Chapter Forty-Seven
"Jek! Stop eating all the dough!" Suu berated for the umpteenth time. "We're supposed to be making cookies! Not upset stomachs and sticky fingers!"
Ella giggled, swatting at her husband who was bashfully trying to hide his own dough-stuffed mouth behind his floury hand. "It's okay, Suu. If he wants to eat all his cookies now, I guess it means more for the rest of us later when they're done."
The other mother smiled at her deviousness and brightened when her son immediately put down the rest of his allotted dough and began rolling it out dutifully.
"Do mine look okay, Aunt Ella?" Shaeeah asked, holding out her little sheet pan.
Ella nodded, "They look perfect, Shaeeah. I love the nunas and stars!"
The girl blushed rosily and skipped off to slide her cookies into the oven.
"Echo!" Ella hissed into his ear as she returned her attention to her husband. "You're setting a bad example for Jek and the shinies!"
He shrugged, "I've already finished my cookies. This is just the leftover dough."
"Oh?" she whispered, then looked at his own little pan. It was covered in angels and here and there a heart or a star. Blushing, she stood up on tiptoes to kiss him. "You're so sweet."
"No more than you," he whispered, and pecked her back, nose crinkling adorably.
Ella smiled and cut out a onesie cookie, setting it amongst the hearts and snowflakes. "I think I should make at least one more heart, don't you think, Echo?" she asked, a fluttery feeling in her stomach. Hopefully, he'd understand her message.
He looked at her pan, scrutinized, then shrugged, "I mean, do you have enough dough left? If you do, it wouldn't hurt. But I think they look good either way." Then he took their pans and took them to the oven. "Your cookies are done Shaeeah!"
The girl squeaked and clapped her hands, coming over to survey her freshly baked sweets.
Ella sighed. He hadn't gotten it. She loved the man dearly, but sometimes Echo could be so dense she wanted to just shake him until he rattled.
"Don't worry, Ella," Ahsoka's voice rang through her mind. She looked up to see her friend smearing white icing on her snowman cookie. "You still have time. We have more plans in store."
"Yes, but will he understand any of them if he didn't get this one? I mean, it was a onesie. Not really even a Christmas related thing unless Baby Jesus wore onesies!"
Ahsoka snorted aloud, stopping her giggles behind her hand. Rogue and Charge glanced at each other in confusion, then went back to applying way too many sprinkles to their over-frosted cookies.
"Don't worry. Maybe just enjoy your first Christmas together, and when the time is right just have the backup announcement ready."
Ella sighed again and stuffed the excess dough into her mouth. Okay. I guess cookie dough can fix everything. At least temporarily.
The timer beeped and her husband took their cookies out and carefully transitioned them onto the cooling racks. He smiled and deposited their pans in a pile before returning and kissing his wife affectionately.
"Did I tell you how beautiful you look in that outfit?" he whispered huskily.
She smiled and leant her head on his shoulder. She'd picked this outfit specifically because she thought he'd like it. Her red, brown, green, and white leggings with Christmas trees and snowflakes, the white fleece pullover sweater with a black and red flannel fabric across her chest and shoulders, and her snowflake necklace and earrings. Echo had privately commented that he loved when she wore flannels. There was something about them that he was drawn to, and he loved how the leggings would outline her curves.
Good, because when I get bigger I'm likely to be wearing them quite a lot, she thought to herself.
"I'm so glad you like it," she murmured, unable to really be upset anymore.
"I love it," he whispered, then held his hand out to her as the jazzy Christmas music began a new song; Linus and Lucy. "Come dance with me?"
She smiled and accepted, moving to a more open space.
They didn't hold back any fancy moves, and didn't care that they were showing off. It was much too fun to just stick with basic steps. Their feet moved faster, faster, blurs as they crossed and clacked. He spun her and dipped her, let her go out and reeled her back in.
Gradually, their friends began to notice and watched them go, whooping and whistling, clapping to the rhythm.
"Way to go!"
"I can't even see their feet!"
"You think they can teach me how to do that, Daddy?" Shaeeah asked.
"Maybe," he replied, half-attentively. "Don't they dance fine though?"
"They've always danced together," Ahsoka informed. "Before they were together even. She taught him one day and they just got better and better ever since."
"Really?" Suu asked, intrigued.
"Yep!" Rex added. "And I'm sure they'd be thrilled to teach you, Shaeeah. Just be prepared to start with the basics. Ella has danced since she was Jek's age, and Echo spent pretty much every spare minute with her learning."
The girl nodded and joined the gathered audience in applauding the bowing couple.
Ella smiled and nudged her husband, kissing him when he looked at her. Echo blushed and squeezed her tightly.
"I can't believe tomorrow is Life Day!" Jek exclaimed. "Oh, or Christmas, like Ella calls it."
"I like both," Shaeeah spoke up. "I think Life Day sounds peppy, and Christmas is cozy, warm. Like home."
Ella nodded, "I think they both have their charm."
"Not anywhere so charming as you," Echo's voice whispered in her ear.
"Aren't you sweet," she hummed, and leant on his shoulder.
"Come on. Let's go frost our cookies," he said, pulling her to the counter and handing her one plate and grabbing his own.
Ella sighed and followed him, grabbing a white base for her onesie cookie's frosting. Ahsoka shrugged across the table from her and Suu rolled her eyes. Ahsoka laughed and projected her thoughts through the force.
"Suu says if your husband was any more oblivious, she'd think he had hit his head on something, and she thinks he'd need bright neon signs."
Ella giggled herself and shrugged. "Well, you might be right, but I love hopeless cases, so we'll wait a while on the neons."
"I love you, angel," her husband murmured, sprinkling edible iridescent glitter across his angel cookie's white garments.
She sighed, shelving her frustration as she combined pink and blue sprinkles on the onesie. "I love you too, darling."
Ahsoka was barely breathing past her desperately restrained laughter, and Suu smacked her forehead with her hand, shaking her head.
Yes, Ella knew the hilarity of their situation. If she really wanted him to just have the information, she'd say so right out.
But she wanted it to be special. Not just her saying, 'hey guess what? It worked!'
Maybe that was silly of her, and she wondered if she had been able to surprise him with Ayah's pregnancy, would she not be so concerned about the way the announcement was delivered.
But she hadn't had that opportunity then, and it didn't seem right to waste it now.
Maybe just wait a while then, she thought. Maybe it'll all fall into place.
•~§~•
Echo woke the following morning to silence. Sweet, blissful silence. A warm, lithe body was tucked close to his, one of his arms tightening over her waist.
Ella looked so peaceful as she slept, face serene and almost dewy in the dim early-morning light. She was curled on her side, arms folded together near her head, her dark curls cascading around her, glowing lustrously rich, as they haloed her.
Unable to resist the temptation, Echo leaned over and kissed her, smiling as her eyes fluttered and squinted open, then her lips creased in a sweet smile and returned his affection, clumsy hands pawing at his shoulders and tangling in his tousled hair.
"Mmm… good morning," she murmured sleepily.
He kissed her again, "Merry Christmas, angel."
She gasped, sitting up. "It is Christmas! Oh… this is wonderful!"
He smiled, watching intently as she stood and grabbed a pajama outfit, squiggled with black and red geometrically patterned lines on a white background. Red reindeer and hearts broke the symmetry in some places.
She slipped on a pair of brown slippers and pulled her long curls into a messy bun, then turned around and held her hand out to him.
Echo groaned, "Don't say it."
"We have to go over to the house, Echo. I promised Suu I'd help her with breakfast," she said, smiling dazzlingly.
He moaned and hid his face beneath the covers. "Oh, you said it."
"Echo!" she giggled, coming over and straddling him through the comforter. "Come on, we'll be late otherwise!"
He shook his head. "I want to stay here with you! It's nice and warm!"
"Echo, it's warm outside too."
"It's probably covered in snow."
"On Saleucami?"
"It's Christmas, you never know!" he rebutted.
She laughed at his antics and peeled back the covers to look at him. "You are ridiculous. Come on! There's presents too! I mean, for the kids. But we have cookies to eat together."
At the mention of cookies, he looked up at her suspiciously, "Promise."
"Promise what?" she asked, confused.
He flipped her over onto her side, capturing the surprised squeal with his lips. "Promise me that we can come back here as soon as possible and spend the rest of the day together."
"But—"
"—please? Pretty please?" He batted his eyelashes and pouted his lip.
She rolled her eyes, "You're adorable, but it isn't working."
He groaned. "Fine! I'll get up! But I'm afraid I'll regret it."
"No way. How could you ever regret getting up if you are going to eat cookies?" she reasoned.
He hummed, standing and grabbing a pair of sweatpants and a tee shirt. Then he sighed and snatched her up and off the bed, hoisting her over his shoulder as easily as if she were a feather pillow.
Ella squealed and giggled, half-heartedly beating at his back. "Echo, oh Maker, what are you doing? Put me down you big oaf!"
"Nope!"
She squealed again as he promptly ignored her, smirking like an idiot as he carried her outside, past his four squadmates who were all staring at him with either disbelief, smug mirth, or a mix of both.
Stomping his way to the door, which opened when he reached it courtesy of Cut, who'd been watching while bouncing his youngest daughter on his hip, he finally deposited his breathless wife in the kitchen before Suu.
"There. Now we're here, just like you said to be, and you can help Suu while I sit with Cut and sulk with him about wanting to stay cuddled up with my wife all day long," he announced.
This caused his brother to laugh, shaking his head with a remark of, 'Preach brother!' and their hostess to roll her eyes along with Echo's young wife.
"Come sit with me and hold Hirani," Cut invited, "I'll get us both some caf and we can talk until the rest of the boys get here. Besides," he lowered his voice, "I heard you and Ella are trying for a baby, and you can never have enough practice."
Echo gulped and took a seat, letting his older brother maneuver his arms so that he was holding the baby correctly. I cannot believe he is willing to let me practice with his child. And his daughter.
"Are you sure you want me to?" he worried.
Cut waved him off, "Come on, Echo. I let Wrecker hold her yesterday and if he didn't maim her, I don't think you will. He's the one with superhuman strength. You and I got the short end of the stick there; as long as you remember to watch her head and don't dangle her upside down or anything, I'm sure you'll be fine. Oh, and no spinning."
"No spinning. No upside down. Got it," Echo repeated.
Ella giggled and winked, then nodded at Suu about something. They seemed to be thick as thieves recently. Always talking. Always planning and tittering about something. Always ceasing conversation whenever he was nearby. Even Ahsoka seemed to know, and he was beginning to suspect Tech and Crosshair as well.
What he didn't understand was what they were hiding and what it had to do with him.
"What do you think, cyar'ika? Hmm?" he asked little Hirani who was very absorbed in trying to eat her own foot, which both impressed and disgusted him. "Come, little one. No need to eat that. Why, you'll need it very soon, and your parents will be chasing you around all day long while you race here and there causing hapless mayhem. Won't that be fun?"
He glanced from the gurgling infant to the two women in the kitchen, specifically the brunette who was lifting a steaming tray of food from the oven and setting it upon the stovetop to cool. Her cheeks were flushed rosy pink, her hair falling from the bun in delicate wisps to flit about her face, candy lips smiling and eyes dancing radiantly in the mid-morning sunlight. Ella fairly glowed, angelic as she had always been in his eyes.
Echo sighed dreamily as he admired her, bouncing Hirani slightly. "I have a beautiful wife, Hirani. Beautiful through and through. I just love her, you know?"
The tiny girl made a cooing noise, sucking on her chubby fingers.
Echo sighed and shook his head, smiling at Cut as he returned with two steaming mugs of coffee, one of which he set on a side table next to him, the other he sipped as he sat down in a comfortable chair.
"I think she's hungry, sir," he guessed. "She keeps trying to eat her feet or her hands."
Cut sighed, "I figured. Ordinarily I'd get Suu, but she's so busy. I think she told me she'd left some bottles in the fridge though. I'll just go grab one. Hang on a sec."
Echo nodded and smiled, lifting Hirani up a little more and sitting her on his leg so that she was firmly in place, one little leg on either side and his arm around her waist, securing her to his side. She giggled, craning her head up to look at him before fixing him with her wide, blue eyes. Echo smiled and booped her nose lightly, bouncing his leg a little to make her giggle again.
The padding of two pairs of feet alerted him to the arrival of two pajama-clad children, rubbing sleep from their eyes with exuberant expressions.
"Happy Life Day, kids!" Cut exclaimed, picking up both in his arms and spinning them around.
"Daddy!" Shaeeah squealed, nuzzling her head against his neck.
"Happy Life Day, Dad!" Jek replied, a little more seriously but not without a smile on his face.
A knock sounded on the door and Echo stood to answer it, cradling Hirani on one arm.
There stood a myriad of familiar and dearly-loved faces. Hunter, Wrecker, Crosshair, Tech. Ahsoka and Rex, who were assisting a limping Emery, who still hadn't fully gotten his mobility back after the Battle of Mandalore.
One of the Death Watch had stabbed him dangerously close to his femoral artery before following up with a bone-breaking kick to his thigh, resulting in a semi-long recovery.
Sterling came next, his arm slung around Vaughn's shoulder, followed by Winter, Charge, Rogue, and Chopper. Vutyc and Wander finished the merry procession, smiling as they entered the warmth and comfort of their celebration.
Soon the kids were tearing into their presents, squealing excitedly as they hugged and kissed their mother and father while everyone looked on with smiles on their faces. Echo wrapped his arm around his wife, who was leaning her head against his shoulder as he held a sleeping Hirani between them.
"You're gonna be a great dad, Echo," she whispered.
He blushed, kissing her cheek. "And you're gonna be an even better mom."
She seemed to hesitate, as if wanting to say something, but a loud squeal diverted their attention to both children who were holding a writhing puppy between them, the little animal hopping like a bouncing bean and licking at their faces.
After that the day passed in a blur of lights and color and excitement.
The younger boys were just as enthralled by the puppy, who they dubbed the noble name of Pip, and spent most of the day playing with him and the kids all over the farm.
Rex and Cut sat at the dejarik table once again and battled it out for a good part of the day.
Wrecker and Crosshair played a game of Uno with Vutyc, Wander, and Winter, while Emery, Rogue, Ahsoka, Tech, and Hunter played monopoly with Suu.
After night fell, they all gathered together inside to have supper. Ella parted herself from her husband's side, much to his chagrin, and helped everyone get enough food.
And what a feast it was! Echo had never seen such delicacies in his life all at once.
There were three roasted nuna, meat pastries, several varieties of fish, baked, breaded, or fried.
And vegetables. There were so many that he had never had before, and Ella winked at him as she overfilled her plate, elbowing him as if to say, 'We both know I won't finish all of this.'
Dessert came around and it was evident that the women had been hard at work. Suu had mad Uj cakes, Ella had made pies and the macaroons that Jek had especially requested. Shaeeah and Ahsoka worked together to make a chocolate sheet cake that melted in their mouths.
And there was ice cream.
"I remember the last time I had ice cream," Echo whispered to his wife. "Do you?"
But it was Rex who replied, "It was at your wedding, right? That was the first time I'd ever had it."
Many of the others agreed.
After supper was over and they had all vacated the kitchen once many hands had made light work of the dishes and leftovers, everyone gathered outside under a shimmering sky of magnificently bright stars. It seemed that the heavens were putting on a light show to celebrate the blessed day as well.
Suu passed around small candles, and Cut lit the first one as Ella started to sing.
"Silent night. Holy night.
All is calm. All is bright.
Round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace."
The light had spread now, illuminating half of their faces. Echo smiled, smothering a laugh as he sang the next line, seeing how little Hirani was incredibly transfixed upon the flickering flames.
Cute kid.
"Silent night. Holy night.
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar.
Heavenly hosts sing alleluia.
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!
Silent night. Holy night.
Son of God. Love's pure light.
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace.
Jesus, Lord at thy birth!
Jesus, Lord at thy birth!"
Everyone kept their candles burning, looking around at their friends and family. Pure happiness curves each of their mouths into beaming smiles, from blissful Shaeeah to Crosshair and mostly gruff Chopper.
Jek was the first to break the silence, whispering urgently, "Um, Dad? I think Pip is getting interested in our cookies."
They turned to see the puppy, his body poised over the basket of cookies, frozen with a look of guilt on his face.
Suu laughed and walked over, shooing him away before passing them around so that everyone had a sweet treat to nibble on the way to their beds.
"You who sleep in the barn may keep your candles lit until you are just outside. We can't risk an accident," Cut instructed gently.
Then they all bid one another a good night, and Echo slipped his hand back into Ella's, walking along beside her to the Havoc Marauder, their glowing candles and the sparkling skies illuminating the way, the rest of their batch following loosely.
She sighed, blowing her own flame out before they stepped inside. A strange look of sadness was on her face.
"What's wrong, angel?" he asked, snuffing his candle and laying it upon a metal table.
She sniffled, "Oh, nothing. It's just… I miss my parents. And my brothers. I haven't seen Amon since we were first married and I wonder often if he thinks I've forgotten him."
Echo frowned at the thought of sadness on such a jubilant face. He hugged Ella to him and shook his head, "Let's go then."
She gasped, "What?"
He smiled and turned her around so she faced him, shrugging. "Let's go home. I've never seen Veritas, and I want you to see your family. And I… I think I'm ready to see them too," he admitted.
Silent tears slipped down her rosy cheeks, and he cupped her face in his hands, brushing them away with his thumbs before bestowing a kiss to her lips.
"Thank you, Echo," she breathed.
He hummed, "Why, it's my pleasure, Ella. I just want you to be happy."
"I am!" she assured quickly. "Truly! I just…"
"You're homesick," he whispered.
She nodded. "I worry about them."
"Nothing wrong with that, darling. We'll head there as soon as we can."
She smiled.
"Better now?"
Ella seemed to consider this, then shook her head, smirking. "Not perfect yet."
"What can make it perfect?" he asked, though he thought he knew what she was going to say.
Ella flung her arms around his shoulders and kissed him deeply. "Merry Christmas, my husband."
Between breaths he replied, "Merry Christmas, my wife." Then he blocked out any other thought but her lips and her touch, the warmth of her tiny form against his taller one.
That was, at least, until Tech squawked, "Seriously? The mistletoe is over there you crazy lovestruck di'kuts!"
The couple just laughed.
It was such a wonderful night.
Sorry for how long it's taken me to update! Been a little crazy with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming so soon! And school. Yikes.
I want to tell y'all about a show I've been watching all through this year that has given me hope and a deeper faith. It's called the Chosen, and it's the most wonderful portrayal I've ever seen of Jesus in my life. I've fallen even more deeply in love with Him through watching.
One of the best parts about this show is that it's completely FREE! You can watch the first season (they're shooting the second season now - it was just recently fully funded, YAY!) on their app with no fees or subscriptions. They don't even ask for an email! It's insanely generous and I'm so blessed and grateful.
Do not forget to go on YouTube to their channel (The Chosen) tomorrow night at 8PM Eastern. You can also go to Facebook live on their channel as well, and possibly the app. They have a Christmas special that will be live-streamed! If you like artists like For King and Country, Mandisa, The Piano Guys, Chris Tomlin, Hillsong UNITED, Matt Maher, Phil Wickham, or Zack Williams (cue extreme excitement) then you HAVE TO SEE THIS! I guarantee you will not be sorry!
Done fangirling now, I promise!
I hope everyone is doing well and that you enjoy both this Christmas Chapter AND the Chosen!
Merry Christmas!
I send you gifts of
Love, Peace, and
LittleBitOfGrace
