Chapter Text
Ahsoka Tano woke up before dawn to find the familiar warmth and dip of the other side of her bed absent. She reached out an arm and felt the fabric in the dark. It wasn’t too cool to the touch, so Rex hadn’t been up for long.
She hadn’t heard him leave and a bit of guilt washed over her, but she rubbed it away along with her eyes and threw off her covers so she could find her husband. The plush carpet beneath her feet kept some of the pre-sunrise chill away, but she wrapped her arms around herself anyway.
She padded silently down the hallway of their home and slowly opened the door to the room she knew he’d be in. Behind the door, Rex stood shirtless and vigilant near the foot of their five-year-old daughter’s bed.
Mav was sound asleep on her back, one arm thrown up beside her head, unaware of her father’s protective watch or her mother’s stealthy entrance.
Rex was aware, though. “Good morning, ‘Soka,” he said with a subtle glance behind him.
A slow, soft smile spread on Ahsoka’s face as she looked at their daughter before wrapping her arms around her husband’s torso from behind. “It’s barely morning, Rexster. Why are you awake?” she asked before the answer hit her. “Another nightmare?”
He nodded in affirmation and she frowned, tightening her hug. “Yeah,” he whispered.
“Who was it about this time?”
Rex had nightmares about all of his brothers, living and dead. Tup shooting Master Tiplar, Fives dying in his arms, Jesse going down on the Venator, Hevy sacrificing himself to destroy Rishi Station, Thorn being shot repeatedly by droids, Waxer dying by their own brothers’ hands on Umbara…
He’d have nightmares about the brothers he knew had survived the Order six years ago: Fox, Neyo, Bacara, and all of the others—brainwashed… He wasn’t sure where they all were now.
He was afraid to think about it.
He’d have nightmares about the brothers that were here on Alderaan with them—Echo, Bly, Wolffe, Gregor. But those were the easiest for him to shake off. Rex would wake with a start, look at Ahsoka resting beside him in their bed, and remember that those brothers—as well as Jedi Master Aayla Secura—were all safe in their homes beside his and Ahsoka’s.
Rex turned to return Ahsoka’s hug and to kiss one of her montrals. He didn’t have to bend his head down to do so anymore, over the years she’d gotten taller and her montrals had grown higher. She was actually taller than he was now, but he’d never mind that.
He exhaled slowly and buried his face in her neck. “It was about Cody.”
Ahsoka nodded while rubbing a hand down his back. That was the most common answer whenever she asked that question and it broke her heart each time. She understood what it was like to lose a best friend—to know that they’ve fallen.
Fallen far.
“I’m still so sorry, Rex.”
He pulled her tighter, gently clutching the end of one of her—now near waist-length—lekku in his hand. “I know.” They’ve apologized a lot since the Republic fell, even though it was none of their faults. They’ve reminded each other of that fact many times over the years. “I am too.”
The sound of a blanket rustling caused them both to face their daughter as she moved in her sleep. Rex and Ahsoka smiled down at Mav. The light of the moon coming through the shades of her bedroom viewports lit up her face. The white markings on her forehead and cheeks were paler than her mother’s but still noticeable against her warm bronze skin tone—her father’s skin tone. The blue chevron markings—again, paler than her mother’s—on her short lekku and montral buds were striking.
“Watching our beautiful little Shiny is always a comfort,” Rex said.
Ahsoka smiled at Rex’s affectionate nickname for their daughter. He’d been calling her that since the day after Ahsoka found out she was pregnant, and she hoped he’d never stop. She knew how happy Rex was to still be able to use the term. Her smile turned sadder, and she reached down to pull the covers up higher over Mav’s shoulders. Ahsoka whispered, “She levitated everything she could yesterday.”
“I noticed,” Rex said with a light chuckle. “My helmet kept appearing at different places in the house. The kitchen, the living room, I even found it in the refresher. Every time I put it back on display with my old armor in our bedroom, she’d move it again.”
“I think it’s time to start her training and really explain to her who she is and what she can do. She would have already had a couple years under her belt if she had been at the Temple.”
“That is true,” Rex agreed. “How old were you again, Ahsoka?”
“I was a little older than three when Master Plo brought me in.”
“That’s right.” Rex bent and ran a finger over Mav’s cheek. “I believe she’s ready if you do.”
“Aayla thinks so too,” Ahsoka added, tiredly resting her head against Rex’s after he stood back up. His blond hair tickled her montral and she smiled warmly at the feeling. “I contacted Obi-Wan today to let him know, he has to get back with me. We’ll all train her together. We want to talk to Bail about Leia as well.”
“Can I teach our little Shiny to shoot, then?” Rex asked eagerly, his wide grin evident in his tone.
“We’ll see.” Ahsoka giggled. She rubbed her hands over Rex’s neck and shoulders. “Now, let’s try and go back to sleep, my love.”
Rex kissed her lips quickly. “Yes ma’am, cyar’ika.” He winked at her and led her by the hand out of Mav’s room, down the hall, and back into their warm bed.