Hit the Ground Running..

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Tabaqui​

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Midday​

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Théodred, or as mother and father like to call him, Théo, sat on one of the lounges resting against one of the many colourful cushions. The soft breeze that filiter through their home, tussled his thick black hair and cooled his bare skin, he likes the cool breeze, the warmer weather not to his liking and he becomes grizzly. He is grizzly today, but not the hot weather the cause but his teeth. Although he has some of them now, they still are cutting and painful.

A wooden toy that his father had carved for him, now had another purpose in his short life, that was to aid relieve the pain of his gums. The head of the carved creature in his mouth on which he chewed, the whole thing covered in spittle. His mother had gone to the kitchen to get some ice, and he hoped she would return very soon, he does not like her absence for too long and would voice his protest if she over stayed her absence.

A distraction of a flying insect caught his eye, he followed the tiny creature as it buzzed around his head, he is not afraid of it more intrigued, then several more arrived and landed on one of the heavily scented flowers behind him. Forgetting his paining teeth for a moment, Théo turned to watch, grabbing hold of the back of the lounge to support his legs, he can stand now with support but yet to take his first steps.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

Coci looked out the window and lifted her black eyes to the skies. The dark clouds gathered in the distance, the sign of the tropical rains to come, they always did on Tabaqui and bring with them much relief come the afternoon from the stiffling humidity. Today is hot and sticky which did not help her or Théo, although she could handle the heat better, Théo not so much. She knew it was his Valkyri blood and there was little she could do to help him expect do her best to keep him cool.

From the cooler that housed their food and water, Coci grabbed the ice tray and emptied the cubes into a bowl. With the back of her cocked wrist, she wiped her brow on the gathering sweat then picked up one of the cubes rubbing it against her forehead, around her face before she let it slide down her neck and upper chest. Immediately the ice cubed melted, against her hot skin the melted water began to run down her body between her bare breasts only covered by a loose thin white shirt. It is a temporary relief but it felt nice.

Taking the bowl Coci went back outside on the veranda to find Théo to cool him and so he could relief his teething on an ice cube. It helped him to dull the pain. Her bare feet padding on the wooden flooring soon took her to the lounge setting to find Théo about to topple over the edge of the railing behind the seating. Immedately Coci's hand shot up and through the force she grabbed her child just as he was about to fall head over heels into the bushes. His small body lifted up in the air, a looked of surprised on his face as Coci turned him to rest back on the lounge, his brilliant sapphire blue eyes looked at his mother in wonder and confusion.

She smiled at her son, he looks so much like [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] in some features especially his eyes. Coci sat down next to Théo placing a loving kiss on the top of his head before she took a cube to give him. She had no need to instruct, everything Théo touched entered the mouth.

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

The ice in his small hands had an immediate effect, it felt nice to Théo and he wasted no time placing it in his mouth. The cold numbing his sore gums and cooling his blood. He looked up into his mother's face as she played with his long black curls. She seemed to be thinking about something, her gaze looking out across the front of the house toward the lake, before her attention returned to him.

"Ice", he heard his mother say as she picked up a piece for herself. Théo had began to say a few words, most of which only in part or close but his mother was determine to educated it seemed.

The melting ice began to run down his arm and so he reached for another, "We should take a swim Théo that might cool us both". This he understood, and the idea appealed to him. Without warning Théo turned on his belly and crawled backward off the seating, his legs reaching for the surface of the veranda and he stood as he held the cushions. Deciding to be brave, he let go with one hand, and steady himself as he stood, legs firm in place but he wanted to go. Finally the other hand lifted and he be became unsteady, and this bum hit the floor.

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Meanwhile, daddy Heavenshield occupied himself by fashioning and putting up a picket fence around their home. Now with their son about to learn how to walk, they needed to make sure the little guy would not risk getting himself into a dangerous situation by wandering into the nearby woods. The side of the house facing the lake had already been taken care of, and after having picked up this freetime trade several years ago he could honestly say he's gotten quite good at it. Not that he would, of course. He refused to take advantage of the Force, however; this is his home, his sanctuary. At home, he was a father and a husband. The Jedi he'd tuck away best he could.

As he hammered the last piece of wooden fence into place for today, he smiled at the sight of his baby boy attempting his first unguided steps. It was a failed attempt, undoubtedly, but every attempt has a high chance of failure. Most often you don't know the odds of success until you've tried it. Wiping the sweat off his brow, he gathered his tools and looked to the skies, noticing the dark, heavy clouds in the distance. Monsoon season was creeping up on them once more. Little Théo had already lived long enough to witness his first, only he had no way of remembering it.

Thurion stepped onto the porch, finding a clean towel to rid himself of much of the sweat glistening in the sun. He observed [member="Coci Heavenshield"] and the boy for a moment, unable to wipe away the wide smile on his face. "You've got your mother's stubborness in you," he joked knowing full well the consequences considering Coci was right next to him. After the inevitable retort from his wife, he simply plucked the boy off the ground and laid down, back against the wooden boards of the porch and with baby Théo raised into the air, arms fully extended. "Look out, mommy! [member="Théodred Heavenshield"] doesn't need to walk - he's already learnt how to fly."

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

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There would be no verbal retort from the wife, but rather a sharply raised brow instead. Stubborn? ... she preferred, determined. Very rarely would one that is stubborn admit to it. However, she smiled, as no one in this galaxy had she met that is a stubborn as Thurion Heavenshield, the romantic persuit of her a testament to that, alone. A small act of defiance saw Coci cross her arms across her chest and lean against one of the poles on the veranda, but she watched father and son enjoying a moment, and her smile crept wider across her face. Fleeting is defiance where Thurion is concerned, he will always disarm her mood with ease.


"I was thinking we should all go for a swim in the lake to cool off, Théo is feeling the heat today", she said as Thurion lifted Théo into the air playing. Thurion would understand the nature of the Valkyr blood well enough and although Théo parentage influences him, he seems to have a large portion of his ancestors of Midvinter. And to get Thurion back for his stubborness comment, no it had not been forgotten, "And you smell like you could use a swim as well". Of course he did not smell, and Thurion would know this as there was too much jest in her voice to be otherwise interpreted.

Coci pushed off the pole and moved to kneel directly behind Thurion's head as he still held Théo, leaned down and placed a kiss on her beloved's forehead. A hand pulling back a strand of mattered hair clinging to the side of his face before she caressed his cheek. "The fence looks great .. I will go get some fresh towels". Coci stood and entered their home, she would change into her swim suit as well.

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

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You can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family​

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Could there be more protective parents in the galaxy? No. Could there be more loving parents in the universe? No to that as well. Théo is in a good place and he knows it. Sisters on the other hand, completely different. Constantly fussing over him, poking and scolding and he has little interest in them save for their things which taste good. Nima does not like it when he chews on her crayons, Mysa the same, silly creatures what else are they for? Théo is in the stage of his life where the entirely galaxy revolves around him and the want for destruction paramount. How else is one to find out how strong or what something is made of?. In time Théo will learn that sisters have their uses after all he will grow up and they will have girlfriends that will one day become very interesting.

But for now he simply enjoyed his father's company, looking down into his golden face and big blue eyes, Théo laughed with sheer delight as he rode the air. Atlhough it was not doing his stomach much good, father would have to stop soon or mission abort!

His arms reached forward toward his father, he wanted down and a cuddle, "Papa?", as clear as a bell, he said the word for the first time, his tiny fingers curling in a grabbing motions for his father.

... and one day he will break through that fence.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Their son still raised above ground, he looked up at Coci and smiled at her suggestion. "You're right - I could use a swim to get rid of the smell!" He watched as she stepped inside, then returned his gaze to Théo. He recognised his own eyes staring back at him, filled with childhood joy. When the word "Papa" was uttered by the two-year-old for the first time, his heart melted as they embraced each other. For such a small creature, Théo had a surprisingly strong grip as he grabbed hold of Thurion's thumb. At this rate he was lucky the boy didn't decide to munch on him, too. "You do have your mother's determination," he confirmed.

Once Coci returned, she would find her husband already changed into his swim trunks. The toddler, on the other hand, decided he did not need any clothes at all.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

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Grabbing towels from the cupboard and throwing them on the bed in the master bedroom, Coci peeled off her clinging white shirt. A cooling breeze entered the room and tickled her naked body, the breeze a sign that the monsoon rains would arrive shortly but that did not worry her, after all it would be a welcome relief and the storms are not dangerous with lightening. She found her bikini quickly and dressed before she went back down to Thurion and Théo.

She found them both waiting for her, Thurion supporting Théo standing with his hand it would not be long now and he would be walking. Coci reached up behind her head and released her long black hair from its tie to allow it to fall down her back, she looked over Thurion as she did, admiring his phyique with a sparkle in her black eyes, and her mind began to think of the coming night when they will be alone.

With towels in arms, she bounded down the stairs and across the grass lawn making her way to the edge of the lake.

"You two coming?", she yelled back.

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

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Pulling on his father's hand eager to go after his mother, Théo lost balance and ended up pivoting on the spot and thumping into the back of his father's legs. He was starting to get frustrated he could not work his legs and began to voice it with a grumble. Regaining his footing he looked up into his father's face with welling tears in his sapphire blue eyes. He is so tall to Théo, a giant in a child's eye but his love for his father knows no bounds. His little hand gripped the larger hand for support.

"Papa?", he pointed to the disappearing figure of his mother. They can't let her get there first! and he is very hot and those teeth began to pain again. Lifting his father's hand, he began to gum on his nearest finger.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

The sight of Coci in a bikini had him petrified where he stood, heart inevitably racing even as she passed him in making her way to the lake. Noticing Théo's impatient behaviour, Thurion raised the poor boy high into the air and settled him atop his shoulders before galloping after mommy. Luckily Coci had decided to wait for them so that they all could step in the cool water together. With Théo still atop his shoulders, he strode as far as he could without risking the safety of their child. Once deep enough for his tiny feet to be submerged, Thurion would stop. By now the water reached up to his chest, and immediately he felt the dried sweat dissolve and his skin cleansed.

Having brought a floatie in the shape of a cartoonishly proportionate krayt dragon, he made sure Théo wore it properly before letting the lad down from his shoulders to paddle around on his own, ever under the watchful eyes of his parents. Water was second nature to him due to having grown up on Pelagon where swimming was all-but mandatory. In a few years he'd be teaching his own son how to swim, something he never could've imagined in his youth.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

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Placing the towels under one of the trees by the lake, Coci turned to watch Thurion wad into the water with Théo atop his shoulders. Her eyes lingered on Thurion's physical form, his back broad and lean, his muscles working under his skin and across his broad shoulders. The sun light dancing across his golden body, and his hair glistened as the sun kissed highlight shone. Admiration of the man as a man. Coci loves Thurion beyond measure, but she equally wants him with the fire of passion.

Most certainly time to cool off. Coci, she thought to herself with a smile.

Wasting no more time, Coci ran to the waters edges and waded out to meet Thurion and Théo. She smiled more as she noticed the floatie, a krayt dragon which Théo just loved, his little legs kicking fast through the water as his body began to cool from the heat. They would have to take him back to Midvinter soon, to see his grandfather and play in the snow. Coci missed Midvinter too and would grab any excuse to return. She could taste the roasted meats already.

Coci passed Thurion, she gave him another look over before she dived into the water. Her arms reaching forward, pulling them back to glide under the crystal water. The soothing water rippled around her body, taking away the sweat of the day and regenerating her energy and as she surfaced she turned on her back and floated pushing her body out of the water to take in the ray from the sun. It felt wonderful.

This place is paradise, and even more so with her family with her to enjoy it. Still on her back she turned to find Thurion her hand pulled back only to release water in a splash to him hitting his chest and face. Théo amused by this laughed and tried to do the same to his father.

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

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Legs kicking wildly under the water, Théo managed to come closer to his father and mother. Arms flaying trying to splash his father only to put more water on himself but that was the fun of it. But .. but the floatie, although it kept him up it was limiting and Théo frowned. However, his legs began to feel stronger and would develop quicker than most children his age purely because of his bloodline. The cooling waters also assisted in dropping his body temperature and he felt much better for it, the fun of lake removing his attention to his teeth which gave him respite from the cutting teeth. Such trials he goes through now.

His continuing kicking and arm waving put Théo off course and he turned in a circle facing the shore of the lake. A little frustrated with the floatie and with the drift of the current, Théo found himself moving toward shore. Only moments later his feet touched the bottom of the lake and with the aid of the floatie, he stood up and walked forward. He kept going until he reached the grassy shore line and the floatie fell to the ground over his bare bottom.

He stood for a moment as the world around him looked different, he could see more as he stood upright. Then he realised what he had done, he had walked out of the water onto solid ground and had not fallen. No support and on his own feet.

He shot a look over his shoulder toward his parents still in the lake and smiled. Then he took off. Running across the grass and into that illusive jungle he has been eye off ever since he had known it. Only problem is of course, he has no control yet, not with any skill but made it to the thickness of the foliage and into the humid jungle. Everything looked wonderful and inviting and much to be discovered.

His first discovery? The raised root of one of the majestic jungle trees, his foot caught on it and he fell forward on his front and into a muddy puddle. But he did not hurt himself, the mud softening his fall and strangely the mud felt nice. Distracted from his adventure already, the mud became the focus as he sat up and began to paint his body in the brown cool mud.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Grabbing hold of Coci after she splashed him, the two began to lovingly wrestle each other in the cool waters of the lake. Thurion had strength, but Coci had agility. Once the two reached a stalemate, he instead planted his lips upon her with a passion. It seemed to him that ever since the birth of their son she'd gotten even more beautiful - a feat he dared not think possible at first. He held her by the wrists to give her, or perhaps himself, a sense of him being in control. Force knows she's the one pulling the well-timed strings in terms of passion and heated romance between the two of them. He was more than willing to let her.

After a moment or two things had gotten real quiet, all of a sudden. There was no splashing from tiny feet or any sound of sweet laughter. "Théo?" He looked around him. No toddlers in sight. The floatie was beached upon the lakeside. "Théo!" Swimming as fast as he could towards the shore, Thurion got out of the water and started searching for their boy through the Force, quickly detecting his signature. "He's in the jungle," he told Coci as both took off, still wearing nothing but swimwear.

When they eventually did find him getting messy with a puddle of mud, Thurion let out a sigh of relief. "Théo, there you are! What were you thinking running off like that?" Picking the boy up with or without his consent, he began to clean him up best he could before it hit him. "Wait... You walked all this way? By yourself?"

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

​

It is a different kind of heat, the heat she feels from Thurion's body as he stands close to her in the water. The heat of the humidity can be stifling, breathtaking and all one wants to do is find respite from it, in any form possible, but it also can fuel the body to passion and now the fire had been ignited. As Thurion took hold of her wrists, Coci looked up into his face, her hips pressed to his as she leaned back in 'defiance'. He would be in little doubt of the desire within her as their lips met in biting hunger.

However, they both knew and very much aware that the passion would have to wait, although she allowed her eyes to take in his entire body and letting him be aware of it, and the hunger in her eyes. But as soon as Thurion uttered Théo's name Coci head snapped to find their son. Only to find him gone.

Coci was only half a length behind Thurion as they swam to the shore, Thurion the natural swimmer and would teach Théo the same, sooner rather than later Coci had just decided and now a tracking device to be attached as well. Arms and legs pumped across the grass and ploughing into the jungle, Coci followed Thurion's voice as he had found him. She found father and son in each other's arms, covered in mud. She walked up to them placing a hand on Thurion's shoulder and the other the back of Théo's head, she cared little that he is covered, in fact it did the trick in cooling his body temperature, she would have to remember that in the future and use it while here on Tabaqui.

"Of course!, Théo walked! or ran?", Coci forgot all the panic from the last ten minutes, Thurion had concluded before she and she smiled wide to them both.

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

His muddy fingers and hands found his father's beard, Théo grinned as the mud caked the hair of beard and all he wanted to do was put more of it on his father's face, he giggled at his own thought. As his father spoke to him, Théo's blue eyes met their match in his fathers and he smiled more that both parents had noticed his achievement.

"Théo ran Papa", he confirmed his father's thoughts. He felt his mother close by and turned to look into her black eyes, so different to his or Thurion's and Théo loved them, especially when they smiled and sparkled when she looked into his face just before she would kiss him good night and whisper gently to his ear that she loves him.

At a young age Théo knows love, he has seen it, time and again the faces of his parents, when they look at him, and even more powerful, when they look at each other. He has felt it, through the strong arms of his father, protecting him, bringing him from harm and then his father's embrace would be gentle, as he too would convey unconditional love for Théo.

"Théo ran!", and he began to wriggle to get down and only wanted to do it again, to show them both.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Providing Théo with every opportunity to keep painting his father in mud, Thurion eventually put him back down at his own request. Still holding him by the hand in case he decided to run off farther into the jungle, he pointed towards their home. "Why don't you show us how well you can run by coming home with us, Théo?" He then let go of his tiny hand, indicating he was free to move about as he saw fit, yet with both parents watching him there was little chance of him escaping.

As the boy eventually galloped off back into the sunlit fields of grass, Thurion's hand settled upon his wife's hip as they walked back towards their home. "I guess we could use some more cleaning up," he told her, eyes still watching Théo as his short legs carried him as fast as they could. Wiping some of the mud off his face he began to gently paint Coci's cheek with a lone digit, scribbling Valkyri symbols upon her soft skin.

His eyes returned to the sight of their son, and a soft sigh escaped him. "He's grown up so fast. I know it won't be long now until..." Thoughts then turned to Nina and how he'd felt hesitant about teaching her the ways of the Force. She was almost 10 years old, and each year adds to the already steep learning curve. He was 7 when Asha found him and began teaching him the ways of the Jedi and the Force. He didn't know how to read or write at the time, and even now you don't find him sat reading books in his sparetime.

Looking to his beloved, he offered her a smile. "Guess I just feel old, is all."

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

She has never felt so alive as she does now, with children in her life and watching them grow and learn. The joy of their laughter would never fail to fill her with life's energy and she enjoyed watch them have a childhood she never had. Although her parents were loving, growing up in a grand home with many around you to look after you, was never the same as the freedom Théo and Nina have. Her parents had always been busy with running the estate, servants would be strict with Coci in her education and manner and never allow her to just run or get dirty with mud like Théo. She had to be the lady.

Coci stopped Thurion in his tracks by taking him by the shoulders and standing to face him front on. Regardless of the muddy beard and face, Coci went on tippytoes and placed her lips to his getting covered in the mud in the process but she cared little about that.

"When you are eighty or ninety, then come tell me you are old", she said looking into his eyes. "Yes our family grows, but what a blessing we have in them", she looked around for Théo now on the porch and playing with the toy Thurion had made him. "Rather than grow older, grow younger to match them so we can enjoy their childhood equally and with them".

"I love you with all my heart, now and beyond this life. And so we will always be"..

A twinkle in her eyes might give away her next intention, her hands slid down his body in a sensual way, the finger tips barely touching his skin, until she reached the top of his swimsuit, one finger pulled the swimsuit outward before she let it snapped back into place just below his belly button, this her distraction as her legs hooked behind his just behind the knee and with a sharp pull back that would not hurt but would buckle his leg, she dropped him to the ground in the mud and wrestled her husband. The two all but covered in mud and yes, now they would both need to clean up.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Taken by surprise to say the least, Thurion soon found himself on his back against the grassy field. Coci straddled him and pushed him to the ground. He would not offer any resistance to her advances; he merely laid back and gazed up into the face of his beloved, so full of passion and loving desire. The soft grass was soothing, but paled in comparison to the touch of her bare skin against his. His hardened hands traced her voluptuous figure, from her strong thighs to her wide hips. All of her absolute perfection.

His palm found her cheek, gently caressing it. "I adore you, do you know that?" There was nothing more to say. His palm now settled at the back of her neck to pull her down towards him. Once their faces were aligned, Thurion raised his head ever-so-slightly to meet her lips with his. Hands caressed her back, dancing lightly across her skin.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

Her adoration for him would be demonstrated through her kiss, allowing him to guide her down their lips met, parted and the flow of love joined the two once more. Reluctantly, Coci lifted from the kiss only to remain an inch from his handsome face and she looked into his brilliant blue eyes, she said nothing but her hands moved up and around her body to pull the cords of her bikini which fell away quickly. His gentle caress playing on her skin tickled sending the sensation through her body and she sat up.

The tropical rain had arrived, immediately the jungle roared with the sound of hard rain falling among the canopy and down to where they lay. Both of them soon drenched and cooled from the humidity yet the fire of their passion only elevated. Thurion and Coci made love, becoming complete physically and their force bond strengthened evermore.

Her love, her life, lay beneath her and together they proved their commitment as husband and wife, lovers and friends.

The End.​