Star Wars does not belong to me. Just Skylar & Co.
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It's not like Kot to be late like this. Ever since they'd returned from Florrum and Skylar's newest brother had been discharged from the medical center, he'd been a little distant. Kot had taken to wandering Coruscant on his own and that worried her. Physically, he actually seems to be adjusting to missing an arm. But, emotionally... Cordav fingered her comlink as she lay on the sofa, contemplating on whether or not she should call and check on him. I don't want to smother him, but I want to know that he's okay. The feeling was very similar to what she was going through with Fives gone.
Her husband wasn't here and she had no way of knowing if he was lying on the battlefield of some planet after taking a blaster shot through the visor. Sky cringed at the mental picture and placed a hand on her still somewhat flat belly, it would be another month before she really started to show. Daddy's going to be okay, baby. He'll be okay.
Darn it, Kot! Don't do this to me! So caught up was she in her worry that she didn't even realize that Hew had come back downstairs until he lifted her legs so that he could set them in his lap as he sat down. "You need to go to bed, S'ika. Staying up like this isn't good for you. Or the baby." Shortly after Kenna and Griff had left, Wreck had headed back to the Barracks to be with the rest of Tor Squad, since Zey had temporarily reassigned him with Jinx. And the rest of Beta had come back to the apartment. She'd thought that three of them had fallen asleep hours ago. But Hew, true to form, had apparently gotten the feeling that something wasn't exactly right with his sister.
"I can't sleep until I know that Kot's okay, H'ika."
"And until Fives calls?"
She smiled sadly, "That too. Osik, Hew. I hate this. Sitting on the sidelines like this is for the aruetiise."
"And pregnant mamas," he put in pointedly, patting the hand that was still resting on her belly. He sighed, "Have you ever thought that this is what Tea goes through every time you and Fives leave?"
Sky cringed. That was hitting below the belt. She hadn't actually thought about it that way, but he was right. Sure, she did a good job being Teanna's mother when she was around, but not once did she think about what she was doing to her daughter when she left. Tea wasn't stupid, the little Togruta knew that the missions they went on were dangerous. That it was quite possible that both of her parents might never come back home...
Her eyes began tearing up, "Oh Force, Hew. How could I have been so di'kutla?"
He fixed her with a stern, but gentle gaze, "You're not di'kutla, ori'vod. You just-"
And then her comlink went off, Kot's code. She sat up quickly as she answered, "Osik, Kot'ika! Are you trying to give me a stroke? Where are you?"
"Udesii, Sky. I'm fine, I'm almost home, I promise." She thought she could hear him mutter something about 'hormones'. Hew chuckled at her side and she stuck her tongue out at him. He doubled over in silent laughter, but she chose to ignore him. We sure are some tough Mando warriors. Immature would be a better adjective.
"You'd better be."
"Is Doz still awake?"
"Uhh... no. Why?"
If anything Kot sounded just a little embarrassed, "I, uh, I'm almost home 'cause I'm actually on the landing platform right now."
Hew stopped laughing and gave her a confused look, but stayed silent, waiting for her to speak. But she didn't. Skylar shut off the comlink and stood up in one swift movement. And then she marched out the door and straight toward the landing platform. Hew right behind her. Cordav didn't like her brothers holding back details from her as she was always completely honest with them. The fact that Kot wasn't telling her what was going on meant that he'd done something that he knew she wouldn't approve of. And I'm going to tan his hide for it too.
It wasn't until she came out and saw the Wroonian girl that Kot was trying to help off the speeder bike that her anger abated. Apparently Kot hadn't known how to tell her about the situation in a way that wouldn't involve him getting teased. That's why he asked if Doz was still awake. Beta's ordnance man was well-known for being merciless when it came to teasing.
At first, Sky wondered if this girl was his secret girlfriend that he'd been going to off to see lately. But, after watching them for a few seconds, she could tell that that wasn't the case. It's not like him to be so secretive anyway. Every time Kot got close to the blue-skinned girl, who was dressed in Kot's jacket and a long silvery skirt, she'd flinch and he'd instantly pull away. Trying not to scare her more than she obviously already was.
That, and the girl was very obviously three months pregnant. Kot, like her and like all the rest of her brothers, wasn't one to sleep around.
Hew reached Skylar's side and exchanged a look that she knew well. This wasn't the first time that a brother had brought a jumpy girl home. The last time was when Gabriel had introduced them to Deena... But this was a completely different situation. Dee hadn't seemed wary of Gabe in the way that this yellow-eyed girl was of Kot. She's been abused. And I don't think I'm off the mark by guessing that getting pregnant wasn't by her choice...
As soon as the teenager was safely off the bike, yellow eyes met hers and the Wroonian instantly cringed, dark blue hair flying as she dashed behind Kot. Said commando rolled his eyes in exasperation before giving them an apologetic look and Sky had to admire his patience. He is definitely not the suicidal man I met on the way back from Kadavo...
As soon as Zephyr saw the man and woman waiting for them at the door to the building, she immediately hid behind her 'savior'. She still didn't trust Kot completely, but she did know now that he wasn't going to harm her, at least not yet. Those two, however, they were unknown. They could have been outright murderers, for all she knew.
Kot murmured assurances to her, but thankfully, he didn't move. He didn't try to reach out and comfort her either. He just kept talking to her softly, but she barely heard him. She was peeking over Kot's shoulder, completely focused on the man that looked exactly like him. And the woman standing at Kot's twin's side. The human woman was about the same size as Zephyr, but the very defined curves of her body suggested that she was a few years older. Kot's sister? She looks nothing like him. Not like that man does... And it doesn't look like she's pregnant, unless she just found out.
The woman, 'Sky', as Kot had named her on the ride here, looked very intimidating. She was dressed in red pants and a tight black sleeveless shirt that clearly displayed a hardened musculature. And a very big, very black tattoo of some kind of skull on her upper left arm. That probably means that she's Mando too. Even without the tattoo, she looks like she can eat me alive. The sixteen-year-old hadn't realized that she was gripping Kot's left elbow in a death grip of terror until he backed a pace closer. Zephyr found that she was actually starting to appreciate his closeness, if only just a little. At least I'm not facing this warrior woman and Kot's brother by myself. I've got Kot between me and them.
The woman's dark brown eyes, darker than Kot's and his twin's at least, turned gentle. Sky gave the man at her side a quick look and moved forward alone. Striding purposefully, but not fast enough to be threatening. Zephyr still felt like her heart was pounding in her throat.
"Udesii, vod'ika. Easy there, sister. I'm sure Kot's told you that we're not going to hurt you," Sky said gently, stopping a few paces in front of her brother and giving a reassuring look. Zephyr just ducked her head down out of Sky's view, pressing herself against Kot's back as she shivered.
"Now you decide you trust me?" Kot asked softly, just a bit of irritation coming through in his voice. No, not really. You're just a better alternative than her. Zephyr knew that she'd been trying his patience, but she didn't care. She didn't like the look of this woman, no matter how gentle her voice was. And, suddenly, it was as if Kot could read her thoughts, "You can trust Sky, Zephyr. She saved me once."
"Zephyr? That's a pretty name, vod'ika. Any family looking for you, Zephyr?" Sky questioned soothingly.
The Wroonian girl shook her head, even though she knew that the human woman couldn't see her. "N-no. I've been on my own since my mother died," she answered, somehow managing to keep her voice somewhat steady. Why am I telling her this? 'Cause I know that Kot's right, that's why. Even if my mind doesn't completely agree with me.
Kot turned and she flinched when he wrapped his good arm around her shoulders. But she allowed him to bring her closer to his sister, only to completely freeze when there was a good three foot distance separating her from the Mando woman. Kot went to remove his arm from around her, but Zephyr found herself pressing up against his right side so that he had no other choice but to keep his arm in place. And she had no idea why she did that.
Fives lay on his bunk in his own private quarters, listening in disbelief as his wife told him about Kot's new 'best friend'. Not only was there another woman in their ever growing family, but another baby on the way too.
"How does Kot feel about her?" Fives couldn't help asking Skylar that particular question. He smirked to himself. Kot was right, I'm really starting to sound like my woman.
"I'm not sure Kot feels anything for her in that way, cyar'ika. I think, when he rescued her, he was just trying to do the right thing." She chuckled, "He is so completely out of his element. Totally flummoxed. Zephyr's not too keen on any of us right now, she won't even let Deena come near her. Except for Kot. She cringes when we talk to her, but not as much when Kot speaks." That told him just how scared the girl was as Dee was well known for having a soothing presence.
And Fives was a little bit surprised. He knew Kot wasn't a natural when it came to comforting people he didn't know well, whereas it was Deena's job to calm total strangers. But I guess there is a reason behind it. According to what Sky had told him, which was only the barest of info gathered from Kot, the Wroonian girl hadn't been given much reason to trust other people. Which was why Zephyr was slightly more comfortable around Kot. He'd basically saved her from her own personal hell while Deena was just another stranger to her.
He was about to ask his wife how Tea was handling all the new additions when his door slid open. Only four people had that kind of access to his quarters aboard the Resolute. Admiral Yularen, General Skywalker, Commander Tano, and Captain Rex. It was the blond captain who was giving him a disapproving look from the doorway.
"I gotta go, Ruus'ika," Fives said carefully. Ruus'ika was part of their 'code' that they'd thought up over the past month. If anyone who wasn't supposed to know about their relationship was within earshot, he'd call her 'Ruus'ika' which meant 'little sergeant'. And she'd call him 'vod'ika'. Words that they would normally never call each other, so it was the perfect way of saying 'I love you' without being suspicious.
"Okay, vod'ika," she said softly, cutting off the link on her end.
Fives sat up, an innocent expression on his face. Inwardly, he was cringing. I was never the actor that Sky is. And Rex knows me too well... There was no doubt in Fives' mind what his brother had come here for, judging by the look on Rex's face.
As soon as they'd returned to Arca Barracks from the disastrous mission on Florrum, Sky had marched herself straight towards General Zey's office to request maternity leave, as she'd promised Fives and her brothers. It had been three weeks since then, which meant that word had already gotten around. In this army, especially among the clones, once word was out, it was out.
Which meant that Rex had heard it and had put two and two together. Skylar had mentioned several times that the captain was on to them.
Rex continued glaring as Fives' innocent expression fell. The ARC's expression turned grave as Fives motioned him in. The tattooed clone closed the door and turned around, looking crestfallen, "Before you say anything, Rex, you need to know that my family isn't a distraction to me. And, if you turn us in..." The normally headstrong man's shoulders slumped and his voice sounded weak, "If you turn us in, I'll never see them again."
Even though it hurt him to see a brother like this, Rex wasn't about to back down, "You should have thought about that before you got your commanding sergeant pregnant, Fives."
Fives looked up and met his eyes, " We did think about it, Rex. We were being extra careful, I swear. We were going to wait to have a kid until the war was over, but the baby had other ideas."
Rex fixed him with a steady, stern glance, "This isn't a joking matter, Fives. Families are distractions that soldiers like us can't afford. You can't keep your head in a fight if you're too busy worrying about a wife and kids."
Fives glared at him hard and Rex was taken aback. The ARC Trooper was one of the very few brothers that Rex was very close to and it confused him to see such a hostile expression as the one that Fives was directing towards him, "My wife and my babies are not a distraction, Rex. My family makes me stronger." There was a deadly quality to the other man's voice as he continued, "They are the main reason why I'm fighting in this war. If it wasn't for them and for you and our brothers, you can guarantee that I wouldn't be hanging around here anymore."
And before Rex knew it, the fiercely protective Fives was gone. "You can't tell anyone, ner vod. Gedet'ye. Please."
Rex sighed. I hadn't realized how deep he's gotten himself into this. In fact, Fives very much reminded him of Cut right then. And the captain couldn't, in good conscience, turn either brother in. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed heavily, "Alright, fine, Fives. Just... keep your head where it needs to be, okay?" I don't want to lose you because your head wasn't in the game.
Fives gave him a grateful smile before pulling him into a tight brotherly hug, "Vor ent'ye. Thank you." Every time I see Fives, he's become more and more Mando.
Rex pulled back and nodded, unused to such contact. Before he reached the door, he glanced over his shoulder and gave Fives a small smile and another nod, "Congratulations."
Once Rex reached the door to his own quarters he found that he wasn't really tired. So he turned on his heel and made his way towards the mess hall instead, his mind on getting some caf since he probably wasn't going to get any sleep. As he walked, his mind drifted to Saleucami. He remembered his shock when he'd met Cut and found out that his brother had married Suu and had adopted her children. His niece and nephew for all intents and purposes.
He had gotten the same feeling when Jesse, whose squad was also accompanying Torrent Company, had let slip that Sergeant Cordav was pregnant, although the commando hadn't known who the father was. But Rex had. Now I know why Sky had said that Tea might start calling me her 'uncle'. They got married, probably that very day. If Mandalorians didn't need paperwork to adopt, he was pretty sure they wouldn't need any to marry either.
"Something on your mind, Rexter?"
Rex jolted to a stop. He'd made it to the mess hall. But he was also face to face with Ahsoka. Commander Tano, Rex. She's your commander. Not Ahsoka. Not anymore. Her big blue eyes mesmerized him for a moment and he cleared his throat. I can't exactly talk to her about Fives' family situation. "Not really, little 'un," he said, shaking his head and mentally cringing. She wasn't exactly 'little' anymore. Of that he was well aware of, to his chagrin.
osik = crap
aruetiise = non-Mandalorians
di'kutla = stupid, idiotic
ori'vod = big sister
udesii = take it easy
vod'ika = little brother or little sister
cyar'ika = sweetheart
Ruus'ika = little sergeant
ner = my
vod = brother
gedet'ye = please
vor ent'ye = thank you
And Rex finally makes his appearance in Vencuyan!
Please R&R.
