Sabezra's 8th Anniversary:

D2/4 ABY, Cerulia

In a big way, Ezra found it depressing that he now had the opportunity to try take three of the Force Projection in a bed anniversary because it meant that he was still separated from his wife and family by unknown lightyears. He'd had no idea it would take this long to be found and that he'd asked Ahsoka to do such a monumental task that would take her away from a war she should have been fighting. With her vast experience, it was possible she could have turned the tide of the war long ago in the Rebellion's favour.

But despite the not so ideal circumstances, his enthusiasm for his home visits hadn't waned at all. If anything, the visits were more important to him than ever.

Today he finished his dinner as fast as possible with just as much of a lack of decorum as two years ago on this day. Ezra rose from the dining table in King Wayve's suite with an apologetic smile to the assembled close friends and family of the king. "My apologies for taking off early, but it is my anniversary today and I dare not be late."

"Of course, Ezra," Wayve replied with a regal nod. "We understand. Give your lovely wife our regards at an appropriate moment." His big black eyes twinkled with teasing humour because it was a known fact that Sabine tended to pounce on Ezra as soon as he showed up. Or vice versa if she happened to still be asleep. (Despite keeping his shields up more often than not, the highly telepathic Cerulians were much too good at picking up on any little thought or image that Ezra let slip. He suffered through much good natured teasing because of it.)

"I will, thank you. Now, if you all could perhaps tell the planet to save any earthquakes for another day, I would be most grateful."

Ezra stepped into the transitional antechamber to much mental and physical laughter as they all recalled how upset Sabine had been about being left literally on the edge of orgasm last anniversary. (Another little detail that had snuck past his shields and he'd had to live with a year's worth of teasing over it.)

Ezra created a Force bubble of air for himself around his entire body and then he was stepping into one of the hallway-like water filled tubes that traversed the underwater palace made of one massive Kyber crystal. He popped out into the main hall a handful of seconds later and then he used a Force push off a wall to get him going in the right direction and out the front 'door'. (Just a huge and ornate opening really. No doors ever actually closed off the palace from the sea.)

Once outside, he sent out a mental call for the sea creatures that closely resembled lothdolphins that he'd befriended long ago. A whole pod appeared within a minute, chirping happily to see him. Ezra laughed as they surrounded him and poked at his bubble, trying to get in to nuzzle him with their noses. "Not yet! Once we're on the surface of the ocean! You know that. Push me up and we can play for a minute."

As a unit, they assembled under and around him and started swimming upwards, pushing his bubble towards the surface.

The Cerulians had been astonished when Ezra had first befriended the creatures so easily, saying they were usually very shy and rarely came anywhere near the underwater cites. They were even more astonished when Ezra had chosen to use the somewhat slower but way more fun method of riding the creatures to get from place to place on the ocean planet as opposed to Force swimming like they did.

Ezra would always choose to interact with animals if he could, as they brought him joy and peace.

His air bubble broke the surface of the ocean and Ezra let it disappear. He treaded water as the sea creatures the Cerulians called water sprites surrounded him again. He rubbed all of their snouts in turn but, as usual, ended up paying special attention to a certain one that he'd watched grow up from a small pup to the biggest one in the pod. "Think you can set a new speed record and get me home faster than ever, buddy?"

The water sprite nodded his head, throwing the lukewarm ocean water on Ezra playfully. Chuckling, Ezra swam around and grabbed onto a wispy looking but very strong top fin that was nearly as tall as he was.

And with that, they were off, shooting through the ocean at incredible speeds, leaping high up into the air every half minute or so and jumping waves just for the fun of it. Ezra timed his breaths with the leaps out of practice.

In only minutes, they'd swum across about a hundred kilometres of ocean and the sprites slowed to a stop just before the water became too shallow for them near the beach of the Ezra's island home. He let go of the fin and swam around, petting the sprite's head fondly. "Thanks, bud. You're the best."

Ezra received another faceful of water in their traditional goodbye, leaving him sputtering and laughing. He swam towards the beach with the sprites chirping their goodbyes in his wake. "Later, my friends," he called back mentally.

He walked onto the soft sand beach, waving a greeting to some of the human (or mostly so) villagers that were playing in the sand. Ignoring the discomfort of his wet shorts (all he was wearing, much like a native of the planet), he walked up to his home which was empty because he'd left Link behind at the palace, who was keeping a close eye on Krystal who was due to pop her and Raign's firstborn any day now.

Once in his room, he stripped off the shorts and shrugged into a simple robe for warmth. He knelt on his bed and settled his breathing.

And then he was flying to Sabine again in a use of Force that he'd done so many times now that it was just as easy as breathing.

Much to his surprise he landed in the training gym of the Clan Wren stronghold right beside a Sabine who was in a rather fierce looking martial arts fight with her mother. Even though he wasn't solid yet, he automatically dodged a flying foot as the older woman instinctively struck out at a perceived threat. He also instantly imagined himself with clothes on. So much for our sexy time on a bed anniversary. Maybe I should give up on hoping for that one and stick to the romantic dates like we do for our wedding anniversaries. Those always work out well.

Sabine and Ursa's fight came to a stuttering halt as they registered his presence.

As did all the rest of the clan who was downstairs for a morning workout, gawking at the 'ghost' in their midst. (Their homes on Krownest and Lothal were within a couple of hours of the same timeframe, which was convenient.)

"Ezra! Is it that time already?"

He raised a brow and crossed his arms over his chest. "It would seem so," he answered his wife dryly. "Might I ask what we're doing here so unexpectedly?" (She hadn't mentioned anything about a trip to Krownest when he'd seen her last night, her time.)

Sabine rolled her eyes in her mother's direction, who simply gave Ezra and her daughter a steely look with an underlying smirk that you had to really look to see. "Mother commed me last night just after you left and 'invited' me to come over. The Mand'alor will be here by lunchtime and is bringing her riddur with her as well as their infant son. It seems that Fenn wants us to meet the newest Kryze heir and got tired of trying to find time to make the trip all the way to Lothal."

Ezra smiled in anticipation of seeing an old friend he hadn't seen for years. "I guess that's worth delaying our anniversary for."

Sabine stepped up close to him, looking very lickable with her glistening skin clothed in only a tight sports bra and shorts, and wrapped an arm around his waist. She stood on tiptoe to whisper in his ear, "Don't worry, Ez. I still have plans for your visit tonight. I should be all alone on the Lothhawk by then. Our eighth anniversary isn't dead yet.

Ezra put a hand on her back and tugged her a fraction closer as he whispered his lips over her cheek. "Good," he murmured. "Because I had every intention of making you scream eight times this morning to celebrate."

Her breath caught and she looked up at him with dilating eyes. "Stars, Ez, you sure do know how to torture a girl, don't you?"

He hummed in agreement as he pressed a promise of a kiss to her neck.

A loudly cleared throat had them parting abruptly, looking somewhat guiltily at Ursa.

The Countess in question gave Ezra an unimpressed look. "Since you have more than ably demonstrated your ability to be solid and whole looking, would you care to back that up with a round or two of sparring?"

"Uhhhhhhh."

Sabine elbowed him in the side.

"Sure."

Not exactly how I envisioned this day going, he thought as he vanished his shirt and faced his mother-in-law with fists raised in readiness for her first attack.