III: Early Birds

Rebecca snapped awake bright and early on a cool August morning. Hopping out of bed, she quickly got dressed, grabbed her stuffed ewok and dashed out of her bedroom down to the end of the hall to her parents' room. Throwing open the door, she bolted over to her sleeping father. She began tugging on his shoulder, trying to wake him.

"DADDY DADDY wake up wake up!!!!"

Deroh yawned and reluctantly rolled over to face his over-excited daughter. "Rebecca, ...what's wrong?"

The girl jumped up and down excitedly, "it's today, it's today!"

"Sweetheart...it's six in the morning...," Cesera mumbled from the other side of the bed.

"Uhuh! Time to get up!!" Rebecca giggled. "C'mon, c'mon!" she insisted, tugging on her father's arm. "You can' sleep in on my birthday! I won't let you!!"

"Blast it all," Deroh muttered, "I'm up, darling, I'm up!" He pushed away the blankets and sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed.

"Hooray!!" Rebecca cheered, then dashed out of the room.

Yawning, Deroh turned to Cesera, "you might as well rise and shine too, hon', since we'll have to leave for the capital in a few hours." He tried not to show the discontent in his voice as he walked into the fresher."Your blasted mother hates it when we're late."

~~~***~~~  

"Mommy can I open a present before we leave for Grandma's??" Rebecca asked, jumping up and down in the kitchen.

Cesera smiled, "Presents? What presents?" she teased. 

"My presents!! It's my birthday!" 

"I know it is! but you know...I don't have any for you. I think your father has something out back. Why don't you head outside and I'll catch up once I finish in the kitchen." 

"OKAY!!" The girl ran out the front door and around to the back yard. Going up to her dad, she saw a huge box leaning up against the back of the house. "Ooh, Daddy what's this???"

Deroh smirked, "How about a swing set for your birthday, hmm?" 

Rebecca's face lit up, "Really?? YAY! I like swings!!" She jumped over and hugged Deroh, "Thanks Daddy!!"

"You're welcome, Becky. If you'd like, we can put it together once we get back...from..." He trailed off as he peered behind him seeing Cesera walk over beside Elsa Everon, her mother. 

"Mother, this is such a surprise! I thought we were going to Coronet City to see you today..." 

Elsa smiled, "Well I thought I'd save you the trip, dearie. I wouldn't want my favorite granddaughter to spend much of her day in a speeder."

Cesera smiled, "That was very thoughtful, Mother...I only wish you called ahead of time..." 

"Yeah, so we could lock the door..." Deroh muttered under his breath.

Elsa knelt down in front of Rebecca, "There's my little angel!" She looked up at Deroh. "And then there's you."

Deroh rolled his eyes. "Nice to see you too, Elsa." 

"Hi Grandma!!" Rebecca giggled. "Did you know it's my birthday today??" 

"I did, little one," Elsa smiled, "And how old are you today?" 

"Six!" Rebecca giggled. 

"That's right!" Elsa grinned, running her fingers through Rebecca's hair, "you're growing up so fast...look at you," she said, "you have your mother's face, her beautiful red hair, even her eyes..." 

"You mean my eyes, Elsa," Deroh interrupted, semi-glaring at her. "They're green, not blue."

"Well...." Elsa said, standing back up. Quickly, she changed the subject, "Lets all go inside, hmm? There's a little something with you name on it, Rebecca." 

Rebecca went wide-eyed, "More presents!!!!!!" She dashed back into the house with Elsa, Deroh and Cesera trailing behind. 

Cesera yanked Deroh aside for a moment. "Can you please act civil?" 

"I will if she does," He responded, nodding his head to Elsa's direction. "I'm telling you right now, Ces. Your mother will no doubt be the death of me. Not this damn war against the Separatists. Her."