Fress held onto Brice's hand as the nurse prepped him for surgery. It was time to remove the bomb from him. Jess was standing on the other side of his bed as Brice gave a brave smile. "We'll be right here when you wake up."

"I know," Brice said with a smile as Fress gently ran her hand along his cheek. "I love you. I'm not worried. I know I'll be fine."

"I love you," Fress returned as she bent over and kissed him on the forehead. "Just remember that."

"Don't worry, Fress. Your son couldn't be in better hands," the nurse spoke with reassurance. "I need to take Brice into the back to finish prepping him. You'll be allowed to see him when he wakes up."

Fress nodded as Jess kissed Brice on the forehead then wrapped an arm around Fress's shoulders as they left the room. The nurse pushed Brice's bed through another door as she closed her eyes.

"He'll be fine," Jess reassured Fress as they walked out into the waiting area. "The kid is resilient like you."

"I know," Fress agreed as she sat down in a chair. Jess sat down beside her taking her hands into his. She leaned into Jess's side closing her eyes as she placed both of their hands onto her swollen tummy as she felt their babies move. "We need to figure something out."

"I'm okay with going back to Tatooine for a couple of years and help you raise them," Jess suggested with a frown. "It did Luke some good."

"We'll see," Fress responded with a weary smile. "Who knows, maybe we'll have taken Coruscant back by then."

"Until then, we need a safe place to raise them," Jess pointed out gently as he rested his head on top of hers. "We have a few months to think about it."

"We do," Fress agreed as she leaned her head against his chest. "They'll need names."

"I'm thinking Mekeila Ani Shern for a girl," Jess suggested.

Fress glanced up with a frown. "After Anakin's nickname?" She questioned sounding a little surprised. "Mekeila is my mother's name."

"Why not?" Jess questioned with a smile. "We could call her Kei for short."

Fress smiled as she took a deep breath and slowly released it. "How about Mike James Shern?"

"After my father and my brother?" Jess questioned sounding a little surprised. "I like it."

Fress smiled as the nurse walked out and gave a smile. "Any word yet?"

"They're just starting to remove the bomb now, it'll be a couple of hours before you can see him," the nurse explained with a smile. "Maybe go get something to eat in the mean time, or do something to help kill the time."

"We plan to wait right here," Jess said as Fress nodded in agreement. "We'll get something to eat after we see him."

"All right, I'll let you know when he's out," the nurse spoke as she walked back through the door. Fress had a feeling he'll be fine. She could sense it. She suddenly had the craving for something with dairy in it. "Jess, I'm in the mood for ice cream."

"Now?" Jess questioned as Fress heard someone chuckling. She glanced over and noticed Anakin watching them. He looked a lot better then he did two nights ago. "Are you starting to have cravings?"

"Yes, at least something with a lot of calcium in it," Fress answered honestly as Jess stood up and headed towards the kitchen. "You look a lot better, Anakin."

"I feel a lot better," Anakin answered as he sat down in a chair beside her. "I want to talk to you about something. I've requested to have the clone brought on board."

"Ahsoka and I have this," Fress reassured with a smile. "Did you get the list?"

"We did. Palpatine changed his codes but it didn't take long to hack the files. Fey'lya has submitted the list to the Bothan government and they will be taking care of the individuals involved," Anakin explained with a small smile.

"That's good to hear," Fress said as she watched him with a smile. "How does Fey'lya feel now?"

"He didn't say anything but I could sense he was grateful for the list," Anakin answered with a smug grin. "Is that your best work?"

"It is my best work, I recorded his reactions without him knowing it. When we get a chance, I'll have to show you the whole thing," Fress answered with a grin. "I'm a little surprised when Padme gave me the go ahead after telling me no."

"That doesn't sound like her," Anakin muttered under his breath with a frown. "Either that or I did rub off on her at some point."

"I think it's the latter," Fress pointed out with a small smile. "What is it they say about your significant other rubbing off on you?"

"Padme must've been really angry with him," Anakin pointed out with a frown. "I know she wasn't too thrilled when I told her after what happened and how I came into contact with that bug."

"You being on a respirator doesn't make sense," Fress agreed with a frown. "She was angry and couldn't find any words to express how she felt after they rushed you out of the room. Mon Mothma told Fey'lya he lost his vote handing the vote to Padme originally. She allowed Leia to cast the vote."

"Normally Padme doesn't have trouble expressing her feelings," Anakin muttered under his breath. They sat in silence for a few minutes but Fress noticed it was a comfortable silence between old friends.

"Anakin, we were discussing baby names before you walked in," Fress spoke with a small smile wondering how he felt about using his nickname. "I'm carrying twins, we were thinking Mekeila Ani Shern for a girl. I don't know how you feel about that or not."

"You're going to give her my nick name?" Anakin questioned sounding a little surprised as Fress nodded. He fell silent for a few seconds as a smile spread across his face. "I'm honored."

Before another word could be spoken the door to the operating room opened and the medic overseeing Brice's surgery walked out with a smile. "General, we'll discuss how the surgery went in private."

"Its okay, whatever you have to say you can say in front of Anakin," Fress gave permission with a frown as the medic nodded.

"Very well," the medic tucked the data pad underneath his arm. "The surgery was a success and Brice should be waking up within the hour. You'll be able to see him after we move him into a recovery room after he wakes up. I want him to rest for the next couple of days allowing the incision to heal from the bacta. He should be fine and will make a full recovery. Where is Commander Shern?"

"On a calcium craving run for me," Fress answered simply as the medic smiled in understanding. "I'm wondering if you could stretch the rule and allow Jess and I in the room for when he wakes up?"

"Normally I would say no, I'm sure you're just anxious to be by his side," the medic answered as he took his data pad and typed in the request. "Just this once, and General Skywalker, I'm not going to allow you in there considering how your health has been the last forty-eight hours."

"I don't mind. The last thing Brice needs is the flu on top of that surgery," Anakin agreed readily as Fress nodded in agreement as Jess entered the waiting room with a tall glass of blue milk in his hand. She accepted with a smile and guzzled it down.

"If you both will follow me," the medic said as Fress stood up and handed the glass to the medic who held out his hand for it. "I'll take you back there."

Brice found himself on a field but he wasn't sure where he was exactly. He walked the plains as two figures appeared in front of him causing him to frown. As he closed the distance he recognized the beings causing him to smile sadly. It was his adoptive parents. "Mom, dad?"

"Brice, I'm so sorry for what my sister did to you," Loran spoke with a sorrowful expression. "She should've never done that to you. I love you so much and miss you."

"I miss you too," Brice said with a saddened expression as Brila walked forward and hugged him. "I know they gave me up because they loved me and didn't want Vader to find me. I'm okay with that."

"Brice, we had planned to tell you when you were older that Fress and Jess were keeping in constant contact with us. We shared your moments with them, sent them updates and they helped us financially. Do you still have that crystal from your tenth birthday? The one we told you was from an anonymous person?"

Brice nodded as he remembered bringing the crystal with him on board Home One. He held onto it suspecting it was something special. He felt like there was some connection to it he couldn't quite explain. He looked up at Brila as understanding slowly sunk in. The anonymous donor they told him about throughout his childhood, some of the gifts he got on his birthday his parents were being mysterious about. They were coming from Fress and Jess all this time? They really loved him and risked so much to keep tabs on him. "It was from them, wasn't it?"

"Yes it was," Brila answered with a saddened smile. "We had planned to tell you about the mysterious donors when the time was right. When we got permission from Jess and Fress to do so," she explained with a saddened expression. "They wanted to tell you but due to their situation, they couldn't risk it. They risked so much to keep in contact. They love you so much. Fress cried for weeks on end after she gave you up. Jess was unsure if they made the correct decision or not and voiced his concerns to me. They didn't want you being found out or hurt. They had a year to change their mind. They decided it was best in the long run to leave you with us. We don't regret taking you in, it gave us a chance to be parents. We could not have one of our own. We love you, Brice and will be with you, always."

"I miss you so much and love you," Brice said as both wrapped their arms around.

"We know," Loran agreed. "We miss you too. You'll be fine. We will be with you, always."

Brice closed his eyes not wanting this vision to end. He opened slightly blurry eyes as they slowly focused on a white ceiling. He heard a beeping sound close to his ear as he felt someone was holding his hand. He turned his head to the side as Fress and Jess smiled. "How did it go?"

"Better than expected," Fress answered with a relieved smile. "The medic said you'll be groggy for the next couple of days but will be fine. The bomb has been removed. How do you feel?

"Sore and tired," Brice answered honestly. "And thirsty," he realized his throat felt dry and irritated. It was most likely from a tube to help him breathe. "While I was asleep my parents came to me. They told me you were the mysterious donors and those gifts you had sent to me they wouldn't tell me who they were from, how you kept in contact with them. What's the crystal for?"

"When the time is right, and you're ready. You will use it as the heart of your lightsaber," Fress explained with a small smile. "The doctor won't allow you to have something to drink yet. He said in an hour you can."

"An hour?" Brice made a face at that answer. He wanted it now, not from an hour from now. "I don't know if I can wait that long."

"We'll talk with the medic and see if he's willing to allow ice chips," Fress spoke as Brice nodded. "They don't know how you'll react with a full glass of water. Ice chips would be better than nothing."

"Okay," Brice agreed as Jess walked out of the room. "Fress, thanks for the gifts you and Jess sent me over the years."

"You're welcome," Fress responded with a smile. "We love you so much. We're happy to have you back."

"I know," Brice glanced towards the door as Jess walked back in with the medic in tow. He was holding onto a small container.

"I see you're finally awake," the medic said as he held up four fingers. "How many fingers do you see?"

"Ten," Brice answered with a smirk causing the medic to raise an eyebrow. "Four."

"How are you feeling?" The medic questioned.

"Sore, thirsty, and tired," Brice answered honestly. "May I have some water?"

"I'll agree to a small cup of water. I want you to let it trickle down slowly. Everyone reacts differently to the anesthetic. I don't know how your body will react. Some have brought water back up and others are fine. In twenty minutes if you feel okay, I will allow you to have a little more," the medic explained patiently.

Jess handed him the small cup as Brice guzzled it down despite the medic telling him to slowly sip. He laid his head back as Fress rested her hand on his cheek. Brice closed his eyes as he felt sleepy all of a sudden. The medic said this would be the norm for the next couple of days.

Thanks for reading :)