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rowansparrow · 2 years

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The Light Between Oceans: Chapter Three

**This series is rated 18+, Minors do NOT interact or you will be blocked**

Summary: As the last of the survivors make it back to camp, Fives, Athena, and the remaining rebels prepare to bury the dead.

Chapter Rating: Mature

Warnings: Graphic description, gore, injury, violence, burial traditions, mentions of character death, grief.

Ships: Rex x Female!Reader, Fives x Male!OC, Fives x Female!OC

Word Count: 6.2k

A/N: Are y’all doing okay after last week?

Regular updates come every Saturday.

Thank you very much to @djarrex and @witchklng for their various contributions to this work. I couldn’t have done it without either of you.

Sensitive content is tagged #Ro’s Protected Tag. Please block that tag if you are concerned about content.

Reblogs are so appreciated!

Rex stepped out from the ship and into the sunlight. Dawn had begun to climb over the village, bathing the ruins of the settlement in a cruel crimson as the rain stopped. The harsh light of day betrayed the bodies, the decay, the complete and total destruction of what had once been their home.

A healer had interrupted you and Rex, and he’d quickly scrubbed at his face and stepped aside so the healer could inspect you. Another had collected Calder from his arms, promising to alert Rex at once should anything come up.

Rex had to step away.

He’d exited the ship as gracefully as he could manage, avoiding eye contact with you. He needed a moment to mourn, not just for what had happened to his son, but for everything he’d lost. Howzer was dead. Ju’Lah had been taken. Gol’Chek may never walk again. He’d missed the birth of his son. He had no idea who else was dead. His child would never hear his voice.

He scrubbed a hand over his face, trying to center himself. There was still much to be done. He needed to lead, needed to guide his people through the storm. They were counting on him. His family was counting on him.

Rex closed his eyes, silently thanking any gods listening for watching over his family. His wife was alive. His son was alive. There was still much to be grateful for.

He inhaled slowly, tasting the moisture in the air from the rainfall, and turned his head towards the sky, greeting the sunlight like an old friend. Dawn had come again, regardless of who lived and who died.

He started down the landing platform, heading back towards the triage zone. He spotted Wrecker among the survivors, Soteria treating a nasty blaster wound on his arm. He saw a Mandalorian carry Howzer’s body away.

“Where are they taking the bodies?” Rex asked.

“They’re burning them.” Wolffe said quietly. “We’d like to afford them all a proper burial, but there’s no time. We need to leave as soon as possible, before the Empire gets wind and sends reinforcements.”

He glanced to Rex. “They’ll do the remembrances, if you want to get a list of names of the dead.” He said gently. “We’ll do things properly, as much as we’re able.”

“Thank you.” Rex said quietly. Along the horizon, he saw a tall man approaching camp, carrying what appeared to be a body.

He started down the ramp, turning over his shoulder. “The little girl, Omega. Don’t let her come outside the ship.”

Wolffe nodded, and Rex jogged out towards Crosshair. “Is he dead?”

“Not yet.” Crosshair drawled, laying Hunter out on the nearest cot. “He was too close to one of the blasts. He’s lucky I saw him, or nobody would’ve been around to dig him out of the wreckage.”

“Kriff, he’s full of shrapnel.” Rex swore. “Medic! We need a medic!”

Soteria rushed over, along with Wrecker, Echo, and Tech. “What happened?” Echo demanded.

“Shrapnel.” Crosshair answered lazily. “I imagine he’s blown his eardrums out, too.”

“Glad to see you’re so concerned about it.” Wrecker bit back.

“Maybe he shouldn’t have been standing so close.”

“Enough.” Soteria barked, shoving her way through alongside a Mandalorian healer. “We’ll take care of this, everyone back up.”

“Where’s Omega?” Tech asked.

“She’s asleep on the ship, Wolffe’s keeping an eye out to make sure she doesn’t come out and see Hunter like this.” Rex replied.

“He’ll bleed out if we don’t act quickly.” Soteria said, already peeling off Hunter’s armor. “Everyone step back! Give us some room!”

Rex looked around as the rest of the batch continued to hover save for Crosshair, who took a few steps back at Soteria’s insistence. Several survivors had been brought up from the tunnels, a few families reuniting while others grieved.

“Captain,” Dogma jogged up to Rex, a backpack slung over his shoulder. “I’ve been gathering supplies, a few of the houses are still standing.” He gave Rex a look. “Yours is still mostly in one piece, if you want to go get any of your things, especially for the baby.”

Rex nodded. “Thank you, Dogma.” He glanced over his shoulder towards the ship, debating whether or not he should tell you where he was going, when something caught his eye.

Two more Mandalorians were approaching the triage zone, carrying the body of a large Nautolan between them.

“Oh, gods.” Rex whispered aloud. Echo heard Rex, and turned his head, following the Captain’s gaze.

“Oh no.”

Fives and Athena leaned against one another, stumbling back towards the ship. Fives had a smear of blood on his cheek, tear tracks streaked through the red.

“Fives,” Rex began, starting to reach for his brother. Fives ignored him, shuffling past him and following along behind the Mandalorians carrying Quill’s body. When they didn’t stop at the triage site, Fives snapped his head toward them.

“Hey. Where are you taking him?” Fives demanded, struggling to keep up with them. “Where are you taking him?!”

“We have a site where we’re disposing of the bodies.” One of the Mandalorians replied. “If you give us his name, we’ll -.”

“No. No he can’t be buried or burned.” Fives said sharply, shaking his head. “He has to go back into the water.”

“We’ve been instructed to take all bodies to the burn site.”

“I don’t give a fuck what your orders are.” Fives snarled, limping over to the Mandalorians. “He can’t be buried or burned. He has to go back to the water.”

“Fives,” Echo stepped in front of him, a hand on his chest as he tried to guide Fives backwards. “Let him go, brother.”

“No!” Fives shouted, shoving Echo hard enough to knock him down. “No! No, he can’t be burned or buried, his – his body has to go back to the water! He has to go back to the water!” Fives was nearly hysterical, grabbing Quill’s body and trying to pull him away from the Mandalorians. “He has to go back to the water!”

“Fives!” Rex tried next, but Fives elbowed him hard, shoving him away and still struggling to wrestle Quill free even as tears streamed down his cheeks.

“HE BELONGS IN THE WATER!” Fives wailed, sinking to his knees as the Mandalorians pulled Quill’s body away from him again. “Please!”

“There’s no time, all the bodies are to be burned.”

“Not this one.” Athena spoke up, forcing her voice to stay steady. “Leave him here, we’ll take care of him ourselves.”

Rex dropped to his knees beside Fives, pulling the other man into his arms as Fives sobbed. “It’s alright, it’s alright, we’ll take care of him.” Rex promised, trying to soothe him. “It’s alright, Fives. It’ll be alright.”

Would anything be alright? Rex couldn’t fathom the unimaginable grief Fives must’ve been going through; he didn’t want to imagine a world without his wife or child in it.

Fives caught his breath, tears still streaming down his cheeks as he gently pushed Rex away, struggling to get back to his feet. Rex shifted, helping Fives up but letting him go once he was standing, watching helplessly as Fives stumbled over to Quill’s body. He clung to the Nautolan, pressing his forehead against Quill’s even as he wept.

Echo stepped forward, laying his hand delicately on his twin’s back. “I’m so sorry, Fives.”

Fives shoved him back at once, fury written across his features as he spun on Echo. “You made me leave him.” He accused. “You left him behind, you left him to die!”

“We were trying to save you.” Echo kept his voice calm, his hands in the air. “We didn’t have a choice.”

“You should’ve gone back for him!” Fives screamed, advancing on Echo even as Rex stepped between them, holding him back. “You should have gone back for him!”

“Easy, easy, take it easy.” Rex soothed as Fives broke off into heaving sobs, his whole body shaking as Rex held him upright.

“What can I do?” Echo asked softly, looking between Rex and Fives.

Neither man answered, and Rex held Fives close, rubbing his back and looking at Quill’s unseeing black eyes behind him.

The Mandalorian healer had given you a strange salve. It wasn’t quite bacta, though the smell was similar, but whatever it was, it was working wonders on your body. Your pain had been reduced to a dull ache, and when you inspected your surgery site, the once ugly incision was already minimizing itself to scarring, the wound healing rapidly as though you’d been in a bacta bath for hours.

You managed to sit up with relative ease, carefully testing your balance as you stood, wrapping Rex’s cape around yourself once again. The Mandalorian had been kind enough to leave you a clean tunic and a comfortable pair of leggings for you to change into, and you hobbled over to the refresher to change.

You still wore Gol’Chek’s ring around your neck, and you rubbed your thumb over the smooth metal after you’d changed. Cautiously, you exited the refresher, making your way instead to Gol’Chek’s cot. The warrior was half-covered in a blanket, the healers finished working on him for now. He appeared to be sleeping, his eyes closed and head turned slightly to the side, one arm tossed over his stomach.

You didn’t want to startle him. “Gol’Chek.”

His eyes didn’t open, but he acknowledged you with the slightest incline of his head. You reached out, brushing your fingers gently over his cheek and up through his hair, smoothing the wild curls away from his face. Gol’Chek leaned into your touch, his eyes opening at last to take you in. Concern seeped into his expression, sensing immediately that something was different. “The baby?”

“He’s okay.” You promised, your heart swelling at Gol’Chek’s worry. “The healers have him. He’s okay.”

Gol’Chek relaxed, leaning his cheek into the palm of your hand. “Did you ever pick a name?”

“Calder Sho’cye.” You smiled. “Just like you suggested.”

Gol’Chek smiled, but the expression was short-lived. “Maul has Ju’Lah.”

You nodded. “I know.”

“My legs are gone.”

“I know.”

“How am I supposed to get her back if I can’t even stand?” His voice cracked slightly on the last word, and you shifted your touch instead to his hand, squeezing it tight.

“We’ll figure something out.” You promised. “And we’ll get Ju’Lah back too. We won’t give up on her.”

Gol’Chek nodded, his breathing slightly ragged as he looked down at himself, grimacing. “I guess I’m lucky.” He mumbled. “I was able to stop my healing. Or at least, slow it way down. The medics say the nerves in my legs may be salvageable for prosthetics.” He winced. “I can’t bring myself to look at my legs.” He admitted quietly. “Will you…?”

You nodded, letting Gol’Chek turn his head away as you lifted the blankets, carefully inspecting his injuries. The Mandalorians had bandaged the stumps of his legs, blood already staining the white of the bandages in some places.

“You need your bandages changed.” You murmured, looking around for a crate of supplies you could ransack.

“I’ll be alright for now.” Gol’Chek said, sighing softly and readjusting the blanket to cover himself better. “Should you be up and moving?”

“I’m fine.” You told him. A few seconds of silence stretched between you, and you studied the warrior’s face, watching as his eyes closed again, inhaling sharply.

“He took my daughter.”

“I know.” You whispered again. “We’re going to get her back.”

Behind you, a Mandalorian healer stepped back into the bunkroom. “Lady Sho’cye?” She called gently, summoning you to her. You stood at once, and Gol’Chek reopened his eyes, watching you.

“Your son has been placed in an incubation chamber with a medical droid watching over him.” The healer explained. “He is underdeveloped, and at greater risk of infection or illness due to his prematurity. We think it best that he remains there under close supervision until we can evacuate your people to Ataxia.”

“Ataxia?” You echoed.

“Our tribe fled there during the war. Our settlement is small, but our leaders have granted permission to bring your people there to recover.”

“Thank you.” You murmured. “Can – Can I see him?”

“He is in incubation.” The Mandalorian repeated. “It is best we leave him to recuperate. The medical droid is monitoring him closely.”

“Did you find anything else when you scanned him?”

The Mandalorian sounded grim. “The clone was correct on his initial assessment. The child’s hearing is irreparably damaged. I’m sorry.”

You nodded, wrapping your arms around yourself and thanking her again.

Gol’Chek looked up at you. “What’s wrong with the kid?”

“He was early.” You explained. “There was a complication, and I had to deliver him. Tech and Soteria, they - they cut him out.” You looked down at your hands. “He’s deaf.”

“He’s what?” Gol’Chek tilted his head to the side, disbelief written across his expression. “How?”

“We don’t know.” You said softly. “Something must have happened to him either during the delivery or in the womb, but he’s - he can’t hear us at all, Gol’Chek. He can’t hear his parents’ voices. He can’t hear us tell him we love him.” You started to cry again, tears bubbling up in the corners of your eyes.

“Hey,” Gol’Chek reached out to you, finding your hand and squeezing it tight. “Hey, it’s gonna be fine. I know it’s scary, but that’s - it’s not so bad.” He soothed. “We can figure it out. We’ll find a way to communicate with him.”

You nodded, wiping quickly at your tears. “I know, and I know I should be grateful that he’s even alive, after everything we went through, but he -.” Your voice cracked again. “He can’t hear me. He’ll never, ever, get to hear me say I love him.”

“There’s plenty of other ways to tell someone you love them.” Gol’Chek reminded you softly. “If anybody can figure out how to navigate this, it’s you and Rex.” He gave you a sad smile. “You’ll figure it out together. I know you will.”

You sniffled, nodding again and trying to reign yourself in. “We’ll get Ju’Lah back too, Gol’Chek. I mean it.”

“I know.” Gol’Chek nodded, pain washing over his face at the mention of his missing child. He squeezed your hand again. “I know.”

Fives and Athena worked in silent tandem.

Even though Fives could barely stand, he worked with a quick, quiet efficiency, sniffing on occasion as silent tears rolled down his cheeks with every move he made.

The burial rituals of the Nautolans – or at least, the rituals that Fives and Athena had found on the Holonet – called for the entrails of the dead to be removed, and the body cavity filled with smooth stones blessed by the priests and priestesses of Nephto. The body was then sewn shut and wrapped in a special cloth that had been woven from the time of the Nautolan’s birth up to the day of their death, often adorned with designs or patterns based on status. Then, the body was brought to one of the great chasms across the oceans of Glee Anselm, and the body sank to the bottom of the darkness, releasing the living spirit into the sea.

Fives and Athena had begun by cleaning the body, wordlessly cleaning each of Quill’s wounds, stripping him of his bloodied clothes and washing away the dirt, blood, and grime that covered his form. Twice, Athena had turned away, vomiting into the nearby bushes and breaking off in a quiet sob as she composed herself before returning to the work.

Fives had remained stoic, and aside from the tears that betrayed him, he appeared unfazed as he cleaned his partner’s body, preparing it for the grave.

“We need to cut him open.”

“We can’t do that, Fives.” Athena said quietly. “I can’t do that.”

“We have to do this right.” Fives replied, his voice flat.

“How? We barely know what we’re doing, we had to look up how to handle his body on the damned Holonet.”

“It’s not like burial traditions came up in conversation.” Fives replied, an icy edge to his voice.

“We can’t get his body to Glee Anselm, Fives. We don’t have his burial cloth, or the stones, we don’t need to cut open his body. We have to compromise.” Athena gave him a sad look. “Do you really want to be the one to cut him open?”

“If I have to, I will.” Fives said quietly, pausing for a moment to wipe the blood from his hands. He fell silent for a beat, holding the damp rag and staring down at the ground. “He proposed to me.”

Athena looked back up at him. “What?”

“He proposed. The day before he left.” Fives said. “We were waiting to tell people until he came home. He was going to marry me. My riduur.”

Athena was silent. Nothing she could have said would have repaired what was broken before her.

“I have to do this right. Or as right as I can, at least.” Fives said quietly. “It’s… it’s the only thing I can do.”

“He wouldn’t want you doing this, Fives.” Athena tried again. “He wouldn’t want you hurting yourself like that. I’m begging you.”

She walked around the table, taking Fives’ hand in hers. “We can wrap him in cloth, we can get the cleanest, nicest sheets we can find, and we can fill the cloth with stones, so he still sinks to the bottom of the lake like you want.” She offered. “That way you don’t have to…”

Fives sighed softly, glancing back at Quill’s body before quickly looking away. “He has to go back to the water.”

“I know. And we’re doing that.” Athena promised. “Whatever it takes, we’ll get him back to the water, but please, Fives. Don’t let your last image of him be of… of this.” She touched his arm. “Let me finish. Why don’t you go to the lake and start gathering some stones? Pick whichever ones you’d like. Pile them up beside the lake, and when I’ve finished here, I’ll have someone bring him down to the lake so we can bury him properly.”

To her relief, Fives relented. “Alright.”

She squeezed his arm gently, letting him go as he started to hobble down towards the lake. Echo had been lingering nearby, trying to avoid Fives’ ire but staying close to support him however he could.

“Where’s he going?” Echo asked.

“To the lake to begin gathering stones.” Athena said, looking up at Echo. “Go with him. He needs you.”

Echo hesitated, but reluctantly began to follow Fives, at first at a distance and then fell into step with him. He silently offered his shoulder for Fives to lean against as they walked, and Fives wordlessly accepted, letting Echo help carry his weight.

Fives started to speak. “About how I acted -.”

“I know.” Echo cut him off. “It’s okay.”

There were no other words between them – there was no need. It was in the way one twin clung to the other, the way Echo held Fives upright as they walked, that both men knew all was forgiven.

When they made it to the lake, Fives pulled away, shrugging off Quill’s jacket and shuffling towards the water.

“Your leg already seems to be doing better.” Echo offered. “Those Mando healers are something else. But maybe you should stay off it for a bit?”

Fives ignored him, wading into the water up to his waist and letting his hands hover over the glassy surface.

“Nephto.” Fives whispered aloud. “Guide my hands. Take them where they need to be.”

He reached below the surface, letting his fingers ghost over the rocks beneath his feet. He let his fingers drift until they stopped on their own, and he picked up the stones one by one, bringing them back to the edge of the water to Echo.

“Stack them over there.” He murmured, returning to the water to keep gathering stones.

“Do you want help?”

“No.” Fives replied. “This is something I need to do.”

Echo obeyed, picking up the rocks after Fives deposited them and neatly stacked them beside the little beach, watching as his brother returned to the water over and over again, offering a silent prayer each time he searched for stones.

On the final pass, Fives inhaled slowly. “Nephto, guide my hands.”

He dove below the water, fully submerging himself this time, and when he went to grab another rock, something caught his eye.

Farther away, deep below the surface at the bottom of the lake, something was jutting out of a little rock pile.

Fives frowned, popping his head above water and inhaling deeply before diving back down. He swam to the bottom of the lake, pulling the rocks aside. Someone had fashioned them into a little makeshift cave, and inside lay a trident.

Quill’s trident.

Fives took the weapon in hand, swimming back to the surface and gasping as he broke through.

“Fives?” Echo called, concern bleeding into his voice. He’d waded out into the water a few feet, reaching for him as Fives resurfaced. “What are you thinking? You’re still injured, you can’t go diving under the water like a -.”

He cut himself off when he saw what Fives was holding. The weapon was huge, clearly meant for someone bigger than Fives, and Echo already knew who it belonged to.

“Quill?”

Fives nodded, wading back out of the water. “It must’ve been his. I don’t know why he’d hide it at the bottom of the lake like this.”

“Maybe he wanted to leave that part of his past behind.” Echo murmured, taking the weapon from Fives and setting it aside. “We can bury him with it.”

“No. His people aren’t buried with their material possessions, they’re passed on, their legacy living on through the people who survive them.” Fives murmured, studying the trident.

Echo hesitated. “Maybe your home is still standing.” He offered. “We can look through the wreckage together, find other things that belonged to Quill for you to hold onto.”

Fives nodded, still focused on the trident. Hesitantly, he set it aside, leaning it against their pile of stones. He picked up Quill’s jacket again, studying the blood stained into the fabric, muddying the patches Quill had so carefully sewn on.

“Hang on.”

Fives returned to the water, carefully washing the jacket clean of the bloodstains, being mindful of the patchwork.

When he finished, he walked over to the trident, hanging the jacket off the top of the glorious weapon. Fives squeezed the sleeve.

“Okay.” He murmured. “I’m ready.”

Echo offered his shoulder once more, and Fives leaned against him again, letting his brother guide him away from the lake and back toward the village.

Back at the village, Athena stood over Quill’s body, wringing out the bloody rag for what felt like the hundredth time. Perhaps it was the hundredth time. Athena had touched her best friend’s blood so many times, she’d lost count. Over the years she’d known him, she’d patched many of his wounds. She’d stroked cool cloths across his forehead and cheeks when he fitted with fever, she’d stitched his wounds closed as he hissed under his breath, she’d treated burns, scrapes, bruises, and scars. In many ways, Athena had known Quill more intimately than she knew herself.

She never wanted to know him like this.

“Quill Cawthon.” She whispered aloud. “You fucking idiot.”

Athena stroked his cheek gingerly, using her thumbs to gently close his eyes. “What’re we going to do now?” She asked him.

Quill held no answers for her, and she found his hands instead, biting her lower lip as she began to weep.

“Omega, wake up.”

The girl stirred as you shook her gently, rubbing her eyes tiredly and sitting up. “What is it?”

“The rest of Clone Force 99 is outside, I thought you might like to see them.” You murmured. “Hunter was injured.”

“Is he alright?” Omega asked urgently, sitting upright and scrambling to get off the cot.

“He’s going to be okay, he’s just in rough shape.” You soothed. “The second ship has arrived, and they’re loading him onto that one. I thought you may want to ride with the rest of your family.”

“Yes please.” Omega nodded.

“Mama?” Kiran mumbled, rubbing his eyes and yawning widely. “Where’s mama?”

“We’re gonna go see her, baby.” You promised, taking Kiran’s hand and guiding both children out of the ship.

You moved carefully, mindful of your still-healing injuries, and Wolffe stopped you before you could travel far beyond the ship.

“What’re you doing up and moving? You should be resting.”

“I’m fine,” You waved off his concerns. “These two need to get back to their families.”

Wolffe nodded. “We’re loading up the other survivors now, we’re departing once we’re sure we have everyone.”

“Hunter!”

Omega broke free from your grip, sprinting down the landing platform and rushing over to where Mandalorians were loading Hunter onto the other ship.

“He was caught in a blast.” Wrecker explained to the girl. “He’ll be okay though, the medics said so.”

“Can he hear me?” Omega asked worriedly, finding Hunter’s hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.

“He’s been fading in and out of consciousness. It’s probably best to let him rest.” Tech said.

“You can ride with us, kid.” Wrecker said. “We’re taking the Havoc Marauder while Hunter goes on this ship-.”

“No, no I want to stay with Hunter.” Omega interrupted. “Please.”

Echo looked up at Crosshair, the sniper’s arms folded across his chest as he leaned against the Mandalorian ship, chewing on a toothpick.

“Can she come with you?”

Crosshair scowled. “I’m not a babysitter.”

“You’re already going with Hunter, can’t she come along?” Echo frowned.

“I’m only going on this ship because I assumed I wouldn’t be invited on that one.” Crosshair hissed, jabbing his thumb towards the Marauder. “I’d prefer to not be left behind. Again.”

Echo put his hands up between Crosshair and the rest of the batch before a full-blown argument started. “Stop. None of that. What’s done is done, you’re here now.” He said. “Can she stay with you or not?”

Omega looked up at Crosshair hopefully, and the sniper scoffed under his breath, flicking his toothpick away.

“Fine.”

Omega sighed in relief, following the Mandalorians up the ramp as they loaded Hunter into the ship.

“Let’s find your Mama, Kiran.” You murmured, squeezing Kiran’s hand gently and leading him around the triage zone. As you started to look around, Kiran tugged on your sleeve.

“What’s wrong with Quill?”

“What do you mean?” You asked, and followed his gaze. Your stomach dropped.

Quill was lying on one of the triage tables, and Athena sat on a chair beside him, stitching one of his wounds closed with shaking hands. Even from a distance, you could see the way her body shook, tears streaking down her cheeks as she worked.

“Um,” Your voice cracked slightly, and you swallowed roughly, trying to steady yourself as you shifted positions to block Kiran’s view, crouching in front of him instead. You forced a smile. “You know what? Why don’t you wait here for just a second, and I’ll go get your Mama?”

“I wanna see Quill.” Kiran protested, trying to look past you. “I wanna see him.”

“In a minute, honey, let’s get you to your Mama first, I bet she was very worried about you.”

“No!” Kiran shouted, pushing you away and trying to run around you. “I wanna see Quill!”

You grabbed him quickly, holding him against your chest even as he started to scream and swing his arms. Athena heard the commotion and dropped what she was doing, racing over. “Kiran!”

The little boy halted his struggles just long enough for you to release him into Athena’s embrace, the other woman clinging tightly to the boy.

“Oh gods, you’re alright.” Athena sighed in relief, pulling back and cupping Kiran’s cheeks. “Are you hurt, baby?”

Kiran shook his head, hugging Athena tightly. “I wanna see Quill.” He mumbled into her shoulder.

Athena froze for a moment, slowly pulling back to look Kiran in the eye. “Kiran,” she began quietly, brushing a bit of hair from his eyes and cupping his cheeks again. “Honey, Quill’s… he’s-.” Tears had begun anew in her eyes, and you watched helplessly as she turned her head away, sniffling for a moment as she tried to compose herself. “He… He’s gone, sweetheart.”

Kiran frowned. “No he’s not. I see him.”

“No, honey, he’s gone. Remember your Mama, and your Daddy and your sisters?” Athena prompted gently. “Remember… remember what happened to them?”

“Did he get too many ouchies?” Kiran asked. “Like my real mama?”

Athena wept, nodding once. “Yeah, baby. He had too many ouchies.”

“Well…” Kiran frowned deeper. “Then we should fix him. We can make him all better.” He pulled away, rolling up his pantlegs to show Athena his legs. “The people fixed my ouchies, ‘member? They can fix Quill’s ouchies too.”

“It doesn’t work like that, Kiran.” Athena said softly. “He had too many. We couldn’t fix him.”

“But – but he’s right there!” Kiran protested, trying to look over Athena’s shoulder at Quill’s body. “He’s there! We can fix him!”

“We can’t, honey, I’m so sorry.”

“No!” Kiran shouted, tears beginning to streak down his chubby cheeks. “No! He’s okay! He’s right there! You gotta fix him!” He began to kick and scream, shoving at Athena as he struggled to get to Quill. “You gotta fix him!”

“Kiran.”

The boy stopped his tantrum, turning towards the voice. He shoved Athena away again, this time sprinting over to Fives, his little body colliding with the trooper’s chest as Fives knelt to catch him.

“You gotta make him all better.” Kiran wept, clinging to Fives. “You gotta.”

“I tried, buddy.” Fives whispered, hugging him tight. “I tried.”

You could do nothing but weep.

Rex picked through the wreckage of his home, careful to step around the debris. The house was miraculously still standing, though a large hole had been blown through the side from a nearby blast. Rex cautioned the stairs, inching up them carefully and filling a pack with what he could, prioritizing the supplies for Calder and you. Clothes, a blanket for Calder, anything he could find that he thought may be of use when starting over, Rex tried to pack it into his bag.

Once he’d gathered everything he could carry, he retreated down the stairs, preparing to head back to camp but stopping, looking further down the street. He hesitated, ultimately deciding to go for it, and walked down the street towards Gol’Chek and Ju’Lah’s house.

The little house had been nearly destroyed, reduced almost entirely to rubble. Rex was careful as he stepped through the chaos, nudging things aside and looking around. He found what remained of Ju’Lah’s room, her once beautifully painted walls destroyed in the bombing, her paints overturned and room reduced to debris.

He dug around in the rubble, looking for anything he could salvage. Her bow had been destroyed, the two ends of it barely clinging to one another against what had at one point been Ju’Lah’s dresser. He dug around where the bed had once been, pulling the ruined fabric of her blankets aside and withdrawing her little clone trooper doll. He brushed it off carefully, tucking it into the backpack alongside the rest of his supplies.

He slowly marched his way back to the triage zone, keeping an eye out for any other survivors as he went.

You pulled your gaze upwards as you heard Rex approaching, wiping the tears from your eyes as you hurried into his arms. Rex took in the rest of the scene, watching as Fives straightened up from where he’d been holding Kiran, taking the child into his arms and carrying him silently away from Quill’s body, towards the other end of the campsite.

“We went back to Quill’s home and salvaged some things.” Echo said, motioning to a similar backpack to the one Rex wore over his shoulder. “We also made preparations down at the lake. As soon as we can transport Quill’s body, we’re ready for the burial.”

“Give him a minute.” Athena murmured, nodding to where Fives went. The trooper had set Kiran down and was now crouching in front of him. You couldn’t hear what they were saying, but Fives was cupping the boy’s cheeks and wiping his tears with his thumbs.

“How’s Calder?” Rex asked you.

“Nothing new.” You reported quietly. “The Mandalorians agreed with Tech’s assessment.”

Rex nodded, resigned, and Athena turned to you.

“Calder?” She asked. “He’s here?”

You nodded. “He’s in the ship, in an incubation chamber. He was premature, but he’s alive and – and okay.”

Athena gave you a half-hearted smile. “Congratulations.”

You gave her a weak smile in return, your eyes drifting back to Quill’s body. “What’re we going to do about him?”

“Fives and I have prepared everything.” Athena said, inhaling slowly and centering herself. “Rex and Echo, we’ll need you to help carry him to the lake.”

“Of course.” Rex said. “Whatever you need.”

Fives and Kiran walked back to the group, Fives holding Kiran’s hand. “He’d like to say goodbye.” Fives told Athena. “Is that alright?”

Athena hesitated, glancing to Kiran. “Are you sure?” She asked the boy. “He doesn’t look like you remember, sweetheart. He – he was hurt a lot, and people look different when they die -.”

“I wanna see him.” Kiran interrupted. “I wanna say bye to Quill.”

Athena nodded, turning back to Quill’s body and ensuring the wounds were covered, leaving just his face exposed when Fives picked Kiran up again and brought him over. Athena had closed Quill’s eyes as she worked on his body, and Kiran peeked anxiously around Fives, clinging to the man as he peered down at Quill.

“He looks like he’s sleeping.” Kiran said quietly. He was quiet for a few minutes, sniffling to himself, before he lifted a tiny hand in a wave. “Bye, Quill.”

Fives turned his head away, hiding his face in Kiran’s back as he pulled the child away, setting him down again so he could return to Athena.

“It’s time.” Wolffe said quietly, stepping back up to the group. “We’ve loaded up the last of the survivors, and a few men have managed to salvage some of your ships and supplies, which we’ve added to our fleet.”

“What about the Cordillera?” You asked. “Gol’Chek’s ship?”

“I’ll fly it.” Fives said quietly. “I’ve done it once before. I can do it again.”

“Dispatch the rest of the ships.” Rex instructed Wolffe. “And send coordinates to my comm for where we’re headed. We’ll all follow behind you in the Cord and Marauder.” He hesitated. “Our son is still in the incubation chamber aboard your ship. Is there any way -.”

“I’ll have it moved to the Cordillera and will send a healer and medical droid along with it.” Wolffe promised at once. “Once we’ve done that, we’ll dismiss the ships.”

Rex nodded. “Thank you.”

“I’ll… give you a moment to finish here.” Wolffe said, and politely excused himself.

Rex turned to Echo. “Wrap him up.”

Together, Rex and Echo wrapped Quill’s body in sheets, carefully picking him up and walking him towards the lake while the others followed. You glanced to Fives, watching as he solemnly marched along, his head angled down and his hand still joined with Kiran’s.

When you arrived at the lake, Rex and Echo gently set Quill’s body down while Fives and Athena unwrapped him one last time, this time gathering the rocks from the pile Fives had made and carefully laying them along the insides of the sheets parallel to Quill’s body, stacking a few in a straight line down from his chest to his pelvis.

Fives carefully adjusted his tendrils so none were being crushed, and he stroked Quill’s face delicately, brushing his thumb over cold lips. He lowered his head, pressing his lips to Quill’s cheek, and then touching their foreheads together one final time.

“Akay vi urcir tug’yc.”

He pulled away at last, and wrapped Quill’s body again.

It took Echo, Fives, Rex, and Athena together to lift Quill’s body and wade out into the water with it. You remained on shore, holding Kiran’s hand and watching as they walked out until they were nearly up to their chests. When they reached the drop-off where the water became deep, they stopped, slowly lowering Quill’s body into the water, and let it go. Fives remained, standing in the center of the semi-circle and watching as Quill sank, gazing into the black of the water until it swallowed him up for good.

Rex put a hand on his shoulder. “Come, brother.” He said quietly. “Let’s go.”

Fives nodded, at last pulling his gaze away from the water and trudging back to shore with the others. He paused, picking up Quill’s jacket once more and putting it back on, and drawing the trident into his grip. He held it firmly, and gazed back out towards the lake.

“Are you alright?” You asked him.

“No.” Fives replied quietly. “But I have to be.”

He turned and walked back towards the ships without another word.

*Akay vi urcir tug’yc. - Until we meet again.

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#ro writes #ro's protected #TLBO #The Light Between Oceans #Oc Kiran #OC Athena #OC Rose #OC Ju'Lah #OC Quill #OC Finn

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rowansparrow · 2 years

Text

The Light Between Oceans: Chapter Two

**This series is rated 18+, Minors do NOT interact or you will be blocked**

Summary: As the survivors begin to assemble above ground, you search for your husband while Fives and Athena search for Quill.

Chapter Rating: Mature

Warnings: Graphic description, gore, injury, violence, Major character death.

Ships: Rex x Female!Reader, Fives x Male!OC, Fives x Female!OC

Word Count: 5k

A/N: I am so excited to introduce you to a new OC in this chapter!! I hope you love him as much as you’ve loved the others you’ve met.

Regular updates come every Saturday.

Thank you very much to @djarrex and @witchklng for their various contributions to this work. I couldn’t have done it without either of you.

Sensitive content is tagged #Ro’s Protected Tag. Please block that tag if you are concerned about content.

Reblogs are so appreciated!

Wolffe’s men had landed their ship in the middle of the town center and had already formed a triage point there with several medics and warriors alike. A few survivors were gathered there, having their injuries treated and reuniting with one another after the carnage.

Wolffe carried Gol’Chek straight to one of the medics, laying him out on a makeshift cot that had been built from debris from one of the fallen buildings nearby.

“What can I do?” Rex asked.

“Stay with him, I’m going to help the others sweep for more survivors.” He turned to Rex. “You mentioned tunnels?”

“Yes, underground. There are bunkers connected to them where we sent most of the civilians.” Rex confirmed.

“How do I get to them?”

“There’s at least one entrance in the Command Center, if it’s still standing.” Rex said. “It’s the biggest building on this street, you can’t miss it.”

“I’ll find it.” Wolffe nodded. “I’m going to get the other survivors out from underground and call for more transports. We’ll need to get you all off this rock and to somewhere safe before the Empire sends more men.”

Rex nodded, glancing down at Gol’Chek again. The warrior remained blessedly unconscious, and a pair of Mandalorians worked in tandem with him, tending to his legs immediately.

Rex hovered, looking over their shoulders and trying to stay as close to Gol’Chek as he could when he suddenly remembered Gol’Chek’s staff, abandoned back where the duel had taken place.

“I’ll be right back.” He murmured to Gol’Chek’s prostrate form, and began to jog back to where they had fought Maul, keeping his eyes to the ground to find the staff.

He found it easily, picking up the weapon as carefully as he could, running his fingers over the elegant script carved in Cymruun along the entirety of the staff, and clutched it tightly in his fists.

Something flickered in the light, and Rex glanced to the left. The Darksaber’s hilt caught in the sunlight, and Rex reached for it, taking the heavy weapon in hand. It had failed him, or perhaps Rex had failed it, but Maul had not taken it with him. There was no need.

He’d already found his prize.

Rex had been defeated. Maul had nearly killed him, had stolen Gol’Chek’s limbs and abducted Ju’Lah. Rex didn’t have the faintest idea where they may have gone.

He had failed her. He’d failed them all.

He let the Darksaber fall back into the dirt and rose to his feet once more, turning and making his solemn march back.

He was Mand’alor no more.

Calder had quieted down significantly after you fed him and wrapped him in the blanket, and the infant now slept peacefully in your arms, interrupted only by the occasional soft sigh in his sleep that made your heart swell.

Soteria had temporarily left your side to attend to other injured civilians and warriors, and Omega and Kiran had fallen asleep at the foot of your cot, the children exhausted from the day’s ordeal. You were fighting off sleep yourself, the adrenaline from the day at last having left you.

“Ma’am?”

You jolted slightly, your hand tightening around Calder protectively. A clone stood a few feet away, raising his hands in surrender.

“Sorry.” He said, pitching his voice low to not disturb the children. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“That’s – it’s alright.” You whispered back once your heart rate settled back down. “Did you need something?”

“My name is Finn, I’m one of Howzer’s men. I was sent to the tunnels to help guard the civilians.” He explained. “I – forgive me, I couldn’t do much, but –.” He fumbled over his words, finally just moving to sit on the edge of the cot, the material creaking as he did so. “You must be exhausted, after everything you’ve been through.”

“I am.” You replied hesitantly, your hand still protectively on Calder’s back.

“I used to handle civilian Twi’leks, back when we were stationed on Ryloth.” Finn continued. “There was a young mother with a baby near my post. I’d help take care of the little one from time to time.” He nodded once to Calder. “So, I wanted to offer… would you like me to hold him for a bit so you can rest?”

You were touched, your expression softening at once at the earnestness on the young trooper’s face. He must have been a recent generation of clones, because his face didn’t carry the same lines your husband’s did, nor did he have the same battle-hardened weariness of Fives or Gol’Chek. His hair was dyed a bright orange, contrarian to the teal of his armor. He was young, eyes still bright and innocent, despite the horrors the survivors had endured together. He gave you a shy smile.

“Would -.” Your voice cracked a bit, and you swallowed, trying again. “Would you mind removing your chest plate before you hold him? It’s so hard, and he’s so little, I just -.”

“Of course.” Finn nodded immediately, already loosening the straps of his armor and removing his gauntlets and gloves as well, making sure he was left in just the comfortable fabric of his black body glove from the waist up before reaching delicately for Calder. “Don’t worry, Ma’am, I’ve got him.”

You smiled gratefully, leaning back slightly against the one threadbare pillow that had been afforded to the little cot, watching Finn as he rocked Calder when the infant began to stir.

“He’s a strong little guy.” Finn said with a chuckle, letting Calder grab hold of his finger. “Strong like his parents.”

You hummed softly, your eyes drifting back towards the tunnel’s entrance. Tech had yet to return, and Rex remained noticeably absent. Finn followed your gaze, giving you a sympathetic look.

“I’m sure he’s alright.” He offered quietly. “They’ll all come to get us before too much longer. Once the fighting’s over and it’s safe.”

You nodded, but it was half hearted. You hissed softly between your teeth, your hand ghosting over the wound from your C-section, and Finn looked back to you.

“Should I fetch the medic?”

“No, no that’s alright. Just sore.” You murmured, closing your eyes and trying to relax. “I’ll feel much better once my husband decides to show his face.” You tried to joke, but the anxiety welling up in the pit of your stomach made the landing falter, and you sighed quietly instead.

“I haven’t heard explosions in a while.” Finn said. “I imagine they’ll be down here any moment, ma’am.”

You nodded again, trying your hardest to calm down and focus. Rex was fine. He was alive. He’d be down any moment to get you and Calder.

He had to be.

“Just a little further.” Dogma murmured, supporting Athena’s weight while Gregor helped Fives along. Echo lingered a few steps ahead, limping his way forward towards the center of the village.

“Looks like somebody’s already got triage going.” Echo commented.

“It’s the Mandalorians.” Dogma replied, relieved. “Wolffe came. We’ll be alright now, all of us.” He lit up at once, recognizing a familiar face standing under one of the makeshift tents. “Rex!”

The Captain turned immediately, hurrying over and helping take Fives from Gregor. “Who else is hurt?” He asked, looking between them. “All of you?”

“The Empire didn’t exactly send us a care package.” Athena drawled with a smile. “It’s good to see you’re still alive.”

“Likewise, General.” Rex cracked a tired smile, helping Fives limp over to one of the cots as a Mandalorian arrived at once to begin treating him. “Gol’Chek’s already been taken aboard one of the ships, his injuries were too severe. They’re having the healers take a crack at him.”

“What happened?” Athena asked, letting Dogma help her onto one of the other cots.

“Maul. He cut off Gol’Chek’s legs.”

“He what?” Fives pushed away the Mandalorian inspecting him, sitting up slightly. “What about Ju’Lah? Where is she?”

Rex’s expression was grim. “Maul took her.”

Horror washed over Fives’ face, and he looked between Athena and Rex. “What’re we doing to get her back?” He demanded. “Do we know where they went?”

Rex shook his head, and Fives pushed the Mandalorian away again, sitting up completely and trying to swing off the cot.

“That’s bullshit!” Fives snapped. “We have to know something, they can’t just be gone!”

“One problem at a time, Fives.” Rex soothed, easing Fives back down against the cot. “We can’t do anything for Ju’Lah until we heal ourselves.”

“Speak for yourself, she’s just a little kid!” Fives shot back. “She’s counting on us, we can’t just abandon her!”

“Nobody’s abandoning her.” Rex argued. “But look at you, you’re in no condition to do anything. You’re no help to her if you can’t stand and fight.” He held Fives’ chin, forcing the younger soldier to look up at him. “You’re right: She’s counting on us. So get better quickly. We need you.”

Fives jerked his chin away, reluctantly letting the Mandalorian step closer again and continue treating his injuries.

“What are we going to do?” Echo asked, lowering his voice and looking to Rex.

“For now, we regroup. We can’t do anything until we know who the kriff is even still alive.” Rex said. “Wolffe wants to get us off planet before the Empire sends reinforcements, and we’re running out of time to evacuate.” He nodded to Dogma. “What condition are you in?”

“I’m alright, sir. I can fight.” Dogma promised.

“Then get back out there and keep looking for survivors, there’s too many people we still haven’t heard from.” Rex instructed, tossing him a commlink. “Keep in touch with whatever you find.”

“Yes sir.”

“Quill’s still out there somewhere.” Fives said once his head wound had been bandaged. “He hasn’t come through here yet?”

“Not that I’ve seen.” Rex replied. “I may have missed him, I’ve been with Gol’Chek.”

“No. No he’d still be here if he’d come through. He’d be waiting for me.” Fives shook his head, hissing and laying back again. “He’s still out there.”

“We’ll find him.” Athena said as another Mandalorian gave her a stim shot and wrapped her ankle. “Quill’s a big boy, he can handle himself until we do.”

“Captain!”

All heads turned as Tech sprinted up to the triage zone. “Captain, you need to get underground.”

“Wolffe’s already heading to the tunnels to round up the survivors and bring them above ground.” Rex replied. “I’m needed here, tell my wife -.”

“There was a complication.” Tech cut him off. “We had to perform an emergency procedure on your wife, and she needs immediate medical attention.”

“What?” Rex’s stomach dropped. “What happened?”

“The fetus was in distress, so we delivered.” Tech replied, looking around the group. “Has anyone else from Clone Force 99 arrived?”

Rex’s head spun as Tech’s words caught up to him. “Delivered?” He repeated. “She had the baby?”

“Yes. As I said, both of them need immediate medical attention. I came above ground to see if I could find help.” Tech answered. “They’re stable, but -.”

“Go.” Athena told Rex before Tech could continue. Rex ignored everything else, taking off towards the tunnels as fast as his legs could carry him.

You weren’t sure for how long you’d been asleep, but you woke up to a rumbling sound that shook the entire underground bunker, dirt spattering down from the ceiling as children screamed and adults gasped.

You immediately reached for Calder, panic setting in as Finn handed the baby back to you. “What is it? More bombs?” You asked worriedly as Omega rubbed her eyes, sitting up straighter. “Omega, Kiran, come here.”

“I’m not sure what it is.” Finn replied, quickly putting his armor back on and drawing his blaster. “I’m going to check it out.”

“No!” You protested, panic snaking through your chest. Tech had already gone above ground and hadn’t come back yet. You couldn’t stand to have Finn disappear as well. “Just – stay down here, protect the others like you’re supposed to.”

Finn hesitated, glancing between you, the children, and Calder, and adjusted his position so he was at the end of the cot, the four of you behind him. You held Calder in one arm, pulling Omega and Kiran close to you as well, protecting them. Finn raised his blaster, keeping it level towards the bunker’s sealed entrance. A few other fighters had risen to their feet, their weapons pointed towards the doors as well.

Another loud rumble, followed by the sound of someone cutting through the thick durasteel door leading into the bunkers, and Finn readied his blaster. Omega skittered to the edge of the cot, picking up her bow and pointing it towards the door as well.

You felt useless, staring down the door as someone continued cutting through it. You clung tightly to Calder and Kiran, watching as the door fell inwards.

A familiar Mandalorian stepped through the doorway, his hands raised immediately in peace.

“It’s alright.” Wolffe called to the fighters, his hands in the air as two more Mandalorians flanked behind him. “We aren’t going to hurt you. We’re here to evacuate you.”

“That’s a clone’s voice.” Finn realized, his blaster lowering slightly as he glanced at you over his shoulder.

“There are ships on the surface waiting to take you out of here before the Empire returns.” Wolffe continued. “Everyone who is able, begin making your way to the surface. Those who are injured, we’ll help you evac. Move, quickly!”

At once, commotion began throughout the bunkers as people began gathering themselves, hurrying out of the tunnels at Wolffe’s request. The Commander spotted you, striding towards you as Finn raised his blaster again.

“Stop. Who are you?” Finn demanded, keeping himself angled firmly between you and Wolffe.

“You did good, kid.” Wolffe praised, putting a hand over Finn’s blaster and gently lowering it. “Now you’re needed above ground.”

“Wolffe,” You called around Finn as the young trooper at last stepped aside. “Rex, is he alive? Is he alright?”

“He’s alive.” Wolffe confirmed. “They had a rough go of it up there, but Rex is alive, and so’s the other one, for now.”

“Gol’Chek?” You asked, relief flooding through you. “Thank the gods.”

“We need to see about getting you out of here.” Wolffe continued, crouching next to your cot and lifting the edge of Rex’s cape to inspect you. “I heard you’ve seen your fair share of chaos down here.”

You laughed weakly, tears springing to your eyes again against your will. Rex was alive. “It’s certainly been something.”

Wolffe chuckled, a low, modulated rumble behind his helmet. “Let’s get you to your husband, ma’am.” He replied. “Something tells me there’s somebody he’ll be dying to meet.”

He wrapped his arms around your shoulders, gently guiding you into a sitting position. You whimpered slightly, your body protesting the movement. Despite Tech and Soteria’s best efforts, supplies had been limited, and you were still in no condition to do much movement.

“I – I’m not sure I can stand.” You admitted weakly.

“Can I pick you up?” Wolffe asked. “One way or another, we need to get you above ground.”

“We can try.” You winced. “Omega, can you -.”

“I’ve got him.” Omega reached her arms out, gently taking Calder from you as Wolffe carefully guided you to your feet. “Kiran, stay with me.”

You gasped immediately, a low groan of pain sneaking past your lips as you tried to muscle through it, to no avail.

“It’s alright.” Wolffe said gently. “Would it be easier for me to help you walk or to carry you?”

“I don’t know.” You managed weakly, one arm cradling your stomach as you tried to take a step.

“She shouldn’t be moving!” Soteria protested, hurrying over to support your other side. “You’ll reopen her wounds.”

“She can’t stay here.” Wolffe bit back, his helmet turning sharply toward her. “We have healers above ground tending to the injuries of the others. The quicker we get her there, the better her odds will be.”

“I’m alright, I can walk.” You promised, letting Soteria and Wolffe work in tandem to support you. Wolffe took Rex’s cape, using it as a shroud around your body to help cover you as you moved. Slowly, the two of them shuffled forward, with you taking cautious steps between them. Omega followed along behind you, dutifully carrying Calder, who had blessedly remained asleep. The loud noises didn’t seem to bother him at all, and your heart squeezed at the thought.

One problem at a time.

You steeled yourself, taking another step, and another, and another, until slowly but surely you made it out of the bunker, still supported by Wolffe and Soteria. A sheen of sweat had broken out across your face from the exertion, and you nearly wept in relief when the cool drizzle of rain from outside hit your skin.

Your eyes dragged upwards, and you spotted him.

Rex was scanning the faces of everyone who came up from the bunkers, his chest heaving as though he’d ran all the way there, his eyes alight with urgency as he looked from person to person. When his eyes at last landed on you, palpable relief intermingled with concern, and he raced over.

“Cyare.” He was breathless, nearly dizzy with relief as his large hands cupped your face, inspecting you closely before pressing a kiss to your forehead. “Thank the gods, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know, I -.”

“It’s alright.” You soothed, leaning into your husband as your knees started to give out. Wolffe held you upright, and behind you, Calder began to fuss as the rain hit his little face.

Rex heard the sound, looking to you. “Is he…?”

You smiled, blinking through the mist of the rain. “You ready to meet your son?”

The stim shot was already beginning to take effect, alongside whatever else the Mandalorian healers had given Athena. She could feel the bones in her ankle beginning to reset, and once the Mandalorian had popped her dislocated shoulder back into place, the pain subsided quickly.

Fives, however, was having a much rougher time, grunting and even crying out in pain every few minutes as two healers worked in tandem on his battered body.

“Why is it always you?” Athena teased, eyeing him from her cot.

Fives didn’t answer, and Athena continued.

“I mean it, it feels like every time there’s an opportunity for someone to get their shit rocked, it’s always you.” She chuckled, leaning back against her cot. “You’d think you’d learn your lesson by now and stay out of trouble.”

Fives’ hand shot out, grabbing her roughly and making her gasp.

“Fives, what-.”

“I know you want to know too.” Fives hissed, his grip tightening on her wrist. “We can’t – we can’t just leave him out there.” His voice cracked slightly, his eyes misting over. “I have to know what happened to him. I have to find him.”

Athena hesitated, glancing around the camp before nodding once. She swung out of her cot, helping Fives to his feet and letting him lean against her. “Come on then.”

Fives nodded gratefully, leaning into Athena as the two of them hobbled off together back out into the ruins of the village.

“We aren’t going to make it very far in this condition.” Athena warned.

“I have to know what happened to him.” Fives whispered back. “I can’t leave him out there.”

“We’ll find him.” Athena assured for not the first time. Though, as she looked out upon the destroyed village, she wasn’t sure she entirely believed it.

It was rare to see Captain Rex rendered completely speechless, but in the moment Rex saw his son for the first time, you were quite certain the man didn’t dare even breathe.

Omega smiled at Rex, offering Calder up to him as the baby began to fuss, his nose scrunching up as the rain sprinkled across his face. Rex crouched down to her level, taking Calder from her arms with care before straightening back up, cupping his free hand over Calder’s face to shield him from the rain.

“Hello.” He whispered, brushing his thumb over Calder’s cheek and wiping away the rain. “Hello, little one.”

“We need to get this one on board the ship so the healers can have a look at her.” Wolffe said, still supporting the majority of your weight as you stood. “Come on, we’ll get them both situated and have the healers look over the little guy as well.”

Rex nodded, completely sidetracked by the infant in his arms. You giggled softly, looking over your shoulder to make sure Kiran and Omega were still behind you. “Stay with me.” You instructed the children. “Omega, keep an eye on Kiran.”

Omega nodded, taking the toddler’s hand and dutifully leading him onward while Wolffe and Soteria helped shuffle you forward, Rex walking at your side.

“What happened down there?” He asked, tearing his eyes away from Calder at last.

“Something happened, I don’t – I don’t remember what Tech called it. But he couldn’t breathe. He wasn’t getting any oxygen.” You gritted out, stumbling slightly and gasping. Wolffe steadied you at once. “They – they didn’t have a choice. They had to cut him out.”

“Gods.” Rex whispered, glancing down at Calder and then to Soteria. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me until she’s healed and a medic looks over Calder.” Soteria warned. “We didn’t have much supplies, it wasn’t a very -.”

“It doesn’t matter, you saved my wife, and my son.” Rex cut her off. “I’m in your debt.”

Sotera gave him a soft smile, nodding once and breaking away once your group arrived at the triage center. “I’m going to see how I can help the wounded.” She said. “Kiran, stay with Omega, okay?”

Kiran nodded, clinging tightly to Omega’s hand.

You groaned quietly as Wolffe eased you back onto yet another cot, this time inside the ship the Mandalorians arrived on. There were several other cots in the bunk area of the ship, all of which were occupied by other injured survivors. Two Mandalorians blocked your view of a particular cot, the pair talking quietly to one another as they worked.

“Easy.” Wolffe soothed, helping you lay back and arranging the pillow as comfortably as he could. “The healers will have you fixed up in no time.”

“I’m alright.” You promised, your breath shaking slightly as you tried to relax.

“With all due respect ma’am, no you aren’t.” Wolffe replied. “You’ve been through quite the ordeal. Just rest up until the healers can have a look at you.” He unfurled Rex’s cape from around your shoulders and carefully laid it over your body once more. “I’m going back out to help the others.”

Rex nodded, motioning Omega and Kiran forward and guiding them onto an empty cot so the two of them could lay down. He used his free hand to cover them both in a blanket, all while balancing Calder in the crook of his arm.

You gave Rex a concerned look as he sat on the edge of your cot, angling himself towards you. “Have you seen anything from their families?” You asked worriedly. “Hunter or Athena, have they-?”

“Athena’s alright, I haven’t seen Hunter yet.” Rex reported, pitching his voice low so Omega wouldn’t overhear. “Fives is okay, too. Beat to hell and back, but alive. Echo, Gregor, and Dogma have all made it back as well.”

“What about Gol’Chek?” You asked. “Is he alive? Wolffe said he was alive.”

“He’s alive.” Rex sighed. “But he’s…” Rex trailed off, looking towards the two Mandalorians on the other side of the bunkroom, crowding around the little cot. “He’s in bad shape.”

You followed his gaze, finally spotting familiar dark curls strewn on the cot, poking out from behind one of the Mandalorians’ bodies. Gol’Chek.

Rex quietly filled you in on what happened while he was fighting, everything from fighting against the Imperials to killing Thresh to eventually dueling Maul, and Ju’Lah saving his life.

By the end of it all, you were weeping silently, a hand over your mouth. “He took Ju’Lah?” You managed weakly. “And he – he stabbed you? You could’ve died.”

“I would’ve died, if Ju’Lah hadn’t saved me.” Rex admitted quietly, holding Calder a little closer.

“What’re we going to do?” You whispered. “How will we get her back?”

Rex looked utterly defeated. “I don’t know.”

You sniffled, looking past him to Gol’Chek again. “Will he walk again?”

Rex looked so worn, so battle-weary and worse off than you’d ever seen him in all the years you’d known him. His voice was soft and yet heavy when he spoke again. “I don’t know.”

You looked down at Calder, wiping at your eyes and taking a slow breath to steady yourself. “There’s something I have to tell you, too.”

Rex met your eyes, and your heart clenched. He and Calder had the same eyes.

“Tech thinks… He ran some tests or scanned him or something, but he thinks Calder might be – might be deaf.”

Rex narrowed his eyes in confusion. “What?”

You nodded, tears beginning anew no matter how hard you fought to push them back. “He doesn’t know what caused it. It could’ve been anything, but – but he said his ears are damaged.”

“That’s-.” Rex shook his head. “I don’t understand. I thought when you were pregnant you felt him respond to my voice.”

“I don’t know.” You replied helplessly. “It could’ve just been coincidence, or maybe it happened during delivery, I don’t know.”

Rex shook his head, glancing down at Calder’s sleeping form. “He’s deaf?”

You nodded, tears finally rolling down your cheeks again, and you watched as Rex frowned, raising his voice slightly.

“Calder.” Rex said. Then again, in a slightly raised voice. “Calder.”

Calder remained asleep, and Rex shifted his grip, bringing his fingers inches from Calder’s face and snapped them. He shifted to just outside Calder’s ear and snapped his fingers again. Still, the baby slept. He shook his head in quiet disbelief, holding Calder out towards you. “Clap your hands.”

“Rex -.”

“Clap your hands.” Rex repeated. “Right by him. Do it.”

You sniffled, raising your hands and clapping once. The sharp sound echoed through the hold, and Kiran jolted from where he’d nodded off beside Omega, but Calder didn’t stir.

Rex made a soft sound, pulling Calder back against his chest. “He can’t hear us.”

You’d never heard Rex sound so heartbroken. You wiped at your eyes, drawing another shaking breath. “Tech said maybe – maybe he can feel the vibrations of our voices, in our chests.” You reached over, guiding Calder up towards Rex’s chest. “Hold him like this, then talk to him.”

Rex’s breath hitched, his eyes glassy as he swallowed roughly, adjusting his grip like you’d shown him. “Calder.” His voice cracked on the word, and he pressed his lips against the crown of Calder’s head, closing his eyes as a tear slipped down his cheek. “Calder, I love you.” Rex whispered against him. “I love you. I love you. I love you.”

Rex began to weep, clinging to Calder and repeating the words like a mantra, over and over and over again, as though maybe Calder could hear him if he said it enough times.

You pressed your hand against Rex’s knee, letting the tears fall.

Cold.

He was very cold.

Something warm and sticky was oozing from between his lips and smearing across his chin each time he tried to form words. Blood. Smoke. It was all he could taste. On his tongue. In the air around him. It was everywhere. Suffocating.

Blood. Smoke. My blood.

Get up.

He groaned lowly, trying once again to move forward.

You have to get back up.

It wasn’t the first time he’d fallen. It felt like he’d been wandering for an eternity when he fell the first time, and longer still when he fell the second. This was the third time he’d fallen, and the blaster bolt through his thigh protested even the slightest movement as he tried to force himself back up to his hands and knees. His tendrils writhed in agony with every stretch of his shoulder, tearing the blaster hole deeper with every flex of exerted muscle. Three tendrils hung limply against the left of his face, scorched in blaster burns.

You have to get back up.

Quill groaned quietly, dragging trembling hands beneath his chest, pushing himself upright and clawing his way forward, dragging his injured leg behind him. Blood and ash mingled in the blaster wound in his torso, and he could feel the ooze of his own blood against his shirt. The fabric afforded little protection from the ash and debris, tattered from the wound to his shoulder and torso, scorched from the bolts he nearly dodged.

It was too much.

He could hear someone calling his name in the distance. Could hear the voices growing steadily louder, but he couldn’t respond. He couldn’t even stand. He wheezed, blood spattering his lips, and he rolled over onto his back, letting the rain kiss his wounds clean.

He’d always been fond of the water.

“QUILL!” Fives roared again, his throat hoarse from the smoke and screaming. Athena echoed his cry, calling Quill’s name and stumbling slightly over another body, guiding Fives carefully around it as they limped onwards.

“Quill! Where are you?!” Athena shouted, breaking off into a cough as she choked on her own breath. “Fives, it’s no use, we won’t find him like this.”

“We have to.” Fives gritted out. “We have to.”

The smoke began to clear as a soft gust of wind picked up through the village, and through the screen, Fives could make out a crumpled figure in the center of the street, the blue and yellow of his skin standing out against all the debris.

“QUILL!”

He shoved Athena away, hobbling forward as quickly as he could while Athena struggled to keep up behind him. He stumbled, falling to his knees and wailing in pain for a moment before pushing himself back up, scrambling on his hands and knees the rest of the way to Quill.

“Quill, Quill, oh. Oh no.”

Quill’s color had faded to a much paler shade of blue, his black eyes glassy and unfocused.

“Baby, baby look at me.” Fives mumbled, his voice already breaking as he cupped Quill’s cheeks. “It’s not so bad, okay? It’s not that bad. We’re gonna get you to the medics, okay?” He turned over his shoulder to Athena, who stood a few feet away. “Help me get him up, I can’t lift him on my own.”

Athena was weeping, a hand over her mouth. She shook her head once.

“Help me get him -.” Fives panted, turning and trying to pull Quill’s arm to guide him into a sitting position. “Come on, baby, you gotta get up for me. It’s gonna be okay, it’s gonna be okay.”

Fives’ voice broke, tears brimming in his eyes as he looked back at Quill. “Quill, baby, get up. Please, you have to get up.”

Quill raised a hand, fingers slick with blood as he cupped Fives’ cheek. He smiled. “Darling.”

There were no final words. No last declarations of love. No insistence that Fives move on after he’s gone. There was just a touch, a whisper, the cutting of air as Quill’s hand fell away, and the sound of the rain around them.

Quill Cawthon was gone.

Tag List: @wild-karrde @tsundere-cherry-girl @revengeisaconfesionofpain @jesjestraverse @theroguesully @clonecyaree @sammi9498 @dar-manda-rjct @salaminus @book-of-baba-fett @starwarsmeninhelmets @boomtowngirl @ladykatakuri @cosmic-persephone @djarrex @literallydontlook @bobafettuccini @pro-fangirls-unsocial-life @a-c-lee @chromia7567 @embarrassedauthornerd @itsagrimm @seriowan @gotomarvelgal @space-b33 @moonstrider9904 @frietiemeloen @writingbylee @witchklng

#Ro's protected tag #ro writes #TLBO #The light between oceans #OC Rose #OC Ju'Lah #OC Athena #OC Quill #OC Finn #OC Kiran #OC Soteria

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rowansparrow · 2 years

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Star Wars OC Week 2022

Hi Guys!

Even though it’s not officially happening anymore, I am still participating in the Star Wars OC Week for 2022! So, from Tomorrow, August 2nd through Saturday, August 6th, I’ll be doing small celebrations for my OCs, with the grand finale being the FINAL CHAPTER of WBIT being released on August 6th.

My main OCs right now are:

Lieutenant Rose / Gol’Chek Ju’Lah Quill Cawthon Athena Brisbane Kiran Brisbane

I’m really excited for this, and it would mean so much to me to see engagement and interaction from you guys. This should be super fun!

I’ll be using the tag “Ro’s OC Week 2022″

Loose schedule of events below (Subject to change or adjustment as my schedule allows):

Day One (August 2nd): OC Art Dump, featuring some previously unseen pieces. Day Two (August 3rd): Inside the Cordillera: A Breakdown of the Ship’s design (Plus a Gol’Chek and Ju’Lah drabble!) Day Three (August 4th): OC Q&A, Ask me Anything! Day Four (August 5th): Athena Brisbane’s official Character Sheet drop! Day Five (August 6th): The Final Chapter of What Blooms in Thunder

Tagging a few moots below the cut who may be interested!

@djarrex @galacticgraffiti @book-of-baba-fett @thebitchformerlyknownaskenobi @stcrmhond @fett-djarin @moonstrider9904 @ladykatakuri @tsundere-cherry-girl @jesjestraverse @theroguesully @clonecyaree @literallydontlook @bobafettuccini @pro-fangirls-unsocial-life @gotomarvelgal @writingbylee @space-b33

#Ro's OC Week 2022 #Ro writes #OC Quill #OC Athena #OC Kiran #OC Rose #OC Ju'Lah

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rowansparrow · 2 years

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What Blooms in Thunder: Chapter Eighteen

Now featuring a super sexy super gorgeous super STUNNING new banner by @galacticgraffiti !!!

(Art courtesy of @/space-b33 and @/imrowanartist)

Summary: After safely rescuing the prisoners from the transport ship, Rex surprises you with something he’d been planning for quite some time.

Chapter Rating: Mature

Warnings: Violence, pregnancy mention, discussions of pregnancy, threatened/implied gore, references to alien anatomy, threatened/implied beheading, executions, implied character death.

Reminder that I use #ro’s protected tag for sensitive content including n*fw and triggers, so please block that tag if you have concerns about content!

Ships: Captain Rex x Female!Reader, Lieutenant Rose x Female!Reader, Fives x Male!OC.

Word Count: 9k

A/N: I am so sorry in advance.

Thank you all so much for sticking with me through this story. I hope you enjoy!

If I missed anything in the warnings/tags that you feel should be included, please let me know.

Thank you @djarrex for beta-reading!

Tag List Form. Series Master List

Reblogs are SO appreciated!

“After Umbara, they sent me back to Kamino.” Dogma said quietly. “I thought I was destined for reconditioning – and honestly, I probably was. But Master Ti intervened.”

The clone carefully recounted his journey, staring at the floor instead of into the eyes of his three brothers, who listened intently opposite him while Quill guided their vessel back home.

“She suggested I be retrained, rather than reconditioned.” Dogma explained. “Something away from the battlefield, where I could put my brains to good use.” He chuckled humorlessly. “I think she sold it to the Kaminoans as a ‘cost-saving initiative,’ but I knew she was doing it to look out for me.”

He finally dragged his eyes up off the ground, giving Fives a heartbroken look. “I was there, when you arrived with Tup. Master Ti kept me away. She didn’t want me to – well, she didn’t want me behaving like you were. Or getting infected with whatever it was that got to Tup.”

“But he wasn’t infected with anything.” Fives protested softly. “It was the chips.”

“I know.” Dogma said. “I saw everything you’d found out. The clones who were with Master Ti when you were arrested, the medics who had to wipe the portals you’d researched, practically everyone was talking about it. It was all… whispers, really, all of us trying to convince ourselves that the chip was just to control aggression like Nala Se had said.”

He inhaled. “I managed to get ahold of that AZI unit of yours before he was scrapped. I kept him safe, wiped his memory so he wouldn’t be a target, but I left the knowledge of the chips in his core memory, that way if anything happened to me, someone else would hopefully figure it out.”

He tapped the side of his forehead. “Had the little bugger take my chip out before anybody could figure out what I was up to. I kept waiting to go mad, like Tup, or like they said you went mad, but nothing happened.” He scrubbed a hand tiredly over his face, his thumb catching under his right eye. “Got this tattoo after I heard about Tup.” He said quietly, motioning to the new teardrop under his eye. “And I – I could barely believe what had been done to you too. I couldn’t believe you were still alive, when I heard your name cross the Rebellion channels I -.” He shook his head, catching himself.

“How’d you and Wolffe end up together?” Rex asked.

“Pure dumb luck.” Dogma huffed a short laugh. “He was on Kamino when the order came through. Poor son of a droid had been critically wounded at a campaign just days prior, and it was bad enough to send him back to the motherland for recovery.” Dogma’s half-smile faded. “So… so he wasn’t there, when his men got the order. He only heard about General Plo being shot down after he woke up from the procedure.”

“Procedure?” Fives prompted.

“I panicked.” Dogma explained. “When the Order went through, I knew it was the chips. It had to be. Wolffe – he was closest, he was the first one I could grab and get into a medical bay. So, while everyone else was distracted – some situation with rogue clones escaping with a kid – I took Wolffe’s chip out too.”

He shuddered, wrapping his arms around himself for a moment. “He was pretty out of it when he woke up. Didn’t understand what had happened or what was going on. I had to explain everything to him, had to convince him to flee with me while we had the chance.”

“It must’ve been Clone Force 99.” Rex said, looking to Fives and Gol’Chek. “They were what distracted the other clones.”

“Whatever it was, we got damned lucky.” Dogma continued. “Everyone was so wrapped up in dealing with that mess, and so many clones were being shuttled on and off Kamino at that point anyway, Wolffe and I were able to slip onto a shuttle and escape virtually undetected.” He laughed humorlessly. “I dunno if there’re any gods out there, but if there are, they sure were with us that day.”

“So, how’d you end up running with Mandalorians, then?” Gol’Chek interjected.

“We landed on some Outer Rim shithole with no credits, no chain codes, no nothing.” Dogma said. “We didn’t really have a plan, we were just trying to put as much distance between us and the Empire as possible.” He took a deep breath. “And that’s when they found us.”

Dogma picked at the fabric of his gloves, looking away again. “They offered us food and shelter, but they wouldn’t show their faces. There were a handful of small kids who weren’t wearing helmets, but most of them had hoods up instead. They said they fled Mandalore when Maul took it over, and they’d been living in a secret covert ever since, just trying to survive.”

Dogma lifted his head again, shrugging. “Frankly, they gave me the creeps. Wouldn’t take their helmets off, not even to eat or drink. At least, not in front of us. They had this – this creed they followed, told Wolffe all about it. He was fascinated by it all. I think he just wanted someplace to belong again.”

“So Wolffe joined their covert?” Rex asked.

Dogma nodded. “We split up for a while after that, and that’s when I got my hands on that rebel commlink.” He continued. “I contacted Wolffe, let him know the things I was overhearing, and he shared it with the covert. They were willing to help, so long as it didn’t endanger them or their foundlings, so Wolffe and I became Fulcrum together.”

“What about Ahsoka?” Rex interjected quickly. “You mentioned you’d spoken to her.”

Dogma looked sheepish. “Not – not directly.” He admitted. “A friend of a friend put us in touch with Bail Organa, who has apparently been in contact with Commander Tano. We were given information on the Fulcrum mantle from him.”

“There are others working against the Empire.” Fives realized, looking between Rex and Gol’Chek. “If Senator Organa is still alive and working against them, then surely others are too.”

“Which is why now more than ever we need to organize, create a formal Rebellion and begin fighting back.” Gol’Chek said firmly. “We can begin by establishing bases on other planets, we can’t keep all our eggs in one basket on Dantooine.”

“Gol’s right, we have stronger numbers now.” Fives said. “With the people we’ve freed, we can begin to spread out and relocate. Senator Organa may know of other people willing to rise up and fight too.”

Rex turned to Dogma. “Can we count on you?”

Dogma nodded at once. “Of course sir, for anything.”

Rex grinned. “Then it’s good to have you back, trooper.”

You and Ju’Lah waited side by side, watching as Rex’s shuttle landed. You released a breath you didn’t realize you’d been holding and turned to Ju’Lah.

“You promise you’ll tell your dad about those dreams?”

Ju’Lah nodded, not taking her eyes off the ship. Just like you, she heaved a soft sigh of relief when the platform dropped and her Buir emerged unharmed.

You hurried over to Rex, throwing your arms tightly around his shoulders while his arms went around your waist, holding you as gently as he could with your belly protruding between the two of you.

“Told you we’d be fine.” Rex said cheekily, pulling back to study your face. “Everything okay here?”

You hesitated. “It will be.” You decided on finally. “I’ll tell you later.”

Rex raised an eyebrow, but kept his questions in check for now, instead turning to watch as Gol’Chek knelt, catching Ju’Lah in his embrace.

Athena, who had landed on Dantooine before Rex and the others caught up, jogged over to the landing platform. Fives beamed at her, wrapping her in a tight hug.

“Can’t believe we pulled it off.” He said eagerly, pulling back to look at her. “Where are they?”

“Getting settled. Most of ‘em were starving and some were injured, so I’m having Soto give each of them a once over and then sending them straight to the village to get some food and rest.” Athena explained, unable to hide her smile. “We did it, we saved every last one of ‘em.”

“Has anyone heard from Clone Force 99?” Rex asked.

“They checked in shortly before arriving on Daro but we haven’t heard from them since.” You said, looking between Rex and Gol’Chek as the warrior straightened back up, holding Ju’Lah’s hand in his own.

“That’s too long.” Gol’Chek said. “Did you try contacting them?”

“Of course we did, but we didn’t get a response.” Ju’Lah replied. “We’re hoping that nothing’s happened, and they’re just still doing exfil.”

Rex and Gol’Chek exchanged a serious look.

“I’ll see what I can find out.” Gol’Chek said before Rex could speak. “You go on home, take care of her. Ju’Lah, with me.”

Rex nodded gratefully to Gol’Chek, turning back to you. “We’ll need to debrief,” he said apologetically. “And we’ll need to get Dogma settled somewhere, he’s a bit jumpy, but -.”

“Dogma?” You cut him off. “He’s alive? He’s here?”

As if on cue, Dogma finally stepped out of the shuttle, his hesitancy painfully obvious as he clung to his helmet in his hands. He met your eyes briefly before quickly averting them, instead electing to shadow Fives, stepping up behind him and squaring his shoulders.

“You picked up another stray, I see.” Athena commented, looking him over.

“This is Dogma,” Fives introduced. “Otherwise known as Fulcrum. One of them, at least.”

“I was right?” You asked, surprised. “Who was the other one?”

“Wolffe.” Rex reported, keeping his arm around you. “He… has other engagements.”

You turned to Dogma, giving him a small smile. “It’s good to see you again.” You offered.

Dogma only nodded, looking very out of place. Fives shoved him gently on the shoulder.

“It’s alright,” the trooper promised. “You’re among friends here, brother. Let’s find you some civvies, yeah? I’m sure you’re half-starved too.”

“We can take him,” you offered at once. “Come with us, you can stay with us tonight until we find somewhere to put you. And Rex has extra clothes.”

Dogma glanced at Fives, who nodded. “It’s alright.” Fives repeated. “I’ll come get you later if you’d like.”

Dogma seemed to relax a fraction, and trailed after you and Rex instead. “Thank you.” He said quietly, keeping his head down.

“Of course.” You soothed, reaching to touch his arm. “You’ll feel better once you’re out of your armor. You can clean up a bit, get some food in you, and Rex’ll give you some clothes.”

Dogma nodded, a little dazedly, and looked you over. “Er, congratulations ma’am.” He offered, gesturing to your belly. “Don’t think that was there the last time I was at the Lounge.”

You laughed, and even Rex cracked a smile. “No, no he wasn’t.”

Dogma huffed a soft laugh. “The two of you, then?” He asked, nodding his head towards your belly again. “Wow, that’s – congratulations, sir.”

“Thank you.” Rex swelled with pride, one hand wrapping around your hips as the three of you walked home.

Rex directed Dogma upstairs to shower and get changed out of his armor once you’d arrived back at home, and you immediately busied yourself getting food ready for him, certain he was hungry. When Rex returned, he took over cooking for you at once, pulling out a chair for you to sit instead.

“How many people did you end up recovering?” You asked, sighing softly as you settled into the kitchen chair, one hand over your belly.

“Over fifty.” Rex said proudly, glancing at you over his shoulder. “No casualties either. Everyone made it out. There were even some clones among the prisoners. Clones with their chips in who still defected.”

“What?” You asked, shocked. “Is that possible?”

“It appears so. We can learn a lot from them.” Rex said quietly. “It’ll help us figure out how to help the rest of the clones.”

He turned back to you, leaning back slightly against the counter. “What did you want to tell me?”

You hesitated, but only for a moment. “Ju’Lah’s been having visions.” You explained, and you recounted what the Garbak child had told you back in the Command Center after everyone else had left. Rex listened, his eyebrows knitting together in concern as you spoke.

“Does Gol’Chek know?” He asked.

“She promised she’d tell him once he returned.” You said. “Do you have any idea what it means?”

Rex shook his head, scrubbing a hand across his jaw in thought. “No, but if Ju’Lah’s having visions like that then… it can’t be good.” He pushed himself up off the counter, turning back to the stove. “I’ll speak with Gol’Chek about it and see what he thinks. Maybe he’ll have some insight into how seriously we should interpret what she’s been seeing.”

You nodded, wrapping your arms around yourself. Behind you, Dogma padded back down the stairs, dressed in a loose tunic and pants of Rex’s.

“Hey, brother.” Rex motioned for him to sit. “We’ve got food for you.”

Dogma settled himself into the table, his hands shaking slightly as he took the bowl from Rex.

“Everything alright?” You asked.

“Yeah, yeah it’s just -.” Dogma closed his eyes for a moment, a small smile creasing his tired features. “It’s just good to feel safe for once.”

Your heart ached for him, and you put a hand on his knee. “You’re safe now, Dogma. We’re all safe here.”

A soft knock at the door made Dogma jolt, and before any of you could move to open it, Fives pushed open the door on his own, holding Ju’Lah’s hand as he led her inside.

“Hey.” He said grimly. “We’ve got a problem.”

“What is it?” Rex asked, looking between him and Ju’Lah, who was rubbing her eyes and leaning into Fives as much as she could without falling over.

“Clone Force 99 just landed a few minutes ago. Hunter’s been captured.” Fives reported. “They’ve dropped off Gregor and took Gol’Chek with them, they’re going back to Kamino to rescue him.”

“That’s insanity.” Dogma spoke before anyone else could. “Kamino’s a hotbed of Imperials, they’d be going straight into the Gundark’s nest.”

“It’s Hunter.” Fives repeated, looking instead to Rex. “They wouldn’t hear any sort of reason. They asked for help, and Gol’Chek volunteered. With his staff, he’s probably the strongest of us anyway.” Fives sighed. “They’re in good hands with him.”

“That doesn’t mean anything!” You said, raising your voice slightly in a panic. “They’re going to Kamino, Fives. That’s – they’ll be dealing with the Empire face to face, there’s nowhere for them to run, nowhere to hide, what if they -.”

Fives pressed a finger to his lips, shaking his head and inclining his head down towards Ju’Lah, who had hidden her face in Fives’ abdomen even more since the conversation had begun.

“They…” You trailed off, finding your voice and trying again. “They’re very… capable.” You tried. “And with Gol’Chek, they’ll be alright. They’ll get Hunter back, and they’ll come back home. They’ll be fine.”

“I’m keeping an eye on the kid until Gol gets back.” Fives continued, giving you a grateful look at your comment. “I wanted to update you and check in on Dogma. You okay to stay here tonight, brother?”

Dogma nodded. “Yeah, I’ll be fine.”

“Good,” Fives sighed softly, glancing back down at Ju’Lah. “How about you, kid? You ready to head home?” He shook her hand gently in his, trying to get her to look up at him. When she didn’t, he crouched down, lifting her into his embrace and holding her in his arms instead, letting her bury her face in his neck.

“I’m gonna get her home.” He murmured. “We’ll talk through the next steps in the morning.”

“What about Gol’Chek?” You asked.

“He’s already left with them.” Rex replied. “There’s nothing for us to do but wait for them to come back.”

Fives agreed, nodding once and rubbing Ju’Lah’s back gently as he stepped back out into the night, carrying the child home with him.

“Is that his kid?” Dogma asked once Fives left, shaking his head. “You’ve joined the rebellion, Fives has a kid, you’ve got yourself a wife now. What all have I missed?”

“A lot.” Rex chuckled. “No, that isn’t his kid. Gol’Chek, the man who was with us… I don’t think you ever met him, but he used to go by the name Rose. The kid is his. Sort of.”

Your heart fluttered. Dogma had called you Rex’s wife, and Rex didn’t correct him.

“I’ve heard of him.” Dogma said softly. “I guess that’s what he meant when he said he came back to life, huh?”

“I’ll fill you in.” Rex promised, motioning for Dogma to follow him into the living room so they could sit and talk.

You excused yourself, going on to bed to give the boys the time to speak to one another privately.

You pressed your hand over your belly as you settled into your side of the bed to wait for Rex, feeling Calder stir under your hand.

“It’s okay, baby boy.” You promised, thinking about Gol’Chek on Kamino, and Ju’Lah’s harrowing visions. “It’s okay. Everything’s going to be alright.”

You took a deep breath. “Everything’s going to be alright.”

Gol’Chek returned with the Bad Batch in two days’ time.

It was very early in the morning when they arrived, still dark and well before the rest of the village awoke, and you joined Rex and Athena at the Command Center as they disembarked.

They trudged forth from the Havoc Marauder, Omega in Hunter’s arms and the rest of the batch looking particularly forlorn. Even Gol’Chek barely lifted his head in greeting, eyes tired and bloodshot when you and Rex approached him.

“Gol’Chek -.”

“Kamino’s gone.” He interrupted Rex, and what you had previously assumed was exhaustion you now recognized as grief. “The Empire destroyed it. It’s all gone.”

You turned to Rex, watching as his expression settled into one of similar mourning. “Were there any brothers -.”

“No, far as I could tell, it was abandoned save for us. Though I didn’t get to the growth chambers, so there could’ve been -.” He shook his head, not wanting to think of the possibility of infant clones being slaughtered by the Empire. “We uh, we’ve got an extra passenger too.”

He nodded his head back towards the Marauder, where a familiar trooper stepped down the ramp. He kept his head down, his eyes darting around as though scoping out the area. His wrists were in binders, and Echo held his shoulder, keeping him marching forward.

“Crosshair?” Rex said, impressed. “He came with you?”

“No, he wanted to stay behind.” Gol’Chek replied. “Wanted to sit there and pout on the landing platform until he starved to death I guess, but Hunter and Omega weren’t having that.” He nodded towards Crosshair. “He claims his chip is out, but I don’t buy it. We’re going to have him scanned before we take off the binders.”

“You brought him back here?” Athena asked, lowering her voice. “He was with the Empire, if we let him go, he could contact them and bring them down on all of us.”

“Hunter’s convinced he won’t.” Gol’Chek shrugged. “We couldn’t just leave him there. He saved Omega.” He nodded once over his shoulder to where Echo and Tech were leading Crosshair away. A little droid floated along behind them, seemingly babbling away at Echo and pointing at Crosshair. “We’ll get him checked out and we’ll go from there.”

The warrior sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. “Now, where’s my daughter?”

“She’s been staying with Fives and Quill, I’m sure she’s asleep.” You murmured. “Gol’Chek, did she tell you about her visions?”

Gol’Chek turned towards you at once. “Her what?”

“She’s been having dreams, a recurring vision. She said it’s part of her – her power.” You clunkily explained. “She was supposed to tell you about them.”

“No, no she didn’t mention anything to me.” Gol’Chek frowned. “I’ll see what I can find out from her.”

“We need to plan our next move.” Athena said. “I’ll get Ju’Lah and wake up Fives and Quill, they need to be in on this.”

“It can wait until dawn.” Gol’Chek murmured. “One crisis at a time, Athena.”

“But -.”

“One crisis at a time.” Gol’Chek repeated. “I just watched my home planet burn. Let me take a fucking nap.”

Athena backed off, nodding once as she lowered her gaze. “Right. I’m sorry.” She murmured, glancing instead to you and Rex. “I’ll… touch base with everyone sometime after the sun’s risen.”

You thanked her quietly, taking Rex’s hand as Gol’Chek brushed quietly past you, scrubbing a hand down his face as he made his way towards his home.

“Are you alright?”

The Captain nodded, though grief was still written across his expression. “I hadn’t been back to Kamino in a long time.” He said quietly. “I always thought…” He trailed off, shaking his head and squeezing your hand tighter. “Come on.” He murmured, his voice sounding somewhat defeated. “Let’s go home.”

You let your Captain lead you back home, your thoughts still drifting quietly out to Kamino, and wondering what other planets the Empire could be targeting.

You thought back to Ju’Lah’s visions, and you repressed a shudder, holding your Captain’s hand a little tighter still.

The next day was quiet.

You leaned tiredly against your Captain, fighting to keep your eyes open. What little sleep you’d managed to get after you and your Captain returned to bed had been plagued with nightmares, and had been fitful. That, coupled with rising early for the briefing had you dead on your feet.

The others all stood around the holo-table, each of them delivering their own updates and debriefing on what they knew.

“We were able to use AZI to remove the chips in Howzer, Gregor, and the other clones we rescued from the transport ship, but Crosshair’s third scan returned negative.” Hunter murmured, his arms folded across his broad chest. “He can’t have gotten his chip removed. This isn’t my brother.”

Soteria and Hunter had been working closely with one another, trying to conclusively determine whether Crosshair still had his inhibitor chip in his head, and if so, if it was active. The little droid the Batch had recovered from Kamino – which Fives had very excitedly identified at once by the name AZI – had done three scans thus far, and all three times, had found nothing.

“People change, Hunter.” Fives said quietly, his voice grim. “If Crosshair’s allegiance lies with the Empire, then we -.”

“We aren’t executing him.” Hunter barked.

“I wasn’t going to suggest that.” Fives raised his hands in surrender. “I’m just saying, I’m not sure he’s someone we can trust yet, and I think you need to be aware of that.”

“We can’t keep treating him like a prisoner either, that isn’t how we’ll earn his trust!” Hunter protested. “We have to let him go, let him come to us on his own.”

“You talk about him like he’s a feral loth cat.” Athena drawled. “I won’t risk jeopardizing everything we’ve built here for one man. Get him under control.”

“He wanted to come with us.” Omega piped up softly from her spot around the table. “I could tell. He just… he felt like he couldn’t.” She looked up at Hunter. “He wanted us to want him back.”

“Of course we want him back. But ‘Mega, he betrayed us, he -.”

“No.” Omega shook her head. “We left him. Even if he doesn’t have the chip in anymore, he started with the chip in. He must have.” She murmured. “I imagine he feels every bit as betrayed as you do.”

“Whatever he feels, it’s for your group to sort out.” Athena said. “We’ve got bigger problems. Dogma?”

“I’ve been in touch with Wolffe.” Dogma reported, tapping something into the holo-table and pulling up a map. “The Empire has been moving through former Republic spaces and resuming their conquest. Most old Republic space has fallen, the Empire has near-complete control.”

To Dogma’s left, Gregor chuckled, rubbing the back of his head absently. “Yeah, they’ve been picking their way through any former Republic spaces, one by one. Won’t be long before they start looking to new planets, like this one.”

You hadn’t met Gregor before, and Rex had told you the previous night that he’d suffered serious brain damage during his time with the Republic. He seemed kind enough, if not a little odd, but his cavalier way of discussing the invasion of your home made your stomach turn.

Athena rubbed her jaw, glancing to her left. “Quill?”

“We have the numbers to try and start another rebellion on another planet.” Quill said. “We were thinking Florrum would be a viable option. The Empire isn’t interested in that space.”

“How soon can you get out there?”

“I can leave with a team of people as soon as possible.” Quill said. “We can scout the area, find a good place to settle, and then go from there.”

“Take at least ten with you.” Athena instructed. “Leave as soon as you’re able.”

“I can go.” Howzer offered. “So can my boys. We’d blend in better if there happens to be Empire patrols in any of the cities.”

“Good, take Howzer and any of his men, maybe Gregor too, plus a few of our own.” Athena added. “We need to create a network, a Rebellion. We need to begin fighting back.”

“Once we begin to migrate to other planets, we’ll have a better understanding of what we’re capable of.” Rex continued. “And maybe we’ll be able to keep recruiting others into our cause. We can start to really push back against the Empire, even if it’s just in small ways.”

You tuned them out as they continued to talk, eyes instead drifting over to Gol’Chek and Ju’Lah. Ju’Lah stood close by her Buir, her gaze distant and distracted as Gol’Chek spoke with the others. She caught you looking, and quickly turned her head, avoiding your gaze.

The child had seemed oddly muted ever since your conversation about her visions earlier that week, and you wondered how much they were plaguing her.

You tuned back in as the briefing began to wrap up, and you sighed softly, touching your belly before glancing up at Rex.

“I think I’m going to head back to bed. Do you need anything?”

Rex shook his head. “No, I think I’m alright. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m just tired.” You promised, and lowered your voice. “Ju’Lah seems tired too.”

“I noticed.” Rex agreed. “I spoke to Gol’Chek about it. He says they’d discussed her visions but she’s been having nightmares. He talked about taking her out in the Cord for a day or two to get her out of the village, just to help her clear her head.”

“That might be a good idea.” You said, glancing over your shoulder at them again. “She’s far too young to be carrying this kind of weight on her shoulders. She wasn’t raised to be a warrior.”

Rex nodded, his expression thoughtful as he glanced down at you. “There’s a part of the Mando’a wedding vows that say, ‘we will raise warriors,’” He began slowly, wrapping his arm around your hip as you walked. “I’m not sure I want our son to be raised as a warrior like I was.”

“He won’t be.” You promised. “Our son, he won’t be bred to fight like you were. We’ll give him a life of peace, Rex. I promise. That’s what we’re fighting for now, is it not?” You squeezed his hands. “We’re fighting for the world we want our son to live in.”

You held his hands in yours, kissing him gently again, then gasped softly.

“What is it?”

“Nothing, he just –.” You chuckled, guiding Rex’s hands to your swollen belly. “He always kicks when you’re nearby. He’s been kicking much harder lately is the only problem.” You sighed, rubbing your belly where your son’s little foot had drilled into you. “It hurts.”

“Be good to your Mama.” Rex scolded gently, pressing another kiss to your cheek. “I’ve got to go, I need to talk with Howzer, Gregor, and Quill about who they’re taking tomorrow to scout out the new base.”

You kissed him one last time, smiling after him as he took off, and you wandered back to your home alone.

It was several hours later when you heard a knock on your front door. When you opened it, you were surprised to find Gol’Chek. He was handsome, with his hair swept back and that one stubborn curl dancing on his forehead, dressed in a very elegant grey and silver tunic with black trim around the edges.

“Hi.” He said with a small smile. “Can I come in?”

“Of course.” You pulled the door open wider, letting him step inside. “You look very nice, what’re you so dressed up for?”

“Can’t a man dress nicely for a pretty woman?” He teased back, leaning slightly against the counter and watching you with dark eyes. “You want to change?”

“What’s wrong with what I’ve got on?” You said, glancing down at yourself. You were wearing one of Rex’s t-shirts and a pair of baggy coveralls – one of the few clothing items you owned that accommodated how bulky you’d become.

“I thought you might like a walk.” Gol’Chek said, changing the subject rather abruptly. “Care to join me?”

You frowned at him. “You’re a rotten liar. You always have been. So’s Rex. And Fives.” You giggled. “Maybe it’s the genes.”

“I’m sure.” Gol’Chek said, offering you his arm. You looped your own through his, leaning into him as he led you out of the house and down to the street, but instead of turning towards the city’s center, he turned towards the woods, near the edge of the village.

“What are we doing?”

“Walking.” Gol’Chek answered, patting your hand lightly. “How are you feeling? How’s my nephew?” He changed the subject abruptly again, but you indulged him.

“He’s growing, and very, very active. I imagine he’ll be wild when he’s young. He’s got that feel to him.” You mused, putting your other hand on your belly as you walked. “He’s… he’s smart, too. He knows when certain people are around. He moves differently, and I can – it’s silly, but I feel like I know what he’s thinking.”

“Oh?” Gol’Chek raised an eyebrow. “And what does he think of me?”

“He’s fond of you.” You smiled, leaning into him. “He’s been doing somersaults ever since he heard your voice.”

Gol’Chek chuckled, looking back towards the horizon. “I can’t wait to meet him. And any that come after.”

It was your turn to laugh. “One thing at a time.”

You stopped curiously, spotting Omega and Ju’Lah peeking around a corner of one of the nearby houses. Squatting in the dirt next to them was Kiran, and when the girls darted behind the wall to hide, you heard Kiran say “Uh oh” before toddling behind a post, which only hid about a fourth of his body. He peeked his eyes out around it, watching you and Gol’Chek closely.

“What’re the kids doing?” You asked Gol’Chek. The man only shrugged in response.

“Playing? I don’t know what children do.”

“One of them is your child.”

“She’s hardly a child.” Gol’Chek replied. “She’s older than both of us combined.”

“You know what I mean.” You poked his ribs, and he giggled, pulling away from you quickly before you could tickle him again. “What are you up to?”

“Nothing, we’re just walking!” He protested, lifting both his arms in surrender. Behind you, you could hear staggering footsteps, followed by Kiran’s harsh panting in the way that only little children seemed to do, and moments later, he bellowed, “Wait for me!” When you looked over your shoulder to investigate, you saw Omega had turned around, scooped him awkwardly into her small arms, and was carrying him like a sack of meilooruns.

Ju’Lah had evidently run up ahead, because as you and Gol’Chek approached the forest, you found Athena and Fives side by side, with Fives crouching down so Ju’Lah could whisper something in his ear. They were both wearing similar tunics to what Gol’Chek wore, except Fives wore gold trim around the grey of the tunic.

“Okay, you’re definitely up to something now.” You planted your feet firmly, eyeballing them and children as Omega and Kiran caught up. “Somebody tell me what’s going on or I’m not moving.”

“Take it easy.” Gol’Chek chuckled. “Let Fives show you what he’s got.”

Fives beamed, eyes dancing in excitement as he removed his hands from behind his back, showing you a long, rolled-up bunch of fabric.

“Here, put this on.”

It was a long, royal blue cape, with gold trim stitched around the edges and down the sides. On the back of the cape were two crashing waves, one above and one below, centered around the Jaig eyes symbol Rex bore on his helmet.

“The design was all Quill’s idea, and he stitched the whole thing by hand.” Fives added eagerly, showing it off. “Been working on it for weeks between missions. He was sad he couldn’t be here to give it to you himself, but he’s on that scouting mission to Florrum. He sends his best.”

“It’s – It’s beautiful, but what’s it for?” You asked, running your fingers over the material as Fives tossed it over your right shoulder and fastened it into place.

“For before you go.” Fives replied with a grin.

“Go where?”

Gol’Chek smiled, and offered his arm to you. “Towards the rest of your life.”

A sudden realization dawned on you as you realized what the symbol represented. Two waves, crashing together, joining as one. An ocean. Sho’cye.

“Gol’Chek,” Your voice was barely above a whisper. “What is this?”

He only smiled, nodding his head towards the forest. “Why don’t you go meet your groom at the altar and find out?”

Your stomach flipped, and Gol’Chek inclined his head, still holding out his arm to you. You took it slowly, inhaling deeply as he led you deeper into the woods while the others followed.

A short distance into the trees, you stopped, spotting Soteria, Echo, Dogma, and many of the others gathered in a small clearing. At the front of all of them, under a makeshift archway of branches and flowers, stood your Captain.

He wore an elegant grey tunic that matched that of Gol’Chek and Fives, except his was a brilliant gold and grey. His hands were folded neatly in front of him, talking quietly to Dogma, but when he saw you, his expression shifted into one of the brightest smiles you’d ever seen him wear.

Gol’Chek walked you dutifully up to him, pausing in front of Rex and leaning down to your ear. “Welcome to your wedding day, cyar’ika.”

He pulled back, pressing a quick kiss to your cheek before at last letting you go, taking up position slightly behind you while Fives moved behind Rex.

“How long have you been planning this?” You asked Rex, your voice thick with tears.

“A bit.” Rex admitted, a little sheepish. “I figured we should be married before Calder comes into the world, yeah?”

You could only nod, not trusting your voice as you cupped his cheeks, surging forward to quickly kiss him.

“Hey, you aren’t supposed to do that yet.” Fives teased, but you didn’t care. You kept Rex close, kissing him as long as you could before breaking apart, finally letting the tears fall.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.” Rex whispered back. “And, I have something for you.”

He hesitated, reaching into his pocket. “In tradition, typically warriors would exchange pieces of their armor as part of their vows.” Rex began. “But I thought you were deserving of something more… transformative.”

He withdrew from his pocket a small white and blue disc, with a hole drilled through the center and threaded through a black cord. Carved onto the front was a wave, stretching out towards the ocean. Sho’cye.

“I fashioned it myself from one of my gauntlets.” “Rex murmured, offering it to you. “It’s part of my armor, part of my body, part of me, just as you carry a piece of my heart with you everywhere you go.” He tied the cord carefully around the back of your neck, so the necklace wouldn’t fall off, with the ring Gol’Chek had given you resting proudly on top of it. “You are my life, Cyare, now and forever. And with this necklace, we share our family name.”

You nodded, unable to speak through the tears that kept sneaking down your cheeks. “I don’t -.” You managed weakly. “I don’t have anything for you.”

“Yes you do.” Fives whispered, and motioned to his own shoulder, miming the removal of the cape.

You sniffled, shaky hands unclasping the brilliant cape as you instead wrapped it around Rex, fastening it at his shoulder so it hung elegantly over one side. On Rex, the cape fit him like it would a king. He looked downright regal in the garment.

“Quill made it.” You said, sniffling again. “But – Rex, I love you. I will always love you, and we will raise our son not in war, but in love. He will carry your name with pride, I know he will.” You smiled, putting a hand over Rex’s heart while your other hand hovered against your belly. “He will be his father’s son.”

Rex’s lips turned up, and he dropped his forehead to yours. “Repeat after me.” He whispered. “Mhi solus tome, mhi solus dar’tome.”

“Mhi solus tome, mhi solus dar’tome.”

“Mhi me’dinui an…” Rex hesitated. “Mhi ba’juri dral’ore.”

“Mhi me’dinui an, mhi ba’juri dral’ore.”

Rex smiled, pulling back and repeating the vows in Basic. “We are one whether we are together or apart, we will share everything, and we will raise our children to be strong leaders.” He murmured. “Not warriors. Leaders.”

“Leaders.” You repeated, tilting your head up to kiss him. He met you halfway, and Fives whooped, causing the rest of your guests to erupt in shouts of joy as well. Gol’Chek smiled just behind you, clapping quietly along as Rex pulled you as close as your belly would allow, deepening the kiss further still.

“I love you.” Rex whispered against your lips. “Now and forever.”

You echoed the words back to him. “Now and forever.”

The festivities that evening once the sun had set were grand. A celebration was held in the town center, honoring both your marriage to Rex and celebrating the safe rescue of the prisoners aboard the transport cruiser. There was a large fire in the center of town, with plenty of food and drink to go around. Many people, most of them strangers, had already approached you and Rex to congratulate you, and your cheeks warmed at the praise every time. The village felt more and more like home with every passing day, and you were glad to see it thrive so well.

Fives found a seat next to you, leaning back and watching as everyone celebrated together. Rex was talking near the fire, his cape catching in the firelight and bringing out the gold stitched into the craftwork.

“Your partner did a lovely job.” You commented, smiling as you watched Rex talk. “That cape is gorgeous.”

“He loves to stitch. He’s very good.” Fives replied with a grin. “He learned from his mother.”

You smiled, then inhaled sharply through your teeth, a hand over your stomach.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.” You winced, exhaling slowly. “Yeah, yeah I – it’s just been hurting a lot more lately. Maybe he cracked a rib or something the last time he kicked me.”

“Babies can do that?” Fives asked, bewildered. “Kriff, strong little man, isn’t he?”

You glanced over at Fives as the pain subsided, noting that he was wearing Quill’s jacket.

“Did he give that to you before he left?”

Fives nodded. “Among other things.”

“Ew.” You laughed, covering your ears. “I don’t need to hear that part.”

“No, it’s not what you think.” Fives chuckled. He leaned forward, as though he wanted to share a secret with you, but Ju’Lah ran over in that moment, seizing both his hands and pulling him to his feet.

“Come dance with me!” She said, tugging on his hands.

“Dance?” Fives repeated, following Ju’Lah to the open clearing near the fire.

“You’ll learn quick.” Ju’Lah promised. “It’s easy!”

You laughed, clapping along and watching as Fives fumbled through the steps, quickly getting the hang of it and joining in the festivities. You watched as your husband – husband. Even just thinking the word made you smile – was roped into dancing by Athena, and Wrecker and Echo were dragged in by Omega while Gol’Chek joined in the clapping from the sidelines as well.

Off to the side, you spotted Crosshair slinking along the edges of the celebration, arms folded across his chest as he leaned against a nearby building. He watched as Wrecker spun Omega around with an almost forlorn expression on his face, but when he caught you looking, he scowled at once and turned away.

“What do you think?” Athena asked, panting as she broke away from the dancing with Kiran on her hip. “We throw a damn good party.”

She sat down in the seat beside you, Kiran on her lap, and you giggled. “Yes, you definitely do.”

“You think they’ll do okay, scouting out a new planet?” Athena asked you, adjusting her grip slightly on Kiran as he bit into a fruit the size of his head.

“I know they will.” You said confidently, your heart swelling as you watched Rex dance. The partners had switched, and now he was moving with Ju’Lah. “Once we get new territory colonized, we can really begin to expand the Rebellion.”

Athena smiled, nodding in quiet agreement. “Yeah, I think a lot of good things will come from all this.” She mused. “So, you and Rex going to honeymoon tonight?”

You nudged her playfully, rolling your eyes. “I’m sure we’ll have our own way of celebrating, but not until Calder’s out.” You sighed, putting both your hands on your belly. “He’s sapping all my energy as is.”

Another wave of pain washed over you, and you bit your lip, muscling through it.

“Have you seen Soteria?” You asked tightly, gasping softly.

“She’s around here somewhere, need me to find her?” Athena asked.

“No, no that’s alright. I’ll find her later.” You replied, rubbing your belly.

You watched the dancers as they switched partners again, Fives and Ju’Lah winding up together. You saw the child laughing happily, her big ears flapping behind her as Fives spun her around.

“When’s he due?” Athena asked, nodding to your belly.

“About a month, give or take a week or two.” You sighed happily. “I’m ready to meet him, and I know Rex is too.”

Athena chuckled, kissing the top of Kiran’s head. “It’ll be nice having kids in the village.” She said softly. “Makes it feel less like a war zone and more like a home, you know?”

You nodded your agreement, watching as the song drew to an end, and your husband laughed with the others, clapping his hand on Fives’ shoulder as he passed and moved back to you.

“It’s getting late.” He said with a small smile, offering his arm to you. “Should we call it a night?”

“You can’t bail on your own celebration!” Athena teased, and wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. “Unless, of course, you’re going to have some grownup fun to celebrate your marriage.”

“What fun?” Kiran asked sleepily, rubbing his eyes. Athena hushed him gently, patting the top of his head while Rex chuckled.

“We’ll see you in the morning.” Rex said.

Overhead, the drone of an incoming ship rang through the clearing, and you looked up, spotting a familiar shuttle sailing overhead and heading towards the edge of the village.

“Is that Quill’s ship?” You asked, surprised. “They can’t be back already, can they?”

“No, they shouldn’t be.” Athena frowned, bringing her commlink to her lips. “Quill? Is that you?”

There was no response, and you watched as the ship docked not at the landing platform, but in the clearing just slightly beyond the village, not far from where the celebrations were taking place.

Suddenly, out in the clearing where the others were dancing, you heard a shout.

“Somebody help!”

Ju’Lah had collapsed into Fives’ arms, and Fives was kneeling, holding her tightly as she convulsed, her eyes rolling back in her head. Rex had noticed the commotion, and so had Gol’Chek, both men rushing over to her as all the merriment ceased, Gol’Chek elbowing his way to Ju’Lah at once and dropping beside her.

“What happened?” He demanded, pressing his hands to Ju’Lah’s small body as it shook.

“I don’t know, she just suddenly stopped and collapsed!” Fives passed her carefully to Gol’Chek, and Ju’Lah’s mouth began to foam, her entire body convulsing violently in his embrace.

“Ju’Lah? Ju’Lah!” He shook her gently, but her head just lolled back further, until suddenly she gasped, her eyes rolling forwards again as she sat bolt upright in Gol’Chek’s arms. She panted softly, her sharp claws digging into his arms.

“Ju’Lah, what is it, what did you see?” Gol’Chek demanded, turning her to face him.

“We have to go.” She rasped, digging her little hands tighter into his arms. “We have to go now!”

“What happened? What’s wrong?!” Athena demanded. Her commlink suddenly lit up. Ju’Lah locked eyes with you.

“They’re coming.”

“General Brisbane!” A soldier cried into Athena’s commlink. “Commander Cawthon’s ship has just made contact, but – but something’s wrong.”

“What is it?” Athena asked, narrowing her eyes at the commlink.

“We received a transmission from the ship, sending it to you now.”

Athena pressed a few buttons on her commlink, and a raspy voice suddenly flooded through the speakers, echoing through the clearing.

“You think yourselves clever, don’t you? You thought you could hide from me. You thought I’d never find you.”

You knew that voice. At once, you seized Rex’s hand, panic bleeding into your veins as Thresh continued.

“Well, I’ve found you now, haven’t I? And soon enough, the Empire will find you too, but I’m prepared to offer you a deal.”

You looked towards Quill’s ship and saw Quill, Howzer, and Gregor marched out of the ship, their hands bound behind their back. One by one, they were forced to their knees by other Trandoshans as Thresh exited the ship last, graceful as ever, with a commlink to his lips. In his hands a long vibro-sword crackled with electricity.

“I can see you, darling.” He chuckled. “I know you’re watching, little pet. I can feel your eyes on me.”

“That’s – that’s him, that’s Quill.” Fives grabbed your arm tightly, his voice wavering slightly. “He’s got Quill.”

“Who are you?” Athena demanded, her voice calm as she watched the prisoners. “What do you want?”

“My offer is very simple.” Thresh replied. You saw him lift the sword, bringing it to rest just slightly to the left of Howzer’s neck. “You give me the woman and her child, along with the man who slaughtered my brothers, and the Jedi child – yes, I know what you’re harboring, Outlander. I know about the girl.” He hissed.

“What do you want with them?” Athena asked.

“My employer wants the Jedi for his own reasons, and I want the others for mine.” He hissed. “Do this, and I’ll let your friends live.” He growled. “And if you hurry, maybe you can still escape before the Empire arrives.”

“What do we do?” Fives said, his eyes flicking between Quill, you, and Rex. “He wants the two of you and Ju’Lah.”

“We’re not handing them over.” Athena replied to Fives.

“Obviously not, but we have to do something, Quill’s up there.” Fives snapped, looking back towards the clearing. “He’s going to kill Quill and the others if we don’t act.”

“This does not have to end in bloodshed.” Thresh continued. “As a gesture of my goodwill…”

He turned up on the hillside, and cut the bindings loose on Howzer and Gregor, leaving only Quill bound at his feet. Howzer and Gregor hurried across the plateau, rejoining the village.

“He got the drop on us, had at least thirty men waiting, maybe more, and killed everyone else and captured us three.” Howzer reported breathlessly. “He took the base’s location from the navigation system.”

“I’ve returned two of your friends to you, now it is time for you to give me what I am owed.” Thresh warned. “Give me what I want, or this man will die. Decide quickly, the Empire will be arriving any minute, and they have far less patience than I.”

“He’s bluffing, he has to be.” You whispered, your heart pounding and stomach rolling. “Even if he did tell the Empire, there’s no way they’d send anyone just to scout out a small tip from a man like him, would they?”

Athena shook her head. “We can’t take that chance.” She murmured. “We have underground bunkers and tunnels throughout the village that serve as a shelter in case of an attack. It’s time we put them to use.”

She turned to one of her men. “Start moving everyone into the tunnels. Tell everyone to move as quickly and quietly as possible. Anyone who can hold a weapon needs to arm themselves. Prepare for invasion.”

Your stomach flopped again, a stabbing pain searing up through your gut as panic took hold of you.

“Rex?”

“Go to the tunnels with the others.” Rex instructed you, taking his cape off and instead wrapping it around your shoulders, as though the garment could protect you from what was to come. “Athena, I’ll assemble the fighters.”

“Quickly.” Athena said in a low voice.

“Rex,” you started to say more, but shook your head. “Be careful.”

He nodded, motioning for the others to follow him. Fives stayed rooted in place, with Echo waiting by his side. Behind you, Hunter was urging Omega towards the tunnels while the rest of the Batch armed themselves. You didn’t see Crosshair.

“Stay together, get to the tunnels if the fighting starts.” Gol’Chek instructed Ju’Lah and followed the others to prepare for battle.

You swallowed. “Ju’Lah, let’s – let’s start heading to the tunnels.”

“Wait.” Ju’Lah told you, holding her hand up in pause, looking between Fives and Quill.

“If the Empire comes, they’ll kill you too.” Athena scowled into the comms. “I think you’re bluffing, lizard-boy.”

“Then I guess we’ll just have to wait and find out.” Thresh purred back. “I’m more than happy to sit back and watch your people be slaughtered. I’ll still get what I want.”

“And what is it that you want?” Athena asked, glancing at Ju’Lah. “Your employer, who is he? What does he want with the girl?”

“My employer’s desires are of no concern to me.” Thresh responded. “And my desires are no concern of yours. I grow tired of our discussion.”

Up on the hilltop, he dragged the sword lazily towards Quill.

“I’ll even sweeten the deal.” Thresh continued. “Just the woman and her baby. In exchange, my men won’t raid your village, slaughtering every last man, woman, and child, leaving only scraps for the Empire to pick through. And you’ll even get your fish friend back.” He nudged Quill with his foot.

“Or, you can keep the bitch, and I’ll come down there myself after I’ve cut every last tendril from the Nauto’s head, one by one, and only after you’ve heard his screams will I cut out his tongue.” He hissed. “The last thing you’ll hear is the sound of your people wailing for your help as we invade.”

Fives made a broken sound next to you, starting forward only for Echo to hold him back.

“Wait, Fives.”

“He’s going to kill Quill if we don’t do something.” Fives snapped, struggling against Echo. “Athena, do something!”

Another wave of pain washed over you, and Ju’Lah suddenly twitched her ears, jerking her head abruptly to the left. You followed her gaze, and spotted something glinting on the rooftop of a nearby building. You squinted, trying to make it out.

“Let them come.” Ju’Lah said quietly.

“What? What’re you -.” You gasped, pain rocking through you abruptly, nearly bringing you to your knees. Something was wrong.

“Let them come.” Ju’Lah repeated, her eyes flicking to the rooftop again. “Tell them to kill Quill if they must, but we aren’t handing anyone over.”

“No!” Fives shouted, elbowing Echo and making it a few feet before Echo grabbed him again. “No! What’re you doing?!”

Athena scowled, bringing her commlink to her lips again. “If you want them,” She began. “You’ll have to come down here and get them yourself.”

“What are you doing?!” Fives screamed, rushing forward only to be stopped by Echo again. “Stop!”

“Take it easy, brother!” Echo held him back. “Easy! It’s under control!”

“He’s going to kill Quill!”

Thresh tsked. “Tragic that we were unable to come to an agreement. But then again, I hear the tendrils of a Nautolan can be quite the delicacy when cooked properly. Perhaps this isn’t a total loss.” He raised his sword, preparing to bring it down.

“Farewell.”

“No!” Fives screamed, breaking free of Echo’s grip and sprinting forward. “NO!”

Quill snapped his head upright, and Thresh swung the sword.

Tag List: @tsundere-cherry-girl @revengeisaconfesionofpain @jesjestraverse @theroguesully @clonecyaree @sammi9498 @dar-manda-rjct @salaminus @book-of-baba-fett @nyravioppri @starwarsmeninhelmets @boomtowngirl @ladykatakuri @bi-witch-rose @cosmic-persephone @djarrex @literallydontlook @galacticgraffiti @bobafettuccini @pro-fangirls-unsocial-life @crosshairscodpiece @a-c-lee @chromia7567 @embarrassedauthornerd @itsagrimm @seriowan @gotomarvelgal @space-b33 @moonstrider9904 @frietiemeloen @writingbylee @manqoz

#ro writes #What Blooms in Thunder #WBIT #OC Athena #OC Kiran #OC Quill #OC Rose #OC Gol'Chek #OC Ju'Lah #ro's protected tag

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rowansparrow · 2 years

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Star Wars OC Week Day 1: OC Q&A!

Since I can’t be trusted to keep to any sort of schedule, and I need to move some things around for personal reasons, today’s OC Week activity will be a Q&A! Feel free to hop into my inbox and ask me anything about my beloved OCs, I’d love to chat!

Hello OC lovers this is for u

@djarrex @book-of-baba-fett @thebitchformerlyknownaskenobi @stcrmhond @fett-djarin @moonstrider9904 @ladykatakuri @tsundere-cherry-girl @jesjestraverse @theroguesully @clonecyaree @literallydontlook @bobafettuccini @pro-fangirls-unsocial-life @gotomarvelgal @writingbylee @space-b33

#Ro's OC Week 2022 #Ro's ocs #ro writes #OC Rose #OC Quill #OC Athena #OC Kiran #OC Ju'Lah

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rowansparrow · 2 years

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*Hops into your ask box*

I adore Kiran, he is such a cute lill bugger and I was wondering if we will at some point get to see something about him when he is older? And how did he come to be a character in your stories?

Ju`lah the same really. Love her and last story from Fives pov, when she was sleeping in the same bed as him and Quill and he almost had a mouth full of ear? I laughed and could just see that happen. So for her the same kind of questions.

Sorry I'm answering this so late! I held onto it because I didn't want to spoil things for who survived the end of WBIT but now that TLBO is out I can post this :)

The short answer is yes. You will get to see both Kiran and Ju'Lah older. How much older, I can't tell you for reasons.

Kiran actually started off in the Happy AU, or the REU (Rose Extended Universe) that @djarrex and I created a long time ago. Once I started writing WBIT I knew I wanted to bring that character into the story, so I tweaked his backstory a bit to fit the WBIT-universe, and brought him in.

I think once I finish TLBO I'll start posting drabbles and things from that AU because it's a lot of fun and I miss working on it with M lol.

#Ro writes #sparrow speaks #asks #OC Kiran #OC Ju'Lah

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rowansparrow · 2 years

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Omg can I ask for literally anything about ju’lah and fives? I love how their relationship has grown and their dynamic now is IMMACULATE. Like would ju’lah confide in fives about things she’s embarrassed about? Maybe she has a crush and doesn’t know wtf this feeling is or there’s something she can’t do she wishes she could?

👉👈

(Ask Game: Send me asks about my OCs or the BAON Universe!)

Ju'Lah loves Fives with all her heart, tbh. I have plans for them later on in the series where Things OccurTM and they turn to one another more than anyone else, really. They're very, very close.

Here are five Fives and Ju'Lah headcanons for your viewing pleasure, because I treasure you so very much:

1.) If she can't talk to her dad, she talks to Fives. Ba'Vodu Fives is her go-to for everything, especially if she's upset. She trusts him with her life.

2.) In another universe, in some kind of Happy AU where everything is beautiful and nothing hurts, Ju'Lah is adopted by Gol'Chek and she goes to school and does normal kid things. That being said: if she gets in trouble at school, Fives is the one who comes to pick her up. He gives her a TalkTM and when he feels like she's learned her lesson (if there was one to be learned. Sometimes the answer IS violence) then he buys her ice cream.

3.) Again, living in that Happy AU for a moment: Fives hosts regular sleepovers at his place where Ju'Lah comes over and spends the night. They stay up all night watching holos and DEFINITELY make midnight runs to the Star Wars Equivalent of a gas station to get slushies.

4.) Fives has BEGGED Gol'Chek to teach him Cymruun so he can talk to Ju'Lah in her native language. He's learned some basic phrases but he wants to be good at it before trying to talk to her.

5.) Ju'Lah makes Fives want to have kids of his own. Bad.

#I LOVE THEM YOUR HONOR #Fives #OC Ju'Lah #Ro's OCs #ask game #asks #mutuals

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rowansparrow · 2 years

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(stcrmhond) thinking about wbit!!!!! so much is Happening™, but are there any particular fluffy moments/headcanons you have for the in-between/quiet time on dantooine that get overlooked in the fic? particularly between:

rex & cyare

fives & quill

fives & ju’lah

gol’chek & ju’lah

Ask game: send me asks about WBIT, Halo, or the third installment!

I’ve been holding onto this ask for a rainy day, and since it is literally raining where I am and also I’m very bored at work, today feels like the day to answer this!

Rex and Cyare:

They don’t get a whole lot of quiet time, considering Rex’s role in the rebellion, but he makes an effort to be with Cyare every night.

Before they found out about the baby, it was a lot of intimacy. They had a lot of lost time to make up for, and in the moments where they could slow down and really feel safe, they spent as much time together as they could.

After they found out about the baby (and decided they were keeping him), it was a lot of prep for that. I didn’t get to go in depth as much as I wanted to, but Rex especially did a lot of work to get ready for the little bean. Whether it was research late at night on the ‘pad while Cyare sleeps on his chest, or taking care of Cyare herself, Rex was on top of it. As I touched on in the Fic, she has a fair amount of stomach pain/morning sickness associated with her pregnancy, and Rex figured out her schedule pretty quickly. He’d get up at the same time as her, rub her back and help keep her steady. He’s a good dad-to-be. :)

Fives and Quill:

They bathe/shower/swim together a lot. There’s a scene coming up that’ll elaborate on this a bit, but Quill, obviously, has an affinity for water, and he likes to share that love with Fives as much as possible.

Fives, for his part, hasn’t slept this well in his life. Quill tires him out (wink) but also he’s a champion cuddler. Poor Fives is so touch starved, but Quill doesn’t mind.

Similar to Rex and Cyare, their roles in the rebellion don’t afford them much downtime, but in the quiet moments, you can find them on their couch or in their bed, watching holos or tangled up in one another and talking quietly until the sun rises again.

One treat that I’ve thought of but I’m not sure I’ll have time to squeeze into Halo: Quill knows how to sew and teaches Fives. Quill mends his jacket/sews on the patches himself, and Fives picked it up quick.

Fives and Ju’Lah:

They’re thick as thieves, and constantly getting into trouble, but Gol’Chek loves that Ju’Lah has a fun uncle to help look after her, and Quill and Rex are relieved that Fives has somewhere to focus his attention.

Fives will come over every week or so (usually when Gol is away on a mission and couldn’t take / was worried about taking Ju’Lah with him) and will have a night with Ju’Lah. They get food together and eat it on the couch while watching holos. Ju’Lah, 9 times out of 10, falls asleep before the end and Fives either carries her to bed or lets her sleep on his chest on the couch all night (even though fives for sure will wake up with a backache).

They will also paint her room together. Fives is the only human (besides Gol) that Ju’Lah loves and trusts implicitly, so she lets Fives hold her hand when they walk around the market hunting for paints, or she’ll hold his sleeve or the back of his jacket as they walk so she doesn’t get lost. Usually Fives will scoop her up and put her on his shoulders so she doesn’t get stepped on but also so she can see everything. She doesn’t even let Gol’Chek do that, It’s THEIR thing. She only rides on Fives’ shoulders. In all honesty, they love each other, and separating them would be devastating…👀

Ju’Lah and Gol’Chek:

They have a LOT of cute Dad/Daughter moments that get overlooked. The nightmare/market scene with them was the most focus I was able to give and still keep the story moving forward, but they have plenty of other moments.

For example, they train together often. They’re constantly learning from one another, practicing fighting and honing their attunement.

They also cook a lot, trying to replicate their village dishes but also creating plenty of their own things. They go to the market or walk around the village a lot - Gol’Chek is hopeful that Ju’Lah will be able to play with the other kids in the village eventually, but she’s a tough nut to crack.

Ju’Lah has her fair share of bad dreams, but she will just go to her Buir’s room and sleep with him if she has a particularly bad one. Gol’Chek never minds.

#asks #ask game #ro writes #OC Rose #oc ju'lah #oc quill #WBIT

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rowansparrow · 2 years

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Rose and Ju'lah my beloved ❤️🥺❤️🥺❤️🥺❤️

What were their reactions the first time they saw another planet for the first time.

Rose as Rose and as Gol'chek and Ju'lah.

For Rose:

He was excited! He'd grown up surrounded by water his whole life, so being deployed for the first time and getting to see other planets was a really cool and incredible experience for him. He'd never seen anything like it.

For Gol'Chek/Ju'Lah:

The first time they both left their homeworld (Gyatta) was after all the Garbaks were killed.

The whole ordeal was terrifying. Ju'Lah had literally never left her home planet prior to that, and Gol'Chek barely even knew who he was. They were flying in some junked up shuttle that had been left behind in the Capitol city after all the war and invasions, and they were barely alive. They'd both been through something horribly traumatic, and they just landed on the first planet they could so Gol'Chek could find work/find food. They had NOTHING.

It was very traumatic for both of them. Ju'Lah was latched onto Gol'Chek's chest like a baby Koala, and he had her hidden under his cloak so she couldn't be seen. It was a lot.

#oops i made it sad #mutuals #ask game #OC Rose #OC Ju'Lah

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rowansparrow · 2 years

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Hello! I’ve had OC Brainrot all week and I am DYING to talk more about my babies, so if you have any questions about them, what they’re like, or if you want to ask about Halo, BAON, WBIT, or TLBO, now is the time for those questions too!

My main OCs right now are:

Gol’Chek/Lieutenant Rose Ju’Lah Athena Brisbane Quill Cawthon Kiran Brisbane

Please, ask away!

Tagging a few mutuals who may want to participate: @galacticgraffiti @djarrex @pro-fangirls-unsocial-life @literallydontlook @gotomarvelgal @moonstrider9904 @book-of-baba-fett @clonecyaree

#Please I beg i want to talk about them so bad #I made a lil mood board and everything #OC Rose #OC Ju'Lah #OC Quill #OC Athena #OC Kiran #Ro's OCs #Ro writes #sparrow speaks

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rowansparrow · 2 years

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(stcrmhond) i’ve been sooooo full of feels about rose & cyare & rex in a possible no-empire/“happy” ending au, especially with camilla & cassia!! do you have any specific daydreams/headcanons for any aspects of that au that you haven’t written about or published yet? 🥰

i have so many questions about gol’chek, but i feel like most of them are a “wait and see where the story takes us” situation! maybe - what were some of the more fluffy/happy memories/things he did with ju’lah during their time traveling through space together in the bounty hunter years?

i love your ocs & this fic universe you’ve created SO MUCH - i would and i will eagerly read anything and everything you want to share about them, prompt or not 🥰

so excited for the halo update!!! i hope you are doing well 💗💕

(Ask Game: Send me asks about my OCs or the BAON Universe!)

My original plan was to do a whole "Happy AU" Spin-off series (@djarrex, my beta reader, and I named it the REU, which stood for Rose Extended Universe lol) but tbh we ended up making it SUPER depressing and with the way my mental health has been I'm not sure I'll ever get around to really writing it aside from small drabbles here and there.

And you can ALWAYS come into my inbox to ask questions! Seriously, nothing makes me happier than getting asks about my stories, so even if you think it might be spoiler-y, feel free to ask! If it's got spoilers in the answer I'll just tell you to stay tuned.

As for your question about fluffy things Gol'Chek and Ju'Lah did during the bounty hunting years...

Ju'Lah had PLENTY of nightmares, especially there at the beginning, so she slept with Gol'Chek pretty much every night. He would stroke her hair and sing or hum softly to her, usually the Cymruun lullaby he sang to her in WBIT.

If they had extra money (which was rare) they'd go to a cantina or diner for actual food that wasn't rations. Ju'Lah was always excited to try new things, it was one of the few times she seemed like an actual kid. She'd hold the too-big menu in her little hands and ask a bazillion questions and pronounce things wrong, and she'd ask to try whatever Gol'Chek got. He's a good sport, and usually set aside half his food for her, partially because he didn't want her going hungry and partially because he knew she'd want to try some.

He teaches her Mando'a words a lot too. He'd have her practice speaking/writing it, and would sometimes call out words to her while he flew the ship and she'd color a picture to go along with the word. It was like being homeschooled.

Speaking of coloring, Ju'Lah LOVES painting. Gol was always trying to get his hands on sheets of flimsi and paints whenever he could so she could paint or color while on board the Cord. The ceiling of the hull is COVERED in her handprints/finger paintings. She wanted to be able to lay on her bunk and look up at them, to be reminded of the cave drawings back on Gyatta. It made her feel at home.

I know Life Day is technically a post-Empire holiday, but it was FOR SURE around and celebrated pre-Empire too, so hear me out: Ju'Lah's people didn't celebrate the same holidays as most sentients, so she had no idea what Life Day was until Gol'Chek told her about it. She got VERY excited, and worked VERY hard on her present to Gol'Chek (she'd folded several pieces of flimsi into the shape of the Gol'Chek flower from the mountains and presented them to him) and Gol'Chek took her to an actual Diner for Life Day dinner, and when they got back she found a specialized Datapad and stylus on her bunk so she could draw digitally. It had taken Gol'Chek awhile to find a good one, but once he did, he kept it hidden until he could give it to her for Life Day. She still has it.

#OC Ju'Lah #OC Rose #Ro writes #asks #ask game

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rowansparrow · 2 years

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Ro’s OC Week Day 2: OC Q&A Answers!

Hi Everyone!

I’m so excited for all the awesome questions I received for my OC Q&A yesterday! Today I’ll be going through and answering them all, hopefully with a drabble or two thrown in as a bonus.

Apologies for not sticking to my original schedule, my health has been declining and I bit off more than I could chew this week, but I’m hopeful I’ll still be able to post the WBIT finale as planned!

#Ro's OC Week 2022 #OC Athena #OC Quill #OC Kiran #OC Ju'Lah #OC Rose #Ro's OCs #Ro writes

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rowansparrow · 2 years

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WBIT CH. 14 SPOILERS

“I know your name as my child.”

SUPER thrilled with this incredible work from @celiansartblog !!! In honor of Gol’Chek and Ju’Lah reuniting/completing the adoption vows in Ch. 14 of WBIT, I thought I’d share this lovely piece!! Thank you so much for this, @celiansartblog!!!

WBIT Taglist, have a treat:

@tsundere-cherry-girl @revengeisaconfesionofpain @jesjestraverse @theroguesully @clonecyaree @sammi9498 @dar-manda-rjct @salaminus @pabegay1 @book-of-baba-fett @nyravioppri @starwarsmeninhelmets @boomtowngirl @ladykatakuri @bi-witch-rose @cosmic-persephone @djarrex @literallydontlook @galacticgraffiti @bobafettuccini @pro-fangirls-unsocial-life @crosshairscodpiece @a-c-lee @chromia7567 @canesjedi31 @embarrassedauthornerd @itsagrimm @seriowan @gotomarvelgal @space-b33 @rigel-the-moonstrider

#WBIT #ro writes #what blooms in Thunder #OC Ju'Lah #OC Rose

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rowansparrow · 2 years

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What Blooms in Thunder: Chapter Thirteen

Summary: You struggle to navigate your relationship with Rex and your lingering feelings for Rose. Meanwhile, Fives meets Kiran Brisbane, and takes two steps forward with Ju’Lah while taking one massive step back with Athena.

Chapter Rating: Mature

Warnings: Character Death, Pregnancy mention, discussions of pregnancy, violence, gore, lots and lots of angst, choking, graphic descriptions of injury and violence, references to sex, mention of miscarriage, arguments, blood, fighting, plenty of angst and trauma to go around, mention of abortion/terminated pregnancy.

Reminder that I use #ro’s protected tag for sensitive content including n*fw and triggers, so please block that tag if you have concerns about content!

Ships: Captain Rex x Female!Reader, Lieutenant Rose x Female!Reader, other ships tbd.

Tags: #What Blooms in Thunder #WBIT

Word Count: 9.8k

A/N: I know the warnings imply otherwise but I promise good things happen here (and VERY Good things are coming).

Also, as an aside: I’ve been noticing a ton of people on the tag list but only a handful of the tagged people actually interact, so starting on the next chapter I’m culling my tag list. If you want to keep being tagged, please interact with this chapter so I know. :)

See the end of the chapter for More Notes :)

If I missed anything in the warnings/tags that you feel should be included, please let me know.

Thank you @djarrex for beta-reading!

Tag List Form. Series Master List

Reblogs are SO appreciated!

You stared at the floor, your hands folded in your lap as you tried not to think about what had happened the past few days.

“She will be well-cared for, here. When the time comes, we will simply cut it out of her. They will go together. It’s lovelier that way.”

Your gut knotted, and you repressed the urge to vomit.

Athena had taken you and the others to the command center, where Fives had given her a brief overview of everything that had happened to the three of you, and how you’d acquired Rose – Gol’Chek, you corrected yourself internally – and Ju’Lah. Fives swore up and down – with Rex’s occasional interventions of support and Gol’Chek’s delicate reassurance as well – that the duo meant no harm to Athena or her people. She still hadn’t seemed convinced, but you were relieved when she finally relented.

“He can stay, but he isn’t welcome in the village.” She said firmly, glaring at Gol’Chek as she spoke. “He can come to headquarters only if accompanied by an escort, and he isn’t to come near any of our people, do I make myself clear? The brat too. They aren’t one of us.”

Ju’Lah had bared her teeth, but Gol’Chek placed a hand on Ju’Lah’s shoulder to calm her.

“We accept these terms.” He said quietly. Ju’Lah gave him an incredulous look, but you saw his fingers tighten on her shoulder, and she reluctantly crossed her arms, staring Athena down.

“Fine.” The child gritted out in response.

Athena had dismissed them shortly thereafter, and you’d barely seen Rose – Gol’Chek – or Ju’lah since.

“I’m trusting the three of you.” She’d told you once Gol’Chek and Ju’Lah had returned to their ship. “If they harm anyone in this village, they won’t be the only ones to be punished.”

You nodded. “I understand.” You said quietly. “Things are different now, Athena. I promise. This is a good thing.”

She scoffed. “I’ll be the judge of that.”

She jerked her head towards Soteria, who was inspecting Rex’s injuries. “I’m going to treat you and Fives. Soto’s got her hands full as it is.”

You nodded, barely paying attention as Athena barked orders at Fives, shooing him into a separate room so she could help treat his injuries. You trailed after them, glancing back at Rex but his eyes were firmly on Soteria, not looking towards you, and you hung your head, shuffling after Fives and Athena.

“Stop squirming.” Athena griped, pressing a bacta patch over the bridge of Fives’ nose.

“I’m just breathing!”

“Breathe softer.”

Fives grumbled something under his breath, and Athena shot a glance to you. “So this guy, Rose, or Gol’Chek, or whatever the kriff I’m supposed to call him,” she began. “You knew him?”

“Very well, yes.” You said quietly, wrapping your arms around yourself. “We were… close.”

She scoffed. “You ‘got close’ to just about every clone we’ve met so far, it seems.”

“Lay off.” Fives told her firmly, kicking her leg lightly which earned him a smack upside the head as Athena reached for a tube of bacta.

Another one of Athena’s men – a large Nautolan with rich, deep blue skin and yellow accents – stepped up to you, gently taking your chin in hand as he turned your head to the side, inspecting you for injuries.

You felt your cheeks heat, both at the close contact and Athena’s words, and you turned away slightly. “We thought he was dead for years.” You admitted softly, answering Athena. “None of us expected him to still be alive, and if he was, then I’d never -.”

“You don’t have to explain yourself.” Athena said. “I get it.” She pressed a small patch to a particularly messy wound on Fives’ cheekbone, glancing up at you again. “Can we trust him?”

“Yes.” You answered at once. “He’s different, now. He isn’t the person you once knew. He isn’t… He isn’t the person I once knew either.” You added. “But being different doesn’t make him a bad person. He’s just changed.”

“We’ll see about that.” Athena muttered, then relented. “He does seem different, I’ll give you that.” She admitted. “And everybody saw the way he was looking at you.”

You stiffened. “What do you mean?”

Athena chuckled. “He looks at you like you’re the only person in the galaxy, kiddo.”

You and Fives exchanged a glance, and Fives started to speak but was interrupted by the door sliding open. All three of your heads turned, then dropped, as a small boy peeked his head around the corner.

Athena sighed. “I thought I told you to stay in the office until I came back to get you?”

“Auntie got me.” The boy said, glancing shyly up at you and Fives before shuffling awkwardly into the room. You could hear a faint creak every time he moved, and he moved his legs oddly. As you studied his movements, you spotted a flash of metal from beneath his pantlegs. Fives seemed to notice too.

“Who’s this?” He asked, eyeballing the kid even as the child toddled quickly to Athena, hiding behind her and peeking out at Fives.

“This is Kiran.” Athena said, wrapping an arm around the boy’s shoulders. “He’s… he’s my – uh.” Athena grappled for a moment for the right word, before finally sighing and settling on, “He’s my… kid.”

Both you and Fives turned towards her, bewildered, and Fives chuckled.

“Didn’t have you pegged for the type.” He said, his lip quirking up in the corner.

Athena ignored him, instead pulling the boy out from behind her and eyeing him closely. “Did Aunt Soteria tell you to come get me?” She asked.

“Yeah.” Kiran said, peeking around her again to wave at the Nautolan. “Hi Quill.”

The Nautolan smiled, and replied in a deep, rumbling voice. “Hello, little Prince.”

Kiran giggled, hiding slightly behind Athena before peeking out again, this time towards Fives. Fives, however, was looking at the Nautolan, an all-too-familiar expression on his face that had you resisting the urge to roll your eyes.

“Are you a clone trooper?” Kiran asked, refocusing his attention entirely on Fives.

Fives chuckled. “Yeah, yeah I am. The name’s Fives.”

“Really?” The boy grinned. “I’m four!”

“Nice to meet you, Captain Kiran.” Fives saluted, offering his much larger hand to the boy to shake. Kiran giggled, taking Fives’ hand in both of his smaller ones and giving it a very firm shake.

Athena introduced you quickly and glanced down at Kiran again. “They’re my friends, and I’ve got to finish talking to them, okay?”

“I’ll be quiet.” Kiran promised, trying to climb into Athena’s lap. Athena held him at arm’s length, keeping him rooted to the ground.

“Why don’t you go back to the office?” she suggested instead. “Or Soteria can walk you home.”

“Can I wait with you?”

“Not right now, honey. Go wait in the office just a little bit longer, okay? I’ve gotta update these two on some things -.”

“I can take him home.” Fives volunteered.

Athena shot him a look. “Absolutely not, he’ll be fine waiting in my office.”

“No, seriously.” Fives said, standing up. “I can take him home for you. I don’t mind.”

“If it helps,” Quill spoke up again from in front of you. “I can accompany them.”

You glanced between Fives and Athena, then Quill and Fives, and you felt your eyebrows raise slightly as Athena seemed to ever so slightly relax.

“Fine.” She said, waving the two men off and holding Kiran firmly. “Behave.”

“Yes ma’am.” Kiran and Fives spoke at the same time, making you giggle. Athena rolled her eyes and Quill just chuckled.

“Alright, little guy, show me the way.” Fives said, taking his hand and leading the boy out of the office with a little wink over his shoulder.

Athena watched them go, her hands on her hips before she awkwardly dropped them to her side, then finally just decided to put them back on her hips.

“I wouldn’t worry. Fives is actually surprisingly good with children.” You offered gently. “Probably because he acts like one.”

“That isn’t what I’m worried about.” Athena mumbled.

You didn’t push, instead changing the subject. “What did you need to tell us?”

Athena crossed her arms, back to business. “Before you went radio silence on us, I was able to contact Rex and let him know he needed to make a little pit stop on the way home.” She explained. “We received an encoded transmission from another clone requesting aid.”

“Another one?” You asked, your heart skipping a beat. “Did they identify themselves?”

“No, he said he’d been in hiding ever since the order, and said he’d heard rumors that we’d been friendly with clone refugees. He wouldn’t give us his location, but he mentioned Rex’s name.”

Your heart stuttered again. Who would’ve known to ask for Rex?

“We managed to narrow down his location to Felucia, Onderon, or Jedha.” Athena continued. “We’ve had some operatives on those planets, he may have swiped one of our communicators and that’s how he heard about us and knew we were in contact with Rex. We were hoping to send the three of you to potentially retrieve him, or at least contact him directly, since he won’t talk to us.”

You nodded. “I can talk to Fives and – I can talk to them.”

Athena frowned, but didn’t press the issue. “Okay. I’ll let you get back to your man, then.”

You had to catch yourself from asking “which one,” and you bit your tongue before the words could slip out. Instead, you just said a “thank you.”

Athena called your name again just before you stepped out the door.

“Hey, one last thing.”

You turned back towards her, and the rebel captain was leaning slightly against the table, her arms firmly crossed over her chest.

“You’re sure we can we trust him?” She jerked her chin in the vague direction of the landing platforms. “Gol’Chek.”

You nodded at once. “Yes. We can.”

Athena chewed her lip for a moment, but cleared her throat, straightening up. “I’ll see what I can do about finding some kind of housing within the village.”

“Thank you, Athena.”

“I’m not doing it for him.” Athena warned, already typing something rapidly into her comm. “I’m doing it for the kid. She… She reminds me of Kiran, a little bit.”

You lingered for just a moment longer in the doorway before finally departing.

You hesitated slightly as you walked through the village, glancing back towards the Cordillera thoughtfully. It seemed strange, to leave Gol’Chek alone on the ship after you’d only just gotten him back.

Your gaze traveled upward, spotting the Garbak perched at the crown of the ship, gaze peering out across the horizon, keeping a steady watch.

Your lip quirked up in a small smile. Perhaps Gol’Chek wasn’t entirely alone, then.

The exhaustion had begun creeping into your bones, and your feet dragged as you reluctantly carried yourself back to your home. The last few days – weeks, even – had been emotionally and physically taxing, and you wanted nothing more than to climb into bed and sleep for a week.

You keyed in the unlock code and trudged up the stairs, making a beeline for the shower but stopped dead in your tracks in the hallway.

“I thought you were with Soteria.”

“I was,” Rex replied, who had frozen just as stiffly as he was exiting your bedroom – the bedroom you shared with him. “She turned me loose for now, figured I’d grab a shower and change. I want to get the stink of all that Trandoshan scum off me as soon as possible.” He muttered, looking down at the clothing from the stronghold he still wore.

He glanced back up at you, seemingly sensing your intentions. “You go ahead.” He said, jerking his chin towards the shower and beginning to brush past you. “’M hungry anyway.”

“Rex.” You stopped him, extending a hand to grab his but quickly thinking better of it, letting your hand fall to your side again. “Just – stop, for a minute.”

Rex paused, half turning towards you and keeping the other half of his body angled towards the stairs, like he was ready to bolt at the first sign of trouble.

“What is it?”

You hesitated, rubbing the backs of your knuckles before finding your words at last. “I… care about you.” You began delicately. “Rose coming back doesn’t change the way I feel about you. I know you think it does, but I’m telling you, it doesn’t.” You paused, raising an eyebrow slightly at him. “Does it change anything for you?”

A war broke out in Rex’s eyes, the hoods of his lids hiding the amber for a beat as he glanced down at the ground, then reappearing as he made eye contact with you again only to drive his gaze to the wall across from him instead, like he couldn’t look at you for too long or his resolve would crack.

“I think it’s a miracle, a gift given straight from the Maker, the Force, or whatever you believe in, that Rose is still alive. More still that he’s alive and still found his way back to you.” Rex said. “I think that’s a gift you shouldn’t throw away on me.”

“That isn’t what I asked.” You said, crossing your arms over your chest. “I asked if him coming back changed the way you felt.”

Rex ignored you, turning away instead. “Holler when you’re finished so I can take my turn.” He said over his shoulder. “Going to work on cleaning up my armor, gods know what they did to it.”

“You didn’t answer my question!” You raised your voice, starting to follow behind him. “For kark’s sake, Rex, we spent way too long ignoring how we felt and not speaking to one another, blaming each other, hurting each other, will you just be honest with me for once?!”

Rex didn’t answer, landing at the bottom of the stairs and rounding toward the kitchen, but you didn’t quit. You followed him, stalking up behind him. “Rex! Stop ignoring me!” You planted your feet, your temper slipping as exhaustion and stress and a million other emotions you couldn’t place finally caught up to you.

“I’m pregnant, with your baby!” You shouted at last. “Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

Rex leaned slightly over the kitchen sink, shoulders slumping and head hung, his hands making fists on the rim as he kept his back to you. The silence between the two of you was deafening, and you opened your mouth to say more when Rex made a soft sound.

It was subtle, barely even there, but the sharp intake of breath followed by an abrupt hitch as he tried to stifle the noise was all you needed.

Your resolve broke at once as you softened, stepping tentatively up behind him and putting a hand on his back, looking up at him.

“Rex.” His name was both pity and a prayer on your tongue, and your touch ghosted from his back and instead along his arms, to his hand, over the backs of his knuckles and to his fingers, uncurling their grip from the edge of the sink. “Rex, look at me.”

He let you pry his hands from the basin but didn’t drag his chin up from where it hung. His eyes were closed, warding off the sobs trying to wrench their way free of his throat, but Rex wouldn’t budge except for the two traitorous tears that had broken rank on that one gasping breath, betraying every bit of emotion Rex was so valiantly fighting to keep inside.

Your hand slid up his arm and instead went to his cheek, catching the tears on your thumbs as you cupped his face, guiding him to look at you.

“I love you.” You told him vehemently. “I love you so much, and I cannot imagine my life without you in it.” You brushed your thumb lightly over his skin. “Nothing has changed for me, okay? I love you. I love you.”

Rex opened his eyes, emotion still swimming in his irises and threatening to fall. He lifted one hand, pressing it over yours and holding your palm against his cheek. He closed his eyes for just a moment, leaning into your touch.

And then he pulled your hand away. “I can’t.”

Your stomach dropped, and a lump rose in your throat as you fought past it to speak. “Why not?”

“Because I’m the reason you lost him to begin with.” Rex said softly. “And now he’s back, and I – I can barely live with myself as is. It would be easier if we just -.”

“Easier for who, for you?” You argued back, trying to stop your own tears from bubbling up behind your eyes.

“Easier for all of us.” Rex reasoned quietly. “Haven’t we all been through enough? Rose is your soulmate. He always has been. And you lost him but now he’s back, you can finally have everything you’ve ever wanted -.”

You cut him off again. “You are everything I ever wanted.”

Rex shook his head, letting go of you and pulling away all over again. “You think that, but it isn’t true. Every terrible thing you’ve been through has been with me. Rose made you happy, and he can make you happy again.”

“That isn’t for you to decide!” You felt yourself getting shrill, but you didn’t care. “Why do you get to choose what’s best for me?”

“It’s best for me.” Rex finally raised his voice just slightly, his expression hardening. “I – I can’t do this. I can’t.”

You could hear him forcing the words out even as he said them, every part of his body fighting back against it. You bit your lip, playing the only card left in your hand.

“And what about the baby, then?”

Rex disappeared from you almost at once, his expression so unreadable he might as well have been wearing his helmet. “I already told you what I think about it.”

Rex’s words from the ship rang in your ears all over again, and you thought back to how he’d lied to you about how Rose had died, how he’d lied about being in love with you, lied about Echo, how he lied and lied and lied because he was trying to protect you.

You shook your head, staring him down. He was only protecting himself.

“You’re still a liar.” You accused quietly. “A liar and a coward.”

Rex visibly flinched, but you just shook your head, muttering as you turned away from him. “You really haven’t changed after all.”

You went back up the stairs without another word.

You first noticed the blood as you showered.

There wasn’t much, but the few droplets of blood sneaking from between your legs was enough to make your heart stutter in place. You don’t know why you were so upset when you saw it – Rex had explicitly told you he was in favor of terminating the pregnancy, and you yourself had wanted that same thing. At least, you had when you first found out.

It made sense. You’d been in a serious crash, followed by the trauma of your capture. Stress, anxiety, smoke inhalation, not eating in days, you should’ve expected a miscarriage. At least the problem was now taken care of.

You stepped wordlessly out of the shower, getting dressed and walking numbly back towards the bedroom, wanting nothing more than to lay down and sleep for a week. Dimly, you realized you shared this bed with Rex, and realized with a sudden jolt that Rex wouldn’t want you there with him anymore.

“I think this, us, all of it – was a bad idea.”

He had been very clear, telling you exactly what you wanted and did not hesitate when he told you he thought you should end the pregnancy.

This was what he wanted. Right?

You steeled yourself, preparing for another heated conversation with Rex, but he wasn’t in the bedroom. In fact, you were pretty sure he wasn’t in the house at all.

You sat down on the edge of the bed for a moment, putting your head in your hands.

“You’re a liar and a coward.”

You wanted to apologize. You needed to apologize. The confusion with Rose, the baby, all of it, you could figure it out together. You just couldn’t stand to be angry at Rex, or even be apart from him after everything you’d been through together.

You stood up again, hesitating at the top of the stairs. “Rex?”

The downstairs was silent, and you cautiously traversed the kitchen, peering around corners and calling his name again. “Rex?”

There was no response, and the knapsack containing Rex’s armor and gear was gone.

You bit your lip, trying to stave off the tears as you began your solemn march back upstairs. Rex had left, but he’d be back, you reassured yourself. He’d be back. Rex always came back.

You fell into a fitful sleep, and by the time you woke again, it was to the sound of the stairs quietly creaking as someone ascended them. You jolted quickly out of bed, hurrying to the hallway.

“Rex, I -.”

Fives froze in his tracks, halfway stepped into his own room down the hall.

“Ah, no. Just me.” Fives said sheepishly. “Rex isn’t here?”

“No, he’s -.” You shook your head, raising an eyebrow at him. “Where have you been all day? It’s -.” You glanced at the chrono. “Almost three in the morning?”

“I was dropping off the kid at Athena’s place.” Fives replied.

“For eighteen hours?”

“Well – no.” Fives rubbed the back of his neck. “Quill and I were watching him for a bit, then Athena came home, then Quill asked about what happened to us and he filled me in on what we’ve missed here, and we talked at uh – at his place and then -.”

You gave him an incredulous look. “Fives,” You began, rubbing your forehead. “Did you have sex with Athena’s second in command?”

Fives was quiet for entirely too long before blowing a puff of air from between his lips. “What? No! Of course I didn’t. That would be irresponsible.” He paused again. “But if I did -.”

“Gods, Fives!”

“Hey, some of us haven’t gotten laid since the Clone Wars, and not everybody has a cute and healthy relationship with a baby on the way.” Fives protested, jabbing his finger at you. “I don’t have to take shit from you, and I’m going to bed.”

He did a double take just before shutting his door, glancing back at you and taking in your puffy eyes, the way you held yourself so stiffly, and seemed to peer past you for a second towards your bedroom.

“Rex isn’t here?” He asked again.

“No!” You shouted, fresh tears bubbling over and streaming down your cheeks before you could stop them. “No, he left, and it’s my fault.”

Fives’ arms were around you in an instant, hauling you against his chest and gently shushing you, rubbing your back in slow, soothing motions.

“Hey, okay, it’s alright, don’t cry.” Fives soothed. “It’s probably the hormones, okay? You’re both exhausted, we’ve all been through a lot, and you’re kriffin’ pregnant on top of it, so just take a deep breath and I’ll call Rex and -.”

“I think I lost the baby.”

Fives’ hand stilled on your back, and he pulled away for a beat, looking you over. He lifted his hand, brushing at your tears for a beat before pressing his lips tightly together, his voice heavier as he spoke.

“Maybe you should tell me what’s going on.”

You don’t really remember falling asleep, but when you woke up, your head was mashed into one of Fives’ pillows, the sheets cocooned warmly around you. You sniffled slightly as you lifted your head, dried tears crusting over your eyes. You scrubbed your eyes clean, glancing to your side and spotting Fives, sprawled halfway off the bed, with just a small edge of the blankets covering him. He was snoring slightly.

You gave his sleeping form a sad smile, grateful – and yet bitter – that once again, Fives was there to pick up your pieces when you broke. You didn’t deserve him.

You shrugged his blankets off your shoulders and instead carefully draped them over Fives, swinging out of his bed and stretching for a moment before padding towards the hall.

“Where’y’goin’?”

Fives’ voice was slurred with sleep, and when you turned, he was blinking sleepily up at you from where he’d already shifted to the middle of the bed, bundled up in blankets again.

“Just for a walk.” You said softly. “I’ll be alright.”

Fives propped himself up on his elbows, looking you over. “Want me to come with you?”

“It’s just a walk.”

“I meant to the appointment.”

You hesitated slightly, but shook your head. “No. The sooner this is behind us, the better things will be.”

Fives frowned, but didn’t argue. “Comm me if you change your mind.”

You gave him a soft smile, finally stepping out of the bedroom and closing the door quietly behind you.

You had told Fives everything – from finding out the pregnancy and deciding to hide it, to the Trandoshans’ plans for your unborn child, and how Rex had found out about the baby. You’d told him everything Rex said to you on the Cordillera and about the fight you’d had with him in the kitchen, then the blood in the shower. Fives had listened, calm and steady, through it all.

The only time he spoke at all was to ask a few scattered questions, or once interjected to offer you water as you told your story.

He’d offered to talk to Rex, nearly insisted on it, but you’d refused. You didn’t want to drag things out, prolong the inevitable. Rex had been clear with you about what he wanted, and you had been through enough tragedy. – hells, all of you had – to last a lifetime.

“You’re sure that’s really what you want to do?” Fives had asked, one hand rubbing your back and the other picking at a loose thread on the blanket covering you. “Maybe I could- .”

“I’m tired, Fives.” You whispered. “This, all of it, everything we’ve been through. It’s all been too much.” You shook your head, eyes still glassy from your tears. “I’m just tired.”

You had looked down at your hands, then. “If Rex doesn’t want this, then… then that’s the end of it.”

Fives had disagreed but didn’t fight you on it. Instead, he’d simply kept you company while you commed Soteria, letting her know of your plans to see her as soon as possible to confirm what you suspected to be a miscarriage, and he’d held you close again when you started to cry once you hung up.

You showered and dressed, noting that the bedroom was exactly as you’d left it – if Rex had come home that night, he never set foot in the bedroom – and then padded down the stairs.

There was an empty caf mug on the counter. It had been used and washed, but not put away, and a blanket that had previously been in a basket in the far corner of the living room was now folded neatly over the back of the couch. Rex had been there, if only briefly, and he’d never gone upstairs.

Your heart clenched.

You turned away, instead pulling on your jacket and stepping out into the day. The sun had not quite yet risen over the horizon, and Dantooine’s two moons were just barely visible overhead as dawn crept its way through the sky, bleeding into the hazy, rich blues that reminded you of the 501st.

The village was quiet, aside from the murmurings of the night watch as they patrolled the settlement, a familiar face or two nodding in your direction as you moved about. You didn’t have a destination in mind when you set out on your walk, but nevertheless, your feet carried you towards the outskirts of the village, to the grasslands where the Cordillera had been stationed.

Ju’Lah was no longer seated atop the shuttle keeping watch. You wondered if she was still asleep, or if her people were naturally nocturnal and she was awake and pacing while Rose – Gol’Chek – slept.

Before you could make yourself approach the ship – or trick yourself into thinking it was better to just go back home – the ramp descended, and Rose stepped down from the platform. He wore a thick cloak around his shoulders, the staff fastened to his back for a quick-draw, and even from this distance, you could see the fog of his breath as he exhaled in the early-morning chill.

He paused for a moment at the bottom of the ramp, turning over his shoulder into the ship for just a beat before starting out towards the sparse tree line near the edges of the grasslands, which would eventually give way to the forest.

He made it several yards from the ship before a much smaller figure jogged out of the shuttle, the ramp closing behind her. Ju’Lah wore a matching dark cloak, the fabric billowing behind her as she ran to catch up to Rose. Rose extended his arm out as Ju’Lah slammed into his side, wrapping both her arms around his torso as they walked, and Rose held her close.

You followed them at a distance, not wanting to intrude but also wondering what they were up to this early in the morning. You knew Athena and her warriors were still somewhat mistrustful of Rose, and in the event that he and his little companion got into mischief, you hoped you’d be able to help.

They disappeared into the woods and still you followed, your teeth chattering slightly from the morning cold. The trees became thicker, and the soft sounds of their voices trailed away until you were left only with the distant shapes of their backs as they walked.

They paused together near a stream, and you watched as Ju’Lah crouched near the water for a moment before standing and pointing deeper into the woods. She said something to Rose that you were too far away to catch, but you could make out the familiar grin on his face as he dropped a hand to her head, ruffling her hair before they continued on.

You eventually stumbled onto a clearing and stopped in your tracks, clinging to the edge of a tree and staying as much in the shadows as you could.

Rose was motionless, his head bowed, legs crossed, his staff lying across his thighs held in place by his fists. A circle had been drawn in the dirt around him, and Ju’Lah was nowhere to be seen. Rose’s face was turned upwards towards the sun, which had crept higher in the sky during the hike and now shined a slender beam of light to encompass the circle surrounding Rose. His cloak had been set aside near the far edge of the clearing, and if you squinted, you thought you could make out Ju’Lah’s cloak discarded beside it.

The clearing remained so still, so motionless, that you were nearly afraid to draw a breath. Your desire to step out into the clearing and reveal yourself battled against the wish to not disturb Rose when he looked so peaceful. Disturbance won out, and you sucked in a slow breath, extending a single step -.

Ju’Lah leapt from the trees with such surprising speed that if you had blinked, you would’ve missed it entirely. She had been aiming for Rose but sailed past him as Rose flattened his back against the dirt, legs swinging out in tandem with his staff as he rolled to his feet.

Ju’Lah caught herself, lunging back towards Rose as the White Blade collided with his staff, Ju’Lah’s teeth bared in a snarl. Rose seemed oddly calm, aside from the faint knit of his brow as he held his grip steady, disengaging their locked weapons and instead swinging the blunt end of the staff towards her legs and, upon her dodge, slicing the sharp end through the air towards her. Ju’Lah narrowly missed the strike, choosing to dip between Rose’s legs and attempted to swing the blade at his shoulders from behind, but Rose had already dropped the staff behind his back, catching the blade as he rotated his hips, his foot connecting with her ribs and flinging her against the tree opposite the clearing.

Rose shouted something at her in a language you didn’t understand, jerking his fist under his chin and then dragging his fist roughly downward, to the center of his abdomen. Ju’Lah stood again, hissing something back that sounded like fury, and sprinted towards him again. Rose easily blocked all five of her rapid-fire strikes in succession, and when she once again went between his legs and tried to swipe him from behind, he blocked, rotated, and launched her clear across their battlefield for the second time.

He sighed then, planting the blunt end of his staff into the ground and leaning into it slightly. He spoke in that same language, shaking his head at her as she pushed herself to her feet again. Her braid had come loose slightly, wisps of it hanging into her eyes. Tears of frustration – or maybe rage – brimmed in the black orbs even as Rose spoke in that same calming tone, but before he could finish whatever it was he was saying, Ju’Lah was running at him again, doing the same one-two-three-four- no, this time she went high on the fifth strike, sweeping her slender yet surprisingly powerful legs around and caught Rose directly in the jaw.

You inhaled sharply as Rose stumbled backwards at the impact, ice sliding down your spine as Ju’Lah didn’t let up, swinging the blade down as he was stunned and attempted to catch him at the neck. Rose blocked it quickly, pushing her back with the force of his counterstrike and kicked dirt up into her face.

He swept his staff around quickly, stirring up more dirt and summoned it upwards, making a cloud around Ju’Lah as he disappeared backwards into the trees.

Your heart thundered in your chest. You had seen Rose use something akin to the Force at the stronghold, when he and Ju’Lah had held the flames at bay. But seeing him use it now so casually in combat…

The dust settled, and Ju’Lah stood alone in the clearing, her chest heaving as she looked around. She kept the blade engaged, her massive ears twitching. She turned abruptly to where you were hidden, teeth flashing as she charged halfway across the clearing towards you but was interrupted as a massive boulder thundered out of the clearing to her right, stopping her in her tracks as she dropped the lightsaber, instead extending both her palms to catch the boulder with the Force. She held it for a beat, then tossed it aside, calling her lightsaber back to her hand just in time to slice four smaller rocks – but still about the size of her head – in two as each one was rocketed towards her from the trees.

After the fourth rock, Rose leapt over the boulder, trying to strike her overhead, but Ju’Lah dodged, copying his trick of kicking up dirt except she moved so quickly and with such power that the dust became more of a cyclone, knocking Rose off his feet and pushing him several yards back. He slammed the staff into the ground, and the air around you seemed to crackle with electricity, the sound of his staff against the earth booming like thunder through the woods, but Ju’Lah seemed unfazed.

She spat something at Rose in that same language, to which Rose simply shrugged and, to your surprise, stuck out his tongue. Ju’Lah grit her teeth and sprinted towards him once again. This time, Rose simply stepped out of the way, letting the angry child barrel past him and almost collide with the boulder. He spoke again, letting his staff hang loosely at his side as he held a hand up in a “stop” motion. Ju’Lah ignored him, instead swinging at him with the blade again as hard as she could. Rose kept blocking each strike, taking steps back as she forced him backwards with the intensity of her swings. She was shouting at him as she attacked him, her voice breaking even though you had no idea what it was she was saying to him.

On the final downswing, Rose instead lifted a hand, catching her wrist in his grip.

He lowered the staff, keeping her wrist tight in his fist. You could see his mouth moving, but he was speaking quietly, too far for you to make out anything he said. You watched Ju’Lah pant, ears twitching where they were flattened behind her back. Finally, her face crumpled, eyes squeezing shut as her shoulders hunched, big, heaving sobs wracking her tiny body as the lightsaber fell from her grip.

Rose dropped the staff in an instant, falling backwards on his ass and hauling Ju’Lah tightly into his embrace. He cradled her against his chest, murmuring softly into the crown of her head as her small hands found purchase in his shirt, holding tightly to him as she cried. You watched as Rose soothed a hand over her back and then along her ears before pushing her back slightly. He gave her a small smile, tilting her chin up as he continued speaking quietly to her, words you couldn’t hear from your position in the clearing. As he tilted her chin up, he cupped his two big hands on either side of her small cheeks, thumbs catching each tear and brushing them away even as she sniffled. She nodded in response to something he said, and Rose pressed a kiss to her temple, then brought their foreheads together, so close their noses were nearly touching, inhaling slowly as she tried to catch her breath.

Your gut twisted, and you felt tears of your own spark behind your eyes as you watched the scene from your hiding place. Rose had always been paternal, whether it was looking after Fives, Echo, or other youngster clones back in the days of the Clone War, or here and now, with this little girl he called his daughter. Rose had wanted children for as long as you’d known him, and to see him like this now…

A mean, nasty little thought wormed its way into your brain as a hand settled over your stomach.

If Rex didn’t want you or the baby, then maybe Rose would.

You shoved that thought away as quickly as it came, your mind already made up. Besides, you doubted there was even a baby still to be fought over.

“You get enough of the show?”

You snapped your head up, jolting out of your reverie as Ju’Lah eyed you from the clearing. Her arms were crossed over her chest, and she had pulled herself up out of Rose’s arms to stand.

“You can come out now.” She called. “I know you’re back there. I could sense you earlier.”

Rose stood, following her gaze as you sheepishly stepped out of the trees.

“I’m sorry.” You said. “I didn’t mean to intrude -.”

The way Rose’s face lit up just at the sight of you made your gut twist all over again, and Ju’Lah’s glare didn’t help matters either.

“You could’ve come out, we wouldn’t have minded.” Rose answered with an easy smile. “Right, kid?”

Ju’Lah didn’t answer, instead bending over to pick up her lightsaber and reattach it to her belt. She passed Rose his staff, and he sighed quietly, letting it go for now.

“It looked like you were fighting.” You said. “I was worried.”

“We were training.” Ju’Lah replied, a sharp edge to her voice that didn’t have as much affect as she wanted due to the tears she’d quickly stifled thickening her voice. “Until you interrupted.”

“We were just finishing up.” Rose corrected, tugging on Ju’Lah’s braid for a moment in admonishment. She pushed his hand away, grumpier than ever as she stomped away from the two of you and back towards the direction of the Cordillera.

“I didn’t mean to upset her -.”

“It wasn’t you.” Rose sighed. “I… forget, sometimes, how young she is,” He explained in a low voice. “She isn’t always as strong as I expect her to be, and it isn’t fair of me to put that on her. We’ve been through a lot these past few days, and pushing her to train was… a mistake.”

He shrugged, then rubbed the back of his neck for a beat as he walked over to where the two cloaks had been discarded. “I thought it would be good for her to tire herself out.”

You glanced over your shoulder, and saw Ju’Lah had not quite left the clearing yet but obviously wanted no part of you or Rose at the moment, her arms crossed as she leaned against a tree, turned away from the two of you.

“You’re good with her.” You told Rose, trying to ease some of the tension that he carried. “Really good.”

Rose chuckled humorlessly. “I manage.”

You hesitated, mouth opening and closing for a moment before finding your voice again. “Rose, I -.”

“Stop calling him that.” Ju’Lah interrupted your thoughts once more. “I already told you once. That isn’t his name, he doesn’t like that name.”

Your anxiety spiked again, and you glanced to Rose.

“You can call me whatever you like.” He said quickly, noticing your expression.

“Do you prefer the other name?” You asked him.

Rose hesitated, and that was all the answer you needed.

“Remind me what it is, again?”

“Gol’Chek.” Rose replied, relief evident in his expression. “Thank you.”

You gave him a tight smile, touching his arm for a moment before he bent over, tossing his cloak around you instead of pulling it on himself.

“It’s chilly out.” He said before you could protest. “Ju’Lah! C’mere and put this on!”

Ju’Lah stayed stubbornly near the tree line, and once you and Rose – Gol’Chek – began moving towards her, she stomped off again back the way you’d came. He sighed again, holding the cloak loosely in his fist as he walked instead.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.” He took your hand, guiding you carefully over a fallen log but didn’t release your hand once you’d stepped over it. “What is it?”

“Why do you not like Ro– your old name anymore?” You asked him.

Gol’Chek didn’t look at you. “It isn’t me anymore.”

You squeezed his hand. “You’re still you, even if you’re just different now.”

He chuckled softly. “I wish that were true, mesh’la.”

He lifted your joined hands, pressing a kiss to the back of your knuckles before going back to swinging your hand lightly as you walked. He glanced sideways at you and hummed. “I know you have questions.” He said around a small, lopsided smile. “Go ahead.”

“Can you use the Force now?”

“Sort of. Careful,” he caught you as you stumbled slightly over a root. “The Garbaks called it Attunement, but it’s the same general principle. When I was on the mountain, it was one of the gifts I received from the All-Mother.”

He nodded his head towards Ju’Lah, who was still stubbornly walking several yards ahead of the two of you. “Ju’Lah had been training under her father and grandmother, before the 501st and I arrived on Gyatta. And after everything that happened…” he trailed off. “Well. We’re sort of… teaching ourselves, I guess. Learning together. ‘S part of why we came out here to train.”

“I still can’t believe everything you went through.” You said thoughtfully. “And to have you here now, alive, it’s -.” You shook your head in quiet disbelief. “It’s nothing short of a miracle.”

Gol’Chek hummed. “I didn’t always see it that way.” He said. “I used to think things would be better if I’d just stayed dead.” He looked back towards Ju’Lah, a small smile on his face. “But she’s alive because I’m alive. And I’m alive because of her, too.”

You squeezed his hand again. “She’s very important to you.”

“She’s everything to me.”

You leaned slightly into his arm at that, and he looked down at you, squeezing your hand back.

“How old is she?” You asked.

“Almost ninety.” He answered with a chuckle. “Her species ages differently than humans. She’s equivalent to right around a nine-year-old human, I think. Maybe ten. Hard to tell, because sometimes she’s smarter and wiser than I am, and other times I remember she’s just a little kid, you know?”

You nodded, watching Ju’Lah as her ears twitched up ahead. You wondered if she could hear you. “And she’s the last of her kind?”

Gol’Chek nodded, and when he answered, his voice was thick. “The very last.”

You emerged from the forest and saw the village was awake and moving too. The small market stalls had been reopened, more of Athena’s soldiers milling about either on duty or with family and friends.

“You’re welcome to stay, if you’d like.” Gol’Chek told you, nodding towards the Cordillera, where Ju’Lah had already dropped the ramp and sauntered inside. “But if you need to get back -.”

You shook your head. “I can stay.”

The grin that cracked across his face was so painfully Rose that you had to remind yourself once again of his name, of the person he’d become, the person he wanted to be now. He wasn’t the same man you fell in love with years ago.

But that didn’t mean you couldn’t love him still.

You stepped onto the Cord, spotting Ju’Lah standing on a little stool to reach a cargo hold up high. Gol’Chek stepped up behind her, popping it open for her and digging out a ration pack, dropping it into her outstretched hands.

“When’s the last time you had food that wasn’t rehydrated rations?” You asked, a slight tease in your voice.

“Months, probably.” Gol’Chek said with a chuckle as Ju’Lah stepped down from her stool, carrying her little packet to the rehydration pod.

“Your people won’t let us come in the village, so what else are we supposed to do?” Ju’Lah griped. Gol’Chek gave you an apologetic look, mouthing “sorry” when Ju’Lah turned her back again, but you waved him off, turning instead to Ju’Lah.

“I spoke to Athena, actually. She was talking about maybe finding a place for you guys in the village.” You told her.

Ju’Lah gave you a skeptical look, but otherwise didn’t comment as she pulled her breakfast from the pod, instead plopping down in the co-pilot’s seat with a spoon.

“You hungry?”

Truthfully, you were ravenous, but you shook your head at Gol’Chek anyway. You didn’t quite trust your stomach yet. “That’s alright, I’ll get something later.”

He started a pot of caf instead, peeling off his gloves and setting them aside. He pulled two mugs down at first, but you politely declined and then he gently chastised Ju’Lah for trying to claim the other one. You studied the intricate patterns along his fingers and across his palms and the backs of his hands as he worked.

“Those came from the mountain too?”

“Yeah,” He flexed his fingers experimentally, taking the mug of caf and moving instead to lean against the wall behind Ju’Lah’s chair. “They’re everywhere.”

“What’s it say?”

“It’s an ancient dialect of Cymruun, the Garbak language.” Ju’Lah answered before Gol’Chek could. “Unreadable to anyone but him, now. And he can’t say it aloud.”

“Why not?”

“Because it will kill him.” Ju’Lah gives Gol’Chek a sharp look. “Right? It’s a Recitation, isn’t it? You call upon the All-Mother when you read it but in exchange, she gets to take you back to the Pale with her.”

Gol’Chek sighed, and in any other situation it would’ve been the endearing, long-suffering sigh of an exhausted parent, but here, it just made your chest ache.

“Something like that.” He replied vaguely.

“Which is why he can only say it when he’s ready to die for whatever favor he wants to ask.” Ju’Lah said, scooting off the chair and tossing the remnants of her ration pack into the slender garbage chute. “That’s the price. A life for a life. Isn’t that what my father bought with his own?”

Gol’Chek didn’t look at her, his eyes instead staring down at the mug in his hands. Ju’Lah puffed out a soft breath of air through her nostrils.

“I’m getting some air.” She brushed past you both.

“Don’t go far.” Gol’Chek warned, finally lifting his head.

Ju’Lah didn’t answer, disappearing into the hull and presumably back down the ramp.

Gol’Chek set his mug aside, barely touched, and scrubbed a hand down his face. “She’s still angry with me.” He said to no one in particular. “I earned it, but…”

He shook his head, not finishing his thought as he instead turned towards you, tilting his head to the side. “I’m sorry. She’s not usually like that.”

“It’s okay.” You gave him a small, sympathetic smile. “She’s stubborn. Like you.”

Gol’Chek actually chuckled at that, his lips quirking upward ever so slightly. “What have I missed?”

You blinked at him, mirroring his head tilt. “I’m sorry?”

“What have I missed?” He repeated. “It’s been two or three years, hasn’t it? Since I ‘died’.” He made air quotes with one hand. “What’s been going on?”

You were quiet for a few seconds, and then you started to laugh. You couldn’t help yourself. The absurdity of the question, and yet the sheer innocence with which he asked it, baffled you. What hadn’t been going on in the last few years? What hadn’t the two of you endured, together or separately?

You at first worried you’d offended him, but when you looked up again you saw his shoulders shaking slightly, his own quiet laughter bubbling up and past his lips no matter how desperately he tried to stay straight-faced and silent. His eyes crinkled in the corners, one cheek dimple visible even under the beard, under the scars, under Gol’Chek.

He is still Rose.

“A lot.” You answered finally, once you managed to catch your breath. “Too much.”

“Still,” Gol’Chek murmured, stepping towards you. “I want to know. I told you my story,” He took both your hands in his, pulling you close. “Now maybe you should tell me yours.”

Your heart fluttered, and you felt the warmth radiating off his body – he’d always been something of a furnace – and you let go of one of his hands, instead bringing it up to rest on his cheek. Your thumb brushed over one of the three jagged scars cutting through his face.

“These are new.” You said softly, and scratched your fingers through his beard. “This too.”

He turned his head into your hand, kissing your palm before bringing his hand up to hold yours in place. He pressed another kiss against the inside of your wrist before meeting your eyes once more. The hand that had been holding yours instead climbed up to the back of your head.

Blood pounded in your ears as he started to lean forward, then paused, his eyes flickering to something over your shoulder. He cleared his throat softly and dropped his hands away from you, pulling back and instead rubbing the back of his neck.

Your brow furrowed in confusion, and then you turned, looking over your shoulder as your stomach sank.

Rex stood in the doorway, frozen in place like a stunned joopa, eyes flickering between you and Gol’Chek for just a moment before he shook himself out of it, regaining his composure.

“Sorry to interrupt.” His voice was neutral, but he wasn’t looking at you. Not at all. “Ju’Lah let me in, she didn’t mention you had company.”

“S’alright.” Gol’Chek nodded, and you took several steps back, putting as much space between you and Gol’Chek as possible. Both he and Rex noticed. “What did you need?”

“Athena wanted a word. She’s asked me to bring you to the Command Center.”

He turned away again before either of you could say more, and Gol’Chek didn’t move to take your hand when he stepped out after Rex.

You wrapped your arms around yourself, hesitating for just a moment before following them.

You’d found your way to Rex, and then found Rose again, but you wondered if perhaps the price was losing both in the end.

Athena was waiting just outside the Command Center when the four of you arrived. Fives stood a few feet away, leaning slightly against the building with his arms crossed and a scowl on his lips. He was very pointedly not looking at Athena, and she seemed to be doing the same. The rebel leader’s arms were crossed over her chest, regarding Gol’Chek with a measure of caution.

“Gol’Chek.” She greeted. “You got a last name?”

He shook his head. “Just Gol’Chek.”

“And the kid?” Athena prompted.

“Her name is Ju’Lah.” Gol’Chek answered before Ju’Lah could return with a scathing remark. “She is a Garbak, the last surviving member of the Gyatta Tribe, and she is under my care and protection.”

“Then as her caretaker, you’re aware of the sizable bounty on her head?”

Gol’Chek drew back as though he’d been slapped, genuine surprise etched onto his features. “I’m sorry?”

“Every bounty puck from here to the Core Worlds is plastered with her face, ever since that stunt you pulled on Felucia with the Empire’s troops, and especially after whatever the hells went down on Ord Mantell.” Athena replied, jerking her head towards Ju’Lah. “People seem to think the famed Outlander is harboring a Jedi.”

Gol’Chek bristled, and Ju’Lah bared her teeth. “If you intend to collect on her bounty,” Gol’Chek began, his fingers tightening on his staff. “Then there is nothing in the galaxy that could protect you from me.”

You shivered, despite your best attempts to quell it, and Rex caught your eye. Gone was the Rose you had briefly seen again in the ship, and back once more was Gol’Chek, the terrifying, merciless warrior who had killed – and would kill again – without hesitation.

Athena, however, stood her ground, unfazed by his threat.

“We do not intend to harm you, or Ju’Lah.” She answered calmly. “In fact, we…” She closed her eyes for a beat, as though she had to mentally prepare herself. “We were hoping you would consider… joining us.”

She spoke as though the words pained her, and Fives rolled his eyes, scoffing under his breath. Ju’Lah made an almost identical sound before crossing her arms.

“Why? So you can use us as bargaining chips whenever this sad excuse for an army inevitably gets found out by the Empire?” She asked. “We’re only here because they’re here.” She added, nodding towards you and Rex. “We owe you no allegiance.”

Athena bristled, but held her tongue, continuing to address Gol’Chek. “We are strong in numbers, and you are no ordinary warriors.” She continued. “She would be safest here, with us. And we could certainly use the benefits of having Jedi in our ranks.”

“I am no Jedi.” Gol’Chek and Ju’Lah spoke in unison, and you had to bite the inside of your cheek to suppress a giggle. Like father, like daughter.

“Regardless,” You could tell Athena was mustering every drop of her patience to get through this conversation. “This could be a mutually beneficial relationship for all of us. We would gain your expertise and skills as a warrior, and in return you would have a home, a community, a place for Ju’Lah to be a child, not sequestered away on a ship as you run for your lives.”

Her expression softened, her voice turning surprisingly gentle. “You care about her. It’s evident in all that you do, whether you want to admit it or not. You know she deserves more than spending her life on that ship while you hunt bounties just to survive.” She gestured to the village. “We can offer you something better.”

Ju’Lah’s fangs flashed again. “I like living on my Bu – on Gol’Chek’s ship.” She snapped, catching her words for a moment. You didn’t miss the way Gol’Chek’s shoulders tensed at her deliberate omission of her usual term for him.

“He protects me. He’s taught me how to survive, he’s given me a home, food, shelter, he does everything he can to keep me safe.” You were not Force-sensitive, but it didn’t take one attuned with emotions to sense the fury mounting around her as she jabbed a finger at Athena. “He owes you nothing. You attacked us, you two left him for dead,” she spun around to point fingers at Rex and Fives next. “And you, all you’ve done is -.”

“Ju’Lah, I can speak for myself, thank you.” Gol’Chek placed a calming hand on her head before she could hurl an insult at you, but your heart had climbed into your throat anyway. Ju’Lah radiated unchecked rage, and she shoved Gol’Chek away, turning and instead sprinting back to the Cordillera. Gol’Chek made no move to follow her.

Athena gave Gol’Chek a smug look. “She inherited your temper, it seems.”

Gol’Chek’s lips tightened. “What would you expect from us in return, should we accept your proposition?” He asked.

“You’d work for us in the same way you were contracted as a bounty hunter.” Athena replied. “Except instead of hunting down bail jumpers or sleemos with debts, you’d be taking out Empire operatives, and rescuing people who deserve to be saved.” She gave him a small smile. “Sound like something you’d be interested in?”

Gol’Chek hesitated, glancing first to you, then Rex, then back to Athena. “Ju’Lah’s safety is my priority, my divine mandate.” He said. “I… would need to discuss this with her, once she’s calm. And I would like a say in the jobs I take.”

“That can be arranged.” Athena nodded. “Anything else?”

“You can think of me whatever you’d like.” Gol’Chek said. “But she’s a child, and she’s lost her home, her family, everyone she has ever known and ever loved. If we stay, and we become part of this… this clan, then you treat her as though she’s one of your own.”

Athena’s lip quirked up in the corner. “I accept these terms.”

Gol’Chek offered his arm. “Then we are in agreement.”

Athena clasped his forearm just below the elbow, and Gol’Chek matched her grip, holding it for just a moment before they released one another.

“Welcome to the Rebellion, Gol’Chek.” She nodded to Rex. “Captain Sho’cye will show you to your home, then. I’ve already given him the keycode and it’s already been outfitted with anything else you’ll need.”

If Gol’Chek was surprised, he didn’t show it. “Thank you, ma’am.”

“Athena is fine.” She replied, waving him off. “I’ll be in touch.”

Fives, meanwhile, pushed himself off the wall, heading towards the ship. “I’ll get the kid.”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Gol’Chek warned.

“I can handle it.” Fives replied seriously. “We’ll meet you there.”

Gol’Chek hesitated, and you touched his arm. “It’s alright.” You assured him. “She’ll come around when she’s ready.”

He nodded reluctantly, falling into step with you and Rex.

“Captain Sho’cye, eh?” He asked Rex, a glimmer in his eye. “What’s that about?”

“It’s the surname I’ve chosen.” Rex replied, a little stiffly. “Like how you’d chosen Sarad for yours. I was surprised you didn’t offer it up when Athena asked.”

Gol’Chek’s eyes widened slightly, his eyes flickering instead to you.

“I’d – I’d forgotten.” He admitted, his voice soft. “I’m sorry, I -.”

“It’s alright.” You told him quietly. “It was part of your old name, your old life, and you said you didn’t want that anymore.” You squeezed his hand. “It’s okay to let that go, too.”

Gol’Chek nodded, though he seemed lost in thought. Rex cleared his throat, breaking the silence.

“We picked a place for you and Ju’Lah on the outskirts of the village,” he began. “Well, Fives picked it, really. He thought Ju’Lah would be more comfortable if she were close to the trees. Dantooine isn’t exactly known for its jungles like Gyatta was, but hopefully it still feels something like home for her. And for you.”

“Fives said that?” Gol’Chek’s voice was impossibly soft, and when you looked at him, he had a slight shine in his warm eyes, his expression gentler than you’d ever seen in the short time he’d been back beside you.

“He’s gotten attached to your ad’ika.” Rex chuckled. “You may have some competition.”

Gol’Chek huffed a quiet laugh, and his breath caught in his throat as Rex stopped, gesturing to a small house near the end of the road.

“Well?” He asked, flashing a small smile. “What do you think?”

It was small, maybe half the size of the place you shared with Rex and Fives, but it was bigger than the living area of the Cordillera for sure, and the rising sunbathed it in a warm, inviting light.

“It’s not far from where we live, either.” You added, squeezing his hand again. “So you’re close by.”

Gol’Chek gave you a quizzical look. “You won’t be staying here?”

Rex looked away, and your smile faded almost at once as you floundered for an answer. “I um… I’m staying with Rex and Fives right now, in a house up the road.” You explained. “And maybe it’s best for now if you and Ju’Lah have some – some time.”

Gol’Chek looked past you to Rex, but before he could answer, all three of you turned at the sound of laughter.

“Got the munchkin!” Fives called, carrying Ju’Lah on his shoulders. His hands were holding her calves steady, her hands on top of his head. She was beaming, yanking on his hair to try and steer him in opposite directions, which he obliged, making him approach the three of you in a zig-zag pattern rather than a straight line.

You looked up at Gol’Chek, the soft smile on his face enough to make your heart melt, and you grinned, leaning into him slightly.

“You certainly seem to be feeling better.” Gol’Chek called back, his cheek dimpling again as he beamed.

“Fives taught me how to swear in Mando’a!” Ju’Lah crowed as Fives jogged to a stop.

“He what?” Gol’Chek’s smile dropped in an instant, and you had to cough to mask your laughter.

“It’s called negotiating.” Fives replied cheekily, voice muffled for a second as Ju’Lah stuck her hand in his face so she could climb off him. “And I didn’t teach her any of the really bad ones, just the fun ones like -.”

“Osik! Di’kut!” Ju’Lah chanted once she reached the ground, and took a deep breath before shouting at the top of her lungs, “Haar’chak!”

“Alright, very good.” Gol’Chek shushed her with a chuckle, and Fives gave Ju’Lah a high five before yanking her under his arm, rubbing his fist over her head while she struggled to wrestle out of his grip. “This… certainly was unexpected.” Gol’Chek hummed to you, watching as Ju’Lah finally pushed Fives off with a grin.

“He’s basically just a tall child, himself.” You whispered back, and Gol’Chek grinned.

Rex cleared his throat softly, and you turned to face him. He nodded towards the house. “Wanna see the inside?” He asked, a touch of awkwardness to his voice.

Gol’Chek nodded. You weren’t sure he noticed the tension Rex carried himself with, and you pulled away slightly to take a step towards Rex.

“Rex -.”

As soon as you touched his hand, Rex pulled away from you again, instead stepping up to the door and typing in the keycode, turning his back to you.

“This is for us?” Ju’Lah asked Gol’Chek.

“Hells yes, it is.” Fives said proudly. “You get a bed too, kid. No more sleeping on a bunk above your Buir.”

Ju’Lah’s smile faded for just a moment at the word, glancing to Gol’Chek before jogging up the steps and following Rex into the little home. Gol’Chek turned to you, bowing slightly and gesturing towards the house.

“After you, m’lady.”

You gave him a small smile, a dull ache throbbing in your chest as you brushed past Rex in the entryway and took in the home.

It had a similar layout to your own, except there was no second floor. The homestead opened up first to a sitting room, warm and inviting and perfect for the pair. Beside it was a small kitchen, a bowl of fruit already set out on the table made Ju’Lah gasp as she raced over to it, picking a particularly plump jogan fruit from the bowl and sinking her teeth into it immediately. Her ears shot upright, smacking Fives in the face when he bent over to see what she thought.

Gol’Chek laughed. “She likes it.”

Ju’Lah nodded her approval, wiping her mouth with her sleeve before taking another bite. “This whole room is for us?” She asked.

“The whole house is for you, Tiny.” Fives teased, ruffling her hair again. “You wanna see your room?”

Ju’Lah’s eyes grew so big they nearly engulfed her skull. “I get my own room?”

Fives tilted his head down the hall, and Ju’Lah took off, still clutching her fruit in one hand.

You and Gol’Chek followed a little slower, with Rex lingering in the kitchen. You glanced over your shoulder at him, trying to catch his eye, but he was busying himself with something on his wrist comm, pointedly not meeting your gaze.

“Something going on with him?” Gol’Chek asked you in a low voice. “You seem… preoccupied.”

You sighed softly. “It’s complicated.” You gave him a small smile. “Another time. Ju’Lah’s happy, let’s just focus on that for now.”

Gol’Chek looked as though he wanted to say more, but relented at the sound of Ju’Lah shouting from one of the two bedrooms.

“This is mine?!”

You and Gol’Chek poked your heads around the corner, to where Ju’Lah was sprawled out on a bed. There were two big plush pillows with a very thick, soft, lavender comforter. Ju’Lah looked tiny in comparison, and even more so when Fives belly-flopped on top of her, making her sputter.

“Your giant body is crushing me!” She shouted, wiggling out from under him and grabbing one of the pillows, smacking him as hard as she could with it. “You’re messing up my bed!”

“You’re the one who started swingin’ pillows!” Fives retorted, sticking his tongue out at her as she lifted her pillow to strike again.

“Can we paint the walls?” She asked Gol’Chek excitedly, her attack on Fives forgotten at the sight of her Buir. “Like the caves back home? Can we?”

Gol’Chek smiled. “Yeah, we can. We just need to find ourselves some paint.”

“I can get some!” Fives said eagerly. “Can I help?”

In all her excitement, Ju’Lah had apparently forgotten that she hated Fives and was mad at Gol’Chek, because she nodded, matching Fives’ energy as she stood up on the bed, already pointing at the ceiling. “We can paint a huge eel, like the one on your helmet! It can go from that corner all the way over to here!”

Gol’Chek stepped out of the doorway, instead going down the hall to the other bedroom, stepping quietly inside and closing the door. You followed curiously, letting the sounds of Fives and Ju’Lah talking a mile a minute drone on in the background as you entered the other room.

Gol’Chek was standing near his own bed, fingers grazing over the soft gray comforter and his own four – four – pillows. Someone had the foresight to hang a mount on the wall to the left of his bed, just above his dresser, and Gol’Chek had already placed his staff on it, the weapon on proud display and yet also within easy reach if needed.

You smiled. “A lot bigger than the barracks back with the GAR, huh?” You teased. He didn’t answer, and you saw the pinch of his shoulders, the way his fingers dropped from the sheets and instead clenched into a fist as his side. “Hey, you okay?”

You heard him draw a shuddering breath not unlike the sound Rex had made in the kitchen the day before, and your heart skipped a beat. When he turned again, a tear had snuck down his cheek. He quickly brushed it away.

“I’ve… I’ve never seen her so happy.” He whispered. “Not since – not since we lost everything.” He scrubbed a hand roughly over his face. “I never – not as long as I live did I ever think I’d hear her laugh like that again. Or even smile. Especially after what I did.”

In three quick steps, he’d crossed the room, pulling you into his embrace. “Thank you.”

Your heart stuttered in your chest at the sudden contact, and you melted into the touch, your arms circling around his back as you held him close. “Of course.” You murmured. “But… but Fives and Rex are the ones who -.”

“I know.” Gol’Chek interrupted, pulling back to look at you. “But you are the reason we’re here. You are the reason I fought so hard to stay alive, to survive.” He pulled your knuckles to his lips, kissing each one in tandem. “I was fighting to get back to you, Cyare.”

You studied his face, the scarred hardness of his features marred by the softness of his eyes, the earnest devotion they held as he leaned forward, pressing his forehead against yours, noses bumping in the quiet of the bedroom.

The creak of floorboards made you pull back quickly, an excuse already climbing to your lips before you realized it was Ju’Lah, and not Rex this time, who had caught you.

“So, this one’s yours?” She asked conversationally, choosing to ignore your exchange and instead wandering over to Gol’Chek’s bed. “A lot different than the one on the Cord. And on Gyatta.”

Gol’Chek hummed in agreement. “What do you think, Lah’ika? Is it okay?”

She nodded, nose scrunching as she smiled. “I gotta get all my stuff from the ship though. Ba’Vodu Fives said he’d help me.”

Gol’Chek raised an eyebrow, amused. “You’re already calling him Ba’Vodu, huh?”

Ju’Lah gave him a quizzical look. “He told me it means stupid. He’s Ba’Vodu Fives. Stupid Fives.” She retorted, then immediately became suspicious. “Why? Does it mean something else?”

Gol’Chek chuckled, glancing to the doorway where Fives was trying to look as innocent as possible. “It means… well, yeah, something like that.”

Ju’Lah raised an eyebrow, but didn’t question it further. “We’re gonna go get our stuff.” She repeated, already turning and taking off down the hallway again.

Gol’Chek glanced at Fives. “What in the Maker did you tell her on the ship?”

“The truth.” Fives answered simply. “She’s scared that by coming here and reuniting you with us, she’d be losing you. And I told her that she isn’t losing you, she’s gaining all of us.” He shrugged. “We’re her tribe now. Simple as that.”

“That’s what she thinks?” The hurt in Gol’Chek’s voice, mixed with Fives’ sentiment, was enough to bring tears to your eyes, which you banished quickly as Fives continued.

“Yeah. You really should talk to her, vod. She needs to hear it from you too.” He clapped a hand on Gol’Chek’s shoulder, and the other man just hauled Fives into a headbutt instead, sniffing slightly as he cupped Fives’ cheek.

“Thank you, brother.”

Fives grinned. “Of course, Gol.”

“Gol’Chek.” You corrected.

“Absolutely not.” Fives answered just as lovingly, pulling his head back and clapping Gol’Chek’s cheeks sharply. “Gol’ika.”

Gol’Chek wrinkled his nose. “I’m older than you.”

“You were reborn. As far as I’m concerned, You’re a tubie.”

“Hurry up!” Ju’Lah shouted from the kitchen.

Fives patted Gol’Chek’s head, turning around and practically skipping down the hall. “See ya around, Gol’ika. We’re going to get your shit off the ship.”

“That isn’t how aging works!” Gol’Chek called after him. “I’m still your ori’vod! Do not call me Gol’ika!” All he got in response was the door hissing closed behind him and the sound of Ju’Lah giggling.

He sighed, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “That will get old quick.” He muttered.

You giggled again, unable to help the smile creeping across your face. “He’ll let it go after a bit.” You promised. “He’s just teasing you.”

Gol’Chek laughed, a quiet, rumbling sound that blossomed out from his chest, and your heart fluttered again.

“Can I ask you something?”

You nodded. “Of course, anything.”

“You and Rex,” he began. “Is something there?”

You didn’t answer right away. “What do you mean?”

Gol’Chek gave you a look. “C’mon. Don’t be like that.” He said. “I’m not… upset about it.” He added, his explanation a little choppy as he searched for the right words. “You thought I was dead, and I was gone for – what, three years? If you count the mess over the last few months.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Can’t say I’d blame you for moving on.”

You heard the note of hurt in his voice, no matter how hard he tried to stifle it, and you took both his hands in yours. “Rose – I’m sorry.” You shook your head quickly, starting over. “Gol’Chek. I didn’t move on. I never did. Even – even up to the days before we got you back, I still thought of you. I still mourned you.”

You pulled him closer, tears welling up in your eyes. “I spent… every single day missing you. I wanted to die because – because I didn’t want to be in a world where you weren’t in it.”

You reached up to your chest, pulling the ring from your shirt and holding it where he could see. “Ever since I found this, I’ve never taken it off. Not for anything. I loved you, and I -.” You took a slow breath. “I still love you. No matter what.”

He studied your face for a moment, starting to turn away, but you caught his cheek in your hand, holding him in place and gently turning him back to face you.

“Things are different.” He murmured, nuzzling slightly into your palm. “We can’t just go back to where things were back before this all happened.”

“I know.” Your hand drifted, instead tucking one of his loose curls behind his ear. “But maybe we can find our way into something new.”

His lips turned up slightly, and he shifted, pressing your foreheads together again. Your noses touched, breath mingling together in the slight open space between the two of you before he tilted his chin, pressing his lips finally, finally, against your own.

You wanted to weep, your own hands finding their way around his shoulders while his went instead to your hips, pulling you as close as he could as you deepened the kiss. You could still remember the last time you’d ever felt his kiss, ever held him against you like this with his arms around you.

“You just got here last night.”

“I know,” Rose sighed, buckling the last of his armor plates on. “Shouldn’t take long though. According to General Skywalker, the campaign on Gyatta’s pretty much wrapped up anyway. They just want us to sweep the jungles and pick off anything that’s left. Easy, in and out.” He grinned. “You still gotta kiss me even for the easy missions though. It’s good luck.”

You smiled sleepily, the apartment still dark before dawn as you reached for him, not caring that the plates of his armor dug into your skin as he hugged you.

“Got an answer for me yet?” Rose murmured, bonking your foreheads together lightly. “About what we talked about last night?”

You remembered the rooftop, remembered his proposal. You hummed, smiling as your noses touched. “Come back alive and I’ll tell you.”

“Ever the tease.” Rose chuckled, pressing a quick kiss to your cheek before hugging you tight one last time.

“Be safe.”

“Always.” He kissed you, long, languid, loving, pulling away from you at last. “I love you.” He pulled his helmet on and disappeared from your apartment, from your life, without another word.

You broke this kiss first, and Gol’Chek raised a hand, brushing his knuckles over the tears you didn’t realize you’d been shedding.

“The start of something new.” He echoed softly.

You gave him a watery smile, pressing your cheek against his chest and listening to his heartbeat.

Gol’Chek put a hand over the back of your head, holding you close even as he looked past you towards the kitchen. Rex had quietly slipped out a while ago, but he stared at the empty space where his former Captain had been standing, thinking back to the visions he saw on the mountains, and all the different timelines, different realities, different memories of the past, present, and future alike where Captain Rex had loved you.

Distantly, he realized you’d never actually answered his question about Rex.

NOTE: A companion series titled “Halo” will begin publishing alongside WBIT in a few weeks. It will show Fives’ perspective on events beginning in Ch. 8 and 9 of WBIT and will focus on his relationships with Athena and Quill. :) It’s VERY slutty, so if you originally signed up for this series because I promised smut, I hope you will accept the smut I offer in the form of Fives getting dicked down as he deserves.

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#Ro writes #what blooms in thunder #wbit #ro's protected tag #OC Rose #OC Ju'Lah #OC Athena #OC Soteria #OC Quill #OC Kiran

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