Private Trapped

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

"I love you so much," is all she said when he assured her of his help. Her arms wrapped tightly around his waist, even as he leaned back, and she just held him there. Back in the day, before her time in stasis, she had always felt that she needed to overcome every obstacle and problem alone. She had friends at the time to help, and she had many good friends now, but nothing quite compared to a partner who truly understood her and cared for her.

She could always rely on him, and he could always rely on her.

"Hmm, I suppose fun can wait a little," Valery said with a more playful tone. Especially when she heard the triplets slowly making their way downstairs. She had already felt them, but it was cute to leave them thinking they were sneakily approaching their parents when they should be sleeping.

Tip... tap... tip... tap...

The sound of their feet grew closer until three pairs of eyes looked around the corner. First, they saw Mom and remained quiet, but when they spotted their father, they walked inside, rubbed their little eyes, and quickly surrounded him, "Daddy!" He was pulled into a group hug, each triplet clung tightly around his legs, and they weren't letting go.

"I smell pancakes!" Aeryn chirped.

Valery snickered and looked lovingly at the family gathering, "I think you have to make some extra pancakes, love." They were happy to have their father home as well.

Kahlil Noble​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Oh I was already making enough pancakes for them."

Kahlil was all smiles as he was practically smothered with hugs from his family. The triplets around his legs, his wife around his waist. There was no place he'd rather be than here with them. He paused for a moment as he just took it in. After so long away, he could let himself enjoy the moment a little. At least until he was certain any longer would actually burn the pancakes.

With that in mind he flipped and cooked, unbothered and unhindered by the holds around him.

"You three have been behaving, yes?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

Valery's smirk spread as three little Nobles wormed their way around their father's legs. He had a large part of the family hugging him now, and she felt it was important. Her battle on Coruscant had been difficult, but it mattered just as much that he felt welcomed back home by his family. She was there for him the way he was for her, and the kids were obviously very happy to see him.

"Hmm, shouldn't you three be sleeping though," Valery teased with quite the grin. All at once, the three little ones snapped their heads to Mom to protest. Even Aurra gave her a stinky glare for it, and Valery couldn't help but snicker.

"Just kidding. It's pancake time for all of us." She reached down to ruffle their hair and smiled at them.

"We've been good!" Aeryn answered. "We gave Mommy hugs!" She chirped and both Adam and Aurra nodded along. It made Valery a little quiet for a moment, only because of how much it meant to her.

"Why don't you all sit down. Dad will put the pancakes on the table and you three can tell him what you've been working on for him." Valery eyed Kahlil to gauge his reaction.

Kahlil Noble​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Good."

Kahlil paused cooking long enough to kneel down and gently pat each of their heads, smiling to each. They were already so well behaved, especially given everything Valery had gone through. Did they know? Were they already aware? Maybe. At least two of them were sensitive to the Force, and Aurra was always good at reading people.

He did raise a brow to Valery as he stood though.

"Something they've been working on, oh?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

They knew.

The triplets didn't pick up on the details or understand just how serious things were, but they could tell when their parents needed a hug. Valery had felt extremely welcomed when she returned home and all the kids were there to support her. Now, they were doing the same for their father and she could tell how much it meant to him. After fighting for so much of his life, he had something truly special here with his family.

"I made a new friend, Daddy," Aurra said softly when he patted her on the head. Ragdoll was her best friend now and she couldn't wait to show her father!

First, it was time for pancakes and surprises.

The triplets sat down at the dinner table and waited for their Mom to retrieve the gift. There were two of them — one packed neatly but with terrible handwriting on it, suggesting it was Valery's gift. The other was a box with fingerpainting all over its surface. The triplet's gift.

"First ours!" Adam chirped, as he pushed the box forward. Inside, rested a collage — pictures, drawings, and scribbles that welcomed him home. There were new photos of the triplets, of Mom and the oldest Nobles. Even Eryx, flailing his arms in joy was caught on camera and added to it.

Each Noble was kicking their feet, excited to see what Dad would think.

Kahlil Noble​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil laughed as he brought the pancakes to the table. He hadn't expected gifts of all things, but, they certainly brought quite the smile to his face. He did his best not to chuckle at Valery's handwriting, but would open the triplet's gift first as they were certainly incredibly eager. With the pancakes all set out, it was easy enough for him to. His smile only widened as he looked through each gift, all these pictures of them, his family.

"These are wonderful. I'll be setting them up in my new office, soon as I can. Thank you."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

While Kahlil focused on the box, Valery shifted around plates and distributed pancakes. There was a noticeable lack of silverware. No such thing was needed in house Noble when pancakes were served. The triplets sure wouldn't pay attention to it — even Aurra had already snatched her first pancake with her bare hands.

They made their mother proud.

"Yay! Daddy likes it!" Aeryn chirped and Adam squealed along. Aurra was more focused on her pancake, but she looked at her father with a little smile. His little smile, Valery knew.

"Now Mommy's!" Adam added when the box was set aside. The packaging of Valery's gift was simpler and it didn't hide the softer texture of her gift. When he'd open it, he'd find a comfortable shirt with a silhouette print of him holding his wife in his arms. Underneath it, the text read: Best Hubby.

"To go along with your Best Dad mug," Valery explained with a silly smirk.

Kahlil Noble​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil was quiet now. He unfolded the shirt, idly looked it over. He didn't even seem bothered by the fact the triplets weren't using the utensils he'd laid out. He was just.. Quiet. Then, wordlessly, he reached over to lift Valery in his arms and hugged her with all his might. He'd been strong, refusing to let his own emotions rush through when she was the one hurting, she was the one who needed comfort.

But he couldn't keep his own feelings contained forever.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

The triplets giggled when Dad saw the shirt with its silly print and message. What was he going to think?! Mom had already shown them the shirt and they all loved the idea, so it was fun to see his reaction! Valery, however, watched quietly and blinked when he quickly closed the distance. His arms wrapped around her waist and she was lifted off her feet and pulled into an incredibly tight embrace. This time, she didn't complain about how tight it was.

Quietly, the triplets watched, not quite understanding the underlying emotions. They stuffed their faces with more pieces of pancake and just smiled.

"I love you," Valery whispered while she wrapped her arms around his neck, "And I'll be alright. I promise." She closed her eyes and just held him. Time ticked away but she had no idea how long they held each other, and it didn't matter. He needed this, she needed it and even the kids weren't making funny faces or noises.

Little Aurra just tilted her head and looked at her parents with that little smile.

"Why don't we finish our pancakes and get ready for bed?" The triplets were almost done already and visibly tired, so sleep would come easy for them.

Valery had other plans for her husband, though.

"...after you put me back down." She smirked.

Kahlil Noble​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil gave a simple nod. And a laugh as he did finally set her down. Right, right. She was alright. She was -here- and whole. That's what mattered right now. They had the night, the day. He looked back to the triplets, smiling warmly to them in turn. Dinner, then bed. He found his way to his own seat, sighing as he picked up a pancake to eat with his hands.

Yep, with his hands.

"It's good to be home."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

Valery squealed a little when he set her down and finally caught her breath again. She loved hugs, more than almost anything, but when Kahlil tightened his grip, she felt like he could snap her in half. It was an alluring kind of strength, so even though her back and sides complained, she was grinning from ear to ear.

They'd have plenty more time for hugs.

"We're glad to have you back home-"

She paused.

No way.

The triplets all turned to Kahlil at once and blinked, clearly just as surprised. The battle between Mom and Dad about manners at the dinner table was a common one. But now he was eating with his hands, too? Valery had already rushed away, to a nearby cabinet to pull out a little camera.

"Say cheese!"

"Cheese!" The triplets chirped together, while Mom took a photo of the dinner table. Three little Nobles and their father, eating a pancake with his bare hands.

"So..." Valery said as she sat back down, "I was thinking we could talk about maybe a fun family day out? Or a little vacation in the near future?"

Kahlil Noble​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil snorted as he looked to the camera, but he smiled to it regardless. She could have her proof for now, as a gift to her. Sure she'd probably lord it over him for the rest of their lives, but this was a good memory he felt to be lorded over with.

"A vacation would be good. It's been a little bit since we last went on one. Where are you thinking?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

"Isn't it cute?" Valery sat down next to her husband and leaned in close to show the picture. He was cute when he smiled, but her heart melted, seeing the triplets bunched together to fit in the frame. All of them with the brightest smiles and plenty of syrup around their fingers.

She could squeal just looking at this one photo.

"We could try Hologram Fun World again..." Valery teased with a little grin. "But it depends on what kind of vacation. We could relax at a beach or some resort on a warm, tropical planet. We could also visit an interesting city and go to exciting locations on that planet." She shifted around a little and hummed in thought.

"Is there anything that would be special to you, love? You always go along with whatever makes us happy. But we also want you to have a good time."

Kahlil Noble​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Well, that's because that's what makes me happy, you know."

He motioned to all of them, smiling softer. He didn't have any places he wanted to go, because he wanted to be here, with them. That's what mattered to him. He finished his pancake to stand up, glancing again to the triplets.

"We can talk more about it after the triplets are in bed, mm?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

"I had a feeling you'd say that." She gave him a knowing smile and leaned against his side. While her head rested against his shoulder, her hand gently slipped around his bicep and rubbed along the length of his arm. "I know you care most about us being happy. I just don't want you to think that we don't consider you." A vacation would only be fun if every Noble was happy.

That would always include him.

"But I agree. It's already way past their bed time." She eyed the triplets and noticed a sudden shift. Their eyes turned away, looking for routes of escape while their father rose to his feet. Valery squinted at them and got up herself to block any other way out.

"Aeryn Jade, don't even think about it..." Valery warned her, but it was already too late. All three of them jumped to their feet, squealed and began to run, hoping to slip passed their father and escape bed time!

Kahlil Noble​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil just snickered and, rather quickly, caught all three right up in his arms with relative ease. And chuckled as he did. "No no. You three are going -right- to bed. We've got a busy day tomorrow and I want the three of you all rested and ready!" He glanced to Valery, smiling warm to her as he fully carried the trio to pull them upstairs. It was bed time, for all of them.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

"Ahhh!" The triplets squealed, flailed and tried to squirm their way to freedom. But their father's grip was strong and this wasn't his first time wrestling the three little Nobles. There was no way out, and they finally accepted that after a few seconds of heavy resistance.

Valery just snickered and crossed her arms in front of her chest while she watched, "I wonder who they have this from." She met Kahlil's eyes with quite a grin. This was what she loved coming home to the most, and she knew he felt the same way.

Even if he had to carry three little ones all the way upstairs.

Valery followed and stood in the doorway, as he brought them to their beds. They always wanted Mom or Dad to tuck them in, and she already had before Kahlil came home. It was his turn to tell them goodnight and watch them fall asleep in seconds.

"Aren't they adorable?" Valery hummed and waited until he was ready. Was it time for more vacation talk? Or was it time for them to go to bed.

Kahlil Noble
​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"I wonder indeed."

Kahlil snickered as he glanced to Valery, smiling softly as he did. He'd tease her about it later, but, right now. The triplets. He tucked them in one by one, kissing their foreheads gently as he settled them to sleep before he left them in their room to return back to Valery.

"There's nothing more adorable than our children, that's true."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

"Don't sell yourself short."

Valery looked at him with a teasing grin and slowly slipped her arms around his neck. She inched closer, her eyes locked with his, and leaned in to gently press her lips against his. A tender kiss now that earlier emotions weren't quite as high and overwhelming anymore.

"You're quite adorable yourself." She pulled away slowly from their kiss and grinned against his lips. She was feeling rather playful now that it was just the two of them again. So she took his hands, intertwined fingers and gently pulled him along through the hallway.

"I look forward to a vacation. We could go to an amusement park or festival with the kids. Or maybe a camping trip on Naboo or Kashyyyk." She chuckled and stopped in front of their bedroom door. Were they going inside or head back downstairs for more conversation?

She grinned and kept her eyes on him.

Kahlil Noble​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"You are the short one here, you know."

Kahlil chuckled softly as he leaned into the kiss before flashing a smirk as she did. So that's how she was going to play it? She knew exactly what she was doing. So, without further ado, he picked her right up in his arms and stepped forward to just more or ls kidnap her into the room. Thrown over his shoulder and everything. "We'll plan in the morning, mm?"

Valery Noble