Please be aware that some content of this chapter may be deemed M rated

Seventeen

"Have you heard Gem?" Padmè was making her way over to Gemma who held a small morsel of food in one hand and an elegant glass in the other.

"Heard what?" she responded, popping the canape entirely into her mouth.

The two were at a political cocktail hour, thrown for the benefit of the upcoming ceremony initiating new members into the Senate.

It was tedious but important, Olphina had emphasized,'to appear at these functions and be seen by other dignitaries.'

"The five hundred and first are back on Coruscant! They're home." Padmè whispered as she got closer, smiling knowingly before disappearing again.

The two had struck up a friendship during the past thirteen days. Padmè was aware of the attraction between the Representative from Oriis and the Captain from Kamino.

'It was so obvious,' she had said, 'the second that elevator door opened.'

Gemma had confided in the Senator from Naboo, they were similar in age, and unbeknownst to her, had similar illicit relationships.

One with a clone, the other with a Jedi.

Padmè was particularly interested in her mother's story. A chord had been struck, one close to home. Padmè would wait to tell Gem about her husband though, sensing that there was more behind Gem's story than she let on.

"Representative Gem," it was Olphina. "Have I introduced you to Senator Organa?"

"Senator, it is an honour Sir," Gem bowed worthy of a man who carried the rank as Prince Consort to the royal house of Alderaan.

"The honour is all mine young lady. I hear that we have you to thank for the death of the two Darthomir brothers? Our heartfelt congratulations must go out to you and the young Captain."

"Thank you Sir, but," borrowing the line from Rex, "it was merely a matter of being in the right place at the right time."

"Or the wrong place at the right time," interjected Chancellor Palpatine. He had snuck into the room without any of the usual fanfare that accompanied him, gliding over to them silently.

"Your Grace," they both said, standing back slightly.

"None of that here," he waved a wrinkled hand, "we are simply out to get to know one another in an informal setting. I see Senator Beruss over there; come Senator Organa, lets you and I have a little discussion regarding the financial bill he wants to present next week. I look forward to your induction into the Senate Representative Gem." He took a moment longer to take in her appearance. The resemblance to her mother always caught him unaware. He smiled with genuine warmth before he disappeared into the sea of politicians, leaving her alone with Senator Carr.

That's when Gem caught the sight of familiar white out of the corner of her eye. Her heart skipped as the soldier moved closer towards her and Olphina. It wasn't the colour she was wanting, the crimson instead of the blue she was longing for.

"Representative Gem." Commander Fox appeared at her side.

"Commander Fox," she breathed back.

He was here again!

"Excuse me Ma'am, Senator." He took time to acknowledge the more senior politician. "There has been a breach of security at your apartment. If you would kindly allow me to escort you back, some questions need to be addressed."

###

"Just what sort of breach has occurred?" Gem walked fast next to the Commander, who was clearly in a rush to get back to her accommodation.

"We'll be there in a minute Ma'am."

"You know, I think when we are alone you can call me Gem, Commander."

He stifled a laugh and lifted his helmet off as he stopped outside her apartment. His eyes sparkled and little wrinkles crinkled the corners. Fox had been keeping an eye out on the young woman, making sure that Vail and the other new recruit at the station nearest her apartment were aware of the situation she had been through before arriving on Coruscant.

"Open up the door Gem," he emphasized her name and she smiled briefly before pressing the sequence of numbers on the key pad.

The door opened and they both peered into the darkened apartment.

"The only person who should be calling you anything tonight is inside. Go on. Get in, he's waiting."

Gem immediately knew who he was talking about and without hesitation threw her arms around the Commander's neck and kissed him squarely on the cheek. Fox froze for a second before placing an arm gently around her, patting her back platonically.

"You're OK Fox, you know that?"

He blew out a breath, mumbling 'kriffing five hundred and first' as he turned the corridor and pressed a buzzer on another apartment.

"Commander. Everything alright with the young Representative?"

"I believe so Ma'am," he said as he walked in and placed his helmet in the usual spot.

He wasn't expected to be back on duty for another forty five minutes. 'Just long enough,' he thought as he pulled the woman into his arms in a loving embrace.

"Oh Fox," she sighed as he buried his face in her golden hair.

###

Gem saw him first.

He was wearing his fatigues and standing at parade rest with his back to her, looking out the same window she had done over and over again. He turned slowly when she entered, not moving towards her, remaining military in his appearance.

It took her by surprise, and her stomach lurched at his lack of enthusiasm in seeing her.

"Rex?"

"Hey," he said with a faint smile. He looked different, stilted. She couldn't quite pin point exactly what was going on, but something was definitely not right.

"Is everything OK?"

Then it dawned on her.

"Oh Force, who didn't come back? Kix?"

"No, he's fine." He reassured her.

"Jesse, Hardcase?"

"No Gem, they're all fine. I lost eleven men, none you would know."

She walked past the dining table, skimming her hand along the surface for support as she moved towards him. That's when she noticed him take a slight step back. Gem halted.

"What's going on Captain?" He looked down and it was then she noticed his arm in the small sling. He had been injured.

"Gem, I,uh," he stammered, "Kriff, this is harder than I thought," he rushed out, raising his good arm and rubbing his hand across his head. "I guess I'm nervous."

"Rex? Nervous, why?" She implored.

"I really don't know," he half laughed it out. "I've never come back to anyone before. I hadn't heard from you and I just thought - "

"You said to only use the comm in an emergency Rex." She replied slowly and clearly.

She looked at him and could clearly see the tiny beads of sweat line the top of his lip.

He really was nervous. She smiled slightly, feeling his anxiety.

It hadn't been as easy coming back to her as he initially thought.

First, he had been caught by Commander Fox entering the apartment. Fox knew why he was there, but made the Captain squirm in having to explain himself to the more senior officer.

Now, unsure of their relationship, he stood before her, feeling as vulnerable as a shinie reporting for duty. It was all new to him. Fighting, lining up in battle, comforting injured soldiers he could handle. The emotional roller coaster of relationships another story completely.

"Come here to me." It wasn't a question.

He walked slowly over to join her, their eyes never leaving each other until he stood directly in front of her.

"There hasn't been a day I haven't thought about you."

She moved one hand up to his face and his eyes closed as his head leaned into it slightly. He took in the scent on her wrist, heady and familiar as he slid his free arm slowly around her waist, pulling her effortlessly into him. There they embraced.

She moved back slightly and looked at the sling holding his arm in place at his chest.

"You're injured. Want me to kiss it better?" She was being cheeky, happy he was back in her arms where she thought he'd always belong.

"Yes, in a minute," he nuzzled her ear, and she felt the warmth of his breath against her neck, moving her head slightly to the side at the sensation.

Then, in front of a thousand zooming speeders outside her window, he let his mouth indicate exactly how happy he was to be home.

###

She lay in his arms. The first wave of passion had washed over them. They were quiet, enjoying the warmth of each others bodies under the soft sheets. It was Rex who broke the silence. He hadn't stopped thinking about the off hand comment from Cody aboard The Resolute.

"Gem, there is something I need to ask you and I am not sure how to - um," he stopped.

"I always find the beginning, a good a place as any," she repeated his own words.

Rex scoffed back a laugh and planted a kiss squarely on her mouth. She smiled as he moved slightly away and looked at her.

"In all seriousness Gem, I haven't acted appropriately in regards to our," he hesitated, "our being together."

"Rex?" Gem, confused sat up and covered herself with the sheet.

Kriff, he was going to have to just come out with it.

"Birth control Gem, we haven't used any once during our time together." Rex let out a long breath.

"Oh, I - see," Gem said slowly. "Well, you have nothing to worry about Rex. I have an implant."

Rex looked away, embarrassed. These were things never brought up on Kamino during training. They had no mothers, they were bred in containers, then vats as they got larger. The female anatomy was as foreign to the clones as the burning moons of Fenix IV. He rolled her up in his good arm and closed his eyes momentarily.

"Where did they send you Rex?" Gem curious of the action that had caused this anxiety in her Captain and the injury to his arm.

"A frozen planet called Orto Plutonia."

The floodgates opened and for the first time in his life, Rex talked openly about where he had been stationed, how he felt about the mission and his frustration at losing more men. She lay there next to him, looking all the time and listening, never interrupting.

Rex stopped suddenly, watching her he smiled.

"I've talked too much haven't I? I'm sorry Gem."

"Never apologise Rex," Gem said quietly.

He smiled and thought how lucky he was to be dropped off on that little moon.

'If Cut could see me now,' he thought to himself, then he remembered the gift.

"Oh, I have something for you as well," he said pulling the sheet off him and searching his uniform. He looked in the pockets and pulled out the small token given to him outside the cave.

"This was made for you by a Talz warrior. It is a Narglatch claw." His face beamed like that of a child's.

"How is it made for me?" Gemma sat up and inspected the intricately engraved animal claw he had given her.

Rex settled himself back into the bed and with Gemma resting on his chest began to explain the incarceration in the snow.

She laughed, as he did, when he described waking up in the large animal's fur.

"He was so warm and soft, sort of like being with you," he laughed.

The sound of him laughing almost made the war bearable.

"Well, I hope he wasn't too much like being with me,' she scoffed back.

"No, there are certain things he didn't do," Rex mused.

"Like?"

"Well, like this for example." Rex moved her back off him and leaned over her.

"Argh," he let out as his injured arm gave way.

"Shouldn't you be in Bacta?"

"We bug out again tomorrow, and I wasn't going to spend today alone in a tank. Don't worry, Kix is on it, we'll use another patch enroute."

He nuzzled up against her, kissing her along the length of her clavicle.

"You won't be fit for duty," she breathed as he continued up her neck.

"I think I'm fit for duty right now," he said, the pair both looking down at his reaction to her naked body under him.

"Kiss and make it better?" he said with a smile.

"Why Captain?" Gemma giggled as she made her way down his stomach.

When she felt the time was right, Gemma manouvered him inside her. She stopped for a minute, closing her eyes at the sensation. Rex sat up, his abdominal's pulling his body effortlessly against hers as she wrapped her legs behind him. He hitched her slightly and she let a gasp escape her mouth as he buried himself deep within her.

Rex set the pace and Gem followed his lead. The moment to savour one another would be later, for now, the gratification they both yearned took precedence.

Gem threw her head back, and Rex kissed her jaw line and neck. She placed both hands behind her, leaning hard on his thighs as his mouth made his way down to her breasts, holding her into him with one hand in the small of her back.

There they began a new rhythm - together, strong and controlled, focusing on the inevitable. Gem could see the sweat beginning to make his dark skin glisten. They were completely lost in the moment, lost in one another.

"Gemma," he breathed, just maintaining control. "Gedet'ye, gedet'ye!" he growled as he reached the point of no return.

"Rex," she cried as she met his climax with her own, their bodies exploding simultaneously.

They were still joined intimately when he moved her legs carefully out from behind him, Gem groaning as her stiff limbs unwound themselves.

"Bet the Talz couldn't do that," she said with a wink.

###

When she woke, he was gone.

The Narglatch claw resting on the pillow where his head had been.

She picked it up and headed towards the refresher, a gentle reminder of their time together trickling ever so slowly down her leg.

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