Meeting the New Arrival
Nomi was feeding her daughter when there was a knock on the door. She shifted the little girl slightly to make her more comfortable before answering the knock.
"Come in, Dash!"
When the door opened, it wasn't her husband who entered her room aboard the medical frigate. It was Wedge Antilles, which made the young woman wonder why he'd gotten up so early.
"Hello, Nomi," the Rogue Squadron commander said before sitting down in the chair next to the bed. "How are you and the baby?"
The young woman smiled at her superior and friend.
"As you can see, we're fine," she replied while Tasherit continued to suckle at her breast. "Tasherit has a healthy appetite. The birth was much easier than with the triplets, Wedge."
Antilles crossed his legs and sat back, relaxed.
"Dash already told us. Your husband and I had a great time with your brother, Luke, Han, Leia and Chewie yesterday as we celebrated the birth of your daughter. I think Dash will be coming soon."
At the same moment there was another knock on the door and after a split second Dash entered carrying Corran in his arms, accompanied by Leebo carrying Dash Jr. and Biggs.
"Good morning darling. Hello, Wedge," he said as he made his way to the bed. "Look boys, this is your sister Tasherit. Do you like her?"
The triplets looked at the baby with big brown eyes. Corran smiled and held out his small hands.
"Baby," he whispered before turning his head and looking at his father.
Dash smiled at his youngest son. His two older sons began struggling in Leebo's grasp, wanting to get on the bed.
"You can place them here, Leebo," Nomi said while still feeding her daughter.
The droid approached the bed and placed the two boys next to their mother and sister. They reached out their little hands and awkwardly stroked their sister.
"Herit?" Dash Jr. looked at his mother questioningly.
Apparently he had trouble pronouncing his sister's name.
"Yes, this is your sister Tasherit," his mother said with a smile.
"Dada, bed," Corran demanded forcefully.
Dash Rendar grinned and placed his youngest next to his brothers. His wife's bed began to resemble a fortress under siege.
After a while, Tasherit was finally fed and satisfied, and belched loudly. Nomi stood up and put her in the crib before going back to bed where the triplets enjoyed themselves. Dash smiled while watching his family. He never thought he would be so happy.
There was another knock on the door and Luke Skywalker entered. He suppressed a grin seeing the family idyll.
"Hello my friends," he greeted, going straight to the crib where Tasherit had fallen asleep. "I wanted to see my new future student."
He leaned over the crib and watched the sleeping baby while reaching for it with the Force. Finally he nodded his head and walked over to Tasherit's parents and Antilles.
"She's really, like her brothers, very strong in the Force," he began, clasping his hands behind his back. "I'm looking forward to train her and the boys."
Each of the adults focused on the Jedi when Dash Jr. got bored. He crawled to the edge of the bed, slid down, and stood on shaky legs.
Wedge had seen the movement from the corner of his eye.
"Look what your eldest is doing," he said, pointing at the little guy.
Just as all eyes were on him, Junior lost his balance and fell on his butt, causing a deafening scream from him. Dash rushed to his son, picked him up and comforted him.
Now Corran and Biggs followed their brother's example before their mother could stop them. But they only stood on their little legs for a short time before they too landed roughly on their butts. They were picked up by Luke and Wedge before they could start screaming. Thankfully, despite the noise and commotion, Tasherit slept peacefully on.
Nomi looked at her husband who was still comforting Junior.
"It seems it won't be long before our sons start walking, darling," she said, smiling.
"I've the same impression, Nomi," Dash replied, laying his eldest on the bed.
Wedge stood up and handed Biggs to Leebo and Luke did the same with Corran.
"We have to go, Nomi," Antilles said, heading for the door. "I'll see you later, Dash."
Dash nodded as he saw Luke following the Rogue Squadron commander.
Skywalker turned at the door.
"I'll see you when you're back on Anoat, Nomi."
As he was about to leave, he almost bumped into Gavin, who was on his way to visit his sister and the newest member of the family. He made way and the pilot entered the room.
"Hello, Nomi, hello Dash. Where's my little niece?" He asked and went to the crib where the baby had just woken up.
Nomi's younger brother looked at Tasherit and smiled.
"She's a very pretty baby. You both did well. May I get her out of the crib?"
Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed his niece and lifted her up. Gavin held Tasherit in his arms with a caution that Nomi wouldn't have credited her slightly wild brother with.
"Hello, little girl," he said in a soft voice. "Welcome to our family."
He began to gently rock the baby in his arms. His niece seemed to like it. She chuckled softly and put her little thumb in her mouth.
Gavin looked proudly at his sister.
"You see she loves her uncle, sis."
Nomi couldn't help but laugh.
"I don't want to rob you of your illusions, but Tasherit loves anyone who cradles her, little brother. But most of all she loves me because I'm her food source."
Suddenly the young woman wrinkled her nose and wondered why her brother didn't smell it too.
"By the way," she continued. "You can make yourself useful. It's time to change diapers."
The Rogue Squadron pilot looked at his sister dumbfounded.
"You want me to change diapers? You can't be serious."
Dash suppressed a grin at his brother-in-law's reaction.
"Of course you," his sister replied. "It's about time you learned this. Eventually, sooner or later, you will have your own children. Your future wife will thank me one day."
She winked at Gavin, who looked at his brother-in-law for help.
"But I can't," he said desperately. "Please say something, Dash. You can't let me down."
Dash just shrugged.
"Nomi's right, skill comes with practice, Gavin. Just start, boy."
The young woman could no longer see her brother suffering, left the bed and approached him.
"C'mon, hand me Tasherit, Gavin. I'll change her diapers."
Her brother breathed a sigh of relief and handed her the baby.
When Tasherit's diapers were changed, Dash and Gavin said goodbye, accompanied by Leebo and the triplets.
The next morning, 2-1B entered Nomi's room as she was having breakfast.
"I have good news, Captain Darklighter," the droid said in its mechanical voice. "You and your daughter can leave the medbay today. I have already informed Lieutenant Rendar and he will be here shortly."
Nomi smiled at the medi droid.
"These are really good news."
The young woman finished the rest of her tea and stood up. She then went to the locker and packed her few belongings while 2-1B went to tend to other patients. After picking up her daughter, she sat on a chair to wait for her husband.
It wasn't long before Dash walked in with a big smile.
"Good morning, darling. Time to take you and our princess home," he said, approaching his wife and kissing her.
"Good morning, Dash. I'm glad we can leave here," Nomi said, standing up and going ahead, carrying their daughter.
Her husband picked up the bag and followed her towards the Outrider.
It was a short flight before Dash landed the YT-2400 near their new quarters.
After putting on the breath masks, they left the freighter and walked a few steps to their new home. The triplets were already waiting for them there.
Dash Jr., Biggs and Corran walked to their parents on very shaky legs, holding on to the furniture in the room. Their mother looked at them in surprise, knowing that nothing would be safe from them from now on.
Dash took the mask off of Tasherit and himself, pleased he had managed to surprise his wife. Nomi removed her mask as well and smiled at the boys.
"Mama, stay?" Biggs asked, looking at her questioningly.
His mother bent down and lovingly stroked his brown curls.
"Of course I'm staying here now, Biggs."
Dash carried Tasherit over to the crib that Wedge Antilles had built, like the ones for the triplets, and placed her in it.
"Want see Herit, Mama," Dash Jr. said, tugging at his mother's pant leg.
"Yes, want see baby," his brothers demanded almost simultaneously.
Their father came over and picked them up and carried them to the crib, followed by Nomi carrying Junior.
There the three boys looked curiously at their sister, who happily sucked her thumb.
In the afternoon, Leia, Han and Chewbacca came to see the new Rendar offspring.
Han patted Dash on the shoulder.
"Dash, old friend, congratulations on your princess," he said with a smile. "And of course I congratulate you too, Nomi."
Leia looked lovingly at Tasherit who lay in her crib.
"She is really cute," the Princess said. "And she has the same red hair as her parents."
Chewbacca took one look at the baby before turning to Nomi and asking in Shyriiwook if he could hold Tasherit for a bit.
"Of course you can take her in your arms, Chewie," his friend replied.
The giant Wookiee carefully picked up the little girl and cradled her in his arms. After a while he put the baby back in the crib and talked to Nomi.
"Chewbacca wants us to send Tasherit to Kashyyyk like her brothers when she's old enough." She started telling her husband what the Wookiee said because Dash didn't understand Shyriiwook. "There she can learn everything about surviving in the jungle. And he almost thinks she'll be strong enough to handle a bowcaster."
Her husband raised an eyebrow and turned his attention to Chewie.
"That's a very kind offer, Chewbacca," he said, smiling at the Wookiee. "I'll keep that in mind."
The future Wookiee trainee began to fuss with hunger and her mother took her out of the crib to feed her.
Noticing this, Han made a hand signal to the Princess and the Wookiee before walking to the door.
Chewbacca growled goodbye and followed his companion while Leia stayed behind. She approached Nomi, who sat down on a chair and prepared to feed Tasherit.
"Are you free tomorrow, Nomi?" The Princess asked. "I want to talk to you in private."
Nomi nodded her head.
"Yes, Leia, come tomorrow morning. Dash has a combat exercise with Rogue Squadron. We are then undisturbed."
"Thank you, Nomi," Leia said, turning and heading for the door. "See you tomorrow."
When Leia left, Nomi fed her daughter and wondered what Leia would want to talk to her about. But she had to wait until the next day.