Author's Note: Please respond...I love feedback.
Also, for those who are reading this story, I've decided to change my way of posting this, breaking it up as it is on TF.N where it is being posted first.
Title: The Broken Road
Cover Art: See link in my profile
Author: Flowerlady
Rating: R
Genre: Angst, Romance— written in snapshot fashion.
Timeframe: LotF—Post LotF (encompasses several years)
Characters: Jaina, Jag, Zekk, others (Parings: Zekk/Jaina, Jag/OC and later Jag/Jaina but not necessarily as a love triangle or square)
Disclaimer: Not mine. GL owns the SW and Rascal Flatts own the song "Bess the Broken Road".
Summary: The Sword of the Jedi fulfils her destiny, but now that the war is over things begin to change. While they fought together, first chasing Alema Rar and then Darth Caedus, Jag, Zekk and Jaina became a true team and partners. After Jag leaves, Jaina finds herself with Zekk. Deciding that she has waited long enough to have love in her life, she will make a decision that will eventually lead her to what she really wants. However after tragedy strikes, she will finally find the end of her broken road and a new beginning that she would never have dreamed of.
The Broken Road
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I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you
Every long lost dream lead me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
I think about the years I spent just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you
But you just s mile and take my hand
You've been there you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true
Every long lost dream lead me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
(Rascal Flatts, Bless the Broken Road)
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Late 40 ABY
"I…hate…you…" breathed the last from the Sith.
Staring down into the dying golden eyes of the man who had been her twin, she staggered back and finally the trauma of what had occurred between them swept over her. Dropping her lightsaber to the hangar floor, she fell to her knees and began to shudder uncontrollably as she screamed.
"Shhh…Jaina, it's over," the soothing voice said as its owner wrapped his strong arms around her pulling her to him. She turned away from the gruesome sight of her brother's nearly halved body to bury her face into the comforting chest, and let his warmth and love give her strength. Just this once she didn't fight his love for her, she accepted it and welcomed it.
"I tried…I didn't want to kill him…" she sobbed.
"Shhh…you did what had to be done," he reassured her as he began to move them away from the dead Sith Lord, Darth Caedus.
Pulling away from him, she shook her head, "Was this my destiny, Zekk? Was this what being the Sword of the Jedi meant? I just killed my twin brother. No matter what he had done, he was still my only brother." She began to cry again and he easily picked her up to cradle in his arms. Once she had her arms tightly around his neck, he reached out with his hand and called her lightsaber to it. After clipping the hilt onto his belt, he left the old warehouse where the final battle had taken place, hitting the comlink clipped to his shoulder as he moved.
"Fel, here," came the voice on the other end.
"Jag, I found her," Zekk simply said, as he continued to move to the corner of the street. "He's dead."
"Zekk, is she all right?" It was easy to hear the concern in the other man's voice.
Zekk swallowed hard as he glanced down at Jaina's pale, tear streaked face. "Physically, she is."
Jaina met his gaze and she suddenly felt so protected in his strong embrace. He come to a stop in the deserted intersection and said into the comlink, "We're in position. Get us the hell out of here."
ooooOOOoooo
One Month Later, 40 ABY
"Jag," Jaina said as she opened her apartment door. "Is something the matter? I got concerned when you called."
He shook his head and looked past her shoulder into the depths of the small Temple apartment. Finally, he met her gaze and asked, "May I come in? There's something I need to talk to you about."
She moved away from the door and gestured, saying, "Sure."
Once settled in the small sitting area of the single room flat, Jaina could sense Jag's discomfort about being alone with her. Clearing her throat, she began, "So…what is it that you need to speak to me about?"
Jag met her gaze again and said, "I came to tell you that I'm leaving."
"Leaving? Where to? Why?" Jaina couldn't keep the surprise out of her voice, or her sudden panic. Over the past year since the three of them became a team, she came to rely on both of the men in her life. They somehow discovered a fragile balance. She knew they both loved her; although, she had told them a long time ago that she was not interested in their advances, or their silly competition.
However, what she kept from them, and barely admitted to herself, was that she loved them as well. She wasn't able to choose between them, so as long as they worked together, she didn't have to. It was easier to keep on lying to herself.
Jag nervously rubbed his hands on his thighs before saying, "Yes, Jaina. It's time for me to go back to my life. I contacted my father."
"In Csilla?"
He shook his head, "No, Bastion." She stared at him puzzled, and before she could ask, he elaborated, "After I left the Chiss in search of Alema Rar, my parents along with my brother and sister went back to the Empire. I've known that they were there for some time, but I had to continue in my quest to find Alema and I became content here. But now the war is over, and I've decided that it's time for me to move on. Jaina, my father has secured for me a commission with the Imperial Navy. I'll be a commander of a wing of TIE fighters."
"But you're my partner," said she, shaking her head. Distraught, she went on to stammer, "I—we need you…here for our team."
He gave her one of his half s miles and said, "You don't need me for the team. I'm not a Jedi. You and Zekk are the Jedi in our Jedi team." She stared at him for a long time and then Jag quietly asked, "But we were a good team as pilots. Come back with me, Jaina. You know how I feel about you," he added so softly it was a hoarse whisper.
She stared at him; her heart breaking as she realized to do as he asked would take her, not only away from Zekk, but the Jedi and her fa mily as well. After a long intense moment of silence, she whispered, "You know that I can't do that. My fa mily and the Jedi need me now."
Jag nodded and swallowed hard as he stood up. Jaina followed and reached out to take his hand. He didn't recoil from the contact; instead he pulled her to him and wrapped her up in his arms. "Jaina…" Whatever he was going to say was completely lost when she pulled him to her lips. The kiss was passionate and full of regret.
When it finally ended, Jaina fought back her tears by biting on her bottom lip. "Take care of yourself, Jagged."
At her door he looked over his shoulder and gave her a half-hearted s mile, "And you take care, Jaina." Then he chuckled, but Jaina could feel the pain behind it as he said, "It seems we are good at saying good-bye."
She sniffed and forced a s mile. "I don't know if I'd say 'we're good' at it."
He nodded and looked back at the open door. Finally, he stepped to move through it. "Jag?" Her voice stopped him and he turned once more. "Jagged, I hope that our paths cross again someday. Maybe the roads won't be so broken the next time."
He s miled and said, "I hope for that too. Good-bye, Goddess," he whispered and was gone.
--TBC--
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Thanks for reading...