they couldn't come along. "We'll be going home to mommy as soon as everything calms down." I shook my head sadly, hugging him close.
"Because of the white men?" Neno asked. "Because I saw them do bad things?"
"Because they did bad things," I tried to explain, not sure if he would understand. "They hurt a lot of people. But this is a safe place; they won't look for us here."
"But mommy and daddy are safe, right?" he asked, his little eyes pleading.
"I hope so," I sighed, kissing his head. "Mommy is going to call us in three days, once we are settled. You can talk to her then," I promised as he rested his head on my chest with a gentle purr. I purred back at him gently, allowing him to feel my chest vibrate under his head. With a giggle, Neno relaxed in my arms and fell asleep.
"Wake up!" Chopper groaned, shaking me gently. I noticed my arms were empty; Neno was already awake and had left. "Mommy!" I groaned, as something – or someone – jumped on me.
"Didn't daddy and papa tell you about jumping on mommy while she's sleeping?" I growled, grabbing him as he started laughing.
"Up time," Plo sang as I tickled his sides.
"No. I want to cuddle with buir and sleep a little longer," I pouted as I playfully wrestled with him, curling him up by my side. "Sleep time."
"Food," Plo giggled.
"What's for breakfast?" Chopper asked, hooking his chin over my shoulder.
"Cake!" Plo giggled, wiggling around.
"Cake for breakfast?" Chopper asked me, looking hopeful.
"Pancakes," I snorted, petting Plo's wild hair.
"Mama?" Plo asked as he jumped on the bed.
"I'm up. Buir is up," I groaned, feeling Chopper squeeze my shoulder reassuringly. "But mommy needs to shower first. So ask Suu to help you make mommy and buir caff." I ran my hand over Plo's head, watching as he ran out of the room triumphantly declaring that I was awake. Had Chopper and I been the last ones to wake up?
I dropped my head back onto my pillow, closing my eyes with a moan. This bed was too comfortable to leave; I felt as if the pillow-like mattress were swallowing me alive.
"Come on, lazy, the sun is up," Chopper whispered, kissing my shoulder. "Suu's let us sleep in long enough."
"All right," I sighed, wrapping myself up in a blanket.
"I'll join you in the shower," Chopper bribed, yanking the blanket off of me.
"You will?" I asked in shock, turning to face him. "You'll wash my back for me?"
"Of course, vod'ika," Chopper winked.
"Morning!" I smiled, walking into the messy dining room. It looked as if the children had already gone through it.
"Caff?" Suu smiled, passing me a cup as I came into the room.
"Lots of sugar?" I teased as I took a sip.
"You'll rot your teeth," Suu snorted as I walked around the table, trying to find a clean spot. Chopper had already found the only one, and was happily drinking the caff that Suu had given him.
"So do you love Coo yet?" I smiled, kissing Elle's head as I looked at the mess she was making with her finger-sized pancakes. Skylin was busy squeezing her pancakes, fascinated by their texture.
"I haven't decided yet," Suu looked over at the door leading to the kitchen. "But they are good pancakes. And the sausages are to die for. He – she – it…is very good?" Suu fumbled.
Chopper shrugged as he started eating his dish. "It doesn't really matter," I shrugged. "Master got me used to calling most droids he."
"He is a very good cook," Suu teased as she started dishing me up a plate.
"Yummy," I smiled, taking the full plate from her.
"Ah!" Skylin giggled, dumping what little was left of her plate onto her head.
"Silly girl," Chopper laughed, tapping her nose.
"You're getting a bath when you're done, young lady," Suu shook her head, knocking the piece of pancake off of Skylin's head.
"I'll bathe her," I grinned, trying my hardest not to laugh. There was a reason why these two were called the disaster duo, but they were both too cute to stay mad at. "Where is my messy minion?"
"Cut took him to feed the birds," Suu said. "Kix and Cut were speaking about feeding the birds, and Plo wanted to help. Neno, Nara, and Angel joined them."
"Plo loves feeding the nunas," I smiled as Suu laughed.
"I bet Plo has already started naming them all after food items," Chopper spoke up as Elle cooed.
"I love Dinner; she was a good egg-layer," Suu laughed at my son's innocence. "What will we do today?"
"I would like to look through the gardens," I thought out loud, turning to Suu.
"I want to see the beach," Suu nodded as I turned to Chopper.
"The kids would like the beach," Chopper agreed with Suu.
"You decide for us, Chopper," I suggested. Part of the reason for bringing Chopper along was to teach him how to take control of a situation without looking to Rex or Fives for guidance. Chopper shook his head, unsure. "You should speak up, Chopper."
Chopper stared off into space for a second, deciding. "The kids need to learn to care for the animals first," he said as I looked up from my plate. "We should walk the children through their chores, and after that we should go somewhere."
"That sounds fair," Suu agreed, pouring me another caff. "'Soka, what's your opinion?"
"It does sound fair," I agreed, smiling proudly at Chopper. Turning to the disaster duo, I winked. "Elle, Skylin, what do you both think?
"Blah!" Elle giggled, seeming to agree with me.
"First we'll start with you, little one," I growled as I picked up Skylin from her chair. "Let's bathe you." Skylin pressed her sticky hands against my face as I cuddled her in my arms.
