The crowded, casually bustling halls of the Corellian med center only made him more nervous as he navigated through them. He felt so exposed, so vulnerable, and not just because he imagined the gaze of every present being on him. He was panicked, and he was late; he had even contemplated not returning at all...but only felt that much more guilty for the thought.

Horatio Sheridan's heart pounded harder and harder against his chest wall the longer his search continued. It shouldn't have been so hard to find one of a handful of twi'leks within the center, even less so to find the rare rutian beauty he had called his partner for the past three years. He was so out of his element in such a public, reputable place that he almost walked straight past her dark, quiet room. The familiar rich turquoise hue of her skin caught his attention like a homing signal, forcing him to backpedal and stand frozen in place outside the door.

Even through the darkness, Wyliaa's skin glowed with subtle radiance as he fixated on her. He could no longer feel his own heartbeat, certain his heart had refused to continue working until he made his final decision. She appeared to be peacefully sleeping, curled up on her side in the comfortable, modest bed, so she wouldn't notice him standing there, hesitating.

Nor would she have known if he had, in that moment, instead decided to leave.

Fear and uncertainty, the same worries that had paralyzed him before, continued to eat away at him for moments on end, forcing him to remind himself to breathe. He had only so reluctantly agreed to this months ago, and now that it was real, he struggled to come to terms with it. He swallowed hard to steel his nerves; he couldn't feel more unprepared.

Eventually, his legs slowly carried him forward without a conscious command from him, drawing him to Liaa's side as he always had been. She was so quiet and still under a heavy blanket that disguised her form, and it strangely made him fear the worst though he already knew otherwise. He stood at her bedside silently for a few tender moments, reaching out and delicately tracing his fingers down her bare right lek. He couldn't bring himself to rouse her from her deep sleep she so clearly needed, and his anxiety again threatened to choke him; he questioned himself and his decision for the thousandth time...

"Dad..."

Turning toward the familiar voice he wasn't expecting to hear, Horatio saw his son Wil at the other end of the darkened room, carefully cradling a bundle of blankets in his arms. Wil smiled warmly as he lifted his chin to beckon his father to his side instead, and with another gentle brush of his fingers on Liaa's cheek, Horatio obliged.

Wil's gaze followed him as he made his way across the room, and though Horatio knew exactly who Wil was holding, he still had a hard time believing his eyes. His breath left him as he looked down on the silent newborn girl, a rush of emotions he could hardly process overtaking him.

"Here she is," Wil whispered, beaming up at him with the pride of an elated big brother as he turned and presented the girl to Horatio. Despite the dim lighting, Horatio found himself absolutely enchanted by the girl's vibrant blue- and pink-mottled skin, uniquely patterned around her face and patched throughout her lekku. Her ear cones were delicate and far less pronounced than her mother's, as were her lekku, expected characteristics of a human/twi'lek hybrid. The longer he looked on her, the more she took his breath away as an unfamiliar feeling warmed him to his core. He'd never before experienced such an onslaught, such a mind-numbing mix of exhilaration and panic, but he'd also never had a newborn daughter before.

Wil had been introduced to him when he was already eighteen years old, grown up well beyond any influence his father could have over him. But now Horatio had this brand new life to nurture; was he ready to be a father again? Could he be the father she needed when he'd never even known his own parents? Would she like him, respect him, or would she want nothing to do with him?

Sensing his father's internal turmoil, Wil continued softly. "Liaa did great. She hardly even needed any help from the medics."

Grateful for the distraction from his thoughts that were taking over, Horatio glanced behind himself at the new mother who was still soundly sleeping. "...is she okay?"

Wil grinned with a soft laugh. "She's fine, Dad. She's just exhausted. She had a very long day."

Slightly embarrassed at the absurdity of his question in hindsight, Horatio ran a hand through his hair, again returning his attention to the infant girl. Her quiet innocence seemed to be slowly calming him, putting him at ease though he didn't truly understand why. Was he already feeling a connection to her, already so enamored with her because she was his daughter?

Before Horatio could process what was happening, Wil had already begun to shift the bundle in his hold, extending towards him to gently place the girl into Horatio's arms -

"You need to hold her."

"What! No, Wil, I don't - "

- but in spite of himself, Horatio reflexively received her, trembling slightly with patent nervousness. The sweet girl hardly even stirred as she was passed from brother to father, and settled into Horatio's cradled hold, she even faintly smiled, nearly sapping all of Horatio's strength in that instant.

Wil remained close, though, observing them both silently for a brief moment before securing her blankets even more tightly around her. "See? It's easy. You're a natural; she didn't even squirm. Just keep her head supported," he instructed softly as he tipped Horatio's elbow slightly higher. "There you go, just like that. And as long as she's snuggled and warm, she'll sleep until she's hungry again or needs a change."

The words had already left Horatio's mouth, far harsher than he had intended, before he could stop them. "And what makes you so good with kids?"

The stunned expression on Wil's face lasted only a moment, but deep pangs of regret immediately settled into Horatio's chest. Wil recovered gracefully, though, stepping back from him a bit as he looked to the floor and gathered his thoughts. Beside him, Horatio took in a number of breaths to apologize, but sound never came.

"After my cousin Derek died," Wil explained weakly, "...Uncle Koril took it the hardest. It put him in a coma for two months, and even though he woke up later...he wasn't really there. It was so hard to see him like that; even worse was knowing that it had happened before, Aunt Elena said...back when Mom died.

"They tried everything they could think of to bring him back. All kinds of Jedi meditations and healing sessions, but he was just...lost. It wasn't until they found Cordira's son Jake and brought him to the Retreat that he finally started to respond to us. Something about the boy...calmed him, and brought him peace. Once they realized it was Jake who was helping him improve, Ethan practically moved into the Retreat with him. They spent quite a bit of time with us, even after they brought Cordira home, so...I guess I just picked up a lot of things along the way."

The weight of Wil's words sunk Horatio's heart even further. "Wil... I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."

But Wil gave a light smile as he shook his head. "It's okay. The kid helped me, too, while I was recovering. He helped me to forget."

Horatio hardly breathed. "...forget what?"

A distant look in Wil's eyes sent a chill down Horatio's spine.

"Whatever it was that Darkmyre woman did to me."

Lucidia Darkmyre, the deranged Dark Jedi that had besieged Paneau for months in order to abduct Cordira Natiyr, had first taken a transport hostage and sent back six of its passengers encased in carbonite. Wil had been one of those six, Horatio had been told, but Wil hadn't yet spoken about what had happened to him before he was frozen. Moved with compassion for the unspeakable pain his son had obviously endured, Horatio slowly stepped closer to him. "Wil..."

He snapped back to the present as his father neared, shaking his head briefly to dismiss his concern. "She interrogated most of the others on that transport before she got to me. When she figured out that I knew Cordira, she...tortured information out of me with the Force. I can't explain what she did, just that I wanted to forget what I felt, and I wanted to never feel that way again."

With a quick glance down at his daughter to be sure she remained asleep in his arms as they softly spoke, Horatio returned to his son in disbelief. "You never told me..."

A foreign edge sharpened his voice. "I never told anyone, not even Master Natiyr, and especially not you." He hesitated a moment, more reluctant than ever to continue. Shame and guilt were plainly evident on his face, but it was his confession that pained Horatio the most.

"...I didn't want you to know how I'd failed my friend," he breathed, his gaze lowering to the floor. "...and how I'd failed Mom."

"Wil..." Horatio struggled to find his voice. "You survived the wrath of a Dark Jedi. I know first-hand that takes...monumental strength. You didn't fail anyone. Cordira's home safe where she belongs, and so are you. That Darkmyre woman will never hurt you or anyone else ever again."

Though still not appearing to have forgiven himself, Wil nodded slightly to accept his father's assurances. Clearly the young man still shouldered tremendous blame for what he'd been forced to do by the Dark Jedi, and Horatio knew that feeling all too well. He sought a respite from their morose discussion, deciding after a few moments to focus on the good his son had done in his stead.

"I'm glad you were here with Liaa," Horatio continued quietly. "I know she appreciated it, too."

Wil's expression finally lightened as he glanced back toward her bed. "Like I said, she did great. She's tough. But you already knew that."

Horatio nodded, holding his son's gaze with meaning. "Around me, you have to be."

"...'oratio?"

He immediately turned to Liaa's drowsy voice, surprised to see her raising up from her slumber. With their daughter snugly secured in his hold, he softly stepped over to her side, his heartbeat rapidly increasing.

"Right here."

Liaa gave a contented moan of a sigh as she returned to her bed, again settling on her side where she was still able to comfortably look up at Horatio. Her eyes lazily closed as she smiled warmly at him, reaching her hand out to lightly touch his leg. Did she not believe him to be there?

"I zhought zhat I was dreaming when I 'eard your voice."

So she wasn't upset with him for missing their daughter's birth? She should have been...

"I'm sorry I woke you."

Another soft hum from her dismissed his apology. "It was a good reason to be woken up." She looked up at the bundle he held, her smile becoming broader and more radiant. "...isn't she beautiful?"

Horatio swallowed a nervous lump in his throat. "Just like her mother."

"And she is so strong," Liaa countered with a light laugh, "like 'er fazher. You should 'ave 'eard 'er cries when she was born. You would 'ave zhought zhat she was a few monzh old already."

Though he knew she hadn't done so intentionally, her words drove his guilt through his heart like a vibroblade.

"...I'm sorry, Liaa."

Her eyes lazily closed halfway. "For what?"

"I should have been here with you."

Sensing the gravity in his voice, Liaa became more alert, looking up at him with sleep completely cleared from her eyes. "...did you find 'im?"

He wasn't sure what would be worse, lying to her, or confessing to her that he'd left her at an important time and had returned an empty-handed failure. Her golden amber eyes were so full of care...

"No," he breathed with patent regret. "No, it was old intel. He was long gone."

Liaa immediately began to sit up despite the discomfort it seemed to cause her, reaching up to gently grip Horatio's arm. "Oh, 'oratio... I'm so sorry..." She paused, glancing at the floor briefly in thought before returning to him. "You should go back."

But he shook his head. "What? No - "

"'oratio - "

"No, Liaa. I'm not leaving you again."

Her expression only softened further, her voice tender with sincere compassion. "'oratio... I know you. I know zhat your 'eart will not rest until you find 'im. I know 'ow much it would mean to you, to 'onor your sister and what she asked of you..."

It had been the last thing his sister had requested of him before she had died years ago, one last connection to the family he'd hardly known, but...looking down at the newborn girl safely snuggled in his hold, he had a new family that needed him more.

"No. You are my priority now. You and this little one. I shouldn't have left in the first place."

Only the deepest understanding saturated her features, but she eventually nodded after a few quiet moments, accepting his assertion. "If you're sure..."

As carefully as he could, he turned and slowly lowered himself onto her bed, sitting just beside her without breaking eye contact. "I'm sure."

With a tired smile, Liaa drew in a long, deliberate breath as she leaned against him and clasped her hands tightly around his upper arm, resting her head on his shoulder. He had been away from her for so long, he had almost forgotten how much he missed the warmth of her touch and the feeling of her laying beside him. Their moment together was so tender, so pure, he couldn't believe it was his. For so many years, his life had been full of nothing but darkness and pain, some of it his own doing, but he'd accepted it as punishment for his lengthy list of sins. What had he done, then, to suddenly deserve so much...good?

Lifting her head to balance her chin on his shoulder instead, Liaa kept her voice soft. "I am so glad zhat you are 'ere," she whispered happily. "So...what do we name 'er, Love?"

Horatio blinked. "...you haven't named her yet?"

"No," Liaa laughed lightly, "of course not. We didn't really discuss it before you left. She is your daughter, too; you 'ave just as much right to name 'er as I do."

Stunned and put on the spot, he looked down at the girl, intently studying her every tiny feature for a source of inspiration. It was the colors of her skin, though, that continually stole his attention, transfixing him with their effortless transition between the patches of muted pink and dynamic blue. He had traversed the galaxy more than a dozen times and met just about every sentient race the universe had to offer, but she was still the most unique hybrid he'd ever seen; she was the rarest gem, a sparkling, dazzling...

"...Jewel."

It wasn't until he heard Liaa's soft response that he realized he had actually spoken aloud.

"Perfect."

His shoulders sagged with relief, leading Liaa to wrap her arms around him as she placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. "Jewel," she agreed with a singsong, contented hum. "Jewel Sheridan..."

Ice solidified instantly in his veins. "No," he replied sternly, his entire body tensing. "I know we discussed that. No Sheridan."

"'oratio, you worry too much." She sighed, tightening her hold around him to soothe his nerves. "Alright, zhen. Just...Jewel."

Another calm silence settled over them as they both gazed at their girl, watching her peacefully sleep as the minutes slowly passed. A few soft grunts were the only noises she made as she snuggled even further into her blankets, clearly enjoying the comfort of Horatio's hold, and it locked him in a strange contradiction of emotion. On one hand, he felt that his life once again had purpose; his little Jewel would need his protection, and as long as his heart continued to beat, he would give it. But as he considered her tiny, fragile form in his arms, he also felt completely...helpless.

"I don't think I've ever held anything so...small..."

Liaa again gave his waist a faint squeeze. "She won't be small for long. Before you know it, she'll be 'olding 'er first blaster, zhen you'll be teaching 'er 'ow to run and 'ow to fly..."

Fatigue had returned to Liaa's voice in earnest, and even her arms around him began to weaken. She was fading.

"You should get some rest," he suggested softly, giving her lek on his shoulder a light kiss. "Wil and I can take care of Jewel for now."

Her only response was a weak hum as she lowered herself back down onto her side, resuming her slow, restful breathing pattern he'd observed earlier before she'd awakened. He stood from her bed before he disturbed her, carefully securing Jewel into a delicate one-armed hold to free his other. With a light sweep of his hand, he brushed her lekku behind her shoulder, a more comfortable position, she'd often reminded him, for her sensitive head-tails as she slept. His touch brought a small smile to her face, and he only turned from her once it began to fade.

"'oratio..."

He looked back to her, not altogether surprised that her eyes remained closed as she spoke.

"Whatever you decide to do...you know zhat I will support you. Jewel and I will still be 'ere, no matter what you choose."

It was a pledge he didn't feel that he deserved, but in that moment, he didn't have the heart to tell her so. Instead, he allowed her to drift back to sleep, slowly making his way back to the other side of the room to rejoin his son. Wil had patiently kept his distance as they had shared such tender family moments, moments Horatio began to realize that Wil had never been able to experience...

The young man didn't appear to be affected, though, still beaming a pleasant smile as he extended his arms towards Horatio in an offer to take his turn with Jewel again. "Need a break?"

Though Horatio had begun to adjust her in his hold, he stopped, again lost in her delicate features. She squinted her eyes and wrinkled her nose, her displeasure at being moved around well evident without even a whimper. He was wholly at her mercy, he recognized, from this moment forward, unable to deny her anything she would ever want as long as he lived...

"Wil," he breathed, still entranced by her. "...I need you to promise me something."

Curious, Wil stepped closer to him, silently awaiting his request.

Horatio began to tremble, though, sapping the energy from him. "If...if anything ever happens to me..."

He couldn't bring himself to continue, his breath locked in his chest with anxiety. At the lowest point in his past, he had nearly thrown his life away in a meaningless cantina brawl. He couldn't imagine being so reckless anymore, now that he had three people counting on him. But, should the unthinkable happen...

"...I'll take care of her, Dad," Wil finished for him. "I promise."

The strength in Wil's vow was reassurance enough, allowing him to release a shaky breath as he gripped Wil's shoulder in gratitude. For a long moment, the two stood together in mutual support of each other, bonded over the care of the tiny girl between them who continued to sleep without a worry in the galaxy.