"Hmm!" Mij stared at the read out, not giving anything away.

"So?" Asked Maze, impatiently.

"There's still some scarring in the lungs."

"And?"

Essie watched him closely as he was reverting to Alpha ARC mode, one syllable words. Not a good place for Maze; she thought he had moved on from that.

"I want you to have some more Bacta infusions. While you sleep; so the sessions are longer but less concentrated. See if it helps."

"See if they help? 'see if they help' isn't good enough, it sounds like you're experimenting on me; I started kriffing life in a test tube, I don't want to finish it in one."

"Son…"

"I'm nobody's son."

"Maze, he's only….."

"Kriff off!" Maze grabbed his cane and limped off through the door, achieving a reasonable pace, despite his injuries.

Essie took a step back, shocked. Then turned to follow him but Mij's hand stopped her, "Let him calm down a bit." Mij checked the portable equipment that would allow him to receive the infusions in his sleep, rather than having to sit for several hours in medbay. "The infusions will help but he may never get full lung capacity back. We just don't know."

Essie didn't want to hear that.

"Is there no possibility?"

"I won't say that. You can never tell, especially with someone as stubborn as Maze."

He looked up at her, "Would it make any difference to you?"

"Of course not but Maze."

He nodded. "The only other way would be a lung transplant, which is unlikely given what's happening with the clones or a modification."

"Modification, what's that?"

"Mechanical lungs. But I have never done anything like that. It's very specialised. We would have to get someone in to do that, or get Maze to them."

"Hmm. I'm not sure he would even agree to that."

"Go see if he's calmed down and try and talk some sense into him."

Essie turned and rushed out, trying to slow herself down, she didn't want to get an audience. Kal's lot were very interested in everybody's business. She wasn't sure what she was going to say to Maze but as she looked around the compound, she couldn't see him anywhere.

She popped her head around the kitchen door; it was a long shot but it was busy there, so unlikely, if he was still angry. He usually sought solitude or a punch bag. He had not gone back to their rooms and she popped her head in the gym, thinking he was stubborn enough to try that.

"Arli!" She headed to his room and knocked gently at the door.

"Come in!" His voice still sounded a little weak but much better than before.

"Essie…."

"Have you seen Maze?" She interrupted his greeting.

"No! And he seems to be avoiding me, as have you but I need to speak to both of you."

Essie had known this was coming and she admitted to herself she had been avoiding him.

"Now!" He added, "Sit!" and that sounded like an order.

She took a deep breath, "Okay," and sat, waiting for the onslaught.

"I specifically left instructions for Bardan not to treat me using the Force. I know what untrained healers can do to themselves. It will drain him too much but then you helped him. I felt both of you there. You both have very specific force signatures. Maze knew my feelings on this, as did Bardan. Why did they ignore my instructions?"

"I don't know. Maze was unconscious. Bardan never said anything."

Zey steepled his hands and frowned for a second, and then looked back at her, his frown gone. His hand went to her, "I know you did it with the best intentions, and thank you. Now, how is Maze?"

"Struggling."

"With what?"

"I'm not sure. Mij has suggested more infusions of Bacta over a longer period while he sleeps but the result is not a given."

"Bardan?"

"Maze is taking a leaf out of your book and refusing Bardan's help. More like - I don't want any kriffing Jedi in my head, type of thing."

"Oh dear. And that includes you?"

Essie sank back further into her chair, "I don't know and I'm not sure what to say to him."

"You're one of the few people who know him best. Just remind him how far you've both come. He'll be somewhere quiet."

"Yes. But where?"

"Just relax and think about him. Close your eyes if it helps."

She sat back and did just that; after about a minute she had a picture of him, near the lake. She opened her eyes.

"Got him?" asked Zey.

"Yes. I think so."

"So what are you waiting for?"

Essie looked at him for a few seconds before jumping up and planting a kiss on his cheek then rushing off.

He touched his cheek as she ran out of the door.

"So like Janyne."

.

Maze sat wheezing beside the lake; he couldn't understand why he was so angry with everyone, especially Essie. She was only trying to help, as was the Doc. He was beginning to think he was defective; he had thought he had gotten past all that.

The rustle through the trees alerted him and he braced himself, although it didn't sound like Essie. He knew she was looking for him, he could feel her, as if she was standing behind him.

Kriffing jedi. He thought, and "Di'kut!" He muttered aloud to himself.

"I hope that wasn't directed at me, otherwise I may have to give you a good thumping. Injured or not." Kom'rk said, as he finally emerged from the undergrowth and sat next to him.

Maze stared ahead and ignored him, still wheezing.

"Di'kut!" Echoed Kom'rk.

"I just said that."

"I know. I meant you."

"So did I."

"Oh!"

The two men sat in silence for a little while, apart from Maze's wheeze.

"You can't avoid her. She'll find you eventually, you know that don't you?"

"Yes." Maze admitted.

"So we've only got a couple of minutes, if that."

"For what?"

"Some advice."

"From you?" Maze huffed dismissively.

"Yes from me. So listen. Do you still love her?"

"Yes."

"kyor'la haran! you have a Fekking funny way of showing it."

"I…."

"Shut it!"

Maze started to rise. Kom'rk pushed him down easily.

"Listen! If you want to keep her, you have to let her help you."

"She shouldn't have to."

"I know she shouldn't but she will because for whatever reason she loves you and is with you for the long haul. And don't forget Del, that lad worships you. You have to be there for him. You adopted him."

"Perhaps I shouldn't have let it get this far."

"Too late for that ner vod but now you don't want to lose her."

Maze sat quietly, as Kom'rk watched him, you could almost see him weighing up the consequences.

"She may need you one day and will you be there for her?"

"Of course!"

"So you have your answer."

For a split second Maze saw an expression of what he could only read as regret cross Kom'rk's face. Then it disappeared. There was more to this.

"You're not interested in her are you?"

"Essie? No!"

"I didn't think so, Alina then?"

Kom'rk shook his head slowly, "I don't think so. I think my chance at what you have has passed."

"So there was someone?"

Kom'rk looked at him long and hard; apart from his brothers who he didn't always confide in. They had enough problems. Maze was the nearest vod he could potentially call a friend, "Yes." He finally conceded.

When?" Asked Maze.

"During the war."

"Anybody I know?" Asked Maze, having successfully deflected the conversation away from himself.

"No!"

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

They both heard someone approach.

"A conversation for another time. This is up to you now ner vod. Good luck!"

.

Essie finally found him; initially she thought he wasn't alone when she heard two voices but when she reached him he was. She looked around, sensing someone retreating, fast.

"Can I sit?"

He nodded to the seat next to him. She sat down slowly.

"You calmed down?"

"Yep!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yep!"

"You don't sound like it."

"I'm calm."

"Good. So what was that all about?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing? Storming off like that was not nothing."

"I'm calm now."

"You've said that. Is there anything else I should know?"

Maze shrugged.

Essie crossed her arms, "That's not an answer."

"I've been thinking."

"Oh dear!"

Maze glared in response before continuing, "This cure from Uthan may not work and what if I don't recover."

"That doesn't matter, we'll still be together."

"If I do, I'll be old years before you. I'll only have a few years left then I'll be no use to you."

"I thought we'd been through all this. You survived the war. We've survived so far. Any time with you now is a bonus. We need you, me and Del."

"It's ….."

"Difficult?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I'm a soldier. I expected to die in battle and now….."

"Was a soldier! You can be what you like now. You have a choice, one which I thought you'd made. Are you having second thoughts?"

Maze leaned back, "No. This." He gestured to his chest, "it's just putting it into perspective. All those years training. It's hard….."

"To get it out of your head? You were trained, conditioned, brainwashed— whatever you like to call it for ten years. It'll take time to get over that."

"I can't ask you to put up with that — and this reaction every time I'm injured."

"You're not asking, I'm doing."

"Don't I get a choice?" Maze eyes narrowed.

"You weren't going to give me one."

"I was."

"Pfft!"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means whatever you want it to."

"That thing that I have to wear in bed will make a noise."

"So what? I'll wear ear plugs."

"You have an answer for everything."

"Don't you think I've thought about it as well?"

"I…" Maze's voice trailed off.

"Well I have long and hard."

"I see."

"I'm serious."

"I know you are."

"Do you? If you know that, marry me!"

"What?"

"Marry me."

"No!"

"Pfft. That's nice." Essie rolled her eyes.

"I'll marry you when I've recovered okay?" Maze pushed himself up.

"Okay!"

Essie watched as he leaned on his cane, catching his breath again.

"So are you going back now?"

"Yeah. Gonna talk to the Doc."

Essie shook her head, "Are we good?"

"We're good."

Maze limped off.

"Who else was talking to you?" She shouted after him.

"No one." He shouted back.

"Kom'rk." She muttered as she jogged to catch up with him and linked her arm through his.

.

Essie laid out the infusion equipment ready for Maze to get into bed; he was just having his shower. He should be tired. Scout had been doing the physical therapy with him; Essie had heard the swearing coming from the gym and that was just from Scout. She had picked up a good selection of Mando curses since she came here.

She switched off the light and slipped into the bed, leaving just the bedside lights finally finished and came out of the fresher walking slowly over, without his cane, she noted.

"Like what you see?"

"Always do."

Maze slid slowly into bed and shuffled around arranging the equipment so it was comfortable "Hang on to that thought." He replied.

"Got everything you need?" She asked.

"No!"

"What's missing?"

"You on top."

"Not gonna happen."

"Need the light off." He attached the tubes that would feed the infusion.

"You okay with that?" She pointed to the tubes.

"Stop hovering! I'm not a kriffing invalid."

"No?" She asked.

"Just switch the light off." He grumbled.

"You are really grumpy when you're ill. You know that?" Essie climbed over him, straggling him as she leaned over to switch the lights off, getting as close to his face as possible.

"Kriffing tease."

"Takes one to know one."

"Am not!"

"Are!"

"I'm not dignifying that with a reply." Maze sniffed.

"Treat it as Motivation with a capital M."

"I'm getting motivated."

"I can tell. Serves you right for being grumpy."

"Am I really?"

"Yes."

"But—" he grinned at her, from under the tubes, "you could still have your wicked way with me."

Essie climbed back over, "You wish but it's not gonna happen. Cuddling only." She kissed his cheek and snuggled up to him.

"Kriffing torturer!" He muttered then yawned.

She grinned, as she listened to his breathing even out and the machine pushing the Bacta through his lungs. He didn't wheeze when he had the machine on.

She hoped this would work.

.

Essie had got back into the swing of baking early for breakfast again; she found it peaceful so early in the morning, especially when she let Maze lie in, he seemed to need more rest to let the Bacta infusion take. Although she noticed last night she heard no wheezing at all before he put the tubes on and he hadn't had to use his cane for several days now; it appeared to be working. She opened the oven and stood back away from the escaping heat before taking the last of the bread rolls out, tipping them out onto the counter to cool. They would still be warm when they finally came in for breakfast.

She heard Laseema's giggle before she arrived; Atin must be with her. She would miss them all when they finally left. She stood for a second wondering when she had started thinking like that, it had crept up on her. But she was definitely thinking it was time to go. Once Maze was fully fit; he had a promise to fulfil.

"Hey Commando! Put that woman down." Maze's gravelly voice emanated from outside and there was more laughing from Laseema before they all entered the kitchen.

"You're up early Essie?"

"Needed to do something." She replied as she knocked on the bottom of each roll with her knuckles to check it was properly baked. She had a reputation to uphold.

"Is the Captain not keeping you occupied enough?" Atin asked, as Laseema punched his arm and before he pinched a hot roll, quickly passing it from one hand to the next as it was still too hot to hold comfortably.

"If you eat those now you'll get indigestion."

"Cast iron stomach," he replied, patting his abdomen.

"Not what I heard." Maze butted in, "some kind of stew. Someone's grandmother?"

Atin groaned and held his stomach

Essie frowned at the thought, as Maze appeared next to her, his arm reaching around her waist before pulling her in for a kiss, although he still smelled of Bacta.

"Not in the kitchen please!" Mereel declared as he walked in.

Maze glared at him before kissing her again, just because he could.

Essie held on tight and she could feel his muscles, he was back up to his normal strength.

"You okay?"

"Never felt better. Held my breath long enough to ARC level this morning in the shower." He had reverted to doing his ARC body check every morning during his recuperation. She had watched him, initially concerned then relieved as it was obvious he was recovering and he knew it

She narrowed her eyes, "Are you even supposed to be doing that?"

He shrugged, "I can now and I have a check up today."

"I know."

She had been keeping track of everything regarding his recovery.

"So I thought we could go to bed early tonight?"

"We can if you get the all clear from Mij."

"He has not said we can't have sex."

"No, just not to exert yourself yet."

"It doesn't have to be me." He buried his nose in her hair, she smelt good, despite having been baking bread, or because of it.

"Planning your moves already?" Essie smiled, as she held him closer.

"Of course. Always have plans."

"I like that idea. I'll bear that in mind all day."

"You do that. We have some catching up to do."

He pulled away to walk over to the caf.

.

"Are you better Dad?"

"I am." Maze answered as he carried Del on his back, into his bedroom and dropped him gently onto the bed. His son giggled, as he bounced on the mattress. Maze's arms either side of him to ensure he didn't bounce off the bed.

"I like A'den, Dad, and Kom'rk. They make me laugh."

"Good."

"They've been teaching me some good moves."

"I'll bet they bloo…" Maze coughed to stop himself cursing, "have. You'll have to show me tomorrow."

"I will. I told them you could still take them."

"Good lad. You tell 'em."

Del snuggled further under his covers.

"Mereel says cos you're better now you're going to show Mammy a good time tonight. What are you going to do?"

Maze cleared his throat and tried not to frown.

"We're going to have lots of cuddles."

"Ew! Are you?"

"Yes! Now bedtime." He pulled the covers over his son as he fidgeted under them. "Goodnight!"

He watched him for a few seconds before closing the door.

.

Essie was sitting up in bed when he returned to their bedroom.

"I'm going to have to have words with Mereel." Maze said as he stripped off his top.

"Why?" She asked, as she got out of bed and walked up to him.

"Del overheard him say I was going to show you a good time tonight and wanted to know what that was."

Essie laughed and put a hand on his chest and twirled the few hairs there, "And what did you say?"

"I said we were going to cuddle."

Essie threw her arms around his neck and dissolved into a fit of giggles against him. His arms wrapped around her until the giggles stopped and she looked up into a serious Maze face.

"You two mean everything to me but I just need reminding sometimes, when…..the conditioning takes over."

"I know. We'll do that."

He dropped his forehead to hers, "I have missed this."

"Me too."

"You know that's my favourite nightdress."

"I do."

He slipped the strap off one shoulder, then the next and it slid slowly down, to pool at her feet.

"Especially when it does that."

"Got a plan?" She asked, watching his eyes, the darkest she had seen them in a long time.

"Hm—hm." His lips dragged along the skin of her neck, as his hands moved slowly up her ribs resting just under her breasts, as his his thumbs skimmed her nipples.

"A slow plan?" She gasped, having thought about this all day. She could already feel him stiffening against her stomach. She dragged her nails down his back until she reached his backside and squeezed.

"Cheeky!" he whispered into her ear, lifting her up, putting her onto the bed and leaning over her.

"Show off!" She gasped

"Will you just shut up!" He muttered, before his mouth crashed into hers desperately. She held him, kissing him back just as desperately. He rolled them over, so she straggled him and his hand reached to where they joined. She gasped when he found her, stroking her in the way he knew would arouse her further.

Her eyes closed and head flew back.

"Good?" He asked needlessly.

"I've been waiting all day for this." She muttered and raised herself up.

"Are you sure?"

She didn't answer, just lowered herself slowly on his now full erection and started moving.

"Ess!" He murmured, holding her steady with one hand, as she rushed to find her release. This was always just as much about her as him.

He was just near, as she finished and it only took a few more thrusts before he came, grunting into her neck as she lay over him breathing hard.

.

Maze lowered himself slowly back onto her, his second release still sending endorphins rushing through his system, Essie held him tight against her, until she regained her breath, relishing their closeness, the familiar feeling of the heavy weight of his body on hers, as her fingertips ghosted along the now faint burn scars across his back that healed well.

He rested his head on her shoulder, thinking he would never tire of this and could never imagine being with anyone else. He would continue giving her pleasure, making her happy in any way he could until the day he died, which hopefully would not be for a long while yet, if Doctor Uthan was to be believed.

He had vowed that to himself, a long time ago.

If this feeling was anything to do with the living Force that Zey and Djinn talked about, he thanked it, and would do so every day he was with her.

Even when he was in Bacta, he knew she was there, waiting.

Their breathing finally evened out.

"What's it like on the Gunner?" She asked, out of the blue, they rarely talked about the Gunner, just the missions he and Zey went on, whether they were successful or the Empire had increased its hold on yet another planet but something had changed with Essie after this last one, when they had both nearly died.

.