1ABY: Thila Base

Jyn waited outside Draven's office while Cassian conversed within. The base was still waking up from the party held the previous night; Jyn yawned, wishing a hot cup of caff was in reach. Despite her fatigue from a late night of learning how it felt to be close to someone once more, Jyn was feeling better than she had in a long time. For it had been a long time since she had someone in her life she truly cared about. It was still strange for her to think of how they declared their feeling for another; Jyn wasn't used to talking about her feelings and that wasn't going to change any time soon. Cassian appeared to be the same, if not worse at it. She hadn't been too surprised given how he was able to cut people out of his life so easily. The only matter that bothered her was Cassian's insistence on keeping what they had between each other a secret. Jyn fully understood why, but her whole life was essentially a secret, thanks to her parentage. Saw Gerrera had kept her true identity a secret and Jyn had carried on that tradition once she was out on her own. Even her childhood on Lah'mu turned out to be a secret kept from those who wished to take them away. Jyn longed for everything to be out in the open. Krennic was dead; he father was dead.

Secrets got people hurt and taken away.

Cassian stepped out with his spy facade donned. He indicated with the tilt of his head for Jyn to go inside. "I'll wait out here."

"Erso," Draven said curtly while he sat at his desk, datapad in hand. "Major Andor has his fulcrum assignment to undergo in the Albarrio sector."

"I will not be accompanying him?" Jyn asked, feeling her nerves peak with anxiety. Their newfound lifestyle she and Cassian had started the night before had Jyn wanting to stay close by to him.

"No," Draven replied. "Major Andor's assignment involves recruitment. A portion of our intelligence officers carry the title 'fulcrum' over various sectors across the galaxy."

"So why am I here?"

"As you will be unable to accompany Major Andor, I am placing you with another intelligence officer, Corporal Dania Alder. The two of you will be travelling to Pamarthe where Corporal Alder will show you how recruitment is handled."

"Why Pamarthe?" Jyn asked. She had never been to the planet, but many of Saw's partisans spoke highly of the natives racing skills.

"After the destruction of Alderaan at the hands of the empire, the people of Pamarthe called it cowardly. Hundreds have made their intention to join the rebel alliance. Many are even deserting from their stations within the empire itself." Draven placed the datapad down. "This could not have come at a better time. With the loss of many pilots during the Battle of Scarif and Yavin, we are at an all time low with our squadron intake. The Pamarthens are known for their piloting skills."

Jyn nodded, taking it all in. "So how many are we to recruit?"

"If all goes well, Corporal Alder will start up new fulcrum recruitment on Pamarthe, and if she reports that you have potential, we may eventually look into finding you a sector as a fulcrum agent."

Recruitment? Jyn wasn't sure how well she could sell the rebel alliance. She wasn't known for her social skills, but then again, neither was Cassian. Or maybe he was? Jyn's mind decided that was the perfect time to start an internal debate which resulted in her realising how little she knew about the man she came to care for.

"Erso," Draven snapped. "Corporal Alder will meet you in the command centre in three hours. Use that time to gather you gear. You'll be deployed on Pamarthe for a month."

"A month," Jyn said, eyes wide.

"Recruitment is crucial at this time," Draven went on. "We need higher numbers more than ever. Dismissed."

Jyn stepped out of his office still reeling in the notion she would be alone with a stranger for an entire month without Cassian.

"Jyn," Cassian said, who had been waiting patiently outside.

Jyn stared numbly at him. "I'm to go to Pamarthe for a month."

Cassian nodded. "I know. It was my idea."

"What?" Jyn frowned.

"I can't take you with me," Cassian said, looking at Draven's closed door. "Follow me."

Cassian led Jyn down the corridor and into an empty room with a few long desks and chairs. "My role in the Albarrio sector must be solo."

"Why?" Jyn asked.

Cassian sighed, shrugging lightly. "It's taken me years to set up a reliable source of intel in order to recruit. Most fulcrum agents work alone, especially if their role is recruitment."

"So who is this Corporal Alder? Do you know her?"

Cassian nodded. "She joined the rebellion... three, four years ago maybe. She's a good spy who mostly works in the midrim. I rarely see her, but the reports that come through intelligence from her are very impressive. I think you'll get along just fine."

"Is she a fulcrum agent too?"

"No," Cassian replied. "General Draven has been meaning to set her up as one for the past year. With so many flocking to the rebellion these days, now is as good a time as any."

Jyn looked down at her feet, still feeling unsure about it all. "I-I don't... think I'll make a good recruiter."

"Why do you say that?"

Jyn looked back up into Cassian's dark eyes. "I'm more of a fight now, talk later person."

Cassian smiled. "I think you underestimate the motivation people feel around you."

"What are you talking about?"

"It was you who convinced the council to go to Scarif. It was you who made it to the top of the Citadel and transmitted the Death Star plans. Because of you, we managed to destroy the most powerful weapon this galaxy has ever seen. You're not a criminal anymore, Jyn."

Jyn stepped away, not wanting to hear anymore. "Please, stop. I'm not that person. I never wanted to be that person. I can't give them that."

"You are to them," Cassian pressed. "You are to me."

Jyn looked back at him, seeing the sincerity in his face. "I feel like I barely know you."

Her words caught him off guard. "Jyn..."

Jyn shook her head. "I-I didn't mean..." She sighed. "I feel like I only know... part of you. We barely speak of who we are; who we really are, not what the alliance wants us to be."

Cassian leaned against the nearest table. He had his head tilted down in deep thought. Jyn took pity on him and moved over to wrap her arms around his neck.

"You've been in this fight since you were six years old. You were born on Fest, but you don't have any pictures from your childhood. You're a spy who reprogrammed an imperial droid and was recently promoted to Major. You're also very good at lying. That's it. That's all I know about you."

Cassian laughed lightly, shaking his head. "When you say it like that, you do have a point. Not necessarily a good one, either."

"You probably know more about me than I do," Jyn smiled. "The files you have on me."

"Your dossier was hard to put together," Cassian confessed. "Everything about you was sketchy."

"My whole life has been sketchy," Jyn stated.

Cassian wrapped his arms around Jyn's waist, pulling her closer. They didn't kiss; just stared at each other, trying to determine what the other was thinking.

"What do you want to know?" Cassian finally asked softly.

Jyn leaned back, thinking. "Will you answer truthfully?"

Cassian refrained from rolling his eyes. "Do you really need to ask that?"

"To the casual liar?" Jyn said playfully. "I think I do." Cassian let go of her as she moved to sit on the table next to him. "Let's start at the beginning, shall we? Since you were six years old?"

"My father was killed at Carida Academy during a protest that turned violent," Cassian began slowly. "I was on Fest at the time. My mother was ill and died months later. Eventually I found myself part of an insurrection cell part of the Independents. I didn't know what was going on really. I knew troopers had killed my father and I wanted revenge. Years later after the empire was formed, General Draven recruited me to the rebellion."

"That's a long time to be alone," Jyn remarked quietly.

"I wasn't alone, not really. I may have been an orphan, but there were other children and the adults took good care of us."

"When I lived on Coruscant as a child, I barely saw my father," Jyn said softly. "He was so busy working. When we moved to Lah'mu, it took me some time to warm up to him again."

"There's something I've been meaning to ask you," Cassian said, looking at her. "Something Arhul Nemo said back on Commenor."

"What?"

"What did he mean when he said 'what Krennic did to your mother'?"

"My mother was killed by a death trooper under the orders of Krennic," Jyn replied quietly. "I was hiding not far away and saw it happen. Unlike you, I grew up thinking troopers were good. I was so confused by what was happening."

"I'm sorry."

"She was supposed to come with me to wait for Saw Gerrera, but she changed her mind and went back for my father."

"We never discovered your family's connection to Saw," Cassian said.

Jyn smiled at her first memory of Saw. "I was four years old when my parents left Coruscant. Saw met us at the spaceport and took us off planet. He rescued us from Krennic when my father discovered what his work was really being used for. Saw took us to Lah'mu and set us up, keeping in contact every now and then. I missed him at first."

Jyn placed her hand over Cassian's. "I should probably start packing. I don't have long before I leave."

Cassian slid off the table, holding Jyn's hand for her to follow. "You will be gone for a month, but I may end up away for two."

"What?" Jyn almost gasped.

"I have several associates I need to meet up with. If I don't keep in regular contact, I may miss vital information or they may move and I could lose track of them."

Jyn didn't pout, but she certainly felt like doing so.

"This is how it will be most of the time, at least until Rogue One is together again," he said.

"When will that happen?"

Cassian shrugged. "Their training is going well and Bodhi seems to be enjoying his time on Folor Base. Perhaps when I get back."

"I suppose I should use that extra month to train as well," Jyn said.

Cassian smiled. "You hardly need training. But yes, there are a few things you could learn."

"Just come back," Jyn blurted out. She blinked, surprised at herself for saying such words.

Cassian leaned down, briefly hesitating before kissing her. This was all so knew to them both; this intimacy. Being so close to another and wanting it felt intoxicating.

Jyn swallowed, biting her lip as Cassian straightened. Neither knew what to say to each other. Two months was hardly a long time, but it still felt an eternity.

"Take care, Jyn," Cassian finally said. "This time you will be talking first and then fighting later."

Jyn grinned. "I'll be sure to remember that."

...

0ABY: Hosnian Prime

Coming home was tiring, dark and cold. Snow was falling heavily as the Andors trudged through the front door. Nydo had the apartment's heating on with hot beverages waiting on the counter. Cassian placed Kalei down in her carrier on the sofa, gently brushing away the snow. Kalei wailed.

"I'll feed her," Jyn said, shrugging off her coat. "You go shower."

Sitting down on the sofa with Kalei in her arms, Jyn leaned back, resting. She had hoped coming home would make her realise how much she had missed it. In a sense she had missed it; the familiarity. Jyn wanted to feel domesticated, but forcing those feelings on herself made her heart push it back with a resilience she once used to fight the empire with. She had been home less than ten minutes and already she was feeling miserable. Wasn't this what they were fighting for all this time? To have this kind of life?

Later in the evening after a hot shower and wrapping Kalei up snugly in the bassinet in their room, Jyn got under the covers, flicking through her datapad at all the unread messages. There was one regarding a possible transfer over to pathfinders with a recommendation from Han Solo to join his team. Jyn huffed; feeling like her life was currently being decided by the men around her. Cassian walked into their room and adjusted the heating.

"It's warmer over here," Jyn said, placing her datapad on the bedside table. "Come to bed."

"Just want it warm enough for Kalei," Cassian replied. He moved over to the bassinet and shifted the small blankets while Kalei rubbed her face with her tiny hand. "I can't believe how fast she grows."

Jyn hummed, pushing the blankets aside for Cassian to slip in beside her. "She might actually sleep tonight considering she didn't sleep at all on the flight home."

As Cassian got under the blankets, Jyn pulled him over on top of her, kissing him fiercely. Cassian, taken by surprise, positioned himself between her legs and returned the kiss with equal fierce. As tired as they both were, they seized at the opportunity. Jyn pawed at his clothes, tugging of his long-sleeved shirt.

"Are you sure?" Cassian asked between kisses.

"I want you now," was all Jyn said as she arched her back to remove her own shirt. Even though it was an unexpected and pleasant surprise, Cassian's mind kept worrying about hurting her.

After Jyn removed both their pants, Cassian rolled them over so she straddled him. Her skin was as smooth as ever as he trailed his fingers down her arms as she rested her hands on his chest. Cassian prided himself in being able to read people easily and he could see in Jyn's eyes that something was bothering her and this was a way of keeping herself distracted. Perhaps even to keep him from prying. Before he could ask, Jyn leaned down to trail kisses along his neck. The feel of her breasts on his chest caused his arousal to spike. He buried his face in Jyn's neck, enjoying the intoxicating feel of her being so close to him again. It had been a long time and his body was craving more. This time, however, he was going to let her take the lead and let her set the limits.

Jyn leaned back, running her fingernails down his chest gently, smiling. She grabbed hold of his arousal, moving her hand up and down several times before positioning him at her entrance. Cassian had his hands firmly on her hips, bracing for what was to come next. He didn't need his eyes open to see Jyn's hesitation; he could feel it. He opened his eyes just as Jyn slipped him inside her. She let go, placing her hands back on his chest as she slowly lowered herself. He had almost forgotten how good this felt. Almost.

"You okay?" Cassian breathed, softening his grip on her hips.

"Fine," Jyn replied quietly.

They both stayed motionless as Jyn adjusted her body once more. Cassian tugged her down to lean on her elbows so he could run his fingers through her hair, kissing her jaw line. From the moment Jyn had met Cassian, he always had a way of calming her down and keeping her head level. Memories of their time together in the rebellion mixed with Cassian's warmth and being inside her had Jyn feeling emotional. Her eyes watered, but she refrained from letting them spill. Slowly, she moved her hips, bringing her face down to kiss her husband. It hurt to move with him inside her, but eventually the pain subsided as her body became reacquainted with Cassian's once more. Having him inside her felt like home and her chest ached with raw emotions as she sped up.

Cassian dug his nails into her hips, his brows knit close together as he concentrated to keep himself going. He was surprised at how fast she wanted to go and his body wanted to bask in its ecstasy far quicker than he wanted. Eventually, Jyn slowed down, kissing at the layer of sweat on Cassian's chest. The room was warm to begin with and Jyn could feel her own body layered with sweat.

"Swap?" Cassian asked between breaths.

Jyn hummed with agreement and let Cassian carefully roll them over to keep himself inside her. She instantly pulled him down for another deep kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck to keep him in place. Cassian moved slowly, still unsure what his limits were.

"Not like this," Jyn said, pushing Cassian up. "Faster."

He knew better than to ask if she was sure; he placed his hands on either side of her and sped up the pace. It almost felt like old times and Jyn had to place her fist in her mouth to keep her from moaning too loudly. The last thing either of them wanted was for their daughter to wake up. Length of time was not in Cassian's favour and he soon spent himself inside Jyn with one last thrust. He lowered himself onto his elbows as they both breathed heavily and rapidly.

"I needed that," Jyn finally said.

Cassian lifted his head to look at her with a smirk. "Glad to be of service."

Jyn grinned. "Don't be like that."

"I think I needed it too," Cassian confessed.

"This is coming from the man who went without sex for two years before he met me," Jyn said playfully.

Cassian groaned into the pillow. "I should never have told you that."

Jyn sobered as Cassian gently pulled himself out and rolled over onto his back. Jyn quickly dressed and handed Cassian's clothes over to him before checking on Kalei. She was still sleeping with one hand peeking out of the blankets.

"You sure have her wrapped up," Jyn remarked.

Cassian pulled his pants on. "The last thing we need right now is for her to get sick."

Jyn's legs felt weak, so she laid back down and let Cassian cover her with the blankets. Time passed while they listened to each other's breathing.

"Cassian, I have something to tell you."

Her husband, on the cusp of sleep, lazily looked over at her. "What?"

Jyn took a deep breath. Now or never. "I'm going to join Han's pathfinders."