Wynn dropped into a plush chair and surveyed his surroundings. The suite was, in his opinion, just a little ridiculous. Round portholes adorned one wall with holographic ocean views. The plush carpet was so thick he had lost sight of his feet. In the bedroom, the plump bed had its own AI to maintain ideal sleeping conditions, adjusting temperature, angle, softness and texture. The refresher had floors, towels and fixtures that changed temperature and appearance according the guests' whims.
At least there was plenty of table space.
He carefully arranged his data pads and selected one from the first stack. Since he was on vacation, he chose a pad with the plans for his rebuilding projects in the lower city. As he settled back to work on his plans for a children's library, Pocket climbed out of his pocket and curled up in his lap to sleep. He petted her and smiled.
There were perks to this job after all, he mused, recalling.
"Chief Dorvan!" Lando Calrissian strode across the hangar bay to greet Wynn's shuttle.
Bag in hand, Wynn walked down the ramp to shake Lando's hand. "Hello, Captain. This is quite a ship."
"Thanks. I hope you enjoy your stay. My droid crew is here to help you get settled and if you need anything at all, just let me know. L0V-3, get the Chief's bags, please."
"I'm fine, Captain, but the ladies will need help with all their bags."
"Whatever you say, Chief. Here's the datacard to access your suite. M1-N3 will escort you."
"Thank you." Wynn took the card and started for the turbolift.
"Woah, hold on!" Lando reached out to stop him. "Is that a Chitlik in your pocket?"
"Of course."
"You know I have a 'no pets' policy, right? Had to implement it after Ezra Bridger spent his honeymoon here."
"Allana mentioned it, but I assumed you knew I would be bringing Pocket."
"I'm sorry, Chief, but you'll have to make other arrangements."
Wynn handed the card back to Lando. "I take Pocket everywhere with me."
He was almost to his shuttle when Lando's voice halted him.
"Wait a minute! Seeing as it's you, I could make an exception this once."
A ding interrupted his thoughts. Rising, he opened his door to once again find Desha smiling at him.
"What is it, Desha?"
She pointed to the pad in his hand, her smile vanishing. "Are you working on your vacation?"
"I'm just finishing the plans for the library. We're going to break ground next week. Or should I say 'clear rubble'?"
"No, no, no." She reached for the pad. "You're supposed to be relaxing!"
"I am relaxing." He pulled the pad away.
"I came to take you swimming. You did pack swimwear, didn't you?"
"No. I hadn't planned on needing any."
Desha opened a bag that hung over her shoulder. "Here. Swim trunks and a swim shirt- nice and modest, just like you. Meet me at the Naboo Pool in fifteen minutes."
As she tripped lightly away, Wynn recalled reading about a slowly rotating planet where minutes were six hours long. Unfortunately, the Love Commander operated on Coruscant Senate Standard Time. Yielding to the inevitable, he headed to the refresher to change.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"We should really get up," Ben murmured into Vestara's hair.
"So you've been saying."
"You have, too."
She nodded, her hair tickling his nose. "And then I think, 'Allana and Chance are taking good care of the Twins. I can stay in bed as long I want.' We could stay here the whole week."
"But I want breakfast." Ben sat up, pulling Vestara with him.
She went limp, making him hold her up. "Order it." She flicked on the droid comm with the Force.
Ben scrunched up his face, but dutifully placed his order. He slid out of bed and put on his slippers, then tossed Vestara her bed jacket. "Do you think Uncle Han and Jacen know that Allana and Chance are 'playing house'?"
Vestara half-heartedly caught the bed jacket and slipped it on. "I don't see why they should be upset. He's not staying in her suite. He's just helping."
"You can explain that to a blaster and a lightsaber."
"You would do that to the mother of your children?"
The door comm buzzed and two waiter droids bustled in bearing trays. Despite her earlier protests, Vestara ate two thick stacks of waffles with Meiluroon slices and sausage. Ben grinned at her over his own plate of pancakes and bacon.
"Enjoying yourself?" He rubbed her rounded middle.
She flopped back on the pillows, savoring his caresses. "Yes. Just you and me and no Sith tabloids. You know, as long as it is just you and me, how about a little Keshiri kissing?"
"You mean Twi'lek kissing," he teased.
"Same kiss, different names," she pouted. Closing her eyes, she angled her head in invitation.
Ben pulled her close, kissing her deeply and passionately. When he finally laid her back on the bed, she sighed contentedly.
"Thanks for making me a mother, all four times. Or, is it eight?"
He nestled her to his chest, with another, gentler kiss. "Thanks for making me a father. I'm going with eight times. Ready to go swimming?"
She wrinkled her nose. "Only if you carry me."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"I love the Twins, but I think when I have my own, I'll start out with just one set!" Allana tossed clothes out of her suitcase, sending them flying around the room. A beaded sweater hit Chance in the face.
"You're doing great," he assured her, pulling the sweater off his head.
"That's about to change if I don't find that datapad Vestara gave me."
"You mean this datapad?" Chance lifted a datapad from a pile of clothes in the floor.
Allana grabbed it. "I knew I put it right on top! Thanks, Chance."
She thumbed the device on with a sigh of relief. "Hayden's the one with the allergy- brul fruit."
They hurried back to the kitchen where the Skywalker Twins were having breakfast.
"No, Hayden. That's brul juice syrup." Carrie snatched a bottle from her little brother's hands. "See the picture?"
Allana eyes widened as she dashed to Hayden's side. "He didn't get any, did he?"
"He got some on his fingers," Mark pointed.
Groaning, Allana grabbed a wet wipe to scrub away the danger.
Carrie watched her, then looked at the bottle of syrup. "I know. I'll give it to the Babies."
Too late, Chance lunged to stop her. She up-ended the bottle on the tray of Adam and Daisy's shared high chair, saturating the stacks of pancakes.
"There you go, Babies. Eat up." She smiled beatifically. "Now we don't have to worry about Hayden getting it."
Allana finished washing Hayden. She stared at Twin set number three. Oblivious to her, the toddlers blissfully shoved sticky handfuls into their mouths. Carrie had managed to cover herself with syrup, as well. Mark licked Meilurun juice from his fingers, offering a dripping piece of the fruit to Hayden.
Chance shook his head. "At least Natalie's clean. Are all Jedi babies like this or is it just Skywalkers?"
"I hope it's just Skywalkers." Dropping onto a kitchen stool, Allana grabbed a plate and levitated one to Chance. "We might as well eat before we clean them. We have to keep up our strength."
An hour later, all six young Skywalkers were fed, cleaned and dressed in the elaborate Hapan swimwear Allana had brought for them.
"Can we get ice cream after we go swimming?" Mark pleaded.
With Daisy and Adam perched on her hips and a diaper bag slung over one shoulder, Allana somehow managed to shrug. "Why not?"
"Want me to take a baby?" Chance asked.
"You just watch the other four and don't let Hayden run off."
Allana used the Force the open the door and guided the Twins into the hallway. Carrie and Mark dashed out down the hall, with Hayden and Natalie close behind.
"Swimming! Ice cream! Swimming! Ice cream!" they chanted.
"Really? Swimming in ice cream?" a deep voice asked. "It does sound like something Jedi might do."
"A'miral Nek!" Carrie clapped her hands and hugged the tall Bothan.
Dressed in a more casual version of his military uniform, Grand Admiral Nek Bwu'atu stood by the turbolift, with a copper-haired woman on his arm. Natalie toddled over to him. He picked her up.
"You soft," she intoned, patting his ears.
"He is, isn't he?" laughed the woman. "I like to pet him, too."
"Not in front of children, Natasi," Nek scolded her playfully.
"They're Skywalkers. They won't even notice," Allana assured him.
Both hands occupied, Nek bowed in greeting. "Allana! How is my second favorite redhead?"
"A little suspicious, to tell the truth." Allana shifted the twins on her hips. "I didn't think you ever went on vacations."
"Ah, well. Things happen." Nek's cat-like eyes twinkled. "Natasi and I are just enjoying some together-time.
"If you say so." Allana eyed him dubiously. She had never even heard of the Admiral taking a vacation before, let alone a cruise.
"You want to go swimming with us?" Carrie tugged on Nek's tunic.
He shrugged. "Sure. Will your Mama and Daddy be meeting you at the pool?"
"I hope so." Chance caught Hayden's hand as the little boy tried to run. "Maybe they'll want their kids back."
Allana tossed her hair. "But we're having fun. Come on, kids."
Author's Note: If you're wondering what Ezra did, you can read the whole story in The LCC: Your Jedi Don't Dance.
I think it's wonderful that Lando got to have a family in Legends/EU. "Chance" (actually Lando Jr.) is a fun character. In the books he is several years younger than Allana, but I have made him about a year older than she is, so that he is a more appropriate "boyfriend age".
Nek Bwua'tu is another great Legends character and a favorite of mine.
Thanks for reading and God bless you!