What You Really Need Is…

(For the purpose of this particular one-shot, I am changing Jaina and Jacen's age from 4 to 6)

{I apologize for the long wait, but my muse for this story puttered out there for a while. Hopefully it will not be as long before the next update. Thank you for those who are following this story. :) }

14 ABY

Jaina Solo sat in the acceleration couch as her dad's ship, the Millennium Falcon, made its decent into the atmosphere of the jungle moon Yavin IV. Beside Jaina, her twin brother Jacen fiddled with his latest pet; a small lizard he'd found on Coruscant.

Jaina focused on the reason her family had made this special trip to visit the Jedi Academy. Her mom and dad had explained that their Uncle Luke was very sad, and he needed to know they loved him.

Jaina remembered the question that explanation had prompted from her youngest brother, Anakin:

"Mommy, why is Uncle Luke sad?"

Leia looked to her son, and thinned her lips; she was obviously wondering how much to tell the children.

"It's because Callista left him, isn't it Mommy?" Jaina asked, a little tartly.

Leia blinked, clearly surprised, and she traded a look with her husband; one Jaina had learned meant that the answer was between the grown-ups.

But to her surprise, their mother nodded once.

"Yes, Jaina. Miss Callista left for good and Uncle Luke is sad because of that." Leia's voice was soft.

Jacen looked thoughtful. "Did he really love her?"

"Yes," Leia answered.

"Then why would she leave him?" Jaina wanted to know, angry on her uncle's behalf.

She might only be six, but she knew her uncle was the nicest person in the entire galaxy, and when he got hurt, it upset her to see him so sad.

"Jaina, that was Miss Callista's choice." Leia reprimanded firmly. "She…"

"Didn't really love him back, she was just pretending." Jaina finished for her when Leia hesitated.

Leia's eyes flashed. "Young lady, I will not have you disrespecting her like that."

Jaina huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Why not? You and Daddy were angry at her too!"

Again a look was traded between the adults, and the only thing that kept Jaina from rolling her eyes at her parents' was the fact that Leia would slap her for it.

At last, Han spoke into the conversation.

"Jaina, Sweetheart." Han turned his hazel eyes on his daughter. "Yes, we are also angry at Miss Callista for leaving, but we also understand that your Uncle Luke loved her. He would not want us to talk about Callista in such a way."

Jaina rolled that over in her mind, and then sighed heavily when she realized her father was right. As usual.

"Okay."

Jaina was jostled from her reverie by Anakin leaping from the couch to race for the boarding ramp, and she realized they had just landed. Jaina released her seat's harness, and stood, stretching her legs.

She felt about with her very limited Force skills, and tried to find her uncle.

To her surprise, his presence was right outside the ship. Jaina wasted no more time in racing for the ramp, but Anakin was already there.

He sped down the walkway and jumped into Luke Skywalker's arms, giggling delightedly.

"Uncle Luke!" Anakin cheered.

"Hey Anakin!" Luke replied, a smile on his face.

Jaina stopped at the top of the ramp, sensing something off about her uncle. She wasn't a trained Jedi and she didn't know how to read many people, but she understood her uncle well, and she knew his smiles best of all.

The grin he now put on for the children before him was polite and welcoming, but not truly happy like it normally was. Jaina stretched out again toward her uncle, her imperfect knowledge allowing her to sense that her uncle was much sadder than her mother and father had said he was.

Jacen, however, didn't seem to notice as he also barreled down the ramp toward the Jedi Master. Luke set Anakin down and straightened just in time to receive his second nephew's hug.

Jaina frowned at her brothers. Couldn't they see it too? Could they be so blind as to miss the grief emanating from Uncle Luke?

A hand settled on Jaina's shoulder, and she jumped.

"Hey Sweetheart, are you alright?" Han asked, gazing down at her worriedly.

Jaina returned her gaze to her uncle, and was startled to find his blue gaze lift to her's: and that was when his smile changed. It went from simply polite and almost forced to genuine… and Jaina recognized the grin he reserved for his niece alone. It was her favorite of her uncle's smiles.

She felt Luke's loving mental caress in return, and she knew he'd sensed her probes. Jaina blushed slightly at having been caught. A slight squeeze form her father reminded her he'd asked her a question.

"Sorry, Dad." Jaina looked up at him. "I just… I don't know how to help Uncle Luke."

Han frowned as Leia passed them at a more reserved pace to greet her own twin. "What do you mean?"

Jaina shrugged sheepishly. "I dunno… I just want to help Uncle Luke, but I don't know how."

Han's gaze softened, and he knelt beside her. "Jaina, the best thing you can do for Luke right now is to be there for him and just love him. He's hurting right now, and he just needs to know we are here for him, no matter what."

Jaina nodded, determined to do her part. "Okay, Daddy."

Han smiled and kissed her forehead, before he led her down the ramp. "Hey Kid!"

The men greeted each other with claps on the backs and traded jokes. Again, Jaina felt as though Luke were putting on a mask for his family so they wouldn't see how bad off he was.

The group began to wander toward Luke's quarters, and the Jedi Master fell back to Jaina's side.

"Hello, Jaina." He greeted her softly.

Jaina smiled at him. "Hi Uncle Luke."

She bit her lip, wanting to hug him; but they were moving now, so that would be awkward, so how could she…

Inspiration struck, and Jaina reached out to take her uncle's calloused, yet soft hand in her smaller one. His hand enclosed hers tenderly and squeezed. Jaina felt his touch again on her mind with a quiet thank you for her sensitivity, and couldn't help the small smile of satisfaction that spread over her face.

00000

A few hours later, the Solo clan settled wearily into their beds in the quarters they'd been assigned for their visit. Jaina waited impatiently both for her brothers to fall asleep, and her parents to slip into their own room so she could enact her plan.

While they had visited in Luke's quarters- which had obviously been cleaned in a hurry- Jaina had asked to use the refresher. Since it was close to his bedroom, Jaina had glimpsed inside the room as she'd passed by.

Frowning, Jaina had glanced back to find everyone else was focused elsewhere, and she'd slipped inside. Surprised at the state of his bed—it'd looked like it hadn't been made in days- Jaina set about making it for him.

When she'd come to his pillow, she'd discovered large tear-stains. Jaina had known then that her uncle wasn't sleeping well. Satisfied with her bed-making skills, Jaina had left, and while relieving her bladder an idea had hit her like a brick to the head.

Now she lay in bed, her favorite story book tucked under her pillow, and a glowlamp clutched in one hand. She checked the bed next to hers and saw Jacen and Anakin's eyes closed, their chests rising and falling with sleep.

Finally! Jaina thought.

She slipped silently from the sheets and padded barefoot to the door, listening for any indication that her parents were still up. She heard nothing, so she eased the bedroom door open and crept through the darkened living room.

Jaina made her steady way to the upper levels of the Jedi Academy where the Masters' quarters were kept, and she found herself glad that the halls were empty. At last Jaina reached her target, only to pause.

Do I knock? She wondered, realizing how late it was.

Biting her lip in indecision, Jaina tried again to reach out to her uncle in the Force. She felt his surprise at her touch, and then his shock when he realized where she was. Moments later the door opened, and Luke gazed at her.

"Jaina, what are you doing up so late?" he asked, looking up and down the corridor.

"I… I came to see you, Uncle Luke." The first stirrings of doubt were now entering her mind.

However, determined as ever, she squared her shoulders and looked up at him… and realized he was frowning slightly. But then his face softened and he stepped aside, waving her in. Jaina breathed a sigh of relief and brushed past him.

She stood behind his small couch and waited for him to close the door and turn to her.

"Now, what did you need to see me about?" Luke asked.

Jaina took a deep breath. "I came to help you get to bed, Uncle Luke."

Taken aback, his eyebrows shot up. "What do you mean?"

Jaina looked at her feet. "I know you're not sleeping good Uncle Luke. I… I saw your bed." She looked up, her eyes pleading for understanding. "I didn't mean to go into your room without permission, I just…"

Luke shook his head and knelt before her.

"Shh," he soothed quietly. "I saw that you made my bed for me. Thank you, Jaina."

She offered a timid smirk. "You're not mad at me?"

"Of course not." He assured her.

"Okay."

Something crossed her uncle's face after a moment of silence, and he was obviously trying to tell her something without hurting her feelings.

"Jaina," he began gingerly. "I appreciate the thought, but I don't think I will be going to sleep anytime soon tonight either. I just…"

He stopped, seemingly unsure if he should continue. Jaina stepped forward and rested a small hand on his forearm.

"You don't have to pretend with me too Uncle Luke," she whispered. "I don't mind."

He cocked his head minutely. "Pretend about what?"

"That you're happy," Jaina replied seriously. "I can feel you are sad. You can cry on my shoulder if you want."

His body went rigid, and Jaina feared she had said something wrong. She was about to pull away when Luke surprised her by softening again. He gently placed a finger under her chin, tilting her head up to meet his gaze.

"You are so special, Jaina," he murmured. "How is it that you can be so sensitive and understanding, yet not be afraid to say anything?"

Jaina wasn't sure how to respond to that, so she remained quiet. Luke drew her to him, and Jaina felt the wetness touch her hair. She knew he was crying, so she wrapped her little arms around him.

Luke pulled back after a time, and gave her a loving smile; one that was nearly ruined by a yawn. Putting on a serious face, Jaina urged her uncle to his feet, and led him to his bedroom.

"You need to rest, Uncle Luke. You will feel better after you sleep," she told him. "Now, get into your pajamas, and I will wait in here for you."

Luke laughed lightly. "You are your mother's daughter."

But he didn't argue with her. He grabbed a pair of sleep pants and a soft shirt from his dresser and disappeared into the refresher to change.

00000

Luke paused before rejoining his niece. He was touched; truly he was, by her innocent determination to be not only his shoulder to cry on, but also his comforter. And while all he did want to do lately was cry, he found much to his surprise that with Jaina present, his sorrow was being kept at bay.

And his spirit did feel lighter. No doubt it was being nourished by the soul of the sweet little girl sitting patiently in his room. For the first time in months, Luke felt truly at peace, and he knew he owed it to his niece.

With a heart-felt smile, Luke returned to his bedroom to discover Jaina had prepared the bed for him to climb into. She had pulled a sitting chair next to the head of the mattress, and was now seated upon it. She looked up at him as he entered the room, and smiled brightly.

"I'm going to read you a bed-time story Uncle Luke, just like you used to do for me when I didn't feel good."

Luke's heart swelled with pride and utter love for his niece, and he followed her instructions to get settled comfortably in his bed. Jaina even went so far as to tuck him in, and then she settled into her chair and produced a children's book from the folds of her night-robe.

Jaina cleared her throat and opened the cover.

"The Ugly Bantha Cub." She read aloud.

"Once long ago on Tatooine lived a little bantha cub." She read as best as she could. Her reading skills were quite good for a child her age, Luke mused. He was surprised to find himself already drifting off to sleep as Jaina read about to him.

"… and the other banthas made fun of him because he only had one horn." Jaina turned the page. "Cleat was very sad because he had no friends except for Henrie, a dewback who was the runt of his litter…"

Luke closed his eyes, sighing softly as he listened to her beautiful voice.

"… so Cleat decided he would run away. He told no one except Henrie, who warned him it was too dangerous." Jaina continued. "But Cleat didn't care. He was tired of being made fun of…"

00000

"Mistress Leia! Mistress Leia!" C-3PO cried frantically, bursting into the master bedroom.

Han threw the golden protocol droid a nasty glare. Oblivious to the quiet moment the couple had been enjoying, the droid went on to deliver his bad news.

"Mistress Jaina is missing!" C-3PO cried, his stiff arms waving frantically.

Leia and Han were instantly alert, and the smuggler leapt from the bed, ready to call a man-hunt.

"Where did you last see her?" Han demanded.

The protocol droid managed to look thoughtful. "She went to bed with her brothers, Captain Solo, and I just went in to check on the children, and I saw that she was gone. What do we do, sir?"

"Did you check the refresher?" Han growled.

"Yes, Sir," the droid replied.

At that moment, Han realized Leia hadn't said a thing since Goldenrod had burst into the room. He turned to ask what she was waiting for, and saw that her eyes were half-lidded in concentration.

"Can you sense Jaina?" Han asked quietly, not wanting to distract her too much.

Leia frowned a touch, and then nodded. "Yes."

Her face softened, and then a warm smiled slowly wormed its way across her lovely features.

"Han…" Leia opened her eyes to gaze at him, and patted the bed. "Get back in bed: Jaina is just fine." She looked to the droid. "Threepio, you can go now."

The droid cocked his head. "But what about Mistress Jaina?"

"Leia said she was fine." Han shoved the droid to the door. "Now go power down in the sitting area."

After the door was again closed, Han joined Leia on the bed. He lifted a brow.

"Not that I doubt you, but where, exactly is our daughter?" he asked.

"With Luke." Leia smiled. "And I can feel the peace coming from him right now."

Han smiled proudly. "That's my girl!"

Leia tugged him down for a kiss. "Yes; she's always been sensitive to Luke's needs, and he to hers."

"Those two do have a close bond," Han said as he settled behind her again to collect his wife into his arms.

"She's just what he needed," Leia murmured, closing her eyes and snuggling against her husband.

00000

When Luke woke some time later the lamp on the bedside table was still on. He took a moment to orient himself, and when his gaze settled on the slumped form of his niece, his heart clenched at the sight.

Jaina was still in the chair, hunched over with the book barely contained in her slackened grasp, and her breathing was that of a person in a deep sleep.

Luke slid back the covers and moved to her side. Taking the book carefully so he didn't wake her up, he set it down and then carried her to the other side of his bed. There he took his turn to tuck her in, kissing her forehead lightly.

Then, still drowsy from being awake too early, Luke resettled himself into the bed. The last thing he saw before drifting off was the little girl who owned a large piece of his heart.

"Thank you, Jaina." He breathed whisper-quietly, closing his eyes.