"He will recover in time, but he needs much more rest," the medical droid said, handing Thrawn a questis.
Vah'nya deftly plucked it from his hands. "He's my husband. This report is for me."
"Would you like me to explain it to you?" Thrawn asked.
"No, thank you." She scrolled through the summary as Ar'alani squeezed Thrawn's arm. Eli Vanto had nearly died defending the Empire of the Hand. But several surgeries and a long dip in the bacta tank later, he was alive and recovering, as the medical droid had said. She frowned as something caught her eye. "He can't walk on his own for at least six weeks! How am I going to take care of him?"
"There is no need for worry," Thrawn glanced towards the door that hid Eli from their view, "you will have plenty of help caring for him."
Vah'nya blinked. "You?"
Ar'alani shook her head. "Eli's parents. We have arranged for the two of you to spend Eli's medical leave on Lysatra."
Thrawn turned back to Vah'nya. "I will accompany you and Eli. It will also give you a chance to share your news with them."
"Our news?" Vah'nya's hands flew involuntarily to her middle. "What do you mean?"
"The news of your pregnancy, of course. I hope they will be as delighted as Ar'alani and I."
Eli leaned back in his conforming chair and rubbed his propped up leg. In the front of the shuttle. Vah'nya sat in the pilot's seat with Thrawn at her side. Ar'alani had stayed behind to handle a few of Thrawn's official duties. Vay'nya peeked over her shoulder.
"Are you all right, Eli?"
"I'm just fine, Sweetheart." If his pregnant wife could sit in a pilot's chair for hours without complaining, he could manage in the plush lounge chair that Thrawn had added to the shuttle for him. "How are you doing? Your chair's a lot less comfortable than mine."
"Actually, I had the pilot's chair modified," Thrawn interjected, "to fit the unique contours of a pregnant female Chiss."
"Vah'nya!" Eli nearly leaped out of his seat, wincing at the pain in his leg. "You told him?"
"You don't have to tell Thrawn anything," Vah'nya pouted. "He just figures it out."
"You are my children. I could hardly have not noticed."
Eli settled back into his chair. "I hope we can explain that to my parents. You know they're already jealous of you, sir."
"There is no need for jealousy. I am not trying to take you from them. I ask only that they share you."
They approached Lysatra, and Vah'nya guided the shuttle into a traffic lane headed for the spaceport. The official in charge assigned a parking berth where Vah'nya set them down.
Eli's comm chirped. He flicked it on.
"Eli, Sweetheart," Lydia Vanto's voice came over the comm. "I'm so sorry we're not there to meet you. We've been at the West Sector Spaceport all day. This weather has made a mess out of our shipping schedules, but we'll be there as soon as we can."
"No problem, Mom."
"Weather conditions are indeed deteriorating in this area of Lysatra." Thrawn studied a weather map. "The roads could be impassable by the time your parents arrive."
"Then what do you suggest?" Vah'nya unstrapped and joined Eli.
"Eli, tell your mother that we will hire a speeder. You certainly know the way." Thrawn rose as well.
"Well, okay. Mom, Thrawn says the weather's getting worse. We're going to get a rental speeder and meet you at the house."
He signed off and looked up. Thrawn was already gone, taking their luggage with him. Careful of his injured legs, Vah'nya snuggled up to Eli and kissed him. He wrapped his arms around her, ignoring the sharp pain in his side.
"When Thrawn comes back, I think I'll tell him we're just stayin' here."
"You and Vah'nya are coming with me, Eli. The speeder is loaded and waiting." Striding across the shuttle, Thrawn scooped Eli up and carried him out to the speeder. He gently dropped him into the back seat, then offered his hand to Vah'nya and handed her into the front seat.
"Let's get you more comfortable, Eli." Thrawn helped him stretch his legs out on the back seat, then moved to slide into the driver's seat.
"Wait, are you coming with us, Thrawn?" Eli's eyes widened.
"Of course."
What would his parents say? "You don't have to do that, sir."
"I will not leave you until you are safely in your parents' care." Thrawn used his best "no more arguments" tone. Eli sighed. Thrawn would not change his mind.
"You can come," Vah'nya smirked, "but I'm driving. I'm the Navigator."
"Vah'nya drove out of the spaceport and Eli soon lost himself in the views of his childhood. Green fields, rolling hills,and ancient trees all beckoned to him. Dreamily, he closed his eyes, lulled by the swaying of the speeder.
Cold. Something cold was falling on him. Cold and wet. It was not just falling, it was blowing. His eyes flew open.
Vah'nya had pulled to the side of the road and Thrawn was wrestling with the speeder's hood, which had apparently come loose. A biting wind drove cold raindrops into his face. He blinked. Up ahead was a familiar bridge spanning a wide, now swollen river. Even with repulsorlifts, no one wanted to cross it in flood season without the bridge.
Thrawn got the top secured. He looked back at Eli. "Are you all right?"
"Just a bit wet. From the looks of that river, though, I'd say we'd better hurry. Vah'nya, are you okay?"
"Just wet, as you say." She eased back onto the road, battling the blinding rain. The bridge shuddered as they crossed, battered by both wind and waves. "I hope we're almost there," she murmured.
"We are," Eli assured her, shivering. He closed his eyes again, thinking of his parents' cozy home. He could hardly wait for one of his mother's warm, chocolate cookies. Gooey, sweet, warm. More than warm. Hot. He was hot, too hot.
"Eli, wake up!" Vah'nya's voice.
"You made it! How's my boy?" His mother's voice. "Let's get you two in-" she broke off.
Eli forced his eyes open. The speeder was sitting in the Vanto family garage, blessedly out of the rain. Standing halfway between the speeder and the door, his parents were apparently frozen in shock. Thrawn causally exited the speeder, turning to assist Vah'nya.
"It's okay, Mom," Eli shoved himself forward, ignoring the sweat on his face. "Thrawn wanted to make sure we got here safe. It's a good thing, too."
"Thank you for that, sir." Eli's father, Daniel, finally came unglued, stepping to the back of the speeder. "Let me help you, son."
Sliding off the seat, Eli put his arm around his father's shoulders, leaning heavily on him.
"Ow!" Eli yelped in pain and surprise, tumbling to the floor. His mother and Vah'nya rushed to him.
"Are you all right, Honey?" His mother knelt beside him. "You're a little too big for your daddy to carry- you'll have to help a little."
Eli's face burned crimson. Of course he had assumed his father would take his full weight. Thrawn did it with ease. "Sorry. I… I don't feel so good."
"May I help?" Thrawn slipped between Vah'nya and Eli's mother. "Eli got quite wet during our drive. It is likely his fever has returned. If you will permit me, I will take him inside."
Without waiting for a response, Thrawn bent and lifted Eli as if he were a child. Guilt stabbed Eli at the relief that rushed through him. Both of his parents glared at Thrawn.
"We can take care of him." Eli's father moved towards Thrawn.
Before Thrawn could reply, Vah'nya intervened. "Please let him help. Chiss are naturally stronger. There is no shame in it. Eli is sick and in pain, and the sooner we get him in bed, the better."
His mother's face softened. "You're right, Honey."
"Let's get him inside." His father nodded grudgingly.
Thrawn carried Eli into the house and down a hall to a room Eli's mother indicated.
"I fixed up the guest room," she explained to Vah'nya. "I didn't figure you two wanted to sleep on Eli's old bunk bed."
She turned down the thick Smuggler's Path quilt while Vah'nya pulled a pair of pajamas out of the travel bag.
"Would you put him on the couch in the corner there?" Lydia bustled over to Thrawn and Eli. "Will get him in dry clothes before we put him in bed."
Thrawn put Eli on the couch, openly eyeing the quilt. Vah'nya suppressed a giggle. Her mother-in-law had no idea all the secrets Thrawn could divine from the simple piece of fiber art, but right now her priority was caring for Eli.
With Thrawn's assistance, the two women quickly got Eli into dry clothes and under the quilt.
"He needs his medicine." Vah'nya fished a case from Eli's bag.
"He needs some good Lysatrian cooking," Lydia countered with a smile. She patted Eli's chest. "Do you feel up to some biscuits and gravy, Sweetheart?"
"Sounds good, Mom." Eli glanced at Thrawn, then turned pleading eyes on Lydia, his meaning clear. Surely she wouldn't send her son's best friend away in such weather after all he had done for him. Vah'nya recalled Eli's remark about the bridge. It would likely be impassable by now.
"Will you join us for supper, sir?" Lydia's smile slipped slightly. "It's no kind of weather for driving or flying?"
"Looks like comm systems are down, too." Daniel Vanto appeared in the doorway. "Most of the roads are flooded."
"Indeed." Thrawn arched a blue-black eyebrow.
"Well, that's no problem." Eli grimaced as Vah'nya popped a spoonful of fever reducer into his mouth. "He can stay here, somewhere. Right?"
Eli's parents shared a look, then Lydia shrugged. "I suppose we can make it work."
"Thanks, Mom." Eli swallowed a second dose of something else. Vah'nya glanced at the labels.
"One more," she cooed, "then you can rest. May I help you in the kitchen, Mother Vanto?"
"Oh, no, Honey, you ought to rest, too." Lydia smoothed the quilt over her son.
"But I need to learn how to make Eli's favorite foods. I was hoping you'd teach me."
"All right." Lydia smiled. "Finish taking care of my boy and meet me in the kitchen."
Author's Note: I have had this story sitting in my story notebook for a while, and I finally got the ending figured out. It takes place more or less in my Love Commander Collection Universe, although Lando and his ship do not make an appearance. Thrawn and Ar'alani are married, of course, and Thrawn has his "Empire of the Hand" from Legends/EU. Lysatra is basically Alabama in my mind (I might be a little biased on the subject), so I have styled their culture- and weather- accordingly. The rest of the short story is complete, I just need to get it typed and posted. Thanks for reading! I would love to hear your thoughts!