"May I offer you a shower? A meal? Perhaps you would like to rest before-" The pleading attempt to make her stay was silenced with the gentle cup of her palm to his pale, pointed cheek. Forlornly, longingly, the gaze was mutual and as he pried that delicate hand from his face to press a genial kiss to it, the enormity of the task before them started to unravel itself. She was her own woman now, no longer a bought slave and he couldn't cage her again; not as he had done, at least.
"I have to get back." He dreaded those words. Even though they were uttered in a soothing whisper with adoring strokes of her thumb resuming to his face, the sting remained: She was leaving him again. He closed the distance, enveloping that precious frame within insignia adorned arms and dipped his forehead to meet hers until their immediate breaths were one of the same.
"When will you marry me?" The pining murmur resembled that of an uncomprehending child as he sought the maximum comfort from his beloved.
"Soon." She promised softly and he believed it wholeheartedly but clung to her regardless. "For what it's worth, Orion..." Lucilla began, sensing his unease and melancholy. "I don't want to leave either but... my children need me." With noticeable and painful hesitation, Orion released her and fought to keep his composure.
"I know." Resolve and denial was the only way through he could see; to blanket his emotions until he could be sealed away by himself to crumble as he needed to. If he stifled himself hard enough, it might not affect him as badly as it had before but at least now, she was still his. The absence would be the difficult part and they both seemed to realise it; being so close didn't help matters. "When you are ready, com me. I will send credits for your dress and whatever else you need, irrelevant of the cost."
"Orion, that's not nece-"
"No, it is. You deserve it and more, everything I can give you and beyond and I would still fall short." It may have been a different kind of resolve but Orion would not be swayed on the matter; if ever there was someone worthy of spoiling, it was her. Another protest stirred in those remarkable features but her General would firmly nip that in the bud as well. "Little dove, it is the very least I can do for you granting me this honour, this second chance; please, let me do this, no expense spared." Finally, Lucilla caved with a sigh.
"Very well, if you insist." The materialism of a wedding day was unimportant when the sentiment took precedent but if it eased his mind and his conscience, she would comply.
"We shan't delay then." Straightening to his full height and returning to his regimented stance, denial started then; followed by her curiosity at the sudden change, even when he extended his arm for her to take. "Come, I will escort you back to Yavin 4 myself."
"Lieutenant?"
"Yes, sir?"
Mitaka's voice on the com pulled the corners of her mouth into fond grimace; she had missed her caretaker of a year and how he used to spoil her under his General's orders. Arm in arm, Lucilla and Orion approached the departure bay; both strong and newly confident in their new venture together as a freshly betrothed couple.
"There has been a case of mistaken identity." Lucilla's inquisitiveness tilted to her fiance's face while he lied, stoically, to his officer. Hux, however, knew Mitaka would have recognized Lucilla and therefore, the com call was little more than a throw-off for anyone who may have been listening. "Under intense interrogation, the keeper of the orphanage is of no connection to the Resistance and knows nothing of their movements."
"Yes, sir."
"I will escort her back to the orphanage personally to extend my apologies on behalf of the Order and to review the damage caused. I request that you prepare a survey team to carry out any repairs with compliments of the Order."
"Yes, sir."
"I would also ask that my shuttle be prepped for departure at the earliest possible convenience; that will be all, Lieutenant."
"Of course, sir." Call terminated, com stored and pace slowed; Orion hesitantly accepted this may be their last meeting for an indefinite period of time and so opted to draw it out as long as he possibly could.
"You know you're welcome here any time, no matter the hour."
"I know."
"The code to my quarters will be changed upon my return to the date you were brought aboard for the first time; do you remember that date?"
"I do." Her General's mouth folded into a thin line of apprehension as he took in every dimple and curvature; another mental recording to help himself cope until they were reunited again. Would it be easier to rest now that his dark-haired darling was his once again? That icy blue gaze swept her features and soaked them in; dumbfounded that this magnificent creature had agreed to be his and he hers. Her gentility (especially that shy smile) had always and would always astound him; despite her brutal and tragic past, she had always been the kind and comforting hand that guided him to feel and embrace emotions.
"With any luck, the next time I see you, you will utter those words again. And so will I."
"You know….." Orion's ear cocked as the jump was made to hyperspace and his bride-to-be's hand rested placidly on his, one slightly paler than the other; his gloves had been securely tucked into his pocket to maximize the skin on skin contact. "You made me a promise, some years ago."
"And what promise was that, little dove?" The inquiry came after a quizzical pause of failed recollection and when autopilot had been safely engaged to allow him to turn to his beloved and give her the attention she deserved.
"You promised me a womb." He regarded the revelation silently, watching the docile hopefulness in her face and admittedly, he had forgotten about that particular pledge until she reminded him; repressing such things had been a coping mechanism after she left. Orion straightened in his seat and curled his wrist, allowing her hand to fall into his rather than resting on top of it; the urge to place a kiss to the back of her palm did not go unheeded.
"And a womb you shall have, my love." He replied, scarcely able to mask his delight that such a symbol of dedication had gone unforgotten after so long. "Consider it a wedding present." It seemed he had decided to push back his denial when he gestured to his future wife with open arms; in seconds, she sat curled up in his lap and as physically close as they could be. "There will be monthly donations from four anonymous donors, one for each week." He issued softly, reverently trailing his nose up and down her cheek with lips barely moving. "Use the credits as you see fit but I would suggest using a portion to hire someone to help you; with an extra pair of hands, you may be able to slip away a little easier."
"You're right." The angelic breath like a summer Arkanis breeze crossed his as a delicate, ashen hand carefully cradled the sharp edge of his face. "But you're too generous, I can't possibly-"
"I won't hear anymore on it." She knew better than anyone that should he find himself resolute (like he did just then) that he would not be swayed. "I am responsible for their plight, I think it only fair to contribute even in some menial way to their care and wellbeing; not to mention making my fiance's life somewhat easier." It was only a matter of time before the proximity lead to indulgence; the indulgence of lips meeting in doting pecks and devoted nuzzles.
"I must confess..." His free hand meandered to the same place it had once upon a time; the same place where he had callously examined her scar and selfishly thought only of his own convenience where her womb was concerned. Needless to say, those practical (for him, at least) and cruel thoughts had done a complete U-turn and transformed themselves in the purest way possible; through love and care for the woman he had once viewed as a pleasure object. "I would have thought, given your surroundings and your new vocation, that bringing another child into the galaxy would have not been your priority; let alone my child." The coy kink of an eyebrow was all he needed to know he had believed wrongly. "But I have to say, I'm very pleased that it is."
"Just over that ridge." Lucilla informed him regretfully once the shuttle had been rested in a shaded and subtle area of the rich landscape on Yavin 4. "It would be best if I go alone from here." Even though that declaration almost, almost sliced through his newly installed resolve, the logic was clear and in a way, he was proud that she could rule with her head over her heart when the circumstances dictated. However, he allowed himself one last taste, a taste he satisfied with a final, covetous kiss with an aching aftertaste.
"Be ready." He beseeched somewhat urgently while remaining close but bearing his promise of restraint in mind. "The medics will be briefed as soon as I return and when a match is found, I will send for you. We can discuss our engagement some more of required." Did he dare break his promise again and steal another embrace? He decided not to and so supressed the goad by kissing her hand instead. "I love you."
When Lucilla walked away the first time under the escort of her father on Coruscant, she did not look back. However, as she descended on the lulled form of the orphanage and walked away for the second time, it felt like she looked back more often than she looked forward. He watched and waited but some greedy part of him hoped she would turn on her heel and return to him but alas, she glanced back once more before disappearing through a temporarily covered doorway.
Lucilla did as she was bid; she readied herself. Though he hadn't been specific, she prepped in whatever way her imagination and her logic reasoned so she packed a bag; a hospital bag. She should have realized, however, that even though the children had slept through her return, not everyone did.
"Come in?" The blue-eyed beauty regarded her visitor; a visitor she would much rather have dealt with after a few hours of sleep.
"You okay?" The question may have been concerned in nature and wording but not in tone; unimpressed and galled probably suited Poe's sour expression and folded arms more. She didn't answer straight away though the half-packed bag on the bed caused the lingering of chocolate eyes. "We were worried."
"I'm fine." She replied honestly with a scarce and grateful smile as she folded the items she wished to bring; mostly suitable sleep wear. He watched the process, his mind calculating and his demeanour becoming interrogative while hers remained weary with hesitancy dogging her; no doubt he would be asking questions that she would rather not answer. "My apprehension was something of an accident." Poe's tongue clicked but the disbelieving nod was far from accepting.
"Sure, sure." The hostility started to blossom in Poe's air, something his cousin had started to become overly aware of; naturally, it was born of concern but it certainly felt more imposing. "You uhh…. goin' somewhere, Luce?" If her reluctance could have intensified, it would have at that question but Poe waited defiantly.
"I'm not going anywhere." She responded with as little confrontation as she could muster, drifting around the commander with ease due to her small, dainty form but he stood firm. "Not yet, at least." As if dumbfounded by the blatancy, Poe continued to stare with his body language just as incriminating, if not more so.
"Meaning what, Luce?!" Poe demanded with seemingly no escalation to his challenge, resentfully moving to follow her as she sauntered back and forth with her packing. "The place gets raided by Stormtroopers and you disappear; conveniently swept back to the guy who held you hostage and now-!" Adventure-worn hands gesticulated vehemently to the half-packed bag. "You're going on vacation! How nicely that all slots together!" Tired, hungry, pining and worn; Lucilla could endure plenty but her tether only stretched so far.
"Believe what I said, or don't!" The sudden snap stopped him in his assuming tracks; the flare of pale nostrils and narrowing of sapphire eyes halted him faster than he would have imagined. "They didn't know who I was when they took me! They had orders to arrest the head of the orphanage and that was me! He interrogated me and that was it! He never touched me!" Perhaps not entirely true but she used the context of violence and prayed Poe wouldn't poke further; judging by the unnerved swallow, he had no intention of it but now that she had started, she could not be stopped so easily. "Now, if you want the truth, I will give it to you!" Was now and in this foul humour the best time to deliver such outrageous news? In her current flurry of temper, she didn't care.
"He asked me to marry him!" Poe's face subsequently dropped, as could be expected. "And I said yes!" Whether or not, Poe was about to retract his objections or whatever reason he opened his mouth for; Lucilla sliced cleanly through whatever he was about to say. "The bag is for a stay on Finalizer, not that it's any of your concern or business!" He had abandoned all attempts at interjecting, there was no point on an incensed rampage like this. "My wedding present is a new womb, the one to replace the one they took from me before I was given to him; no one else had EVER even considered that might be what I want! But he has!"
"Luce, I-"
"No! I am my own woman; I have spent enough time under everyone else's thumb, I will NOT continue to do that under my own family and the people who are supposed to represent freedom!" Poe conceded with a far more sincere nod and an awkward regression of his lips towards his teeth after the verbal neutering the usually meek female battered him with. "I don't care how you feel about this." What else could he say? She was determined and her mind very much made up; nothing would come between them this time. "This is about me. I'm getting married. I'm having my own children and there is NOTHING you can do to stop me!"