Corso joined the family, now lounging around the living room, and Miriah soon followed, her eyes catching his with a grin. Sarai and Mags both felt the change in the emotional temperature of the room, but they were used to it from the young couple, and Sarai shook her head, smiling. Maura was sitting with Aric and the kids were all in the floor. Devin saw him mom enter and ran to her, his smile a smaller version of his father's. He told her that Calleigh looked pretty and that Akaavi was gone, but she didn't catch the rest of his chatter, until he told her Nana cried. She looked at her mom with a puzzled frown.
"Mom, you cried? Everything okay?" Sarai tried to take her youngest grandson, but he had his mom and wasn't moving.
"Oh, yes, I did. At the ceremony." Miriah nodded in understanding then, Devin wouldn't have understood the difference. She put her son on the floor, and he didn't fuss, but he stayed near her, holding onto her leg.
Magdalane was stretched out on one of the sofas, her head in her husband's lap. This pregnancy was nothing like Michi's, and she was feeling every one of her thirty four years in this one. Michi ran over to her mother and put her head on the mound of her brother, smiling. Michi had been a difficult baby at first, but had developed into a smiling little girl who liked nothing better than playing with her cousins. She especially idolized Colin, who was on the quiet side, just as she was. She patted her mom's belly and took off to the other kids, happy to be with everyone. Mags just watched her, and saw Felix smile at them both as he gently massaged her neck. Everything hurt with this baby, Mags thought, and Felix is right, I am doing too much. She promised herself she'd take this three day break to rest and relax. Miriah walked toward them, Devin clinging to her leg as she moved.
"How's Ian, sis? And you, of course. You look like you need a little pampering." Miriah grinned at them, noting that Mags was enjoying Felix's touch. "We have the three days, why don't you guys come out again tomorrow? We'll cook out and relax. "
"Are you sure about tomorrow, Mir? Cause Corso is looking at you like maybe he's got plans for this break that don't include anyone but you and him." Mags smirked at her sister, noting her blush.
"Hmm maybe the next day would be better," she said, and they both laughed. Felix had been helping out some on the ranch, and knew his brother in law needed some down time badly. Corso had been working eighteen hour days for a few weeks now, between the company and the ranch, and while he never seemed tired or irritable, he had to be feeling the strain.
"We'll be happy to come over whenever, Miriah, just let us know when is good," he told her, knowing that they'd eventually figure out a good time.
Corso was talking to Aric and Maura, but his eyes followed his wife's every move. Aric was telling them about a few new missions that Garza had sent them and asked Corso about the breeding season. "All done with it, I should be freed up some now. I'm actually writing a program to look at genetic matches and select the best mates for next year, something I should have done a while back. It's uh… ummm," his voice trailed off as he watched Miriah stretch from her bending position when she was talking to Mags. He was just staring when Maura snapped her fingers in front of him, and he blinked back to himself. "Sorry," he said, blushing as Maura and Aric laughed.
"Just go carry her off, man, we figured you guys wouldn't make it past changing," Aric chuckled. "You both deserve a little time off. Spitfire has been like a machine, working out missions at the office and then the wedding. Devin reminds me of you when they're there, he's always keeping an eye on his mom." Corso nodded, he'd hated that he'd had to leave his family for work so many days lately, and he knew that Miriah was carrying most of the burden of their lives right now. He was ready to be with them more, and so glad that the ranch was smoothing out.
Maura got up to feed the twins and Miriah followed with Devin and Michi, leaving Mags to rest. "I'm worried about her," Miriah said, looking at their oldest sister, whose eyes were closed now. Maura nodded.
"Yeah, Felix is right. Maybe she'll listen to him and rest these days off." Maura put plates together as Miriah cut fresh fruit for them. "Corso is half brain dead, and the other half is full of you," she told Miriah, grinning at her. Miriah blushed, but didn't respond, reveling in thoughts of what was to come. Sarai joined them in the kitchen, feeling the spike of pure emotion she'd felt from the other room grow stronger as she approached her daughters.
"Magdalane is sleeping, Mir, don't wake her," Sarai told her with a smile, and Miriah did try to calm her thoughts. The kids were done eating and Sarai and Maura took all four for baths while Miriah finished the adult's dinner. Aric and Corso came into the kitchen to help, but it was almost done. After a few minutes, Magdalane followed her nose to the rich scent of the lasagna Miriah had made, always hungry these days. Aric put plates on the table while Corso got the salad out of the cooler, and they all sat down to eat when Maura and Sarai returned, the kids playing in the playroom.
Aric brought up the subject of the office at dinner. "We have a few messages to get through, but nothing is marked urgent. Garza knows we're taking a few days off, so she shouldn't be calling. We're free and clear. Maura and I are being lazy, what about you guys?"
Corso nodded, "The ranch is coasting now, and I thought I'd take the kids fishing one afternoon, on the north side pond. No livestock there at the moment. I'm looking forward to some porch time, myself." He wouldn't look at his wife, knowing the force users at the table wouldn't appreciate the pure lust that would ensue. Felix nodded at him.
"I'd like that too, Cor. Been years since I went fishing, mind if I come along?" Corso smiled, Felix was generally very reserved, but lately he'd been talking more.
"Sounds great, Felix. You're always welcome here." It was true, Corso and Miriah had opened their place to them always, Felix thought. It's just who they were, and he felt totally at home here. Magdalane looked out toward the playroom, just as Miriah heard Devin calling for her.
"He's so tired, I think I'll go get him to bed, " she said with a sigh. Corso stood, putting his hand on her shoulder.
"No, love, you've barely eaten anything. Stay here, I'll put him to bed." Corso walked out and Miriah picked at her food for a minute.
"What's going on that you're not eating, Mir? Corso's right, you are losing weight again." Maura looked at her little sister with a critical eye, noting the slight smudges of fatigue and the loose clothing.
"Well, he's been working so hard, getting home late and just crashing. I've been doing the same with the office and the wedding, but I have so much going on that I'm not sleeping well. When I don't sleep well, I get nauseous, therefore I don't eat much." She shrugged. "At least I'm not having nightmares."
Magdalane smiled at her, "I have a feeling that the next three days will right things with you both." The group laughed, and Miriah had to join in. They looked up as Corso brought a crying Devin in to his mom.
"He's beyond tired, darlin', and wants only you," he said, feeling a little slighted but also knowing that Dev had always preferred his mom when he was sleepy.
"My mama," the little boy sniffed, reaching for Miriah, who took him in her arms. He snuggled to her, reaching for a handful of her hair, stroking the soft strands with his thumb and closing his tired eyes. She gently smoothed his black hair and patted his back, feeling the tears drying against her neck as his breathing evened out into the rhythm of sleep. Calleigh ran in to Aric, and he picked her up, and she settled her head on his chest.
"I think they've all had a big day," he said, patting Calleigh's back. Colin strolled in with Michi, and Maura had them both in her lap.
Sarai sighed, "and here's Nana with no grandbabies," she teased. Michi got down and, smiling, toddled to her grandmother. Maura and Aric began to gather their things, preparing to go home, and Mags stood to do the same.
"Dinner was so good, Mir, thank you. If we get together in the next couple of days, I promise to do more to help."
"No you won't, Mags. You're resting, no arguments. You're more tired than I am," Miriah told her, her tone telling Mags there would be no discussion. Corso and Miriah stood on the deck, waving to the other families, Devin in his bed. They turned to say goodnight to Sarai, and saw that she'd already retired, too. They grinned at each other, and took off for their room at a run.
Corso pushed her against the wall as they entered their room, but Miriah was equally aggressive with him, her hands everywhere, finding skin and stripping clothing from them both. Corso noted that she was thin, too thin, but still felt like his Miriah, and when she threw her head back, her eyes closed and her voice trying to not wake the baby, he was totally entranced with her. They finally made their way to the bed, and it was hours before they talked, other than murmured words of passion. He was running his hands through her long black hair, when she asked him a question. "Hmm?" he asked, trying to focus on her words and not how sensuously she was draped across him.
"I said, do you think we'll still be so into each other when we're old and gray?" She was trailing her fingertips along his hip, making it hard for him to think.
"I will always be this into you, always," he told her, then claimed her mouth with his own and when they surfaced at last, ready for sleep, he whispered to her, "I will always love you, even when we're both old and Devin brings our grandchildren to visit us." He held her close, feeling her drift into sleep, and smiled.
Maura and Aric were sleeping off a night of intimacy as well, and it was late morning when Aric decided to access the office mail account from the house. He was humming, remembering the way Maura had responded to him last night, when he saw a holomail from Garza's private account. He frowned as he opened it, and felt their break slipping away.
Jorgan,
I am sending this through non official channels because this is not common knowledge. My daughter is a Senator, representing Balmorra. She works closely with one of Magdalane's former crew, Zenith. She's been receiving threats of a personal nature, and I would very much like it if your group could investigate. I know it's not your usual mission, but I beg you to take this one. She and my grandson are all the family I have left.
Contact me on this account about this matter, and I'll check it as frequently as I can. Attached are the files she's been receiving as well as her contact info. She'll be expecting your call, but please, be discreet.
I will forever be in your debt.
Aric looked around and sighed. He'd have to get everyone together for this. He walked into the living room, where Maura was reading to the kids, and at her look, tried to smile. She saw that something was wrong, and when the book was finished, she put the kids down for naps and joined him on the couch.
"Okay, I know that face. That's the face that you use when things just went in a different direction than what you figured. What happened and who needs us?" She sighed, she should have known a break wasn't in the cards for them right now. He pulled her onto his lap.
"Can't we just play now and talk about this later? I need to get everyone here to discuss it anyway, and I wasn't quite done with you this morning when the kids woke up." His hands were under her shirt now, and she was helpless to resist him. After a while, he murmured in her hair, "I need to message the others, honey, can you reach my datapad?" She stretched her hand under the sofa, where most of their clothes had ended up, and felt the small device. She handed it to him, and started to rise, but he pulled her back to him. "Not yet, gorgeous, still not done with you." She giggled as he typed. "Done, " he said, turning his attention back to his wife.
They gathered at the immaculate two story house that belonged to Aric and Maura after dinner, Miriah bringing dessert. Sarai had stayed at the house with a sleeping Devin. Miriah and Corso were smiling, relaxed and happy. Aric hated to tell them of this new mission, knowing they needed this break. Mags looked pregnant and tired, and Felix looked worried about her. Maura just kept looking at him with curiosity.
"Okay guys, here's what's up," he said, launching into the explanation of the holomail Garza had sent them. Miriah sighed, and Corso pulled her against him, hugging her to him. Mags looked worried about her former crew mate and friend, and Felix just looked worried about her.
"So as far as I can tell from the info she sent, there have been some threats made against the Senator but not directly to the child, and it's been sporadic. The military has upped their presence around the senate building there, and there's been no further activity since then. Our job will be to assess the authenticity of the threat, who's behind it, and what needs to be done to neutralize the threat." He saw Corso nod in agreement, and gently rub his wife's back.
"Do you think it's something we can do a few hours a day on for a few days?" Corso wanted and needed this break, Aric realized, probably more than any of them. Aric nodded at his brother in law, seeing his relief in his eyes.
"Absolutely. I really wanted to make sure it was something we were willing to do, since it's not a combat mission. I promised Spitfire we wouldn't do these anymore, so I call for a vote."
Miriah looked at Aric then, the pro forma leader of the group. "We kinda have to, I feel obligated to, anyway. Garza has been good to us, and she's only asking us to investigate, not stop. We can do this from here, for the most part, since Mags already has a relationship with Zenith." At her words, Felix appeared to bristle but quickly regained his normal reserved posture.
"As long as we can do things from here, I'm in," Mags said, rubbing her belly. Felix nodded, ready to do whatever they asked of him, as usual.
"Okay then we're going to work on this, but not exclusively and not really until we're done with this break." He typed a message to Garza, which she responded to immediately with her grateful thanks. "Now, where did that cheesecake go?"