Chapter Thirteen

Echo drummed his fingers against his thigh as he waited for the woman he loved to exit the transport. He hadn't seen Ella for a week now, and so much had happened in that time.

Then there came almost twenty people through the hangar bay doors, mostly his brothers, who were pale and shaken. One or two were being supported as they hobbled to the Corrie barracks.

But there were three among them who stuck out easily. A young togrutan, her arm around the waist of a slightly taller human woman with long brown hair and eyes like melted chocolate. Beside them was a mirallian girl in a dark dress. Echo knew she was the padawan of Master Unduli, Bariss Offee.

When Ella saw him, she smiled and swum her way through the crowd, throwing her arms around him.

"Vheh a'oatr," he murmured against her glossy hair.

She sighed, and he felt the tension in her shoulders drain from her. "Eyayah."

Echo.

She'd learned his name in mando'a for him.

"Ella, how did you find it out?" he breathed.

She smiled up at him, "I asked Scythe. He told me while I was looking after him."

"Did you lose men?" he asked.

She nodded, "A few of the pilots didn't make it."

Echo grimaced. "I'm glad you're safe."

She hummed like a happy little bee. Echo smiled contentedly.

"I have some news," a new voice proclaimed from right behind them.

Ella squeaked in surprise and Echo flinched, tightening his arms around her.

Holy kriffing bantha nerfherder!

Anakin laughed. "We're going to have leave soon. How soon, I'm not sure. But I'm optimistic that it'll be within the month."

Echo regained his composure and nodded, "Thank you, sir."

He nodded and saluted playfully. "I'm going to bring the girls back to the temple. You should enjoy this extremely short rest. We're supposed to ship out again in a week or so."

Echo sighed, "Yes sir. Understood. Have a good break."

Anakin winked, "I will." Then he turned and strutted away.

Ella tugged on Echo's arm and he moved his attention back to her.

"Do you want to see my apartment?" she asked.

He smiled. "I'd be happy to."

•~§~•

Ella didn't let go of his hand as she keyed in the code to her small apartment, and the moment that the lock turned from red to green, she pulled him inside and shut the door behind them.

It was nice to be back here again.

The living room was small. The couch was old and faded but soft blankets and plush pillows covered it like downy clouds. The lights were soft, and gave an enchanting glow upon the dreamy, lavender blue walls. A bookshelf lined one wall, a sliding ladder standing there, ready to lift her into her next great adventure.

Then there was the tiny kitchen with just a fridge, stove, and sink. The little table she'd put together was her only counter space, and there were three cupboards, and two drawers.

There was a single bathroom in the hallway. Her laundry room was a coffin-like closet.

But then there was the bedroom, with the little balcony on it. That was the special part. Just like on the Resolute, fairy lights lined the ceiling.

Ella sighed and dropped her little night bag on the floor, collapsing on the bed. It felt like home.

"You know," she mumbled, "this is the same mattress I had when I was a kid. I didn't want to part with it, since I knew I'd need sound sleep in college and I slept the best on it. So I brought it everywhere."

Echo chuckled, "People think I'm crazy, but my sleeping pod's mattress grew on me too, on Kamino."

Ella patted the bed and Echo took off his armor, then joined her, pulling them into the middle of the plump softness, pillowing her head on his chest.

"Echo?"

"Hmm?"

She turned on her side and looked up into his eyes. He smiled sleepily.

"How long has it been since you were on leave?"

His brow furrowed as he calculated. Then he sighed, "Since we picked you up."

"Hmm."

It had been a long time. About five months. At least she thought so.

"The 501st doesn't often get leave. We and the 212th are some of the strongest battalions the Republic has, and are consequently on the front lines most of the time. With so much riding on us, we aren't given much time off," Echo explained.

Ella nodded.

His fingers messed with the hem of a blanket, twisting it nervously. "Ella… will that bother you?"

"What?"

He shrugged, "Not having down time as often. Will that bother you?"

Ella shook her head, "No. We might have to sacrifice some time now. Maybe a good bit of it. But I think it'll be worth it when the war ends and I can have you all to myself."

Her beloved chuckled. "When the war ends. That seems to be a common phrase these days."

"What do you want to do after? Other than the house with the porch?"

"You mean as a living?" he queried.

She nodded.

Echo shook his head, shrugging again, "I don't know. Being a soldier is… all I've ever known. Anything else is foreign to me. Being married is going to be foreign for a long time," he admitted. "I don't know how I'll get used to it."

Ella nodded. "Well, my parents love each other very much. I've always wanted a marriage like theirs. It isn't perfect. You can't be human and have a perfect marriage. But you can work at it."

He turned onto his side and rested his head in his hand, propped up by his bent elbow. "Tell me about what you've learned. I've barely had the opportunity to see marriages, let alone healthy ones."

Ella smiled and clasped her hand with his free one. "People nowadays are under the impression that you don't have to work at your relationship. That if it's meant to be, you won't fight a lot, that neither person will be tempted and despite everything things will work out on their own. But that's not true." She smiled wistfully, "Marriage is beautiful and wonderful. But it takes work. You have to be willing to forgive and become a better person, and to sacrifice things. Compromise. Always. You don't always agree. It's two different people. You're not just going to agree all the time."

Echo nodded, "I heard someone say once that marriage was like living with your best friend forever. I don't always agree with Fives, but he's more important to me than what we argue about, and even if I can't agree, he's always going to be my friend."

Ella smiled, "It's exactly like that. You fight sometimes. You get angry and say things you regret. But you stay together, or it means nothing to you when you promise for better or for worse. That's something my parents promised each other. No matter how hard it would get, they'd never abandon each other. You have to work at it though. Both people have to, to make that work. Like, if someone is abusing the other person, they obviously have to do something about it."

Echo nodded. "Ella… I don't care what happens. I know it's early, and we're in the 'tooka love' stage. But I don't care. No matter what happens, I'm going to fight. I'm going to make this work, no matter how long it takes, or how much it hurts. I'm never going to abandon you."

Ella pulled him close and kissed him, pouring all the love and peace and joy she felt into it, hoping he could feel it through her.

Echo, you're so good to me.

"I will too, Echo," she whispered. "I will fight for you."

They lay there for hours, holding one another and discussing plans for their future. Then, when dusk fell, they fell asleep in one another's embraces, so tightly knit together that if someone observed, you couldn't tell where one ended and the other ended.

•~§~•

Echo blinked his eyes open as the sun's ambitious fingers petted his face, lapping at his delicate eyelashes.

Morning. Already?

He turned to look at Ella, and saw that she was curled up next to him, her long hair spread across her pillow. He smiled, watching her sleep for a few minutes.

Echo glanced over at the chrono on the bedside table. 7:30.

Carefully, Echo extracted himself from the bed, placing a kiss on Ella's forehead. She hummed, smiling in her sleep and hugging the pillow closer.

She's so adorable!

Echo grabbed a clean pair of undergarments and blacks, and slipped into her bathroom to bathe.

There was a sanisteam and a tub. A real bathtub. He'd never even seen one before.

I wonder what it feels like to have a bath? he pondered, then shook his head. He'd ask her permission first. He'd probably flood the place unless she showed him how to use it.

Echo stepped under the shower's spray, moaning softly at the euphoric feeling of water rushing over his back and shoulders, encapsulating him completely. He allowed himself to bask for just a little longer, then borrowed one of her bars of soap to wash with. It smelled like her - he didn't care if Fives or Hardcase teased him later.

After using up enough water that he felt guilty, he stepped out and dried off, wrapping the towel around his waist before stepping up to the sink to shave. His smile as he finished was giddy and as bright as the lights from hyperspace.

Brushing his teeth, he slipped into the bottoms of his blacks, and decided he'd rather leave the shirt off. Echo headed to the kitchen to make some caf for himself and tea for Ella.

The smell of coffee made his stomach grumble. There must be something to eat around here.

Determined and driven by gnawing hunger, he opened the fridge.

In the door was a tube of something called cinnamon rolls. He pondered a moment, then shrugged.

I like cinnamon. She likes cinnamon. Win win.

He preheated the oven and rummaged about until he located her baking sheets. Then was the matter of figuring out how to open the tube of dough.

He searched the container, then came upon the instructions.

Strike against corner of surface to open.

Huh.

Echo gently tapped the tube against the edge of the countertop.

Nothing happened.

He tried a little harder.

Still nothing, and the white cookie chef guy on the packaging seemed to be mocking him now.

He tore off all the paper, careful to conserve the directions, and tried again, this time not holding back.

Pop!

Well whaddya know?

Sighing in relief that he'd managed this simple task, Echo spread the rolls on the cookie sheet, then placed it in the oven and set the timer. Satisfied with a job well done, he turned and poured himself a mug of coffee.

Ahh… that's the stuff.

The tea water began to whistle and Echo silenced it before it got too loud. He wanted to let Ella sleep in as long as she wished to. He poured her tea, then sat down, waiting for the rolls to finish.

He took another sip of coffee, stretched his arms above his head until his back popped, and sighed, looking out the window at Coruscant. The city sparkled like a jewel in the sun.

Man… this is the life.

•~§~•

Ella smelled something yummy. Something yummy coming closer. She cracked her deep brown eyes, patting at the empty space beside her.

Where's Echo?

Her worries were smothered when the next second he came walking through the door, shirtless, carrying a tray with two steaming mugs and a large platter of cinnamon rolls.

Ella rubbed the sleep from her eyes and sat up eagerly.

Breakfast in bed with Echo? What better way to spend the day?

Echo smirked and carefully took a seat beside her, placing the platter on the flat surface of the bedside table before kissing her deeply. Ella sighed into his mouth. He tasted like coffee and icing.

"Good morning," he breathed, his lips lingering on hers.

"Good morning!" she replied, her voice airy.

"I made you some tea. Three spoons of sugar, some cream. And we can share cinnamon rolls," he said, handing her one of the mugs.

"Wow. A girl could get used to this," she crooned, kissing his cheek before taking a sip of tea. He remembered everything. What did I do to deserve him?

The cinnamon rolls were buttery and melty, a little doughy. She hummed in enjoyment.

"Mmmph… Echo, iss is thuh gurd!" she tried to say around a gooey mouthful.

Echo winked, licking a little icing from his lips and fingers.

"Messy eater," she teased.

He chuckled. "You're cute."

"That's not an insult," she giggled.

"Well yours wasn't really strong."

She conceded, nodding her head as she stuffed her face. He laughed at her overfull cheeks.

After they'd gotten full on cinnamon rolls, the couple sat side by side drinking their tea and coffee.

"If you could be married anywhere, where would it be?" Echo asked.

She sighed. "I honestly don't know. Maybe a garden? I don't know. I don't want a big wedding. Nothing over the top fancy. Just… simple and sweet, and just a hint magical."

He smiled at her answer. "I like the sound of that. What about food?"

She shrugged. "Not sure."

"I haven't tried a lot of stuff, so I'll be no help."

"Hmm. I wonder…"

"Yeah?"

"You said that Anakin was willing to support us, right?"

Echo nodded, "Yes?"

"And he's married to Padme?"

"Where you going with this?"

Ella sighed, "Padme is the queen of fashion. She has excellent taste. And she's great at organizing events too. What if I asked her to help me figure out what to do?"

Echo mulled over her idea, then smiled, "You know, you're so brilliant."

She giggled and snuggled into his side.

Ella was just about to pull him in for the millionth kiss this morning, when his comlink chirped.

Echo sighed and got up, snagging it off his wrist guard which was sitting on the floor. "Echo here."

"Good morning, Echo," Rex's voice drawled. "I'm afraid I have to cut your playtime short. We've got a mission."

Echo sighed and began to gird himself up again. "Can you give me a time to get to the Resolute?"

"ASAP. We're leaving within the hour. Have Ella come with you."

"I'll find her."

Rex blew a raspberry. "Vod, I wasn't vatted yesterday. You're at her place, aren't you?"

Echo sighed, "Yes."

"Yes!"

"Huh?"

Rex cackled, "I betted Fives that you went back to her place and stayed the night. He said you took her to 79's and passed out drunk."

"Ha! That's more his style, I think."

Rex laughed again, "Get back here quick, you hear me?"

"Yes sir."

"See you there, vod."

"Where are we going, Rex?" Echo asked quickly.

Rex paused a moment, then replied, "Saleucami."

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Mando'a Translations

Vod - brother

Eyayah - echo

Vheh A'oatr - earth angel

Bantha - like a cow or buffalo thingy from Tattooine I think? Anyway you don't want to be downwind of it. They aren't pleasant from what I hear.

Nerfherder - It's like an insult or something. Not exactly sure what it means tbh. If you find out, lemme know!

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Hope y'all enjoy this installment! Thanks for all the positive reviews, it really is so encouraging!

Love, Peace, and

LittleBitOfGrace