Star Wars does not belong to me. Just Skylar & Co.

Sequel to Aliit. I suggest reading that one first if you haven't already. And be sure to check out the one-shots too! The chronological list for them is on my profile.

Ever since they'd scattered Devrin's ashes only hours earlier, ARC Trooper Fives had been trying to find ways to distract Sergeant Skylar Cordav. He didn't mind holding his wife close, in fact, he enjoyed doing so. But he couldn't stand seeing and hearing her cry. To see her suffering like that... It completely tore him apart.

So he'd suggested sparring. Okay, so it was the middle of the night, but this was better than trying to convince a very distraught Sky into trying to get some sleep.

He grunted, the air whooshing out of his lungs as his wife floored him after about forty minutes. I must be getting better, it usually doesn't take her that long to knock me down. That or she's still too upset to focus. Almost without thinking, he lashed out with his hand and caught her ankle. Skylar fell right on top of him, both of them laughing. And he himself was distracted by the feel of his love's body on top of his, "Hey there, cyar'ika."

She laughed, nuzzling his neck, "Hey there yourself, F'ika."

"When was the last time we were really alone like this?"

She snorted, trying to control her laughter, "Hmm... Let's see... Last night? You do remember last night, right? 'Cause I definitely do..."

And it was Fives' turn to laugh as he felt his face heat up, "Of course, how could I forget? Did you-" He stumbled over his words, trying not to sound like a complete di'kut, "Do you want... to pick up where we left off?"

Skylar pulled herself up slightly, bracing her elbows on his chest as her beautiful brown hair fell into his face. He reached up and twirled her one blue lock around his fingers as she leaned in closer, her lips catching his in a deep, lingering kiss. The first one they'd shared since that morning. And although it had only been a short time since the last one, Fives found that he'd literally been starving for the contact. Knowing that Skylar loved him, and that she wasn't afraid to show it anymore, was the best thing he could ever ask for. She and Tea were his world and he was surprised by how quickly they'd become his reason for living. Yes, he still loved his brothers and would die for them, if given the chance. But Sky and Tea...

Speaking of his beautiful wife... Sky's playful brown eyes twinkled as she winked at him, causing his heart rate to pick up, "I never thought you'd ask, cyar'ika."

And that was all he could take. Without warning he pulled himself up and grabbed her, carrying her bridal-style to their quarters. Skylar laughing into his chest the entire way. It still amazed him that he was the only one who could make her happy like this, when everything around them was going wrong. Devrin was not the first brother that either of them had lost and he certainly wouldn't be the last, but Fives found comfort in the fact that he and Skylar would always have each other to lean on.

It was the middle of the night and Kot couldn't sleep. He was currently sitting in the co-pilot's seat of the incognito transport, just watching the swirling colors of hyperspace. And mulling over his last talk with Skylar. He hadn't realized just exactly how much Skylar loved them, how much she was devoted to them, to him, until she'd told him that she'd never stop fighting for them. That she just wasn't capable of doing so. The last time that Kot had seen that much devotion, it was when his squadron had died to save him. And, even though Skylar was the fighter that she was, he just couldn't get over the fear of losing her. She was the only sister he'd ever had. Cordav was the one who had made him see that he mattered, that his life had a purpose above and beyond the war. The very thought that something might happen to her, like the incident in the Underworld, filled him with dread.

"You still with us, Kot'ika?" Hew's quiet voice spoke up from behind the former trooper, making him jump. That question again. But at least Kot knew that it had nothing to do with his suicide attempt all those months ago. The question had simply become habit among the squad. In fact, Kot himself had used it with the other three members of Beta on several occasions.

He shrugged his shoulders, trying to pretend that he hadn't been surprised, but his sergeant had seen right through him. Hew was good at that, reading others. Almost as good as Skylar. "I'm fine, H'ika. I just..." Kot sighed, "I just wish that I could somehow talk Sky into retiring. I don't like the idea of her fighting."

Hew slid into the pilot's seat and leaned his head back, eyes closed, "I know what you mean, vod'ika. But what you've got to realize is that she feels the same way about us. And Sky's been doing this kind of thing longer than we have. I have no doubt in my mind that she'll live through this. She's a survivor, always has been."

"I hope you're right, ner vod."

Hew opened his eyes and gave Kot a look, "You've gotta have some faith, Kot'ika. You start expecting bad things to happen every time you turn around, you'll eventually turn into a twitchy nutter."

"Twitchy nutter? Where in the manda did you get that?"

Hew chuckled, closing his eyes again, "It was one of Buir's favorite sayings. A lot of the old man's quotes were crazier than that one, though. It's a wonder that Jango and the rest of the Cuy'vil Dar managed to put up with him for so long..."

Kot mulled over what Hew had just told him. If Sky and the men she'd trained had had a crazy father, he sure hadn't seen any evidence of it. "How crazy?"

Hew chuckled yet again, opening his eyes again and leaning forward, "One of the things that he used to tell us was that we had to stick together like 'white on rice on a paper plate in a snow storm'. Never knew what he was talking about until I saw actual rice for the first time at Deena's place." He cocked his head, "As a matter of fact, I still don't know what a paper plate's supposed to look like."

Kot couldn't help it, he started laughing. "Isn't it supposed to look like a plate, Hew?" He questioned once he was finally able to catch his breath.

"Shut up, Kot."

Of course, those words only had the opposite effect. Kot was aware of Hew rolling his eyes as he tried, and failed, to stop laughing. It was times like this that the former trooper was beyond grateful that he'd ended up with Cordav's lot. No matter how crazy they might be.

Just as Fives had set Skylar on the bed there was a timid knock on the door that she instantly recognized. Her husband groaned in irritation at the interruption but Sky immediately slid off the bed and raced to the door. It slid open to reveal a very upset Teanna, who's little cream-colored face was streaked with tears.

Cordav swept the little Togruta girl into her arms and carried her to the bed, "Shh, T'ika. It's okay, ad'ika. Mama and Daddy are here. You're safe." Fives settled next to them on the bed, his arm wrapping around the both of them. She looked up to see the concerned look on his face. 'Nightmare', she mouthed, and he nodded his head, stroking their daughter's little dark-striped montrals in an effort to comfort her.

"I th-thought I was b-back in the m-mines, M-Mama," Tea sobbed, her right cheek resting against Sky's chest.

Fives gently traced the white diamond mark in the middle of their little girl's forehead, "It wasn't real, Squirt. It's over."

"B-but wh-what if I g-get k-kidnapped again, D-Daddy?"

Skylar's husband immediately took their daughter from her arms and held her tightly to him, "Your mother and I will not let that happen, ad'ika." He cupped his hand under Tea's chin, his brown eyes meeting the little girl's dark hazel ones, "That's a promise, Squirt. And your Mama and I don't break our promises, okay?"

Cordav couldn't help but admire how easily Fives had fallen into the role of 'Daddy'. If only I had taken to being a mother that quickly. But I guess it's only because Fives was around Teanna longer before becoming her dad. I'd only known her for a few hours when I'd adopted her. Still, there was no sense dwelling on it. Between the two of them, they'd managed to figure it out. And, judging by how Tea was thriving, they were doing a pretty good job so far.

Tea hiccuped, making both of her parents chuckle, "Okay, Daddy. C-can I st-stay with you and M-Mama tonight?

Fives gave Skylar a mock look of longing that she knew had nothing to with their little girl. She responded by playfully mouthing to him that he'd just have to wait and couldn't help another chuckle when he almost pouted. He rolled his eyes at her as he rubbed Tea's back, kissing the top of each of the little girl's tiny montrals, "Of course, Squirt."

Fives was the first to wake the next morning. He pulled himself up on his elbow, just watching his wife and daughter sleep. Tea was curled against Skylar's chest, and Sky was curled up against his. His arm still draped over the both of them. I would never have thought that this would ever happen to me. Not in a million years. Especially not for a clone like me...

And... of course there would have to be a knock at the door. Every kriffing time. He sighed, rolling his brown eyes. Over the past day and half, there had been an interruption every single time he'd managed to find a free moment with his new family. One reason was having three single guys in close proximity. Gabe and Deena instinctively knew when to make themselves scarce, but the remaining members of Tor Squad still had a lot to learn, apparently. Fives' face turned bright red at a certain memory of Jinx almost accidentally walking in on him and Sky one time...

Another time, Quirk had come in trying to talk to Fives while he'd been reading a bed time story to Tea, the very one that Sky's own Buir had once read to her. Although that interruption hadn't been embarrassing, Quirk had interrupted his special time with his daughter.

The knock sounded again and Fives got up from the bed, taking great care not to wake his still slumbering girls. Sky must really be tired. It's not like her to sleep through someone pounding on the door like that.

He opened the door, fully intending to give whoever it was a piece of his mind. The door slid open, revealing a clearly uncomfortable Dover. It was so unusual to see the hot-tempered clone so out of his element that Fives almost completely forgot his irritation. In fact, he almost chuckled. If it weren't for the serious look in his brother's eyes. The look that told the ARC that something was clearly wrong.

"Dover? What's going on?"

"Hew just tried calling your comlink, ner vod." And Fives wanted to smack himself one right there. I left my com in the training room! How could I have been so di'kutla? Dover placed the piece of tech in Fives' hand. "He and Beta are on their way here. You and Sky have got yourselves another mission. They'll brief the two of you when they arrive."

"Which will be?"

"In about three hours. Should give you some time to enjoy your little aliit."

Despite himself, Fives couldn't help but chuckle, "Vor'e, Dov'ika."

Dover laughed as he turned and walked back down the hallway, "Just don't get too carried away, vod'ika..."

If Fives had had something in his hand, he had no doubt in his mind that the object would have connected quite soundly with the back of the medic's head.

vencuyan = future (in the most positive sense of the word)

cyar'ika = sweetheart

-ika = little (F'ika - little Fives) Usually a term of endearment.

manda = heaven

Buir = Papa (father)

di'kut = idiot, moron

ner = my

vod = brother

di'kutla = stupid, idiotic

aliit = family

vor'e = thanks

vod'ika

Please R&R.