Five years ago my life changed forever, and every day since has been better than the one before. This was Corso's thought as he blinked his eyes open, the grey light indicating that it was early yet. He squeezed his wife, who was draped across him, her head in the curve of his neck, her soft, warm breath feathering over his skin. Five years ago today, he'd finally had enough of wondering, enough of waiting for the perfect timing, the perfect setting. Five years ago, he'd finally asked her to marry him.
He gazed down at his hand, resting on her bare hip, seeing the contrast of her pale, perfect skin against his golden tone. She was so delicate looking, but he knew from long experience she was like transperisteel, flexible when needed but stronger than she looked by far. He pulled up the memory of that day.
They'd been on Corellia, doing a job for the SIS. They were both tired, dirty, and hungry when they'd made it back to the ship, and Risha and Bow had been arguing like children. Of course, as soon as they'd seen Miriah walk through the air lock they were in her face, wanting her to intervene like they were her children. It was the first time he'd seen her pull her blaster on the ship, but they got the message and backed off. It was that action that told Corso more than anything else how tired she was, because she'd never say so. He'd rushed through his shower and was already cooking when she made her way to the galley. After the blaster incident, no one would dare come near her, but she'd walked straight up to Corso and pulled his face to hers, kissing him long and hard. He'd wanted to propose to her then, but his senses were scrambled and he missed his chance when she'd asked when the food would be ready.
After he'd gotten her to eat, she'd relaxed, and they'd enjoyed a glass of wine together. She'd gotten up to refill their glasses, and when she'd turned back to the chair he'd gotten down on one knee, like he'd been taught long ago was the proper position, and taken her hand.
"I was waiting for the perfect time, or place, or way to do this, but I realized today that any time I'm with you is the perfect time. Miriah Julianne Chantalle, I love you more than life itself, and I'd be honored if you'd be my wife." Her eyes had filled and she'd cupped his face with her hands.
"Are you sure? You know this life, this ship, everything that I do and have done, and you still want me?" Her voice was soft, incredulous. He'd reached in his pocket and pulled out the rings he'd had made on Carrick Station, intertwined bands of precious metals, hers impossibly small.
"I had these made a couple months ago, darlin'. I've been sure since the day I met you." He'd kissed her then, feeling her tremble. He'd pulled back and just looked into her eyes, and he almost missed her whispered answer. When he'd realized she'd said yes, he let out a whoop. She'd married them right then and there, and every day since had been all he'd hoped for.
He was brought out of his reverie when she shifted against him, the friction of their skin sliding over each other sending pulses of electricity racing over his body, making him glad that Devin was staying with his aunt Maura, and Logan was growing in his mother's womb. He traced his fingers over her still flat belly, looking forward to the next few months. So rich, he thought, even if we lost every credit in the bank tomorrow, we'd still be wealthy beyond measure. He felt it when she began to wake, and saw the smile on her face as she traced his chest with her hand.
"Morning, sugar. Happy Anniversary," she told him, her voice husky with sleep. It's going to be a great day, he thought, picturing the cushion cut rare deep purple amethyst he'd had set in a band to match her wedding ring. But tomorrow will be even better. He pulled her on top of him, and matched her grin.
When they surfaced for breakfast, Corso sent her to dress as he went to prepare. He'd already set out the china and flowers when she made her way into the room, and was pleased to see her smile. "This is truly beautiful, Cor. I feel so lucky," she told him, moving into his arms for a hug.
"I'm the lucky one, darlin'. Let's eat and then go get Devin," he replied, leading her over and pulling out her chair. They had successfully put the puzzle of the Voss away for a precious eighteen hours.
Maura had the kids at the table, breakfast in front of them, and had to grin at the sight. Aric, on the end of the table, saw her expression and quirked an eyebrow at her. "What's so funny, hon?"
"These babies, look at them!" she laughed. Devin had scarfed down his entire plate of food and was grinning at his cousins. Colin had eggs all over his face, but had also finished everything. Calleigh was delicately finishing her own plate, smiling at her mom's giggles. "They are just too cute all together like this." She turned to Aric. "Let's make that appointment we discussed. I'm ready," she told him, and he crossed the room to take her in his arms.
"Let's do it," he murmured against her hair. They cleaned up behind the children and Aric looked out the kitchen window to see Miriah approaching in their speeder. She parked it and came bounding up to the door, glowing in her pregnancy and looking rested.
"Hey Spitfire, you're looking well today," Aric teased her, grinning as she flushed pink.
"I feel great today. How was Devin?" she replied, grabbing a cookie she'd sent yesterday as she pulled out a chair at the table.
"He was fine," Maura said, "he and Colin made a fort from the sofa cushions and we let them sleep in there. It was a great adventure." She smiled at her little sister, pleased to see how healthy she looked. "Where's Corso? I figured he'd be with you."
"That sick bantha again. He's going to have to put her down, and I hated to put one more thing on his plate today." She heard Devin's voice and turned toward the door, in time to see him running to her.
"Don't pick him up, Mir, let him climb," Maura cautioned, seeing both their smiles as Devin hugged his mama.
"We sleep inna fort, Mama," Devin said excitedly. "Colin builded it, and we sleep there." He gave Miriah a kiss and scrambled down, pulling on her hand. "Daddy here? We go to the barn now?"
Miriah laughed as he ran for the door. "Thanks so much, guys, for having him over. I think he had a great time, and we did, too," she said, blushing again. Maura hugged her sister.
"They all had fun, we'll do it again," Maura told her, pleased that Miriah seemed so relaxed and rested. "Go catch him before he figures out how to start that speeder!"
Miriah laughed and waved, and she was gone. They watched as she buckled Devin into his seat, and started the speeder up, and watched until she was out of view. "Whatever Corso did, it sure put her in an excellent mood," Maura mused.
"Well, since it was their anniversary, I think I can figure out a couple of things he might have done,"Aric growled, making his wife giggle. "Want me to show you?" he asked, pulling her against him. She ran her hand down his chest, but pulled away.
"We'll have to find something to occupy the twins first," she said, winking at him, and went to do just that.
Miriah was traveling along at a reasonable speed, humming to herself. She glanced at Devin behind her, seeing his little eyes drooping. He always gets sleepy in the speeder, she thought. She had just turned her eyes to the road again when she saw something appear in front of her, too close to stop. The Voss, she thought, what is he doing here? She tried to swerve but the sudden motion fishtailed the heavy speeder, and she threw her arm up in front of her face as she realized she would surely hit the boulder in her current path. The impact made her own restraint nearly choke her, and she hit her head hard on the panel, hard enough that she lost consciousness for a few seconds. Devin was her last thought before that, and she was vaguely aware of voices around her.
"Stupid spacer," the female voice said. "Should have known she'd try to maneuver the speeder like it was her ship."
"I..I did not wish to hurt her or her child," the male voice said, and Miriah recognized it as the Voss who had visited her home.
"Silence! She'll survive. She's not the sister we wanted, anyway. Let's go," the female said, and something about her voice Miriah recognized but couldn't pull its owner out of her fuzzy brain.
"But she needs help.." theVoss said, his discomfort with leaving an injured person evident in his voice.
"They'll find her. That husband of hers will miss her very soon and start to look," the female said, her voice fading as she started walking away. Miriah heard Terik-ko hesitate, and then follow the woman. What was that about, she wondered, and tried to open her eyes. Finding one already swelling, she squinted and tried to turn her head, but she couldn't. She fumbled with the restraint and slid out of the speeder, finally able to turn and verify that Devin was there, and wasn't hurt. He looked at her with his calm, chocolate eyes and she could see a faint glow around him as she slumped to the ground.
Magdalane was changing Ian when she felt it, a spear of fear and anxiety, and a call for help. Devin, something's happened to Devin, she thought as she quickly finished her task and carried Ian in her arms, running to find Felix. "Something bad has happened. Devin needs us, he's telling me he and his mom are in trouble out on the road," she said to her husband. They loaded the children in the speeder and took off, Mags trying to control both her own anxiety and the fear she still felt from her nephew. Only minutes later they found the crashed speeder, and saw Miriah on the ground beside it.
"Get on the comm for Corso," Mags said, flying over the ground to her sister. "Another concussion," she said as she scanned the tiny limp form in front of her. "Devin, are you hurt?" She felt more than saw him shake his head, and her force scan told her that was true. "Mama has a cut on her head and a bruise on her brain, but she will be okay in a little bit." Mags aura flared as she healed the cut and gave her youngest sister a boost of energy, and was rewarded with a groan and Miriah's silver eyes fluttering open.
"The Voss," she muttered, then cried out as she tried to shake her head to clear the fog.
"Relax, Mir," Magdalane soothed her. "Devin is fine, and Corso is on the way. We'll get you back to the house and you can rest."
"Logan?" Miriah asked, fear in her voice.
"He's just fine, don't worry about either of them." Magdalane turned as she saw Corso's speeder roaring up the hill. "Corso is here, hon. Let's see if you can stand." The force heal had closed the cut on her head and resolved the swelling, but the bruising had started. She helped her sister stand, noting the dizziness and held onto her as she gained her bearings. Corso jumped off the speeder and ran to his wife.
"Miriah, darlin' are you okay? Devin, little man, okay in there? Mags, what happened?" Corso asked breathlessly, his eyes anxiously darting from his wife to his son.
"All I can tell you is that Devin was afraid and worried about his mom, and it was strong enough for him to use our soul link to call to me. We found them about three minutes ago, and Felix called you." Mags unbuckled Devin and lifted him out, placing him on the ground beside his father.
"Daddy, blue man here," Devin said, and Corso looked at him in puzzlement.
"Terik-ko," Mags said, suddenly realizing what her nephew meant.
"What the void was he doing out here?" Corso asked, steadying Miriah in his arms. "Let's go to the house," he said, guiding Miriah to his speeder. "Can you guys take Devin?" he asked.
"Of course," Felix replied, lifting the little boy into the seat beside Michi. "Ready, Dev?" he asked, getting a smile and a nod in return.
They met at the farmhouse, and when Miriah had been scanned and given a mild pain med, Corso insisted that she stretch out on the sofa. The children went to the playroom, and the adults sat to discuss the accident, Ian asleep in Corso's arms.
"So, Devin said that the blue man was there. Did you see him, Mir?" Corso asked.
"Yes, he just appeared in the path. There was no time to stop or even slow down, and I just swerved. I didn't see the boulder at first either. Then, when I was trying to get my wits about me again, he was talking to a woman. The voice sounded familiar, but I couldn't figure it out." She looked at her husband, holding the newest addition to the family, and grinned. "Practicing?" she asked him.
He cuddled the baby to his chest and smiled. "Can't wait to hold our own," he told her.
"A woman?" Mags asked. "Terik-ko was with a woman?"
"Yeah, and I know I've heard her speak before," Miriah answered, gently rubbing her middle. Just then, Devin ran into the room. "Dev, did you see the woman after the crash?" He looked at his mom and nodded.
"She mean. Feel mad. Her saber purple." He ran off to convince C2 he needed cookies, and the adults were left to figure out his statement.
"Hmm, so she was a force user, he could feel her emotions and she had a lightsaber." Mags was pacing now, thinking. Suddenly, Miriah sat up and looked at Corso.
"Joslin. It was Joslin," she said, and she saw the frown on Corso's face as she recalled the words. "She didn't want me, she said I was the wrong sister. So who is the right sister?"