Corso was having a good night. He was sitting against the headboard of their bed, Miriah straddling him. He watched her face, fascinated with a bead of sweat that made a line down her neck before joining the others pooled between her breasts. She was relaxed, alive, more his Mir than ever. They had been loving each other for hours, and even tired, Corso felt like the luckiest guy ever. Miriah leaned her head back and he took the opportunity to kiss her throat, feeling as well as hearing her hum of pleasure. He sat back and saw her eyes go wide at the position shift, and then she smiled, her teeth glinting faintly in the dim light. "So beautiful," he breathed, and burying his hands in her hair, he pulled her face to his, taking her mouth in a torrid kiss. They had just broken apart when he felt her whole body tremble, then go suddenly still. "Mir?" he asked softly, but she didn't respond, her face slack and mouth slightly open. Alarmed, Corso lifted her up and then onto the bed beside him. "Miriah! What's wrong?" he asked, panic lacing his voice. When she didn't even blink, he threw on clothes while picking up his holo to call Mags.
Miriah could hear Corso calling her, but it was distant, faint. She was seeing a battle, and wielding a double bladed lightsaber. She could see a very much younger Jace Malcolm, and Nico Okarr, who hadn't changed much, as they fought their way out of an Imperial star destroyer. It felt so real that Miriah held her breath when they reached the escape pod and launched away from the ship.
Corso pulled a nightshirt over his wife and wrapped her in a blanket, then looked around at the room. The bed was disheveled, so he took Miriah to the family room and put her on the sofa as he heard Mags enter the apartment. "I don't know what's going on," he said, and Mags could see the fear on his face. "Everything was fine, then Mir just went into this state." Mags rounded the end of the sofa and touched Miriah's hand.
"It's Satele's memories," Mags said softly. "She's been getting visions of memories, ones Satele had buried deep in her subconscious. They had to be sifted and gathered during the battle on the ship."
"So what she's seeing in her mind is not her, but memories that got imprinted?" Corso asked, and saw Mags nod. He sat down with a sigh and Mags sat across from Miriah, both with thoughts better left unshared.
Devin and Mia both felt Corso's alarm but then it settled and they guessed he'd just been dreaming. Mia lay her head on Devin's shoulder and was almost asleep again when Devin spoke. "Hon, I'm not upset, but I am wondering why, after all this time, you chose to move?"
Mia tried to be nonchalant. "I just wanted to be closer to everything, and have family nearby. I may want to go back to the med center when both children are in school for full days. I just thought it was a good time, before the snows."
"Agreed," Devin replied. He knew she wasn't telling him everything, but he let it go. Whatever has her spooked, she'll eventually tell me, he reasoned, and relaxed into sleep, holding Mia close.
Miriah could only let the memory play out. They had landed on a moon, and Nico had gotten them a transport to Port Nowhere, so they could lay low for a bit. Satele couldn't fight her intense attraction to Jace, and their coupling was primal, so intense they both were awed by it. Now, they were just lying together, much as Miriah and Corso slept, and Miriah felt herself blink.
"She's coming back," Mags said, and covered her sister with force light. Corso hovered nearby, anxious to see that Miriah was indeed breaking free of the intense memory. Miriah felt her muscles begin to respond again and let out a sigh.
"Darlin', are you okay?" he asked as Miriah began to shiver uncontrollably. He put his arms around her, as she sank against him.
"I think so," she responded weakly. Mags returned to the sofa with a mug of hot cocoa, and Miriah gratefully took it. "Wow. Jedi hide all this emotion. How do you not explode?" she asked her sister, who only shook her head.
"Satele had a harder life than most, with her connections to the temple being strained at times," Mags explained. "What did you see?"
Miriah explained what she'd witnessed. "And it's not as if I'm a third party, watching this happen. I'm viewing it all as Satele would." Corso wrapped the blanket around her feet and felt like he should be doing more.
"I know it's strange, but then, how many people can say they've walked through the mind of another," Mags said, taking one of Miriah's icy hands in hers. "All you can do it go through it, Mir. I feel that once they've been uncovered in your own mind, that will that. They won't be something that your mind thinks needs to be dealt with."
"I sure hope you're right, Mags." Miriah sighed and stood. "I'm going to my tub to warm up." Corso was at her side in an instant, and Mags started back home. She stopped when Miriah called her name. "Thanks for coming out," Miriah said softly.
"Love you, Mir. Of course I'm here to help." Still, Mags felt very appreciated as she walked back home.
Corso was confused about it all. How can Mir stand it, he wondered. Still, he knew his wife was as tough as durasteel. He gathered her close as they settled in to sleep, and kissed her forehead as she closed her eyes. "Sorry, sugar, that happened when we were having a wonderful night," Miriah said sleepily.
"No, love, don't apologize for something you had no control over. We'll always have each other, lots more time to be together." He gently rubbed her back as he spoke, overcome with his love for his wife.
"Promise me?" she asked, and he answered in a soul deep kiss which had them both feeling more settled.
Aric and Maura had breakfast with Calleigh and Colin, and enjoyed their older children. Calleigh was just getting off shift at the med center, and Maura noted how tired she seemed. "Calleigh, you've earned some time off," she said. "Take a break, even if it's just a week up at Haven."
"Mom, have you seen a weather forecast? We're effectively snowed in. We got almost a foot more last night," Calleigh grinned. "I've treated so many broken bones and heart attacks in the past twelve hours, you wouldn't believe it."
Aric pulled his datapad out. "Looks like it's only going to get worse, too," he muttered. "Best to stay put, at least for now. But I agree with Mom, you do need a break."
"I'll take one when I can enjoy it," Calleigh shrugged. She knew she was over tired, but without any dating prospects, and nothing looming on the horizon to change that, she would just as soon be busy at work than be lonely at home. She stood, and hugged her parents, before shuffling off to her apartment to sleep.
"She needs something besides her career to live for," Maura said.
Colin put his hand up in front of him. "Don't look at me. I've tried to fix her up, and she shoots them all down before she gives them a chance."
"She'll work it out," Aric said. "I have to get to work, and you do, too," he said to Maura, who stood. As they made their way to the executive wing, they met the detail and joined Corso and Miriah inside. "You both look beat," Aric noted.
"Thanks," Miriah said sarcastically. After a moment, they all laughed, and felt better.
Devin had watched Mia get the kids fed and helped her with their dishes before going back to check on what Merida and Declan were doing. When he returned, he saw Mia sitting at the table, staring into nothing. "Mia, hon," he said softly. When she didn't respond, he sat across from her, gaining her attention. "I know something's worrying you. Can I help?" he asked.
Mia shook herself lightly and put on a smile. "Just the usual. Is Declan doing okay being the only non force user in the house? Is Merida being careful with her force? Are you happy with me? All the little things," she said. Devin stood and took her in his arms.
"The answers are yes, yes, and very much yes, my love. Is this new, you worrying about us?" he asked.
"I don't all the time. Just when I'm unsure about a decision that I've made," she said timidly, looking at her hands.
"Don't. I never second guess your instinct, and you know I love you so very much," he said, and felt her relax against him. They spent several minutes like that, before Declan came to find them to play. Devin's gaze lingered on her face until she turned to follow their son out, and he wondered if she'd ever be totally at ease. I guess all parents are faced with those type of questions, he thought, and joined the children in the floor, happy to be off and with his family.
Ian had played the holorecording over and over until some of the data integrity was diminished. Still, he couldn't get enough. Kira had sent him the scan she'd had of the baby, and had sounded so excited when she'd called the evening before. He strode into the war room and looked for his mother, who was meeting him. He saw her wave and went to her side. "Mom, I'm going to Coruscant," he said, determined.
Mags took a moment to gauge him. "You'll need your Aunt Mir to sign off on it, so you'd better get going before she gets too distracted." She watched him hurry to the tunnel, and wondered if he was rushing things, but then remembered the urgency of love. Felix, you'll have to keep him safe, she thought. Keep him at peace. Help him know that he can't make decisions for Kira, and that she has to come to her own realizations about being with him. She sighed and continued on to the infirmary, wondering if Ian would come back, suddenly fearful that he wouldn't. Shaken, she took a moment to gather herself before seeing her first patient.
Ian stood before his aunt, and saw her lift her eyes to him. "Aunt Mir, I'd like to go to Coruscant to be with Kira, maybe I can help there," he said, and Miriah smiled at him.
"Ian, I'd love nothing more than to approve your request," she said, "but weather-wise, we're grounded. Our ships that were out are now docked on the orbital station. Nothing's taking off or landing until the snow can be removed."
Ian's face fell. "I'd forgotten about it, since I haven't been out," he said, and Miriah could hear the defeat in his voice.
"I promise, as soon as we can safely get you there, you can go," she told him, and was rewarded with his smile. Impulsively, as Ian wasn't prone to physical affection, he rounded the desk to hug her.
"Thank you, Aunt Mir," he said into her shoulder and she laughed as she patted his back.
Aric passed Ian in the hallway and saw that the young man looked marginally better than he had for the past week. As he breezed into Mir's office, he saw that she at least looked relaxed. "Hey, Mir, have you heard anything from Shae or Arcann?"
"Only that they arrived to the ship in question and were confronted with mercenary groups that had been hired to help capture the ship," Miriah answered. "They only engaged one group, but apparently they were easily defeated."
Aric whistled low. "Did they need any backup?"
Miriah shook her head. "She said they had more than enough, at least for now. She checks in every day, so that may change. I heard that she asked several from her to be on standby."
Aric nodded. "Yep, me included. Let me know, okay?"
"Absolutely," Miriah said, and took the offered drink Corso handed her. "Caly's cooking at our place, let's have dinner there."
"Sounds perfect," Aric said, heading to the door. He would teach his recruits basic weapon maintenance since the shooting range was out of the question, and was happy as he made his way to the barracks, his breath freezing in a halo around his head.
Corso had been paying attention to his wife's body language, and when she sighed and stretched her neck, he stood. "Let's get out of here, darlin'. It's mid afternoon and we're both due a little nap before company."
"Agreed," Miriah replied. They were at the doorway when they heard James and Declan laughing, and stopped. The grandchildren were coming their way with Mia bringing up the rear. After hugs and kisses, Miriah took Mia in a hug. "I'm so happy you guys are in the base now," she told her daughter in law.
"I am too, especially with all this snow," Mia laughed. Miriah caught the flash of fear in her eyes though, and wondered what was going on.
"We played in the snow," Declan said. "Meri made it dance."
Merida shook her head at that. "Nope, it was just the wind. That would not be a good use of force." Miriah tried not to laugh at the solemn words. Corso just nodded. As a group they walked, and Miriah and Corso hugged everyone again when they stopped at their home.
"Feels good to have everybody together," Corso said, leading Miriah to the sofa and getting her comfortable. Within minutes, Miriah was asleep, and Corso buried his face in her hair, letting her nearness settle his heart.