By the evening, Miriah and Corso had a system worked out. He got up to do the diaper change and handed his son to Miriah, who fed him, then handed him back to burp and be put back in his bed. They'd spent the afternoon napping, and Miriah was amazed at how hungry she was when Akaavi brought dinner for them all. She'd talked for a few minutes with Maura via holo but Mags was in transit and the call wouldn't connect. Risha had been so excited to hear the news, and talked for a while with them both. While Akaavi sat with Devin, Corso helped her in and out of shower, her movements still shaky with fatigue, and when she despaired at her stretched body, he held and rocked her, telling her that she'd always be beautiful to him.
Devin slept in three hour stretches, but his parents were fine with that. Miriah was tired and sore, and she moved slowly to allow herself time to adjust. Corso gently massaged her back, and she fell asleep with her head on his shoulder. He just held her close, and drifted off himself. When the baby whimpered just before dawn, he carefully got up and went to him. After changing him, he just rocked him a few minutes, letting Miriah sleep as long as he could. When a louder cry came from Devin, her eyes opened and she sat up, ready for her son. As he had breakfast, Corso walked around the small room, gathering up all the things that had accumulated there, eager to get on the ship and home.
After many lists of instructions and the congratulations of the staff, they slowly made their way to the Stardancer. Once aboard, Miriah went to their quarters, exhausted from the walk. Akaavi noticed that she was thinner than before her pregnancy, and vowed to keep a watch on her and make sure she kept her strength up. Corso brought the baby to her, put his sleeping son in his mother's arms, and kissed her before he went to start preflight. Akaavi had already done the external walkaround, so as soon as they were on board, they were all set. Once in flight, Corso joined them.
"He's doing okay with the flight?" he asked, looking at his son over Miriah's shoulder as Devin looked around, unfazed by hyperspace.
Miriah chuckled, "We were both asleep until about ten minutes ago. He's just been fed." She leaned against Corso when he sat beside them. "Look, his eyes are already turning brown. He's so perfect, sugar. I think we did well, don't you?" She turned her silver eyes to his, and leaned in to kiss him. It started out sweet but quickly a spark ignited between them, and she didn't want to stop. When she broke their contact, she looked at him with guilt, struggling to catch her breath. "Wow, I guess it has been awhile. I had no idea I was going to do that, but you always have had that effect on me," she told him, her voice husky with the sudden surge of need that had shot through her. He wrapped his arms around her, a little roughly at first, but when he whispered next to her ear, she understood.
"Don't you ever think that I don't ache for you, 'cause I do, always will. We can't pursue this right now, but darlin' when we can, when you're ready, believe me you'll understand how much." She blushed, which only made him want her more. He stood, thinking distance might be a good option right now, and kissed her on the head as he made his way back to the bridge. She looked at Devin, who was still awake and alert. "I so hope you are just like your dad, Devin. He's a good, good man." The baby just blinked, and started to get drowsy. She held him on her chest and arranged the pillows to prop them both up, and they both napped again.
She woke up when the ship gently touched down in their hangar. Akaavi was holding Devin, having just changed him. "Thanks, 'Kaavi, I guess I was more tired than I thought."
Akaavi helped her stand, her muscles still sore and weak. "I am always happy to help you, captain, you just rarely let me. You need rest, as a new mother who's breastfeeding." She smiled at the infant. "He is a pleasure, anyway." The Mandalorian turned to go, and Miriah caught her arm.
"Miriah. Akaavi, you are family, call me by my name." They exchanged smiles, then a hug. Corso joined them just as the ramp lowered and they made their way down. When they reached the bottom, C2 was there with the large speeder.
"Master, I thought this might help you get you and the baby back up the hill to the house. I will follow shortly. Do you need things from the ship prior to my arrival?"
"No, C2, this is great. Thanks for thinking of it."
They rode up to the house and Corso was helping her stand when there was a roar behind them. They turned to see the entire family, the biological and ship crew, holding a banner that said "Happy Birthday, Devin!" They all started talking at once, and Corso kissed her, which made them louder. Finally he held Devin in his arms and they walked onto the deck and into the house. There was a table full of food, and she could tell C2 had been cleaning in preparation of them being home. Fresh flowers had been cut and there was a huge pile of wrapped gifts in the corner. All these voices were going, and Miriah had gotten a hug from everyone, when suddenly she heard a tiny voice.
"An 'Riah," it said, so softly she wasn't even sure that she'd heard it at first. "An 'Riah," she heard again, then saw Calleigh reaching for her, her silver eyes shining at her aunt.
"Oh Calleigh, you're talking!" Miriah took the little girl and grunted with the effort as she stood with her. Corso heard, and was at her side immediately. "Corso, Calleigh called for me, she said my name."
"Calleigh, you're such a smart girl," Corso cooed to her, taking her from Miriah, thinking that his wife should really sit. Calleigh wasn't having it, though, and cried as she reached for her aunt. Corso led them over to the soft couch and when Miriah was sitting, he put Calleigh in her lap. Calleigh wrapped her arms around her aunt's neck and snuggled while Miriah calmed her, stroking her back and talking softly to her.
"She's missed seeing you, and in the past few days she's called your name dozens of times," Maura told her, sitting beside her sister and her daughter. "It's so cute, I can't even get irritated at her." Maura grinned, "That's a fine boy you brought home, little sister. "
"Yeah, I think he's pretty cute," Miriah told her, "but it's time to feed him, so I'll let you take Calleigh, she's asleep now." Miriah started to get up, but saw Corso heading toward her with a fussing Devin. She threw a blanket over her shoulder and proceeded to feed him, Maura watching with a surprised look.
"Whoa, look who went all natural on us," she commented. Miriah blushed, but told her sister it just seemed right. Maura nodded, she wished she'd tried it with the twins. They chatted happily while Devin nursed, and when he was done, Miriah handed him to Maura and arranged her clothes. Maura handed him back to Miriah, who tried but failed to get a burp out of the infant. "This is his dad's specialty. Whenever I put him on my shoulder, he only wants to snuggle."
"Can you blame him? I'd snuggle there, too" Corso teased as he lifted his son and placed him on his shoulder. They all turned as the front door opened, and Magdalane appeared with a huge box, Felix following with another box.
"Mags!" Miriah practically shouted. "What have you done?" They laughed at the size of the gifts, but Mags insisted they were very practical. When Mags took Devin, she had an odd look on her face, but quickly reassured those around her.
"It's exactly like my vision" she said, wiping a happy tear. "He's so precious, Mir. Well done, Corso." She handed the baby to Felix and moved to her youngest sister, whose energy was falling. She placed her hands on Miriah's, and the force aura grew as the healing took place. When she was done, Miriah was much less sore and had regained some energy, and she smiled at Mags.
"Thank you, Magdalane. It means a lot to me that you'd travel all this way and then heal me. And…" Miriah ran her hands down her now flat stomach, "how did you do that? You tightened the stretched skin and muscles? That's amazing, Mags, really."
"How do you think I got back into shape so quickly," Maura smirked. "It is amazing, though, and makes you feel so much better."
"It's nothing, standard healing of collagen and muscle fiber," Magdalane remarked, taking the baby back from Felix. Corso reappeared with a plate of food and a large glass of juice.
"You need nourishment, love, and lots of liquids, remember?" She took both, suddenly ravenous and moving easier now. "What else can I get for you, sweetheart?" She patted the couch and he sat, the day catching up to him. They all talked, enjoying each other's company, until Devin woke again. When he was satisfied and alert, Corso held him while Colin and Calleigh looked at their cousin in wonder. Colin lost interest pretty quickly, and Aric took him outside to play for a bit, but Calleigh was fascinated, gently stroking his hand.
"I see best friends in the making," Maura said, smiling at her daughter. Calleigh climbed up on the couch and sat between Miriah and Corso, still watching Devin between patting her aunt's cheek and hugging her uncle. "She feels things intensely, and she's been missing you both." Corso handed Devin to Mags and held the little girl until she decided to find her twin. She hopped down, but not until she'd kissed her uncle and her aunt. They smiled as she went in search of Colin, they constantly sought each other's presence when they weren't together.
As afternoon turned into evening, the family started to leave, seeing that Miriah was tired. She stood unsteadily as everyone hugged her on the way out. Aric told her, "Well done, Spitfire, he's a keeper!" Felix had simply hugged her and told her he was proud of her. Magdalane and Maura hugged her together, no words needed. Both sisters would be on the planet for a few days, so they'd see each other tomorrow. Risha was going to stay in the guest house and Guss and Bow had gone earlier.
"Just us now," Corso said, steadying her as she swayed, "and you're going to lie down." He picked her up, since she was so unsteady and put her gently down on their bed. He got her settled before he brought Devin in, who was just starting a sleep cycle, and placed him in the bassinette. He lay with her until she slept, thinking how great this day had been.
Sarai had gotten word that she was a grandmother again, and shipped the package she'd been putting together for months now. She knew there was a chance that Miriah wouldn't accept it, but she had to try. She'd included a letter with the baby things, and she prayed that even if her youngest daughter didn't accept the gifts, she'd read the letter. Please, please read the letter, she thought.