Caitlin crosses her legs. It was strange to just watch someone else cook. Ty had been adamant that he’s got it, and she wasn’t going to argue. Based on how good the food was smelling, she was going to enjoy the meal. The view wasn’t bad by any degree after all. Not to mention the man cooking the food. All the years working out had given Ty’s muscles plenty of definition, and combined with the charming smile on his handsome face…
“Almost ready,” Ty says. Picking up the plates as he turns towards her. Damn… There was just something about a man wearing a tight shirt with few buttons unfastened with a kitchen towel on his shoulder while carrying two great looking plates. “Deep in your thought I see.”
“Mmh, just appreciating the view.”
“Oh?” His grin is breathtaking. How had she gotten so lucky?
“The food looks great is what I meant to say.”
“And nothing else?”
She looks him up and down, taking all of him in. “No, nothing else comes to mind.”
“Liar.” Ty puts the plate down in front of her, stealing a kiss afterwards. His lips leave her wishing for more.
“Maybe…”
“You are impossible my darling.”
She only smiles, unable to take her eyes off him as he describes the meal he’s prepared. It’s clear he’s put a lot of thought into it, as well as choosing the wine. Was it possible to fall even more in love? Yes, yes it was. Especially when the food was in fact delicious. He could cook and look great while at it. The meat almost melted in her mouth.
Some of the sauce falls into the corner of her mouth. Before she gets the chance to remove it, Ty’s thumb reaches out, wiping it away. Yet his thumb lingers along her lips and she wants another taste of the sauce. As she licks his thumb clean, he groans.
“Maybe we should just skip to dessert?”
“Oh, after you spent two hours cooking and you want to skip this wonderful meal? I’m sure dessert can wait a bit longer.”
Prompt: Bedtime stories (Flufftober)
Rating: G
Characters: Caitlin, her six children
It was a rare time when it was actually quiet in the house. But bedtime story was one of those moments. All the children were gathered in the play room, sitting on large pillows, wrapped in blankets. Their attention on their mom, hanging onto her every word. Caitlin loved nights like these.
Little Dâkun, only half a year old, on her lap, his hands on occasion grabbing her hair. She gently removes his fingers each time, always losing her place for a moment. It was a story she had read many times, the children always asking for it once in a while.
Khazur, despite being almost a teenager, still joined them on occasion. Despite his age, he still listened enraptured. She was sure he knew the story backwards at this point. She hoped that he’d continue joining them on occasion. It was rare of have these moments with all her kids.
Dâkun’s twin sister Acenia was sitting on Khazur’s lap. She was holding a wrat plushie of her grandpa Vowrawn, eyes wide as she was trying to understand the words. Clearly she was too young to really follow the story, but was glad to be part of it all.
Mojhu was curled next to her, wrapped in a blanket. He was nodding on and off. It had been a long day by the pool and he was clearly exhausted. She couldn’t help herself, on occasion running her fingers through his short hair. It only seemed to make him more tired as he was deep in sleep before the story ended.
The older set of twins, Zahlia and Irelia, were huddled under a blanket, leaning against the couch. Both of them had begged for this story just half an hour earlier. They were enraptured. Their wrat was lying on their laps. The two girls kept petting her almost absentmindedly, a quiet purr clear around the room.
Evenings like this were perfect. Caitlin loved her kids. Especially when they were all together, having a good time, none of them arguing or fighting. In twenty odd minutes Ty would come to help her put the youngest to bed. Hopefully with all of them already well on their way to sleep.
Caitlin loved being in love. She loved the butterflies, not being able to stop smiling when with them, the joy when the message noice was them, the anticipation, being loved and adored in turn. She loved all of it, even if it was a rare occasion.
What she didn’t love was explaining herself. She dreaded it with every fibre of her being. I love you, but… The but seemed to be too much to many. I love you, but I’m asexual. To many it was automatically ‘no sex’, despite it not being that. Or if they understood sex might be on the table, they usually still took it personally. “How dare you not find me sexually attractive?!?” The horror and confusion were amusing, at first. Now it was more of a chore. The inevitable start to the end of their relationship.
It always made her nervous. As if her being her was some kind of an insult to them. It made her feel like she wasn’t enough. No matter how strong her feelings were, she was just missing something they felt they required or needed to be in a relationship. Could she really fault them?
Thank you for asking and patience in waiting for this answer. I clearly can't write short headcanons anymore xD the one under the read more is nsfw.
The biggest challenge to their relationship was when Ty ascended to the throne after Vowrawn’s death. The stress from being the Emperor put more stress on their relationship than they expected. It’s taken many mistakes, lot of patience and forgiveness to settle into their new roles as the Emperor and Empress, keeping their relationship together, and their kids happy. Ty’s learned to tell her when he’s stressed, and Caitlin’s learned to support him even before he asks for help.
For two Sith who have an army of slaves at their beck and call, the two love spending time in the kitchen. Ty loves to cook and Caitlin to bake/make desserts. The first time Ty cooked for her, bringing this amazing meal with a towel thrown over his shoulder, Caitlin was very much in love. They still cook together when they want to relax, on occasion making a three course dinner because they feel like it.
Caitlin never saw herself as very maternal and the example she’d gotten about raising kids from home wasn’t very warm either. Ty is very much the opposite, he loves playing with the kids and thinks it’s important they spend time with the kids. So slowly Caitlin gets into the habit as well, from taking the kids to swimming since they are babies to reading bedtime stories, and baking with them. She still doesn’t understand how Ty has the energy to play with them on the floor for hours, but she has to admit it is very cute.
The longest running argument between Caitlin and Ty has been about the wrats they have. Caitlin would prefer having none, but when Ty and Khazur, their oldest child, came to her with puppy eyes, she gave in. And then several years later it was again Ty and their twin girls with the puppy eyes for another wrat because Khazur didn’t want to share his wrat. Caitlin is not looking forward to rest of their kids growing up and wanting one of their own.
These days Ty and Caitlin have a very kinky sex life, even if it took years to get there. Caitlin used to be active in the Dromund Kaas BDSM scene before starting a relationship with Ty. She felt she could go back to vanilla sex for the right guy, and it did work for a long time. Then Ty realised she liked spanking, and they ran into someone from her former Dungeon. Turns out Ty was kinkier than he thought, but he had lot of catching up and learning to do to get to the level Caitlin was used to. She loves him all the more for being willing to come on this journey with her.
Thank you @joeyhazell-art for drawing this awesome commission and illustrating a scene from this fic of Caitlin figuring out she has way more control over the Force than she realised. It’s absolutely gorgeous and I love it <3
Also I wrote a small expansion to the original fic inspired by the art:
Her initial frustration grows into keen interest, she needed to solve this, to fit the pieces together. Despite the pieces falling back onto the bottom of the ball as her concentration vanes, she keeps on putting them together again and again. The ball between her hands feels warm as she grips its surface, too large for her hands. Slowly the wooden ball becomes whole, the golden carvings forming familiar animals, Tuk’atas.
Caitlin blinked slowly, watching the just assembled puzzle float in the glass ball. It was mesmerising, the Tuk’atas slowly moving with the wooden ball. She slowly pushes more Force into the ball, watching it speed up. Her mouth hanging open as the Tuk’atas run around, again, and again. She had never done anything so tricky. But seeing the end results, it was beautiful.
Summary: Caitlin parents are gone for the evening, making her restless.
Warnings/Tags: None
Fictober masterpost
***
The toys were starting to bore her. Caitlin had been playing in the upstairs nursery for hours, waiting for her parents to get home. There was only so much fun one could get from levitating the small balls or making the plushies run around the room that had turned into a mountain range. The light outside had dimmed as day turned to evening, Julid nodding off in the corner.
The door opens under her command as Caitlin waddles out of the room and through the corridor. She slides the steps down one by one, making her way to her mother’s office. She knew she wasn’t supposed to go there, but she missed mom. She’d been gone for too long. Her lip wobbles at the thought, tears forming in her eyes.
“Mom!” her voice echoes in the empty dark room. Making her way around the room, she arrives at table too high for her. She clutches at the edge of the table, straining on her tip toes as her hands desperately search for the light. A thud echoes against the wooden floor as she finally finds the switch.
Warmth envelopes the room. Mom is still not there, but the object on the floor pushes the thought aside. She falls on the floor, hands reaching for the intricate wooden box. Opening it, she pulls out the glass ball protected by the velvet lining.
Shaking the ball, she watches the wooden pieces flop around. They were rounded, with edges clearly fitting together. Puzzle of some kind. But how was she supposed to do anything with it. Or was she… Mom might be mad. She wasn’t supposed to touch her stuff. But mom wasn’t here.
She shakes the ball again, and again, but nothing happens… Frustration sets in as she shakes the ball again, gripping it tightly. Suddenly the pieces stop in the air. She stares at it for a second in wonder before the pieces fall back to the bottom.
A realisation sets in as she directs Force along the surface of the ball, raising the pieces back into the centre. Maybe she could actually put the pieces together…
It takes a long time, pieces fitting together one at the time. The forming ball falls to the bottom several times as her concentration vanes, but the challenge keeps having her try again until there’s a wooden ball within the glass one. Small golden carvings of Tuk’ata decorate the dark wood. It looks like they run as she spins the inner ball around using the Force.
The Force grows warm around her as the front door opens and closes. Mom! Dad!
She hurriedly puts the ball into the box, not closing it properly as she hurries to the stairs. Sliding down each step, she rushes into mom’s arms. “Hello darling, how was your evening?” Mom’s arms are comforting around her as she’s picked up.
“So long and boring. You took so long.”
“We are sorry,” dad says, kissing the top of her head, “Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”
She shakes her head, burying her face into mom’s chest.
“Well I am sure you are mistaken there. Where is Julid?”
“Upstairs, sleeping.”
Dad only hums, giving mom a look as she nods in response. Before she knows it, dad has disappeared upstairs.
“Your dress is really pretty mom.”
“Thank you darling. How about we get you to bed?”
She nods tiredly, closing her eyes as mom starts climbing the stairs. They don’t make it to the third floor before mom stops, noticing the light shining from her office.
“Did you go into my office?”
“I might have…” she does feel slightly guilty, but mom and dad had taken so long. “And I might have played with your stuff.”
Mom walks into the office, about to close the lights as her eyes set on the box. The box flies through the air, mom opening it with her free hand. Caitlin has no idea why mom is staring at it for so long. Was she mad? “You did this?” Mom didn’t sound mad. More, curious.
“Yes, are you angry with me?”
“No. I’m not. Caitlin, this is amazing, we didn’t expect you to be able to do this without any help.”
She beams, warmth travelling through her body. “That was for me?”
“Yes, it was. How about we do something nice tomorrow, after you get some sleep. I’m sure dad would love to hear about this from you.”
“Okey,” she has no idea how she’ll be able to sleep, excitement over the idea of doing something fun with mom and dad already building.
What is the one quality in each kid Mortis and Indran like? Are they different between the two of them or the same quality?
Kids are in the age order to avoid any kind of favouritism on part of either of the parents.
Mortis
Lak: Her perseverance. Considering all that Lak’s been through, she still keeps going and living and has made a lot from her life despite its harsh beginnings.
Caitlin: The no-nonsense attitude she has, on occasion. It’s a quality he has, and thus something he appreciates.
Killian: Does he have to name any? Killian’s way more often trouble than qualities Mortis' appreciates. But if he has to say something, it’d be his charisma (clearly something that comes more from Indran than him), but then again it’s the said charisma that gets him into all the said trouble.
Markus: Honestly his diligence when it comes to his work. It’s also a quality that Mortis recognises in himself, so… easy pick for him.
Indran
Lak: Lak’s intelligence. She knows a lot and Indran enjoys talking with her about various topics. Lak usually brings up perspectives that she hasn’t thought of or heard before, and even if she doesn’t agree with them, it makes the conversation stimulating and interesting.
Caitlin: Her quick and devastating wit. It’s such a joy to see something she greatly admires in people to manifest in her own daughter.
Killian: His easy going attitude, something that was certainly lacking in the family and Killian was the only person with that before Lak showed up.
Markus: Definitely his dry sense of humour. It’s very dry and very rare, but it’s nice to see that her son can make a joke on occasion.
A small holiday present for @imperialdominance. Indran’s parents have invited the whole family and several other high ranking Sith to spend the Equinox at their hunting cabinet. Despite all the activities, Caitlin and Ty manage to get some time just for themselves.
***
The crackling fire is cosy as Caitlin snuggles under a blanket. Her grandparents had organised a big Equinox party at their hunting cabinet this year. The children had enjoyed playing in the snow, falling asleep as soon as their heads had hit the pillow. Most of the adults had also retreated to their rooms upstairs but she’d wanted to enjoy the fire a little longer.
Stretching towards the fire, she yawns. Classical music begins quietly playing in the room as she feels a familiar presence in the Force.
“Tired love?”
“Perhaps a little.” She says, smiling as Ty sits next to her, handing her a wine glass.
“Hopefully not too tired to share this bottle I liberated from the kitchen.”
“Hardly, especially when the company is good.” She leans against his shoulder as he pours some of the dark liquid into her glass.
He pours himself a glass as well before his arm wraps around her. They gently clink them together before drinking in silence.
“It’s so nice to just relax. The kids can be quite a…”
“Handful?” Ty smirks.
Caitlin snorts, poking his side. “Bold coming from the guy who did start a snow ball fight.”
“What can I say, you do look beautiful covered in snow.” He leans in, capturing her lips for a deep kiss. She can taste wine and under that, him.
“Oh, is this your idea of an apology?” She asks, smiling against his lips.
“If you want. I wasn’t aware you didn’t mind the possibility of an audience.” There’s a teasing glint in his eye as he presses his forehead against hers.
“You are incorrigible.”
“You love me anyhow.”
“So, so very much.” She kisses him again, hand wrapping behind his neck, pulling him closer. It’s not clear who deepens the kiss first, Ty’s hand sneaking onto her back.
When she finally pulls away, soft smile on her lips, she asks, “So, how did the hunt go today?”
He chuckles, “Very well. I might have gotten the killing shot on the main event.”
She raises her brow, “Might have? Where is this humility coming from?”
“Apparently bragging isn’t all that polite according to mom.”
Caitlin laughs, kissing his cheek. “At least we both know you indeed are the best.”
“I know.”
Quiet falls into the room, the waning fire still crackling and music playing. She leans on him, closing her eyes as she enjoys his warmth.
“Oh, I love this song,” she whispers.
Ty’s fingers wrap around hers. “Too tired to dance dear?”
“With you? Never.” She lets him pull her up. Arm falling on his should as his wraps around her waist. Gently swaying to the music, the steps familiar, as they let the night sweep them away.
