Magdalane followed C2 to the door, and greeted her old crew member. "Zenith, I trust your journey here was pleasant?" She moved to let him into her sister's house, then wondered out loud, "How did you know we were here?"
"The trip was uneventful, and this is the home of your sister, yes?" She nodded, and he continued, "When you were not at your home, I guessed. You all work together, so I assume you will all have questions for me." She showed him into the living room, where the group had moved, Sarai staying with the kids. Miriah had gathered baked goods and caffa on a tray for the table, and Zentih gratefully accepted a cup, sitting with them.
"Now, before you ask questions, let me tell you what I can about Diedre and the threats. As you may already know, she was widowed about four years ago now. I have become…close, to both her and her son, who is six years old now." He blushed a little, looking down at his hands, then, after a sip of caffa, continued. "Diedre is very opinionated, and is one of the few who would like to keep Balmorra in the Republic these days. The Imps have sweet talked a quite a few of the officials and have had a lot of influence, especially this one Balmoraan who has tried, unsuccessfully, to be elected himself."
"Brock," Corso said, quietly, the pieces clicking into place for him. "Numen Brock is a stinking Imp now. Knew I should have killed him last year," he grumbled.
"You know of Brock?" Zenith asked, impressed. The Twi'lek had become a thorn in many sides. Aric explained a little of their experience with him, and Zenith sighed. "So you see, then, why we think he might be behind some of the threats. I only learned yesterday of the attack on the General, and I'm not sure who might have initiated that, but it came within hours of a vote- which passed, I might add- to allow three Republic outposts to be built on the planet." Aric thought about that for a few minutes, while the others asked about the safety of the Senator and her son.
"Havoc just left here yesterday for Balmorra, so are they there to provide additional security or to secure the new outposts?" he finally asked, trying to get a better idea of the strategy.
"Both," Zenith replied. "I have a feeling they may be there to find Brock as well, and haul him in." Aric nodded, that would make sense, he thought. He was still musing about this when Calleigh and Michi came from the playroom. Calleigh led the little girl to Magdalane, and turned to her little cousin.
"See, An' Mags is here. She not leave." Michi, tears drying on her face, reached for her mom, and Calleigh grinned at her dad. "I'm helping."
Magdalane thanked Calleigh, and got a hug, then lifted her daughter with some effort, Felix moving to help her. Michi was getting tired, morning nap time rapidly approaching.
"She's a beautiful child, Master Jedi. Her name is Michelina?" Zenith asked, and received a nod as Mags cuddled her daughter to her, feeling her fatigue. "And your next one is arriving soon?"
"In about five months," Mags told him, a soft smile on her face. "Our son."
"Congratulations to you both, then," Zenith said, turning to look at Felix for the first time since he'd arrived. Felix had stayed in the background, observing the Twi'lek and trying to soothe his temper, which, to his surprise, wasn't raging as it had been the last few months aboard the ship. Maybe I'm learning to let go, he thought, and put his arm around his wife, stroking the silver blonde hair of his daughter. Felix nodded to Zenith then, and felt a little better.
"Now, what can I tell you about the current situation on my planet?" Zenith asked, and for the next hour the group managed to get more information than they might have in a week of normal channels. Miriah turned to the Twi'lek , her question one she'd been pondering since yesterday.
"Who would have tried to poison the general?" she asked, looking at the senator's blue eyes with her own silver ones.
"Miriah, isn't it?" At her nod and smile, he continued, "I really can't be sure who might have done that, because we've learned over the years that even loyalty can be deceiving. There are several names that I'll send to your datapad that are worth investigating. I heard this morning that the general is recovered and back at her desk." He tapped his datapad and transferred the list. "You have quite beautiful eyes, Miriah, very unusual."
What is it with Balmorrans and my wife, Corso thought. He's flirting with her and I'm right here! He watched as Miriah blushed and put her hand on her husband's thigh.
"Thank you, Senator, and thank you for the information." She could feel Corso tense beside her at Zenith's words, but relax at her touch. He should know by now that I'm immune to that junk, she thought. Instead, she stood to replenish the tray, and had only taken a step when Corso stood to carry it for her. She followed him into the kitchen, and watched as he set the tray on the island counter and turned to her.
"I'm sorry, kitten. I tensed on reflex, but I have to wonder what the deal is with these Balmorran guys." He shook his head, looking at the floor, not wanting to meet her eyes if she were angry with him. She sighed instead.
"I don't know either, but I've had to put up with comments about my eye color all my life, sugar. I'm kinda used to it now." She refilled the tray and nodded to him, ready to rejoin the group. Instead of grabbing the tray, he grabbed her in a crushing hug. "Cor, baby, can't breathe here," she squeaked.
"Oh, sorry. I just needed to touch you, cyare." He kissed her head and picked up the tray and she followed to the others. Their discussion had moved into talking about the layout of the Senate building, and how they'd found many Imp listening devices in a sweep done just days ago. Aric was listening intently, and was making notes. Tanno will want to know this, he thought, I wonder if he has any contacts there? Of course, he does, he thought, grinning. He also saw that Felix had relaxed his guard stance a bit, taking Michi now to put in her crib.
Zenith stood to leave, having answered all their questions, and offered his hand to each of them until he got to Magdalane, whom he bowed slightly before with his hands clasped in front of him, a standard Jedi gesture of respect. "Master Magdalane, my best regards to you. You have truly found your path."
"The Force be with you, Senator. Safe travels," she replied, bowing in turn to him. His escort had waited outside for him, and he rejoined them for the journey back to the spaceport. As the entourage went down the muddy path to the main road, Aric turned to the group. "Tanno will be back tomorrow. Mom is moving the day after. I say, we talk to Garza, see if she's indeed doing okay, then table this, other than the searches we have in progress until we get more settled here. Agreed?" They nodded, and Miriah saw Mags gingerly sit, her hand on her belly.
"Mags, what's wrong," she asked her in a low voice, the others gathering the dishes and talking.
"Nothing, baby sister, just a very active little boy. I remember Devin being this active, too, must be a boy thing," she smiled, looking up at Miriah from the sofa. Miriah crouched and put Magdalane's feet on the sofa, removing her shoes and putting a pillow under her knees.
"There, that helped me when Dev would start the hutt ball moves." Their eyes met for a few seconds, then Mags, ever sensitive to the changes in her sisters, smiled.
"Yes, I know you want another, but you want to wait until Devin is older. I would have, if I could have afforded the time. You have plenty of that, Mir. Don't feel guilty about wanting to space them out." Miriah nodded, then hugged her sister. Mags always gets it just right, she thought. Maura saw them, and casually wandered over to check out what was going on.
"Okay you two, no keeping secrets or I'm telling Mom," Maura teased. They giggled together and Maura sat on the floor. "Everything okay, Mags?"
"Yeah, Ian is just jumping around a lot today. I'm sore, and a lot more tired than I was with Michi. I started the supplements Elara sent just yesterday, so not enough time for them to work." She sighed, and yawned.
"Rest, Mags. I'm going to start some lunch, you stay here and rest. We've got it." Miriah got up and went to the kitchen, where she told Sarai that Mags was resting.
"Good, " her mother responded. "She needs to rest more. What can I do to help you, sweetheart?" Miriah turned and hugged her mother, a rarity which caught Sarai completely off guard.
"Nothing, I'm fine here, going to put together a stew after I put a little more wood on the fire." She turned to see Corso already bringing in another armful of firewood, banking the fireplace and coming around the island to kiss her. "You read my mind, sugar, as usual," she told him, kissing him again. He gently rubbed his hands along her arms.
"It's chilly today, and I know you well enough to know you're cold, too," he told her, smiling into her eyes. "Us guys are going to the office for a bit, I think Maura is coming with us. We'll be back in a couple of hours. " She nodded, and turned back to the counter. "Miriah?" She turned to look at him, "I love you, darlin'." She found herself caught in his arms, felt the vague anxiety he carried.
"Love you, sugar. What's worrying you?" She felt his grip tighten on her, much as he'd done earlier.
"I don't know, just feel a little off kilter about all of this, I guess." She squeezed him back, and he kissed her head. Devin came around the corner then, grinning at them both.
"My mama, " he said, latching onto her leg. Corso picked him up, laughing.
"Mine first, little man, but I'll share her with you," he said, and they both laughed. He leaned to kiss Miriah gently, and then was off. Devin ran to the window and watched them all go, then turned to his mom.
"Mama, Dev go with?" His little face was hopeful, but dropped when his mom shook her head.
"No, sweetie, Daddy will be home in a little while. Colin and Calleigh are here, though, and we'll have lunch soon, okay?" He ambled back to her and hugged her leg. "Want to help?" He nodded, and she sat him on the counter. Sarai was with the twins, and she gave the little boy a bowl and some rice to stir around. He was content with that and soon Sarai brought the twins and Michi into the kitchen to join them.
The little ones fed and down for naps, the adults gathered for lunch. Magdalane had rested since Zenith left, and was feeling refreshed and more herself than she had in weeks. The office account had a few updates, which were easily handled, and Maura reviewed the searches they'd left working yesterday.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing." Maura responded when asked what they'd shown. Miriah frowned, wondering which parameters needed to be changed, when she had an idea.
"I'm sending Risha some of the names on both our list and the one Zenith sent me, see if she recognizes them from some of the Port's customers." She dished up the hearty stew, put toasted bread and salad on the table and sat.
"Great idea, Spitfire. They're close enough that the Port might just be a target rich environment." He pulled Maura over to the table, pulling out a chair for both her and Sarai. Felix did the same for Mags and Miriah, and Corso brought tea and glasses to the table.
Miriah actually felt hungry, and ate a normal meal, for a change. Corso noticed, and felt relieved, always worried about her to some degree. He kept touching her, just a graze here or a brush there, but she noticed he was paying close attention to her, which, while not exactly unusual, was more evident. She didn't comment on it, choosing instead to just wait. Once lunch was done and C2 was cleaning up, they adjourned to the living room, too cool for outside. Maura and Aric decided to take the twins home, even though they were sleeping, and Mags was ready as well.
"We loved having you guys," Miriah told them, helping Mags get her gear bag in the speeder. Magdalane hugged her, thanked her, and told her to go pay attention to her husband.
"He's anxious, about you for some reason, " she told her little sister, and Miriah nodded. She went back inside their now very quiet house, and found Corso putting more wood on the fire. She walked over and crouched beside him, and when his hands were free she pulled him down to lie in front of the now warm fire.
"Okay, sugar. What's going on? Even Mags said you were anxious, and I'm fine." She looked at him as he blushed, but wouldn't let it go.
"I don't know, Mir, you know I hate Brock, and now Zenith flirting. I know you dismiss it, but it makes me anxious, especially since lately you've received too much unwanted attention." He put his arm under her head and drew her close. "This is nice, " he said, and she murmured agreement. He was dozing off when he heard her datapad chime, and she was snuggled up to him, sleeping. It'll wait, he thought, and closed his eyes again.
Rish's message, of her sighting of Brock and several of his contacts, went unnoticed.