Private A New Light from Fire

[Makko Vyres]

Makko was sat against the headboard. He had a book in his lap. He didn't even act embarrassed about reading books now.

It was easier to hold conversations whilst reading a book compared to watching an interactive Holo-film through his implants.

This time, however, he was quite immersed in the book.

"Huh?" he looked up to see what Cora was doing. "Oh."

"Yeah you can see it," he said

Makko looked back down at his book, not realising that the speed of the answer had been slightly dangerous.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora frowned. His answer wasn't...wrong, per se, just…

Yeah, you can see it.

...Wasn't what she wanted to hear? In that tone of voice? With his lack of attention? Granted, she hadn't been direct about her concerns regarding her changing body, but he should've known!

One cheek puffed up indignantly as she looked at her husband through the mirror. For once, she wanted to rip that book out of his hand. And before she could let that feeling land or let her conscience tell her otherwise, Cora's feet were moving. She let her shirt fall back into place, paced over to the bed, and yoinked the datapad from Makko's hands.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she snarked, voice lifting with faux-sheepishness. "Is what you're reading more interesting than your pregnant wife??"

Makko Vyres

 

[Makko Vyres]

MAKKO

Makko blinked hard, hands suddenly empty, fingers still curled as if the datapad were there.

He looked up slowly, like a man realising he had just stepped on a landmine.

I mean it was a good bit... The voice of chaos echoed at the back of his mind.

"Er... No. No of course not."

Makko pushed himself a little further back up the bed and sat more upright.

"What I mean to say was that it's noticeable but you look lovely."

Makko pushed one leg off the bed and stood up.

"Sorry for not paying attention. Do you... Want to go clothes shopping?"

Makko grinned. He loved shopping for clothes.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

"What's the point? I'm just going to outgrow them."

When Makko stood, Cora lingered near the mirror before plopping down on the bed. She huffed, setting the datapad on the sheets beside her, and had the sense to look vaguely guilty for her attitude. He was trying, but she couldn’t help the emotional release that came with sulking.

"I'm going to get really big, you know."

Makko knew that, of course. Cora still held her hands out in front of her abdomen, cradling the air between in mock gestation.

She sighed, and those hands dropped unceremoniously into her lap. "I know it's silly but I just…it's so new."

When she'd first found out, she'd been early enough along to temper any excitement. But now, her stomach was growing. Just a little. Just enough to remind her that this was real.

Makko Vyres

 

[Makko Vyres]

MAKKO

Even after all their time together, he couldn't always read her. Not even with the bond between them.

Makko’s expression softened the moment she deflated onto the bed. The sting of her earlier tone didn’t linger; what lingered was the way she held her hands in front of her abdomen. She was still trying to come to terms with another life growing inside her.

That was more important then the idea of multiple shopping trips for new outfits as she grew.

He crossed the room slowly this time, careful not to crowd her, and lowered himself beside her with a quiet exhale.

“I know you will,” he said gently.

He reached out tentatively and brushed the back of his knuckles lightly against the curve of her stomach through her shirt.

“I guess it should feel new.”

His voice stayed soft with a touch of something close to awe.

"I did... Kinda think it might have been a few more months..."

He still felt slightly proud at how quickly this had happened. They hadn't needed very long trying.

"What else are you feeling?" he asked.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora's head dropped onto Makko's shoulder the moment he sat beside her. Her eyes followed the gentle motion of his knuckles as they ran over her stomach.

The light touch felt nice.

"It did happen quick," she murmured. They'd been lucky, too, that her particular mission on the Death Star hadn't lead to any threatening injuries.

"I think I'm just scared. Excited, too, but scared. This baby will change…everything."

Everything. Soon, they would have a new life to look after - someone they'd made. Cora didn't yet know just how thoroughly she'd be consumed by the wellbeing of her children, but she could feel it on the horizon. Like seeing the froth of a tidal wave before it hit ashore.

She took a deep breath.

"And I know it's selfish to think this way but…I'm going to get huge."

Though she'd broken away from tradition in many ways, it had been instilled within her that good Ukatian noblewomen kept their figure. Good Ukatian noblewomen were also supposed to bear children, so those two expectations were at odds.

Makko Vyres

 

[Makko Vyres]

"I think I'm just scared. Excited, too, but scared. This baby will change…everything."

Makko allowed those words to sink in. He let them turn into a picture of the future, let those colours mix into emotions. He felt them. He felt scared too, but he always felt a wave of love for someone he hadn't even met yet.

It was strange to think about. She was barely a swell in Cora's middle. He could feel a form of life in the Force, bound to Cora, but she didn't have a shape or sense of feelings yet.

"And I know it's selfish to think this way but…I'm going to get huge."

Now he was paying full attention he managed not to say 'yes you will.'

"I'm sure you'll look incredible. Even when you're uncomfortable. Also we've got a big bed so hopefully you won't roll on me..."

Paying full attention but not mature enough to avoid a joke.

---

Makko was exhausted. He had been working to help get the systems set up to enable them to understand who had landed in the refugee camps. They needed to ID everyone, work out who was where and get them in touch with loved ones.

Cora had been at the camps themselves.

The household staff were still bemused that he walked into the kitchens himself. He was an oddity here. He was a Jedi Knight, but he was also a commoner. He was married to Corazona so they had expectations about his behaviour.

"Hey," he went as he rifle through a cupboard. One of the young men smiled at him, but the hear cook appeared almost immediately to watch him suspiciously.

"Mr Vyres, Lady Corazona has returned."

With an energy bar in one hand - he suspected the cook would find his stash and throw it out - he headed back up to the entrance hall.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora threw her arms around Makko with an exhausted, exaggerated sigh. Her head dropped into his shoulder, heavy and warm.

"I am glad to see you," she muffled against his collar. "You would not believe the day I've had."

The abnormal was becoming their normal, she realized. Cora was just glad that, at the end of a grueling day, she could still bask in Makko's unconditional love and understanding. The first time they'd met, the differences between them had been stark enough for friction. The passing years and trials had softened their sharper edges until they'd found a way to fit together.

"Oh," Cora said as she pulled back, having spied the metallic packaging of the energy bar in his grasp. "Thanks, I'm starving!"

Makko wouldn't be given a chance to tell her otherwise – not when his wife hurriedly shucked the wrapping and stuffed her face. A musical hum of approval sounded from the back of her throat.

"The interim Chancellor yelled at me," she declared through a mouthful of compacted nutrients. A thick swallow had the line of her throat bobbing. "Can you believe it?"

Makko Vyres

 

[Makko Vyres]

"Oh," went Makko as she collided with him.

His surprise didn't extend to having the energy bar stolen. He had learned that Cora could suddenly be starving, could crave almost anything or be disgusted by anything. He just had to go with the flow.

"He did what?" said Makko.

He didn't need much of a prompt to be annoyed at the Chancellor. Despite the glimmers of a real human Cora claimed to have seen, Makko just saw another self-assured condescending noble.

It was true that Makko had a chip on his shoulder. He was well aware of his prejudice back, but he had scars from dealing with Ukatis power games.

"What right does he have to yell at you? Especially here!"

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

"Hmm," Cora went, chewing a little more thoughtfully now. She was reminded of Makko's wariness towards Aurelian, then the softer direction her conversation with the latter had taken after being scolded.

"I know, right?" she huffed, leaning into him and basking in their mutual dislike. "Well I…you know how busy it can get there, and before I knew it, I was working with the wounded."

At least she had the decency to lower her voice out of sheepishness. Cora had promised Makko that she wouldn't over exert herself, and working with the sick and dying in a refugee camp with limited PPE or microbial filtration didn't exactly fit the bill of pregnant woman being careful.

"It was weird, actually. He looked…worn? In a greasy sort of way. Like he'd actually been working at the camp, instead of using it as a photo op."

Cora took another bite of the energy bar and chewed slowly. Then, she added:

"I mean, I was handling patients, too! Very unprofessional of him."

Makko Vyres

 

[Makko Vyres]

"Working? As if!"

Makko pulled a face as if the scene wasn't something he could picture. In truth, it was not. He had been surprised by people before but Cora was currently annoyed at Aurelian so he wasn't in the mood to offer people the benefit of the doubt.

"Of course he shouldn't have come near you while you..."

He paused as the situation she was describing sank in.

"You were careful, right?" Makko asked. He didn't want to have her wrath immediately transfered at himself. "I mean, of course you went to help, but you need to be careful of anyone with disease..."

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

"You were careful, right?"

Cora scoffed. "Of course I was!"

The pause that followed held a note of awkward tension. Cora shifted on her feet, hoping that the stretched silence wouldn't feel too weird as she polished off the remainder of his energy bar. She'd developed a strange taste for them lately.

"I mean, I…you know how busy things can get, and how easy it is to get pulled into ten different directions at once. I was barely in the sick tents."

Makko Vyres

 

[Makko Vyres]

MAKKO

Well good then he has no right to tell you off

Was what Makko had been about to say.

Instead he made a small noise at the back of his throat. She would sense his feelings down their bond.

He wasn't quite annoyed, but he was protective and frustrated.

"Maybe don't go near them?" he offered.

"Look, there's no much that can harm both of you," he said.

He had done plenty of research on the subject. Makko had started to worry. Not because he was a natural worrier, but this was all entirely new to him. He had no reference point and no guides.

Valery Noble had been very active during her pregnancies. Her and Kahlil were the closest he had to family where he could follow by example.

"But if they've come from off world, your shots might not be right."

It wasn't likely, but there were a handful of really nasty diseases that could permanently harm a fetus. A few that could infect the child for life.

Of course, Cora was far more medically trained than he was.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

At the very least, she had the good sense to feel sheepish. Makko's discomfort pulsed down their bond like a discordant note.

Cora rocked on her heels, letting that disquiet hit her. This was all very new and difficult to navigate, and she felt a little ashamed for how long it took for the realization that this was his child, too, to sink in.

"I just...feel like if I'm not doing as much that I can do," she glanced down to the wrapper, running her thumb over its metallic finish, "then I'm not doing enough."

The realization that she'd been selfish washed over her. It was one thing to disregard her own comfort, but Cora was now responsible for the little life growing inside her. "I guess in some ways," she placed both hands to her abdomen, and the wrapper crinkled, "It doesn't feel real yet?"

She looked up to Makko's face, suddenly searching. "I didn't even think of that," she said. "The shots we have should cover most things since we travel, but I'm not sure if they'd protect the baby, too."

Cora blinked. Suddenly, she felt tired. "Alright, I'll be more careful," she yawned into her hand, not bothering to try and politely stifle the gesture in his presence. "Aurelian was so upset that he was about to go and grab you – maybe I should've let him," she teased.

Makko Vyres

 

[Makko Vyres]

MAKKO

She had been shouted at by Aurelian. That still made him angry. He took her small concession and listened.

They had been through so much together, so many trials and so much anguish. The rough edges had been worn down and they fit together well.

Neither of them had been good at listening. Neither had given ground. A single pot of academy canteen pudding had born witness to that.

"Like, I don't wanna be that prick who tells his wife what she can do when pregnant, you know?"

Makko leaned forwards, placing his hand over hers.

"It's still sinking in," he agreed.

"At least you saved me from trying to talk this through with him," Makko said. The arrogant self centred street rat didn't get on with the arrogant, self centred lordling. Even if there was probably more in common between them beneath the surface.

"Want me to run a bath?"