Echo could hardly believe it, even as they searched Holotrest for ideas for the nursery. He just couldn't believe that right there, next to him in his wife's deceptively flat belly was growing their child.
Wow.
"Wow," he murmured.
"That's the third time you've said that in the time we've spent looking at these DIY's," Ella noted amusedly.
"It's just…" he sighed, unable to wipe the smile from his face. "I still can't believe it. What is it now? Eight weeks?"
"Yes, eight weeks. And tomorrow is the first ultrasound," Ella said. "You're coming, right?"
He laughed, "What's the alternative? I sit here like a loon wishing I'd gone? Of course I'm coming. I'll be with you every step of the way."
"You're so sweet," she beamed.
"Hey," he murmured with gentle seriousness. "I missed this last time. You better believe I'm gonna savor every moment this time around."
She bummed and nuzzled herself against his neck. "What do you think they'll be? Boy or girl?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. And I don't care, honestly. Just so long as we get to watch them grow up. I don't care. I'd be just as happy with a little girl as with a boy, and vice versa."
"I'm glad you feel that way. I don't care either, just as long as they're healthy. So," she smirked. "Names."
"Names…" he whispered. He thought a moment then shrugged. "Ella, you're asking someone who grew up with brothers who were either called a number, or they were something like Hammer or Thruster or Dusty. I mean… of course I want to be a part of this, but… I don't think I'm good at naming things."
She shook her head. "I'm not sure either. I just… I want you to be a part of naming your own child. You could always do some research?"
He sighed. "I guess."
"Do you have any ideas? Just… I don't know, anything that's coming to mind when you think of names?"
Echo paused a moment and really thought about it. Instead of thinking about coming up with names, he focused on names he loved. Instantly, two popped into his head.
"I want to honor Fives and Jesse, if I can. Something to remember them by," he admitted.
Ella smiled and squeezed his hand, "I think that's doable."
"If it's a boy," he continued, "I think I want to change 'Fives' to the mando'a translation of the number: Rayshe'a. Maybe mess around with the spelling and stuff."
"What about Raysh?" Ella recommended.
He nodded slowly, "I like that."
"What about a middle name then? Jesse?"
"Raysh Jesse Starrow," he murmured, trying the name out.
"I like it," she declared. "Do you?"
He nodded, smiling. "What about if it's a girl?"
"Well…" she drawled hesitantly. "I have been thinking about something. If you don't like it, though—"
"How about you tell me first, and then we can decide?"
Blushing, she whispered, "Eliyanah."
He mulled over it a moment and nodded slowly. "What's it mean?"
"It means 'my God has answered.'" She fiddled with a lock of her hair for a moment, then rambled on. "And the middle name… I thought Rosé might be pretty. The rose was Galene's favorite flower, and well… I wanted to honor her. And Padmé."
"I like it, Ella. And maybe we can call her Ellie for short?"
She shook her head, "I was thinking that 'Ana' might be less confusing, since there would be two of us."
"So… are we in agreement then?"
She hummed, "I think so."
"Good. Now I can try to understand what all these colors are that you're gathering up for the nursery," he teased.
She rolled her eyes and pinched him a little, making him snicker and tickle her. "You, goof. I'm trying to get a good idea of what colors we should paint it, and we need to get samples first."
"Because…?"
"Then we can paint a little bit on the wall to see if we like it first before getting a big gallon. We don't want to have a bunch of paint that we don't like."
"Makes sense. Um… I haven't really ever painted before. I mean, except for armor and that's not exactly the same," Echo confessed, feeling a little inept. There was so much about this that he didn't understand; so much that he felt so unprepared for. He hoped that he'd get the important stuff right, even if he got little things wrong. He didn't want to ruin this kid they'd prayed so long for.
This kid deserves a great dad. I can't be anything less than just what they need."We'll work together," his wife's voice crept into his doubts, dispelling them like fresh air rushing into a stuffy chamber. "Echo, besides actually having a baby, I've never really done this before either. We'll learn together and sometimes we'll mess up. But we'll get up again and do better."
Echo sighed. How she always knew what was really bothering him never ceases to startle and amaze him.
"It's late, Ella," he smiled, kissing her shoulder. "And the appointment is kinda early. You should get some rest."
Nodding she leaned over and turned off her lamp, then turned into his arms and nestled her face against his bare chest, tickling his skin with her breath. Echo gently petted her long curls, brushing them back from her face, breathing a contented breath.
"Sweet dreams, angel."
"Sleep well, darling," his wife replied, her voice already floaty with the headiness of sleep.
Echo brushed his palm over her womb. Soon it would be swollen with life and, if the articles he read were true, he'd even be able to feel the baby moving inside her, sometimes kicking against his hands.
"Goodnight, ner ad'ika," he whispered, unable to keep a grin from his face. He felt his wife's lips stretch up in a sleepy smile at his words, and she pressed a chaste kiss against his heart.
Our baby.
Our little miracle.
•~§~•Ella fairly clung to her husband's hand as they followed the chipper nurse down the hallways to their appointed room. The little woman and medcenter staff knew of their predicament - both husband and wife being presumed dead and Echo being a clone trooper - and was professionally discreet.
Indeed, most of the small town of Eberny knew of the strange but wonderful foreign men who had made habitation in their hills and inclefts, nearly all of whom shared similar voices and countenances. Some mocking senators and their thoughtlessly proud followers might wag their heads and say that the Veritasans were simple folk, sheltered and somewhat detached from the rest of the fast-paced and modern galaxy, but the people themselves were keen of mind and sharp of eye. It took little thought to realize that they were harboring refugees, and as these refugees just so happened to be fleeing the growing shadow of the Empire and were dear to one most beloved family, an unspoken agreement of cautious concealment came about. They all kept their silence for the sake of the newcomers' safety and, by extension, their own as well.
Ella lay on the table and smiled at the young nurse, answering questions about her morning sickness, the last cycle, the date she'd taken the test, the likely date of conception, whether this was her first pregnancy, and, since it wasn't, if she had complications with the former one that led to her losing the baby. She gave a quick summary of the events - 'No, the baby was perfectly healthy and I had no complications. I lost her because I was attacked when I was full term. I might have some remaining damage, but I'm not aware of the extent if I do.' - then lay back against the high back of the padded examination chair.
Echo took her hand in his and kissed her forehead, smiling nervously at his wife, who gave him a calming squeeze and leant against his shoulder. He sat on the edge of the table and pillowed her head against his chest.
"How long have you two been married?" the nurse - Lilleanna - asked, sensing his anxiety.
"We just celebrated two years a week ago," Echo answered, giving Ella's hand another gentle squeeze.
"Being newly married during the war must've been difficult, especially with your situation," she remarked, taking Ella's heartbeat, temperature, and blood pressure. She frowned, then seemed to tuck away whatever it was that caused the expression for a later explanation. "You can step behind the curtain and get into the hospital gown then come back here."
Ella nodded and did so as her husband answered the nurse. "It was… well, difficult for different reasons. I was MIA for most of it, and missed the first pregnancy altogether. But fortunately, a good friend of ours found and brought me home."
"That's wild!" Lilleanna exclaimed as Ella returned. "I'll bet you're happy to be back."
"I sure am."
"How about you, Ella?"
Ella blushed, "I'm still so excited and amazed that he's alive." She beamed up at her husband and he pecked her lips chastely in adoring agreement.
"Is this pregnancy planned or accidental?"
"A little bit of both," Echo said. "We were trying for a while, but started to get really disheartened, so we decided we wouldn't make that our main goal and just enjoy being together. It just so happened to take place when we'd just given it a rest."
"That happens sometimes, I hear," she informed. "Do either of you have any chromosomal problem histories in your families?"
Echo shrugged, "The kaminoans were always messing with things. I wouldn't rule anything out, but I'm not sure about specifics."
Lilleanna just marked 'possibly' under the paternal section and 'no.' under Ella's before setting down her datapad. "Well, since we've already done the blood draw, and the confirmation/urine test - which came back very positive, we're about ready for the ultrasound!"
Ella shivered in excitement and anxiety. She was about to hear her baby's heartbeat for the first time. But she was also about to find out if there were complications.
Echo squeezed her hand, alerting her that he felt very much the same.
After Lilleanna had gotten the wand ready and Ella was as comfortable as she could be at the moment, she turned on the screen and fiddled until they had a pretty clear view of a little something. A tiny, staticky, greyish blob stood out against the black background of her womb. Ella covered her mouth with her hand as her eyes moistened, distorting the already shifty image.
"There they are!" their nurse exclaimed.
Echo let out a careful, snuffly breath, and Ella knew he was just as overcome as she was at the sight of their little one. Neither could take their eyes from it, and a mutual hand-squeeze expressed all the excitement they were screaming inside.
"Do they look okay?" Echo asked, his voice thick with emotion.
"They look beautiful. See, this is the head right here?" The nurse pointed a manicured finger. "And this is the back end. They're just about the size of a raspberry."
"They're so tiny!" Ella squeaked, sniffling and wiping her eyes. "Echo, look at their heart beating!"
"I am!" he breathed. "Wow."
"Yeah, I know!"
"Ready for the heartbeat?"
Ella felt her husband nodding against her ear as she mimicked him.
As soon as the nurse flicked the sound on, Ella's blood went cold. The heartbeat sounded strange, staggered, and too fast. She knew what healthy heartbeats sounded like, and this one… her hand squeezed hard on Echo's and she shut her eyes.
Please, please, please."Is the heartbeat… supposed to be that fast?" Echo queried, sounding very concerned. His free hand went to rubbing his wife's shoulder comfortingly. "It's okay. It's gonna be okay," he whispered, feeling her begin to tremble.
Ella was terrified. She'd waited so long for this baby. Prayed so hard. Ached and bled hoping beyond hope that she'd have a healthy child again. She didn't know if she could bear knowing her baby was doomed from the start.
But the nurse just smiled and moved the wand a little more, and both parents gasped.
"Congratulations, mom and dad. You are definitely expecting and they are looking beautiful and perfect."
Ella looked into her husband's eyes and saw the same shocked relief that must be in her own.
Echo looked back at the screen and eloquently gasped out, "WHAT!?"
•~§~•Four weeks later Ella was in the kitchen setting out plenty of food and looking about her. It was a fine, clear February morning, and though the chill nipped at the budding come-spring flower buds, it was clear that the world wouldn't remain frozen for much longer, to the chagrin of her brothers and many of the boys who rather enjoyed the snow, which had piled up a good three feet high and held its hardened vice only a day after their shocking and exciting first appointment. No one could do very much traveling, and it was much too cold to be out for too long and remain healthy and un-frostbitten.
For this reason alone, Ella was thankful for the vicious weather, since it gave a good excuse as of why she couldn't visit with the others and her current state remained concealed. She'd been amazed at how quickly she'd grown in just a few weeks. It wasn't too drastic a change, but there was a definite bump that had begun to show itself.
At least it's pretty unnoticeable underneath this sweater dress, Ella thought to herself, tugging the soft red fabric a little to let go of her grey leggings.
"Ella?" her husband's voice called as he came downstairs. "I just saw them coming up the lane. You ready?"
Ella nodded and kissed his cheek, bouncing with delight. "Am I ever! How do I look?"
"Beautiful as ever. And the bump is hidden pretty well, I don't think anyone will be able to tell until we give the big reveal."
Ella squealed and flung her arms around him, "I'm so excited!"
"I know, so am I!" he squealed along with her, hugging her close.
A knock came at the door and they joined hands as they went to open it.
"Geez! Let us in already! It's freezing out here!" Wrecker laughed once they opened the door.
"How was the drive up?" Echo asked, clasping arms with many of his brothers as he directed the question to his father-in-law.
"Nowhere as problematic as we'd feared. The plows did a great job and since the roads were well salted, the snow had melted off enough that the drifts weren't too high. The difficult part was the waiting to arrive, and enduring all of our brothers-in-law asking when we'd be there yet over and over," Daddy groaned mirthfully. "You look well, Echo. How have you liked the place so far?"
"Very well, sir. Ella's done a good job with it. I'd be lost without her," he smiled, pulling his wife to his side with an arm looped around the still slim waist.
"Ellie, my dear," Daddy greeted warmly, hugging her tightly. "You've done amazing things to the old place. Everything looks beautiful. Almost as beautiful as you. Why, you're fairly glowing!"
Ella beamed and ducked her head at the irony of his compliment. "Thanks, Daddy. We've both worked hard on it during the snow-in. Echo sells himself short. I don't know how I'd have done much without him, what with all the heavy lifting and stuff. He painted the living room and master bedroom too, and he fixed that drip in the powder room sink! Can you believe it?"
"The one we've all been trying to fix for years?" her father gasped. "Well, he seems to be making himself useful. You might want to consider keeping him around."
They laughed and then moved everyone inside.
Ahsoka and the Bad Batch were practically vibrating with excitement, having known ever since the anniversary that this was the time that the big news would be officially revealed.
Little do they know they're in for a surprise too! Ella smirked, cutting herself a piece of strawberry shortcake.
The evening was a blaze of excitement and anticipation for her as she and Echo simultaneously awaited the opportune moment to make the announcement.
Finally, a momentary lull gave them just the opening they needed. Ella and Echo locked eyes across the room, and he rose to his feet as she grabbed the bags.
"Well, we wanted to thank you for coming out and braving the weather," Echo began. "We also wanted to thank Ella's family for giving us this beautiful, meaningful place to live together. I can't express how much your never-ending support and love has meant to both of us from the beginning."
The senior Starrows nodded their heads at him in respectful welcome.
"Always a pleasure," Mama murmured, eyes twinkling.
"We also want to thank you, Thalis, Olvet, and Amon, for your help and encouragement. You are exceptional brothers-in-law and young men who I am proud to call my family," Echo continued. "And, as always, my own brothers and our friends. So many of you have been with either both or one of us through times of hardship or joy, and brought laughter and solace to the fitting occasion. Thank you for always being here. We really do appreciate your participation in our lives."
Rex nodded and smiled at his younger brother. Ella could almost see him remembering the shiny he'd first met at the Rishi Outpost what seemed like so long ago. How time did fly.
"I won't hog the spotlight any more than necessary," her husband concluded. "I just wanted to say a quick thanks, and to give my wife the opportunity to give out a gift for each of you. It's nothing big. Not yet anyway. But there's room for growth, and you may find you like it better over time even if it doesn't look like much right now."
Ella stood and handed everyone a bag, smiling as she watched their faces crease in confusion. After sitting back down, she gave everyone but her parents permission to open the gifts together and took Echo's hand as they watched the chaos unfold.
"It's a plum?" Vaughn asked, not quite understanding.
"It's one of the sugarplums. Thanks, Ellie!" Amon said, though he looked very confused. "Why did you give us plums?"
She smiled. "Mama, open your present now."
Her mother reached inside and pulled out a baby-bottle with a slip of paper inside it that read: at twelve weeks, your baby is the size of a plum. Gasping and wide eyed she dropped it, scrambling to her feet and exclaiming, "Are you serious? Really?"
Ella nodded.
"What? What's happening?" Emery asked Sterling.
"I don't know!" he replied, licking away some of the plum juice that had gathered around his lips.
Rex's eyes widened and he breathed, "You're having a baby."
Ella nodded at her old friend, who looked stunned and incredulous. But she looked to her father and murmured, "Daddy, open yours please."
"Ella, is it true?" he asked, hesitating to obey.
"Please, Daddy, just open the bag. I promise it's worth it," she pleaded, eyes misty as she watched her mother wring her hands and sniffle, eying her excitedly.
Her father reached into the bag and withdrew two slips of paper. He scrutinized the black and white images for a few seconds, then gasped and ran his hand over his hair in shock. Then he started laughing. "She is definitely pregnant!"
"WHAT!" her mother screamed, making Hunter grab his temples.
"What is it?" Ahsoka asked, looking very confused.
"YOU'RE HAVING TWINS!?!" Mama all but screeched uncharacteristically.
"WHAT!?!" everyone else echoed, jumping to their feet. Crosshair looked as if he'd faint again.
"Wait, what's with the plums?" Sterling asked, not at all seeing the connection between babies and fruit.
"You di'kut!" Wander exclaimed. "Ella's pregnant with twins, and the plums are how big the babies are!"
Sterling's expression morphed from confusion to understanding, then stark panic.
"I ATE THE BABY!?"
