organicmeatbag | [OOC] Milliways Fiction (Reply)

At some point since he'd last been home, Kira had settled in more. Gossamer coverings hung upon the windows, blowing in the gentle breeze of the afternoon, and there were more toys and furniture than before. Revan dropped his bag by the door, the dull thud of it echoing in the too-quiet living space. He reached out with the Force, probing the area. No one was home.

He toed off his boots, stepping further into the small house – their house – and picked up a toy or two as he went. There was something about going home to an empty house that filled Revan with sadness. Perhaps it was the few more hours of longing he'd have to live with as he waited for Kira and the girls to arrive home. But, no matter, he could not and would not expect Kira to waiting at the window for him.

He placed the toys he picked up in a basket at the corner of the room before moving to the small kitchenette, peeking in at the mess that had been left. He frowned at the sight of it, momentarily seized with worry that something had happened, but there were no signs of rushing or struggle, just that it was left as is to be cleaned later.

He spent the next half hour cleaning the kitchen, washing the dishes and mopping up the splotches of spilled juice on the table. Straightening things up so Kira wouldn't have to do it later.

And when he was done, when Kira and the girls had not returned from wherever they had wandered off to, he settled for lounging on the couch and was all too soon lulled to sleep by the sound of indigenous birds chirping through the window. At some point, Ilona came out of her napping spot, mewling, and jumped to rest on his stomach, her tail switching.

An hour passed before Revan awoke to the sound of the door cricking open and voices chattering and then -

"Revan?"

Ilona had only moments to yelp and jump out of the way before Kira was setting two little girls – who were far too big to be Ellia and Kaelyn, right? – on the floor and running over to Revan for a hug, her arms thrown around his neck before he has even stood up from the couch. He hugged back, arms going around her automatically and tightly, even as he stared over her shoulder at the little girls that toddle over to the basket full of toys, pulling one and then two out with their small hands.

Kira sensed him staring and pulled back to look at him, though settled still in his lap from her hug. She followed his gaze to Ellia and Kaelyn. "They got big," and a proud little smile graced Kira's lips as she looked her daughters over. "Ellia and Kaelyn, come say hello."

"That," Revan started to say but choked on the words. He had left when Ellia and Kaelyn were a little over one year in age, barely walking, and now...

Ellia was the first to toddle over, almost running, and she looked up at Kira with a smile and then looked at Revan and when Kira stood, Ellia inched behind her, almost afraid. Kaelyn stood by the basket, watching.

Revan knelt on the ground, reaching a little for Ellia. "Hey, Ellia." He tried to keep the sorrow out of his tone. It had only been five months since he had left.

Ellia peeked out from behind Kira's legs. "Daddy?"

Revan grinned, nodding.

It took another moment, and then another, before Ellia inched out from behind Kira, who watched not saying anything. Ellia was hesitant and tentative with her steps, but she inched over to Revan and finally reached for him, her hand curling into the shirt he wore. He waited, patient, as Ellia looked him over, studying him with a slight frown. She seemed to look into his eyes before she grinned and threw her arms about him in a hug.

"I missed you, daddy," Ellia murmured as she buried her face into Revan's chest and Kaelyn wandered over, joining in the hug.

Revan wrapped his arms around them, lifting them up as he stood, a sigh of relief accompanying him as he hugged the twins tight. "I missed you too, little ones."