Corso had a hard time looking away from his wife on the ride to the dinner. Aric had gotten out of the taxi first and was helping each of the women out, their long gowns making the simple act much more difficult. He just lifted the tiny Sarai out and placed her on the walkway, not wanting to risk her falling. Corso got out after her, and only Miriah was left. Corso took her in his arms, twirling her around before putting her feet down on the ground, a huge grin on both their faces. He gazed into her eyes, and only Aric's loud "Ahem" broke their focus on each other.
"Let's keep our heads in the game, you two," he smirked, seeing the blush rise on Miriah's face. He smiled at Maura, who'd turned to see what the hold up was, and took her arm in his, escorting her to the entrance where Sarai and Magdalane waited. Felix hovered around Magdalane, anxious about her being there. Mags felt his unsettled thoughts, and her aura flared briefly in a calming force burst to her husband. She felt Ian do a slow roll inside her, and wondered for a second if she could already feel his force awareness. She pushed that thought aside and focused on Felix, using his strength to balance walking up the stairs.
They spotted the general as they approached the ball room. She was talking with another Republic officer whose chest was covered with decorations. Wonder if that's Jurin, Maura thought, just before the general turned and introduced the SIS agent to the group. He nodded and shook hands, a warm smile on his face.
"So this is the Advantages team? Well done, and welcome. I'm most pleased and honored to meet you all," Jurin said, gesturing toward the door. "Shall we join the party? I'm sure there are many who would like to meet you all." He offered his arm to the general, who took it with a backward glance over her shoulder at Aric and Maura, a glance that seemed to say "see? He's not at all involved in anything."
The group was led inside and instantly Maura was surrounded by people. She tried to maintain her calm, feeling both Sarai and Mags sending her force energy, her hand gripping Aric's arm tightly. I knew this was coming, she thought, I just have to keep smiling and nodding. After half an hour, the conversation around her started to ebb, and she had a chance to look around. She spotted Miriah and Corso talking to a group of younger people, but saw that they both were watching the crowd. Miriah glanced over at her, and nodded, taking Corso's hand and heading toward her. Sarai was already nearby, and she saw Felix help Magdalane stand from the settee she'd been resting on. Maura looked up at Aric, saw the pride in his intense green eyes, and smiled at him.
"You're doing great, honey, " he told her, whispering in her ear, his warm breath on her neck igniting thoughts that had nothing at all to do with a diplomatic dinner. "You look very beautiful tonight. It's a distraction, for me, at least." She gave his arm a squeeze and he circled her waist with his other arm, pulling her into his side, just as another few people came to introduce themselves. He'd been doing his best to remember everyone, but the sight and scent of his wife was proving to be hard to ignore.
They made their way to their table, Magdalane already feeling shaky. She'd make sure to put some crackers in her pocket next time, she thought, taking the chair that Felix pulled out for her and reaching for her water glass. She almost dropped the glass when Miriah grabbed her wrist, running the palm-sized scanner over the liquid. Miriah nodded at her and she drank, thankful her sister was being prudent.
When they were all seated, Miriah turned to her oldest sister. "Mags, who are the power players here?"
"Well, you met Jurin. See that woman he's with now? That's the Minister of Defense. She's new, just started her term. And the one behind them is the Minister of Finance. He's a noble from.."
"Alderaan," finished Corso, a frown on his normally pleasant face. "I remember him, from the last dinner we attended." Miriah touched his hand, knowing the unpleasant memories associated with their mission there. He glanced down at his wife, turning his hand over to lace his fingers with hers, just the contact with her settling his thoughts.
Amazingly, they were at a table by themselves, and were able to relax a little while their food was brought out. Sarai told Maura how well she was doing, making her smile. Aric had taken her hand, absently stroking her wrist with his thumb as they talked. Maura was acutely aware of his touch, and knew if she didn't pull away, she'd be too distracted to work the mission. Aric must have caught her thoughts, or was having the same ones, because he let go of her wrist and instead put his arm over the back of her chair, trying to appear nonchalant.
Felix saw that Magdalane was pale and flagged down a white coated waiter, asking for some bread. The waiter saw Mag's face, and hurried over with a basket loaded with rolls, and more water. She smiled her thanks at the young man, who hurried back to the kitchen and returned, bringing her a steaming bowl of soup. After a few sips, Mag's color returned to normal, and Felix took a deep breath. She turned to her husband then and said what he was thinking. "I may have overdone things today." He nodded, taking her hand in his and kissing her fingers.
"Mags, maybe we can use relays to get info back and forth, and you can stay home for the next one," Miriah said, seeing relief on both her sister and her brother in law's faces. Mags was slowly sipping her soup, feeling much better, when their food arrived. Miriah watched as the food was placed, and ran her mini scanner over their table, nodding when the lights remained green. She felt Corso's eyes on her and glanced at him. "Food's fine to eat, sugar, go ahead," she told him
"You first. I'll match you bite for bite, but you have to eat," he told her. He knew she was trying to concentrate on the mission, but he also knew she would do so to the exclusion of her own needs. She nodded, and took a bite, looking around the room to locate Jurin and Garza. She was watching them when Corso nudged her, urging her to take another bite.
"Just look at them. If I didn't know Garza better, I'd say she had a thing for that guy," she said, absently taking a bite of her food and chewing slowly.
"Garza and Jurin?" Aric asked. "Hmm a possibility I didn't consider. She was pretty adamant that he wasn't the leak when I confronted her about him, but I never got the feeling she was protecting him." He turned to Maura. "Did anyone get a chance to ask her about the brain reprogramming drug?" Maura shook her head.
"I haven't, and I don't think anyone else has seen her other than over the holo since we got here. We really need to sit down with her, see what she knows about this stuff." She daintily dabbed at her mouth with her napkin, turning to locate the pseudo couple. "How much longer do we need to be here?" she asked, anxious to be herself again.
"At least for another hour," Miriah said, "Once the dancing starts we can begin to wind things down. Well, except for Mags. She should go back to the apartment after dinner."
Felix agreed, and said, "We should, Mags, you know we should." Magdalane sighed and nodded. She hated missing out, not being there for her sisters, but knew that they understood.
Once dinner was over, the candidates and their entourages made their way to the next room, where strains of music could be heard from the hallway. Miriah stopped just inside the door, watching the mingling group before her. Corso had gone outside with Felix, to help them get a taxi back to the apartment. And help Mags get into the taxi, she thought with a wry smile. She looked around, seeing trays of champagne being carried through the crowd. Uhoh, she thought, well, at least I've eaten enough to soak up some of the bubbly. She'd just reached out to grab a flute when Corso put one in her hand.
"Just for a toast, cyare, no more than that." She grinned at him, seeing the amusement in his eyes. They were still entranced with each other when Aric and Maura joined them, Sarai following them.
"Easy there, Mir, you know what that stuff does to you," Maura said, laughing as Miriah rolled her eyes. They turned as a group when Supreme Chancellor Saresh began her toast.
"It is my distinct pleasure to be in such great company," Saresh said. "The future of the Republic is in this room, right now. This is the beginning of great things to come. I want to take this opportunity to introduce the candidates. When I call your name, please take your place up on the dias."
Maura looked at Aric in panic, her face suddenly pale and a tremble in her hand that was clenched on his. "Relax, honey. You don't have to speak, just stand. You can do this. I'll be right here, just look at me, okay?" She nodded, swallowing hard, and when Saresh called her name, she strode gracefully to the dias, her emerald green gown floating around her and her head held high. She looks like a queen, Aric thought, and he was so proud of her. He watched as she took her place, looking like she really was running for office. As the candidates all took their place, Saresh raised her glass.
"Here's to a fair and civil contest, and to these fine people who willingly serve the Republic," she said, and smiled when the crowd responded with cheers and the clink of crystal. Miriah drank, but was conscious of how much, and put the flute down quickly, hoping to not be tempted to have more. She caught Maura's eye as her sister started back to the group, and gave her a thumb's up, which made Maura laugh.
Aric met his wife as she approached the group, but swung her around to face the dance floor. "Will you do me the honor, beautiful?" Maura blushed as she nodded, and Aric launched her into a graceful waltz. Sarai stood next to Miriah and they watched, Sarai letting out a little sigh.
"He's an enigma," she told her youngest daughter. "All tough and macho and male, and then you see him with the twins on each hip or," she gestured to the couple on the dance floor, "dancing as if he does it every day, and you can't help but admire his many talents." Miriah chuckled, but nodded her agreement. Aric was truly one of a kind, and she thought he was the perfect mate for her sister.
"Well the ruse is certainly convincing, but have we learned anything this evening?" she asked her mother, who shook her head. "Well, other than Garza might be attracted to Jurin?"
Corso joined them then and shook his head as well. He'd hoped to have a better grasp on what was going on by now, but so far everything seemed to be exactly what it appeared to be. He tugged on the slightly tight collar of his shirt, ready to be out of the formal suit. He saw Garza and Jurin then, on the dance floor. He saw that Aric and Maura were there as well, and turned to his wife.
"I owe you a dance, kitten, from the last one of these we attended." He held out his hand, and she placed her much smaller one in his and smiled. He led her to the floor, waited for the beat, and to her surprise they floated along.
"How is it that you're suddenly a good dancer?" she asked, her face showing her amazement. He chuckled at her, held her closer and danced for a minute before he answered.
"How could I refuse to learn something that allows me to hold you close in public when you look so very beautiful?" She sighed a happy sigh and put her head on his chest, content.
Corso scanned the room over her head, but could see nothing worth noting. Garza was talking to Saresh, and there were plenty of people dancing. He noticed Jurin approaching Sarai, saw her astonished blush when he asked her to dance, and her reluctant acceptance of that invitation. He smiled, he knew his mother in law would use her force skills to analyze the agent.
Sarai looked into the dark blue eyes of Colonel Jurin, and saw that while he was intensely uncomfortable being in a social setting, he was not trying to hide anything from her. He smiled pleasantly at the tiny woman who was so serious, and easily led her in dance. She complimented his form, and he laughed, telling her he had no idea what he was doing but his feet apparently had been taught at some point. She puzzled that response, but the song ended shortly after and she thanked him for the dance, returning to Miriah's side, who was now looking for something other than champagne to drink.
"Hi Mom. So, what's his story?" Miriah asked, as she spotted some sparking water at the end of the table.
"Not really sure, Mir, he seems sincere and I felt no deception from him." Sarai took the glass Miriah offered her and filled it with the very cold water. "He's got a good sense of humor, and dances well." She drank deeply, felt the emotional temperature of the room ramp up a few degrees when Corso rejoined them, and smiled at her son in law. Maura and Eric joined them and by mutual agreement started toward the taxi stand. Miriah shivered in the night air, her shoulders bare. Corso took off his jacket and wrapped her both in the fabric and his arms, kissing the back of her neck as he held her. They were standing there waiting when they saw Garza exit on Jurin's arm, and exchanged looks with raised eyebrows.
Back at the apartment, the couples thanked Elara and checked on their children before retiring to their rooms. Maura was thankful to take off the shoes that had been pinching her feet all night, much preferring her soft boots to those torture devices. Aric knelt and removed the second one, running his warm hand up her leg, getting her full attention. "You were perfect, hon, from the dress to the way you walked up for the introduction. Regal, cool, devastatingly beautiful. And mine. All mine. That's the part I liked best, thinking that." He pulled her up and into him, and with just a few motions the emerald green gown lay in a puddle at the end of the bed, its former occupant now wrapped around the muscular Cathar, not thinking of anything but him.
Felix had helped Magdalane undress earlier, and despite her attempts otherwise, resisted her and made her lie down. He was still awake when he heard the others return, but didn't want to disturb his wife's rest. There was some comfort in knowing he'd been right about her over doing, but not enough to make him feel better that she was exhausted. I want them both healthy, he thought, gently rubbing the distended skin over his son. He lay awake for quite some time, trying not to worry about them both but failing miserably.
Miriah had taken her stiletto heels off in the elevator, and Corso returned from checking on Devin to find her covered in the hot, fragrant water of the bath she'd loved when they were here before. He knelt beside her, kissing her. She opened her eyes, and he saw the passion there. He picked her up out of the water, sat her feet down and quickly toweled her off before lifting her again and taking her to their bed. He'd wanted to put his mouth on her skin ever since he'd first seen her in the red dress, and now was his chance. She laughed as he struggled with his suit, but the laughter soon turned to sighs and breathy whispers as he loved her slowly, drawing out their time together until they were both spent.
Sarai stood on the balcony of the apartment in the dim light from the city, looking out, wondering why Jurin was such a blank page, so devoid of anything she could detect with the force. She puzzled this for some time, then slowly turned to go inside, still unsure what it meant.