1.

Maura smiled into Aric's back the whole ride home in the pouring rain. What a day! After learning shortly before arriving on Coruscant about firing on a ship with Republic registration, and learning it was the Stardancer and her crew who they'd fired on, she'd been riding a wave of fear mixed with anxiety all day. And now, with the issues straightened out and the prisoner in custody, she learned she'd be an aunt early next year. Miriah looked genuinely happy, she thought, and of course Corso was about to burst he was so excited. Maura moved her hands on her husband's chest and felt him growl at her in response, which made her want more. She very clearly remembered celebrating the news of the twins with him, and hoped that Miriah was doing the same.

Ahead she saw the lights of their house, but since it was late there were only the ones she'd turned on before they'd left. Good, she thought, Elara and the babies are asleep. Aric parked the speeder under the overhang and they stepped into the back entry, disarming the alarm system. It was a small space, but Maura managed to strip out of her wet things in few motions, used to taking advantage of short gifts of time when they were given. Aric had his back to her, resetting the alarm, when he felt her hands glide up under the loose shirt he was wearing. When he turned and saw her, he moved quickly to pull her against him, wet clothing and all. "I was thinking of a hot shower, but this works too. Points for speed, Major," he hissed at her as she pulled the shirt over his head and tossed the wet garment in a heap beside her own. They worked their way up the stairs to their room, and made sure the door was locked.

It was only hours later that they talked. Maura was draped across her husband, drawing circles on his chest with her finger. "I'm so excited to have more babies in the family," she told him. "Colin and Calleigh will have someone to play with."

Aric regarded his wife with sleepy eyes, "Corso looked like he'd just been given his own galaxy." He chuckled, "He's going to be the most doting, protective, annoying father to be ever, too. Miriah's gonna end up punching him. I'd love to be there when he tells the Spitfire she can't do something."

Maura smiled, "Maybe not, I mean, he grew up on a ranch and he has one now, so I'm sure he knows how all this works. And Miriah loves that he notices all the little things. I'm guessing she did a scan, wonder if she knows the sex of the baby yet?"

Aric looked thoughtful. "I bet it's a boy. By this point with the twins you were sick day and night, and other than tired and a little pale, Miriah looked normal."

Maura regarded him with narrowed eyes, "You're on. I'm taking girl baby, and the winner gets…what?"

"Hmm, we'll have to designate a prize at a later time. Right now, we have to be on the ship in less than three hours, so the question is, sleep or…" He was cut off by her kiss. "Good answer," he replied.

2.

Corso lay in the dark, thinking. He should be sleepy but he felt like he'd taken a stim or something, his mind was racing with all the things he wanted to do to get ready for his son. His son! He looked over at his sleeping wife, the moonlight playing over her resting form. He knew he had a tendency to overprotect her, he'd have to watch that, he thought. Like right now, he wanted to get up and measure the room next to theirs for a crib, but he knew that if he got up he'd wake her, and he wouldn't do that. He gently moved part of her hair off her face, but she didn't move, her exhaustion combined with the pregnancy overriding her usual insomnia their first night home. He pressed a kiss to her head and tried to close his eyes to sleep.

He was just getting sleepy when he thought of his dad. Boy, he would be over the moon about a grandson, Corso mused. He'd always told Corso, "Just you wait, son, one day you'll have a son of your own and you're gonna want to teach him things." Dad, I am going to have a son, and I wish you were here, he thought. You and Mom. He looked over at Miriah, wondering when she was going to tell her mom. Probably never, if she didn't have to, he figured. Things had been better between them in the last couple of years, but they would never have the bond he'd had with his parents.

Miriah stirred in her sleep, reaching out for him. He rolled toward her, gathered her to him and, feeling her shiver, pulled the blanket up over her shoulder. She snuggled close to him but didn't wake, and he breathed a sigh of relief, knowing she needed the rest. He finally fell asleep, surrounded by the scent of peaches.

3.

Magdalane and Felix were on their approach to Dantooine when Mags felt it, something very bright and joyous in the force. It was small, but it seemed somehow significant, something she should note. She shook her head, and looked over at Felix, who was piloting them in. He'd been more quiet than usual the past couple of days, but she could feel nothing amiss in his aura, just a tiredness that they all felt after being on a mission for three weeks. Or maybe he was getting that flu that was making the rounds on Coruscant, they'd stopped there briefly on the way to Tython for debriefing. She'd keep an eye on him, she vowed, since he'd never admit being sick.

They made it to their new house late, and decided to sleep instead of anything else, which was another clue that Felix wasn't feeling well. She did a quick force scan, and saw the virus in his system, but there wasn't much she could do. Once they'd changed for bed, she asked him, "Are you sure that virus I see in you isn't making you feel like hell, sweetie?"

He looked sheepishly at her. "I should have realized you'd find it," he told her, "and yes, I do feel kinda bad, but it's getting better."

She smiled at him," Yes, you have about two more days before you should be clear of it, but in the meantime, you need fluids and rest." She got up to get water from the little cooler in their room, and watched as he drank it, noticing that his throat was sore and raw, yet he'd said nothing.

"Why didn't you just tell me?" she asked him, concern in her voice.

"I didn't want you to worry about me or anything but getting that mission done so we could come home," he told her. "Now, all I want is you to rest here beside me." He patted the bed, and she stretched out beside him. "See? That's all I need."

As they drifted off to sleep, she remembered the force "flare". "Felix, I felt something really wonderful in the force as we landed, but I'm not sure what it was exactly. Just something small but wonderful." He mumbled something but was so close to sleep she couldn't understand it. Instead of waking him, she stroked his cheek and smiled. Whatever the wonderful was, she'd figure it out tomorrow.