The dawning sun was barely starting to bath their bedroom, and Cassian was woken up by a small but strong hand rubbing his morning hard-on, like usual lately. Jyn's raging pregnancy hormones had her often seeking his attentions, sometimes even in strange or compromising places. She'd acquired a taste for having sex in semi-public places from time to time, and he had to admit that it added spice to their already spicy and vigorous sex life.

Cassian didn't complain, not one bit, he thought, smiling in contentment and letting his arousal, his hunger for Jyn, wash over his body. Not many males were as lucky as him to have a female they were so deeply in love with, and who satisfied their desires to the heavens and beyond, the way she satisfied his.

He let a moan escape his lips when her eager and expert hand grabbed his length beneath the bedclothes and began to stroke it up and down with the exact pressure which would have made him come undone in a couple of minutes max if she had naughtily fancied giving him a quick release, like she did sometimes any time of the day as part of their sex games. But that morning she had plans of enjoying a longer encounter, it seemed, and he was too happy to comply.

They had acquired the habit of sleeping naked since they had moved to Alderaan, so they found no obstacles every time they were in bed and wasted no time because they had no garments to get rid off. The temperatures in Aldera rarely were extreme and besides, the climate control system in their house, which they only used when it was hot or cold outside, kept the rooms pleasantly climatized.

They had adopted the aliases of Brasso and Kate Coleman and acquired, with the Organas' financial help, a shop in transfer and the apartment above it. Now they were running a business where they repaired and sold all types of first-hand and second-hand devices and appliances, and they also offered their services for ships' maintenance. Kay helped them in the shop and that way he kept busy and the work advanced much faster. In addition, and as their clandestine contribution to the Rebellion, Jyn forged false ID's for runaway refugees from the Empire and for undercover rebel agents in missions, and Cassian also contributed as an occasional pilot who helped carry people to safe houses and shelters scattered around a few neutral planets like Takodana (he and Jyn had met and struck a solid friendship with the peculiar, force sensitive and nearly one-thousand-year-old Maz Kanata, who was also a covert rebel).

The Organas had also employed Galen as an engineer in one of their family companies, under another false identity, but his position was actually a front, as he secretly worked for the Rebellion. He lived in Aldera as well and stayed on the planet as much as he could and under the radar, to make much more difficult for the Empire to discover and identify him. Jyn could see him often and they visited each other whenever they could and Jyn was much happier because of her father's constant presence in her life, after so many years separated.

The Organa family, aware that the Empire would probably target them in reprisal (they'd never declared openly their allegiance to the Rebellion, but the Empire surely had spies everywhere) didn't risk staying at their own home (they were too busy running the Rebellion anyway), and they had offered shelter to other relatives (a few of Breha's cousins, uncles and aunts), relocating them in safe houses, as well as to forge new identities for them, but the oldest ones had declined the offer, alleging that they wouldn't run away at their advanced age and that they preferred to take their chances with the Empire if it chased them. They also adduced that they'd lived enough already and they'd rather stay at their lifelong homes and die fighting, than hide. Cassian and Jyn could understand and respect that decision.

The Rebellion had increased its forces and recuited many new members after word about the Death Star and its destruction had spread. The hard blow inflicted to the Empire had weakened it sensibly and the Rebellion had taken advantage, though the Empire had toughened its oppresive measures against its submitted systems and was fortifying its military presence. That resulted in many systems fighting a dirty war on a large scale. More and more planets were joining the fight, getting the Empire on the ropes for the first time since Palpatine had revealed his true face and dissolved democracy in the galaxy.

Cassian and Jyn had got married three months ago in a discreet ceremony, surrounded by their family and friends and following the Alderaanian ritual in honor of their new home and their protectors. They had found out about Jyn's pregnancy just a few days before the wedding, and it came as very happy news and as no surprise, as they'd had their implants removed as soon as they'd moved to Alderaan. They simply wished to let nature work, and it certainly had worked fast, what was the expected outcome given their undying passion for each other. As Leia described it with her usual blunt language, they were always going at it like rabbits in heat. There could be no more accurate comparison.

They had discovered recently that the baby was a girl, and they were considering two names: Lyra for Jyn's mother, or Kerri for Cassian's sister. He hadn't given up entirely on the hope of being reunited with his sibling one day, though his realistic and pragmatic nature didn't allow him to dwell much on what would most probably never happen.

Now Jyn had acquired the habit of rousing him every day in the most delightful of ways. For years, he hadn't dreamed of waking up every morning next to a woman he loved. Come to think of it, he'd never thought seriously about that, that is, sharing his life with someone to that point. In his early youth, he'd hardly had time for dreams like those. He and Bix had been still too young to live together, and her father was as vigilant of her as a hound dog. After her, he hadn't fallen in love again, until Jyn. But when he met Jyn, he wasn't anymore a harebrained teenager who thought he had a future ahead of him. He was a broken grown man who had given up on a future for himself. On love. That was why, when he realized that what seemed impossible had happened, that he loved Jyn deeply, and that their bond, that the fact of coming back to her, had become more important to him than the Rebellion itself, more than anything, he didn't take her for granted, like he'd done with Bix. He had neglected his first love because he'd been too restless to pay her all the attention she needed and deserved. He hadn't been ready for a commitment, pure and simple. At last, they had broken up. They weren't meant for a happily ever after.

Now Jyn filled his whole being in a way he'd never thought possible. He and Jyn hadn't left the Rebellion behind, because as long as the Empire was still there, they couldn't simply look the other way. It had taken too much from them both, from the whole galaxy, to ignore it. But they'd found a way to balance a happy life together with their clandestine fight. It wasn't risk-free, of course. But, who was truly safe in a galaxy ruled by terror? Therefore, as they saw it, there were two choices: do nothing and allow the Empire to go on trampling on the people who didn't measure up to their cruel standards; or act and undermine its power little by little. Many small explosives placed in strategic spots even in the most sturdy buildings could make them crumble, and that was their hope.

The difference for Cassian now was that he had quit his position as a spy, and the difference for Jyn was that she wasn't satisfied anymore with just surviving and looking down like before. And they'd found in each other someone to devote themselves to. Jyn besides had reunited with her father, and that added to her happiness. Cassian couldn't feel more fulfilled. In addition, they were expecting a child. Fatherhood had never entered the realm of possibility for Cassian. Up to the moment of falling in love with Jyn, he'd abhorred bringing a new life to the galaxy, for several reasons: because he didn't regard himself as worthy of such treasure; also because to him, by then the galaxy was too much a doomed place and he didn't want his child to go through terrible experiences like he had endured; and because he hadn't been ready for the responsibilities of parenthood, there had been no room in him for such a committed role apart from his commitment to the Rebellion.

That lazy dawn in the sheets, Jyn straddled him and he caressed the swell of her belly, feeling for the flutters inside, the flutters of the new life they'd created together. He'd never felt so scared, or so worried for someone's wellbeing before, as he felt about that little baby he hadn't even seen or met yet. That's love, Maarva had said a lifetime ago when she decided to stay on Ferrix and fight back, instead of running away with him, and he'd argued that he'd be worried for her all the time.

Now that sentence hit him full force. He hadn't been a prospective father then to fully grasp its meaning, to feel the vast extent of that fear. Now he understood his mother like he truly hadn't by then. He felt the sting of tears, tears for having lost her, but also for what he had gained now. A family of his own.

"What is it?," Jyn asked, noticing his shining eyes and his sudden somber mood while he went on caressing her round belly.

He shook his head with an adoring smile. "It's just I'm very happy, Jyn. You make me very happy. I never dreamed of having this. You. Our baby."

She tenderly placed her hand on his jaw. "Neither did I. But here we are."

"Here we are," he repeated in wonder, while she hugged him tightly and he closed his eyes, breathing in her scent, the scent of love, of home, of pure life. After a while, she started to rock above him, reviving his desire. His body reacted to her touch and he got hard again beneath her. She then positioned his length at her entrance and lowered herself, engulfing him to the hilt. They both moaned, content in their joining. Feeling whole. Feeling in peace with the universe.

She moved upon him and he aided her movements with his hands on her hips. He sucked and licked her noticeably engorged breasts and they went on and on until they shuddered and cried out together in a shared orgasm. After finishing on the bed, they got up languidly and had shower sex.

And that was like they usually started their mornings, leaving them with big smiles, singing hearts and satisfied bodies to deal with the rest of the day.


Jyn gave birth to little Kerri without issue with Cassian holding her hand all the time, rubbing her back and encouraging her. Shortly after the birth and the happy couple weeping in joy and welcoming their daughter, when Jyn and the baby were taken to their hospital room from the delivery room, the doctor gave the all clear for their family and friends to visit, and they took turns to enter, under the doctor's orders, in order not to overwhelm the new mother and the baby.

"She's just like you, Cass, but with Jyn's green eyes," Leia announced after congratulating the new parents. Kay on his part was watching the scene silently and studying the little bundle resting in Jyn's arms. The droid softened visibly, as much as a droid's carcass could achieve that. Cassian was reminded of Bee, who had been part of the Andor family for many years, and a lump got stuck in his throat. He knew that Kerri had earned a fierce protector in Kay.

"It's still soon to know, Leia," Cassian replied, rolling his eyes. "She'll change."

Galen had taken Jyn's hand and kissed her forehead with tears in his eyes. He looked at little Kerri attentively. "I see a bit of her grandmother in her," he said proudly.

"Of course, papa. Mama will always be in her," Jyn agreed heartily.

"Well, anyway, she's a beautiful little fighter," Leia assured. "We'll throw a welcoming party for the baby as soon as Jyn's recovered and we all can squeeze time for the event."

Cassian and Jyn rolled their eyes at unison in resignation at Leia's exuberance.

Afterwards, it was the others' turn to see the little one and Chirrut surprised them all. "She's force sensitive. I can feel her connection to the Force."

Luke also confirmed it. "Chirrut's right. Her bond is strong."

"Don't worry, Jyn. We'll help you with the little one. And all will be as the Force wills it."

They all rolled their eyes for the umpteenth time at the ex Guardian's mantra and smiled in fondness.

THE END