Emperor Palpatine sat at his desk, going about his typical insufferable yet regrettably necessary exertions as he waited to go to the meeting he knew Pestage had placed in just a few minutes time. He saw no need to rush—they would wait for him, he knew, a harsher smile than was appropriate brushing across his face as the thought came to mind.

As if summoned by thought alone, Sate Pestage entered Palpatine's office, approaching the desk with an eerie calmness almost representative of the Emperor's own ever-present demeanor.

"My lord," he started, leaning down to speak directly into Palpatine's right ear. "Lord Vader wishes to see you prior to the meeting."

Palpatine almost blinked, his lip curling up in a small smile. "You may send him in."

The Emperor had an idea what the session would concern. But all the better to fake ignorance, and use the idea as leverage should additional power be necessary.

Pestage bowed before exiting the room and waving Vader inside. The other Sith Lord remained silent, kneeling and bowing before his master. "Yes, my apprentice?"

Darth Vader rose, his respirator working extra hard after even the slight exertion. "Master, how could she not tell us? She's too young." Vader said, his tone angry and distant.

Palpatine turned his head to the side, messing with a pen. "Hardly." He shook his head, leaving the pen down when it fell from his hand. "Did you truthfully not know she was pregnant until today? That would concern me more."

He tensed, not wanting to admit his failing. "It won't happen again, master." Vader said.

Palpatine watched him. "You knew before. So why the anger now? Did she make it more real?"

He rose from his seat, leaning heavily on his cane as he limped to the side of his desk, resting a hand on the surface of the wood. He stared deep into the black of Vader's mask. "I understand, in a sense-she's similar to Padmé in many ways," he said.

Vader ground his teeth, thankfully covered by the sound of his respirator. "Not so similar as she could be." No one could ever compare to his wife.

Palpatine's expression was blank. "Are you trying to convince yourself?"

"I need no convincing, my lord." Vader replied, his shoulders stiff as his feet shifted. Perhaps another thread would distract the emperor, if only for a moment. "I have looked at the young former Jedi's file."

"Cait Sellin." Palpatine nodded. The woman was nearly forty now. When she had revealed her master's abuse, she had been twenty-one. "And they are correct, it is her and Lyle Arche on Corellia?"

"Correct, my lord." Vader said, holding his relief in check.

"Arche fathered her child?"

Vader hesitated. "Are you certain that they won't be a liability here? It's. It's unusual that they shared a master and are now involved."

"Involved," Palpatine said. "Quite the term to use, my apprentice." Their shared master had used his position of power to turn many in the Order against her. Her advocates, who had included very prominent members of the Jedi High Council who were now all dead, had mostly refused to speak of their support in public, and another Jedi Master had taken it outside of the Order when it had looked like Cait's master would see no justice. She had been reassigned to Abbisey, an instructor in the Academy.

But Vader had been Anakin at the time, and he was correct-Cait had trained with Master Bedo for ten years before she told of the abuse. She had only trained with her second master for a year before she decided she couldn't take the screaming whispers and the terrible looks any more, and had accepted an offer from Count Dooku for a relocation and a fresh start. "They trained years apart, no?"

"Yes, for the most part." Vader admitted. "But it shouldn't matter. They're essentially brother and sister." He simmered, the memories of his own childhood rising. She had been much older than him, but that had never mattered. All of the padawans had known her, and not just because of the disgusting conversations some of the masters had, while others berated them for talking even amongst themselves about a padawan who had survived abuse. At the time, Anakin hadn't ever seen that side of the Order. The secrecy, the internal cattiness and the picking of sides through the trauma of a vulnerable person, as if there were sides. She had been an older student they had all looked up to, kinder than Ferus and far more humble, incredibly skilled in Makashi, with no desire to fight and every desire to teach. She'd assisted the instructors even before she'd been reassigned to Master Abbisey, who taught the younglings aged four to six. And when she left, the masters realized that just maybe they had been too hard on the twenty-two year old abuse survivor. Too late.

"The initial report estimated they've been living together for about five years," Palpatine said.

Vader fumed for a few moments. "It's disturbing."

Palpatine's face betrayed no emotion. "Did the recent report revise their previous estimation that Arche did not abuse her, or are you editorializing?"

Vader shook his head. "There is no way to know without asking and we cannot ask until she's here. If she agrees."

The Emperor shifted in his chair, tapping his fingers on the desk. "You agree that we shouldn't just eliminate her, then."

Vader hesitated. "We cannot trust her, but I believe she is a useful asset."

"Why can we not trust her?"

He stared at his master. "Lyle Arche's influence will make her unlikely to cooperate."

Palpatine turned his head to the side. "I think she has enough to fear from us without Lyle Arche manipulating her, don't you?"

He bowed his head. "You're right my lord." Vader looked towards the window. "She will be a fine addition to the Inquisitors."

"After her delivery, perhaps. But I'm still not sure Inquisitor is the best role for her." Palpatine thought for a moment. "Did she ever teach you? I don't recall."

"She worked with me some," Vader said. His voice tightened. "She may see through me."

"We'll handle that if and when it arises," Palpatine said, waving a hand. "You've seen her in action, teaching?"

Vader nodded, remembering. "She has an amazing manner with children. I don't know how well she'll do with teaching our philosophy, master."

Palpatine thought for a moment. "We can work at that. Darth Tyranus had planned on poaching her, have I told you that?"

The memory of the late Dark Lord made Vader cringe. Could he be so replaceable? "She would not have been suited at the time. I see her potential, but he simply admired her swordsmanship."

Palpatine shrugged. "Perhaps. How well did you know of her, to really say?"

Vader bristled. "I knew her well enough to judge."

"All the same. Tyranus took her on as a project. As I understand, he started planting seeds before his death."

"He always was obsessed with other Makashi fighters." Vader commented.

Palpatine smirked, watching his apprentice. "She is no replacement for you. Relax."

He nodded, covering his discomfort. "I wouldn't imagine the possibility."

"No?" Palpatine turned his head to the side.

Vader hesitated for no more than a second. "Master, if this is a test, you know I am your servant."

Palpatine smiled softer, though that was, in fact, more menacing. "No test." He thought again for a moment. "Were I to send you for Cait Sellin and Lyle Arche, could I trust you to not lead with accusations of abuse?"

Vader hesitated. "Your wish is my command, master. I will restrain my bias in this matter."

Palpatine nodded, and rose. "We'll talk about it more after the meeting."

"We? Master, you don't expect me to attend this meeting to discuss-" Vader cut himself short.

"The Prime Minister's pregnancy?" Palpatine finished for him. "I do. And you will."

The sound of Vader's respirator filled the room as the Dark Lord fell silent, battling to bring his emotions into check.

Palpatine watched him. "Come. You clearly want to see what happens here. You'll come to the meeting, and you'll see for yourself just how easily these situations are mitigated when those in power control the media."

Vader remained silent, kneeling again lest he say something wrong. "Yes master."

Palpatine balanced his hands on the desk and took his cane. "Come along." The Emperor hid a chuckle as he led his apprentice down the hallway into the conference room.

Maia, immediately alert, shot up from her seat-followed only a moment later by Dangor and Pestage-her green eyes a bit wide as they focused on the decrepit man before her.

Palpatine own gaze breezed over his two leading advisors, before examining the lone female in the room. "Maia. You thought you couldn't tell me?"

Maia bit her lip and swallowed. "I'm sorry."

"You may all sit," he said, and they all took their seats.

Palpatine's mouth thinned into an eerie smile as he gestured a shaky hand to Maia's stomach. "How are you feeling?"

Maia hesitated, staring at him for a moment. "I'm fine, sir."

Palpatine nodded. "I wanted to ask you about bringing Pradeux in to manage media coverage and HoloNet relations for your pregnancy."

She narrowed her eyes, glancing at Ars. "You wanted to ask me about it, my lord?"

"How you think the best way to implement the media campaign would be. Not whether, of course."

Maia swallowed. "Would you like to talk about that now, or do you want me to handle it with Pradeux?"

"You should talk with Pradeux about it. I believe he'll be calling Lunette this afternoon to schedule a meeting." He smiled, a relic of his old days. "I'm glad that the news has been well, so far."

Maia nodded. Did he know something about her father's position that she didn't?

Palpatine continued to smile, holding the young woman's gaze until she herself broke it off, petting her hair down as she looked towards Pestage to continue the meeting.

"We'll be having a regular visitor at the end of the week," Pestage started, glancing at Dangor, Vader, and then the Emperor-all of whom knew this information-before settling on Maia.

"Whom," Maia asked after a moment.

"Xizor. The new Vigo of Black Sun."

"No, um. I know who he is, but." Maia hesitated. "Hm." She cupped her nose with her hand, sitting back in her chair and spinning a pen in her hand. "Where to start. Here's one, I guess: Why are we associating ourselves with the head of a criminal syndicate?"

"It's a parable on our true intentions," Dangor contributed, his eyes glittering through the attempt to diffuse the situation. "And you'd think it hard to find someone more arrogant than the five of us, but there he is."

"Look at that. Ars made a joke." Maia's eyes darkened. "What constructive impact could this possibly have?"

"In the short amount of time that Xizor's led Black Sun," Pestage started. "He's greatly expanded their influence. Their spy network and surveillance systems supersede anything we've seen in a non-governmental force."

Maia held back a blink. It sounded like a speech for the HoloNet. "Okay. But we are a governmental force, and we've got the technology to blast away Eriadun rats back home and make it back in time for the banking conference." She turned to the speechwriter, eyes narrowing. "See, Ars? I can make jokes too."

Palpatine leaned forward. "Maia, we understand your concerns. But in turn, you must acknowledge that whether or not you agree, we are doing what we think is best for the Empire."

Maia wanted to say more, but caught herself, conflicted, before turning to Pestage.

"Who is in charge of handling the relations?" She asked.

"It's. Ah. Interesting that you should ask."

Maia blinked, keeping her breath calm only by counting silently. "Really," she asked.

"Really," Palpatine replied.

Maia turned her head to the wall for a moment, before sighing. "And to think that I've always thought you guys decided these assignments by playing 'pin-the-tail-on-the-Drebin."

"Not quite," Pestage replied.

She swallowed. "You all planned this out purposefully."

"You make it sound so negative," Dangor muttered.

"I like to think of it as 'concern over Maia's future if she doesn't learn how to act in uncomfortable situations,' " Palpatine remarked. "You're not going to always be in comfortable territory."

Maia resisted the urge to wince. She hated the feeling of being preached to, like a university student attending a common lecture. "I'm the civil one. He's sexist, he's unprofessional." Although Maia said it steadily, it sounded an awful lot like an argument, and Palpatine took her full on, although he kept the same tone as she.

Vader's eyes shifted to glance at Maia under his helmet. She was completely correct. Surely, the Emperor had security protocols in mind. But he listed none.

"You will not be able to change Xizor. And that's not the assignment. You know what's expected of you, and I'm fully confident in your ability to perform as needed." Palpatine left no room for argument, and Maia could tell that despite how much she wanted to, this wasn't something on which she should push.

"All I can say, sir, is that you have more confidence in my abilities than I do. But if you believe I'll do well."

"Wonderful."

No one spoke in the room for a moment, until Maia sighed once more. "So. When do I have to. Start dealing with him?"

"We expect he'll arrive Friday morning," Pestage told her. "So we'll probably want you around midday. I'll have a more specific time for you shortly."

"Thanks, I'd appreciate it," Maia said, trying to hide her sarcasm. "So. Is that it?" It seemed to her like 'let's pick on Maia' day.

"For now. Take care of yourself. And get some sleep," Palpatine replied.

Vader shifted in his seat. Was that it? There would be no discussion of security around the crime lord known to sexually assault powerful women?

"Yeah," Maia said, glancing Vader's way before looking back to Palpatine. "Have a good day, my lord." She turned her head to the other occupants in the room as she spoke, as means of acknowledgment.

Pestage leafed through the stack of papers in front of him while Dangor stared after Maia. The flat affect of Vader's mask did nothing to hide the internal anger emanating from him like an airborne virus.

Maia bristled, turning to Vader. "Next time you have something to say, say it."

Palpatine kept an eye on Vader, in case he did take action. The extra attention wasn't needed-Vader stayed in place, although his anger clearly intensified by the moment, and not with Maia. He would handle security beyond the Blue Guards himself, if need be.

Maia tilted her head up before leaving the room, her back turned as she did so. No one challenged her.

Dangor looked up from the grain on the table he'd been examining so, turning to Pestage, who, after a moment, turned to Palpatine.

The Emperor nodded small, rising with a smile. "I believe this meeting is finished." He stood, closing his palm over the cane and turning to leave.

Upon seeing her boss storm from the conference room, Lunette herself rose. Without stopping or looking at her chief of staff, Maia muttered. "That will be all for today, Lunette."

"But. Ma'am."

"That will be all."

Lunette hesitated. "I assume I'll be told in the morning what happened in there?"

Maia stopped in place, turning to Lunette. "Go home."

"I. Yes, Ma'am." Lunette stayed in place, watching Maia go before she went on her own way, following Maia to their office and closing up before she signed out of the system and went home.

Dahn stopped himself outside Maia's office, debating the merits of knocking versus simply entering. Nodding, Dahn opened the door, sticking his head in. "Maia?"

Gazing down at the form at the desk, Dahn sighed. He entered Maia's office, closing the door behind him before approaching his fiancee.

Maia sat at her desk, but her demeanor was nothing like normal. She slouched against the surface, her head in a collection of blank flimsiplast and written notes, her hair forming masses of red around her.

Dahn stood beside Maia, placing a hand on the cool metal of her desk before allowing it to play with some of the dark red strands he knew so well, pulling over a chair and sitting next to the sleeping young woman. Grimacing at the awkward and, he suspected, uncomfortable position at which her head sat, Dahn took it in both hands, carefully shifting her against his chest. He noticed the frown plastered on Maia's face and so began to frown himself, wishing he could help dispel her distresses and uncertainties. But it would have to wait for the morning.

Dahn felt his own eyelids begin to flutter and, slowly, closed. He gripped Maia a bit tighter, and she muttered, shifting in his arms. Dahn placed one hand to the back of her neck, holding her in place as he shushed her, petting down her red hair.

"I love you," he whispered-the last thing he remembered before he saw black.

Some time later, Maia blinked herself awake, biting her lip in confusion as she recalled she was still in her office. She looked down, spotting the familiar arms and hands embracing her, and grinned. Maia shifted her weight, leaving her fiance's lap and unbuttoning and removing her blouse to change into the clean one she kept hanging for nights just like these when she did not leave the office.

"What a nice sight to awaken to."

Maia held the new shirt up to her chest as she turned, surprised, to a fully alert Dahn Pryscott.

"Aheh. Oh. Sorry."

Smiling, Dahn rose from the chair and approached Maia. "You don't need to apologize. And what exactly are you hiding from there," he asked, winking. "Come here." Dahn took the shirt, draping it over Maia's shoulders and kissing her.

"You're so beautiful," he muttered. "Maybe when we get home, we can. Before we go to sleep."

Maia didn't reply, placing a hand on the side of Dahn's face with a light smile.

"I love you," she told him, lowering her hand and slipping her arms through the shirt's sleeves, buttoning it before turning back to Dahn.

Dahn kept his eyes on her. "Maia, what's bothering you?"

She bit her lip, looking away from him and shaking her head. "Dahn."

"Please," he asked again, his tone still calm, but a bit more forceful through his concern. "I hate seeing you so troubled. I want to help. I love you. Is it the baby? Are you too stressed?"

Maia closed her eyes. "I've got so much on my mind, Dahn."

"I know, Mai. But we're in it together."

Maia hesitated, but nodded. "I have something specific I need to tell you. They just told me about this yesterday at the Senior Staff meeting."

"What," Dahn asked, leading her to a couch against one of her office's walls. He started playing with a messy curl at the side of her head. It meant something particularly special to him that he was one of the only people to ever see the Tarkin heiress not impeccably prepared for happenstance holograms.

"Palpatine has a new job he wants me to take care of. One they kept me completely blind to for the past-Force, it has to have been a long time. Anyway, I don't know, I guess we're going to start working with Black Sun, and-"

Dahn's head shot up. "Since when?"

"That's what I'm saying, I don't know. But it seemed like something they'd been working at for a while."

"Nothing has been told to us in the Senate."

"Yeah, I don't think we're being very open about it, Dahn."

Dahn straightened his jaw. "Xizor's dangerous."

Maia turned her head to look at him. "Do you think I don't know that?"

"Why would you risk something happening?"

Maia's hands jumped up, suspended in mid-air. "What the kriff are you talking about?"

"You're putting yourself in a vulnerable position. You're putting us in a vulnerable situation."

Maia's eyes narrowed, her expression one of warning.

"I just don't understand why you'd risk it. Nor why you'd make me worry more than I already do, I worry about you constantly. Why make it worse for me?"

She glared at him. "This isn't about you. I can't believe we're even having this conversation."

"It's about you. Of course it's about me."

Maia's lip twitched. She shook and turned her head down to her lap, before she picked it back up, frowning heavily now. "Why are you doing this?" She hesitated, holding back a tear which threatened to streak down the side of her face. "Why are you making this harder than it needs to be?"

Dahn paused, opening and closing his mouth a couple of times as he searched for the right words. He shook his head, placing an index finger to the inner corner of her eye and brushing the tear away. He pulled her to him, her head against his chest and cradled by both of his hands. "I'm sorry," he whispered into her ear, and Maia crumbled into him, her tears falling steadily now as she started to cry.

Dahn's own breath caught, but he forced himself to maintain his composure. He held Maia to him, petting her back continuously and offering comfort through loving words as he had after Maia's fight with her father. But this time, he'd been the one to cause her distress.

"I'm sorry," he repeated. "You're right, that was kriffed up for me to say." He rubbed her shoulder, taking a careful pause before touching his head to hers. "Why don't we go home? I'll make you my famous poached Rancor flank steak."

Maia relaxed in his hands, glancing over to the chronometer on the wall. "I think it's a bit late for that. Or early for that?"

"Well if it's either early or late, then we must be right on time." He frowned. "Did you even eat dinner?"

"Of course I ate. I had the other half of that sandwich."

He raised an eyebrow. "But did you have a meal?" Dahn squeezed her hand. "You're under a lot of pressure, you can't eat like you did when you were just a Senator." He teased. "Back being a little nerf-herder like myself."

Maia smirked, and slapped his hand away. "I wouldn't be so hungry if you had let me sleep through the night." She winced, moving a hand back to rub her neck. "Actually. Probably not the smartest idea."

"So you are hungry. You have to let me make you a muffin or biscuit or something at least. Is there still a heating unit around here?"

She nodded towards the outer office. "Behind Lunette's desk."

He stood, typing in a request for batter into his comlink as he fished for the heating unit. "The one with the red covering? Or is that the freeze-dryer?"

Maia blinked, crossing her arms as she moved into the door frame to watch him. "You know what, I'm not going to answer that question. Instead, I'm going to watch you and your deductive reasoning skills at work." She stayed in place and then leaned against the door, nodding. "Go on, then."

"It's the one that says 'heating unit' on the cover, isn't it?" His voice was flush with embarrassment. "Don't worry, voters, I know things." He pulled the device from the box, moving back to her as she shrugged.

"Too late, this entire exchange is on video," Maia commented. "Me changing my shirt, too."

"Well, then I have nothing to worry about. The nets will cover one far more extensively than the other." Dahn smirked. "Let me make you dinner. Breakfast. Dinfast."

Maia nodded, pushing her hand through her hair as she moved back to her desk and pushed a notepad with unfinished but not quite sensitive business into her bag. "Fine. Take me home first."

"As you wish." Dahn smiled, reaching forward to squeeze her hand after cancelling the batter request. He messaged the Blue Guards, summoning the speeder to be ready for them on the platform as they moved to the port.

As they emerged onto the platform, the Blue Guards of Maia's security detail nodded in acknowledgement before forming in a triangle formation around them both. "What is your destination today, ma'am?" Captain Speikre asked.

"Back home," Maia replied, stopping in front of them. She turned her head to the side. "Can't you guys take the funny hats off," she asked, like she did almost every day.

The captain doffed his hat, bowing. "As you command, Minister." He smirked. "But only thanks to the happy news." He winked as the other guards looked on in. Dahn raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't aware there was happy news." He moved to the speeder, opening the door for her. Maia stepped inside, dropping her bag between her legs.

"Captain Speikre isn't very good at keeping secrets, I guess," she commented, off-hand.

"What's the secret in question, ma'am?" Lieutenant Kroft asked, her eyebrow perched as she took the passenger seat. "Is there a security threat?"

"Yes," Maia responded, her tone serious.

"No," Speikre interrupted, moving in the back seat next to Maia and Dahn as Lieutenant Fict took the wheel.

"Just a parasite," Maia commented.

Kroft rolled her eyes. "Do you require medical attention?"

"Specialized medical attention." Dahn said.

"It's Dahn's fault," Maia added, and swayed on the seat. "In other words, I'm pregnant."

"Congratulations!" Lieutenant Fict beamed as he pulled out of the spot, grinning into the rear view mirror. He didn't seem to mind that he was the only one of the three who hadn't known. "I'll bring some of my Aunt's fruit punch by to celebrate!"

Maia shook her head in faux disappointment. "No can do without the food taster."

Fict smirked. "I'll taste it first, I assure you."

"As will I. Fict's family is famous for its fruit punch." Dahn commented. "Doesn't your aunt work for me, technically?"

"Wow," Fict commented. "You run the entire Corellian government now?"

"Oh, I don't know if I can marry into so much arrogance." Maia shook her head. "No no, you just ruined this whole thing, Dahn."

"Only a solid nine tenths." Dahn huffed. "What, do you think I'm elected democratically?"

Maia scoffed, pinching his arm. "Cue the laugh tracks."

He pecked her cheek, pulling away from the pinch. "You're mean to me."

"Tired," she corrected, laying her head on his shoulder. "Dahn woke me up, no one bumped him when that happened." She hesitated. "That was a joke, but it's either very late or very early, so just in case, well done."

"Well, you did give him general access." Kroft observed. "We'd be breaking procedure if we bumped him."

Speikre smirked. "We also might have been hoping he would convince you to go home."

Maia wrapped an arm around Dahn's. "You're in cahoots. I get it."

Dahn nuzzled against her as the car pulled into their apartment's landing pad, the local force field activating as they passed through.

Kroft checked a scanner. "The area is clear. Let's get you inside."

Fict spun the keys in hand, letting the speeder descend to the ground before he pulled them from the activator. "You didn't even realize we were flying," he grinned. "I wish I could afford a speeder like this for my personal use."

Maia smiled, stretching and slinging her bag over her shoulder before Dahn could grab it. "Good night," she said, moving inside the apartment.

Upholstered furniture and rugs in reds and browns warmed the pale walls of living room, where they stood now.

"Good night." Kroft nodded, activating the Blue Guard security system around her apartment. "I'll be asleep next door if you need me."

"Really?" Maia topped a cup with filtered water. "I thought the standard security plan had changed and was now the exact opposite of that."

Speikre rolled his eyes, and looked at Dahn. "Make her get some sleep tonight. Spare us this tomorrow."

"I'll do what I can," Dahn said, glancing at Maia. "Darling, would you stop channeling a jester so that I can feed you?" He moved to the pantry, gathering supplies to mix into a biscuit with protein.

"This one doesn't think I'm funny," Maia commented. "Someone tell him I'm hilarious."

Dahn grinned, putting the grain base into the mixing bowl. "Thank you all, have a good night."

Kroft nodded. "You're hilarious, ma'am. Get some sleep."

"Think you're one of my parents," she grumbled, and stretched back in a chair. "Good night."

"Good night, ma'am." Kroft bowed, moving for the exit as Dahn finished mixing the dough, placing it into a warming tin and placing the tin into the heating unit.

"I love you, Maia."

"I love you most," she said, jumping down from the chair. She moved around his side and wrapped an arm around his back, lightly sucking on his neck.

He groaned as the heating unit beeped. "Milk," he said. "I love you so much." Dahn pulled away as the biscuit's timer beeped again. He pulled the pastry from the oven, setting it on a plate in front of her.

"Serious question," Maia said, reclaiming her seat. "How did you know I wasn't home? Were you waiting up for me?"

"Well, I was in the office, waiting for a message from you, and then." He shrugged. "I didn't get one, so I kept working. And then I realized you were probably asleep in your office again."

She broke the biscuit in half and passed one to him. "So you were waiting up for me."

"You could say it like that, yes." Dahn said. "I wanted to come home with you."

Maia ate her half of the biscuit, much slower than Dahn ate his. The etiquette her parents had drilled into her kept her from scarfing it down. She neatly pat a napkin over her lips. Her head swayed, and Maia quickly realized how tired she still was.

"Do you need spice, or sleep?" Dahn teased, lifting her fingers to kiss them.

"I think sleep is probably a better option." She pulled her hand away and stacked the plates, setting them in the washer as he finished the rest of his biscuit half.

He smiled, leaning over to kiss her cheek now. "Let's turn in. Long day tomorrow. I think I need to be up in four hours."

Maia looked at the clock and winced. 3:30. "I have to be up before then." She nudged him, tying her hair back. "Woke me up."

"I'm sorry, but you don't have time for a bacta bath every month." He raised an eyebrow. "We don't want a repeat back displacement, you're too young and beautiful for that."

She rolled her eyes, popping into their closet to change into a nightgown. "Well, I always want to be beautiful for you. What else am I good for, after all?"

"Running the Senate. Not that that means much these days." He pecked her cheek again. "I'm more worried about your health." He looked her up and down, his breath hiking. If he hadn't been so tired, the urge that came to mind might have been actionable. "You're always beautiful."

Maia smirked, plopping down on the bed. "It's the hair."

He shook his head, "I do like your hair. I hope the child has yours and not my mop." Dahn ran his fingers through his difficult, tighter curls. He always needed to keep them short.

"Shut up and change, so I can objectify you." She lay on her side. "Go on."

He shrugged, unfastening his shirt and allowing it and his pants to fall to the floor as a small droid scurried in to take them to be pressed. He changed into a nightshirt and advanced on the bed, slipping under the covers. "How does that work for you?"

Maia's grin stretched over her face and she scurried under the sheets, glancing up at his face and then below his waist in quick succession.

"I know you like what you see, but I'm too tired. Maybe tomorrow you can call me into your office, and tomorrow night we can go home on time?" He pinched her cheek with a sly grin.

She bit her lip, nuzzling his chest. "I'm not the one who stripped and then came to bed."

"I want you so badly, but sleep is already coming to me." He whispered.

Maia swallowed a laugh. "Is that why you're talking like you're on a holoopera?"

"Probably." He blinked, his eyes heavy as he curled against her. "I love you." He muttered.

"I love you most." Maia wrapped an arm over his shoulder, pulling him closer. She lay in place for a moment and then looked up. "The lights are still on."

He snapped three times and the lights switched out. "Sleep tight." He kissed her shoulder.

She turned her head up, looking at him in shock. She was happy he didn't push for sex, but she looked down because he could notice and remember.

He yawned, curling comfortably against her. "I couldn't force your mother off the phone today. She kept me on for over an hour. talking about the flower arrangements." He rolled his eyes, petting her hair down. "We'll talk about it more tomorrow. Sleep tight."

Maia sighed, nodding and pulling a pillow tight under her head. She kept her head oriented away from him, but eased into his embrace after a few minutes. She had turned back to him before they fell asleep.