FATHER OF THE BRIDE

Part 1

Jaina was working on the Falcon with Han, making the endless adjustments, adding the new features and in general keeping the temperamental ship happy. She was now a full partner in her father's shipping business.

She had hoped that Jag, who was now her fiance, would join her, but he had two years of military service left. He felt that he owed it to his squadron to finish his commission.

Their wedding was in six months. Jaina had hoped that he'd not take another two year commission, but he'd done so during the Hapan Civil War. Jaina, who'd been seriously injured, had been given an honorable discharge and had no desire to rejoin.

Han watched his daughter at work, her small, delicate fingers, fine as her mother's, worked the tools in economical movements, but today, she'd been dropping more than usual, and seemed to be lacking in concentration, a rarity for her. She cursed in Corellian.

"Where'd you learn to talk like that?" Han kidded with her. Jaina was normally game and gave as good as she got, but today, he was treated to a glare.

"From you," she retorted. "And you knew that." She returned to her work. "Gods, what was Ani thinking when he designed these circuits?"

"We're his test subjects, remember?" Han said, not losing his good humor.

"Yeah, well, I'm not interested in trial and error reporting," Jaina snapped. "I need something to drink." She stomped over to the small kitchen area, and grabbed one of Han's Alderaanian ales.

"Drinking before happy hour?" Han raised an eyebrow.

"Look, right now, I'm not having any happy hours, okay?" Jaina gave her father a cold look. "I'm thirsty and I've got way too much to do, so lighten up already!"

Han shrugged and went back to work. He had about fifty retorts at the ready, but thus far, he was zero for however many, and he'd try to be intelligent and keep his mouth shut.

It wasn't until he heard something unusual coming from Jaina's work area. It sounded as if she was gasping for breath.

"Jaina, sweetie?" He called softly to her. She didn't respond.

She was crying softly.

In her present mood, she might elbow him away, but there was no way he wasn't going to try to comfort his only daughter.

"Talk to me, sweetie," Han said, his voice barely louder than a whisper. He put his hands on her shoulders, and she turned around so he could take her in his arms and she could lean against his chest. He let her remain there until she could gather herself.

"I don't know why I feel this way," she said to Han.

"What way's that?"

She sighed. "I hate that Jag's still in the Navy. I hate that he's away from me more than he's with me. I wonder what our life is going to be like. Can we do this?"

Han smiled at her. "You know that that's been an issue with your mom and me since the beginning of ever."

"Yeah, I know, I heard you guys fight about it."

"Sometimes we did, yeah. But you know why we did?"

"This should be good," Jaina grumbled unhappily.

"We fought about it so that we kept reminding ourselves of what's important. We weren't fighting to destroy our relationship. We were fighting to keep it."

"I dunno, Daddy. Sometimes you and Mom got really loud and crazy."

"Yes, we did. That's because we ARE loud and crazy."

"And you slept on the sofa a few times."

"Yes, I did. But it was, sort of a reset button. We always came back to remembering why we're together."

"I guess I never did hear you say you're gonna get a divorce like some of my friends' parents."

"We would have done anything not to get a divorce. Because your mom is the only woman in the universe I've ever loved and quite honestly, I'd be nothing without her."

"No, you wouldn't."

"Your mom taught me a lot. She's still teaching me a lot."

"She still rolls her eyes at you."

"I'd worry if she stopped. So even though I'm usually the most clueless guy that ever lived, let me guess: You're worried that Jag will stay in the Navy and you'll be on your own a lot."

"You think he'll ever retire?" Jaina asked.

Han thought carefully. "It's possible he won't anytime soon. But you're in the shippin biz. That's going to mean you're away sometimes, too."

Jaina pondered that. "I love flying."

"So does Jag."

"What if there's another war? That's different from shipping. If there's another war, he could get killed - " Jaina stopped and took several deep breaths.

"Honey, I'd love to promise you that that's never gonna happen. I can't, and I'd be lying if I said it. He's a soldier, sweetie."

"So were you. But you quit."

"I don't do well taking orders." Han smiled at her. "I think you inherited that from me."

"That's the thing with Jag. The rules don't bother him. He can swallow it and it doesn't eat him up."

"And that's what makes him such a great soldier."

"I want to ask him to quit. But I won't."

"An intelligent decision on your part. You know, if you don't think you can deal with the kind of life you might have, you should probably rethink marrying Jag."

"But that's the problem! I love him so much and it hurts every time he has to leave."

"I've watched him when he's leaving. Much as I hate to admit it, the guy's in love with you."

"I know. And he's the only guy I ever want. When I met him, I knew he was The One. I'd try to date other guys, but it was always going back to Jag."

Han looked at her square. "Jaina, honey, I hated it when your mom would be gone. But she's good at what she does, and to deprive her of that would have meant I really didn't love her. The galaxy is a far better place because of you. You have any idea how many conflicts she's staved off?"

Jaina shook her head in the negative.

"Probably hundreds. And I'm not exaggerating."

"I hated it when she was away, too. But I suppose I'm gonna be away a lot if I'm gonna run your business someday."

"Whoa, whoa, stop right there!" Han laughed. "I'm not THAT old!"

Jaina rolled her eyes. "I'm not talking about now! I'm talking about someday, when you do get really old. And no, I'll never sell your ship."

"I want that in writing," Han kidded her. It was nice to see Jaina smiling again.

"I guess I was just feeling lonely today," Jaina said.

"How're you doing right now?"

"I miss him horribly. We've got a wedding to plan, and I know Jacen and Tenel Ka just wanted it simple, but we've got lots of friends we want to celebrate with us. Seems like Mom's doing most of the planning."

"You're her only daughter. This is her chance. And, as you know, she has mad organizational skills."

"I know. She asks me what I want, and somehow, she knows what I really want."

"That's because she's your mom. And your mom does know how to listen."

Jaina was quiet for a few moments.

"How long till Jag's next leave?" Han asked quietly.

Jaina concentrated. "Well, we start this run tomorrow to the Outer Rim, and by the time we get back, assuming your ship doesn't do anything crazy, it'll only be four days." She smiled. "Guess we better get the bucket of bolts back together."

"Hey! That's my ship you're talking about!"

"Yes, I know!"

Han smiled as she returned to work. She'll be fine, he realized, and returned to his tasks. She's her mother's and my daughter.