1.
Maura looked around at the toys and baby things scattered over the lounge of the ship. The crew never complained, just took it in stride. Aric and Tanno were at a remote outpost, delivering an ambassador for treaty talks. Elara was taking a break, but until a few minutes ago she'd been playing as hard as the twins. Maura had asked the young medic once if she minded the twins on board. Her reply had made Maura laugh, she'd told her CO that she had all the fun of babies without having to pay for their schooling. Thank the stars they're napping, Maura thought, they're wearing me out. After recovering from the flu, Maura had been working nonstop. She and Aric had enjoyed their little quarantine, though, she thought with a smile. She'd just picked up the toys when she heard the ship's door open. The men came in quietly, never sure if they'd wake sleeping babies or not.
"Hey Major," Tanno called out as he went toward his quarters, eager to shed armor. Aric strode over to her, grabbing her for a kiss before he went to do the same. She followed him into their quarters, admiring the view of him as he quickly unlatched plate and stacked it neatly in a trunk. She lost herself as her eyes feasted, thinking of the evening before, when she'd touched all those places she was looking at now. He couldn't help but notice her attention, and before she could snap herself out of her reverie, he'd used that beautiful, muscled body to pin her between the wall and himself, running his hands under her shirt as he kissed her. She was melting against him, helpless whenever he touched her, when the holo chime started. He didn't hear it at first, he was just too focused, but he did feel her stiffen and looked up with a frown.
"I hate that thing," he growled as he let his hands drop and gave her space enough to walk toward it. He watched as she moved to answer the call, appreciating the view. He saw the image of her mother as the call connected, and saw Maura school her face into a neutral expression. He didn't join her, but he could tell by her body language that she wasn't enjoying the call. When she disconnected, she returned to him but instead of passion, there was hurt in her eyes.
"Honey, what's wrong?" he gathered her in a hug. She sighed.
"She knows something is going on with one of us, but it's not my news to tell, and now she's angry with all of us. I hate that," she told him. "Mir has to tell her, just so she'll back off, before I lose it with them both." She shifted to push him backward onto the bed. "Now, where were we…"
2.
Felix watched his wife as she attempted to show her padawan a lightsaber move, one he'd seen her wield with great success many times. Nadia, however, showed her typical impatience and groused at having to learn this when she could just use her mind. No matter how many times Magdalane had told her she'd need both, the younger woman stubbornly refused to listen. Felix had grown to dislike Nadia because of this attitude, and he wondered if he'd be able to hold his tongue the next time she turned that snotty face to Mags.
Magdalane glanced to him, reading his emotions, and raised her eyebrow at him. He tried to reassure her with his smile, but she knew he was irritated. She dismissed Nadia for the afternoon, and the padawan glared at Felix as she stalked out. He shook his head, and focused on Mags as she gathered the target droids off the mats.
She'd just turned to ask Felix what was going on with him and Nadia, when the holo chime sounded. She took his hand and they walked to the holo, and Felix pushed the receive button. Sarai's image wavered then steadied.
"Hello, hello," she said, her gaze taking in their joined hands and relaxed faces. "I'm wondering, do you two have some news for me? Magdalane, you know I can feel there's something going on out there."
Magdalane schooled her expression and shut down her mind, hoping to not give anything away. "Why no, Mother, just our usual daily activities. You know, training and traveling to the next mission. What do you feel?"
Her mother scowled at her, "Really? You girls think that I don't care what you're doing, but I do. And I can use the force just like you can, Magdalane. Don't think I won't figure it out." And with that, she was gone.
Magdalane turned her back to Felix, and he saw her shoulders shaking, her head bent, and was about to comfort her when he realized she was laughing, so hard that she couldn't breathe. It made him smile, the sound of her laughter, and it transformed her normally serious face. He imagined that she looked like this as a young girl, joyous and open. When she was able to speak again, she leaned against him, still bursting out into laughter.
"Oh, Miriah, she's after you now," she said. "Mother is on the warpath, thinking that we're plotting something, I guess. Miriah hasn't told her about the baby yet, and she can feel it in the force that we're all hiding something. Just, the look on her face, it was just like when we were kids and actually were plotting against her." She sat down on the couch, breathless, and pulled him down beside her. "I'll send Miriah a note, so she can be prepared." She was still smiling when she looked at him and asked," You know, your feelings about Nadia aren't without basis, but I keep hoping the anger can be redirected."
"I won't tolerate her abusing you, Mags, when you've done nothing but try your best to help her harness and use her force power." She kissed his cheek, but he turned his head and changed her chaste kiss into one filled with passion, feeling her respond. This is how it had been lately, since she'd stopped obsessing about having a baby, she was more relaxed and he was less worried about pushing her. Lots more fun, he thought. He stood and led her to their quarters, and he made her forget everything but him.
3.
Miriah was napping when the holo chime sounded, and Corso walked to the next room to answer. He was a little surprised when his mother in law appeared before him, but not concerned. Until she spoke, that is.
"Young man, where is Miriah? I wish to speak to her, now." Her tone and look had his protective instincts flaring, and he looked at her warily.
"She's resting at the moment, I don't want to wake her. Can she call you when she…."
"I said now, not at her convenience."
He visibly bristled at that, "I will have her call you when she is awake…" reaching for the disconnect switch but was stopped by Miriah's hand on his. She stepped closer and kissed him, feeling her mother's disdain, and turned to her.
"Mother, congratulations. You just pissed off the sweetest man in the galaxy. Now, what is so important that you would be rude to my husband?" Miriah sent her mother a look so cold that Corso flinched.
Sarai looked chagrined at that, " I apologize, I allowed my temper to take over. I'm sorry, Corso, I had no right"
"'There is no emotion, only peace', right?" Miriah snickered at her mother's expression. "Now, what is it that you called for?"
"You don't have to answer, I see it now. I just knew there was something that you girls were hiding, and I let it get the better of me that I didn't know. " Her voice softened. "I'm so excited for you, Miriah, babies are always a good thing. Again, I'm sorry, I was out of line. Please, take care of each other, and I hope you'll let me know how things are going. I-I do love you, Miriah." With that she was gone, and Miriah let out a breath.
"I'm sorry, love, that she was rude." He just held her close to him, she could feel his strong, steady heart beating.
"It's fine, it's over now, and we don't have to worry about telling her." He pulled back to look in her eyes, "Rest well?" She nodded, and snuggled close again. He could feel the differences in her body when he held her, the fullness of her, with just a tiny belly that he loved. She worried that he wouldn't want to be with her when she started showing, but she had no idea how much seeing that sweet belly moved him. He was looking forward to feeling his son move, but it hadn't happened yet. As they stood there, blissfully just drinking each other in, the holo chimed again. He grinned at her, "Your turn to answer." She playfully swatted at him as he danced away, and she turned to see Maura.
"Hey you guys, you'll never guess who called earlier in a mood…"
"Yeah I can, she called here and was rude to Corso when he wouldn't wake me up," Miriah told her.
"Wow, I'm sorry, Cor, that you saw that side of her," Maura mused. "Oh well, she'll get over it. Mags called me after she was pretty rude to her, too. Mags couldn't stop laughing, you know how she'd get the giggles when we were cooking up some trouble? Just like that. It was amazing to see Mags that amused, I was beginning to think the Jedi had trained it out of her."
Miriah laughed at that, and told Maura she was doing well. They had plans to get everyone together in two weeks when they were all on Dantooine again. When they disconnected, she went to sit with Corso on the porch, in the swing they both loved.
"I really am sorry that happened," she told him.
"I told you, I've got your back, whether it's from Imps, rakghouls, or moms," he smiled at her. She smiled back, knowing it was true.