A/N: You know what? I give up on Pat reon. Somebody ought to be able to read this besides me. -dumps chapter-

"That doesn't look comfortable," Hunter said.

Omega, half-asleep on his lap, mumbled, "It won't break, will it?"

"The bunks are designed to hold Wrecker," Tech said. "They'll be fine."

Hunter, chin resting on his hand, had to smile at the sight before him.

Echo and Fives were laying on Echo's bunk. Their limbs were tangled together, so tightly that Hunter doubted they could be separated if anyone even wanted to try. Their foreheads were pressed together and their eyes were closed. Even in sleep, Echo refused to leave his long lost brother.

The position looked uncomfortable for them both, but Hunter didn't have the heart to try moving them. After talking for an hour, both had conked out and been asleep for the last eight hours. Hunter couldn't remember the last time Echo had slept for so long in one stretch.

Hunter checked the chrono beside his elbow. It was getting late. Everyone had fallen asleep soon after Echo and Fives, though the rest of the squad slept in snatches.

Hunter ran his fingers through Omega's hair, feeling her relax further into him. She'd been having a harder time sleeping than the rest of the squad. Every time she started to doze, she'd snap awake with a whimper. She'd finally fallen asleep for a few hours when Hunter gave up pretending to be productive and put her on his lap, but still woke up occasionally.

From further back in the ship, Wrecker was in the hold. While Echo and Fives were content to sleep together that day, Hunter figured they'd appreciate separate beds at some point. And for a lack of bunks, Hunter had given Wrecker the task of clearing a space in the hold for Echo and Fives.

Because there wasn't a doubt in Hunter's mind that Fives was staying. Tech had run numerous scans on Fives and decided there was a 50/50 chance that the constant shivering could be stopped with medicines and therapy. There weren't many safe places for clones anymore, so staying with the Batch would help keep Fives safe. And if he did recover, Hunter knew Fives would become valuable on missions.

But more than that was for the light in Echo's eyes that had shone since they found Fives. He was brighter now than Hunter had ever seen him, even with Rex. Hunter knew that if Fives left, Echo would be going with him.

And speaking of Rex…

"Were you able to contact Rex?" Hunter asked Tech.

"No, but Rex contacted Gregor while we were gone," Tech said. "He is on his way to Ord Mantell now. I calculate we'll arrive shortly after him."

Hunter smirked. He wondered if they should have Fives hide under the cloak much like Rex had done when he first found the Batch. It would be amusing to see Rex's reaction.

On the bunk, Fives made a distressed noise and squirmed. Without waking, Echo hugged Fives even closer until his brother stilled.

Watching them, carding his fingers through Omega's hair, Hunter's mind wandered.

Fives had spent months thinking Echo was dead. It had been the same for Echo. Both had thought their brother was gone forever, until the universe decided to bring them back together.

Maybe someday, the universe would bring Hunter's brother home.

Rex leaned against the alley wall, eyes on the entrance to Cid's place. After five minutes of nothing more exciting than a couple of drunken Rodians stumbling into a pile of trash, Rex pulled his hood further over his face and strode across the street.

Inside the parlor, it was empty aside from Cid and the Weequay and Ithorian regulars. Somewhere along the line, the two regulars had learned who Rex was, and they couldn't care less about the rebel clone, so Rex pushed the hood back.

The Batch liked to give Rex a hard time about his disguise, but what else was he supposed to do? A clone buying a helmet that concealed his face would draw far more attention than hiding under a hood. Besides, the cloak meant Rex could keep his armor and blaster on at all times.

Cid glanced at him, then waved a stained rag toward the back. "He's in the office."

Rex nodded his thanks and walked quickly toward the back. Cid called after him.

"And take him with you, would ya? I need my office back!"

Rex opted to ignore the complaint and entered the office. He felt a jolt of alarm when he saw it was empty, but stopped himself from entering.

"Gregor? It's Rex."

Gregor appeared from a corner alcove, lifting his blaster toward the ceiling with a grin. While his face was cheerful, Rex could see how carefully he moved. Gregor's blacks had a hole burned into the chest, and bandages stood starkly against the black.

"Rex ol' boy, I almost shot you!" Gregor said in a chipper tone. He grabbed Rex's shoulder. "It's good to see you again."

"And you," Rex returned.

The two old friends embraced carefully.

"Have you heard from the Bad Batch?" Rex asked as they separated.

"I did! They'll be here soon."

Rex sighed in relief. "I wish I could have been there to help. Did they say if they got Hunter back?"

"That they did. Said they're even bringing another friend along," Gregor said.

A friend? Had they decided to go ahead and rescue Crosshair while they were on Kamino? Rex wouldn't put it past the Batch. And it would explain why it was taking them so long to get back; they must have taken Crosshair somewhere to get his chip removed.

Rex and Gregor sat down, exchanging survival stories and mourning together over lost friends. Not long after, Cid's cranky voice drifted into the office.

"What, another stray? I'm going to start charging you guys rent."

"You already take a fair share out of our payments," Hunter returned drily.

"Yeah, whatever. Your two buds are already in the office," Cid said.

"Good."

Rex raised an eyebrow. Had that been Echo? He sounded positively giddy.

Rex stood as the Batch entered. Hunter and Tech were first, followed by Wrecker, who bent under the doorway to accommodate a sleepy-looking Omega on his shoulders. Next was Echo, who was grinning from ear to ear. Last was a figure hidden under the hood of a cloak.

"Glad to see you back," Rex said sincerely. He nodded at the cloaked figure. "All of you. I'm assuming you got Crosshair back?"

"No, sir," came a very familiar voice that was also decidedly not Crosshair.

The figure lifted his head and swept back the cloak. He straightened with a painfully familiar smirk and saluted with a shaking hand.

Rex stopped breathing altogether.

"What's the matter, sir?" said Fives -no, it couldn't be Fives, could it?! "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Fives?" Rex asked in a whisper.

Echo gave a watery sort of laugh as he grabbed Fives' shoulders in a rough half-hug. "Yes, sir."

"You're…"

Rex couldn't finish. He walked forward on stiff legs, barely registering the Batch separating for him. He reached out, hesitated, then cupped his hand softly on Fives' cheek.

He was solid. He was warm. He was real.

"Not a ghost, sir," Fives said, clasping Rex's arm with a shaky hand.

"Fives," Rex whispered. Then, louder, "Fives!"

Throwing aside years of military decorum, Rex threw his free arm around Fives and yanked him close. Fives laughed and returned the hug, pounding Rex on the back.

"Fives, I saw you- how- where-" Rex thrust Fives to arms' length. "Fives, I'm so sorry."

"No apologies," Fives said. He muttered, "I wouldn't have believed me, either. I just wish I could have done more."

Echo stepped forward and clasped Fives' shoulder and put his scomp link on Rex's. He looked at them both, sorrowful and solemn.

"All that matters is that you're both here now," Echo said. "No apologies from either of you, got it? You're alive, that's all I care about."

"We," Fives corrected, grabbing Echo's shoulder. "We are alive."