Forty Seven
'Gem. It's me. I haven't long before we head out. I had hoped to see you in person, but I won't have time. I just wanted, no needed to say," he struggled, "oh, this is all wrong - "
He cleared his throat and looked directly down the lens of the holovid as it continued to record the personal message to her.
"You are what sustains me in battle."
His voice became louder, stronger.
"You are what I fight for. You are my home."
He stopped and stared, hoping that it would be directly into her eyes. Then whispered.
"Tell me I can come home?"
Rex stored the recording and gave strict orders to the Corporal that he required a reply, and feeling as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders he left for the Hanger Bay and to Kashyyyk.
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She entered the small galley kitchen in her apartment and opened the message as instructed.
He sprung to life in front of her, in 3D, she had to stop herself from reaching out to touch him.
How she wanted to touch him.
Gem listened as her man scrambled initially to get his point across, then startled slightly as his tone changed and became stronger, like the Captain she had met nearly twelve standard months ago.
Then finally the whisper, the question of forever.
Home.
This, unbeknownst to Rex, was the answer to her question.
Yes, she would create a new home, a family.
With him.
There were no words, nothing sentimental. Rex knew her better than that.
Closing the recording device she handed it back to the Corporal and he turned and left the apartment.
Gem walked slowly over to the large window and smiled as she placed her hand over her lithe belly. She would wait until he returned to tell him of the baby growing inside her. The one, she already knew was like her and her mother before her.
She could sense it already.
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