Twins Are Common, Aren't They?

[Kay-Larr]

It had been a month since [member="Caedyn Arenais"] and [member="Loreena Arenais"] were born. The twins were perfect. One boy and one girl. You just couldn't get any luckier than that. For decades Kay had thought that she was infertile. After her first husband was murdered, she kept herself clear of other suitors, believing that she was of no use to them if she couldn't conceive. But [member="Veiere Arenais"] didn't care about that. He loved her for who she was. So the fact that she was pregnant came as a welcoming surprise to them both. It was a wish granted for her, to carry on her husband's bloodline and to let him experience being a Father. Adoption was one thing, but this was quite another.

Given Kay's uncanny talent for attracting trouble, the King and Queen had decided to raise their children away from the public eye. They didn't even live in the Royal Palace, instead moving off to a hidden Estate that was known to only a few individuals. They both wanted a normal life for the twins, away from fanfare and public life. They had much to learn and having everything handed to them wasn't going to help them at all. There was no public viewing, no big celebration or baby showers, just a small bulletin on the local holonews. The less that potential threats knew about the twins, the better.

Yet Kay still wanted her closest friends to see them. So one afternoon she brought the twins over to the Royal Palace and sent out a message to two of those friends; [member="Darben Skirae"] and Renla. A small snack and tea were prepared in her office while she waited. The twins themselves were napping quietly in bassinets, each of them swaddled up in their blankets. Kay hoped that they'd arrive soon. She couldn't wait to introduce them to eachother.

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben had been fast asleep. Had been. That was till someone started shaking him. While some may have enjoyed parenthood, he was not so good at it. He simply rolled over as his adopted daughter, Renla continued to pull at him, trying to roll him back over, waving a hand at her in a tiresome manner. She had had enough, so she left. Darben felt at peace in his sleep...until someone a bit more stronger pulled him right out of bed. Darben had a quick yell before falling to the floor, frowning up to see his bodyguard, with Renla behind smiling. And holding out a datapad. "What's this?" Darben took it, looking it over. In an instant, his eyes widened quickly and he got up quick.

"Mia, can you get us to the Royal Palace?" She nodded, then headed out. "Get dressed Renla, we need to head out." Little did he know, or rather too tired to see, Renla was already dressed in a floral green dress. He hurried out, still tugging his jacket over as he hopped into Mia's speeder, and they sped off toward the Royal Palace.

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The speeder arrived outside, and he hurried up to the entrance. The guards gave him passage, seeing him in a hurry as Renla hurried right behind him. He had read about the event in the holonews, and while he didn't care much for kids, except Renla, [member="Lady Kay"] was still a friend and had asked for his presence. Plus, Renla was overly excited.

He came to the office, and went to knock on the door, not realizing that the twins were asleep inside. Renla was almost bouncing on her heels.

 

[Kay-Larr]

The knocks on the door fortunately weren't loud enough to disturb the twins. Kay was told to have noise present when the twins were asleep, so that they couldn't be disturbed so easily. It gave both herself and Veiere peace of mind.

She approached the door and opened it, grinning as she saw a very eager Renla and a tired [member="Darben Skirae"] . Well he was freshened up somewhat, but she could see the slight puffiness under his eyes."Come in, come in, come in. They are asleep right now, but come and see. Hardly anyone has met them yet. So you're one of the first." Kay led them over to the bassinets, beaming of course. What new mother wouldn't be gushing over their newborns?

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben Skirae just stood there for a bit when [member="Lady Kay"] opened the door, but Renla was quite the opposite. She, in a way, rushed in, quietly. She was quite good at moving quietly. Darben just followed along, holding a hand out to shake Kay's hand. "Should have seen her, so excited...Even got Mia to pull me out of bed. Parenting always this hard?" he asked, scratching at his beard for a bit. Renla looked over the side of the bassinets, peering down at the sleeping newborns. Darben had to admit, he found a bit of humor in how much the young Twi'Lek was so interested in the babies. The only baby he'd ever seen was when shoppers brought them along, or his young siblings...who he missed dearly.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay's smile turned into a smirk as [member="Darben Skirae"] merely offered her a handshake. Really? After all that they've been through? She took his hand and pulled him in for a hug, easily catching Renla's excitement. "Oh trust me, the older they are, the harder it gets."

[member="Bradshaw Ku"] came to mind. He was long past his teenage years, yet he didn't act his age. It was difficult to get him to focus on anything but his next carnal conquest. She had figured that crowning him would get him to become more responsible, but instead it seemed to have had the opposite effect.

She led Darben over to the twins, and smiled at Renla, pointing out each of them to her. "This one's named Caedyn. He's the oldest. And that one is named Loreena, after my mother."

 

[Darben Skirae]

In his tired state, he was generally surprised to be pulled into a hug. He just went along with it, hugging her back. "They do?" he groaned at that after pulling away, looking over at Renla. [member="Lady Kay"] led him over to them, and he had a peek over the side. He had to admit, they did look rather adorable. He even had a thought what one of his own would look like, and he quickly pushed that to the back of his mind. He never thought about such things, like relationships and children of his own. Renla, she was an exception. A very big exception. And Mia sometimes helped out, mostly just keeping watch however or heavy lifting. And he could tell that she wasn't liking it too much. "I think Renla adores them..."

"Caedyn...and Loreena" Renla whispered, pointing to each as she said their names. "They so cute" she said, almost squealing out of excitement. She was sometimes rather quiet...this was not one of those days. Darben, on the other hand, stepped back and got a seat, sleep was not so easy for him in recent weeks. "How is Veiere taking it? Has he had children before?"

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay just watched. Whereas [member="Darben Skirae"] seemed a bit unsure of what to make of it all, Renla was very much keen on all of it. Perhaps she'd make a good babysitter later on. At least she'd be interested in the idea. Whether or not Darben would let her would be another story. Still, Kay wasn't sure that she could leave them without at least having [member="Veiere Arenais"] there. She was always thinking of their safety. There was never enough precautions.

She tilted her head to the side a bit as Darben asked about Veiere. "He's overjoyed and proud. Though no, I don't believe that he's had children before. It's a first for the both of us." And one that she was very glad for. Despite the dangers of the Galaxy, it was good to know that their family would live on.

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben Skirae nodded slowly as he listened. "First for all of us, it seems" he murmured, taking one of the cups of tea, thinking it might wake him up a bit. Glancing over at Renla, he turned his head back to [member="Lady Kay"]. "If I were to be honest...I don't think I am ready for parenthood. I don't know how to care for Renla" he whispered to her, as Renla's whole attention was on the babies in the room. When he had adopted her, he honestly wasn't sure why. He just thought that if he had her adopted, he might be able to protect her more. But now, he wasn't even sure he could take care of her.

"I mean, I want to protect her...but that's all I know what to do. I barely even know what she likes." He was rather distraught over all that, not knowing about all the things about being a parent. He had parents once, but he never really paid much attention to how they cared for him, since they had grown ill when he was young.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay nodded as she agreed eith [member="Darben Skirae"] . It was the first for all of them. Even for Renla, most especially now that she was able to communicate better with them.

She laughed a little at Darben's revelation. "No one's ready for parentood. No one thinks that they are either. You have to expect the unexpected. We all want to keep them pritected. Trust me, I went through the same thing when my first husband and I had adopted. You'll make mistakes, just like we all do. You two will argue and fight, but in the end it won't matter. You chose eachother for a reason."

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben Skirae smiled a little at [member="Lady Kay"] laugh at his revelation, but on the inside he was worried. He didn't want fights to happen between them, and he still had yet to figure out this reason that Kay spoke of. He was no role model, he was a heavy drinker at times who'd only learnt matters of trade and credits and how to get the bids going higher. "I'm no role model, you know...I don't think I've told you, but I drink. A lot" he said quietly. "And that's not something I want her to see." He looked over at Renla just in time to see her smile back. Then he looked away, his own smile disappearing. "Mia's been helping out, but she's a bodyguard, I can tell that she isn't thrilled sometimes."

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay kept her eyes on Renla and the sleeping twins while [member="Darben Skirae"] let her know about his problems with drinking. She knew others that were guilty of the same thing. She was guilty herself of drinking too much tea.

She waved a little at Renla when she looked her way, and then turned to Darben again. "We all have our vices. None of us are perfect. You shouldn't worry yourself over that. Darlyn drinks too, as does Veiere. Renla will drink as well more than likely, when she's old enough. So you've gotta show her how to be responsible with it. Maybe you can lessen your intake if you figure out why it is that you drink so much. Surely it can't be out of boredom. If so, I can give you plenty of work."

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben smiled to [member="Lady Kay"], he could never have pictured someone to be so kind. Yet here was such a person. Someone who always saw the good in things. The CSA had been attacked many times, and yet she still smiled everywhere. Made Darben a bit jealous, to see someone so happy, yet it also warmed his heart to have such a person as a friend.

"Oh, don't remind me. I know that she may drink..." He paused there. He was never comfortable talking about why he drank. In fact, he never spoke of it to anyone. He only ever spoke to it in private, and when someone heard him, he would sometimes pretend not to listen. If he responded, it was the drink talking. So he said nothing, and took another few sips, or rather gulps of tea. And then he was out of tea suddenly. Maybe it wasn't just alcohol he had drinking problems with..."It's not boredom" he finally said after perhaps the longest pause he's had in a conversation. "It's...not something I talk about."

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay smirked a little as [member="Darben Skirae"] commented on Renla drinking. More than likely she would, unless by chance she didn't like the taste of it. There were some who's tastebuds couldn't handle it. She could also not like gow it made her feel. Kay liked to be in control of herself. Drinking any large amount would hinder that. And besides, it burns the throat!

Darben seemed to struggle a little within himself. So boredom wasn't the cause of his drinking. That was good. Yet maybe it would've been better if it was. He was hesitant. It made her feel as though it was some sort of trauma. "You don't have to tell me. It's okay. I don't tell people everything either." The same could probably go for Renla too. "But if you need me at all, I'm never really far away."

 

[Darben Skirae]

"Thank you" he said. He glanced back to Renla who was still having all of her attention on the two babies. "I'm still surprised you picked me, of all people, to visit them first. I mean, I am grateful...but why me first?" he asked [member="Lady Kay"]. Darben went to take another sip, only to see that there was no tea in it. It was quite a nice taste, and he rarely had tea. Perhaps it was because he had been sober for some time now, and he just had to have something to drink. "Um, do you mind? I seem to have become quite acquainted to tea" he said with a bit of a humored tone. "Renla, can you come get something to eat please?" he asked to her quietly, and that she did.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay gave [member="Darben Skirae"] a bit of a nod as he thanked her. It was the least that she could do, of course. He was one of her most loyal friends. She blinked and almost laughed as he asked why she'd pick him. "You asked the same thing when I first hired you. Darben...after all this time and all we've been through, haven't you realized that both you and Renla are like family to me?"

She nodded as he requested more tea. As Renla stepped away to get something to eat, Kay approached her twins and watched them while they slept. "You'll be able to hold them when they wake up. That is if either of you want to." Most were afraid to drop them, she knew. She was guilty of that herself.

 

[Darben Skirae]

Yes, he knew that they were like family to her. But he wondered why in the first place, why him? He thought about this, his expression turning into a thinking frown. Darben looked away from [member="Lady Kay"] as she got him more tea, then moved away to the twins. "I'm..I'm good." Renla was too busy eating, plus Darben doubted she would want to. Had she heard again no doubt, she actually would want to, as she had never seen a baby so up close. And she did have very careful hands. "This may be an odd question...but what made you want to? Have children, that is."

 

[Kay-Larr]

As expected, [member="Darben Skirae"] was skittish about holding the twins. She figured that.

Kay sipped her tea, raising a brow at his question. "Well...when Brad and Rae-Anna were adopted, they sort of adopted my first husband and I, instead of the other way around. They never left our side until my first husband was murdered. And as for the twins? They were a surprise....I always thought myself to be barren as I couldn't conceive before. I never slept around, so I didn't know otherwise. Veiere was shocked too, but happy with the surprise. I'm just glad to be able to keep his legacy going."

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben was shocked to hear that she had in fact lost a husband. Plus, he was surprised that Brad wasn't her only adopted child. "Kay...I am sorry to hear about that...but I am glad you found someone." He had never, ever thought about it, having kids of his own. Yet here was Renla now. But he never really experienced love before, or anything that [member="Lady Kay"] had experienced. "And Veiere is quite the keeper, and a good friend." He took another sip of the tea, before glancing over to Renla, then extending a hand to her to allow her a sip. She seemed to enjoy it as much as he did.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay offered a slight shrug of her shoulders in response to her past. In truth she had to learn to let go of it. She wasn't living otherwise. Keeping everyone away didn't improve her situation at all. Instead it had left her stagnant. "I wasn't looking to find anyome. Veiere wasn't either. We just sort of...grew into it. Most of the time I had kept people away, including Veiere as I was afraid of history repeating itself. He's such a hero while I am not." And it was because of that that she was quite certain that she'd outlive him. And it had little to do with their decade age gap.

She sipped her tea, giving [member="Darben Skirae"] a small smile. "And he is a keeper, I agree. I can't imagine my life without him." Their chosen paths had kept them apart until now. Thankfully.

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben raised his brows toward [member="Lady Kay"], he did not believe that one bit. She was very much a hero to many. "Not a hero? Kay, you gave me a home. You helped me in times of need. You govern an entire system, then an entire government! You have maintained peace for the CSA." He sat his tea down, and reached to put a hand on Kay's in a friendly manner. "Kay, if that isn't a hero, I don't know what is. I know that not all heroes fight." He did not think himself a hero. But Kay, in his eyes she was. She had protected the CSA, and kept it held together. She had given him advice, now he felt he may as well return the favor.

He picked the tea back up, only to find it was almost empty again. Renla returned to the babies once she was done eating, having been sure to clean any crumbs from herself. "Can't imagine myself with anyone."