Title: The Rose and the Lily
Author: Flowerlady
Timeframe: Legacy era
Characters: Jacen, Tenel Ka, Jysella, Ben
Genre: AU, Romance, Angst, Drama
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: Jacen Solo is in love with two women—Tenel Ka who has a secret daughter with him and Jysella Horn who he wants to marry. Ben Skywalker is his apprentice and is concerned for Jysella because he knows Jacen is deceiving one if not both of the women. Will Jacen be able to continue his double life or will Ben convince Jysella of Jacen's dishonesty and in the process they fall in love?

Author's Note: Some background so no one is lost…First, this story takes place in 42 ABY, however, Betrayal never happened, which means Jacen never completely falls to the Dark Side. But, that doesn't mean he is completely right in all that he does. Secondly, only the events of the Joiner King and the events around Allana's birth (Jacen's destroying Ta'a Chume's mind and his erasing Ben's memories) occurred. Books II and III of Dark Nest didn't happen.

The Rose and the Lily

Chapter 1
Ossus—42 ABY

"So, who do you think Dad is sending with us?" Ben Skywalker inquired of his cousin as they entered the Lumbdia-Class shuttle that Jacen Solo had flown since his days wondering the galaxy searching for answers. Ben had been apprenticed to Jacen since he was eight years old but as the years passed and Ben learned more of the Force, he often found himself questioning some of Jacen's ideas. In fact, Ben felt that it was Jacen's growing contention with the Council that prompted them to send a third Jedi with them on this mission.

Jacen glanced sideways at Ben and said as he tossed his duffel on one of the acceleration couches in the main compartment of the shuttle. "I don't know, but who ever it is I'm sure we will find her useful."

Ben followed Jacen's lead and placed his duffel beside his Master's. He then turned to face the older man, "Wait. How do you know it will be a woman but not know who it is?"

Jacen smiled at Ben's accusation and as he turned to head to the cockpit he said, "Because who else would your father send to Kuat with us?" Ben trotted to keep with him and as Ben landed in the co-pilot's chair Jacen went on as he began the start-up procedures. "It will be hard enough to get the management to listen to us to begin with but they would because I'm the son of Princess Leia, and you're the son of Luke Skywalker," Jacen then looked over at Ben and grinned, "But Kuati sense of equality for men only goes so far, a third man would cause them to distrust us or worse not consider what we have to say."

Ben nodded his head and idly began his portion of the start-up but he wondered who it would be, then after a thought came to him he said, "I really hope it's not Jaina."

Jacen paused and looked over at him, grinning he asked, "And why is that? What do you have against my sister?"

Ben glanced at him and then shrugged as he returned to his switches, "Oh, nothing really, except I never see her go anywhere with out either Zekk following behind like a silent shadow nodding agreement with all she has to say, or Master Durron and her yelling at each other for one reason or another." Ben then grinned lopsidedly, an expression he picked up from his uncle Han, and looked at Jacen, "I really wish she'd just marry one of them and get over and done with it. They both act like lovesick banthas around her most of the time."

Jacen laughed and nodded agreement, "Yeah, you are right about that. It is pretty obvious to everyone but them, I think. But Kyp is a little too old for her, don't you think?"

Ben pursed his lips and shrugged, then he said, "Maybe, I guess he is. But do you really want a tree for a brother-in-law?"

"Ben, you do have a point," Jacen chuckled and finishing the procedures he sat back. After a moment he added with a gesture with his chin out the front viewport, "Well, here she comes and it's not Jaina."

Seventeen year old Ben Skywalker looked out the viewport and felt his heart skip a beat. He hadn't seen the daughter of Corellian Jedi Master Corran Horn for about five years and the last time he had seen her he thought she was too tall, too skinny and not very attractive at all. Of course, he was only twelve and she only fifteen at the time, and since then he had learned to appreciate the opposite sex a great deal more. But as he watched Jysella Horn gracefully move toward the shuttle from the hanger entrance doors, Ben was amazed at the change in her. She was still tall, but she was no longer skinny. Instead, he decided she was willowy, and even dressed in the dark green robes of the traditional Corellian Jedi he could tell she possessed curves where she hadn't before. Or, maybe he just hadn't noticed them before.

Jacen broke into his thoughts with, "Come on, let's go and meet her." Then they both left the cockpit to greet her.

She was just entering the ship when Ben and Jacen entered the main compartment. Ben silently watched as Jacen held out his hand, smiled and said in a voice Ben thought was slightly more jovial than normal, "Hello, Knight Horn. It is a pleasure to have you aboard."

Ben gazed at her as she gave Jacen a beautiful smile and bowed her head slightly, "Master Solo, it's a pleasure and an honor to be aboard." She then turned toward Ben, held out her hand and smiled again, "And Ben Skywalker, you've grown up, I see."

Ben gently held her hand and wanted to say something but words eluded him, as did all thought and breath it seemed. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. She had her long black hair pulled back into a braid but wispy, shorter, rebellious locks framed her face and gently fell over her forehead, and her alluring green eyes were like deep Naboo pools. Finally, realizing he was not only staring at her but still held her hand he swallowed let her hand drop and nearly choked as he said, "Jys, you have too."

She laughed and he chided himself for saying something so lame, as she once again turned her attention to Jacen. Ben watched his cousin as Jysella asked where she could put her duffle. He suddenly realized that he had never seen Jacen act so befuddled as he reached over to grab both his and Ben's bags, "Oh, you can just bring it in here." Jacen said as he headed toward the two cabins that served as sleeping quarters on the old Imperial Era shuttle. He stopped at the doors that were situated across from each other and said with a smile, "Ben and I will sleep in this one," he indicated the one on the right; then, as he slapped the door stud on the one on the left, he continued, "and you can have this one." As she looked into the small sparse cabin, Jacen quickly added, "Of course, if that's okay?"

She brought her eyes back to meet Jacen's and Ben thought they held the gaze just a few seconds too long before she quietly replied as she looked back into the room, "Ahh, this will be fine, thank you."

Jacen nodded and grinned as she entered the room, "Great. We'll be leaving as soon as I get back to the cockpit."

Ben heard Jysella say from the interior of the room, "The sooner the better."

X

Jysella looked around the small room and then put her bag on the narrow bed. She honestly didn't know why she had been selected to go with the Jedi Master Jacen Solo and his Apprentice Ben Skywalker. In her opinion, they both were top notch Jedi who wouldn't benefit much with her around and the fact that there were other, more experienced, Jedi only made her wonder even more. However, she also knew that she would be useful to the mission on Kuat, if for no other reason than the fact that she was a female.

The matriarchal social system of Kuat made the leaders of the planet suspicious of men; even though, in the past the planet had men in important government leadership positions, such as Senators. Jysella knew that their mission was to mediate a dispute between the Director of Operations of the Kuat Drive Yards, who was an extremely conservative female, and the leadership of the local labor union which was an organization made up of mostly men who worked in the Yards. This was why she was chosen, she supposed, she would be able to talk equally with the director; whereas, Jacen would not be allowed to. Also, the fact that she was Corellian made her slightly more acceptable to the men in the union. She would be considered a truly neutral voice.

She sighed and turned away from the bed. As she left the room and headed into the main room, she thought about the encounter with the Jedi Master. She hadn't seen either Jacen or Ben for a long time. Jacen and her brother Valin had been friends but that friendship had been interrupted and strained by the Yuuzahn Vong War, and never really picked up again. Valin had been considered too young to fight in war, and therefore, had his training interrupted because of it. Jacen, on the other hand, had become a hero of the war and was considered by many young Jedi, one of the most powerful of all the Jedi. Some had even gone as far to say, that Jacen Solo was more powerful than even Master Skywalker. However, as Jysella thought about it, Jacen really hadn't changed much.

He still possessed his infectious smile and if anything was even more handsome than before. He was good natured and had a self confidence, a self knowledge and acceptance, which in many men always translated into cockiness, but in Jacen it just didn't. Jacen was completely something different and Jysella found herself drawn to that difference.

Both men turned and greeted her as she entered the cockpit and took the navigator's seat behind Ben. She watched them as they took the shuttle out of the Ossus atmosphere into space and she thought about the rumors that she had heard that Jacen and the Masters Skywalkers didn't get along much these days and that they put up with him because Ben only agreed to train under his cousin.

She then looked over at Ben. She couldn't see much of him since she was sitting directly behind him, but she had to admit he surprised her. When she had told him that he had grown up, she meant it. He was tall and lanky, but he had strong shoulders that suggested muscular strength. His once too red-gold hair had darkened to a nice rich honey auburn color that seemed to suit him well as did its long, curling length. Finally, as he turned to smile at her after sensing her thoughtful watchfulness, she couldn't help but notice the intense blue of his eyes or the beauty of his smile before she shifted her gaze away from him.

But before Ben had a chance to speak, Jacen turned to her and said after engaging the hyperdrive, "Well, in fifteen hours we will be in Kuat space. Shall we go out into the main hold and find something to occupy our time?"

Jysella smiled at the Jedi Master and nodded, "I think we can find something to do." Then as she looked from Jacen to Ben she mischievously inquired; even though, she already knew the answer, "Do you gents play Sabacc?"

Jacen grinned and met Ben's equally roguish grin and said incredulously, "The lady wants to know if we play Sabacc?"

Ben laughed and said to Jysella, "How many credits are you willing to lose?"

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