Chapter Text
1 month later
Suu watched as Howzer made his way over to the chair for breakfast. In the last month the baby had grown quite a bit. He looked tired and uncomfortable but still tried to keep a smile on his face.
"How are you this morning Howzer?"
He slumped a little in the chair "honestly…… I feel awful. My back aches, my chest hurts…..im….."
He mumbled something and looked away from her.
"What was that dear?"
"Its just…..I'm…"
"Yes?"
"HORNY" He snapped.
Suu gaped at him a moment and then chuckled, "That is nothing to be ashamed of."
"I'm not…it's just….I can't reach myself comfortably and I…. Ugh I feel like if somebody doesn't do something I am doing to explode."
Suu nodded. She remembered feeling that way particularly during her last pregnancy. "Have you considered asking for help?"
Howzer looked at her shocked. "Who would I even ask?"
Suu shrugged. "Well you could ask Lockjaw. Explain what you need and why."
He shook his head "no… he's my brother, my best friend. I…do you think he would?"
Suu hummed "I think it wouldn't hurt to discuss with him. Of course I could also help."
That caught Howzer off guard even more than suggesting Lockjaw.
"You're married!"
"Yes but I think Cutt would understand. Of course if we took care of you now while everyones working in the fields no one would ever know."
He shook his head "no…I..I couldn't go behind his back like that. I'll um…talk to Lockjaw later. Just one more month of this I think."
Suu cocked her head "what makes you say that?"
"I was doing the calculations in my head and Lockjaw helped me with measurements. If the growth of this child is accelerated then instead of my body taking nine months it would need roughly four or five. When I got to you I was three months pregnant but you determined the baby was kicking which happens at five. Also she has shifted. I can feel that much."
Suu froze "you said you can feel that?"
He nodded "yeah."
"Howzer honey, what else do you feel today?"
"Um…my…my back and hips have been aching. I um… keep getting twinges."
Suu quickly stood up. "Get on the bed now and let me get a look at you."
Howzer looked at her confused but before he could respond he gasped and cried out.
"Well, I was right. You're in labor. When did the twinges start?"
Howzer was still holding onto the table white knuckled.
"Howzer, Howzer, you need to breathe with me please. Steady breaths come on."
"I'm not ready Suu" he began to cry.
"It's alright. We'll call the healer and I'll get Lockjaw. It's going to be a while still. Come on let's get you someplace comfortable."
Once she had Howzer back in his room she called Cutt.
"Honey, go get the healer it's showtime, send the kids to my grandmother's."
He was silent on the other end for a moment "that won't be possible."
"Why?"
"The empire is here. Your grandmother just came to get us, we gotta go."
Suu closed the comm and began to grab supplies. There was a knock at the door and several people stepped into the house. "Cut said you needed help. Tell us what you need."
Suu was so happy to see the other farmers. "Right those two crates need to go as well as that medical pack on the table. I have emergency bags for us and the kids in their rooms."
There was a cry from Howzer's room.
"Is someone hurt?"
Suu shook her head "no…my um…sister in law is in labor."
"Ok men double time. They need as much as possible. Ma'am are you prepared to do this on a ship?"
She shook her head "we will not have a choice. The empire cannot find us."
Lockjaw burst in Cutt and the kids behind him. "The shuttle for us just landed in the field. Where's Howzer?"
"Bedroom, kids get your things, Cutt help them I will help Lockjaw."
They scrambled around grabbing what they needed. Suu and Lockjaw helped Howzer to the shuttle. Once inside they saw that there was a space set up for them to use and a few of the farmer's wives were waiting.
"Shuttle is taking us to Batuu. The empire still has no presence there but it will be a few days. My husband Cylas told us what was going on. We have done this in worse places."
Howzer shook his head "I can't do this. I can't do this. She's gotta stay put till it's safe."
Lockjaw held Howzer close "shhhh it will be ok. These women know what they are doing and I'll be here the whole time."
One of them gently guided Howzer to the makeshift bed they had made. "I need to take a look ok sweetheart?"
Howzer whimpered but did allow Lockjaw to remove his pants. A Rodian woman knelt in front of him and began an exam. She spoke quietly to the woman next to her who nodded and began to press on the underside of Howzers belly.
The woman turned to Suu and flagged her over saying something to her and then Suu also began to press her hands on his belly.
"What is it? Is something wrong?"
Suu moved up to where she could speak to them. "Howzer, honey, how long have you felt these twinges?"
He took a deep breath. "A few days but they got worse this morning. I just thought it was my back cramping from all the pressure."
Suu couldn't expect Howzer to have known what he was feeling. "That pressure was the baby making its way through your birth canal. I am going to guess your pain tolerance is incredibly high."
Howzer nodded "It has to be."
"Alright well we aren't far off from meeting the little ones."
Lockjaw gripped Howzers hand "did you say little ones?"
"Yes I did. Onwei is certain there are at least two. It would explain how you got so big. Babies do so much growing in the last months and while we have fed you it hasn't been enough to explain your size. I assumed you had a medical scan at least once so I never considered questioning you."
Howzer froze as another contraction began and the Rodian made a noise. He felt her do something and then some of the pressure release but was immediately replaced with pain.
"Alright Honey push with the next one. Onwei has broken your waters for you."
Howzer shook his head as the ship suddenly rocked.
"EVERYONE HOLD ON WE GOT TIES ON OUR TAIL WE ARE GONNA TRY AND MAKE THE JUMP!"
Howzer couldn't help sobbing as the very real danger they were in became even worse. "I can't do this Suu. I can't."
"Yes you can. You can do it. Birthing beings have done it for millions of years in even worse situations than this just push for me ok. Push."
Howzer pushed as hard as he could and Onwei shook her head. Two women moved to help hold him open a little wider.
"Alright, just listen to your body and keep breathing. These girls are gonna help you get this little girl out."
The ship continued to rock and rattle and then suddenly Suu saw the blue swirl of hyperspace outside the viewport and sighed. Now she could have her full attention to the matter at hand.
************************************************
Howzer labored for another hour or so before he was finally holding a little girl to his chest. Onwei called Suu to the side to speak privately.
"I fear the other ones may be lost if not very ill and He is not doing well himself. Are you prepared to make a difficult call for him should he be unable to?"
Suu looked back over to Howzer. He could barely keep himself up at this point. "Yes. I am with Lockjaw's help."
Onwei nodded "good. Even if they all survive it will not be without incident. They look to be a bit early. Cylas has an incubator set up for them."
They moved back over and Suu looked at Howzer holding the little girl. "She's beautiful Howzer."
"She's….all….I …..could ever…..want…"
At that Howzer went limp. Onwei began calling out instructions as someone took the baby to the incubator and Lockjaw tried to wake Howzer.
************************************************
"So…you broke your back?" Crosshair questioned as he watched Hunter fasten the brace in place.
"Not exactly. Sheela thinks the reason I'm shorter than you guys is because there was a weak point in my spine that has just compressed over time. She said it might be part of the reason I have migraines too. For now she has injected bacta in the worst of it and I have to wear this brace. Unfortunately it also means I'm stuck here while the others run jobs for Cid."
"Surprised your little shadow didn't stay."
Hunter saw very quickly how jealous Crosshair was of Omega. "They need her more."
Rex knocked and entered the room. "Crosshair, may I please have some help moving Fives to the chair?"
Hunter was still surprised that Crosshair listened to Rex as his brother stood and left to help. He couldn't help but feel useless right now. He couldn't go on missions, couldn't do much to help care for his brothers. It felt wrong.
************************************************
As master Sha Koon meditated she could feel so much stress in the force. She was grateful for the Talz that allowed her and Tup safety on Alzoc III. So far the empire had ignored the frozen planet but she knew the time would come when they would need to flee but for now Tupp needed the rest. She needed the rest.
As she probed the force for answers she felt the familiar call of her uncle's connection to the force but this felt different. This felt uncontrolled like a youngling. She pressed further searching for its source. It felt like children but very odd children. Especially odd since jedi did not have children of their own with a few exceptions. Did her mother become pregnant again? No this signature did not feel like her mother, this felt like…like Tupps only strained. Weak, dying even. She had to find it, help it if she could. She could not bear to see another light snuffed out in the galaxy.
"Tupp sweetie, we may be leaving here sooner than expected. There are answers I need to chase in the force."
Tupp gave her a lopsided smile and as close as he could manage to a nod. She tucked the blankets a little tighter around him.
"In the morning, little one. We will begin our travels once we thank the Talz for giving us sanctuary."
Tupp closed his eyes as she ran a clawed hand through his hair. It pained her that a soul as gentle as Tupps had been made to fight and die in a war he never asked for. She hoped she could help him find peace.