Chapter Text
A muffled beeping could be heard from outside of the fresher door. From inside, unending retching noises were coming from the poor sickly Togruta sitting on the floor hugging the toilet. Rex was standing outside, listening to his lover and best friend suffering, and a sudden feeling of guilt washed him over. He felt awful because he wanted to help his significant other, but he really didn't know how to. All he could do was give her space, understanding, and support. And back rubs. Loads and loads of back rubs.
The fresher door opened. When Ahsoka turned her head, she met the image of a worried and sorry-looking Rex, holding her commlink that was flashing and beeping as it had been for a while now.
"Ahsoka, you have a call from the Chancellor."
From an outsider's point of view, this could sound to be a serious matter, but Ahsoka was very close friends with Chancellor Amidala, who happened to be the beloved wife of her former Master and Rex's former general, Anakin Skywalker. She and Rex often minded their twin children: sweet, innocent Luke and cheeky, curious Leia. They were a handful together, but Ahsoka didn't mind babysitting every now and then. She thought practice would come in handy if they ever had children. What she loved the most was watching Rex playing with them. He seemed to be a natural when it came to entertaining them, taking care of them, or disciplining the two crawling menaces if needed. She just couldn't help imagining him holding their own little one in the safety of his strong arms. She was desperate to see his beautiful amber eyes shining from love and happiness.
Rex stepped through cautiously. He didn't want to worsen the situation; Ahsoka became quite moody in the last few weeks, which often entertained him, while he knew it shouldn't.
Her mood swings were coming and going, and fortunately, never in his direction. Unfortunately, she took out her frustrations on everything else: the trash compactor, pillows, and decorations that happened to be in the wrong place and the wrong time. They were all sufferers of the presence of a beautiful but impatient Togruta. Houseplants were fed by falling tears because apparently, "she wasn't able to keep even a plant alive."
Kix sent him some information about pregnancies, so he knew what they could expect. The information contained both Togruta and human pregnancies. It certainly looked like she was getting the worst symptoms from both sides, going into extremes sometimes.
On the one hand, he felt infinitely proud to father a child with the incredible woman who chose him as her partner and husband. But he felt just as guilty for only having an excellent forty-something minute in the project. Ahsoka was now stuck with the rest of all the hard work. He wanted to comfort her as much as he could.
"Are you okay?"
Ahsoka pulled her head out of the toilet, she looked very tired and sick, dark circles around her eyes, and her beautiful sienna skin was losing its hue. Her light nightdress was hugging her form and revealed her long legs in a tempting way that Rex suddenly found very hard to ignore and keep his thoughts from wandering. She felt weak and bothersome, and later she admitted she considered moving into the fresher to be close to her new shiny white best friend. Still, Rex found her incredibly attractive, even in this less than ideal form. He often felt conflicted about his ramped-up attraction or was her pregnancy making her even more irresistible.
"No, Rex, I am not okay, I am violently retching and spending my mornings on this cold floor instead of snuggling with you in our bed and enjoying your warmth."
She had an adorable pout on her lips, and she looked like a child who was ready to throw a complete tantrum.
"Like before."
Rex crouched down and put his arm around her, holding her close and kissing her between her montrals.
"I think it is time to see Kix, maybe he can give you something for the nausea and can do a scan as well, just to make sure everything is okay. He can come up and examine you after his shift if you want."
"Yeah, whatever…" She sounded irritated, but Rex could feel her body going limp in his arms like she gave in to her fate and to accept all the things that were torturing her. Rex didn't like to see her this weak and broken, but he knew she was a fighter and would soon overcome it. The wetness made her eyes glisten, and tears of tiredness moistened her dry cheeks, dripping straight down onto Rex's forearm.
"It is going to be okay, I am so sorry you have to go through this."
She wiped the tears from her face and looked up at him.
"I'm fine, Rex, it's just a bit overwhelming. I would go through anything to bring our baby into the world." She reached down to touch her belly, although it was too early to show any bump yet.
"Just didn't know I would feel this bad while I'm doing it."
Rex nudged her, trying to coax her to stand up and see if the sickness had passed.
"Come on, let's wipe your face."
He took a small towel, the softest one he could find, wetted it, and wiped her drying tears away while holding her face with his other hand.
"You see, you already look much better. Getting back your beautiful color."
Ahsoka was studying his face. She wondered how that strong, battle-hardened soldier she met in the middle of a battlefield all those years ago could be as gentle as he always was with her. Her eyes fell to his mouth, he was talking, but she could only pay attention to those beautifully curved lips moving, and she longed to kiss them. She wouldn't, of course, not until she rinsed her mouth.
"...and I'm making those fried nuna eggs you like so much."
Ahsoka's eyes grew impossibly large, and a tiny frown was tainting her features. Rex leaned back to get a better view of her face and raised a questioning eyebrow at her reaction.
"Guess someone doesn't like my cooking…."
He handed the towel to her and she heard him saying something about the eggs. She wiped her mouth, then her face again, and felt that her sickness might actually have passed. Her words were muffled by the towel.
"I like your everything, you big-"
But when her view cleared again after she finished wiping her face she saw that he had already left the fresher. He placed the com device on the sink next to her, still flashing with the message from Padme. She stood up to gather herself, trying to look decent and presentable when she talked to her, and pressed the button to recall.
Ahsoka first met Chancellor Amidala right at the beginning of the war. When she was appointed to be Anakin's padawan, Padmé was still a senator. She was very oblivious of the secret relationship between her and Anakin for quite a long time. Eventually, she got curious when her Master often disappeared for several rotations and mostly left her in the care of Rex. Although she loved spending time with the great Captain Rex of the 501st, Ahsoka always found it funny how intimidated she felt when they first met.
Eventually, she suspected that Rex knew more about her Master's usual disappearances than he let her know, so when her curiosity got the better of her, she couldn't help but investigate. Thinking back now, she really did feel terribly sorry for constantly tormenting him with her attempts to pry any information out of the unyielding captain.
The couple never officially admitted their relationship during her padawan years. When they finally did, she was overly delighted that two people as vital to her as they were found true love in each other. They only came clean when Padmé started to show signs of her pregnancy with little Luke and Leia. Then the war ended, and the pregnant senator was elected Chancellor.
After being wrongly accused and almost prosecuted for a crime she never commited, having been chased by the very people she knew as family, Ahsoka felt utter betrayal. She knew it wasn't the Jedi way to let the turmoil of emotions overcome and rule her, but she needed a time out. Time spent away from the Jedi, the army, the all-over cruelty and reality of the war. She always regretted not even saying goodbye to her boys. Still, in the heat of the moment, she thought it would have been too painful and that she wouldn't have been strong enough to leave if she had seen them, especially Rex.
She developed a teenage crush on him almost immediately after they met. She was far too young to even consider anything really happening between them. The only thing she knew was that she loved his company. She constantly wanted to be around him to prove herself to be a worthy and valued member of the battalion that he was leading.
When she struggled to understand something, Rex was always the one Ahsoka turned to for needed advice and consolation. He was always there for her, just as she was there for him. Ahsoka always wondered where he gathered all that wisdom and experience when he was biologically younger than her by four years.
She never felt that he returned her attraction but could feel the affection and loving friendship that they both treasured in their hearts since the day they met.
She spent countless nights wandering around the levels of Coruscant, or lying awake in her makeshift bed, wherever she was staying and thinking about the what-ifs. She only realized how many things could have gone wrong or gone differently. How many people he could have lost without a chance to say goodbye. What if they didn't win the war...What if one of the Jedi betrayed them or turned to the Dark Side. What if they discovered a sinister plot that would have changed everything they had ever known.
But her thoughts always returned back to Rex eventually: what if he died in a battle and she wouldn't have the chance to tell him how important he was in her life.
They have always been close and good friends, been in countless battles together, and she cherished every single memory she had of him.
She spent long sleepless nights remembering his handsome features, how she longed to hear his voice, ask him for advice, how she was missing his scent that was so very 'Rex' and what always meant home for her.
Then maybe it was fate, but one day while wandering aimlessly around on the streets of the upper level, she ran into Padmé. She insisted that she come to her apartment and stay with her as long as she wanted. Padmé was heavily pregnant, and Ahsoka wouldn't say she was shocked when her former Master showed up there one afternoon. They had almost convinced her to return to the Order. Then everything unfolded so rapidly; the Sith Lord was revealed, executed, and peace had been returned to the Galaxy. In hindsight, everything happened exactly how it had to happen for her to be exactly where she was now.
When Ahsoka arrived at one of those fancy restaurants that Padmé seemed to prefer, she and Riyo were already seated at a table in the private area. She wasn't particularly fond of the special treatment and elite lifestyle that came with being in the company of the Chancellor. She would have preferred just jumping into Dex's and grabbing one of those juicy burgers herself and Anakin used to sneak out to get in her padawan days. Oh, just thinking about that nerf burger…
The waiter droid led her to their table where her friends were already in a deep conversation, most likely talking about some senate stuff or gossiping about senators. When she reached the table, another droid rushed forward to pull out the chair for her and had her seated. Ahsoka just rolled her eyes but went with it and tried to fake a smile to hide her discomfort. They both greeted her with a quick hug, then Padmé tried to get both their attention by grabbing each of their hands and squeezing them in a friendly and comforting way.
"Ladies, I am ever so sorry for being too busy lately and for not being able to spend as much time as I want with you, especially you, Ahsoka, as I see Riyo almost everyday at the senate building. However we don't have too much time to discuss private matters, only bills and committees."
Padmé and Riyo chuckled at her statement. They most likely had a story to tell, but Padme's face became serious again, and it showed signs of overwork and tiredness. It couldn't be easy to have all the responsibility of the Republic affairs and raising children as well. Ahsoka always admired her ability to multitask and put all her energy and effort into everything even if she was tired.
"It was a long road, but a very important and rewarding effort to integrate the clones into the society now that the war ended. We needed to grant them citizenship, educate them if needed, provide shelter, income, and work for them, and it wasn't an easy task, but I am very proud and satisfied with our achievements.
"We are all involved personally in this matter in some way, and with their rapid aging out of the way, I can confidently announce that our veterans, soldiers, friends, and family are on their way to be able to find their happiness and build their own future."
If it wasn't for Anakin uncovering the mystery of the Sith Lord's identity and Padmé working hard to redeem the Republic's wrongdoings towards their lab-made army, no one knew what would have become of the hundreds of thousands of soldiers created for the war; a war that they hopefully managed to banish from the Galaxy for the foreseeable future.
They were suddenly interrupted by the waiter droid's presence, who was ready to take its very important customers' orders.
"We are celebrating with my friends, so I'd like to order a bottle of the finest wine you have and-"
"Um, actually…"
Padmé spoke up, but she was suddenly interrupted by a purplish-blue hand on one side and a sienna hand on the other side. Ahsoka and Riyo tried to cut her off at the same time, but both of them waited for the other one to explain themselves. Ahsoka was the one who spoke up eventually.
"I would just like to have a glass of water if you don't mind, it is too early to drink wine, I think."
She didn't think it was the right time to break the big news, and she didn't want them to be suspicious just yet, but Padmé was reluctant to agree with her and wanted to protest when Riyo cut her off as well.
"To be honest I don't want to drink alcohol either." She paused a bit, looking down at her lap, a dark purplish blush and a subtle smile adorning her face. "Actually, I can't drink alcohol for a while now."
Ahsoka and Padmé were looking at her. They both immediately seemed to catch on to her meaning.
"No waay!!" They both blurted out at the same time, happiness on Padmé's face, disbelief on Ahsoka's.
"Yeah, girls, we are expecting a baby."
Padmé grabbed one of her hands to hold it and congratulate her, already thinking about all the advice that she could give her from her own experience. Ahsoka was still unable to formulate a proper response, being shocked from being deprived of the element of surprise but being ever so happy that she seemed to be blessed with having to share her experience with one of her best friends.
Padmé turned to the waiter droid, which despite being non-sentient, looked very unimpressed by their female jittering, delaying it from its other tasks.
"Alright, so wine for us and a glass of juice or whatever she wants for my friend here."
Ahsoka interjected quickly. "Uhm, actually, just a … juice for me too. I...I can't drink wine either."
The other two looked at her, and she was smiling sheepishly, a darker blushing hue coloring her cheeks. When they finally put the picture together, they both screamed in surprise.
"You too? I can't believe it!!
Padmé hugged both girls close, pulling their heads towards her giving both a kiss on their cheeks. All her life, Ahsoka was mostly surrounded by men who had a very different way of expressing their emotions. She always found Padmé a bit more affectionate than she would ever allow herself to be, but she felt content and loved at that moment.
"I'm so happy for you girls!! Woow, the boys must be very proud! I remember Anakin, when I told him. First he couldn't believe it, but then he was all over the place, he was so very excited."
Ahsoka clearly remembered Anakin's first reactions. She didn't know the reason for his happiness, as they only told her about it way into her pregnancy, but he could not hide his feelings, and she could sense his joy and distracted state of mind through their Force bond for weeks.
"Rex didn't want to have a child, because he was afraid he wouldn't live long enough to be there for us. But thanks to you, Padmé, he can be. I will never be able to thank you enough for that. You gave us a chance to be happy together."
Riyo clearly agreed with her, and she touched her belly affectionately, which was carefully hidden beneath a long, loose senatorial robe. Now that the fabric was smoothed on her, it was clearly visible. Not a big bump yet, but she was a bit ahead of Ahsoka.
"To be honest, Fox didn't care about that. I mean, he did and I know it might sound selfish, but I told him I wanted him, no matter what, and that I wouldn't mind having his baby, a piece of him, that would remain with me even after he passed away."
They all become quiet for a moment as the prospect of losing their beloved clone partners sooner than they supposed to (due to their accelerated aging) had been a worrisome concern for so long. The three friends were still so used to feeling a pensive sadness whenever they thought about the future. So Padmé grabbed both their hands to reassure them and remind them that they don't have to think about this anymore.
They all suddenly became quite aware of the droid still waiting for their order. Working with and fighting against droids for a long time taught Ahsoka one certain thing about them: they are not sentient beings. Still, they certainly had their own personalities; one could even say 'feelings', and Ahsoka suspected that this particular droid was feeling impatience.
Ahsoka was greeted with the sight of her gorgeous, handsome husband. Rex was on the couch, talking with someone on his commlink, a datapad in his hand. When he heard her entering, he glanced and greeted her with a charming smile that made Ahsoka swoon every time. His handsome features might not be the most unique thing one could find in the Galaxy. For her, though, he was one in a million. She memorized every feature, every fine line, every hair on his face and body. She fell more and more deeply in love with him day after day, as the look in his eyes still managed to make her knees weak every time.
She could hear he was talking to another clone. She walked up behind him and slowly slid her hands down on his front, appreciating all the hard muscles of his chest hidden beneath his T-shirt. She melted into him, burying her face into the crook of his neck as the smell of his skin intoxicated her.
"Alright, Kix, thank you for your help and then we hope to see you tomorrow!"
"No problem, Rex! Tell Ahsoka I said hi!"
Ahsoka was still leaning onto Rex, absentmindedly stroking her fingers on his abs, but she was getting tired, and she was on the brink of falling asleep even in that uncomfortable position.
"See you tomorrow, Kix!"
"Oh, Ahsoka, I didn't know you were there, I hope you are well! Rex told me you have a hard time with the pregnancy."
"I'm fine, Kix. I...I'll be fine. Has to be done."
"I'll try my best to help you with advice or some remedies, and I'll examine you tomorrow."
"Alright, Kix, thank you and take care!"
The call had ended, leaving the two lovebirds alone again. Ahsoka felt very sleepy, but she couldn't help staying there instead of heading to their bed; it was still too early, and she wanted to spend more time with Rex.
"How was the lunch?"
Ahsoka's hand was caressing the hard planes of his chest and couldn't stop it from crawling further and further towards the seam of his pants, occasionally slipping a finger under it, reveling in the feeling of his taut skin hidden underneath.
"It was alright I guess. I'm not a big fan of all that fancy food; small something on a huge plate."
Nimble fingers were disappearing under the loose fabric of his pants, following the trail of fine light hairs. Rex's sharp inhale and the growing distance between his body and the pants let her know that he was enjoying her ministrations.
"Did you tell them?"
Rex could feel Ahsoka's hand brushing against his member while her fangs were teasing to mark the skin of his neck. Thinking back on his days as a captain in the war, he never imagined himself blessed with days like these. Now just sitting on his couch, enjoying the delicate touch of the woman he loves. This dream seemed to be a very far-fetched prospect for a clone, yet here he was.
"I didn't even have to..."
Rex wanted to be a good husband and listen to his wife's stories, but his skin was breaking out in tantalized goosebumps and excited shivers were running down his spine straight to the place where Ahsoka's fingers were heading. It was difficult to formulate any words, but he tried his best.
"Why, what happened?"
Ahsoka whispering into his ears shouldn't have helped to get back to reality from the land of pleasure, but when his brain processed their meaning, he sobered up.
"Riyo's pregnant too."
Rex turned around so suddenly to face her, but he regretted it instantly as he was missing her closeness, and the spell was broken. Ahsoka made a scrunched-up face and shrugged her shoulders, slowly pulling her hand away from his body in the process.
"Yeah, I wanted to surprise them, but well...She was faster."
Rex gently grabbed Ahsoka, pulling her over the back of the couch and into his lap, which resulted in a startled shriek.
"Hey, be careful!" She sounded offended, but she was smiling, entertained by his antics; she would always feel safe in his arms no matter what. For long moments they were just staring into each other's eyes until Ahsoka snuggled close to him, resting her head in the crook of his neck. Rex was stroking her face and her lekku absentmindedly for long minutes, letting every worry leave his mind, but he broke the silence eventually.
"I want to tell the boys too. They were so excited when Jesse and Lenny had their baby. All of them becoming uncles, that's the only thing they could talk about for months."
"I remember, they were so sweet! Seeing all these big guys swooning over a tiny baby, then none of them dared to even hold her. Why don't we call them over tomorrow and tell them? You could have a few drinks and have some catch up and Kix could stay after his visit and join us as well."
Rex was smiling at the memory of that particular day when Jesse invited them to their home to introduce their baby to the Torrent boys. They were all standing over the crib, blocking any light or any sight for that poor baby, who was very happy to see her dad's face but not in this quantity. She was staring at them for long seconds, one by one, trying to figure out where all these daddies came from. Her expression turned into a sad frown first, then she started to cry frighteningly loud. They were all running around like headless porgs trying to figure out who 'broke' the baby.
"Yeah, when they all go through the treatment, they can start to think about making their own ones."
Ahsoka broke out in laughter and raised herself, leaning on his chest to look at him.
" I think that's the only thing some of them can think about lately. I mean the method, not the baby."
Rex's expression changed in an instant, thinking back to only a few minutes ago when he was still enjoying Ahsoka's 'harassment' in hopes of taking it further. He rolled his eyes and took a deep breath.
"I'm thinking about the method a lot too…."
Ahsoka sneaked her hand under the hem of his T-shirt, dragging her nails on his skin whispering into his ears.
"Do you now?"