Chapter Forty-Five
Echo sighed, setting down the newly-cleaned rifle, picking up a grimy gun belt. It had been weeks of trying, weeks of hoping and praying.
Still nothing.
He was starting to wonder if the problem didn't lie with Ella's ability to conceive.
"Why can't we just… have another?" he asked aloud. "Huh?" This time he looked up briefly. "She's right. If we somehow made a healthy baby in one day when she'd been protected against that every time before, then why not now?"
He didn't expect any audible answer, but huffed in frustration anyway when he didn't receive one.
"Please," he breathed, setting down the now clean belt. "This means so much to her. I hate seeing her so upset and loathsome of herself. I just want her to be really happy!"
He sighed, leaning against the sink to study his reflection, and ran a hand through his hair. The locks were thick now, covering the nodes in an ebony mantle. His skin had regained its original tan, and he was just a little thinner than he had been the day he left for the Citadel.
As for musculature… there was nothing lacking. Ella had said so herself just yesterday, a twinkle in her eye and a certain tilt to her alluring smile. A second later she'd kissed him and it had all kinda escalated from there.
Echo stepped back and let out another heavy breath, glancing around and cataloging his gear. It was all there, all clean and polished. The dark metal of his guns fairly gleamed with a dim luster from his careful attention. He had plenty of ammo. His holo device was charging.
It wouldn't do for her to call me and think I was gone because it was low on energy.
Nodding to himself in satisfaction, he turned and headed back to his bedroom.
Ella was sprawled on her belly, knees bent with her feet kicking the air lazily, a book in her hands. Her smile was animated, eyes roving over the page eagerly as she read. Suddenly she gasped, eyes going wide, and she shook her head.
"No! No, stop! WHY!" she wailed. "Oh, please, Gilbert get better! She needs you!"
Echo chuckled, almost laughing harder as she whipped her head in his direction, cheeks flushing hot pink as she realized she'd been caught.
"What tragical romance is taking place now, Angel?" he asked, sitting on the bed next to her and cupping her face with his hand.
She looked at him through joyous but abashed eyes, and sighed melancholically, "Oh, I can't say. You haven't even read the first book. You need to build on each so it's more meaningful."
"Read to me then!" he proposed, imitating her sprawled position, kicking his feet in the air childishly and propping his head in his hands.
"Really?" she giggled excitedly. "I thought you were prepping for the mission!"
He shook his head, "I finished an hour ago. Already checked with Hunter. He told me to be with you as soon as I finished getting ready."
She nodded, "Alright then. Get comfy and I'll dig up the book."
"Yay!" Echo cheered, bouncing giddily on the springy mattress until he tucked himself under the covers.
Ella shook her head and wrinkled her nose at his juvenile behavior, then skipped over to her bookshelf. "Did I tell you I had the strangest most informative call with Ahsoka today?"
"No!" he exclaimed in surprise. "You didn't! How is our littl'un?"
She smirked at the nickname. "She has been on enormous adventures in the last few months. Was held on Oba Diah when two friends of hers made a stupid deal to bring spice to drug kings for money. She blames the older sister mostly, but understands the predicament."
"Oba Diah?" That was no good name to ever mention.
"I know!" she exclaimed. "She crossed paths with Bo Katan on their return. She needed help freeing Mandalore from Maul and the Death Watch, so they're trying to find a way to contact Anakin and the 501st."
Echo nodded. "Well… that's interesting."
"Indeed."
"I'm sure that they'll enjoy seeing her again when she gets through."
"My thoughts exactly."
He hesitated. Then, "How often do you talk?"
"Oh, I don't know. Once a week or so. Sometimes we can't but we always leave either an audio message or visual recording."
"Do I…?"
She huffed irritatedly. "Darling, I love you, but I will tie you down and tickle you until you pee if you keep blaming yourself for any perceived trouble I may seem to have."
He gulped. He knew she'd do it too. Ella might be sweetness incarnate, but she definitely received spice as well, and her spunk was quick and honestly rather terrifying. Memories of Bane's shocked face sprung into his mind and he shuddered. No sirree. He would do everything possible to remain on his wife's good side. Tickles were the stuff of nightmares.
Ella smiled and let out a little cry of jubilation as she held the sought-after book aloft. She spun around and dove for the bed, giggling in her bubbly way as she buried herself beneath the blankets, scootching into her husband's side.
"Here. Anne of Green Gables," she murmured rapturously. "It's been a favorite of mine since I was little."
"I can't wait to find out why," Echo replied, voice equally low and excited.
She smiled and opened to the first page.
"Chapter One. Mrs. Rachel Lynde is Surprised.
Mrs. Rachel Lynde lived just where the Avonlea main road dipped down into a little hollow, fringed with alders and ladies' eardrops and traversed by a brook that had its source away back in the woods of the old Cuthbert place; it was reputed to be an intricate, headlong brook in its earlier course through those woods, with dark secrets of pool and cascade; but by the time it reached Lynde's Hollow it was a quiet, well-conducted little stream, for not even a brook could run past Mrs. Rachel Lynde's door without due re- gard for decency and decorum; it probably was conscious that Mrs. Rachel was sitting at her window, keeping a sharp eye on everything that passed, from brooks and children up, and that if she noticed anything odd or out of place she would never rest until she had ferreted out the whys and wherefores thereof.
There are plenty of people in Avonlea and out of it, who can attend closely to their neighbor's business by dint of ne- glecting their own; but Mrs. Rachel Lynde was one of those capable creatures who can manage their own concerns and those of other folks into the bargain. She was a notable housewife; her work was always done and well done; she 'ran' the Sewing Circle, helped run the Sunday-school, and was the strongest prop of the Church Aid Society and Foreign Missions Auxiliary. Yet with all this Mrs. Rachel found abundant time to sit for hours at her kitchen window, knitting 'cotton warp' quilts—she had knitted sixteen of them, as Avonlea housekeepers were wont to tell in awed voices—and keeping a sharp eye on the main road that crossed the hollow and wound up the steep red hill beyond. Since Avonlea occupied a little triangular peninsula jutting out into the Gulf of St. Lawrence with water on two sides of it, anybody who went out of it or into it had to pass over that hill road and so run the unseen gauntlet of Mrs. Rachel's all-seeing eye."
Echo found himself quite riveted by this story, realizing that some characters were very alike people he knew.
Anne reminded him of Anne in so many ways with her imaginative lens of the world, making the best of everything with a little adventure and romance mixed into the muddle, always seeming to wind up in scrapes.
Diana - astonishingly - struck him as Rex's soul twin. Always loyal, kind-hearted and fun-loving, and a responsible 'bosom friend.'
Matthew was much like Obi-Wan, to some degree. He saw the best in someone, and went the extra mile to make them happy and keep them safe.
Marilla was rather like the other side of Obi-Wan. Or maybe that was Cody? He wasn't sure. Strict and to the point, but always striving to do good.
Rachel Lynde. The one who had wisdom, was way outspoken, and often gabbed about everyone and everything and knew all the latest gossip. She was the old bunch. Fives, Hardcase, Jesse, and Kix to a degree.
Then there was Gilbert. The boy who so cruelly picked on Anne's scarlet braids. But he also seemed to have a kind heart. He thought the boy was rather similar to Fives. However, when he said this to Ella, she shook her head and said to wait until he'd read further before deciding, as he was a pivotal character.
"Who does he remind you of, angel?"
Her eyes twinkled with a marvelous and withheld secret, and she smiled knowingly, "Oh, I'll tell you soon. I promise. I can't now or you won't like it very much. Gilbert is a deep character that you have to get to know as the story delves. If I were to tell you now, I'd spoil things."
Echo sighed and relented, musing that this had to do with him if she was so reluctant to tell. Perhaps he was a little conceited, but it made a little sense. What didn't, however, was why he reminded her of a boy who pulled girl's hair and pestered them to death, and was severely hated by such a lovely character as Anne Shirley.
"Want to read more?" she asked.
He shook his head, "No offense, but I want to have your full attention for as long as I can have it now."
She sighed, smiling as she dog-eared the book and put it on her bedside table. Her smile turned bittersweet as she remembered why this was such an occasion of savoring one another's presences. Not that it had to be one to do so, for they loved to be together. But this was a 'last' night. A darkness that stretched into a parting with the dawn.
Both knew how important it was to cherish every single moment, and how easily they could lose one another.
"I'll come back to you," he swore earnestly. "I swear it on everything that's most important to me, I will not disappear again, and I will come back, alive and well, at the close of this mission."
She nodded, eyes melty with liquidating stars. "I'm just scared."
He nodded, "I understand."
"Please be careful," she pleaded. "I need you so much. I can't… I can't go through it a second time. I won't make it."
"I promise. I am coming back, and it will not be after another assumed death. I am not leaving you again."
She bit her lip and buried her face in his shoulder, inhaling deeply. A moment of panic ran through him as he hoped he didn't smell too terribly. He had been about to get a shower when he came in, but the sight of his gorgeous and frankly adorable wife had made him forget his original plans.
I sure hope that deodorant is strong enough. Gosh, I probably reek. I've been sitting with her for ages while she read. Was she smelling something horrible? When I smell, why can't I ever tell? Oh, dear.
She giggled, "What on earth are you freezing up about?"
He just blushed, "Uh, erhm… I mean, I was gonna get a shower because I worked out and stuff, but you were really distractingly cute so I forgot, and then we read—"
A light brook of laughter coursed from her mouth, and she kissed him soundly, pulling away to gaze into what were likely dazed eyes.
Gosh, her kisses are addictive. More. Come on. Just a little more, please?
She shook her head, nuzzling her nose to his. "You don't smell. I hope you'd know I'd tell you if you did."
"No you wouldn't," he rebutted gently.
"Why not?" she asked, surprised.
He kissed the brink of her nose, smiling as it wrinkled beneath his lips. The corners of her eyes crinkled in funny enjoyment. "Not because you aren't honest, but because I know you wouldn't want to stop cuddling, regardless of smell."
She rolled her eyes, "Why are you so intuitive?"
"Because I love my wife, and I must be able to read her mind and know her every thought to stay one step ahead of her," he half-joked.
"That's honestly the most disturbingly romantic thing ever," she laughed.
"Hmm, I love you," he crooned, kissing the perimeter of her cotton candy mouth.
"Hmm...I love you too," she breathed back. "Please just kiss me!"
Echo chuckled at her eagerness and happily obliged. He honestly didn't think he could help it. Kissing her was second nature, and it seemed they were just bound to kiss at least once every five minutes. They were like two magnets, pulled together by some inexplicable but completely real force that neither wished to fight.
Little by little their kisses deepened, their hands ridding the hampering fabric between them to allow the delectable meeting of their skin.
She was magical. Ethereal. Something too heavenly to fully capture in a coherent thought or word. She was the rising dawn that danced golden upon rippling water, fluid and silky, soft and powerful. Her skin wasn't porcelain. It was too tanned to be so fair. It was almost like caramel or a creamed coffee, rich and sweet and awakening to an unknown reality that begged to be explored deeper. Every shuddering breath held words she could never form into understandable phrases, but spoke to his heart all the same.
Echo revelled in her as if he would never see her again, knowing full well that, despite all his heartfelt vows, his life was not his own to command, and his ability to follow through with his promises could be ripped away in an instant. Every dip and rise of her chest against his as she gasped for air. Every clench of her hands upon his shoulder blades as they grappled for purchase. Every unfathomable sensation of being so connected to her, as if they were no longer apart but inseparable, even in flesh.
Trembling took over him as he entered into a place of such ecstasy that it was unbearable. It was too raw. Too beautiful. Like magnum opus - a work of art so perfect and special it confounded the beholders with its profoundness and grandeur. Every seam of his being pulled and tugged to free his soul into hers and allow them to tangle as hopelessly as the lovers they occupied, trading pieces of each other before retreating again.
Ella pressed shaky fragments of kisses along the line of his shoulders, pulling him fast to her when he attempted to pull away. Her hand rose, quivering like the wings of a thoroughly exhausted butterfly as it rested on the nape of his neck, fingers stroking his hair as she pulled his head down to be pillowed next to hers. Her hot, disjointed breaths fanned across his lips, catching tiny wisps of her mussed hair and lifting it to float back down and frame her face. Unconsciously, he reached out and brushed it away, replacing it with his hand.
Ella smiled and turned her face just slightly as to kiss his thumb where it joined his palm.
"You alright?" he gasped out.
She nodded. "Just… don't go yet. Just stay."
He nodded and kissed her swollen lips tenderly, hoping to soothe the frayed edges left in the wake of passion. She melted against him, one of her heels pressing gently but desperately into the small of his back to keep him anchored to her.
"I love you, my angel," he whispered, eyes heavy with fatigue.
Her lips turned up in a tiny, already-dreaming smile, and she leant her forehead against his. "I love you, my darling."
•~§~•
The bed was cold and empty on Echo's side when she awakened. Ella frowned, wishing that her husband might've been there, resting away his weariness from the mission. It had been almost three weeks since he'd left with Hunter and Wrecker, and the seconds trickled by with unusual tardiness.
I just wish he'd come home soon!
Ella sighed, sitting up and groaning tiredly. It seemed that getting a full night of rest was impossible without having him there. Every night she struggled just to get tired enough to sleep and would often jolt awake for no apparent reason every other hour.
She rubbed her eyes and smacked her lips, then glanced over at the chrono.
6:30.
Sighing and wrapping her arms around herself, she stood. It was no use to try sleeping anymore. The boys were usually up by this time anyway, and usually were famished.
Slipping on a pink, long knit cardigan, a comfy white tee and some black leggings, she padded out to the kitchen, twisting her hair up into a clumsy bun as she passed through the door.
Tech looked up from his data pad, eyes widened in shock. "Ella? You're awake?"
She moaned, "Ugh, don't remind me."
He shrugged, "Sorry, I'm just… you aren't usually in here at this time."
"I know. Sleep is wonderful, isn't it?" she croaked. "I'm gonna make myself some tea. Want something?"
"Good morning, Tech. Mornin' Ella… Ella?" Crosshair sounded flabbergasted, and spun on his heel, staring at her as though she were some alien species.
She sighed, "I know. It's weird. I'm awake. I'm grumpy and I wish I could be asleep right now but I just can't. I'm not used to sleeping without him."
"Well, Hunter updated me," Tech informed. "Your husband is just fine. No severe injuries. Minor cuts and bruises only. Hunter told me to tell you that Echo says he misses you."
She smiled brightly at this, hugging herself and spinning around giddily. "Hmm, I love that man so much!"
"We know," Crosshair said in his whispery way. "Is that coffee done, Tech?"
"Yeah. Fresh pot." He held up his own steaming mug.
"I'll get it for you, Crosshair. Two spoons of sugar and the hazelnut creamer, right?" Ella offered.
The sniper smiled appreciatively. "Yes! Thank you."
Ella beamed sunnily, grabbing a mug from the cabinet before setting it before the coffee machine. She had just poured the cup, and was reaching up to grab the brown sugar, when an intense wave of nausea caused her to gag.
Slamming her hand over her mouth, she raced to the trash can, losing last night's dinner almost as soon as she could get her head over the edge of the bin.
"Ella!" Both men cried in alarm, standing and hurrying over to her.
"Are you okay?" Tech asked concernedly.
She retched a bit more, then shook her head, "I'm fine, I… I don't know what happened! I just got all queasy all of a sudden."
Crosshair sighed, "You alright now?"
She nodded slowly, "I think so. It just came out of nowhere."
"Did something happen before you felt sick that could've triggered it?" the technician dug.
She shrugged, gratefully taking the water and paper towel that the sniper offered her, swishing out her mouth before she dared even take a tentative sip. "I don't know. I didn't feel sick until I went to pour the coffee, and that hasn't ever made me feel sick before—"
She stopped mid sentence with a sharp intake of breath. There had been only one other instance in her life that the smell of coffee had brought on a nauseating response. Tears filled her eyes and she covered her mouth with her hand, barely hoping but wanting the possibility to be true more than anything.
"Ella?" Tech ventured cautiously, guiding her to the booth. "Sit down. You look like you just got hit by a bus."
She slowly sank into the seat then sprang up immediately, grasping his shoulder, "Tech, Crosshair… I… do either of you know where Echo hid my tests? I… I need them. For real, I think."
Both men's eyes widened to the enormity of saucers, but Tech composed himself quickly and headed to the bathroom. He returned a minute later with the box in hand.
"Here. Hunter told me where it was just in case you needed to know. Are you sure?" he queried gently, eyes alight with pending excitement.
She nodded, "I think so. I just… I need to know."
He smiled, "Go on then. We'll wait out here."
She took the box and walked back to her room to take the test.
Soon after, three sticks sat on the sink top, little bars rising and falling as it processed the information. Ella wrung her shaking hands, fearing the hope that was rising. It felt like a dream; a dream so good that it must not be real. Terror filled her at the thought that this could be all a sleeping vision that mocked her and she'd wake to find it untrue.
Beep! all three tests cried, just a few seconds apart.
Quaking, she walked over to them and bared herself for an ugly truth.
She gasped, tears slipping down her cheeks at the sight of the first result.
Pregnant.
Unable to believe it, she snatched up all three, only to find all the results echoed the first.
Pregnant. Pregnant. Pregnant.
I'm… I'm going to have a baby.
Through sobs, she whispered, "I can't believe it! Oh, Maker thank you! Thank you so much, oh thank you!"
Her hands rested reverently on her womb, no longer empty and lifeless.
Her heart beat for two now.
A knock came at the door and she gathered herself enough to stumble to it on shaky legs, flinging it open to see the patient and anticipative faces of Tech and Crosshair.
Upon seeing her tear stained face, their countenances fell. But her watery smile broke through and she brandished the three tests for them to see.
"Ella?" Tech asked softly. "Are you…?"
She nodded, choking on another sob, "I'm gonna have a baby!"
Tech immediately hugged her, carefully though, as if he were afraid of harming the little life growing within her. "Oh, Ella, congratulations! Oh, won't Echo be pleased!" Then he turned to Crosshair and exclaimed, "We're going to be uncles!"
The sniper gasped, opened his mouth, then…
Clunk!
"Crosshair? Are you…?"
"Good Lord! The old poke's fainted!" Tech cawed, half laughingly and half concerned.
•~§~•
Every bone in his body ached for the warm embrace of his wife as he trudged towards the Havoc Marauder, the armor that always seemed as a second skin now weighing down heavily.
Echo but back a groan as Hunter clapped his back affectionately. He was exhausted, bruised, and battered, and all he wanted was to fall asleep holding his wife.
But that wasn't to be. Not for long anyway. An old friend or two needed them desperately, for a dark hour had descended, rattling like a death note in the core of the Republic.
Tech was beaming when he lowered the on-ramp for them, something deep and intricate bringing the joy to his face. "Come on and get rested. We have a chicken pot pie coming out of the oven now, and Ella had a pumpkin pie for dessert."
"What are you up to that's got you so giddy, Tech?" Hunter inquired knowingly.
He shook his head, "Ah ah ahh! Not before Christmas. We've just been doing some gift wrapping."
Ella was just taking out the delectable dish when he stepped through the kitchen doorway. Her face was flushed pink from the heat and her eyes were luminescent. Somehow she seemed to be glowing, even more happy than he could remember. At least since he'd come back, but it was a different kind of happiness. A matronly mantle had settled about her in the most delicious and enticing way.
Echo rounded the countertop and wrapped his arms around her slim waist, pulling her tight against him and discarding her potholders as her hands gripped his shoulder bells. He brought his face down to hers, nuzzling her nose with his own.
"Promise kept, my angel," he whispered before succumbing to her irresistible draw and settling his lips upon hers, chastely enough for the younger members of the room (namely Tech) but sweet and hot enough to convey all that he had felt in their absence from each other. Every moment, every step he was away from her, he longed to turn and run back into her arms.
She sighed as they pulled away, leani no her head against his. "Oh, I'm so glad you're back."
Echo started to smile, then frowned sadly. "I am too, Ella. But…"
She froze. "But what, darling?"
He sighed. "Ella… something terrible has happened."
She bit her lip, waiting anxiously.
"Rex. Ahsoka. They… there was an order that went out yesterday night. Order 66. Do you remember how Fives looked into something that no one believed was true about a conspiracy against the jedi? A chip that was implanted in our brains before we were born that took our actions and choices out of our hands?"
Her eyes were moistening now, and she nodded with bated breath.
"The Chancellor was a traitor, Ella. Everything that my vod discovered was true."
"Ahsoka..?" she asked fearfully.
He shook his head. "They're alive. Rex and Ahsoka and a few men. But Maul got loose and caused major damage to the ship, and they crashed on some moon. They sent us the coordinates, and we need to go help them."
"Who made it, Echo?" she asked.
"For the moment, Jesse, Rogue, and Winter are all in the balance. Jesse is the worst off. I… they don't think he will make it," he said evenly to keep his voice from shaking.
She nodded, pain in her eyes.
"Vutyc, Wander, Charge, and Chopper are intermediately injured. Mostly internal damage like Cody had. Chopper broke his arm, and Vutyc's shoulder is badly dislocated. Emery, Vaughn, and Sterling are in stasis pods, injured from the mission on Mandalore. I don't know the extent of their injuries," he finished. "I'm sure Rex and Ahsoka are injured as well, but they left that out, of course."
She seemed to be processing this information, then asked, "How did Rex tell us this?"
"Ahsoka got his chip out," he explained. "They all tried to kill her."
Ella shook her head. "I cannot imagine how devastating that was."
"I know."
She hesitated, as if wanting to tell him something, then decided against it, turning instead to address Tech. "Can you put us on autopilot to the coordinates?"
He nodded and hurried off to set their course.
"Crosshair," she requested, nurse-mode activated. "I need to know if we have enough medical supplies. We're certain to need as much as we can get."
He leapt into action immediately.
"Boys," she turned to the rest of them, "I want you to eat up, shower, and rest. We're going to need all the energy we've got when we arrive."
Tech returned with the news that they were on course and would arrive within five hours. He then helped Ella and Crosshair to count medical supplies and clear space for the injured.
"It's likely we'll be doing brain surgeries," Ella said. "Must we do it manually or can we use a droid or machine?"
Tech's eyes widened and he sprung up. "I'll have a Mach e ready by the time we get there, or at least not long after."
"Eat first," she insisted.
Echo grasped her tense shoulders and pulled her into him, "Breathe."
She took a breath and sighed, relaxing into him. "This is insane. I might have to do this alone, Echo. I don't know how… I'm not a brain surgeon! I barely did anything that had to do with the head in medical school or in the field!"
"It's gonna be okay," he comforted. "Come and sit. Eat. You'll need your strength too, and I'll help you with whatever I can."
"I want you to rest."
"And we will. Once we clear off some storage shelves and make them into cots. It's a good thing we have the boiler room pretty empty. We can put cots in there," he strategized. "We can't all fit on here for long, though. If it's cramped with only six of us, it'll be smothering with… what, eighteen?"
She shook her head. "We'll do what we can, but I agree. We need a place to go. Someplace no one will think to look." Suddenly her eyes widened. "I know just the place!"
Walked quickly to the cockpit, she turned on the holographic device and punched in a signal.
After a few minutes of waiting, a familiar face popped up.
Echo gasped. "Tup? You… you're alive?"
The other man looked equally surprised. "Echo? You… I can't believe it! I never hear anything out here!" Then he noted Ella and shook his head. "What's the problem? You look devastated!"
She sighed, "Long story. You know that chip that was in your head? Well Fives was right. Right about everything. The Chancellor is the Sith Lord behind all of it. He orchestrated everything."
Tup gasped. "Then… Rex. The boys! Are they okay?"
"We're going to help the survivors now," Echo explained.
"This little ship is already crowded with the small crew of six. Eighteen will make it suffocating," Ella continued.
Tup nodded. "I'll tell Cut we have company coming."
"Thank you, Tup!" she whispered. "Oh, and I don't know if his chip is still intact. In light of everything, don't mention anything about any order to him. It could set him off and we don't want that."
"We have to get it out," he implored.
"We will. We have a friend working on a machine now since none of us are neurosurgeons," Echo replied. "We'll head your way within the next day or so."
"Right. And Echo, as bad as this situation is, I'm happy I'll see you again," their brother said seriously, though he smiled sweetly.
Echo grinned back. "Same here. Well, I have to go eat. I just got back from a mission and I'm famished. I'll see you shortly, vod."
"Vode darasuum, brother."
Echo smiled bittersweetly at the familiar phrase, and wondered if Fives had passed it along. "Vode darasuum, Tup."
The blue light faded and he turned, embracing his wife. "I could use a nap, angel."
"Hmm, that sounds good. Let's go eat first," she murmured.
"Alright," he relented, praying as he followed her that somehow this would turn out alright as well.
Mando'a Translations
Vod - brother
Vode darasuum - brothers forever.
I hope y'all enjoyed this!
Have a blessed Thanksgiving and an even better weekend.
Love, Peace, and
LittleBitOfGrace
