A/N If you don't like sex scenes then skip the bit after the Wake.

CHAPTER EIGHTY ONE

The Ghost returned to the Rebel campsite, its occupants subdued but still planning for the future. Ana slipped quietly to the temporary Med Bay they had set up, so as not to intrude; she would do her own grieving, in her own way. People had thought they didn't get on but they did. Gregor was brutally honest which hurt sometimes but she appreciated him for it and he had a weird sense of humour. He had saved her life. She didn't know all these people that well but she would do her job and treat anyone who came by. Hera had mentioned helping Lothal reconstruct and that was something she could do. There were civilians who were caught up in the bombardment and some Stormtroopers, although she was not sure what she was going to happen with them.

The first to come through was the Weekay pirate and with him was his friend the Ugnaught, who had been injured though not seriously and a Bacta bandage was enough for him. He would survive. The pirate was a mess of contradictions and seemed very protective of him. The rest were simple cuts, shrapnel and the odd blaster burn but no one else she knew well came in, so she sat with her thoughts.

She would have liked to take Gregor to Seelos for burial but it was not to be, they had not retrieved the body. He deserved some remembrance, although she knew it was not part of Rex or Wolffe's Mandalorian culture to have a burial. They had never buried their brothers they said, apart from that last time, the destroyer, Ahsoka, Mandalore, the one that Rex never talked about.

Order 66.

She knew it still haunted him—nineteen years later.

The door shushed open disturbing her thoughts, she turned to find Rex coming through the door, he had hardly spoken to her after the battle and didn't appear injured; she wasn't sure why he was here now.

"Hey." His voice said everything that she needed to know.

Ana moved towards him, slowly, "I'm so sorry."

Rex looked at her, his eyes so full of sadness, it physically hurt her. His hands moved up towards her slightly, she moved faster now and wrapped him in her arms; he sank down onto the chair, all pretense leaving him. She could feel him shaking and held him until it subsided; she stood holding him long after.

Finally, he pushed her away, a little and she took the hint. As she moved away, he winced, injured, his shoulder again; "Let me sort that out for you." She carefully removed the inferior Stormtrooper armour and he let her; in his back were two pieces of shrapnel, deeply embedded.

"Kriff Rex, you should've said earlier. I'll remove these, but it'll hurt."

"No painkillers?"

She sighed, having used the last on Melch; he always remembered from when they first met.

"No."

"Might have guessed. Ok I'm ready."

She quickly removed them, it was second nature to her now, then she applied coagulant to them to stop the bleeding. Dressing the small cuts with Bacta bandages, they would be sore but would heal, she turned away but not before Rex caught her lower arm in his hand and stopped her moving.

"I need you, Cyar'ika."

She closed her eyes and turned slowly, the way he had said that had sent butterflies to her stomach, inappropriate as it was at this time.

Watching his face; she was taking an eternity to decide, or so it seemed but it was a split second before she pulled his face up to hers and kissed him gently on the lips; she held onto him tightly, not wanting to let go again, ever, for fear of losing him.

"Ana! You can let go now I'm not going anywhere but we need to report back to Command; the General notified them of what happened and now there's another mission that I need to get involved in."

The moment had passed.

"Jesse sent us a message. Wolffe just picked it up." He continued

He looked at her, waiting for a response.

"Kix?"

He shook his head. "He was on his way back, when he found something. Said the Rebel Alliance would be interested. He's watching it. We're going to meet him, me and Wolffe. After we've spoken to Draven."

"Draven?"

"I know how you feel about him but he deals with these things."

"I suppose I was naive thinking we would get any time together." She let out a small breath "And we can't even bury Gregor, he deserves at least that." At this point she was on the verge of tears and she could feel her eyes welling up.

It was Rex's turn to be supportive; standing up he said. "Yes, he does deserve that." He tilted her head up to his. "Kriff, I love you Ana. All the more for this. I can't imagine life without you now. These last few months had been hell." He kissed her deeply and she responded; she just didn't know what she would do if she lost him.

.

It was a small but emotion charged remembrance ceremony and Gregor had a stone with the rest of Ana's family; she insisted he was a member and so earned that right. Essie had arranged for marker to be made and Rex, Wolffe and Zeb had set it in.

Prudii and A'den Skirata had surprised everyone and turned up; they had worked with Gregor as a Commando and had trained him on Kamino. Rhoxie and Rhia appeared, both devastated.

Wolffe had said a few words, as had Rex. Gregor, Rex and Wolffe had been friends and comrades for years and his death hit them both hard but he had what thousands of his brothers had never had, a wake.

They returned to the house, where Jay and the girls had remained during the setting of the stone, babysitting Kallie and they had also prepared some food. Essie had provided some bottles of Tihaar, which was deemed appropriate and everyone drank to Gregor, to celebrate his short life. Kanan and Ezra were also remembered, once the drinks had taken effect the stories started, the memories. Prudii had a few choice ones about Gregor, who had been quite the ladies man before his injuries.

.

After midnight everyone had gradually wandered away to where they were sleeping and Rex and Ana retired to the room that had been hers; Rex was still subdued.

"Rex talk to me." Ana demanded as he was finishing in the fresher; there was no reply. She entered slowly and put a hand on his back. "Please." She implored him now, as he seemed worse than when it first happened. He braced himself against the sink. "It's just not Fekking fair." He swore."Just as he'd had the cure."

Ana had never seen him as bad as this before and wasn't sure exactly what to say; "He was a good man Rex but life isn't fair and that's what he was fighting for, by choice. You helped give him that choice and he appreciated it. He was free when he died and he made a difference to the people of Lothal."

Rex turned around and grabbed her in a fierce hug, as if trying to use her to forget. As they stood there, Ana said,

"I have some good news. I have permission to tell you but only you and you keep it to yourself okay."

He looked affronted that she thought he couldn't keep a secret; had got better at lying over the years.

"Hera asked me to examine her earlier."

Rex opened his mouth to say something but Ana continued.

"She's not ill, very healthy but well and truly pregnant."

"How?"

"Why do people say that?" Muttered Ana.

"Kanan's?"

"No one else."

Rex smiled; she hadn't seen him smile for what seemed like an eternity

"Come on love, let's try and get some sleep."

Ana smiled to herself; she had hoped that she and Rex would have another but it hadn't happened but it was time for some good news.

.

They retired to bed but sleep did not come easily to either of them; Ana had just dropped off to semi sleep, when she felt Rex get up and go to the fresher. She debated whether or not to check on him but he came out fairly quickly; she held the covers open for him, sliding into the bed under the covers he moved right up to her and pulled her to him in an embrace, where he held onto her tightly. She sighed into his neck before resting there. There was edge to him tonight, despite the news.

His hand skimmed her night dress and finally pulling it up, so that he had access to her breasts. He fondled them, knowing exactly what to do to get a reaction from her and soon she was involuntarily pushing herself against him. She reached for him; she had missed him so much. She had missed, this, so much. Although they never said it, they both knew they may not have much time together. She tried to push him away, to pull her night dress off; Rex grunted his disapproval and kissed her hard pushing her down into the mattress.

"Let me…" she started to say before he pulled her nightdress up and off, quickly taking her breast fully in his mouth. She arched up at the heightened sensations; there was no gentleness just demanding need. Rex pushed a hard knee between her thighs, his hands grabbing her hips tight. She but back a yelp and tried to push him away.

He entered her quickly, grunting with his desperation. Shocked at the suddenness, she soon recovered and met his thrusts with her own, heading quickly to her release but almost as she reached it, he pulled out, twisted her over on her hands and knees. She let out an oomph as she hit the bed. Without warning or preparation he pushed her head onto the bed, she struggled to get a hold before he entered her from behind, holding her by the hips. Rex was intent on getting his own release; Ana's was sudden but deep and Rex thrust in hard and held her down the whole time, as she stiffened and worked through it. He started again as she relaxed and finally came with a guttural grunt shuddering through his last few thrusts. He pulled her up to him, tightly, holding her there until he finally relaxed and covered them both with the bedclothes. They lay there, he was stifling her but she couldn't move and finally relaxed into him. He had obviously needed this.

.

Ana woke early, the first rays of the sun were pushing through the window; she changed position and hissed at the pains she felt around her hips and the aches from the underused muscles. Rex was snoring gently. She slid out from under the bedclothes trying not to disturb him although that was difficult, he usually slept lightly unless he was really tired. She entered the fresher and immediately saw her reflection in the mirror; she saw the marks on her neck and breasts. Not recalling exactly what Rex did to cause them, she got under a really hot shower, leant against the wall, under the shower head and let the hot water do it's magic. Rex had sometimes been urgent, desperate in his sexual requirements before but never quite so ….rough.

There were other aches and pains she could feel. She stood letting the hot water loosen her stiffened muscles and relieve the aches while she pondered on last night. She was so engrossed in her thoughts she did not hear Rex come in until he was beside her and had encircled her with his large muscular arms before she could compose herself.

"Cyar'ika," he nuzzled into her neck; she stiffened in response and he noticed immediately. "Last night….. I was selfish; I'm sorry." She flinched as he took hold of her arms; his eyes dropped to see livid bruises on her biceps, letting go, his face was blank and she turned away from his to let the shower run over her face as tears were burning in her eyes. She was unsure why.

"Ana?" Rex touched her hips, she flinched again and he saw the blue-green bruises, they fit his hands precisely and realising it was he that had caused them, he backed away and left the shower quickly pulling a robe over his still wet body.

"Rex!"

Ana finished her shower, unsure where Rex he had gone but she had seen the bruises herself. They needed to talk.

The day promised to be fine and sunny; their daughter would be up soon and racing around looking for her father and uncle. She loved them both, just like her Mother, Ana finally admitted that she felt like that about Wolffe but Rex was the only true love of her life. She looked around the house and the gardens trying not to be tempted to clear up any detritus that she found from the visitors; he had disappeared.

It took Ana some minutes but she eventually found him on the outskirts of the smallholding, in the orchard. sitting at the base of a tree with his head in his hands. She had never seen him this bad. She ventured gently, "what's up love?"

"Keep away from me." He returned gruffly, head not lifting from his hands.

"Don't push me away, not now…...Rex."

She sat down next to him and leaned against him, feeling him flinch at her touch; she leaned harder and pulled his hand into her lap, rubbing the scarred knuckles.

"I...I'm sorry." His apology was low, murmured, as if by apologising he finally admitted that he had hurt her and he couldn't believe it.

"I know and we need to sort this out." She paused thinking over what she was going to say next; once said she couldn't go back. "I understand if I'm not enough for you if there is….if there are other things that you need that I can't provide…..."

"Don't even go there." Rex interrupted, "Last night I just…."

"Just what?"

"Let go."

It felt as is she had been hit in the stomach; "You don't think, you can normally let go with me."

"No not that …. it's just that I don't want to hurt you. Not like Raif did."

"You couldn't, wouldn't. I trust you not to."

"What?"

"I would let you know if what you were doing…..was hurting me."

"You sure?"

"Yes." Sometimes this man, her man needed reassurance that he wasn't hurting her, doing her wrong. It was so contradictory. But sometimes she just knew he needed it.

"No slapping though. I don't do slapping."

Why she thought of that she didn't know.

"Doesn't really do anything for me either."

"Come here." She could never reach all around him but she had a good try and they sat there quietly in the morning sun.

.

"Jesse sent a message —six words." Rex took a deep breath. He had every confidence in Jesse, despite their differences, he had always been an exceptional soldier.

"Kurost Sector - Project Stardust. Massive. Observing."

Draven was in the dining room, their dining room, looking between the message and the holoimage of the system it referred to. He took an equally deep breath and put his hands on his hips. "What I'm going to say is highly confidential. It doesn't leave this room." He looked at Ana. She felt affronted. He was standing in her Fekking dining room.

"You can trust Ana." Rex replied. "I trust her with my life." his hand slipped in hers.

Draven watched her closely, then spoke.

"Apparently there was some infighting within the Empire with regard to Thrawn, especially after Captain Syndulla made the attempt on the Tie Defender factory at Lothal. Thrawn, Tarkin and a …Director Krennic were involved, plus Grand Admiral Savit; although he has disappeared now, as of course, has Thrawn. Not much is known about Krennic. He was a high flyer at the start of the Empire but has been keeping a low profile recently. There was never much love lost between him and Thrawn. That is known."

Draven took another deep breath.

"Our sources told us that Tarkin was playing his usual games and to resolve the dispute between Thrawn and Krennic's rival projects, He convinced the Emperor to restore funding to Thrawn's Tie Defender program, if Thrawn was able to resolve the gralloc problem."

"Grallocs? What the Fek do they have to do with the Empire?"

"Apparently they were causing problems on transport ships making deliveries for …..Project Stardust."

Rex knew it. Jesse was onto something.