Maura woke Aric with her restlessness, and he realized she was troubled. He tried to calm her without waking her, but nothing he tried worked. He gently kissed her forehead, and her amber eyes opened, searching for his. "Oh, Aric, I'm sorry, I know I must have been running in my sleep, that's what I was doing in my dream."
"What's worrying you, hon?" He was rubbing her back, holding her to him.
"I don't really know, it was just all this running. Made me think of something we needed to do for this mission, but now I can't remember what it was. Crazy dream, I guess." She sighed and reached to rub her calf. "And now my legs hurt."
"Let me, sweetie," he told her, sitting up to massage her legs with his strong hands, feeling the muscles relax. His hands wandered higher and she pulled him up to her.
"Like you tell me, don't start something you don't intend to finish," she told him, grinning. He growled low in his throat.
"Always intended to finish, love. Always."
Miriah woke early the next morning, being held in Corso's arms with Devin snuggled between them. Seeing them lying together, she was struck by how very much they favored each other. She was still looking at them, a small smile on her face, when Corso blinked awake, looking into the silver eyes he loved so much. He didn't say anything, not wanting to wake his son, but reached his hand to cup her face, rubbing his thumb along her cheek. He felt her shiver, and saw when she had an idea by the widening of her eyes. She slowly, carefully moved to the far edge of the bed, and got up, heading to their refresher, peeking back around the door to quirk her finger at him, summoning him to her. He followed her lead, tucking their still sleeping son in. When he reached his wife, she pulled him to her, kissing him. He needed no further encouragement, and deepened the kiss, backing her against the wall. When they stopped to breathe, she pulled her nightshirt over her head, making him reach for her, but she moved away, turning the shower on. He grinned as he followed her in, they always enjoyed showering together, and any cries she made would be masked by the sound of the water.
They were getting dressed when Devin woke up, sitting up in their bed and rubbing his eyes. "Mama," he said, not even seeing her yet.
"Good morning, sweetie. Did you sleep good?" He reached his arms out to her, and gave her a kiss on the cheek when he was seated on her hip.
"Missed Mama," he told her, "Devin's bed cold." He rested his head on her shoulder, and grinned at his dad. "Daddy warm." She giggled and agreed.
"But you have to sleep in your bed. We'll make it warmer, okay?" Her son nodded his head, and Corso moved to put his arms around her, kissing his son's head. Miriah whispered to him when he did.
"Daddy certainly is warm, but I can make him hotter," she said, her warm breath on his ear sending his blood pooling places other than his brain, and when she nipped that ear with her teeth, he groaned. She giggled as she made her way to the kitchen. They were sitting at the table, feeding Devin and themselves, her bare foot resting on his leg, when Sarai and General Garza came in.
"We've had a thought, kids," Sarai told them, "One that will require all of you to pull off. I've called the others, they'll be here shortly." Sarai walked over to the stove and put on a pot of water for tea.
"Want an omelet, Mom?" Corso asked her, and when she nodded, he smiled. "How 'bout you, General?" She nodded as well, and Corso got ingredients out of the fridge. He was trying to figure out what their idea might be while his hands worked on cooking. Miriah got up to get Devin cleaned up and dressed, and the older women sat and chatted, sipping their tea. It wasn't long before the entire group had gathered at the ranch house, the kids playing in the playroom and the adults lounging in the living room.
"Okay, we're all here. What's the idea?" Maura was dying of curiosity. She was sitting on the floor at Aric's feet while he massaged her neck. Her muscles were acting strangely since her dream, and he could feel the spasms under his fingers.
"Yeah, Mom, I've been trying to figure it out since you called," Mags added, sitting in the deep chair, her feet on the ottoman beside Felix. She'd managed to sleep late, and was feeling wonderful.
"Well," Sarai started, "Helena and I.."
"Who?" Miriah interrupted, then realized that Helena must be the general's given name. "Oh, sorry," she said meekly, earning her a grin from her husband.
"We figured you really need to meet Jurin and observe him to see what's going on and to try and figure out if your assumptions are true or if there's someone else suspect. Therefore, we needed a way to gain access to the politicals and the military. One of the best ways to do that is to actually run for office." She stopped speaking and looked at the disbelief on the faces of those she addressed.
"Who do you think is crazy enough to volunteer for that assignment?" Miriah asked. "Don't look at me, with my history of bounties and underworld dealings, I'd never pass the vetting stage."
"Nor would I, since I was in on all that stuff," Corso added, taking Miriah's hand in his.
"Maura, as leader of Havoc squad and a certified Republic hero, you're the obvious choice. You or Aric." Mags looked at the couple. "We'd be with you, as campaign managers. I certainly can't do it," she said, rubbing her very pregnant belly.
"Actually, Mom, you'd be a perfect candidate as well," Maura said, really not wanting to be the center of attention again.
"We thought of that, but my Jedi background would work against me in the political arena. I will, however, be with you, my daughter," Sarai told her. Mags realized that Maura was anxious and sent a little force her way, calming both her nerves and her muscles.
"Oh stars, I guess I have no choice then," Maura said, her face showing what she thought about this idea. "What do I do to get it started?"
"Right here, just sign," Sarai presented a datapad to her middle daughter, who sighed and scribbled her signature. "Now, we have to wait for the acknowledgement and then we'll be off to Coruscant."
Miriah closed her eyes and felt Corso gently squeeze her hand. She truly hated being off planet, and hated Coruscant even more, though since their last trip there her qualms were somewhat less than they'd been before. Still, she reasoned with herself, it was Maura who would be the focus, not her. She'd be with Corso, who would shield her from anything she asked of him. As if reading her thoughts, he leaned into her. "I'll be with you every single moment, cyare. Nothing will get close enough to hurt you, I swear it," he told her, his voice low enough that only she heard his words, but Mags and Sarai felt both of their emotions, and shared a look.
"So, what are we talking here? A few parties, playing dress up and spying on the attendees?" Maura was still uneasy about this, and Aric was beginning to understand how Corso felt when Miriah was forced to put herself into less than optimal situations for a mission.
"That's exactly it, Maura. We'll all accompany you, the more eyes and ears available, the better," the general said. "Plus, you'll all stay in the military complex, the same apartment you were in before, if you like. I can authorize some credits for this under mission planning, so you can shop for the necessary clothing and such." Maura groaned, she hate to shop on principle, and turned to Miriah.
"Mir, you gotta help me with that, I have no idea what to get."
Miriah grinned at her sister, "Oh, yeah, I can do that. I have a few formal dresses already, so I probably don't need anything."
"Just make sure you all fit in, that's the most important thing. Whatever you need, let me know. I'm going back today, too many things need my attention, but I'll see you all by the end of the week?" Aric nodded at the general, rubbing his wife's back. He followed her outside, and when they were reasonably alone, he spoke.
"General, I'm trusting you with the most valuable thing in the entire galaxy. You'll see to it that she's safe?" His laser green eyes held the general's and she knew the price should Maura come to harm. She also knew she'd put herself in front of any of these people should the situation arise. She nodded to the Cathar, grateful that this group existed, that these talented people were in the Republic.
Inside, Miriah was already pulling dresses up on the holoterminal, and had put Maura's measurements into the search. "I have the grey one I bought on Alderaan, the white one I wore at Akaavi's wedding, and the black lace.."
"No, you're not wearing the black lace one. Seriously, Mir. Corso would be beside himself, even more than I suspect will be the case anyway." Maura was paging through the search results, not really paying attention.
"He liked it, Maura. Why not use it again? I'm actually smaller than I was then, so it'll fit. Ask him." She turned to see Corso enter with Devin on his hip. "You like the black lace dress, the one I wore at Mom's birthday, right?" Corso blushed , his entire face red. He remembered it, it looked like she was wearing nothing but little bits of lace over her, and there was nothing to the back of it until the waistline.
"Uh, you were amazing in it, but I think I'd prefer being the only one you wear that one for, love." If possible, he got redder, just thinking about it. Miriah kissed his cheek, grinning at him, knowing he'd been unable to think about anything but her that entire night.
"Okay then, I guess I need to look, too. Mags, you can't wear you robes, get over here and look with us."
"If you girls are going to shop in here, I think I'm going to the office," Aric said. "I want to run a search on the convention that was going on when Jurin was supposedly ill."
"Not so fast," Maura told him. "You don't have a formal suit except for your dress blues, and you can't wear them to these functions." She smiled at his groan, and she took him by the arm and sat him down. "I'll order for you, but we need measurements first."
"Can't you just get the same size as my military uniforms?" Aric really hated buying clothes. Maura bent to hug him, and whispered in his ear. He stood, grabbed her hand, and they ran giggling to the guest room.
Magdalane snickered. "I guess she just explained to him about the measurements." Miriah laughed, and went into the kitchen to get lunch together for the kids.
Maura was recording measurements into her datapad, her half naked husband standing before her, making it hard for her to concentrate. He was just staring, noting her slightly manic energy covering her nerves at this new development, he thought. He caught her arm as she put the datapad beside him, and pulled her against him. "Talk, Maura. This is scary for you?"
She put her head on his shoulder, "More than I even have words to say, " she told him. "I would rather get fired on than have to dress up and be politically correct. Too many years spent in the military makes me wary of politicians anyway. How can I convince any of them?"
"You didn't think you could be a dancer either, but you did it. Don't limit yourself, honey. You have so many things you're capable of that you shy away from. I have total faith in you." He kissed her temple, and she sighed, happy to be in his arms. They joined the group, feeding the kids lunch, and after, taking them home for naps. Sarai had gone to do some shopping for herself, after life as a Jedi, there were no formal gowns in her closets.
Corso and Miriah were settled into their swing, Miriah telling him about the two dresses she'd bought, when she realized he was looking off into the distance. "And one is pale green and has actually grass sewn on it," she said, waiting for his reaction.
"Uh huh," he mumbled, and then "Hey!" when she poked his ribs. "What? I'm sorry, kitten, I was just thinking about the trip, and about Devin, and babies," he told her, then pulled her up his body until they were nose to nose, "and this morning." He kissed her, then again feeling her response. "The rest of this day is ours, no guests, no work. We need some time, love. I need to be with you, just you." He kissed her again.
"What about our son?" she teased, seeing his smile.
"He's easy, and I can still touch you with him around." He took her hair down, burying his hands in the silken strands, pulling her lips to his again and again.
The computer terminal in his office hummed as he carried his wife to their bed, and he didn't know or care what was going on anywhere else in the house. The results of the search he'd entered, on the activities of the Rehabilitationists, would have definitely put them both on edge, but for now, at least, Corso was at peace, loving his wife's body and soothing her soul, preparing them both for the coming trials.