Disclaimer: Sadly… still not mine. :-(
Part X
Three weeks after learning that he had a daughter, Kyp Durron watched his daughter's mother get married.
There had been a time when that sight, that very idea, would have sent him into a violent jealousy. Now though… perhaps it made him slightly wistful, but he was legitimately happy for Jaina and her husband-to-be. Besides- he got to take part in the ceremony- and he wouldn't have traded his role for anything.
It was held outdoors, in the same large clearing where Luke had opened the conclave three weeks prior. Seating had been brought in- the strange, largely organic construction that characterized most things on Zonama Sekot- and several people attended. The Jedi were by far the largest group represented, but some family friends had stayed around for the joyous occasion, and Jag's parents and younger sister had arrived a few nights prior from the Unknown Regions.
Luke officiated, at the couple's insistence, and Jacen took up the customary role of the groom's aide, mainly to ensure that the rings were where they needed to be- and not to mention Jag himself.
Han would of course give away his daughter, but Jaina felt that Leyla should participate in the ceremony as well; she had suggested that Leia bring her granddaughter in advance of Jaina and Han, and Leyla could throw blossoms of a native tree while Leia used the Force to scatter them festively. Leia, in turn, suggested she relegate the role to Kyp instead.
And so it was that a deliriously happy Leyla rode on Kyp's shoulders, tossing lavender, pink, and orange blossoms in the air around her. Kyp used the Force to whip up a gentle wind that sent them over the audience, and then with a nudge, they burst, releasing dozens of smaller flowers and seeds within that rained down over everyone's heads.
Kyp had a feeling that he'd be washing petals out of his hair for days.
Once the spontaneous decoration had been accomplished and the crowd's laughter and appreciate chatter died down, Kyp took a seat beside Leia and slid Leyla off his shoulders and down into his lap where she turned and attentively awaited her mother. They didn't have to wait long.
She was beautiful; more beautiful than Kyp could ever remember seeing Jaina, who more often than not, was dressed for combat in a flight suit, or wearing coveralls while she tinkered with her fighter or other mechanical devices. Now though, as she seemed to glide through the trees to the clearing, hand tucked through Han's arm…
Her dress must have been made on Zonama Sekot, Kyp thought; it was too fluid to be simple fabric, and the deep green tone with golden detailing around the neckline, waist, and sleeves seemed too natural, and fit perfectly in the wooded setting around them. Offsetting the subdued color scheme, Tahiri Veila had woven more of the same colorful flowers through Jaina's hair, which hung long down her back. As she moved, the dress seemed to shimmer and flow around her as it trailed through the grass at her feet.
Kyp was startled by Leia squeezing his hand briefly and he flushed, realizing just how entranced he had become by the sight.
Han gave Jaina over to Jag and- a little reluctantly perhaps- went to sit on Leia's other side.
Luke spoke softly, voice light-hearted but serious at the same time. "Today we all join the Solos and the Fels, the Antilles and Skywalkers, who come together to see the union of their kin. As I look out over the faces of so many of you who wish to share in this joyous occasion, I am reminded of the importance of recent events in allowing today's celebration to take place.
"This day will forever be symbolic in the memory of all those here, as we remember that, only a few short weeks ago, our galaxy was torn apart by strife. It will be a reminder that, out of years of hardship and pain, something good and new may arise. We are all able to be here today because of our love for peace and security but- most importantly- because of our love for each other.
"Bonds are tested; friendships shaken; but out of these trials, we gain the strength to forge something better, something stronger, that will withstand the tests of duty and time. Each of us has come out of the fire a different person- hopefully a better person. And today, Jaina Solo and Jagged Fel demonstrate to us all the power of faith, endurance, hope, and- most of all, love- in overcoming the trials and obstacles that might seek to tear us asunder.
"We all face times of great difficulty, but must remember that life goes on; what better example can we find of this than the presence of a new being among our number? Jaina and Jagged have humbled us all by proving that, out of dark and dangerous times, beauty and wonder can exist. Indeed, in the short time we have been here, many of you have opened your hearts to Leyla, who reminds us that war has not stripped us of our innocence."
Perhaps sensing an increased amount of attention on her, Leyla turned around in an uncharacteristic fit of shyness and buried her face in Kyp's robes.
"And so it is my honor today to bring together a couple that have withstood the trials laid before them and come through stronger than ever before."
Leyla watched in fascination as rings and vows were exchanged; Kyp heard Leia sniff once or twice, but it was Han whose eyes were red when he looked over. The older man scowled though when, upon receiving permission from Luke, Jag pulled Jaina into a deep and passionate kiss that left her a little glassy-eyed. Standing slightly to the side of the plinth where the ceremony was taking place, Jacen smirked and turned away, shaking his head slightly.
And just like that, Jaina Solo became Jaina Solo-Fel.
Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene.
Somebody slid into the vacant seat next to Kyp; he didn't need to look to know that it was Corran Horn, but he looked anyway. The older Jedi was looking at the small gathering of Jaina, Jag, Leyla, Jag's family, and the Solos, and Kyp followed his gaze.
"She's beautiful," Corran murmured lowly.
Kyp nodded absently as he watched Jacen twirl Leyla around in the air while she giggled infectiously. He wrenched his gaze back towards Jaina. "She is," he agreed. "Jag is… a lucky man."
"Yes, Jag is," Corran said quietly. "But I wasn't talking about Jaina; I was talking about your daughter."
It took a moment for the import of Corran's words to sink in, and when they did, Kyp turned to him sharply, automatically scanning to see if anyone else was in earshot. They were alone.
"Relax," Corran murmured. "I'm not a complete imbecile."
Kyp swallowed thickly. "How did you know?"
Corran shrugged. "Observation; intuition; logic. Skepticism that someone like Jagged Fel would be so careless so early in a relationship and in the middle of a war." Kyp shot him a look. Corran smirked. "Along with my capabilities in the Force, I also happen to be a passable arithmetician- besides," he added, "she has your eyes." He quickly frowned. "I must say though, I'm impressed that you managed to keep it so quiet for this long."
He almost laughed. "Not hard to do when you're just as out of the loop as everyone else." Corran looked at him, confused. "Oh, come off it, Horn," he huffed. "You think Jaina was going to tell me she was pregnant while I was still cowering in the Skywalker's apartment, afraid to even use the Force for fear of letting the dark side creep back in?"
"She told you on Mon Calamari then?"
Kyp stared. And then he laughed. "Corran, I don't think you understand how serious I was about 'out of the loop.' They weren't taking any chances. I found out about Leyla three weeks ago with everyone else. Learning that she was my daughter and not Jag's was an added bonus an hour later."
Corran goggled at him. "Oh Force, Kyp… I'm sorry, I didn't realize…"
Kyp waved him off. "Don't worry about it."
"It's just… you seem so close with her already, I just assumed…"
He struggled to articulate his thoughts. "When Valin and Jysella were born, did you get the sense that they knew you instinctively, that the Force intuited for them that you were someone safe?" Corran nodded. "It was like that with Leyla… it's almost like she knows that I'm someone she's supposed to know and be close to, even though she can't possibly know that I'm really her father." A shadow passed over his face. "Jaina wants her to know who I am."
"You don't?"
"I…" he sighed. "It's not that I don't… I adore Leyla, I have from the night I met her. But she's too young to understand now, and the older she gets, the further I lose the bond that she and I could have. If I sacrifice that though… if I let Leyla grow up knowing the only father she already does… well, she'll be more stable, and I can be a distant but benevolent uncle or some such."
Corran studied him skeptically for a minute or two. "You really don't think you deserve any happiness in this life, do you?"
Kyp scowled and looked off into the distance, supremely annoyed. He felt the already familiar touch of Leyla, accustomed to picking out his emotions, even in the crowded setting. Doing his best to quickly reassure her, he closed himself away from the Force so as to not ruin the mood of the happy family.
Leyla started crying. Instinctively, he looked for her and sat back again, seeing her picked up and comforted by Jag. He turned back to Corran.
"I've done some bad things in this galaxy, Corran," he murmured quietly. "We all know that. I love Leyla; I'm honored beyond imagining that Jaina even bothered to include me in her life. But it would be selfish of me to complicate things for them. I loved Jaina once, but Leyla is not the result of a loving relationship, she's here because of my deceit, my obsession… and beyond all odds, she's still growing up in a loving family. Jaina and Jag may say they don't care, that as long as I'm free of the dark side, they bear no ill will… but happiness for me would be to stop screwing with other people's lives, and to let a new and happy family be happy without complication."
Corran just stared at him, either piteous or appalled, it was hard to say. Before he could respond or walk away, a shadow fell over the pair and they looked up to see Jag approaching with a still-distraught Leyla burying her face against his shoulder.
"See," Jag was murmuring to the girl, turning and trying to get her to look up. "Kyp didn't go anywhere, he's right here."
"Kit gone, dada" Leyla insisted, voice thick through her own tears and against Jag's shirt.
Jag looked at Kyp, lost. "Leyla, sweetie… look." She finally extracted her tear-stained face and stared forlornly down at the perplexed Jedi master. "See?"
She shook her head and sniffled. "No all Kit."
"What?" Jag just stared at the girl who was muttering in incomprehensible babbles.
Kyp looked at her confused for another moment before flushing guiltily. Slowly, he re-expanded his awareness and presence in the Force, which he had drawn in close around him during the argument with Corran. When he lightly touched Leyla's mind, she abruptly stopped crying and began struggling in Jag's arms until he put her down on the ground.
She latched onto Kyp's leg until he pulled her up in his lap. She snuggled down against him in the crook of his arm and murmured, "Kit," happily.
"Kyp."
"Kit."
"Kyp."
"Kit!"
"Okay."
Looking like he wasn't sure whether to ask, Jag remained, staring bemusedly at them. "Sorry," Kyp truly was. "That was my fault."
"Actually," Corran stood, "it was mine." He turned his attention to Jag. "I was antagonizing Durron here and he didn't want to ruin your party by broadcasting to every Jedi how annoyed he was. Leyla must have felt the sudden disappearance of her new friend in the Force."
Jag nodded slowly in understanding. He and Corran turned to rejoin the party, leaving a drowsy Leyla in Kyp's willing care, but Corran turned back to him and whispered softly.
"Tell yourself what you will, Kyp, but she's not letting you go anywhere without a fight."
End Part X
A/N: Last part will be up tomorrow sometime!
Cheers!
*~Lexi~*