A/N Hello friends! Thank you for the continued support on this fic. This is kind of a mini-chapter as the chapter I intended to post for chapter 4 has ended up being so long I've split it into three! They still need some work, and I wanted to introduce a character I mentioned in the first chapter – the twi'lek lady Wrecker befriended! She is in one of the three future chapters so I figured she should be introduced properly! I hope you like her
Wrecker had a few free hours before Tech and Echo would finish up with their work and take over Omega's care. The ex-soldiers had been in the role of buire for almost a week now, and while things were still bumpy, Wrecker felt things were falling into place nicely, and he could only assume the others felt the same. Omega had been fed and put down for a nap in her now finished crib – they were doing their best to ensure she didn't solely sleep in the arms of one of her buire. The crib was carved with Hunter's signature, sought after style, mainly nature themed with some little tookas integrated into the patterning. It was all brought together by Crosshair's paintwork, using a subtle combination of not-too-bright colours to not make the crib too stimulating. It was sturdy and strong, with plenty of room for her to make us of it until she was ready for a bed when she was older.
He slumped on the couch and flicked through the holoshows. Nothing. He looked at his small crate of yarn and knitting needles. He needed a restock of supplies, and Omega had more than enough hats now. He was getting pretty good at them. He should thing about selling them, or better yet, making them to donate to families in need. Now he had a baby of his own, the mere thought of a baby being too cold, especially in weather like this, upset him greatly. Surely he could make more things for Omega, and potentially other babies too, though. He needed inspiration, and he knew exactly where to find it.
"C'mon, lil tooka," Wrecker plucked her up into his arms, "There's someone I'd like you to meet."
Omega made a small noise in her sleep and nestled into his warmth, and the usually boisterous clone melted all over again. The novelty had yet to wear off, he wasn't sure it ever would. He kissed her tiny hand so delicately, her little fingers felt so fragile. He still feared that he would one day forget his own strength and hurt her by accident, and he had a feeling that fear would remain for quite a while.
Thankfully, just the day prior Tech had finished the seat that could be secured to any of their speeders, or one of the seats in the Marauder if the need arose, and that Omega herself could be strapped into comfortably. It was still freezing outside, though, thick snow had settled and promptly frozen.
"Let's get your wrapped up warm, huh?" Wrecker bounced her in his arms and headed up to her room to find everything he needed. Once safely strapped into her seat, nestled amidst her puffy snow suit and mittens, Wrecker secured Omega's seat to the speeder. He'd still be driving slower than usual regardless, just in case. He drove around the outside of town to avoid any traffic, before heading up the hill on the other side. There, just in front of the forest on the hill, was his destination. A small house, painted a deep purple with various charms and trinkets adorning the building and front yard. The comforting smell of baking wafted from the open window.
"Here we are," Wrecker picked Omega up and tucked her in his coat, grabbing the bag of her supplies.
"Oh, what a lovely surprise," the elderly twi'lek came to the door, "I was just thinking you hadn't called by in a few days, is everything alright?"
"Well..."
"Well, don't just stand there, you'll catch your death! Come inside, there'll be a hot slice of winter berry pie with your name on it within the next half hour," Aola beckoned him inside.
"Nice!" Wrecker grinned, slinging the bag over his shoulder and heading inside, his hand supporting Omega on his chest. The warmth that hit him once he got inside was certainly welcome, as well as the familiar scent of various fragrances and powder make up. Aola's home was a treasure trove, decorated with a variety of mismatching trinkets and curios from her travels. Prior to her retirement she had been a musician and singer, a profession that had taken her all over the galaxy, from performing on starcruisers to being a street performer, she had many a story to tell, and Wrecker was always to hear more.
"What are you hiding in there?" Aola frowned, "You'd better not have brought an animal into-"
She trailed off, wide-eyed, as Wrecker took the baby from his coat.
"My, my, you have been busy," Aola folded her arms.
"Aola, this is Omega," Wrecker said proudly, "My...she's my daughter."
Aola stared in disbelief for a moment, before she promptly gave him a light shove. Only light for Omega's sake, "And you didn't even think over the last nine months to tell me? You didn't even think to introduce me to the mother of your child? Do I mean that little to you?"
"No, no, it's not like that-"
"Curse the stars, give the poor mite here," she held out her arms, "She's going to boil alive in that coat inside."
There was no arguing with Aola. Wrecker handed Omega over as he shrugged off his own coat.
"There now," Aola's entire demeanour softened, "Let's take a look at you, little star."
She carefully got Omega out of her snowsuit, dropping it on the couch and focusing on the baby, "Oh, what a little sweetheart you are. Hello, Omega. What a pretty name."
Omega blinked sleepily up at her.
"Aw, she has your eyes," Aola blinked away tears, "Oh, Wrecker, she's gorgeous. And she's such a lucky girl, you're going to be such a wonderful father, this could be the making of you, sweetheart."
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but," Wrecker paused, "We didn't know about her until she arrived."
"Arrived?" Aola frowned, before her eyes widened, "Goodness, what a shock you must have had."
"Yeah, just a bit," Wrecker chuckled, "She just-"
"It happened with my niece, you know. My sister was done with children, four was enough, or so she thought. Until her fifth made an unexpected appearance in the..."
"No, no, not like that," Wrecker cringed at the mere thought, "She...Omega arrived at our door a week ago. Left there."
"Left?" Aola gaped, looking down at little Omega, "But...her mother? Where is she, is she alright?"
"We...we don't know, we don't even know who she is," Wrecker shifted on his feet a little awkwardly.
"You...you don't know who she is?" Aola repeated, dumbfounded. All Wrecker could do was nod as she eyed him with concern, "Well...how many potential mothers are there, then? Two?"
"Five," Wrecker shrugged.
"Five?" Aola blurted out, louder than intended. Omega startled in her arms but thankfully didn't fuss, "Dank farrik, Wrecker! Five women and no contact with any of them? That's...that doesn't sound like you at all."
"We're also not sure who her father is," Wrecker said quietly, "So we've all taken that role, all five of us are her buire, but-" dhfjfgh
"Nothing is ever simple when it involves you and your brothers, is it?" Aola laughed, still utterly stunned, "All five of you? You're each potentially her father?"
"Uh..." Wrecker rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably, "Echo...he, he can't have kids. And Tech, well, he spends all his time in his workshop, I don't know if he's ever been with a woman, so..."
"It's that festival, isn't it?" Aola raised an eyebrow, "I've seen you and your brothers, the long haired one and the grey one, I've seen you three drunk before noon at that awful place. The other two are far more sensible. Tech and Echo I assumed. They're sweet boys."
Aola's smile turned more serious, "And now look at you, one of you has ended up with a baby."
She looked at Omega, and her smile reappeared, "A beautiful little baby, of course."
"We figured it doesn't matter. Tech said genetically she's all our daughter anyway. We don't need to know who her father is. We can all be that for her."
"Well, aren't you a lucky girl?" Aola whispered to Omega, "You'll want for nothing with five fathers."
"Yeah...we're all pretty taken with her," Wrecker smiled, "We made her a crib but she's barely used it. Spends most of her time in our arms."
"That'll only cause you trouble later," Aola laughed, "Best to get her sleeping in her crib now before the screaming starts. You'll thank yourselves in the long run, as wonderful as those cuddles now."
"They're hard to resist," Wrecker leaned to look at Omega, "The number of times Cross has fallen asleep with her on his chest, all cuddled up."
"You've already got them wrapped around your little finger," Aola lightly tickled Omega's cheek, "Smart girl."
A bleeping from the kitchen signalled the pie was ready, and to not disturb Omega, Wrecker got it out and brought it out to them with two plates.
"Now it's a celebratory pie," Aola said to the baby with a smile, "To celebrate you, little one. You deserve all the celebration."
"Want me to take her so you can eat?" Wrecker held out his arms.
"No, no, you need to eat too," Aola said softly, "She can go in her seat, so she can get used to not being in someone's arms all of the time."
The elderly twi'lek kissed Omega's little hand before placing her in her seat, searching for a spare blanket while Wrecker cut two slices of pie. Once Omega was tucked up with blankets, peacefully asleep, Aola fetched from fresh cream for the pie and prepared some hot fruit teas.
"A toast, to bright futures, and little Omega and her five buire," Aola clinked her cup with Wrecker's. She always liked to raise a toast with tea, "When the big excitable clone turned up at my door four years ago to work on my home as his first solo project, never did I think I'd come to see him as one fo my own. I suppose that means, technically, I'm a grandmother again."
"Really?" Wrecker's face lit up.
"Don't be silly, Wrecker. You underesimate just how important you and your visits are to me. I'm an old has-been, who's little family is halfway across the galaxy and rarely have the time to visit. Having you nearby is such a blessing, a joy, and now you – or one of your irresponsible brothers – have given me another gift, a little gift called Omega."
"We'll visit every week, won't we, lil tooka?" Wrecker grinned, reaching to take the baby's hand, "And I'll hend a holo image every day. We've already taken loads."
"I'm sure you have," Aola chuckled, "However often you can visit, I'll be happy to see you both."
