Chapter Text
Tweens knew too damn much, Mills decided. Koa was all about giving him knowing looks after she got ready for bed.
“You should call her over,” she said for the four hundredth time, wearing her pjs and leaning against the doorway. “I won’t mind.”
“Koa-Flower, you mind your business.” He gave her the sternest look that he had, which usually shut people up. He’d done it on the Monster Planet to this little wide-eyed child and she’d stared at him and said, “shit.” Then she’d made him wear a fucking flower.
He shook his head. “You just go to sleep and leave the adulting to the adults.”
She smiled at him. “All right.”
“Koa.” He cupped her face and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I love you, my daughter.”
Without warning, she threw herself into his arms. “I love you…” The word she said was unfamiliar, but he knew what it meant. She called him father.
Then, she jumped in bed, plopped down, and closed her eyes. She gave a loud snore. Mills had to laugh.
“Night, sweetie.”
“Night, flowerdad.”
He turned off the light and crept out of the room. Mills waited exactly an hour before he called.
***
Rey finished locking the house up for the night. She felt restless from all the drama of the day and all the emotions that had been brought to the surface. Maybe it was time.
It was a number she’d never forget. The man who was her brother, her family. She called it before she decided against it.
Finn answered with a cheerful greeting. He saw Rey and his expression softened.
“Baby girl,” he said. “Where the fuck have you been?” The question was soft, not as mean as it sounded.
“I’ve settled in. I’m all right.”
“I don’t know why you disappeared. We would have helped you.”
His husband, Poe, appeared behind him. “Rey, baby! We’ve missed you so much.” He blew her loud kisses.
Rey smiled with tears in her eyes. “I’m an idiot. I thought it was better to cut the ties, to end it all cleanly. Then I wouldn’t miss you so much.”
Poe swore in Womari, his native language. The translator beeped.
“No, I don’t want to know,” Rey told it.
“You really don’t,” Finn said. “What’s happening? Where are you?”
Rey gave her friends the particulars, ending by saying she’d met a man.
“Do tell!” Poe pushed Finn over further to stick his big handsome face in the camera.
“He’s a former pilot who crashed on an uncharted planet. He and a little girl–Koa from Exi–were the only two survivors. She lost her family.”
Finn and Poe exchanged glances. “Ah,” Finn said. “I see.”
“What do you see?” Rey glowered at him. “I’m not… in love with him just because of her. Actually, I love both of them. They’re a package deal.”
Finn’s gaze softened. “Of course you would love them. That makes sense.”
“He wouldn’t let them take her to a facility.”
“Good man,” Poe interjected. He squeezed Finn’s shoulders.
“He really is. I want to marry him and raise Koa as ours.”
The two men clapped and hooted. “Congratulations!” Finn was beside himself.
“Invite us to the wedding,” Poe said.
“Or else!” Finn glared at her, then grinned.
With tears in her eyes, Rey agreed, and hung up after sharing all the news.
The unit buzzed, signaling an incoming call. Mills. Three words.
Rey ran next door.
When Mills opened the door, he stepped forward and scooped her up without warning. Her breath caught. He held her there for a moment, giving the front door a kick and poking the lock with his elbow. Then he carried her down the hall.
“If I kiss you,” he whispered at the doorway of his bedroom, “I’m not sure I will want to stop. Tell me now if this is what you want.”
“Koa’s asleep? I wouldn’t want to scare her.”
“She’s asleep.” He paused, waiting for her answer.
Rey closed her eyes. This man was as necessary as the air she breathed.
“Yes,” she breathed. “Please. I want everything with you.”
***
Mills laid Rey down on his big bed. For a long moment, he watched the expressions on her face. He wanted her to be sure. He didn’t want to stop. He wanted to make her his.
So he began with a soft kiss on her forehead. She closed her eyes. He kissed her eyelids, then her nose, each soft, sun-kissed cheek. She dug her hands in his hair and lifted her mouth. She tasted like sweet heaven, like the sweetness of the pies she made. He couldn’t get enough of her lips. He placed a hand on her face, fingers trailing her down her neck. Her earlobe was delicate, her skin so very smooth. She slipped her tongue into his mouth and he groaned.
He nuzzled her slowly, trying to not rip off her clothes and bury himself inside her, as he longed to do. He would frighten her with his roaring passion. But she began to pull at his clothes impatiently and had his cock out of his pants before he could protest. Her hands were warm around him and he fought not to spill on her.
He gritted his teeth. “Slow, baby, slow. It’s been a while for me.”
He shucked off his pants, shoes, and socks. She was pulling her shirt and jeans off herself.
“Let me, let me.” He took her hands in his for a moment. He wanted to unwrap her like a gift.
He slid the straps of her bra down and kissed her shoulders. Then he unsnapped her bra and drew it off her body.
She lay, silky hair tousled, eyes bright, lips swollen, and creamy breasts–all for him. He pressed kisses all around her jeweled nipples, while she arched into him. He took one ripe bud into his mouth. She nearly came off the bed, groaning his name. He suckled each of her breasts in turn, while she writhed.
“I want more,” he said. “More of you.”
“I want to taste you,” she whispered, stroking his burning cock. “So much.”
“I won’t survive it.” He gave her a small smile. “Let me taste you instead.”
Her breath hitched. “Mills.”
He drew her body down toward the edge of the bed and knelt in front of her open legs. She moved her limbs restlessly.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” He held her open and looked at her sweet, plump lips, wet with desire. Her clit was beginning to peep out of its hood. He traced a finger through her moisture and touched the small, swelling bud.
She gasped and tried to close her legs. He placed his hands on her thighs. He wanted to lick her, revel in her hot taste. He couldn’t wait any longer. He dipped his head and licked her with the flat of his tongue, covering as much of her pussy as he could. She was delicious. She wiggled under the clamp of his hands. He continued his long, slow licks, ending each with a flick to her clit.
She jumped when he teased it.
He decided to get down to business. He was going to make her come with his tongue. Opening her folds with his thumbs, he concentrated his movements on her clit, which was now out of its hood and extra sensitive. He tried a few techniques, circles, side-to-side, above, below. She let him know what ones she liked best and he repeated them until she stiffened. He saw the tell-tale blush of orgasm blooming on her chest, neck, then face. She cried out but slapped her hand over her mouth to muffle the cries. He laid his tongue lightly on her clit to wring the last aftershocks out of her.
“Don’t move,” she whispered. “Just don’t.”
He didn’t until she moved herself.
“So good.”
He crawled up to her. “I’m glad.”
“Will you go inside? You can come inside me. I’m protected.”
“I am, too.” He’d updated his birth control on a whim, though he hadn’t expected to be having sex any time soon. “For now.”
Rey blushed at the thought of creating a child with him. “For now.”
She scooted backwards and opened her arms. “If you want to go inside now, I’d like that. I will suck on you another time.”
Mills thought he would explode, then and there. Another time. She would go down on him. He would die.
“I’d like to be inside you now, and you can do whatever you’d like to me anytime.” He gave a shaky laugh. “I’m ready.”
He knelt between her thighs and rubbed his cock at her entrance, closing his eyes. She made a lovely, mewling sound as he began to slowly push up inside her.
Her warm, wet pussy nearly did him in. He ground his teeth and concentrated on staying quiet so as not to wake his daughter. That cooled him off enough to push forward until he was balls deep inside this lovely woman. She looked at him with a glazed expression.
He kissed her, holding onto his desire to pound her into the mattress. “Are you doing all right?”
“Yes,” she breathed.
He pulled out and pushed back into the clinging warmth. Heaven, just pure bliss. She wrapped her legs around him and grabbed his ass. He didn’t care, he just thrust a little deeper, harder, and then, because he couldn’t help himself, he thrust faster. She met every push, every move, with enthusiasm. The soft noises she made told him she was enjoying it. She was digging her nails into his ass, which kept him from emptying himself inside her immediately. Soon, though, he could tell he wasn’t going to be able to last longer. Maybe when they made love again, he could do more positions, he would make her come on his cock. But this time he was going to rocket to the heavens.
The overwhelming desire moved up from his balls as they slapped against her sweet round ass. It ran upward. He was flushed, he was on edge, then he was coming so hard it nearly knocked him out.
He laid on his elbows, panting. “Rey, my sweet girl.” He kissed her face, lips, eyes, nose. He buried his face in her fragrant neck.
***
Rey stroked her big man’s muscular back, down to his ass. She pushed her hands through his soft, wavy hair, enjoyed the feel of his mustache against her neck. He rubbed his face against hers as if marking her. She was his. He was hers.
Finally, he withdrew from her body to throw himself down beside her. His big paws reached for her and she pressed her body against his. He was a furnace. He was smooth and hard and freckled. His freckles were bigger than hers, dotted on him the spicy brown juncea seeds she loved on her oryza. Hers were smaller, scattered like a dusting of ground cinnamomum powder. She looked into his tawny eyes, which sometimes seemed brown and sometimes, in the outside light, looked amber with flecks of green.
He stroked her hair and she touched his face, memorizing every single feature, which, by themselves, were a little too this or that. Time had given him lines etched beside his eyes, on his forehead. She could tell he worried too much. She smoothed her fingers over each line and wished to take away his cares.
He would protect her, like he did Koa, he would be there no matter what. But she was a fierce advocate herself, no frail flower. She would stand in front of any monster for both him and that child.
And be grateful for everything they brought into her life.
Epilogue
Koa had a secret. She hugged herself, feeling giddy with excitement. She caught the eye of Rey’s brother, Finn. He winked at her, since he was in on it. His husband, Poe, grinned. They were very nice people and Koa liked them a lot. She wished they lived nearby because Finn liked to bake cookies, too.
“Hey, wild thing, it’s time to go!” Poe held out a hand. He’d also helped her get the gifts ready. The three of them headed for the foyer to meet up with Mills and Rey.
It was their wedding day. And Koa had a surprise for her flowerfamily.
Two weeks ago, Koa had enlisted her art teacher, a dour man named Hux, to help her. He’d eyed her with a frown when she laid out her idea, but she saw a flicker of interest in his eyes. Then he’d melted like hot fat on a skillet and jumped in to help. He was in the crowd of well-wishers at the wedding. She saw the back of his head with its smooth red hair, when she peeked out at the crowd.
“Koa.”
She turned to see Poe with the tray covered and ready to go. She gave him a thumbs up just as her flowerdad came in the door of the community hall. He looked very nice in his pressed black tunic and polished boots. His hair was brushed and lay in neat waves–as opposed to his usual ruffled mane. He winked at her when he saw her.
“Look at you, baby.” He gave her a quick hug. “You look beautiful. All grown up.”
Koa twirled in her blue velvet dress. “Thank you.”
Poe and Finn shook hands with Mills, while Koa watched for her flowermom. The door opened once again and her flowermom flowed in. Koa caught her breath–she heard flowerdad do the same.
Rey wore a long white gown of some floaty material, thin and sparkly, with beautiful fuschia flowers somehow painted or stamped on it. Koa wasn’t sure how it was done. The top of the dress was just plain white with small cap sleeves. Her flowermom looked like a princess.
Her dad and mom stood together in the foyer for a moment, staring at each other, lost in their own world. Koa knew they were in love by how they looked into each other’s faces. And she was in love with them.
Up front, the officiant took her position. Finn whispered to Rey, while Poe slipped off to find his seat. Somarian wedding music began to play.
Koa’s beautiful flowermom held out her hand. “Ready, sweetie?”
Koa nodded. “Pretty dress.”
“Thank you.” Rey smiled that special smile that Koa loved so much.
Mills stood next to Koa on one side and Rey on the other. The three of them clasped hands and slowly walked toward the front of the hall. They stood together for a few minutes, then Koa remembered she had to step back. She didn’t mind, though, because she was looking for Finn to bring in the surprise. She caught Hux’s small smile. The man’s face might crack if he full-on grinned, she thought. He gave her a rather solemn nod.
The officiant finished saying some words and gestured to Koa. Both parents turned to gape at her as she stepped forward. Finn was on the move up the aisle with the silver tray.
“I lost my family,” Koa said firmly to the assembled guests. “It was an accident. It was very hard because we crashed on a planet full of big monsters.” She made claws with her hands and growled. “I was alone except for this man.” She pointed at Mills. “He saved me. He fought the monsters and I fought them, too. He was so sad because he lost his daughter. I wanted to make him feel better when he cried for her.” She paused. “And before the flying fire fell onto the planet, we escaped. He brought me home, took me in, and cared for me. He gave me a home. We met Rey, who fell in love with us. Please, Finn, show the gifts.”
Arriving at the front of the hall, Finn turned and pulled off the white satin cloth that covered the silver tray. Resting in a nest of green satin were three silk flowers, fuschia pink.
“Flowerdad, flowermom, I made these. For your wedding.” Koa lifted each large flower. She looked at Mills. “Flower.” She reached out to him like she’d done on the Monster planet. The first time, he’d eyed her suspiciously, ducked away from her. He’d refused the flower. She’d looked at him, trying desperately to connect with her protector. The second time, he’d let her tuck the flower into his hair.
On this day, without a word, he crouched down. The rest of the world fell away and it was just the three of them. Koa settled the flower in Mills’ hair. She stroked the dark waves after pinning it in place. “You’re my father.”
“Yes,” he said, looking into her eyes. He took her hands. “I am.”
Koa turned to Rey, who was pressing her lips together and digging her nails into her palms to stop herself from crying. A tear escaped.
“Don’t cry,” Koa said. She lifted a flower. “This is yours, flowermom.”
Rey knelt while Koa pinned the flower behind Rey’s ear. Koa patted her. “You’re my mother.”
Another tear rolled down Rey’s cheek. “Yes, I am.”
Koa turned to the small group of onlookers and pinned the last flower in her own hair. “I’m flowerKoa, daughter. We are flowerfamily.”
And with that, Koa knew they would continue to grow and flourish together, living and loving, cooking waterbird, raking leaves, baking cookies, and, best of all, playing Shooter.