Chapter Seventeen – Tickle Torture
Wedge looked between the couple before him, the newly married Mr. and Mrs. Loran. Face was bedecked in his military uniform, for once not plastered with plastic medals from his collection of 'dress up' acting outfits. Adra was in a simple white dress, the first and probably only dress Wedge would ever see her wear. It was as un-decorated as one could imagine; the dress was merely a knee-length, no-frills, spaghetti-strap dress. Neither of the Lorans seemed to care for the lack of frill, though Wedge was privately sure that Face hadn't given in to it easily. The time was a little past 2200 and they were currently outdoors in one of the gardens off Rogue lounge. The Rogues themselves were in the simulators, Wedge taking a leave of the sims for sake of giving Tycho the 'chance to lead the squad' in the event that he was 'shot down in battle'. Tycho was, in truth, the only one who knew what Wedge was really doing. As the couple kissed, Wedge bowed himself out, leaving the pair alone.
***
The dawning light of day crept across her eyes as she woke the next morning. It took her a minute, but Adra smiled as her mind fast-forwarded through the previous night's events. A simple ceremony, despite Face's complaints of it, was instantly the highlight of her thoughts. Her argument that she didn't want to have to worry about entertaining people afterwards with the constant fear of 'morning' sickness taking hold had finally won out. And, praise the stars, tonight was the first night she actually hadn't woken after three hours of sleep to need to rush to the 'fresher. Her head was resting half on her pillow, half on the palm of her hand. Her other hand had its fingers intertwined with the fingers of one of Face's hands, his arms hanging loosely around her waist. Adra didn't move, just savored not being in the 'fresher at this time of day.
Without her noticing, the arms around her waist had tightened, drawing her closer to the being behind her. Adra opened her eyes as she felt the material of her tank top resisting the movement it was being told to go through. At first glance, she was where she always was upon waking. Upon closer inspection, and memory, she remembered she had gone with Face to his apartment rather than return to her own the previous evening. It wasn't a crime, after all. Adra lay contentedly on her side for a few more minutes before finally making any one move of her own. It was inevitable, however, so she instead rolled to her back, looking over towards Face as she did so.
"G'morning," she said, grinning.
The grin she got in reply was just as pronounced. "Yes, yes it is." Adra slapped his chest with the back of her hand, not aiming to hurt, just give a joking reprimand. While she expected a verbal reply of innocence, she received a kiss on the temple instead. Adra smiled to herself as the bed shifted under Face sitting up.
"I call the 'fresher first!" He said it with the mirth of a five year old. Adra couldn't help but start laughing at the announcement, but nodded at last. Instead, she sat up and grabbed her Jedi robe, the one she hardly ever wore, and wrapped herself in the warm fabric.
***
Nicola was in a truly happy mood for the first time in a long while. She hadn't thrown up in the last 24 hours, had eaten dinner last night and breakfast that very morning. All in all, it was a pretty good day. If you didn't could the fact now that everyone knew she was going to have twins, they were treating her worse than before. Selfishly, almost, she wished that Adra would just tell the squad that she was pregnant as well, because then maybe Nicola could go back to being just treated like glass. The problem was that, even though there were very clear and distinct reminders of what kind of pain she could cause, not to mention that she'd run a squadron, everyone seemed overly concerned. However, she had had no stream of 'belly rubbers', probably thanks to her reputation.
The two Jedi walked into the lounge and almost at once Nicola glanced around to see who was up. Bror walked over to Elix to discuss whatever it was they discussed and Nicola found her study of the room interrupted by a very boisterous Adra coming in the room. Surprised more than anything at Adra's jovial mood, Nicola prodded the Force to see if she couldn't tell why. Apparently, she wasn't the only one who'd gone a whole day without running to the 'fresher. That was the major 'highlight' that Nicola could read through the Force, though she had the suspicion that there was something more. No matter, she'd find out later. Adra quickly dodged behind Nicola, looking over her friend's shoulder every now and then.
As Nicola opened her mouth to speak, she was cut off by a very winded-looking Face coming through the door. Everyone in the lounge now had their attention hooked on Nicola, Adra and Face. Nicola, however, had no clue what was going on. Face nodded in mock-respect to Nicola before he quickly dodged around her to grab his fiancé. Thoroughly confused at the display, Nicola dutifully stepped aside, going to sit on the chair of one of the couches to watch instead. By the time she looked back over at the pair she'd just left, Adra was hunched over slightly and laughing. Face, it seemed, was putting tickle torture to use. After a few seconds, she watched as Face put a hand on each of her friend's shoulders and bent his head to whisper something in her ear. Interested, she watched her friend's expression change from airy delight to a blank slate. A moment later Adra had jabbed her elbow into Face's gut.
***
Adra crossed her arms, scowling at the floor. Face stood behind her and she could tell he was contemplating tickle torturing her again. Deciding it would be no use to argue over the matter any longer, she at last nodded. Behind her, she felt a grin coursing through the distinct Force-presence. Her husband, Adra had to grin at the idea, gave her a slight hug before she walked over towards the door she had entered minutes before. Reaching out, she brushed Nicola's presence, and then spoke to her through the Force.
Come on, I want to talk to you.
She heard her friend stand up to walk out of the room, just as Adra walked a few paces down the hall. Deciding on the easiest place to talk being Face's office, she punched in the code on the control panel and the door slid back. Adra led the way in and Nicola follow, hitting the controls as she passed the doorframe. Both Jedi checked the Force for any eavesdroppers, but found everyone to be in the lounge. Without any more means of stalling, Adra finally decided to just talk; only problem was that Nicola beat her to it.
"What's up?" Her friend inquired.
Now grinning slightly, Adra shook her head. "Nothing, really. I've not come to tell you I'm going to die in three days, that's for sure. No, it's just that we figured you should be the first one of the Wraiths to know." Nicola cast her a confused look which Adra promptly ignored to continue talking. "Face and I had Wedge marry us last night-"
She got no farther due to the fact that she was suddenly having life squeezed out of her. Nicola must've hugged her for a full minute but she eventually stepped away. "I'm so happy for you two! Wait. Why wasn't I invited? And who was, for that matter!"
Adra laughed at her friend's flabbergasted face. "How about because if we invited you, then everyone would've needed to come. But that's not the real reason I asked you to come out of the lounge to talk."