The Life I Lead No More

[Miranda Tarkin]

Just outside the window to the Empress' bedroom, the bustling Coruscanti day was veiling into the darkness of night. Miranda had her hands against the frame and was leaning outside the opened window to enjoy the refreshing night air, her uniform jacket halfway unbuttoned in relaxation. A slight breeze caressed her skin and lightly brushed brown hair off her shoulder.

Curse Coruscant and this perfect evening, the same as it was each and every night. She wanted it to rain and wash away the pain. Miranda and Sorsha were dead. All that was left was the Empress and the Hand.

[Gallus Tagge]

Gallus Tagge was not a rain cloud, nor an overcast day. The look on his face as he strode into the entry hallway of the Empress's suite was full of pure sunshine. He carried a suitcase, but it was quickly set aside as he cast his eyes about for any sign of the suite's owner. The Imperial residence was luxurious, but the upper-most penthouse was hardly vast and so it took only a matter of moments to find Miranda. Arriving in the threshold of her bedroom – their bedroom – he found his intention to creep up on his wife and surprise her halted by what he saw.

“What a sight to come home to,” Gallus sighed, content. As he began to cross the distance between them, the grin lighting his face grew. “Whoever designed that uniform needs a substantial pay-rise. You look... incredible,” he added, slipping one arm around Miranda's waist.

[Miranda Tarkin]

The pensive stone faced that was chiseled into Miranda's features began to soften gradually by his touch. Gallus' voice had not been heard for over a week and with the earlier confrontation with Sorsha, she had forgotten he was to return this evening.

She found herself pleased that he liked her new uniform, feeling that his opinion was the only one that matter and everyone else be damned to those that thought otherwise. Eyes fell closed when his strong arm slipped around her waist, and she simply melted her frame back against his body.

"I'm glad you approve," she purred and slinked an arm over her shoulder and then neck. "You have been missed." Being in his arms after the fight with Sorsha, she didn't realize how much she had craved his company. No ... yearned for Gallus.

They had barely seen one another over the last few months outside of work as the couple of the Empire. The ability to steal some time alone could be counted on one hand.

[Gallus Tagge]

To hold Miranda was the most natural thing in the world to Gallus. The pair of them had grown up trading scuffs and scrapes as they played at soldiers, though back then his arm at her waist would have signaled a wrestling match rather than a lovers embrace.

“And you, though there was scarcely a moment I didn't see your face. You know, they have you on mile-high bill-boards on Etti IV... and here I thought I was big in the Corporate Sector,” Tagge added, with an impish smile.

[Miranda Tarkin]

She could feel his mind drift into the past and briefly wondered what Gallus was thinking. His thoughts were of her, that much was certain, but to divine anything further would require less scrupulous means. Miranda would not do that to her husband - to break into this thoughts.

"Really?" she responded with surprised sincerity. "I wouldn't have anticipated a warm reception in the Corporate Sector since they enjoy being neutral when it comes to politics. How ever when its business..."

Miranda slithered within his embrace so that their chests were pressed against one another. Both arms now hugged his neck and there was an impish grin to match his upon her face. "... I know they adore you."

A hand rose to caress his hair with long strokes and tender petting, her eyes never went astray from his. "I did not realize that I would either ..."

She was rather surprised at her admission. The fight with Sorsha had made her tongue loose, spilling notions that had not come so easily to accept. Miranda honestly did not think that her arrangement with such a trusting and loyal friend could have stirred up such feelings inside her. He was merely to be a figurehead, someone that would not stab her in the back and provide the throne a family. He was security, another face the Empire could trust. Now ... now things had shifted onto another path that neither of them could have predicted.

[Gallus Tagge]

Her words surprised him. Still, the memory of Vjun and Miranda's first proposition of a marriage between House's Tarkin and Tagge was fresh in his mind. We will be husband and wife in name only, she had said, and Gallus had been honored to simply act the part – yet quickly it had become more than a mimicry of affection between them. Observers remarked with amusement on how the engagement had only deepened the Imperial couples passion for one another.

Smiling unreservedly, Gallus kissed her. “How was your week?” With all of the negotiation and posturing necessary during his trip to the Corporate Sector, there had been little time for Gallus to keep up on current affairs – even those concerning his wife and Empress.

[Miranda Tarkin]

Her good mood was bittersweet with the question asked. "Things are ..." the normally eloquent Empress was at a loss for words.

"Things just are ..." she sighed. "Between your Sanya and Sorsha I'm at my wits end. And no, it's not because they are not playing nice again."

It was clearly written in body language and undertones that the two Blondes were trying to goad one another. What was simple childhood rivarly had become something far more personal. Miranda hadn't a clue as to what besides petty jealously of some sort.

"They haven't seen much of each other as of late, but because of Sanya's boldness, Belargic's execution was interrupted by the Rebellion. If not for his death. the entire thing would have been a fiasco!"

She just had to have made it public and flaunt her new position. A poor insight on Miranda's part.

"Then there's Sorsha." Her frown was deep and quite somber. How to even begin to explain things ... "Since my coronation she's been distant."

Since our marriage really ... she noted with distraught. "We had an argument. I'm not sure if we can repair our relationship."

Not all together honest, but it held enough of truth for Gallus to understand that their friendship was in jeopardy - though that was far from the case. Everything between them was vanquished by Sorsha's inability to trust Miranda's love for her. So that companionship drifted to the man before her. All she wanted was someone to love her. She had believed it to have been her childhood friend, her soul mate. A friend, a sister, a lover but no more.

[Miranda Tarkin]

Her good mood was bittersweet with the question asked. "Things are ..." the normally eloquent Empress was at a loss for words.

"Things just are ..." she sighed. "Between your Sanya and Sorsha I'm at my wits end. And no, it's not because they are not playing nice again."

It was clearly written in body language and undertones that the two Blondes were trying to goad one another. What was simple childhood rivarly had become something far more personal. Miranda hadn't a clue as to what besides petty jealously of some sort.

"They haven't seen much of each other as of late, but because of Sanya's boldness, Belargic's execution was interrupted by the Rebellion. If not for his death. the entire thing would have been a fiasco!"

She just had to have made it public and flaunt her new position. A poor insight on Miranda's part.

"Then there's Sorsha." Her frown was deep and quite somber. How to even begin to explain things ... "Since my coronation she's been distant."

Since our marriage really ... she noted with distraught. "We had an argument. I'm not sure if we can repair our relationship."

Not all together honest, but it held enough of truth for Gallus to understand that their friendship was in jeopardy - though that was far from the case. Everything between them was vanquished by Sorsha's inability to trust Miranda's love for her. So that companionship drifted to the man before her. All she wanted was someone to love her. She had believed it to have been her childhood friend, her soul mate. A friend, a sister, a lover - but no more.

[Gallus Tagge]

Though little of Sorsha had reached his ears during the CSA negotiations, Gallus had heard about his sisters colossal mis-step in the matter of the Rebel spy Belargic. He frowned. “Perhaps I should speak to them both.”

In his mind, he saw Sanya's hauteur and Sorsha's shamefaced withdrawal if he were to broach the subject with either of them. They had both been granted so much, given the faith of the Empress, only to see it mis-spent. Even familial ties could not shroud this fact.

“...in time, anyway. I've had enough of debating and arguments for this week, at least.”

[Miranda Tarkin]

She nodded gratefully to Gallus and placed a hand upon his cheek, stroking it tenderly in thanks, "I would appreciate that."

His voice sounded tired and Miranda unbuttoned the top of his shirt for comfort. "I think I'm about done for the next two cycles."

Tired as she was as well, her mood was brightening bit by bit.

[Gallus Tagge]

After the tiresome, stale bureaucracy of his time with the CSA, just the touch of Miranda's hand against his cheek was heavenly to Gallus. To some being around the Empress was daunting, but just a few minutes in her company and already Tagge was beginning to feel human again. He curved an arm around her waist and nuzzled his nose against hers.

“I don't suppose you have some free time in your hectic schedule... say, the next couple of hours?”

[Miranda Tarkin]

Even with feelings and relationship evolving into something more, Gallus and Miranda had been childhood friends first. No situation was awkward between them. He had accepted her proposal to be husband and wife for the good of the Empire without batting an eye. It was strange how things have turned for the better in Miranda's eyes.

He was also utterly adorable. She could fend off the grin lighting up her face even if she wanted to. "I think ..."

Arms curled around his waist as her voice then dipped lower with a gentle purr. "... I could accommodate that request."