Garoche stumbled out from his bedroom, wiping at his eyes to clear the night time eye-boogers. His daddy usually came in to give him a goodnight kiss, no matter what, but he hadn't done so that night. Not that he could remember. When the three year old saw that the light was on in the formal sitting area, he lit up and ran down the hallway, careful not to slip on the expensive runner.
The closer he came, the clearer he heard that his father was crying, and soon he saw it too.
"Daddy?" He whispered, eyes wide when he saw his grandfather-his mother's father-had joined his father's parents in their apartment.
His grandfather came over and lifted him, quietly shushing him.
"What's wrong, Garoche," his father's father asked from the couch.
"Daddy," Garoche whispered, resting his head on his grandfather's collar.
Dahn wiped his eyes, trying to look less miserable for his son. "Oh sweetheart. I. I should have given you your bedtime kisses, I'm sorry."
"We put him to sleep," Laira said, squeezing her son.
"Why is everyone here?" Garoche frowned. "Where are mummy and gammy?"
"Your grandmother is on the way," Wilhuff informed him. "We love you. It's late. Aren't you so tired?"
"Why are you here," Garoche asked.
"To visit you, of course." Laira smiled weakly. "Can I have a hug before you go back to sleep?"
"I want to know why everyone's here. Is it my birthday?"
"Is it your birthday?" Laira managed a real smile this time, though it quickly fell away. "When is your birthday?"
"I don't know."
"Well, we celebrated it a few months ago, and it hasn't been a full standard year." Wilhuff said calmly.
"Daddy," Garoche whispered. "Why are you crying?"
"It's going to be alright, Garoche." Wilhuff said gently. "Your father would like a hug though, I'm certain."
He carried the toddler over. Laira let her son go. Garoche wrapped both arms around his father. "Daddy?"
"Hi, son." Dahn whispered, trying to calm his tremulous voice. "Can I take you back to bed?"
"Why are you crying?" Garoche touched his eye. "Where's mummy?"
"Mummy can't be here right now. I. I miss her." Dahn kissed his son's forehead and started walking back towards the boy's bedroom.
"Where is she?"
"Honey, I love you. She can't be here right—" he choked up. "What did you do today?"
"We had to stay in the locked room," Garoche said. "It was scary. And they were telling Kira not to tell me it was bad, but I heard them saying it."
"Well you know to always listen when they tell you to get to the safe room, right?"
"Yes. But why?"
Dahn opened the door with his foot and walked to the bed. "Do you need a glass of water?"
Garoche nodded seriously. "And a story."
"Okay, do you want the one about the little speeder that could?" Dahn set the boy down and pulled the covers over him. "I'll get the water while you decide on the story."
When he went towards the kitchen, he ran into his daughter, and he was filled with dread again.
"Daddy," Kira asked.
"Hi, baby. Why are you up? I'm just getting water for Garoche."
"I've been waiting up for mummy," Kira said pointedly. "I fell asleep, but now I'm up."
"Oh, well. Uh." Dahn tried to look at his daughter's face but when he saw how much it looked like his wife's his eyes began to well with new tears.
"Daddy," Kira whispered, running over and hugging him with Ranchor.
He hugged her so tightly that he nearly dropped the water. "Kira, Kira, I love you so so so much."
"I love you. Daddy. Where's mummy," she whispered.
Her maternal grandfather came around the corner. That was when she deeply frowned, staring at him over her father's shoulder.
"Did they kill her?"
Wilhuff gave a nod. "Kira, this is a sad time. For all of us. We are here for you, your father, grandma, me, your father's parents. All of us."
Kira shook her head, letting go of her father. "No."
Dahn's eyes were still wet as she pulled away. "I love you, Kira. Your mother loves you."
"I want to talk to my mummy."
30 ABY
"Okay-well. You can marry with their permission."
"Yes," Maree allowed. "But I don't think they're going to like that we've been doing this at all."
"Perhaps not."
She winced, and bit her lip, coming closer. "I don't want to get married without my family. I need my family. You want to get married before I turn eighteen?"
"I'd like that very much I think."
"Well. Then we should talk to my mom," Maree said.
"You don't need her permission."
"I want it," Maree said.
"Then broach the subject. I'll come in once you do." He went to his dresser, pulling out a comm, and handed it to her. "Here. So far, you can only call me. I can come when you tell me it's time."
She nodded, folding her arms. She looked to his bedroom door and then back at him. "At dinner. I'll tell her."
"You need to be careful. Warm her to the idea first."
"I don't know how she's going to react," Maree said. "You know there have been some issues in the past."
He frowned. "I assumed that was falsehood. Was. Did he hurt you?"
She blinked, her chest puffing out. "No. I mean. That's just how it goes."
"Well. Did he take advantage?"
"No. N-no, I just mean that my parents were really mad. And he was only eight years older than me."
"But you're older now." He frowned. "I would hate to think of someone hurting you."
"They're going to say that you're hurting me if we tell them we've been doing this."
"Then don't tell them."
Maree tucked her head down. "Just that you've asked me to marry you."
"Well. But ease into it."
"Okay," Maree said. "I'll do my best."
"Good." He moved down and kissed her cheek. "Do this for us."
Maree nodded. "I mean, I want them to get it."
"Of course. They need to see how much you care."
"And how much you care about me," Maree said. "Can you just leave the politics out of it?"
"Okay. I won't bring up the glory we will bring to the galaxy."
"I'm serious, I mean it. Please."
"I mean it too. I'm serious about this."
Maree nodded. "Good. Okay."
He kissed her brow again. "Go on. I'll be right behind, but I'll let you handle your mother."
"I don't know if you should come tonight," Maree said. "Can you let me handle it? We need to take it slower, or there's no way."
A flash of concern crossed his face but he smiled. "Go ahead then. It may not work out how you want either way."
She wiped between her legs with a baby wipe and threw it away, pulling her clothes back on. She approached cautiously like she did whenever he wasn't so light and welcoming, and gave him a kiss.
He kissed her lips gently. "You're ready?"
She shrugged. "To go back, anyway. I'll see her at dinner."
"Perfect. Be sure to shower, muffin."
"As soon as I get back."
"Good." He kissed her brow. "You can do it."
He waited almost two minutes before marching out. But he saw her continuing on her way, carefully avoiding attention as much as she could really manage being who she was.
A younger officer turned suddenly as he passed, following behind her. She heard him walking behind her and peeked back just for a second, before turning front again. Normally, she would have taken out her comm to be occupied, but she had no comm other than the secret one she had just been given, and a man walking didn't need to even make her worry about showing he was occupied.
"Hold on." The trooper said firmly. "Where are you going?"
She turned back, stopping. "My room." She held up her clearance, heightened and heightened after months of cooperation.
"Maree Alvarez," he read.
She nodded. "Yes."
"I'll accompany you. Wouldn't want you walking alone." He sidled up next to her.
"I have permission to walk alone," she said, gesturing to her clearance again.
"Even so, for your safety." He smiled gesturing to the hallway ahead.
Maree bit her lip, nodding. She kept walking, carefully maintaining a distance from the man.
"I've seen some of the recordings. You're very talented."
"Thanks," she said, simply.
"How old are you again," he asked.
"Seventeen."
He smirked behind her. "You look so mature for your age. Absolutely beautiful."
She tried to just ignore him, tying her now messy, curly black hair into a ponytail.
As they rounded a corner towards her suite, he touched her lower back. "I'm glad I could help." He murmured in her ear.
"Please let go," she said, trying to step back.
He pushed her against the wall, not so hard that she bumped her head. "So who is it that you're sneaking around to consort with?"
"I will report you," she said.
"To whom?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You left the officer's quarters. Surely you're with one of them. I have half a mind to report you myself."
"Whatever effect you think that would have, you're very wrong."
"Do you like older men," he asked.
"Let go of me right now."
"Are you seeing Vandron? Hux? Colonel Morvanis? Tell me, come on, I don't bite." He leaned in towards her.
"Me, you swine." Hux rounded the corner and shot the man point blank in the side of the head. Maree heard herself screaming only after Armitage had pulled her into a hug.
"It's alright, you're safe now." He held her tightly. "I will never let anyone treat you like that filth."
"You killed him," she managed.
"He signed his own death warrant when he laid a hand on you."
She had no idea what to say to that, staring wide eyed at the body.
"It's alright, Maree. You're safe now. Let's finish the trip to your room."
"Actually. Actually. I want to go see my mom."
"I don't think that's the best idea. We need to get you washed off."
"I don't think my mom is okay," Maree said, suddenly.
"That's not good. Once you're cleaned off, why don't we check in with her security team and pay her a visit?"
"I don't trust her security team. They don't let us see her as much as we want, or she wants."
"Why are you just telling me this now?"
"S-she says it's not true. She's lying. She was scared to be around Captain Rourke when we first met him, but everyone said she had to go through him to talk to us."
"Hurry with your shower. Let's pay her a visit unannounced."
"I'm scared."
He touched her cheeks and pulled her back in for a hug. "He was going to assault you. I had to protect you."
"I k-know, I know, I've just never seen. So much violence as before I came here, I just haven't!"
"I'm sorry, you don't deserve to be near military action, even if your husband is in the service."
"I can't keep keeping things from my mom."
He nodded, lifting her chin up with a finger. "Let's clean you up. Get you presentable. Then we can sort this out."
She looked back at him, her eyes wide and tear-filled. He took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood off her jaw.
"It will be alright. Maree, I care about you and I need you to feel safe."
"I wish you hadn't kidnapped us. I wish we'd met some other way, after the war, after everything, when I was a little older."
"We can't change the past," he said. "We can only decide the direction for our future. You decided you want to be with me. We can still tell your mother. I can help you, you're not alone." He started leading her back towards the room she shared with Shanna.
"I'm afraid that my parents will never, ever accept this. They're going to flip, Armitage, they're going to say you're taking advantage of me."
"That's why you have to choose your own way."
"I haven't seen my father in months," she said, taking both of his hands.
"Okay," he said. "Okay. Take a deep breath."
"I'm trying. I've never seen someone shot r-right in front of me."
"I know. I wish it hadn't been necessary. I truly truly do."
"I can't get married if my parents aren't okay with it."
"Then that's your choice. But let's not rush a decision either way. Come. We need to check in on your mother, and you need to be cleaned up for it."
"What if Shanna's there and she sees you?"
"I'll wait outside." He assured her. "And I can just say I happened to be there when you were being harassed, if she does see."
"So she sees me covered in blood?"
"Don't worry," he said. "She can't call your mother. You're going to tell her later anyway, aren't you?"
"I guess," Maree said.
"Listen. Listen, I know this is stressful, but I love you. I love you. It will be alright if you just trust me."
She blinked quickly, looking back at him. "You do," she asked.
He nodded earnestly. "Please. Just trust me on this."
She squeezed his hand, biting her lip. "I love you too."
Hux's smile grew and he squeezed her hand in return. "Okay, good. I'm glad."
"I'm just scared," she whispered.
"I know. It's going to be okay. I'm going to have you."
"What about my parents?"
"They'll accept whatever you decide. Even if it's hard, they will."
"I n-need to shower, you're right."
He nodded, pressing his forehead against hers. "Come on, we'll go together."
Thankfully, Shanna was in her own room with the door closed, and she did not come out. Hux helped Maree into the shower, silently watching until she was ready to come back out. She diffused her hair as quickly as she could.
"Alright. I'll wait outside while you get dressed. Then we'll head to your mother."
She was back in the hallway with him just a few minutes after they had arrived.
Maree was scared, so they were going to check in on her mom, and since something was wrong, and they didn't know what, he definitely wasn't going to tell anyone who should have known and already reported, like Rourke. He knew Maree was pointedly right that they hadn't paid any mind to the warnings around him, which resonated even further when they came into the suite, walked into the bedroom and towards the wooden crying, and saw Kira naked, cuffed to the bed, with blood on the sheets.
He had seen scenes like this, but only on holodramas and crime scene recordings. Armitage's military training kicked in and he pressed himself against the dresser, for cover from any would be assailant. His comm was being jammed, but subtly- if he hadn't been trying to access the security information for the room he would never have noticed.
Maree gasped, covering her mouth and starting to cry. "Mom?"
"Go back to your room," he told Maree, pistol out as he deactivated the cuffs.
Maree nodded, quickly running out of the bedroom.
He listened closely but heard no sound aside from the crying.
"Lady Tarkin," he whispered. He was confused by how paralyzed the looked and tried to think through what he knew about narcolepsy, what Maree had been telling him. He moved forward to drape a blanket over her.
Her movement was lethargic, trying to fight but too weak or exhausted to truly push hard against her restraints. "What happened?" He asked, looking towards the fresher, noticing the sound of a running shower.
Kira followed his gaze, though her head moved much more sluggishly. She looked confused and delirious.
Hux uncuffed her, paged Mitaka directly, and ordered Captain Rourke located and detained. He moved to the door, hiding behind where it would open as he called for a medical team. He took out his pistol, training it down at the ready.
The next person he saw wasn't the security or medical team at all, but rather Rourke himself, carrying some sort of medical supply bag.
He trained the pistol at the side of Rourke's head. "On the ground," Hux ordered.
Rourke put his hands on the back of his head, and carefully lowered himself to the ground. "It's not what it looks like."
"Lady Tarkin wasn't bound to a bed, naked and covered in blood?" Hux walked over and put a foot on Rourke's lower back as security arrived. "Secure him. He's assaulted our guest."
"She's having a miscarriage," Rourke said quickly. "She had a panic attack. I didn't want her to hurt herself."
"Naked?"
Rourke closed his mouth, looking right to the general. "I didn't hurt her. We're having an affair."
"So she was bleeding and rather than call medical, you just-what?" General Hux shook his head.
"She didn't want anyone to know," Captain Rourke insisted.
"I can just shoot you in the kriffing head now," Hux said.
"She doesn't know. About you and Maree. I've kept her away when I knew you would be there. I've been helping you. You understand," Rourke said. "If she found out about you and Maree. If her husband found out about her and I."
"Maree never ever ends a visit with me bleeding."
"No," Rourke insisted. "No. I told you. She's having a miscarriage."
"And you didn't see that she was at risk prior? No, Rourke, you've kriffed the Nerf on this one."
"No. I've been helping you. I have been keeping her away from Maree. You would never have been able to do what you've been doing if it weren't for me."
A group of nurses were slowly rolling Kira out on a gurney, but she was trying to sit up and shaking her head. Her cheeks were stained with tears.
"Rourke-We would never have entrusted you with this role if we had known you were a pervert."
"I am not. I am not a pervert."
"You're a liar," Kira exclaimed.
"I'm not the one sleeping with a seventeen year old," Rourke shouted. "You trust him, you stupid bitch?"
"I also never would have given you this role if I'd known you were an idiot." Hux sneered, shooting Rourke in the knee, blasting the limb off halfway.
Kira screamed, yanking her legs up on the bed. She grabbed desperately for nothing in the air, struggling between searching for something and covering her eyes.
Rourke's scream was delayed a moment but drowned out every other sound when it came.
"Kira, he's a liar, clearly." Armitage explained. "Please accept my apology for letting this happen to you. The medical staff will do all they can."
The nurses were communicating with each other, and then upon orders from the present doctor, gave her a shot to calm her, and tried to settle her arms down. "We have to get her to the operating room," the doctor said. "Ma'am? Ma'am. We need you to lay back down, we need you to relax."
It was like she couldn't hear him at all. Maybe she couldn't. "We need to cuff her to the bed," the doctor said. "We need to get her to the OR."
"You see?" Rourke ground the words out between painful gasps.
"Space it." Hux hissed. "Do not cuff her, find a less cruel way to restrain her. Move!"
The doctor looked at him, and threw his hands up. "Hold her down," he told the nurses. They rolled her out quickly as Hux moved out of the way, and the strike team cuffed Rourke.
"I'll deal with you later," Hux told him. "If you don't bleed out first." He sped out, following behind the gurney.
It was only a few minutes later, and even fewer after they arrived at the infirmary when a doctor came out to deliver the grim news. "She has lost the child. We're still determining exactly what happens. Her doctors are confused. They were each told the other was assigned as her primary."
"She hasn't been having her appointments," Hux asked.
"We still need to determine exactly what happened."
"Force. Pull the log of her medical appointments. I'm not sure Rourke will survive to be court marshaled."
"She hasn't had an appointment in months," he said. "They each thought she was seeing the other."
"She's in shock," the lead doctor said. "She's talking, but what she's saying doesn't make any sense."
"Force. What is she saying, is it babble or is it just bereft of context?"
The doctor shook her head. "There will be the audio on the video, of course. We don't know what she's asking for, it seems as though it's many requests at once. We're going to give her a weak sedative."
"Okay. Don't use more than she needs to manage her pain and mental state. There will be hells to pay for this."
The doctor clasped her hands together. "Usually, in times like these, a mother will want to be with her family."
"Yes, I understand." Hux grimaced. The continued imprisonment had already proven expensive, and the Allegiant general had been losing patience for weeks. "I'll speak with the other commanders."
"Can we summon her younglings," the doctor asked. "And. Should we inform her husband?"
"Give me half an hour. We have to do some damage control for all of our sakes."
"Yes, my lord," the doctor said. Hux turned to go, pulling up the reports and requests that Rourke had filed and ordered as he walked to the bridge to hail the Allegiant General. Pryde already seemed vaguely appraised of the situation, gesturing Hux forward as soon as he had arrived.
"What was Captain Rourke doing? I don't see a completed report. I don't see a quarter completed report either."
"We're still determining exactly what transpired. Lady Tarkin has lost her baby, and it would seem from the Captain's utterances that he has been raping her."
The Allegiant General frowned, his glare deepening. "This entire operation has been handled with great incompetence. How are you to be trusted with the most formidable weapon in the galaxy if you cannot manage three prisoners?"
"Clearly, errors have been made," General Hux said. "We have benefitted from this operation, and the mistakes have not been mine alone."
"Grotesque as it is, Vandron may have ideas on how we can leverage these events." The Allegiant General folded his hands. "I want a summary of benefits. Not potential benefits, mind you-in tonight's report. You have forty eight standard hours to make something of this before we send them all back."
"You'll have it. I will speak with Lord Vandron to determine the best way to inform the family."
"Yes. Do so." Pryde's nostrils flared. "The Supreme Leader will be greatly displeased."
"The First Order has benefitted massively in recruitment efforts since Kira and Maree Tarkin began filming our Holovids." Hux saluted. Crueya Vandron was already calling him. After they formed their approach, Hux went to Kira's recovery room, waiting patiently behind the curtain as the doctor informed him that Kira may soon be ready to answer questions.
When he got an invitation from her lead nurse, Hux walked to the entrance of Kira's room, filling the doorway. "Lady Tarkin, I'm so sorry that this happened."
"That's not my name," Kira whispered. "My baby is dead."
"I'm sorry. We had no idea you weren't being brought to appointments."
"You all knew what he was doing to me."
"I swear to you- we had no idea. We trusted him, foolishly."
"Have you ever been a room alone with my seventeen year old daughter?"
"Briefly. Before or after filming, while we waited for her escort or the film crew. Ma'am, we won't let this happen to you again."
"I want to talk to my younglings," Kira said. "I want them here right. You raped her. You raped my d-daughter, didn't you?"
"Maree? Of course not. Rourke is a liar, that's why we are even having this conversation."
"I want my younglings here. With me. Right now."
"I'll have them made ready. Ma'am. I'm sorry that Rourke has committed such psychological manipulation."
"I don't want to talk to you. Y-you stay away from my daughter."
"I'm having them brought to you." He said slowly. "And I'm beginning discussions of how to get you home. I wanted to speak with you, about what happened. How it started. When did Captain Rourke first rape you?"
"The day we got here," Kira said. "Immediately. He wouldn't let me see my younglings if I didn't do what he said."
"Force. I wish you had felt confident to tell us. That was not something we would have permitted."
"None of you have listened to me about anything since you kidnapped me and my younglings."
"We would have believed you."
"You're lying to me about everything else."
"Was he not allowing you to see the doctor?"
Kira frowned, falling silent.
"If you had had your regular appointments, they would have seen you were being abused. He didn't want anyone to know."
"I don't believe you."
"It's the truth, Kira. For now though - I will get the girls. I'm so sorry you had to go through this."
"I don't want you to get them," Kira said quickly. "Someone else. You stay away from my younglings."
"I won't hurt your younglings."
"She is seventeen years old."
"Rourke was trying to flicker-light you."
"So are you," Kira said. "You're grooming her, aren't you. I saw how you looked at her. I know what you guys do. I've had people doing it with me my whole life. Captain Rourke knew me when I was one year old, he used to change my diaper."
He shook his head. "Ma'am, I'm so sorry that Rourke did this. He's being detained, and we'll most likely execute him."
"I told you, I want to talk to my younglings. And I want to talk to my father, and my husband."
"We are arranging those conversations. I'll return shortly with your daughters."
"Not. You," she shouted. "You're still not kriffing listening. What the kriff is there to arrange? Give me your comm."
He shook his head. "I'm afraid I cannot do that. If you'd feel better I'll have someone else bring your daughters in, and I'll work on getting your father on."
"Then get out of here. You're a snake."
"I will send a woman officer with your girls," he said, nodding carefully to her and leaving the room. She started to cry again and settled back down painfully into the hospital bed. When a young woman in uniform led her girls into the room, Kira quickly sat up, pulling both of her younglings into a hug.
"Mom," Maree whispered. "What happened?"
"Maree. Maree. You n-need to tell me the truth."
"What is she talking about, Maree?" Shanna frowned, her brow furrowing.
"I don't lie to you, mom." Maree said quickly. "What happened?"
Kira gave Shanna a squeeze. "Can you get us some water and give me a minute alone with your sister?"
"I- this is the infirmary, mom. What happened? Is the baby okay?"
"Please, Shanna, I need to talk to your sister alone for a minute."
"Uh. Okay." Shanna looked worriedly between her mother and sister. "If it's bad. I can hear it too."
"I need to talk to your sister," Kira repeated. "Please. I'll talk to you both in a minute."
"Maree," Kira whispered, grabbing her daughter's hands. "Has he been hurting you?"
"Hux? No."
"Why were you with him when he found me?"
"I told him. I was worried about you."
"Maree, I don't want you talking to him alone. Ever."
"Mom, I don't want to talk about any of that. I want to talk about you. W-who did that?"
"That's not your concern. We can't trust anyone here, everyone. I don't want you alone with Hux."
"Why do you think-you were raped, weren't you? You were," Maree said.
"That's for me to worry about. Maree, please listen to me. Please. I'm your mother."
"I-I am," Maree said. "Was it Captain Rourke?"
"Of course I'm worried about you! You were naked, bleeding, and changed to that bed."
"He won't bother. Bother any of us anymore. Okay? It's done. But Maree you're avoiding. You're avoid—" Kira began to feel faint. "Avoiding—"
Maree helped her mother lay back on the cot. "Mom. It's okay. She needs some water," Maree called back behind her.
A worker came in with a bottle of mineral water. "Is this okay?"
"No, she's allergic." Maree rolled her eyes. "Come on. Armitage, my mother needs water."
"What did you call him?" Kira murmured, looking around faintly. "Is your father here?"
"No. We'll get him," Maree said. "General," Maree called again.
Hux ran over, keeping his arms behind his back.
"She needs water," Maree said.
"Of course. What did this fool bring? Not the triple distilled I see. I'll correct that immediately."
"Thank you, sir," Maree said. "She's going to have an episode. It h-happens sometimes. She wants my dad to be here."
"We'll have to see what we can do. We'll have him on the comm right away. He passed her a secondary comm connected to the ship's systems, after typing in a passcode to limit all but a few numbers. "We will be assigning a new security team, but in the meantime, come directly to me with any concerns."
"Well, sir," Maree said. "My mother asked about that months ago, and was instructed not to contact you directly."
"That decision was hasty." He looked at her, raising both eyebrows at once. "We won't make that mistake again."
"Good," Maree said. "This should never have happened. My mother is hurt, and we have lost my baby sister."
"I'm heart broken that it came to this." Hux murmured. "Trust that we will make it— well not right, but as right as we can."
"How are you going to do that?"
"We need to start discussing how to send your mother home, or your father here."
"S-stay away from my daughter," Kira whispered at him
"Mommy, it's okay," Maree said. "It's okay. Drink this."
"Get away from her."
"Drink this," Maree repeated, helping her mother with the task. "General, that's all we need from you right now. Unless you need something else."
"No. Of course. Thank you for telling me directly. I'm glad we were able to, however late, address the problem."
"Go," Maree mouthed.
He went back out to the room's foyer.
Maree laid her mother's head back. "It's okay. Go to sleep."
Armitage had never expected himself to be hiding in his marriage. He had meant it when he said he would never have an affair. No, but he had still recently taken to hiding in moments like these, when his wife would sing to their children. She never sang for him anymore. Only for them.
William clapped up a storm as his mother finished her song. "On a core! On the core!" He ran from his seat, hugging her around the waist. "Mummy, I loved it!"
"Thank you," Maree whispered, petting his hair back and giving Linnea a kiss. "You can have another one tomorrow at bedtime."
"Core!" Linnea giggled at the kiss, flopping back on her pillow. "Love mummy."
"I love you. It's time for bed now." She picked up Linnea. "Say goodnight to your brother."
Linnea waved over her mother's shoulder. "Seep tie, will will."
As Maree carried Linnea out, Armitage carefully retreated into the kitchen, and then came around the other direction to meet them at the nursery.
"Goodnight, Linnea," he soothed, touching her cheek.
"Daddy," she murmured sleepily. "Core."
"Core? Are you watching homodrama with your mummy?"
"No," Maree said. "She misheard another word, it doesn't matter."
Armitage gave her a kiss. "Let's get you into bed."
"I've got her. You can tuck her in," Maree said.
"I'd love that." Armitage smiled, gently touching his wife's lower back as they walked to the girl's bedroom.
Maree's shoulders dropped once Linnea was in her crib. "Good night, my love."
Her husband tucked the girl in with a weighted blanket and checked the monitor to ensure it was on and working. He wrapped an arm around his wife's waist, leading her out into the hallway.
"I'd like a drink," Maree said, pulling off and leading to the kitchen.
"I'll get you a glass of wine." He sighed, smiling as he watched her lead the way. "You're the best mum in the galaxy."
"No, I'm not," Maree said. "I just do my best."
"That's all anyone can do. It's all I can do." Armitage murmured.
"I love you." She settled on the couch, pulling a throw over her legs.
He smiled, settling down beside her. "I love you so much. It's like. Watching a Force user, how you are with the youngling."
"How many Force users have you seen," she asked, climbing up onto her knees and taking a kiss from him.
"Let me get you that glass of wine," he whispered, pushing one of her curls behind her ear.
She sighed, settling back along the couch arm. "I need them to start talking to my parents more often."
"Do you want to call them now?"
"The younglings are sleeping," Maree said. She swirled the wine. "Sometimes, I really wish I could take them to Corellia."
"Soon you can." He murmured. "It won't be long before the galaxy is united."
Maree's eyes waned. "My parents might hate me even more then."
"They don't hate you." He assured her. "And they'll come to see things from our point of view. Truly."
"I'm not so sure they ever will," Maree said. "And I just wish I could have given William and Linnea a life where they went to their grandparent's house. Where my mother wasn't so, so ill, and it wasn't my fault."
"Maree, you can't blame yourself. Your mother has suffered many things, and she misses you, but she isn't sick because of you."
"I don't think she will ever recover from what we did." Maree frowned, staring at the wine. "We said that they would have their family in their life."
"And they will. You know my promise is good."
"That was six years ago," Maree said. "You know. I'm not mad at you. I frankly don't know how I feel." She sighed at the glass. "I love my younglings. I love my husband. What do I make of how we met?"
"Maree, you're never happy anymore."
"That's not true," she whispered.
"I want you to be the happiest woman in the galaxy. We have amazing younglings. Let's make a point of calling your family more."
"It truly doesn't make a difference. I don't know that we'll ever be a normal family. When this is over, whichever way it goes. They'll never be able to celebrate holidays with their whole family. My parents will never accept you and I. Never."
"They will. Maree, the galaxy is changing for the better. They'll see. They'll see the glory we're bringing back."
"Armitage. After six years. We can tell each other the truth." She took a drink of wine. "I was seventeen. You raped me. They were right. None of that matters anymore."
"Maree." He reached for her hand. "I'm so sorry that you feel that way. It wasn't that way for me. I really felt for you."
"Come on," she whispered, squeezing his hand back. "No, you didn't. Not even when we got married."
"Maree, do you really think that?" His eyes waned. "I love you more every day, that much is true."
"I know you do," she said. "Now. We have two perfect children, only because of each other."
"That's not the only reason I care. Our relationship is built on more than that."
"Is it," Maree asked. "You wanted me to get pregnant as soon as possible. I was seventeen when we conceived Will."
"Maree, I know it seems strange, almost surreal in hindsight. But I love you. So much."
"I know you do," she said. "But love at first sight doesn't exist. It's okay."
"You never sing anymore."
She frowned. "That's not true."
"Well a whole lot less." Armitage sighed. "Your voice is so beautiful, I'm sure the younglings would love to hear it if you did."
"I'm a stay at home mom now," Maree said. "They hear it."
"Are you happy?"
"That's a loaded question."
"It shouldn't be."
"Of course I'm happy. And I'm also sad."
"I feel as though we only have the same conversations."
"What do we have to talk about," Maree asked. "But our younglings, how we met, and my family?"
"We should find new things. Experiences. And you and I both like literature. Maybe we should be reading more."
"Maybe." She drank the rest of her wine. "I am happy," she repeated. "And I'm also sad."
"Okay. Well, how can I make you happier." He leaned in for a kiss on her cheek.
She turned her head, kissing him on the lips. "I don't think you can. I think life is just a trade off of happy and sad and things we can't control."
"Okay. Well. I'll still do my best." He murmured, kissing her back softly as his comm vibrated. He groaned. "I have to check it."
"I'll never have a normal relationship with my parents again," Maree said. "Nothing you could do will ever change that."
He kissed her. "Call them. Your parents love you. They don't blame you for anything, they blame me. Call them."
"They're probably busy."
"Not too busy for you. I'd fee much better if you called them. We can talk again tomorrow with the younglings."
"How long will you be gone," Maree asked.
He sighed. "I wish it wouldn't be, but at least an hour." He looked at the message again. "I'll be back before it's completely dark I think."
"Message me when you're on the way back." He knew the unspoken part—she didn't want her parents to see him.
"I will." He nodded slowly. "Don't feel like you have to rush the conversation, I can give you privacy."
"I wish it didn't have to be this way."
He kissed her cheek, squeezing her. "I understand. I love you. Call for a nanny if you need them."
"I know, honey."
They traded their love one more time, and he went to change before leaving the unit. Maree called her father, as she always did. Calling her mother directly had become too unpredictable.
She smiled before the call was answered, and then waved once she saw her father on the screen. "Hi, dad. Good morning."
"Morning, love, I assume The younglings are asleep? That's okay, I'm happy to see you."
"How are you," Maree asked. "How is mom?"
"Well, you know how it is, I'm doing alright and your mom. Well come to think of it, she's doing better than usual. She's at Adoptathon for the first time since, well. You know."
"She's there now," Maree asked. "That's great."
"Yeah. I'll let her know you called."
"Should I call her? I don't want to distract her or make her sad."
"You never make her sad. She always wants to talk to you."
"Are you sure," Maree asked.
"Why don't we talk again when you wake up? Then we could see the younglings too."
"Can we still talk now?"
"Of course. You can come with me to the hospital."
"Any surgeries today," Maree asked.
"Just one. An extremely routine adenoidectomy."
"Isn't that for an ENT," Maree asked.
"Usually, but they're already under my care."
"And then just rounds?"
"Yup," Andrej said. "Your sister is taking mom's speeder today. She has a date."
"What," Maree asked. "She didn't tell me."
"Recent development, from what I understand. And I wasn't sure if she was going to be allowed to drive after her last ticket."
"What did grandpa say to that?"
"Well, it's Elora's fault Shanna got into underground street racing at all, so he can't yell at anyone but his own sister."
"Grandpa would never yell at Shanna," Maree said.
"Just an expression." He moved the camera to the fabric on his shirt. "Do you like this pattern? It's new."
"Sure," Maree said. "It doesn't look that different from your favorite blue shirt."
"Take a closer look." He held the comm closer so that she could see the crosshatch pattern.
"It's definitely subtle," Maree said. "It looks good on you."
"What are you drinking," he asked.
"Wine. From Arkanis."
"I need to send you one of your great-grandma's new bottles. It's really good. It's actually. Um. It's one your grandma helped breed."
"Grandma liked reds."
"I never knew her," Andrej reminded her. "But yes, which is why she picked so many good ones. The one I'm sending you is fruitier than I usually like. I think you'll love it."
"Do mom and Shanna like it?"
"They both do." He smiled. "Shanna isn't supposed to have much but she really likes it."
"Then maybe I will," Maree said. She had practiced how she would say the next thing. How to raise as few suspicions as possible. She had to try. "We may be together for Linnea's second birthday. I don't know where. Maybe in the Outer Rim."
"That would be wonderful," he commented. "If there is a way to make it happen, I know we would love that."
"I wish we could do it around Eriadu," Maree said. "Then they could see where grandma grew up, and see their great grandma. But I don't know. It's still a little ways away."
"Oh that would be wonderful. Let me know if anything changes." He sounded enthused. "At the very least send holos of the partyZl
"It wouldn't be much of a party if it were just the four of us."
"We'll, if we can be there we will." He smiled smaller. "What size is she wearing now?"
"Eighteen months," Maree said. "But we're good on clothes."
"Well that's good." He smiled sadly. "She's getting so big."
"I can't believe it. And William? He's turning five."
"He's so adorable, I loved the video last month."
"I know," Maree said. "I need to send more. I want videos for—in general, they do things during the day."
"They're so cute. Definitely be sure to send those if you record."
"Of course, I'll send to you and to mom." Maree sucked her lip in. "Are you sure she's not still mad at me? About calling her mum the other day."
"It's what you're used to. She isn't mad at you, obviously, but she was surprised."
"I'm pretty sure she was mad at me," Maree said. "Daddy. I'm doing my best."
"She wasn't, my love."
"I love you."
"We know you're doing your best," Andrej said. "You'll always be our baby. We'll always love you more than the galaxy. Think about how you feel about William and Linnea. That's how we feel about you and your sister. You can do no wrong. And this is not your fault."
Maree nodded noncommittally, biting her lip.
"I can't wait to give you a hug again. It will happen."
She nodded again, wiping her eyes dry. "I love you, dad."
"I love you so much." He smiled at her, tearing slightly as she cried.
Maree smiled back, sadly. "Have you been walking to the hospital the whole time? Why do you still walk to work after what happened to us?"
"Keeps the heart pumping and my body healthy." He pulled back and showed the area around. "And this is one of the most beautiful areas on planet."
She smiled broader. "God, I miss Corellia," she whispered.
He nodded slowly. "It's beautiful in its own way "
"Eventually. Some day. You'll get to hold your grandkids," Maree said. "I promise."
"I love you so much." He repeated. "Do you want to see the River?"
Maree nodded, smiling sadly for his own sake.
Hux was right that his task would only take one hour, but towards the end of that hour, General Pryde entered his office. "We've got a problem."
Hux frowned, turning to look at his colleague.
"Do you still monitor your wife's communications," Pryde asked.
"Of course. I review them regularly. She hasn't had any unusual contacts."
"And the content of her conversations with those usual contacts?"
"Why are you badgering me about my marriage," Hux asked.
"I'm concerned about the First Order only. Your marriage is of secondary concern."
"You still have yet to share what our problem is."
"And you have avoided my question. Have you screened her calls for content?"
"Of course I do," Hux said.
Pryde steepled his fingers. "Then you're blind or a fool. You don't see her passing information off as a matter of concern?"
"What are you talking about," Hux asked.
Pryde showed him a highlighted passage on the datapad. Hux read it and then looked up.
"We are hoping to celebrate our youngest's birthday with her grandparents. Maree mentioned Eriadu as a good location if we've taken the planet by then. She's right-a theoretical, and not an unlikely one." Hux raised an eyebrow. "Still-I'm not sure I understand what you think is suspicious here."
"So it's that you're a fool."
"Explain your concerns," Hux said.
Pryde laid the text out on the table. "We will be near Eriadu around Linnea's birthday. That's specific information. We now have to change our entire fleet schedule to ensure there is no attempt to prevent your project's success. What don't you understand?"
"That's ridiculous," Hux said. "She was excited to tell her parents they could potentially see William and Linnea in person. She didn't do anything pernicious."
"That excitement is a security threat. Reign her in."
"Can you imagine how you would react if I told you to "reign your wife in," using those words?"
"I would be furious." Pryde allowed. "But I don't know how else to shake you out of your stupor."
"You act as though she is trying to do something dangerous. If I simply remind her that secrecy is prudent, the job will be done."
"Then why haven't you done it?" Pryde glowered at Hux. "Armitage. We are constructing the galaxy's most powerful super weapon. We cannot afford risks."
"You just brought this to my attention, Enric. I will take care of it when I get home."
Pryde leaned back in his chair. "This is what I'm talking about though, isn't it Armitage? I shouldn't have had to bring it to your attention."
"This is from an ongoing call, yes," Armitage asked.
"You could have interrupted."
"I could have, if I weren't resolving your emergency."
Pryde glowered. "If you cannot take your work seriously we can assuredly find another leader for the project."
"How about I handle my emergencies and take care of my family, and you handle your emergencies and take care of your family?"
Pryde raised his eyebrow. "Handle it and I won't have to speak with you about it again."
"Good, then." Hux packed up his things, texting his wife he was on the way home.
When he arrived, his wife was off the phone, drinking another glass of wine. She paused the show and slid out of her blanket, coming over to give him a hug. "Everything okay?"
"It is now," he smiled. "Listen, I know you didn't mean anything by it, but the intelligence folks are asking if you were leaking information to your father. I told them they were being ridiculous, that you were loyal and faithful. But please try not to give any specific locations to your family."
Maree blinked, drawing back, "I'm. Sorry, you said I should call. I don't know what you're talking about."
"I know. It's ridiculous. I just don't want to keep things from you, and General Pryde said something."
"I don't know why he has a problem with me. It's not fair to ask that I just don't speak to my family since they aren't with us. We've always said, my family will stay in my life."
"I know," Armitage repeated. "I love you. And I can't wait for this to all be over so that we can reunite with your family. You did nothing wrong." He carefully pulled her in for a hug. "Relax. Let's go lay down."
Maree dropped her shoulders, giving him a kiss. If Intelligence knew what she had been doing, she had to be a little concerned, even if her husband didn't believe them. She would have to be more careful. And by the time of the actual raid, she had been.