Star Wars does not belong to me. Just Skylar & Co.

Again, sorry for missing yet another update. It'll be hit and miss from here on out and I apologize for that. Busy schedule, plus I want to make sure that the story flows just right.

Big thanks to Fidgeymugato, Kelana-ti, and purplewillowtrees for reviewing!


"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"

Fives, now standing by his wife's right side, while Kot stood to her left, fought back a knee-jerk reaction to put a hole through the pirate's forehead for even looking at Skylar in that way. Sky had removed her helmet as Hondo Ohnaka approached, and the Weequay was practically leering at her.

I'd hate to think about what he would do if there weren't so many of us clones around her. The thought made him clench his left fist. His right hand rested on the butt of one of his blasters.

The pirate captain continued roving his eyes over Skylar's figure, completely oblivious to the deadly peril he was putting himself in, "First Kenobi, then Skywalker. Now a Death Watch warrior and a batch of clones. To what do I owe the honor?"

Sky took a step forward, "If you were really a friend of Fett's, Ohnaka, you'd know that not all Mandos in armor are part of the Kyr'tsad."

"You look a little young to be one of Jango's prized warriors, my dear."

Cordav rolled her brown eyes, "I wasn't. But my father was. And I worked closely with the Mand'alor on Kamino."

"Really?" Ohnaka made a show of being surprised. He's not as good of an actor as he thinks he is. Too dramatic. "From my understanding, Fett recalled a hundred men and women. Not children."

Skylar arched a brow, even as her eyes narrowed, "For a lowly pirate, you sure seem to know a lot."

"You and I both know that, in this business, information is the difference between life and death." He cast a glance at Fives, Kot, and Aran, "Quite a lot of protection for a Mando. Just who are you, anyway?"

"If you really believed information was so important, than you wouldn't have to ask for my name."

Skylar! Why on earth does she have to say things like that? There was no debating it, his wife most certainly had a talent for making the bad guys mad. Fives tensed, gripping the butts of both of his pistols. Kot and Aran also shifted into more defensive positions.

But Ohnaka just laughed, "Spoken like a true Mandalorian, my dear."

"Cordav. The name's Sergeant Cordav."

"Ahh, and what business would require you to bring commandos and an ARC Trooper to my lowly home, Sergeant?" Just a hint of venom disguised in the friendliness of the Weeuay's question.

"A favor to a friend. My boys and I are here to comb over the wreckage of Maul and Oppress's ship."

"We've already picked that pile of junk clean, Cordav," Ohnaka said proudly. "You won't find a thing."

"Well, that's good. Because we're not looking for things. We're looking for information," Wreck cut in deftly. "Information on their whereabouts."

"Those two Zabraks are dead. You're wasting your time."

"My friend has reason to believe that they're out there still," Sky cut Hondo off before he could say anything else.

"You mean, Kenobi believes it."

"I'm more inclined to trust the General's instincts in this situation, Ohnaka. No offense."

"None taken. But it would still be best if you left, immediately. My men have been itching for another fight and, well... Mandalorian armor does sell very well. Almost as well as beautiful women..."

Before Fives could even launch himself at the pirate, Skylar's red flute was flying through the air. It missed Ohnaka's face by just a hairsbreadth and embedded itself in the side of his ship, twenty feet away.

"You so much as lay a finger on any one one of us, and eighty commandos, just as skilled as myself, will tear your base apart, do you understand me, Ohnaka?" There was heat in Skylar's words and a fire in her eyes. "We are staying until we get what we've come for. And you will not hinder us in any way."

"Jango must have respected you, Cordav. Fine, you can stay until your mission is finished. On one condition, my dear."

"And that is?" Fives broke in, his tone threatening.

"Nothing to be concerned about," Ohnaka reassured, both hands held up in a gesture of peace. "My men and I are celebrating the success of our latest raid tonight. It would be an honor if you joined us."

"Until then, we'll be combing over the wreckage. Time's not on our side, I'm afraid," Kendan added.

"Very well." Hondo gave Skylar another leering look, "I look forward to celebrating with you, my dear."

Fives took a menacing step forward, but was stopped only by his wife's hand on his arm.


As soon as they were safely back on their ship, Skylar turned on Fives, "What has gotten into you, Fives?" She glared at her husband, not even casting a look at her brothers as they made themselves scarce. "You are so lucky that Ohnaka and his men already had their backs turned on us. You almost gave us away!"

"Sky, I-"

"Don't you realize that Ohnaka is an opportunist? If he knew that a Republic sergeant was in a relationship with one of the men in her command... He would have sold that intel to the highest bidder! And then I'd never..." She hugged herself, her voice dropping to no more than a whisper, "And then I'd never see you again, cyar'ika."

Fives came forward and tried to wrap his arms around her, but she pulled out of his embrace. "I know, Sky," he sighed, looking dejected. And then he angrily clenched his fists, "But how do you expect me to just stand by when that scum looks at you like that? Like you're just another possession he wants, that he'll use. You're my wife, and no man is going to treat you like that. Not as long as I'm breathing."

"I can take care of myself, ARC Trooper! You know that!" Inwardly, she cringed as she yelled at him. I shouldn't have done that. But how can he just expect me to stand by and let him do something like that? I won't let him be taken from me. I don't know what I'd do if... Her husband stumbled back as if she'd decked him, hurt at her words apparent on his face. And she felt even more guilty as tears ran down her face.

"F'ika, I'm sorry. I-"

"I get it." With that, he turned and angrily stalked off.

Cordav sank to the floor, sobbing. I never should have yelled at him. I know how protective he is of me. Should I have expected anything less? No, he's my husband and he was only acting like that because he loves me. I'm the worst wife in the entire galaxy. Osik, how could I be so di'kutla?

Several minutes later she heard booted feet coming back down the corridor. Skylar picked her head up hopefully, thinking it was Fives. But the rhythym of the steps was off. Kot.

"Sky? Is everything-? Sky!" he rushed forward and crouched in front of her, his face concerned. "Are you okay? It's not the baby, is it?"

She shook her head and furiously wiped her tears away, "No, the baby's fine, Kot'ika. Fives and I..."

"Had another fight. He looked pretty pissed when he came through the galley. Did he do anything to you?"

The Mando woman shook her head, "No. I... I s-said something h-hurtful. S-something I shouldn't h-have."

Kot pulled her into his strong arms and she rested her head under his chin, "Udesii, Sky. I'm sure he'll forgive you. He just needs to blow off some steam. Everything will be fine. It'll be okay."

Oh, the irony. I spent most of the past few months comforting Kot. Look how the tables have turned. The only difference was that the situation that had caused her newest brother to slip into depression all those months ago hadn't been his fault.

I got myself into this. It's time to stop crying and fix it.


Fives had stormed past the boys in the galley, making a beeline for the quarters he shared with his wife. He really wanted to punch something, but, unfortunately, there really wasn't anything to punch. Besides the walls. And he really didn't want to be dealing with an injured hand while they were still surrounded by semi-hostile pirates.

The door closed behind him and he flopped onto the bed, stretching out on his back. I pushed her too hard. What his wife had said was true. He knew that she could take care of herself. Sky had proved so many times before. But the way she'd said it... It made him feel like she didn't want him to protect her. And that hurt. Skylar was his reason for breathing. The very fact that the woman he loved didn't want him looking out for her... The pain was worse than being shot. And he'd masked it with anger. He'd come so close to lashing out at her. What scared the ARC was that, if he hadn't marched away, he probably would have.

It's not supposed to be like this. We love each other, we shouldn't be fighting.

There was a knock on the door. Fives opened it, his face falling as he met Wreck's gaze. He plopped back onto the bed, ignoring the sergeant as the older clone leaned against the doorway.

"You wanna tell me what happened, vod'ika?"

"Not really. But I guess you're not going to give me the choice."

"Darn straight I won't."

Fives glared at Wreck, but the other man just met his gaze calmly. "Lemme guess. The two of you finally had yourselves a real shouting match, huh?"

The younger man looked away, "You could say that."

"And you stormed off."

Fives continued to refuse to meet Wreck's eyes, "She told me that she could protect herself. Wreck, I'm her husband. Isn't protecting her my job?"

"You're thinking like an aruetii. That isn't how it works with Mandos. The two of you are equal. She can look after herself. You can look after yourself." Aran's sergeant held up a hand as Fives' opened his mouth to object. "But what neither of you understand yet is that it is both of your jobs to look out for each other."

"How would you know this, Wreck? You've never been married before."

"You sure about that?"

Fives jolted upright, eyes wide. "You? Really?"

"Yeah," Wreck sighed, sitting beside him. "Her name was Kenna. When I met her, she was a real spitfire and almost as proud as Sky."

"What happened?"

"I smothered her. Too much. We had a huge fight, bigger than the one you just had with Sky."

"How would you know-"

"The two of you were only going at it for two minutes, Kenna and I argued for almost an hour. I said things that I should never have said to anyone. I was just so mad, so upset, because I thought that she was shrugging me off. When, in reality, she was just trying to be herself. She was six months pregnant."

"Was?" Before he even asked the question, Fives had an overwhelming sense of foreboding.

Wreck hung his head, "I upset her so much that the stress caused her body to go into early labor. The baby lived, but he was three months early. He spent months in the medcenter. And I was so ashamed of myself that I never visited him once. My own son. He's a year old now and I don't even know what he looks like. Kenna left me two weeks after he was born."

That just made Fives feel even more like a shabuir. I could have done that to Sky. But our baby wouldn't have lived... "I'm sorry, Wreck. Have you tried calling them?"

"I wouldn't know what to say, Fives. I've already messed up their lives. Griff has health problems from being born prematurely and Kenna's struggling to be a single mom. I've kept an eye on them, but they don't need me back in their lives. I'll only make it worse."

"I'm not sure. I mean, I don't think things will be the same as they were, but you love them, right?"

"Yeah, just as much as you love your girls."

Fives squeezed the sergeant's shoulder, "Try calling her, ner vod. I've got to go apologize to my woman."


Kyr'tsad = Death Watch

Mand'alor = Chieftain of chieftains

cyar'ika = sweetheart

osik = crap

di'kutla = stupid

udesii = Easy, calm down

aruetii = outsider, non-Mandalorian

shabuir = bastard

ner = my

vod = brother

Please R&R.