Vignette #4 - Grandparent's Prerogative
"Lemme see."
"Stop pushing, I was here first!"
"I'm smaller, lemme look!"
"You can see when they land."
"Jaaariiid!"
"Taaaanaaaa!" He whined right back at her, elbowing her again.
"Jarid! Tana!"
They stopped jostling each other, looking up with identically innocent expressions at their Mother's displeased tone. "Yes, Mamma?"
"Do not, 'Yes Mamma' me. Do you wish to see Grandmother and Grandfather Solo?"
They nodded.
"Then do not act like lumbering banthas."
Jarid poked Tana, drawing a yelp. "You got us in trouble."
"I did not! You wouldn't let me look."
"If you hadn't-"
"Jarid!"
Jarid gulped. "Yes, Mamma?"
"Do you wish to spend the duration of this visit in your room?"
"No, Mamma."
"Then do not speak until you greet your Grandparents. Tana, come here."
Tana stuck her tongue out at her brother before bouncing over to her mother's side. Tenel Ka lifted the child in her arm, not seeing the taunt. "Can you see now?"
Tana nodded, wrapping her arms around Tenel Ka's neck. "Much better. Thank you, Mamma."
Tenel Ka turned to look for Jacen, Gidden and Layne, Jarid a silent, sulky presence at her side, Tana content to watch the sky from her arm and perched on her hip. Jacen appeared first, then Gidden, Layne walking beside him, properly demure in her fancy, frilly dress. She curtsied to her mother as they stopped. Tenel Ka smiled for her eldest, proud of her accomplishments. Layne had worked hard to obtain a glide and curtsey that hadn't left her crying on her face.
The echo of a ship breaking into the atmosphere brought their heads around. Gidden left Layne by Jacen's side, and moved to Tenel Ka's side, patting Jarid's shoulder before tugging one of Tana's braids affectionately.
The Falcon came into view as they watched, coming in as easily as always for a landing. They waited until it settled to the ground with barely a sound, the gears whining as they compensated for gravity, taking the weight of the old ship. The sound was suddenly overpowered by the loud hiss of air escaping as the hatch opened. The children tensed and Tana squirmed in her mother's grasp to be let down.
Tenel Ka obliged, and the child hit the ground hard, tilting over to knock Jarid and then let out an excited yell, bolting for the ramp of the ship screaming, "Grandma! Grandpa!" over and over again.
Jarid, not to be outdone, was barely a step behind her, adding his voice to her own and attempting to drown her out. It amounted to a harmony of sound that was incomprehensible but sweet - as only children's voices can be. Gidden darted a look at Layne who shifted from one foot to the other, obviously wanting to join her siblings in their mad dash, but mindful of the audience.
For the Royal Family was being observed by several holo reporters, all of which would judge on actions seen and pounce on unseemly actions like a pack of rabid Nexu.
Layne held her peace, folding her hands together in front of her. Jacen placed his hands on her shoulders and squeezed reassuringly.
Tana's squeal of delight was unmistakable, a flurry of brown hair flying as their Grandparents emerged. She lunged at Han, even as Jarid darted for Leia. The laughter of the four was unmistakable, Leia's, "You've grown so big!" clearly audible to Jacen, Tenel Ka, Layne and Gidden.
Han and Leia hugged the two of the triplets before snagging their hands and walking back across the landing field towards the rest of the family. Their smiles were wide as Tana chatted gaily away, her words stringing together into an unintelligible sentence in her excitement. It was a good thing too; for of all the triplets she was the most likely to spoil the surprises.
Layne stepped out in front of her parents and curtsied properly, drawing a radiantly proud look from Leia and a bemused one from Han. "Grandmother, Grandfather, the Chume'Da and I welcome you to Hapes."
Leia clapped her hands delightedly. "Layne! My darling, you look and sound so grown up!"
"Yeah, kid. Don't be too keen on becoming an adult." Han's gruff rebuff was accompanied by a smile to soften the blow. "That curtsy is real pretty, but I'm missing my hugs."
Layne's answering smile was followed by a tight hug. If Grandpa Han had a favorite it was the Layne; the only grandchild who wasn't Force Sensitive. The one he could really relate with.
Leia looked beyond the triplets as Layne hugged Han, and Tana and Jarid clambered for attention. Her gaze settled on the gawky, lanky teenager standing beside Tenel Ka, almost as tall as she was, and promising more height despite it. His blonde curls, and slightly mismatched legs, coupled with his shy, but welcoming smile, brought a return one to her face.
"Gidden!"
"Welcome to Hapes, Grandma Leia." He added a short, semi-incline of his upper torso, as he'd been taught.
"Forget all that protocol young man, and give your Grandmother a hug!" She held her arms out, a clear demand, and Gidden stepped into her embrace, noting he was taller than she now, as he gently hugged her. Leia's hug was tight before she let go. "That's better. Happy Life Day. Do you want your present now, or later?"
"Grandma Leia!"
She winked at him, "We couldn't very well come all this way and not bring you a present."
"Presents?" Jarid perked up. "Did you bring something for everyone, Grandma?"
"Why would I do that?" She ruffled Jarid's carefully combed hair, sending the curls tumbling naturally - not the way he'd had it styled. "It's Gidden's life-day, not yours. The three of you get presents when your life-day comes."
"No presents?" Jarid looked like he was going to cry. "Can I please have a present, Grandma? I've been a good boy. I share with Tana now and everything."
"Jarid." Jacen broke into the conversation for the first time, and Jarid's face fell, keeping his eyes on the tips of his boots, knowing better than to argue with that tone of voice from his father. Jacen pulled his mother in a hug. "Welcome to Hapes, Mom, sorry the brats don't understand it's a present just to have you here."
Leia chuckled softly, hugging her son before doing the same to Tenel Ka. "You're both looking wonderful. It must be the air on this planet; keeps the whole brood healthy!"
"Something, alright. And apparently," he slanted a look at Tenel Ka, his eyes sparkling with dark humor. "We're going to be adding to it again."
"I did not plan this, husband." Tenel Ka told him archly. "Some things just happen. Especially with you."
Leia blinked before pulling both of them into an enthusiastic embrace. "Congratulations! Han, do you hear, we're going to be Grandparents again!"
Han groaned, but his eyes were sparkling with delight. "More munchkins? I think these three are more than enough."
Jacen chuckled. "The Force doesn't agree with you, dad. Come on; let's get everyone inside and away from those nosey holo-reporters."
"Wait just one minute; we haven't delivered our own surprise."
"Surprise?" The triplets jumped on the word eagerly.
Han chuckled. "That's right; it's in the cargo hold of the Falcon."
The triplets were off like a shot, only Layne keeping a decorous pace - but only barely as she walked swiftly towards the ramp. Tana and Jarid darted ahead of her into the bowels of the ship, Layne a moment behind them.
"Dad."
Han waved away the cautionary tone. "Don't use that tone on me, Jacen. They're our grandkids; we're allowed to spoil 'em."
"Grandparent's prerogative." Leia's eyes sparkled with delight. "Besides, they're such well mannered children. Much better mannered than you and your sister were."
Jacen slapped Gidden on the shoulder. "The credit goes to this lad, right here. Tenel Ka and I are so busy, he spends more time with them than we do - and ensures they all play nice."
"Except for Layne." Gidden blushed, ducking his head as he became the center of attention. "Jana and Scruffy work with her more than I do. Jarid likes to use his Force powers to get out of his lessons, and I've been trying to convince dad he should be sent to Uncle Luke's academy. They'd be better able to handle him; and he couldn't mind-trick the teachers."
"He's not old enough yet." Jacen told his elder son. "And you chose not to go; what do you know about the academy?"
Gidden grinned. "If the teachers are anything like you, dad, Jarid doesn't stand a chance."
"Jacen." Leia's tone was amused. "Let Gidden go; there's a surprise for him in the cargo hold too."
Gidden glanced at the Falcon, but didn't move. For a teenager who was almost fifteen he had remarkable self-restraint. "It's alright, Grandma Leia. I can wait."
"Bah." Han looped an arm around Gidden's shoulders and steered him towards the Falcon. "If you wait, you don't get your second surprise. Git, before the Triplets open your gift for you; Grandpa's orders."
Gidden was off at a run, needing no more prompting.
The adults settled in to wait, and they didn't have to wait long. Tenel Ka and Jacen shared a look as the triplets exited the ship, each with a baby Gizka on a leash and Gidden appeared with a whoop of delight on a brand new speeder bike. They turned as one to look pointedly at Han and Leia. Han and Leia simply smiled, as if to say, "It's our prerogative."
Gidden's life day was already off to an interesting start.
fin
