Chapter Nineteen
Ella held the letter to her chest as she imagined everything out. He'd described the training for her, told about some of the hilarity, and told her his barracks thought he was a sap.
She folded the letter and tucked it into the little slotted box she was making of them. She knew another letter could come in the next day, and giggled happily at the prospect.
Then she opened another drawer and took out her favorite pen and paper, and pulled up her chair.
Dear Echo,
I'm smiling as I write this to you, and sitting at the desk in my room at my own apartment. It's almost dinner time. I'm going to have to order something to eat soon, as my parents and Galene are coming in tonight. I can't believe there's only two weeks until the wedding! It can't couldn't arrive soon enough. I can't wait to be yours and for you to be mine.
I love you. If they think you're a sap, the boys here must think I'm a buffoon or something of that class. It's okay. We can both be saps together and stay stuck like glue forever.
Rex, Jesse, and Hardcase are more than happy to be your groomsmen. Kix doesn't mind in the least. Says he'd be too worried about you collapsing due to shock to relax too much anyway. He did offer to guard the getaway speeder, though.
Rogue is an excellent photographer. He did a shoot for me the other day at the dress fitting. He's incredibly excited about the wedding.
I'm excited to see you. My whole family is excited. Amon talks about you all the time. He's picked up a little mando'a to impress you. He calls me cyar'ika all the time. Everyone thinks it's adorable.
I've implemented the bruise cream, as you suggested. Let me just say that it took some doing but Rex is hooked. He practically turned to putty when Kix finally managed to get some on him. Now I have a sneaking suspicion that he's smuggling tubes of them from the medbay. I'll update you on that later after a thorough investigation.
I miss you. I'm proud of you - so proud. But I can't wait for you to be home with me. It seems like an empty cycle without you.
I'm waiting with a kiss on my lips for you to claim and a hand for you to hold.
I love you, Echo.
Happy New Years!
With all my heart,
Ella.
She sighed and sprayed a little of her apple blossom and honey perfume on the letter, then tucked it away in the envelope.
Grabbing her purse and slipping her feet into shoes, she picked up her comlink and called a restaurant, placing her order before heading downstairs and out to the bus stop.
The trip to Accolades wasn't long, and she got home in time to set the table before the doorbell rang. She quickly hurried to the door and flung it open, leaving only .05 seconds to prepare herself for her squealing friend who launched herself at her and tackled her in a hug.
"ELLA! OH MY GOSH YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED AHHH!!!"
Ella laughed and spun, hugging her back. "I am! Oh, Allee, I've missed you so much! I'm so glad you're here!"
"Like I'd miss my best friend's wedding," she scoffed. "We promised to be each other's maids of honor. A promise like that is life or death, am I right?"
Ella hugged her again and squealed, bouncing exuberantly.
The redhead grabbed her shoulders, keeping from gaining enough momentum to blast into the outer rim.
"Cool your jets, sister! The wedding is on Naboo, not Mandalore!" Galene laughed. "Tell me everything! What does he look like, when will he be here, just tell me all of it!"
Ella sat her down and told her about Echo, parts of his letters to her, and some of the things she hadn't felt safe sending through the mail.
"He calls you earth angel?" Galene inquired.
Ella blushed and nodded. "Yeah he does."
"That's all I'm gonna get? 'Yeah he does' isn't enough of an explanation! Start talking!"
"He heard me singing it one morning," she said.
"And where were you? What were you doing?" she asked, sensing her friend was hiding something.
Ella groaned and buried her face in her hands. "In the shower. In the men's shower."
"WHAT!"
"Shh!" Ella hissed, as if someone was eavesdropping.
"What the heck happened? Did he see you... in your birthday suit?" Galene asked.
Ella shook her head, "No he didn't see me."
"Then what..." her eyes widened. "You saw him!"
Ella covered her face with her hands, cheeks so red they could be stoplights. "Yes!" she squeaked.
Galene giggled, "Come on. It's just us. Tell me what happened, and why you were in there in the first place. You said you had your own shower in your room!"
The damsel groaned and told the story, trying to preserve Echo from too much humiliation.
Galene sighed, holding her sides from her bouts of laughter, "Was he really embarrassed?"
"A bit. I mean... I wouldn't say he was completely cool with it. He's modest," Ella explained.
"Okay. Moving on," Galene said. "What about his kisses. How do you feel when he kisses you?"
Ella sighed, leaning her cheek into her hand. "Like I'm beautiful and special, and worthy of him loving me; of risking it all for me. And also kinda like I'm not just me anymore. But... I don't know. More than what I am on my own. And safe. Like nothing can hurt me so long as he has me."
"This guy sounds amazing. I can't wait to meet him," her friend exclaimed. "He'll be home soon, right?"
"Yes. In a few days."
"I can't wait to meet him. You're probably to Alderaan and back just thinking about seeing him again."
"Oh, I am. It's hard to believe a whole year has passed since I first met him and joined the 501st. It's flown by so quickly!"
Galene was about to comment, when there was a knock on her door. Ella stood and opened it, then smiled at the people waiting.
"Padmé! Ahsoka, Riyo! Hey Anakin! How are you, Obi Wan?"
"Very well, thank you. This must be your friend. Miss Ingrid, isn't it?" the jedi master asked, taking her hand.
Galene nodded, "An honor to meet you, Master Jedi."
"The honor is mine. And any friend of Ella's gets to call me Obi Wan," he said. "And my fellow jedi, and former padawan, Anakin Skywalker."
"A pleasure, my lady," the general said. "Anakin will do, though."
"Or Skyguy," Ahsoka quipped.
"Only if it's Galene to everyone," she said. "You're Ahsoka, right?"
She nodded, "That's me!"
"It's very nice to meet you."
"And you as well."
Introductions were almost over when Rex, and several of the boys arrived. Kix was rolling his eyes at something Hardcase and Jesse were talking about, when he froze in the doorway.
"You okay, Kix?" Ella asked, taking his hand and pulling him further into the room.
He just nodded. "Is that your friend?"
Ella nodded and looked at the girl who'd been like a sister since she was little. She was currently laughing with Ahsoka and Riyo about something. Then she looked back at Kix's face. A smile grew as she recognized that look.
He'd fallen.
Hard.
"Let me introduce you," she said, leading him over and tapping Galene's shoulder. "Allee, this is Kix. A good friend of mine."
Galene's eyes brightened and she swished her copper hair behind her shoulder. "Hi! I'm Galene, Ella's fun side."
Ella snorted and elbowed her.
Kix took her hand and shook it gently, "I'm Kix. I've heard a lot about you."
"Really?"
He nodded, "Yes. I understand that you're the equivalent of what Fives is to Echo to Ella."
She shrugged, blushing, "We've been friends since we were learning how to read and write."
He nodded. "You must have a lot of interesting stories about your friendship."
She smirked, "Oh do I ever." She grabbed his wrist and pulled him to a quieter corner of the room to tell him.
Ella put her hands on her hips and smiled as she watched them talk animatedly, gradually getting closer as the night went on.
"You're a regular matchmaker!" Riyo winked.
Ella shrugged, "I always had a feeling Kix would like her. Galene is a riot and a wonderful person; she cares a lot about her friends and would be there with an arsenal and a shovel and even a map of places to hide bodies if someone ever hurt them."
"She does makeup and interior design, right?" Ahsoka asked.
"Yep!" She smiled at the medic and her oldest friend getting friendly in the corner. "If I'm not wrong, she likes him too. See, she just said something that made him blush. She's blushing too, and looking down a little. She does that when she really likes someone."
Just then, someone jumped at her and wrapped their hands around her waist. She gasped and turned around, catching her littlest brother up in her arms as she did so.
"Ammie!" she squealed, giggling. "Oh, sweetie, I missed you so much!"
"Ellie!" the boy giggled as he was spun around and smothered in kisses. "Guess who I saw?"
"Who?"
"I saw Captain Rex and someone named Hardcase who was balancing four helmets on his head, and another guy called Jesse was standing on his hands!"
Ella rolled her eyes and laughed, "We'd better help Rex corral them before they accidentally break something and trail me like kicked puppies for months apologizing."
They wove their way through the crowd to where he'd seen them last and stopped when they saw their mom chiding the two troublemakers.
"You were standing by a window four stories up, with traffic below, and people don't exactly stop their speeders here when someone is in the road. What if you'd both fallen, hmm?"
"I'm sorry ma'am," Hardcase pleaded.
"So am I." Jesse murmured apologetically.
"Don't give me sorry. Don't do it again. How do you think everyone here would feel if you fell out the window? And Hardcase, what if you broke something?"
They looked very much chagrined.
"Right. Now you two better not try anything like that again, or I swear to the Maker, I will put you in time out."
Their eyes widened.
Rex was biting his lip in desperate efforts not to laugh. He looked at Ella, his eyes begging her to get her mother to sign up for the 501st if only to keep these two in line.
Ella just laughed and shook her head. "Not even here five minutes and already you sniffed out trouble, Mama. What am I ever going to do with you?"
Mama turned and hugged her daughter, "Ellie, I'm so glad to see you! Do these two hoodlums usually act like this?"
Ella just shrugged, "They're not the only ones." She winked at them.
"Hardcase is the one who fused his rear end to the ceiling isn't he?" she guessed.
Said trooper blushed furiously.
"Yes he's the one. But don't berate him. He lost part of his armor and was stuck for a while. He learned his lesson. And he'll be good for the rest of the night, right 'Case?"
He nodded emphatically, "Yes ma'am. I promise."
She nodded and he sighed in relief, saying something about going to find Kix. Ella shook her head and murmured, "Let him be. Trust me. There's food in the kitchen if you want some. Leave enough for everyone else, though."
He nodded and dragged Jesse along to the kitchen.
"Hey Ellie girl," a well-loved voice said before she was wrapped in a bear hug.
"Daddy..." she kissed his cheek.
He smiled. "I can't believe my little girl is going to be married."
She smiled and shifted. "Your little girl can't believe it either, but she had a great example of what to look for."
He smiled and shook his head, "Ellie, if you make me cry before the wedding, I'll tell Echo about the time you—"
She gasped, "No! You won't!"
He smiled and shook his head, "Looks like your brothers are enjoying themselves. Is that Amon talking to Master Kenobi?"
Ella nodded, "You should go talk to him. I have a feeling you'd really get along."
"I will. Thalis found the two rascals and food, so he's happy. Look at Olvet and your captain friend."
"Captain or sir until he says otherwise, but I think he won't mind if you call him Rex afterwards."
"He's like your big brother, isn't he?" Mama asked, smiling.
Ella nodded. "He is. He's like everyone's big brother, really. You'd both like him too."
They nodded and both hugged her, then went off to mingle.
Ella smiled and shook her head as she looked around the room.
Chopper, Rex, Vaughn, and Charge were all in an Uno game with Olvet.
Thalis, Rogue, Jesse, and Hardcase were eating and discussing different weapons.
Wander and Vutyc were making bets in the corner about whether or not Kix would take Galene out in the next week.
The jedi and senators were talking to her parents.
All that was missing was her beloved. Echo's hand should be wrapped around her waist, pulling her into his side so she could rest her head on his shoulder, and he could lean his own head on her hair, whispering sweet nothings.
What was he doing now?
•~§~•
Echo stared out over the surface of Kamino's roiling waters, not seeing the reflections of the stars or anything of the sort.
In just a few minutes, the fireworks he and the rest of the soon-to-be-ARCs had set up earlier would launch, sending a rain of multicolored light out to dance across the waves like glitter and confetti.
"Hey," a hand on his shoulder startled him. "Stang, you're jumpy this evening!" Fives laughed. "Thinking about Ella, aren't you?"
Echo nodded. "I'm just wondering what she's doing. I miss her."
Fives hugged him to his side, "I know, vod. I know. But look on the bright side - we're going home right after graduation in a week. Then... she's all yours."
Echo smiled, "That sounds like a dream."
"Yeah. Hey, you're still having cake at the wedding, right?"
"Yeah. We are. Four tiers. Half of it is vanilla and half of it is strawberry."
"I can't wait to try it. Cake sounds yummy."
"I'm sure it is. And Padmé said she'd get enough ice cream for everyone to have a little. I still can't believe that you're getting married."
Echo smiled, "Neither can I. It seems like a wish that I'm fooling myself into believing. She really loves me. She's really going to be my wife." He shrugged, "I never even dared to hope that I could be a husband to someone before I met her."
Fives shook his head, "Ah, Echo. You're going to be a wonderful husband, and an amazing father one day. I can just see it now. You surrounded with a whole bunch of kids, some of them girls and some of them boys. There's a little girl with your eyes and her hair sitting on your knee, begging her daddy to come walk with her. She's beautiful. You'll have your hands full when she's old enough to get noticed by all the covetous boys."
Echo elbowed him, "Stop. I'm not even married or able to be a father yet, and you're aging me a hundred years. Let me keep some of my youthful looks, at least for the wedding."
Fives laughed, "I was just going to say that Uncle Fives and your little boys are going to protect her and make sure the wrong guy doesn't take her heart."
Echo grinned, "You're the babysitter. If you want to be the favorite uncle, you have to take care of them a lot."
"I'm already a natural."
"Really? Who have you babysat?"
He shrugged, "Well, Hardcase, of course."
Echo laughed, "He is a handful. But if your method of babysitting is cheering them on as they fly by the seat of their blacks, I'm not sure you're the right person for the job."
Fives gasped theatrically, "You wound me, vod! You better know I'd die for your kids. I'll be the most hands on uncle in existence!"
Echo was about to respond, when the whistling of the fireworks taking off interrupted him.
BOOM!
The whole area erupted with cheers and whistles, and cries of, 'It's the New Year!' 'Happy New Year!' 'Vod, it's been a year since I've seen you!' reverberated around the giant facility.
Echo turned to his best friend and hugged him, "This year is going to be amazing."
"Yeah! I mean, how can it get much better than this?"
Someone set a hand on both of their shoulders and they jumped.
Their ori'vod laughed. "You two. If I'd have been able to take a picture of your faces!"
Echo laughed as Fives rolled his eyes. "Happy New Year, Commander."
Blitz nodded, "Happy New Year, Echo. And you too, Fives. Have you heard from Ella?"
Echo shook his head, "It'll probably be a few days 'til I get another letter."
Blitz grinned, "Come with me. I might have something better. But it's confidential, you hear me?"
Echo nodded, following him with Fives at his side. What could the commander be talking about?
Blitz led the two into an isolated room and pressed a button on a big control table.
Echo gasped.
"Hello, darling. Happy New Year," Ella breathed, a bright smile on her face.
She was gorgeous, even through the blue filter of the hologram. Her eyes held deep love for him. There was his home.
Echo's face lit up with joy and he hugged his commander, "Thank you! Thank you so much!"
Blitz laughed, hugging him back. "It's my pleasure, kid. Now don't keep her waiting."
Echo nodded and walked up to the table, looking up into her eyes. "Vheh a'oatr, I've missed you!"
She nodded, "I've missed you! It's not the same without you. Oh! There's someone who wants to say hey!"
There was a pause, then a familiar face leapt into the hologram. "Su'cuy ori'vod!"
Echo waved, warmth lighting up at the boy's enthusiasm and the endearment, and chuckled, "Elek ni olya, vod'ika. Gar cuyir atba'a'yu jate at jorhaa'ir joha!"
Amon beamed, "Vor entye! Ni copaanir at hibirar bid ni liser jorhaa'ir at gar!"
Oh my gosh, this boy is the sweetest ever!
"Ni cuyir miai iupe gar paba! Gar olya narir ori cu'u! Ni liser va parer at ret' ori catnat."
"Catnat? Biasa'iaru catnat?"
He looked over at where Blitz was waiting, and he mouthed back the time.
"Lanurbiryu be ray'ture suly ibic solus."
Amon bounced joyfully and winked, then ran off, waving goodbye behind him.
Ella giggled. "He's been really working hard at learning."
"I can tell. He's doing amazingly well. Your brother is a genius," Echo replied. "And a wonderful kid."
She ducked her head proudly. "He is, isn't he? I'm proud of him. He's proud of you too. He got so excited when you sent him that letter the other day. He literally called me to tell me and he was so happy I could barely understand a word he said!"
Echo smiled and shook his head, "Aw, I'm glad."
"I've really missed you, Echo," she said.
"I've really missed you too."
She sighed. "I hate to, but I have to go."
Echo nodded and sighed, "It's okay. I'll see you in a few days, right?"
She nodded, brightening again. "Yes! And that day couldn't come soon enough."
They paused a moment, just drinking in each other's faces as if they'd forget once the call ended.
Then Ella sighed. "Tell Fives I said hi, and to take care. And tell Commander Blitz I said thank you so much!"
"I will, Ella. You take care," he said. "I love you."
"I love you too, Eyayah. Come back to me soon."
They held each other's gaze for a few more seconds, then Echo hesitantly ended the call and the room faded to darkness again.
He stood there, staring into the emptiness where she once was for what seemed like eternity. Then he gathered himself and turned back to his friends.
"Thank you so much, sir. Really. You don't know how special that was," he said.
Blitz just clapped him on the shoulder and nodded. "I was glad to, Echo. You treat that girl right. You hear? She's one in a trillion."
Echo nodded, "That she is."
•~§~•
"Shouldn't he be here yet?"
"Ella."
"What if something happened?"
"Ella! They're fine!" Galene insisted.
Ella stood up and paced again. It was torture, just sitting here in the uncomfortable chairs watching the sun set over the airfield. Echo was supposed to be here by now!
The sun was setting. The stars were revealing themselves. And Echo wasn't here.
Just then, she heard her name called behind her and turned.
There was her beloved, walking towards her with Fives, Rex, and Cody, his bag slung over his shoulder and an adoring smile on his face.
Ella immediately took off running, and Echo did the same, dropping the bag at his feet. His brothers laughed in amusement but they didn't care.
Then their bodies collided, so hard it almost hurt, and he swung her up in the air and into his arms, kissing her like she was air and he was suffocating.
Home.
She was home again.
"I'm here," he whispered.
You're home.
She didn't realize that she was crying until he wiped away her tears, kissing her eyelids and begging her not to cry, that he wasn't going to leave her and was right here.
"I saved all your letters," he said. "They're all in my bag, tucked away safe and sound. And I have everything you gave me too! The journal and the writing supplies, and your perfume, and the tune pod. And our picture. And... oh, Ella, I've missed you! I've missed you so much!"
With this said, he scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the chairs, murmuring sweet nothings every step of the way.
"I love you. I'm here. I'm not leaving you, I promise. I've got you. I've got you now."
She sighed and held onto his neck, breathing in his scent. Oh, she'd missed his smell. His smell of wind and water and honey. He was home. He was here and safe, and she wouldn't ever let him go.
"Oh, Echo..." she breathed. "I love you. I love you so much."
Then she kissed him, desperate and hopeful, longing to keep him there and safe forever.
And he kissed her back, not caring about his brothers watching or Ella's friends standing nearby. She was in his arms and he was with her.
What else mattered?
:
:
:
:
:
Mando'a Translations
Vod - brother
Ori'vod - big brother
Vod'ika - little brother
Stang - dang
Eyayah - Echo
Vheh A'oatr - Earth Angel
Su'cuy - hello, or literally 'so you're still alive.'
Elek ni olya - yes I am
Gar cuyir atba'a'yu jate at jorhaa'ir joha - You're getting good at speaking the language.
Vor entye - thank you
Ni copaanir at hibirar bid ni liser jorhaa'ir at gar - I wanted to learn so I could talk to you.
Ni cuyir miai iupe gar paba! - I'm so glad you have!
Gar olya narir ori cu'u! - you're doing very well!
Ni liser va parer at ret' ori catnat - I cant wait to see you very soon.
Catnat? Biasa'iaru catnat? - soon? How soon?
Lanurbiryu be ray'ture suly ibic solus - the beginning of the week after this one.
:
:
:
Whew! That was a lot of mando'a this time. I hope this is good! Who's excited for Echolla's wedding? (Lol I think ship names are fun sometimes ;p)
This is like the most I've ever written in this amount of time. I have got to say that most of it is because I am blessed with such AMAZING encouragers! Way to go you living beams of sunshine! You totally rock, and just know you make this world a brighter place just by being you!
I can't even I'm so excited!
Love, Peace, and
LittleBitOfGrace
:
:
