Maura and Aric arrived home to see Tanno Vik just getting off a speeder. Aric went to him, clapping him on the back. "You're early, mate. No hunting?"
Tanno blushed, and looked at Maura, who was getting the kids out of the speeder, Calleigh rubbing her eyes. "Didn't hunt, boss. Met someone before I got there." Aric looked at the big Weequay, a little surprised.
"A female someone? Really?" Tanno's blush deepened.
"Figured you'd think that was okay, boss. I never figured a girl would go for a big ugly thing like me, but I guess stranger things have happened." He shrugged and turned to go help Maura with his "little people."
"Wait, Vik. I am happy for you, truly. Will we get to meet her?" Aric was trying to be supportive but was still shocked that Tanno would have told him about this. Plus, he was back a day early. That didn't bode well.
"Maybe. She works at the inn in town, and I know about Havoc squad being here from her. I know it sounds crazy, even to me. I just wanted to use our computers to run her before I get in too deep, you know? She could be just into me for what she can learn about what we do here." He looked at his large feet, then back at his boss. "I just want to know for sure."
Aric nodded at him, he understood the need for security and moved to shake Tanno's hand. The large man took the Cathar's hand and looked at him with a question on his face. "I appreciate your checking things out before it gets too complicated. And, let me know what you find, okay?" Tanno nodded and trotted off to greet the kids, who loved him. Well, well, he thought. The big guy found a girl. He grinned to himself. Good for him. He went to Maura and kissed her as she watched Tanno push the kids in the swings.
"Well hello, husband. You're staying out here while I cook, right?" She sounds weary, he thought, and pulled her into a hug.
"Maybe I go inside and help you." She gave him a puzzled look, trying to figure out what he was really saying. "I can entertain you while you cook." She grinned then.
"You're on. Hey, Tanno," she called, then pointed inside. Tanno nodded, he was perfectly happy playing with the children. She led Aric into the kitchen, getting just inside the door before he kissed her, pushing her against the wall, one hand sneaking under her shirt. They were enjoying each other when Maura remembered the kids. She whispered to her husband, who felt so good pressed against her, "Easy, lover, the kids are right outside, and you know this won't be quick or quiet." He groaned and put his head on her shoulder, his breaths ragged.
"I love them, I truly do, but I miss having you to myself sometimes," he told her, as she adjusted her clothes. "You seem tired, honey, so go lie down for a bit. I'll throw something together for dinner," he told her, kissing her temple. "Besides, you'll need energy for later." He patted her bottom as she walked away, which earned him a sly look over her shoulder. He was humming to himself when Tanno and the kids came inside, looking for cookies. Tanno joined him at the counter when the kids were settled, and he told the big guy about the senator's visit.
"Yeah I'll hit up some of the guys I know there, should get some better intel that way. The Captain should get Risha to check the Port out, too." Aric was nodding and told him she already had sent the lists. "Well, I'm going to run to the office, use the secure terminals. See you tomorrow."
Aric joined the kids at the table. "Mama is resting, and you two monkeys are going to let her, okay?" They nodded, their mouths full, then took off to the playroom. He looked in the living room at Maura, resisting the urge to go to her, and got one of the casseroles Miriah had sent over out of the freezer. Once he had the kitchen stuff done, he went out to see if Maura was still sleeping. Of course, the kids did the best they could, but when he walked out he heard Maura's voice reading to them, and he just shook his head. Maura looked at him as he walked in, and when she finished the book, Colin and Calleigh went to watch a holovid, dinner almost ready.
"Smells terrific, hon. One of Mir's?" she asked, getting a nod in return. She chuckled and kissed him as he leaned over her.
"Did they let you sleep at all?" he asked, his eyes studying her face. She looked rested and was smiling at him.
"They did, thanks, love. Calleigh was concerned that I was sick, she had to make sure." She stroked his cheek, looking into his green eyes, seeing them darken with his desire for her. "Soon, love, soon," she told him, kissing him as the kids laughed in the background. He settled for lying across her lap while they waited for dinner.
Corso took Devin outside to the barn for a bit when he woke from his nap, and Miriah and Sarai sat in the kitchen, drinking tea. "Mom, it's going to seem strange not having you here when you move. I love your house though, should be easier to clean and such than the one on Tython. How are you doing, being here?"
"I thought I'd miss things, like the temple and friends, but you girls fill me with joy on a daily basis. You all make time for life around the work, and I never learned to do that." She sighed, "if I had, you would have had a much better childhood. And I love being around all the grandbabies." Her face softened into a smile at the thought.
Miriah stood to walk to her datapad, intending to send a message to Corso to bring some things from the storage barn, when she saw Risha's response to her sent a few hours ago.
Mir, these guys are here all the time. That Kelden guy? Rents one of the rooms upstairs. Had to send Bow after them when they didn't pay their tab. Come on out here, we'll take them all out at once. Or just come see your best friend. Rish
Miriah pondered the message. Since she'd inherited Port Nowhere, the infamous smuggler hangout, she'd only been there twice. Once to asses it, and once to sign the paperwork giving Risha half of it. She turned to her mother, telling her she would go out to meet Corso instead, and set off. She'd just gotten off the deck when she spotted Corso coming across the field, Devin in his arms. She smiled, it was good to see them together, and started toward them. Dev was chattering away when he saw her, and at his yelled "Mama!", Corso put him down and he ran to her. The force and speed at which he hit her legs had her stumbling and the uneven ground proved no help. She went down hard, her right shoulder taking the brunt of the landing. She heard Devin start to cry and felt Corso running over the pasture ground to her. He knelt beside her, not sure whether to laugh or be concerned.
"Miriah, love? Ah, ah, stay still. Let me see," he looked her over, running his hands along her arms. "Can you sit, slowly?" She did, noting the pain in her shoulder, and reached for Devin.
"Is he hurt? Devin, are you okay?" The little boy was still crying, and he crawled up her legs.
"Mama falled. Hurt?" He still had tears caught in his thick eyelashes, and turned his concerned eyes to her.
"I'm alright, Dev, but you have to move so I can stand up, okay?" He nodded, and she attempted to rise, only her ankle refused to participate. "Cor, sugar, can you-" He swept her up in his arms, and with careful steps carried her to the house, Devin sniffling behind him. "Just put me at the table, and grab an ice pack from the freezer." Corso did as she asked, and when she was set, Devin crawled into her lap, his little arms going around her neck.
"So sorry, Mama. Love you," he told her, patting her back. She stroked his back, and down his head. He sighed, his little face downcast at the thought he'd hurt her.
"I'm okay, Dev, but you're a big strong boy, you need to be careful running into people like that." He nodded, sniffling. She saw one lone tear track down his little face and rubbed it away with her thumb before kissing his forehead. He buried his head in her shoulder and she winced.
"Daddy mad?" he asked, turning those deep brown eyes to his father's.
"No, son," Corso replied in a gentle voice. "But we have to be careful with Mama, okay?" Devin nodded, patted her face, and got down to play, subdued but content. "Now, kitten, I'm cooking, you're sitting, got it?"
"First I need to get out of these muddy wet clothes, think you can handle that?" she asked him with a wicked grin. He grinned back and scooped her up out of the chair, taking her to their room and quickly stripping her pants off and over the swollen ankle. The ice was beginning to work, though, and she tested it gingerly, pulling him to her.
"No, no, and I never thought I'd say that to you, but until you can walk normally, you're cut off, lady." She pouted for a second, then spoke.
"In that case, can you please get me a little kolto from the med room? My shoulder is throbbing."
"Stars, Mir, you never said a word about your shoulder. Let me see," he told her, pulling her shirt up. "Damn, kitten, just…hang on." He left abruptly and quickly returned, two fresh ice packs and a kolto injector in his hands. "Put something soft and comfortable on, you're staying here." He handed her one of his shirts, her favorite thing to wear around the house, and some pajama pants. When she was dressed and set with the ice packs, he propped her up with pillows and slowly injected the kolto into her thigh. She felt the throb of her shoulder recede and the floaty feeling of the kolto infuse her system. Her eyes drifted shut, but not before he saw the relief in them. He gently straightened her on the pillows, checked the ice packs and went back to check on Devin.
Sarai had already pulled some dinner from the fridge for the little boy, who was eating but seemed forlorn. Corso sat beside him, watching him eat. "Dev, Mama is fine, okay. It was just an accident. I used to have them all the time." He watched as the little boy turned his eyes to his dad, a little ray of hope in them. He nodded, "Sure did. We have to learn from what happened and try to not do it again. That's all. No one is mad or upset, okay, little man?" The solemn little face nodded, and looked down again.
"Love Mama," he said, his little voice husky like hers, and Corso saw a tear fall onto the table.
"Ah, Dev, she loves you too, so much, buddy." He lifted the child in his arms and felt the tears fall, the little boy's concern for his mom combined with the time of day to make him more emotional. Corso continued to tell him he was a good boy, a smart boy, and that his mama and daddy loved him, gently rocking him in his arms. He felt him finally give up to sleep, the last tears still on his little face. Sarai crossed and placed a tender kiss on her grandson's head, and Corso took him to his bed. On the way back to cook for everyone else, he stopped to check on Miriah. She was still out, he saw, and joined Sarai in the kitchen.
Sarai had already pulled some fish out, knowing it was Miriah's favorite, and had it baking with some spices. Corso hugged her, thanking her. It had been a long day, he thought, and said that aloud. Sarai agreed, patting his shoulder. "She'll be fine in a few hours, dear. I've seen her suffer worse things and bounce right back up." He nodded, and saw the datapad on the table. "She was going out to show you a message from Risha on that," she pointed at the device. He picked it up and read the message, and walked to the holo to call Aric.
Aric was still sprawled on Maura when he heard the holo chime. I wasn't kissing her, he thought, figuring it was Garza. Corso's blue image wavered before him, and Aric grinned.
"Hey man, why do you have mud all over you?" He saw Corso startle, and look down at himself, sighing.
"Devin knocked Miriah over in the mud, I carried her to the house. Now I have to go around and see what else I got it on and get it cleaned up before she wakes up from the kolto." Aric lost his grin and concern replaced it.
"Kolto? How badly is she hurt?" At that statement, Maura ran over to them.
"Just an ankle sprain and shoulder bruise. Dev was upset, but they'll both be fine tomorrow. I was calling to tell you that Rish has seen all the guys on the list we sent. Apparently, the Port has been their meeting spot." Aric pondered this for a moment.
"Maybe she can listen in on the next conclave, and let us know when they next plan to be there." Corso nodded.
"I think I'll call her tomorrow, see if there's a pattern on when they use their accounts there," he said. "Just wanted to let you guys know."
Maura spoke up, "Cor? Thanks for taking such good care of Miriah." She smiled at him, and he blushed as they disconnected. "Poor Dev. I bet he was just shocked when she fell over." Aric nodded, and called the kids for dinner.
Miriah opened her eyes to Corso sitting on the bed beside her, a tray in his hand. He took fresh ice packs and replaced the melting ones, then put food in front of her. She still felt woozy, but the smell of the food was enticing her, and she took a bite, then another. Corso had said nothing, but was smiling at her. Finally he spoke.
"I saw Risha's message, love. I think we should call her tomorrow." She nodded, chewing. He was glad to see her eating, and didn't want to distract her. He waited until she'd taken a few more bites. "How are you feeling now?"
"Better, sugar. You make a pretty good field medic, I think." She winked at him, and he took her hand. She had finished all he'd brought, and he was about to go for more when Sarai came in to check on her daughter, cheesecake in hand. "Oh! Perfect, Mom! Thanks, both of you, for getting dinner and dealing with Dev. Is he okay?"
"He's sleeping, he was a little upset but he's fine now." Corso stood to take the empty tray out, and Sarai sat beside her daughter.
"It was so sweet, Mir. Dev was upset and Corso just kept telling him he was a good boy, and that it was an accident. It touched my heart, watching them. Now, let me see that shoulder." Miriah sat forward for her mom to look at the bruise. "It's healing nicely, only a little more ice time and maybe another kolto dose, if you think you can stand another." Miriah nodded, but asked her to hold off for a little while on it, and Sarai agreed. Corso returned when Sarai was looking at her ankle, her practiced hands moving over the purple skin. He caught his breath when he saw it.
"Miriah, you need to let me scan that," he said, and before she could object, he'd pulled a scanner from a pocket and swept it over her foot. "Yep, see? That says 'broken bone x 2', right there! "
"Okay, it's okay, sugar. I'll take another kolto dose in a little bit, it will be healed by morning," she told him, her voice soothing and unstrained. He sighed, worried again. "Come here, you," she said, pulling him to sit on her other side. "It was an accident, I'm fine, or will be very soon. Please, love, just don't stress about it."
Yeah, sure, he thought. Just like the dozens of other times. He tried to reason the scowl away, and found that if he just looked at her and saw that she was truly okay, he could deal with it. Sarai left them after a bit of chatting, and he did his best to get Miriah settled for sleep before giving her another injection of kolto. He watched her face as the drug infused her, seeing her relax. As she drifted under, she whispered, "I love you, forever." And he held her as she slept and healed, her heart beating a reassuring rhythm in his ear.