Fic: In Time It Always Mends chapter 2 (Star Wars, Kallus/Zeb)

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Title: In Time It Always Mends Chapter 2
Fandom: Star Wars
Characters/Pairings: Kallus/Zeb, Rex/Rau
Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Star Wars. It's not my toy box and I'm merely playing.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Alex manages to get aboard the Ghost before Jacen takes off. They go to Scarif where a ten year old Chirrut is calling for help. The planet is whole and everyone who died there is suddenly alive, but they're also children. The Rebellion's just won at Endor, how will they handle this new crisis? Kid Fic.
A/N: Written for the Kalluzeb Mini Bang. Thank you to MapleOwl18 for the beta and for coming up with Zeb's pet name for Alex. Thank you to mistr3ssquickly, it's been great working with you!
Warning: Crosshair is written as having some disordered eating habits. This is quickly recognized and watched out for by the adults in the group.


Chapter 2:

Rex heads back over with a pack of supplies before the questions can get awkward. He says Leia agrees that the two of them should help him gather all the clones and get any stragglers heading towards the landing platform they’re on. As they’re getting ready to follow Cody off the platform, Ahsoka and Chewbacca land. Rex comms her to inform her of their situation and encourage her to stay on her ship. She reassures him the med frigate should be arriving by nightfall, then asks, “Did you need anyone else?”

“Do you know if Glitch is with the med frigate or still helping Omega?” Rex asks.

“I think he’s still traveling with Omega,” Ahsoka informs him.

“We’ve got five clones with chips and two who got the same extra brainwashing that Wolffe got. Glitch helped heal Wolffe, so he’ll know what to look for and him being with Omega is good. We’ve got Crosshair, he was part of Clone Force Nintey-Nine,” Rex explains.

“And Omega will know how to get a hold of them,” Ahsoka concludes. “I’ll comm her. Which clones are here?”

“Cody, Bly, Sinker, Stone, and Crosshair. Wolffe will want to see them too,” Rex tells her.

Ahsoka is quiet for a moment, then she says, “Are you okay?”

“I'm fine.”

“Alright. Chewbacca and I unloaded my cargo before we headed here. Rau is overseeing the distribution of supplies, but I can ask him to head here when he’s done and I’ll comm Wolffe. He might be able to arrange a ride here, if not I’ll go get him,” she reasons.

Rex sighs. “Yeah, that sounds like a plan. Are you okay?”

“Is Cassian there?” Ahsoka asks.

“We’re going to figure that out,” Rex reassures. Cody frowns, looking like he wants to say something for a moment, but then he huffs and leans into Rex.

“Good. Let me know.”

“We will,” Rex promises.

Cody tugs on Rex’s hand. “Do you mean Andor?”

“Yes,” Rex answers.

“He’s probably in the same place as Sinker,” Cody informs them.

Cassian Andor as a child. Alex feels himself pause. They'd been friends once or well as close to friends as two broken people in Intelligence got. Then Cassian had sacrificed himself for the Death Star plans and Alex had been left wondering what he could've done differently. If he'd taken less breaks, gotten less sleep, would they have found Jyn sooner? Would that have even made a difference? It should've been the planets that the Death Star destroyed that made him second guess his work, but it wasn't. Cassian’s sacrifice is what kept him up at night for weeks afterwards.

Alex listens to Ahsoka and Rex say their goodbyes with half an ear before Rex is turning back towards them.

“They don’t want…I…” Crosshair starts, then stops.

Rex steps close so he can look at Crosshair still on Zeb’s shoulders. “You don’t have to see them if you don’t want to, but they’ll probably feel better knowing you’re alive and that you’re safe. Is there anyone you do want?”

“I…” Crosshair frowns. He glances at the Millenium Falcon again, then shakes his head. Rex frowns up at him, then gives Zeb a meaningful look that likely means not to lose track of the kid. Then they follow Cody from the landing platform. As they near the first buildings he starts to head over to where two children are standing near a vent exit.

“We should probably get Sinker and maybe Cassian will be less suspicious if we have food,” Cody explains.

“Food is always a good place to start,” Zeb encourages. Alex reaches over and squeezes Zeb’s hand.

"He was a Separatist," Cody informs them as he holds Rex’s hand, using it to balance himself as he leans back to look up at Rex with wide serious eyes. "He said that doesn’t matter, that he joined the Rebellion and that he's going to be a spy, but our armor upset him. Our armor upset a lot of people and we had to change into clothes we found. It was weird, there were a lot of us in armor, but only five of us are clones."

“There’s an explanation for that,” Rex tells him. “It’ll just be easier to give it once we’ve got everyone together.”

Cody nods, then waves at Cassian. Cassian is tiny, about the same height as Crosshair. He’s also holding a blaster and giving them a suspicious look. The other kid, sitting on the ground near him, with a blaster slung across his back is also familiar.

“Stordan?” Rex asks.

Stordan grins. “Yeah, hi. I don’t know you.”

“You did,” Rex reassures. “Before whatever happened here, that is. Cassian knew Kallus.”

“Sasha,” Cody corrects. “Jacen said his name was Sasha.”

Zeb pokes him, then gives him a questioning look. Alex shrugs. "If they want to call me Sasha, I'm fine with that. It'll make Jacen happy and he can brag about it to Plourr later."

Zeb nods, then squeezes his hand.

"Are you a spy?" Cassian asks.

"I used to be," Alex says. "Now I mostly do training and desk work."

Cassian nods. "I want to be a spy. I just have to convince Fulcrum to train me first."

"Sasha used to be a Fulcrum agent," Zeb brags.

"He is not," Cassian scowls. "There's only one and I know all the potential trainees."

"You trained me," Alex informs him. “When you were an adult.”

Cassian’s eyes go wide. “Really?”

“Really," Alex confirms.

Cassian grins then turns to the vent and goes up on his toes. "Hey Bodhi...Hi Sinker. When did...Oh, he's sleeping."

Cassian drops back onto his heels, then turns and makes his way over. Stordan stands and moves closer to the vent. Cody keeps a tight grip on Rex's hand, but leans in towards Cassian as he asks in a whisper, "Is Bodhi actually sleeping?"

Cassian nods.

"We have food and they want to med scan us," Cody informs him.

Cassian frowns, glancing back at the vent with a look of indecision.

"We need Sinker," Rex tells him. "It's important for safety."

"There's something wrong with him?" Cassian infers. "Can you fix it?"

“As soon as the med frigate is here,” Rex reassures.

Cassian chews on his lower lip, glancing back at the vent. Stordan is guarding the vent now, legs in a wide stance and arms crossed.

“I should not find this adorable,” Zeb comments softly. Alex squeezes his hand.

“We have ration bars that are chocolate flavored, actually decent tasting chocolate flavoring,” Rex wheedles.

There’s a brief moment of quiet tension as Cassian considers this. Cody looks from Cassian to Rex. Crosshair sighs, then breaks the tension by asking, “What’s chocolate?”

“Oh kid,” Zeb sighs at the same time that Rex reaches into his satchel and takes out a ration bar. He holds it up so Crosshair can see before he peels back the wrapping and holds it out. Crosshair pulls the stick that no longer has a lollipop on it out of his mouth, then takes the ration bar with his free hand.

“I’ll take the stick,” Rex encourages. “There’s already a section specifically for waste on my bag. See? Cody already gave me his.”

“I was enjoying chewing on it,” Crosshair says mulishly. “It felt good.”

“I’m not sure that’ll taste good with a ration bar,” Zeb tries as he pats Crosshair’s leg.

“And we don’t want to accidentally get it stuck in Zeb’s fur,” Alex points out.

Crosshair blinks at Alex, glances down at Zeb’s head, then carefully hands over the stick to Rex. Rex puts it in the ‘for trash’ section of his bag, careful not to touch any part that Crosshair actually touched with his mouth, before he holds out the already opened ration bar for Crosshair. Crosshair takes it frowning, before licking it, making a noise of interest then takes a tentative bite.

“It’s good,” Crosshair informs them before taking another bite. Smiling Rex pulls out two ration bars, holding them out to Cassian.

Cassian frowns at the bars, then Rex. "What about Sinker and Bodhi?"

"I actually need Sinker to come out here," Rex reminds. "But we can come back after we get Bly and Stone."

"No, you'll need help keeping Jyn and Krennic separated," Cassian huffs before he snatches the bars from Rex then jogs over to Stordan. He pushes both bars at Stordan who steps back and opens one to eat. Cassian talks towards the vent, too softly to be heard. After a moment the vent pops open and two children drop down. Sinker is the same size as Cody with the same gray hair as Crosshair, but his is clipped short. Bodhi huddles behind him, clinging to one of Sinker's hands.

It makes guilt sink low in Alex’s gut. If it hadn't taken them so long to find Jyn would things have gone as poorly? Would less lives have been lost? Everyone on Scarif might be alive as children, but that doesn't bring back those who died in the battle above it, or those on Jedha or Alderaan, or even those who died on the Tantive IV in their attempt to smuggle the Death Star plans away from Vader. Alex swallows the wounded noises that wants to claw its way out of his mouth. His guilt isn't going to help Bodhi now.

"Chocolate?" Crosshair offers.

Alex turns. He glances at Zeb, making sure his husband is keeping an eye on Rex as their friend approaches the group at the vent, before he turns his own attention to Crosshair. He's holding the part of the ration bar he's already eaten so Alex has access to the untouched portion.

"It's sweet. It might make you feel better," Crosshair reasons. "It's good."

"I'm not hungry, but thank you. Your distracting me made me feel better," Alex reassures.

Crosshair considers him for a moment before he goes back to eating and watching everyone from his perch on Zeb’s shoulders. Alex exchanges a significant look with Zeb. If Crosshair makes a habit of trying to make others feel better by sharing his food when his own caloric needs are more than than most clones, who already have high caloric needs, then they'll need to keep a close eye on his intake and make sure he's getting enough. Zeb squeezes his hand and Alex feels himself relax.

Reluctantly everyone who has a blaster gives it to Rex, who checks them over quickly and then finds a place to store them. Then the group heads over, Sinker and Bodhi moving slowly with the way Bodhi is clinging to Sinker. Rex pauses. The group stops. Rex squats down near Sinker talking softly. Bodhi shakes his head. Sinker turns around to face Bodhi, their heads nearly touching as they whisper at one another. Cody starts to head over, but Alex reaches out and taps his shoulder. “Give them a moment.”

“I want to help,” Cody pouts.

“Just give them a moment to get settled. If Bodhi is feeling overwhelmed then inserting ourselves is just going to add to who he’s reacting to, let him decide on his own to come over,” Alex reasons.

“We could’ve just let him sleep,” Cody grumbles.

“Would Sinker have left?” Zeb asks, tone pointed.

Cody chews on his lower lip, then huffs in frustration. Then he confesses, “Bodhi has really bad nightmares and Sinker helps him feel safe.”

It's on the tip of Alex’s tongue to ask what kind of nightmares, but then Sinker turns around, Bodhi puts his hands around Sinker's neck and then Sinker bends so he can get his hands under Bodhi’s thighs to heft him into his back. The group makes their way over. As they near Alex can hear Bodhi whisper, "Am I too heavy?"

Sinker snorts. "I bet my armor weighs more than you. I've been missing it, so think of this as helping me feel normal."

Bodhi ducks his head against Sinker's shoulder, but doesn't protest again as they set out to find Bly and Stone. They find them in the brig. Krennic is in a cell that's got an energy barrier at the front. Bly and Stone stand in front of it. Jyn paces between them. They're all so tiny. Krennic is still in uniform, though it's muddy and his cape is in tatters.

"Is it wrong that I wish Tolvan was here?" Alex whispers to Zeb.

"Don't sloppy uniforms set her teeth on edge?" Zeb whispers back.

"I know he's just a kid, but there were so many petty message spats between him and Tarkin that this might make her happy."

"Was he brainwashed too?" Crosshair asks, interested.

"Maybe by his own greed," Zeb answers.

Crosshair snorts, then happily takes the ration bar that Rex holds out for him. Stone, who is wearing a bright red shirt, says something to Jyn. She turns to look at them, putting her hands on her hips as she regards them. Then she points an accusing finger at Krennic as she declares, "This asshole killed my mother! I watched him kill my mother and then he kidnapped my father and told his stormtroopers to kidnap me too!"

She ends with a huff. Her face is red.

“I’ve told you I don’t even know you!” Krennic declares crossing his arms.

"That's because I knew you when you were an adult!" Jyn yells. "You're supposed to be an adult!"

"That doesn't even make sense," Krennic yells back.

Bodhi makes a soft sad sound of distress and Sinker says he's going to get them away from the noise. Crosshair stops eating, his face suddenly drawn, his whole body tense. Zeb pats his calf and suggests, "Why don't we keep Sinker and Bodhi company, while Rex and Sasha figure this out. We've got several generals here so I suspect we'll end up letting them make a decision."

It's the first time Zeb’s called him Sasha and suddenly Alex isn't sure he wants Zeb calling him anything else. Crosshair nods, then stills and looks at Cody.

"Go," Cody agrees.

Bly and Stone step between Jyn and Krennic. Bly says something careful and barely audible to Jyn, while Stone turns to calm down Krennic. Alex makes his way over with Rex, Cody, Cassian, and Stordan. Rex huffs, “My knees are going to hate me by the end of the day.”

Then he squats down so he can talk to Jyn. She eyes him suspiciously. “You’re not going to take his side, are you?”

“Right now my main concern is making sure all of you are healthy and that we can get you food. There’s a med frigate on the way and several generals are already here,” Rex informs her. Jyn asks several pointed questions about each general. Stordan uses this opportunity to tap on Rex’s arm and then indicate his bag. Rex nods and shifts his bag so it’s more accessible as he continues his conversation with Jyn. Stordan pulls out more ration bars and passes them out.

Deciding that food will definitely calm some of the nerves Alex lets his attention divert to where Zeb is keeping an eye on Crosshair, Sinker, and Bodhi. With a sinking feeling Alex remembers that Leia had written ‘we didn’t comprehend the debt we owed him until we could no longer repay it’ into several official documents regarding Bodhi Rook. They’ve won at Endor. The Emperor is dead. They still need to take Coruscant. Rebuilding the Republic is going to take time. Finding and bringing all former Imperials to justice is also going to take time. For a moment Alex wonders what the verdict on him would’ve been if he hadn’t switched sides as early as he had. He’d still…no that isn’t the line of thinking he needs to go down. He’s looking at Bodhi and thinking about the threats that are still out there. Former Imperials that still believe in the Empire that might suddenly be able to get their hands on the Rogue One team that’s been turned into children. The thought is enough to chill Alex’s insides. They’re going to need a way to hide them. Could he and Zeb find a way to dedicate themselves to keeping at least some of them safe?

“Do I get food?” Krennic asks. The question is almost sneering. Inwardly Alex winces. Krennic continues, “Or are you going to starve me? You’re taking her yelling at me for something I didn’t do seriously when she’s the one who pushed me into the mud, tore my clothes, punched me, and threatened me!”

It’s such a sharp contrast from Crosshair knowing what he’s done under Imperial orders while brainwashed and clearly being guilty and traumatized by those things that it sets Alex’s teeth on edge. Maybe it doesn’t help that he was privy to some of Krennic and Tarkin’s spats? He’s struggling to view Krennic as an innocent child, especially with that haughty tone and superior look he’s giving Jyn.

Jyn squares her shoulder. “And I would do it again! I may end up doing it again if you don’t let the generals decide.”

Krennic opens his mouth to protest.

Rex holds up his hands.

Krennic’s mouth clacks shut.

Rex runs a hand down his face and sighs, but then he gives Krennic a sympathetic look. “I understand that all of this must be terrifying and that you’re reacting out of fear, but at this moment you don’t have the high ground that you think you do. It’s going to be a long walk back to where we’re setting up base and so I’m going to need both you and Jyn to be on opposite sides of the group and not bait each other.”

Jyn crosses her arms and takes a deep breath. “I can let the generals decide what to do with him.”

“Fine,” Krennic agrees. “I won’t bait her. I can behave.”

The group shifts to put Jyn on one side with Alex near her and Krennic on the other side with Rex near him. Stordan, Cassian, Bly, and Stone make up the middle of the group. All of the kids have ration bars, everyone but Krennic is eating. He wraps his hand tightly around his ration bar instead of opening it.

When they get close to Zeb, Crosshair, Sinker, and Bodhi, Krennic speaks up again, “Why do they get to be carried and I have to walk?”

“Bodhi is my friend,” Sinker glares. “I asked him. We’re having fun.”

“Crosshair is a sniper,” Zeb says, then glances at him.

“You said you wouldn’t bait anyone,” Rex reminds.

“I said I wouldn’t bait her,” Krennic contradicts.

“Give it a rest,” Bly complains.

“Yeah,” Stone agrees. “You’re out of the containment cell, don’t make us have to put you back in for your own safety.”

Krennic huffs, but opens his ration bar and is then blessedly silent for the rest of the trip back to the landing platform. Leia is in the midst of everything, clearly keeping all the kids organized. Lando and Chewbacca are passing out food, while Han has a table set up with multiple med kits and seems to be tending to the minor first aid needs of the group. Hera is supervising Artoo and Chopper as they help take supplies towards the barracks. Jacen, Chirrut, and Baze are helping Hera.

Alex stays with Krennic while Rex walks Jyn over to Leia. Zeb organizes the kids with them to get into Han’s line to get checked over. Bly hesitates and Alex thinks he’s keeping an eye on Rex until he turns and looks up at Alex. He points towards Leia, eyes wide. “Who is that?”

“That’s General Organa. She’s also the Princess of Alderaan, so you might hear people calling her princess as well,” Alex answers.

“She’s amazing,” Bly says dreamily.

“She is,” Alex agrees before pushing Bly to join the group that Zeb is keeping occupied.

Krennic snorts.

“Be kind,” Alex tries. Is that even helpful?

“Why?” Krennic challenges.

Alex sighs through his nose. He’s thinking about asking Zeb if they want to take on protecting some of the Rogue One team knowing that would be raising them, becoming their parents, but a few moments alone with Krennic is already frustrating. Maybe he’s not suited to being a parent? Zeb would make a great parent. He’s been anticipating Crosshair’s needs and helping all the kids stick together and feel more comfortable. He stares down at Krennic’s stubborn face and tries not to remember the frustrating man he was, but to see the scared child in front of him. He squats down. Krennic frowns. Alex slowly reaches out and Krennic doesn’t move. He brushes the hair off Krennic's brow. “I’m not saying this to hurt you, but all of you were adults. You’re probably going to find out that the adult you did things that were hurtful, that hurt a lot of people, but from what I can tell you don’t remember those things and don’t want to do those things. So this is a chance for you to start over, be a better person this time around.”

Krennic starts to chew on his bottom lip and then stops. He glances past Alex, then looks back at Alex, before he asks in a low voice, “Did I really kill her mom?”

“I think so, yes.”

“In front of her?”

“That’s what she remembers,” Alex points out. He’s not sure telling Krennic the truth is going to help, but Alex can’t see lying to him. He’ll find out the truth now or later, so lying to him isn’t going to help. Krennic frowns. Alex turns as he hears Chopper roll over. Hera and Jacen aren’t far behind.

Hera smiles in greeting, but it’s more her 'helping to keep everyone calm' smile, and not her actual smile. “Jyn is going to stick with Leia for a bit and Orson…it is Orson, isn’t it?”

Krennic nods.

“You’re going to stick with me and Jacen, okay Orson?”

Krennic glances at Jacen and then her. He opens his mouth, then glances at Alex and huffs. “Yes, that’s acceptable.”

“Are you hungry?” Jacen asks.

“No, they fed us,” Krennic answers.

“Then let's see if we can find you some clothes to wear, those look messy,” Hera suggests.

“My cape got ruined,” Krennic informs her mournfully.

“I don’t think we have any capes, but General Calrissian is also a fan of capes, so perhaps you two could talk about capes later,” Hera suggests.

“Which one is General Calrissian?” Krennic asks.

“Jacen will point him out. He and Chopper will show you where the extra clothes are. I need to talk to Alex for a moment,” Hera answers.

“I thought his name was Sasha?” Krennic frowns.

“It is!” Jacen grins. “Though some people call him Alex or Kallus, and sometimes when Uncle Zeb is being mushy he calls him…”

“Jacen,” Alex interrupts. “Not everyone needs to know that.”

“I know it,” Jacen defends. “Nearly everyone knows it.”

“I don’t,” Krennic says.

“Not yet,” Jacen tells him. “Stick around and you will.”

Hera laughs and shakes her head. “Go you three. I’ll catch up.”

Alex sighs and shakes his head as Chopper follows behind Krennic and Jacen. “Your kid is being friendly with…”

“Yeah, that’s Jacen,” Hera interrupts.

“It is,” Alex agrees as he looks around. “I know how many of our people died here and roughly about how many Imperials were estimated to be on planet when they fired that reactor. Seeing them all here as kids is a bit overwhelming.”

They stand there in silence for a moment looking at the sheer amount of children milling around.

“The med frigate is a few hours out,” Hera says. “We’re going to try and get everyone assigned beds in the barracks, put on a holo, and hopefully get some of them to sleep. Clones are to go to the med frigate first.”

“I’m not sure we’re going to want to separate Sinker and Bodhi.”

“Clones and Rogue One then,” Hera amends.

“The main five or the entire squadron?” Alex asks. Has anyone located Kaytoo? Is Kaytoo even salvageable? Part of Alex missed Cassian’s sarcastic reprogrammed Imperial murderbot.

“The main five.”

Alex nods. He looks at her. She’s got a worried expression that matches how he feels. “I want to ask about Kaytoo, but Krennic is the more pressing issue.”

Hera agrees, then informs him, “We’re going to let Mon Mothma decide what to do with Krennic. Leia can’t be objective and Mothma might. At least that’s the plan for now.”

Alex nods.

“I’ll ask Artoo and Chopper to look for Kaytoo,” she promises as she walks away.

Alex isn’t even sure Cassian is going to want to meet Kaytoo. Maybe he will after they explain who Kaytoo was to him. He can have Cassian meet Ahsoka. He comms her to ask. It’s unsurprising when her tone turns nostalgic and she agrees that she should see Cassian. She said that anytime she was on the base he lived on he'd follow her around and ask her multiple questions until she decided she had to take him under her wing. When she'd unexpectedly come back after they’d thought she’d died and they'd taken her to the memorial she'd stood in front of Cassian’s image and said he'd been the closest she'd ever got to having a padawan.

It's not difficult to locate Cassian. He’s standing in front of Bodhi in Han’s line. Sinker is wrapped around Bodhi from behind and they’re both talking quietly to him. Zeb is still watching over the group. Rex is still talking with Jyn and Leia. After briefly looking them over, Alex heads over to Cassian and squats down. “I’ve got someone who wants to see you.”

Cassian glances at Bodhi.

“I’m okay,” Bodhi encourages as he leans into Sinker.

“I’ll watch out for them,” Stordan offers.

“We’re here too,” Cody reminds.

Bodhi ducks his head against Sinker’s shoulder. Cassian frowns for a moment more. He glances at Sinker who just nods. Cassian nods back and then turns to Kallus and holds out his hand. “Where are we going?”

Alex resists sharing a concerned look with Zeb, but that might only worry the children. Zeb will watch out for them and Han will attempt to entertain them. Alex points out Ahsoka’s ship and they head over.

Once they get onboard Cassian hesitates only briefly before he flings himself at Ahsoka talking excitedly and asking her a rapid string of questions. She laughs and pulls him into her lap. Alex gives her a grin and heads back out to help the rest of the group.

Rau is striding into the area with several pilots, and pathfinders behind them. He directs them to Hera and Leia before he makes his way over to Rex, who is now assisting Zeb and Han. Alex starts to make his way over to them then pauses as he takes in the personnel Rau brought with him: everyone has been part of the Rebellion since before Hoth.

Rau thumps his helmet down on a relatively unused part of the table before hugging Rex tightly, resting their foreheads together and cupping his cheeks. Alex feels himself relax just slightly, Rex will at least let Rau check in and will be truthful about how he’s emotionally handling the sudden influx of children clones.

“Aren’t you one of the flight instructors?” Cody demands.

Rau keeps cupping Rex’s cheeks, but pulls back enough to look at Cody. “You recognize me?”

“No, I recognize your armor,” Cody fires back.

“Cody,” Rex groans. “You can at least try to be nice to my boyfriend.”

“You’re my little brother,” Cody reminds. “I’m supposed to look out for you.”

“Why don’t we find somewhere to talk and you can interrogate me?” Rau suggests.

Cody continues to glare as he considers this. “I guess that's acceptable.”

Rau gives Rex a brief kiss, picks up his helmet, and then holds out his hand for Cody. Cody takes it and the two step away from the group.

Alex spends the next few hours helping to organize and keep kids relatively safe and watched out for. Several of the kids find bunks and go to sleep. Bodhi and Sinker share a bunk with Sinker insisting they get assigned one in a corner of the room. Bodhi is asleep near the wall with Sinker sleeping in front of him. The kids who don’t want to sleep get set up with a holo and snacks.

It’s near sunset when Alex feels comfortable enough to take a moment for himself. He finds Zeb and they walk out to the beach to watch the way the sun setting shifts the colors in the sky. Zeb wraps an arm around his waist and Alex leans into him. He’s tired, but he also wants to discuss the two of them protecting Rogue One. They’ve talked about being parents. He doesn’t imagine either of them thought it’d be this soon or this many children, but he thinks that together the two of them can figure it out.

“Plourr commed while you were helping to get Sinker and Bodhi settled,” Zeb tells him. “She was able to locate families for all the kids from Eiattu 6 and they’d like them back so she’s coming to get them.”

Several of the kids will have surviving relatives, some aren’t going to.

“That’s not all she said,” Alex guesses.

Zeb laughs. “No. She found out we got married and said something about bringing us marriage crowns and expecting holos of us in them when we renew our vows.”

Alex turns so he can give Zeb a kiss. He sinks into the sensation of Zeb being so close. He wishes for a moment they could stay like this: trading kisses on the shore at sunset. They’re only going to be able to have much time away from the group though and they still haven’t talked about Rogue One. Reluctantly Alex pulls back, then admits, “I never thought I’d get a marriage crown.”

“Maybe once things settle down Plourr is right and we should get married again. One that isn’t rushed between meetings, not that I would change marrying you for anything, but I do know someone who’s going insist that she should be the one to marry us and we could take our time deciding how to blend different traditions,” Zeb suggests.

“You’re leaving me with several questions, but you know how much I love planning,” Alex smiles.

“Is that a yes to marrying me again, my meteorite?” Zeb asks.

“Obviously,” Alex laughs before he kisses Zeb again. “Jacen says that nickname is mushy.”

“You know how old Jacen is, right? And it’s a pet name, not a nickname.”

“I do like it,” Alex admits. “I liked hearing you call me Sasha too.”

“At least Plourr will get her way on you being Sasha,” Zeb comments.

Alex groans. “What else does she have planned?

“She said something about trying to arm wrestle Draven for custody of Merrick, then she asked if there were any Red Squadron survivors.”

“Mart has family on Mykapo. She’s not going to get anywhere there,” Alex says. “At least we know that we’ll have options for the people who won’t have relatives to take them in.”

“We’re going to want to keep Rogue One together and hidden,” Zeb comments.

“The five main ones, yes,” Alex agrees. “There are still too many Imperials running around.”

It feels like they’ve won the war at Endor with the death of the Emperor, but the war isn’t completely over yet.

“I’d hate to think what they’d do to one of those kids,” Zeb bristles.

“I was going to suggest we take them,” Alex says. He wets his lips. “I know we’ve only talked about being parents a few times, but…”

“Really?” Zeb interrupts. He’s grinning, excited.

Alex smiles back and cups his cheeks. “Really.”

Zeb kisses his palm. “I know where we can take them.”

“I’m not sure how Bodhi and Sinker will take to being separated.”

“I think Rau and Rex are going to take the clones and I can check, but I’m sure they’d be welcome,” Zeb reassures.

“Really? You want to do this? We can do this?” Alex checks, making sure.

“We can,” Zeb says. “We’re going to want to see if anyone has tooka allergies. A tooka kitten is a traditional housewarming gift where we’re going.”

There are plenty of cultures in the galaxy where a tooka is a traditional housewarming gift, but that’s true for Lasats and with Zeb saying he knows someone who will insist on marrying them Alex is beginning to wonder if he’s going find out where Zeb has been helping the surviving Lasats settle. Will they even want him there? It’s understandable if he’s not welcome, if his presence would make people uncomfortable, but he trusts Zeb. If Zeb thinks this will be the safest place for them to help raise Rogue One then it’s likely the safest place to do so.

“We should go back,” Alex says reluctantly. Zeb gives him another thorough kiss, then they head back towards the barracks holding hands.

When they’re near the barracks Rex rushes up to them. “Have either of you seen Crosshair?”

Alex groans. He’s got a bad feeling about this. “Have you checked the Millennium Falcon? He kept looking at it intently.”

“No.” Rex pauses as his comm chimes. He looks at the message.“He’s with Luke, on the Falcon. Luke is trying to be reassuring.”

“That’s not actually reassuring,” Zeb grumbles as the three of them head towards the Millennium Falcon.


Chapters: [1] [2] [3] [4]