Miriah woke, blinking in the darkness, Corso's arms around her. She was closing her eyes again when she felt little hands pat her face. "Hey Dev, it's not morning, sweetie."
"Miss Mama," he said, in his hoarse whisper. She grinned at him and pulled him onto their bed, where he snuggled into her body and fell immediately asleep again. She felt Corso's arms tighten around her, pulling her closer to him, and they all slept, content.
By morning, the kolto had done its job well, and Miriah walked without a limp into the shower after she'd changed their son and left him with Sarai in the kitchen. Corso was still in his deep sleep, and she glanced back at his relaxed form. She knew he'd reach for her eventually, not find her, and it would rouse him. For now, he was resting peacefully. She reached for the water and turned it hot, her muscles still a little sore and stiff. She was rinsing out her hair when her husband joined her, kissing her throat.
"Morning, gorgeous," he told her. "Ankle okay?" She nodded, her arms encircling his waist.
"Mom's cooking breakfast, her stuff is landing today." She was placing light kisses on his chest.
"So what you're saying is that we don't have time to play, but you're still kissing me?" He pulled her chin up to kiss her lips, stifling her giggle. "You little minx, now the only thing on my mind will be you, darlin'," he told her.
"Then my evil plan is working," she laughed, hopping out of the steam and wrapping a towel around herself. She was untangling her hair when she felt him embrace her from behind, and turned to him. He was ready for her, and kissed her thoroughly, making her rethink teasing him further. When they could breathe again, she kissed his nose and dried her hair, her eyes never leaving his. They went into the kitchen that way, and Sarai blushed at the energy they were putting out.
"Sorry, Mom," they both said, seeing her discomfort. They sat to eat and were discussing the logistics of getting stuff into the smaller house when Aric, Tanno and Felix showed up, all to help the moving process. Sarai had packed food and drinks into a large cooler and Tanno hefted it out to the speeder. Once they were all set, Sarai took off with the guys. Miriah and her sisters would come later, for the unpacking part after the heavy lifting.
They were hip deep in boxes and wrapping when Miriah's holo started to beep. Risha was on the other end, and seemed excited about something. "Hey Rish, what's going on out there?"
"Mir, remember the little list you sent me? In doing some amateur detecting, they should be here the end of the week. What are you waiting for, girl? Fire up the ship and haul jets!" Miriah grinned at her friend, she'd missed seeing Risha every day, but the future queen of Dubrillion was doing a fantastic job with their joint venture. She and her husband, Rick, were very happy there. "Bring the handsome one, and I guess Corso can come along," she giggled, and Miriah laughed.
"I'll tell the group, we may just do that, Rish. It would be good to see you." She looked carefully at her friend, seeing that she looked relaxed and healthy. Married life agreed with her, Miriah thought. She chatted for a minute, then disconnected. She worked along, helping with the unpacking, until they took a lunch break. It was then that she told the group about talking to Risha. Maura exchanged looks with Miriah, and Miriah finally nodded. "Yeah, I guess we're going to the Port. But I don't know about you, Mags, how do you think you'll tolerate travel now?"
"I should be just fine. I never had any trouble with Michi, so I don't think I would now," she stated, rubbing her belly. "Ian seems to be settling a bit now, at least." Felix smiled at her, noting how gently she touched their son. Miriah grinned at them both, remembering the wonder of a child growing, and how much Corso had cherished her changing shape.
"Okay then, let's leave later today. Mom, you want to go with us? You're most welcome to." Miriah glanced at her mother, standing in the doorway, sipping her cup of tea.
"Why not? I'm in," she smiled, and the girls all cheered. They set about trying to unpack everything they could, and got a majority of Sarai's things unwrapped and placed before setting off to grab gear for the trip. Miriah and Corso had just put their duffles into their quarters aboard ship when they heard the argument outside the airlock.
"No, Mags, you are taking the stateroom. No questions. I can bunk in the crew area with Aric and Maura, or in the kids room even. You need rest, dear." Sarai was standing her ground, but Mags was just as stubborn.
"Mom, I can sleep anywhere. Ask Felix. I can be just as happy in a crew bunk as I can anywhere. You just moved today, you've got to be tired." Miriah looked at the two jedi, and turned to go back up the ramp. Corso stopped her with a hand on her arm.
"Aren't you going to say something?"
"No, they're adults, they'll figure it out. Besides, the only thing I could do is offer them our quarters, and I really had plans for them, sugar," she told him with a wink. He blushed but followed her up the ramp to the bridge. The whole group was on board an hour later, Magdalane finally graciously accepting the private quarters for the trip out, Sarai for the trip back. Miriah rolled her eyes at them.
"Well, we really ought to kick you two out of the big quarters, " Mags teased. Miriah shrugged, unfazed.
"Whatever. I'm going to do what I'm going to do anyway, so if you guys really want a show.."
"Oh stars, Mir, never mind," Mags scolded, and Miriah had to laugh. They would be entering hyperspace shortly, the kids were down for the night, and the women had been sitting in the lounge, chatting. "You know, Mir, I had a thought. You're going to be instantly recognizable in the Port. What are we going to do about that?"
"Not sure yet, but we'll think of something. I think it wouldn't be unusual for me to be there, but I know what you mean, Brock knows us. Some disguise might be needed. We won't be advertising the fact that we're there, though." She leaned back on the sofa, a glass of wine in her hand. "I'm so glad the kids all get along, there's not much for them to do up there. I think they should stay on the ship as much as possible, just to keep everyone safe." Maura and Mags agreed. "Mags, you should take things easy too, there are some shops on the promenade but they're more geared to spacers than anything else. Weapons, booze, armor, things like that. Risha told me there was a sweets shop now that she's renting space to, and a boutique for the women, so that will be interesting to see. It's been awhile since I've been here, before Dev was born, anyway."
"Speaking of Dev, didn't I tell you he was going to bowl you over one day? I bet he took it hard, though," Maura told her. "He told me he 'made Mama falled and hurted her', and it touched my heart how upset he was. You have to bulk up, sister."
"He really was," Sarai said. "Corso had to reassure him it was an accident, and that accidents happen sometimes." She was sitting with Mags, feeling the grandson growing there with the force.
Corso had put the ship in the hyperlane, and then joined the women in the lounge, sitting next to his wife. The conversation continued into getting Sarai's house in order, getting Michi into a toddler bed, and the twin's current growth rate. Corso found himself drifting into his own thoughts, and saw that his wife was leaning on him. He put his arm around her shoulders, and she settled into his side, her eyes only half open.
"I'm taking this one to bed, she's almost out now," he said, smiling at his drowsy wife. He followed her to their quarters, insisting that she rest.
"But we had plans," she said, yawning. He chuckled at her, pulling a nightshirt over her and hugging her close.
"So we postpone them, no harm done, kitten." He kissed her forehead, pulled the covers over her, and held her as she closed her eyes. He was asleep too, not long after. Neither was surprised when Miriah woke him up a few hours later, spending the time in hyperspace loving each other was a time honored tradition with them, and her cries of pleasure woke no one anymore. When they rested, she traced the scar on his cheek with her fingertip.
"I'm sorry, sugar, but you must know by now that I'm addicted to you. I can only go so long without your hands on me, without your lips on me, or I'll go mad." She traced her fingers lightly down his collar bone. "If you want, I'll let you sleep now." She looked up at him, her silver eyes bright under those midnight lashes, her full lips slightly open. He claimed her mouth, her words having ignited his blood again. This time, when they were resting, he told her what he was feeling.
"You make me feel special, like there's no one like me," he told her. She nodded her head against his chest.
"There is no one like you, not for me, sugar. You are very special. Loved, valued, cherished- all words to describe you. Mine. That's my favorite," she told him, a satisfied smile on her face. "Mine." He held her close, and they slept, entwined in each other. They woke only when Maura came bursting into their quarters.
"See, they're still alive, just lazy," she said. "And, they don't even use all the bed. We could have slept on the other half." She eyed her sister's back, what she could see between the muscular arms that held her.
"You want to come to bed with us, Maura? Well, not sure I'm into sharing that much, but…."
"Ew, no, you freak. We're out of hyperspace, and I can't dock this big ship on the Port, which we should be near in about an hour." Miriah could feel how uncomfortable Corso was with her sister standing there, and told Maura they'd be out in a few minutes. She finally left, snickering.
Miriah met her sister on the bridge, where Aric sat in the left seat, monitoring the navcomp. "And just fyi, we do use the whole bed, believe me. We just sleep on a small section." She grinned at her sister, which made them laugh and Aric blush.
"Way more than I wanted to know, Spitfire. Way more." He focused ahead so that he wouldn't laugh too. Corso had gone to check on Devin, who'd been fed and was happily playing with his cousins. Mags looked rested and was sitting in the galley as he went to the caffa machine.
"Don't let Maura being silly make you uncomfortable, Cor. " She watched as his blush faded, and he sipped his caffa. He nodded, and spoke with the gravel of sleep still in his voice.
"I can't even think of anything to say to that. You know Mir, she's always got a smart remark, but not me." He looked into his cup, as if inspiration would spark there.
"She's always been like that. Got her in trouble as much as it saved her, " Mags told him, refilling her tea. "I'm worried about her being recognized here, Corso. More, that Brock or one of his cronies will recognize her and cause trouble. " He nodded.
"Yeah, I thought about that too. I'm going to try to convince her to stay either here or in the offices, definitely not in the cantina. Risha is aware of our concern too, and I sent her a message that we were almost there, and would be docked in the secure bay," he said, motioning to his datapad. Aric joined them then, refilling his own mug.
"Sorry 'bout not helping with the kiddos this morning," Corso said, and Aric clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, no problem. You guys take ours enough, we owe you anyway," Aric told him, taking a long drink from the steaming mug, propped on the counter. "Wanted to voice my concerns about Spitfire being recognized."
"We were just discussing that. We know Brock would know her, do you think that she might get something from him, some tidbit of info that he might let slip?" Mags was hopeful, but wanted her sister safe.
"No, no way. He'll be so afraid Corso will put a blaster bolt into him he probably wouldn't even speak to her," Aric said, remembering the events of last year. Corso agreed.
"Actually, given the circumstances of this meeting, I think Maura is the perfect candidate to eavesdrop. Brock only saw her once, and we can disguise her as a part of the cantina staff. Mags, well, Mags, you're always a Jedi, no matter what you're wearing. Mir's eyes are just too distinctive to disguise, and let's face it, us guys are going to get nowhere with him." Corso had thought this out, and had planned to make this pitch when they docked. "As much as I hate to say this, and please don't hit me, Aric," he looked at the Cathar, who frowned at him. "Maura should pose as a dancer and see what she can hear," he rushed out, then braced for the backlash.
"That's actually not a bad idea, at all," Aric said. "I kinda like it, in fact. It would give us the intel on the meeting, without anyone having to actually try to pry it out of them. And, I get to see Maura in a dancer's costume." He grinned, thinking he'd like to see this pitched to his wife, who wouldn't see it quite the same way.
"You want me to do WHAT?!" Maura was shouting now, at them all. Miriah was grinning and nodding her head, working through the logistics that Corso had been pondering for two days now.
"That will work," Miriah said, looking at her sister. "I have a costume, too, that Risha gave me and I've never worn. Didn't have the, uh, assets for it." She smiled at Maura. "You, dear sister, do indeed." Maura turned a pleading look to Aric, who held his hands up in front of him.
"It's an excellent plan, honey. It gives us intel without anyone getting personally involved with Brock or his associates." He stood there, his arms crossed over his chest, grinning. Maura sighed, knowing she'd do it, but not looking forward to it.
"Aric and Felix will be at a nearby table, and Mir and I will be close by but not visible. I promise, Maura, one strange move by Brock and he'll be a corpse," Corso told her.
Corso would like nothing more than to put that guy down, Mir thought as she went to dig out the costume. Maura followed her, still stunned. "Do you really think this will work?"
"I do, " Miriah replied. "I've posed as a dancer before, guys think you're invisible as far as how they talk. You're just a part of the trappings, not a person. It's like being furniture." Maura glumly thought about it, then sighed and took the costume from her sister. They heard the proximity claxon, and went to the bridge, where Corso was docking the ship onto the Port.
Risha met them, excited to see them all, and told them, "They're here, just got here. Who's the undercover?"
They pointed at Maura, and Risha spotted the costume. "Excellent! I had someone quit last week." She grinned, taking Maura by the arm. "Let's get you suited up."