A Little More Love [Taeli]

[Fiolette Fortan]

GENESIA

---

---

---

Serene Sunset
[member="Taeli Raaf"]

The view from the villa was just exquisite the cerulean waves rolling onto the shore creating the cream-colored crest of sand and water across the beach. A tropical paradise that belonged to them, and to them alone, Fiolette stood on the second floor where the wrap around balcony was just out of reach of the nearest palm tree. The home had been remodeled since the pair had last been there and to be honest it felt more like a home now. Broken up into several areas the home consisted of the Villa, the Recreation area and the Relaxation area each part catered to either Fio, Taeli or both. Although now, Fiolette drew in a breath, it would also fit their daughter, Nerralyn. Taeli was getting closer to her third trimester and it was getting harder for her to hide the pregnancy.

After Lothal. After Sulis Van. After Fush Bnigeai. Especially after Theta Kai.

Here they were on their island until Nerralyn arrived. Lucy would be by as would the girls, Josef even he arranged a time on another island elsewhere on the planet so the girls could spend time with Taeli, Fiolette, and their new baby sister. Calvin, Lucy's boyfriend would be drug along as well - they were introduced to him over Life Day. Fiolette still wasn't sure what to make of him, other than what was obvious. He held no station on Galidraan his family was of low to moderate wealth and he served in the Militia. Seemed to be an all-around good guy, still, she had her reservations. The Galidraani swore she could hear her ex-husband, is it him she doesn't like or just the idea of Lucy dating? Cause it's startin' to sound like the later, and remember Princess.

An audible sigh escaped Fiolette's lips as she pushed off the rails of the balcony. "She looks at him...." Fio knew exactly how Lucy looked at Calvin, it didn't take a genius. She looked at him the way Fiolette looked at Taeli, the way she used to look at Josef. "If that man...." Her voice trailed off, what was she going to do about the boy if he broke Lucy's heart? Suddenly the Galidraani wished she hadn't had children. She exhaled and took another breath, "you know I'm not going to think about it." Then it occurred to her, "... Nerra, you are not to have a male or female suitor until you're at least thirty years of age, give me that, please."

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUFObCZtGWQ[/media]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Fiolette Raaf"]

They had been on their idyllic island retreat for a few days and... Taeli could already feel herself going a touch stir crazy. Her pregnancy was now very much advancing, and even though she had vast command of the Force, her rounded abdomen was making it frustratingly difficult to move. It was one reason why they had come to Genesia; Taeli would have a quiet place to have their daughter, outside of Sith space, a place to relax and not worry about showing any signs of weakness. Her Adepts were still operating all her projects, with her constantly checking in over comms or through Eldaah, with her apprentice even using illusions to appear like Taeli so enemies might think she was still in Sith space and plotting some evil scheme or experiment.

Amusement washed over her as Fiolette griped about Lucy dating that young Galidraani man and exclaiming their daughter wouldn't date until she was thirty. Taeli hated to break it to the Lord Admiral, but their sweet Nerralyn was going to be quite strong in the Force and she doubted Fiolette would be able to stop her. But it would be amusing to watch once the time came.

"You need to calm down, dear," she said from the chair she was lounging in, a book propped open against her rotund stomach and a tray of half eaten sandwiches on the table next to her. "We're years away from Nerralyn even being old enough to think about boys. Lucy is old enough to make her own decisions, and if the boy breaks his heart... well..."

She left the threat to hang in the air. The Lady of Secrets was always looking for new test subjects after all.

"I was sorry to hear about Natasi's death," she continued. The reports had come through soon after Lothal had been claimed by the Sith Empire as their own about the Grand Moff's final act. "It was a stroke of the Force that Josef and your daughters were on Galidraan when the attack began."

And Fiolette had mentioned they had actually arranged for time here, on another island of course as Taeli still didn't really know Josef. One dinner was not really enough to gain a full impression of a man, and her two other daughters... hearts and minds she reminded herself.

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

Dressed in a pair of fitting beige shorts, a long white blouse open to reveal a white undershirt, she turned and leaned her back against the rails. Her eyes looked Taeli over, her wife sat there relaxed in the lounge chair. It seemed as if overnight her wife's pregnancy bloomed, she had just entered her third trimester and from their last appointment, everything was going well. "I am perfectly calm," she remarked with a smile, "I just... It feels like yesterday when Lucy was so small and now here she is, an adult, as you say. Capable as she is of making her own decisions..." It was still hard to wrap her head around it all. A throat chuckle emerged when Taeli left the threat to hang there.

"Of course,"

She moved away from the rails and joined her wife, sitting on the empty lounge chair beside her. "Indeed," she commented on Josef and the girls, but as far as Natasi. A soft sad smile tugged at the edge of her lips, she only thanked her wife. "She died honorably and lived her life to the letter. My only regret is that we hadn't been afforded more time, but then time is a luxury most cannot afford." Time was a mortal enemy even if she had already cheated it. "I received letters from members of my extended family yesterday, which was my reason for pause last night." Her eyes glossed over in absence, a memory had taken her away. "Many of these names I can scarcely remember. I was but a child when I met them, and here they were offering condolences on the loss of my niece."

"A polite gesture of course, but it does mean a trip to the home county..."

"But, let us put aside such dreary thoughts and focus on why we're here." Fiolette placed a hand over Taeli's abdomen. "Nerralyn." She let her daughter's name roll off the tip of her tongue, it was a name that had been carefully crafted. Each letter had been shared by the Raaf's. She would be the newest generation, half-Raaf, and half-Fortan would she have the Fortan's legacy of dark eyes or be gifted with the gorgeous violet gaze of her mother? Fiolette was eager to meet and know her daughter. "How are your other projects coming along?" A soft change in subject, if only briefly. Fiolette wanted to discuss how they should decorate Nerralyn's nursery here.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Fiolette Raaf"]

It was a reminder to Taeli, the letters and notes of condolence flooding to her beloved, that Fiolette had such a large family... and just how small the Raaf family was. There had been no notes or anything from distant relations when her adopted parents died, Corvus and Melori had never mentioned receiving any when her birth family died, and Taeli had to take it upon herself to erect a memorial for her departed and vanished family members. She was a bit envious of her wife but... and a light kick in her stomach reminded her that the Raaf family would be growing again.

She equal parts brightened and soured as Fiolette asked how her other projects were coming along. Her research had been reaching a critical stage, on several projects, and here she was on a paradise island world and unable to work on any of them personally. Fiolette had refused to let Taeli hollow out part of the island and install a secret laboratory here. Something about potentially dangerous creatures getting loose or something or other. Fio hadn't even been to Amaltanna or Valrar yet so she didn't know the security procedures that went into her facilities. An internal sigh, maybe one day...

"I've been taking the time to review and design some new tech for Aurora," she said. "Hyson has a working model for our Infiltration droid line, and the ship modernization program needs a new supply shipment of doonium and duranium. I've had requests to expand Spaarti Creations facilities to a few new worlds, but I haven't decided which should be chosen yet. Plus, we need to start developing more clones and biological creations. Project Aura is almost done, but that will have to wait until Nerralyn is born so I can move properly again."

There was a playful scowl on her face as she mentioned her inability to move as she liked.

"And Salara and Invicta keep pestering me about Nerralyn's room and how crimson and black would work so well together. Not exactly our aesthetic though."

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

Fiolette had placed a familial kiss on Taeli's belly, showing her love and affection for Nerralyn. A snapshot from what they both believe had been the moment of conception resurfaced and the Galidraani was quick to shove the memory back into the box from whence it came. She settled into her own lounge chair and sighed as the cool tropical breeze swept through, trees rustled and the ocean's quiet response danced in the Genesian sunlight. Taeli explained reviewing and designing new technology for Aurora which was always good, "mhmm yes, so much yes." Her support for that unwavering much like her overall support for her wife. The Lorrdian went on to explain the expansion of Spaarti Creations which reminded Fiolette to do something with Czerka at some point, for now, she's had the team there continue to research as she was seeking to get into the arms business.

"I can't wait to meet her," Fiolette remarked, her eyes traveled up and down the length of Taeli's body. An amused look at the sight of the book propped up against Taeli's pregnant belly. Laughter unfurled from her lips when Taeli teased with a playful scowl. Then there was the mention of the Empresses, "well, as much as I appreciate the Empresses' support for our child - ... um, yeah, let's not do the black and red. I wasn't even sure what colors you wanted. On Galidraan there would be a lot of pink by now, some yellow and lavenders but mostly pink."

"Did you want to have a baby shower?" She asked as it hadn't actually occured to Fiolette until now, "it's quite alright if you wish to remain quiet about it, however; given how far along you were on Lothal..."

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Fiolette Raaf"]

Taeli's nose crinkled at the thought of using pink to decorate Nerralyn's room. Of course the Galidraani would be so stuck in tradition that they used the universal gender colors to denote boy and girl rooms. Lavenders she could get behind, for many obvious reasons, but not yellow.

"Lavender or lilac would be good colors, maybe throw in some pale blues," she mused aloud.

As for a baby shower... every Sith instinct in her was screaming to not do one. She could list off a whole litany of reasons on why that might not be the best idea. The Sith Lords and Ladies knew she was soon to have a child, but having a party invited chances for others to learn of it as well. She knew if someone like Coren learned of her daughter, learned of a party being held in honor of her birth... no the risk was too high in her opinion. Plus, she had seen baby showers before. Between she and Fiolette, they could afford whatever they wanted and didn't need gifts. Although... she expected the Emperor and the Empresses were going to spoil little Nerralyn.

"We should remain quiet about it," she said. "Can't risk an invitation getting intercepted or left lying around for an agent of the Jedi to find."

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

Fiolette gave a nod, "very well."

It wasn't without reason to withhold the baby shower, Nerralyn would be born into a Galaxy at War and to a famous/infamous Sith. Cards were both stacked for and against the girl well before her birth, the Galidraani made note of the colors her wife suggested. "I can forward these to our staff at Stormvale, see if they come up with anything that suits your tastes?" She asked. Her voice softened by the constant wave of the ocean rolling through, brushing against the shoreline creating that biege wash as it strode across the island proper. Genesia's waters reflected brightly reminding Fiolette of just how pristine this planet was and how quiet and out of the way felt good.

She thought back to the last time they were on the island, at their summer home as it was considered. "I remember the last time we were here..." A knowing smile to Taeli as the light breeze passed through.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Fiolette Raaf"]

"Good," she said as Fiolette mentioned she would pass on the color suggestion to the staff at their home on Bastion. While she would honestly prefer to do the work herself in painting and preparing the nursery, it would be rather a challenge to do so in her current condition. Even after all this time, it still rankled her to have servants perform household tasks she could do herself just fine. As a Sith Lady, it was expected of her to have agents acting throughout the galaxy, and that part she didn't mind. Her power base was extensive and secretive. Not even the Emperor knew the extent of her research or facilities, although she had sensed his scrying in the past. Close allies they may be, but there would always be that Sith caution against betrayal.

"Last time we were here... rather vivid memories those are," Taeli chuckled.

It had been here on Genesia when Taeli revealed she was still a Sith to Fiolette, just days before Operation Eclipse was to bring down the Alliance. A calculated gamble of course, but it had paid off. And their subsequent trips here had all been pleasurable. Taeli truly didn't mind the world or their summer home, she was just used to more mobility and activities when present.

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

Later on when the day had waned and the moon arose to take its place among the Genesian sky. Fiolette rested in the crook of the sectional her eyes were glossed over as she laid watching the latest Holoflix original series. The Chilling Adventures of Isadora, the tale of a young half-witch set on Galidraan, of course. It was more occultish than the typical selection for Fiolette but she felt a little exploration outside her typical historical documentaries and Atrisian dramas which were over the top at best. "You alright darling?" Her attention turned to Taeli who wasn't too far away, "do you need another cushion, a pillow perhaps?" She shifted in the sectional, sitting up right the redhead stretched.

Taeli had taken some of Fiolette's better sweats and that left the Galidraani with the purchase of new clothes. After all Taeli's comfort and health were paramount, well, they were always paramount just with the pregnancy they had taken priority. Especially as they came closer to the end of it, Nerralyn enjoyed being active in the night and didn't take too long for the baby to adjust to Genesian time. Lucy had called earlier asked them both how everything was going, asked of course about the baby. Fio wasn't sure who was more excited about it all Lucy or herself. "Care for a foot rub, more ice for your water?" She gestured to the second cup that seemed alarmingly empty.

The lights in the room were dimmer than usual, warmer as well. The sound of the air and heating unit thrummed with its usual rhythm, the sounds of the Holoflix faded into the background of their conversation. She knew what Taeli must be feeling, or could be feeling rather - tired, exhausted but she knew her wife well. Taeli was a Sith, and this was nothing that she couldn't handle, to say she was proud was an understatement.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Fiolette Raaf"]

Taeli had to admit... the Galidraani idea on witches and the Force were... quaint. Horrifically inaccurate, but quaint. The series was entertaining though, well cast and an engaging plot. Plenty of scheming and subplots that would keep you guessing. It wasn't what Taeli usually watched either. When she had the time to watch popular holoshows and look at popular culture, she generally went with historic reenactment series about past wars and various galaxy shaping events.

"No, I'm alright with pillows," she said, smiling at Fio. "A foot rub would never be turned down though."

It wasn't that she was uncomfortable, as much as Nerralyn was insisting on her presence. Pain was a friend for a full Sith like her, just another source of power to draw upon. Plus, she could soothe any aches or pains with the Force, a silent thanks to her journeying around to other Force sects giving her deeper knowledge in such arts than other Sith generally. She also wasn't tired as she could supplement her sleep with meditation, detaching her mind from the rest of her body, but she would love to have a full night sleep soon and not have to get up in the middle of the night from a kick or pressure to go to the refresher.

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

The holoflix show came to its end, and Fiolette switched it for the news. Intergalactic News Corporation was an unbiased source and was usually her go-to, otherwise, it fell to the Galidraani Broadcasting Corporation or the Sith-Imperial News Network. As it was, the news held information regarding Kuat and the subsequent fall of the New Republic, it also spoke briefly about the First Order and their troubles with the Ssi-Ruuk. Fiolette smirked and then made an offhanded comment about subpar technology before they turned to the death of Natasi Fortan. Fiolette turned her attention to Taeli, her eyes were drawn to the not-so-subtle movements of the baby. "Someone's awake," Fiolette mentioned with a small nod of her head, as the news continued on with the focus on sports.

This caught the Galidraani's attention, as she handed the remote over to her wife. "Here you go darling," and then she set herself up to massage Taeli's feet. Something most if not all women in her condition could use, and it was the least Fiolette could do for her. Other than somehow manage to convince Nerralyn to arrive. Unfortunately, that was going to have to be up to the baby even with her due date fast approaching... Fio could sense that Taeli at the least was done, and completely over being pregnant. Not that the woman could blame her wife, no. "Did you want to order in for dinner? I'd try my hand at the stove, but we remember what happened last time, yes?" Reasons why Fiolette preferred to have staff cook for her, not that she couldn't cook ... really. So long as there were a box and instructions, she was fine.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Fiolette Raaf"]

As Fiolette massaged her feet, Taeli was engrossed in the news. Such happenings around the galaxy, all of them stirring the embers of conflict anew. The galaxy, besides these minor skirmishes and the campaigns against the heretical Sith that even now were being stricken from any official record of name, had fallen into an uneasy calm. A system of careful alliances was keeping a larger war at bay, but it would break soon. These things always did.

"Alex you fool," she sighed as the news anchor mentioned how New Republic records had been publicly released for any and all to take part of. While the woman was a dear friend, Taeli felt perhaps she had spent too much time in her home on Alderaan cut off from the rest of the galaxy before taking over the Republic Jedi. It had been a gold mine for any hostile power to the New Republic. "Did you really think that was actually going to stop the Confederacy?"

She had heard rumblings from her agents that certain factions in the southern systems were the ones pushing for the Confederacy to go to war. Nothing concrete of course, but she didn't think it would take a genius to figure out the more aggressive Viceroys and leaders.

"And no, I'll cook, you talk," she laughed.