You Get Me -- Chapter 20

The Mon Calamari sun was setting as Tahiri finally arrived back home. She paused outside for just a moment to enjoy the beautiful mix of pinks and golds that sprawled across the sky before entering her building. She was tired and ready to shower and then crawl into bed with a holovid, anything to take her mind off Jacen and the thought of him with Tenel Ka. His anxiousness to see his old flame yesterday had been painful to Tahiri, but it was the prod she needed to make her finally realize how futile the hope for a relationship with Jacen really was.

So she had spent the day hiding—hiding from him and her feelings. She had started the morning with a fierce workout, punishing herself for all the time she had missed due to being with Jacen. Then she had made sure not to go anywhere he might be—the refugee camp, for certain, and their usual cafes. Instead, she had rented a speeder and driven for miles around the city, even taking a jaunt below the sea to a tourist hangout—a local aquarium. Being surrounded by water still made her a little queasy, but it was worth it not to have to see Jacen.

She didn't know what she would say when she saw him again, and she knew it was inevitable that their paths would cross sooner than later. Even though he was with Tenel Ka, he would still eventually wonder about Tahiri. It was in his nature to be concerned about others. It was one of the things she had grown to admire about him.

'No, Tahiri,' she thought to herself. 'Just stop thinking about him. He wants her—that's that, so just stay out of his way and let him be happy.'

Upon reaching her door, she punched in the entry code and stepped inside.

"There you are!"

Tahiri jumped at the sound of a voice inside her room, her heart instantly racing into overdrive as her hand instinctively reached for her lightsaber. When in the next second she recognized who it was, she immediately began to calm.

"Didn't mean to scare you, kid," Han Solo apologized as he stood up from the chair he'd been reclining in. "I thought all you Jedi could sense when someone was around."

Tahiri's hand was still over her heart as she turned to close the door. "Guess not," she said. "How did you get in here?" she asked suddenly realizing that her door had definitely been locked.

His face spread into that same lopsided grin Jacen always wore and her heart twisted. "If I told you, I'd have to kill you," he teased. "Hey, where have you been all day? I've been waiting for hours."

"Waiting? For me?" she asked in confusion. "Why?"

Han debated how to answer. This was a delicate situation, and although he usually tried to stay away from anything 'delicate', this was an instance that needed his expert attention. But just how much to tell Tahiri was the problem. It was really Jacen's place to share his feelings, but knowing his son, he'd think about it for too long and miss his opportunity. So all Han needed to do was make sure Jacen got the chance to say what was really on his mind.

So then... Han would have to lie.

"Well," he began, running a hand through his graying mane. Tahiri's heart clenched again at the reflection of Jacen in his father's actions. "Leia sent me here," he said unconvincingly.

Tahiri studied the older man, not sure whether to believe him, but curious, nonetheless, to find out why he had found it necessary to break into her room. "Why?" she asked suspiciously with a wrinkle of her nose.

The kid asked too many questions, Han told himself.

"She, uh, wanted me to make sure you were coming to the banquet tomorrow night," he explained, pleased at having thought of that reason on the spur of the moment.

Tahiri sighed and walked over to sit on the edge of her bed. "I don't think so, Mr. Solo. I'm not much for those types of things."

"I thought you might say that." He was prepared for this. He sat down on the other end of her bed and took a deep breath. He had to ease her into this without her suspecting she was being manipulated. But he was Han Solo. Manipulation was his middle name.

"Yeah, I don't like these things either, but somehow I always end up going anyway." He smiled when he heard her laugh softly. "Leia, she can be quite persuasive when she wants to. Must be all that diplomatic experience she's had over the years." He paused to think of his next words.

"She won't take no for an answer, you know. In fact when I was leaving she said to make sure I told you she was 'personally' inviting you--- seeing as how you're practically one of our own. 'Tell Tahiri I just really need her to be there,' she said. 'It won't be the same if she doesn't come,'" he mimicked in a sorry imitation of his wife's voice.

Tahiri studied his rugged face wondering if Jacen would be as attractive when he reached his father's age. "She really said that?" she finally asked.

"Yeah, she really did," Han lied again. Oh well. It was for the girl's own good, he rationalized. "And if I have to go back and tell her you're not coming, well, it will just break her heart. The war has made her really sensitive when it comes to family."

Tahiri's back stiffened instantly. "But I'm not your family Mr. Solo," she said quietly, looking away so he wouldn't see her watery eyes.

Han stood up quickly and moved in front of her. "Don't talk foolishness, kid! Of course you're family, and don't ever let me hear you say otherwise," he demanded vehemently. "And stop calling me 'mister'. It makes me feel old."

Tahiri chuckled and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. Han knew he was close to sealing the deal, so he took her hands and pulled her up in front of him. "Look," he continued softly, "I hate these fancy shindigs as much as you do--- probably even more. And if I have to go, you have to go. It's the Solo family way. Haven't you ever heard the saying 'misery loves company'?" he teased with another Solo grin. She nodded with a smile. "Well, then, we'll be miserable together. It'll make my wife happy, which in turn will make us happy, which makes the whole galaxy just one big bunch of 'happy'. What do you say?"

"Okay! Okay!" Tahiri surrendered. "I'll go--- but just for a little while. I couldn't bear to disappoint Leia and I would hate for you to get in trouble," she added with a playful punch to his arm.

"Good. Good. I appreciate that, kid," Han said. Then he nervously retrieved a box from the floor and clumsily thrust it into her hands.

"What's this?" she questioned, looking from the box up to Han.

"Uh, it's a dress," he stammered. "Leia didn't know if you'd need one, so she sent this."

Tahiri carefully opened the box and gasped softly at the contents inside. "This is too much," she exclaimed. "She shouldn't have."

"It was no problem," Han said, quite pleased with himself. Tahiri didn't need to know that he had been the one to pick out the dress. At first, he'd felt ridiculous entering the boutique full of women's clothes. However, the sales girls were so helpful that it had been a cinch to choose a dress for Tahiri. He just hoped the size was right. "And there's a pair of, uh, shoes underneath," he added, "if you want to wear them, that is."

Tahiri gazed up at him with tears in her eyes and an oh-so-sweet smile on her pretty young face, and Han felt as if his heart would burst right out of his chest. This good deed stuff really wasn't so bad.

"I just can't believe this," she said tossing the box on the bed and then throwing her arms around Han's waist. He awkwardly hugged her and patted her back. "This is the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me. I don't deserve all of this."

Han instantly grabbed her arms and held her back at arm's length so he could look her in the eye. "Hey! I don't ever want to hear you say you don't deserve something, understand?" Tahiri was shocked at his stern reaction. "You deserve a lot more than a measly dress and a pair of shoes." His hands dropped and one came up to cup her chin. "You deserve to be happy, Tahiri, and I mean that. You're a good kid. You were good for Anakin and you're good for Jacen. Anybody tells you otherwise, just let me know," he finished with a grin and a pat on his trusty blaster.

Oddly, Tahiri was deeply touched by Han Solo's attempt to console and comfort her. His presence was so strong—so overwhelming and yet it made her feel so protected and safe. He took a step back and moved to the door.

"Well, then. That's settled. We'll send a speeder for you tomorrow night, so be ready. It'll be the time of your life," he added with one more Solo grin and a sly wink. Then he was gone.

Tahiri took a deep breath and surveyed her room, her gaze finally coming to rest on the box sitting on her bed.

"What in the Force just happened?!" she said aloud. In a matter of mere minutes, Han Solo had managed to convince her to not only attend a ball in honor of the woman who had taken Jacen away from her, but gotten her to agree to wear a pair of uncomfortable, sithly, high-heeled shoes!

She was such a glutton for punishment.

By the time Jacen returned home to his small apartment, it was very late. He had worked until near dark to finish the camp's new dining hall, proud to step back and admire the accomplishment of his 'actions'. Then he took some time to eat a late meal on a nearby beach and enjoy the multi-colored sunset that graced the evening sky. He only wished Tahiri had been with him to see. She would have loved it, he knew, after hearing her describe some of the dual sunsets back on Tatooine.

Now that his mind was clear, he felt no need to rush or fret anymore. He knew exactly what he would do tomorrow—or rather today, he noted as he glanced down at his wrist chrono. Right now what he needed was a hot shower and a good night's sleep.

He entered his quarters and made short work of removing his sweat-soaked shirt. It would need at least two cycles through the laundry to get that thing clean, he chuckled. He had forgotten to take his comm. unit along for the day, so he quickly listened to the messages waiting for him.

There were several from his mother and she sounded frantic.

"Jacen? Where are you? I need to talk to you, sweetheart. Please call me as soon as possible."

Then there was one from his father, which sounded strangely suspicious. Jacen could tell when his old man was up to something since that happened to be most of the time.

"Hey, kid. It's your dad. Have you talked to your mother yet?" Then a brief pause. "I hate these message things! Just call me back."

Jacen laughed and pushed the button to hear the last message, hoping it was from Tahiri. He had missed hearing her decidedly feminine voice even if it had only been one day.

No such luck.

"Hi, Jace!"

It was Jaina---and she sounded perkier than usual, like she knew something he didn't.

"Have you talked to Mom yet?" He did a double take at his comm. unit upon hearing the exact same question his father had asked. "I tried to reach you with the Force, but you're blocking me again, aren't you?" she accused, sounding a bit miffed. She was right, though. He had been shielding from everyone to allow him time to work things out on his own. It figured his twin would be the one to realize it before anyone else.

"Anyway," she drawled, back to her 'I-know-something-you-don't-know voice, "call me right away. I'm just so excited! I can't stand it!"

Then a beep sounded to signal the end of his messages. Jacen was left standing shirtless in the middle of his room wondering what the Sith was going on. Glancing again at the time, he debated whether to call his parents at such a late hour, but knew he'd never sleep until he found out what had his family in such an uproar.

The Solo's comm was answered even before the first series of alert tones finished sounding.

"Jacen?!" came his mother's anxious voice.

"Yeah, Mom. It's me. What's going on?"

"Thank goodness!" she declared. "I've been trying to reach you all day. Where were you? Why didn't you have your comm.?"

"I forgot to take--," he began to explain, only to be cut off in mid- sentence.

"Never mind all that," Leia interrupted, dismissing his excuse. "I need you to come over right away. There's something we need to discuss."

Jacen started to worry. "Is anybody hurt? Is it Tahiri? Is she okay?" he asked, feeling a knot form in his stomach. If anything happened to her while he'd been blocking everyone out through the Force, he'd never forgive himself.

"Tahiri?" his mother repeated quizzically. Jacen wasn't present or he would have witnessed the look of confusion on Leia's face and the smile of satisfaction on Han's. "No, honey. She's fine and nobody's hurt."

Jacen breathed a sigh of relief. "Then can't you just tell me what it is now? I really need a shower and some sleep. I'm beat."

"No," Leia stated firmly. "This needs to be done in person, and I don't care if you smell. I used to change your dirty diapers, you know."

It was no use. Resistance was futile when his mother got like this. He would be fighting a losing battle if he argued with her, and he was just too tired to fight.

"Okay, Mom. I'll be there in a few minutes."

Taking one last longing glance at the bed calling his name, he slipped his shirt back on and headed for his parents' place.

"Well?" Leia asked in anticipation. "What do you think?"

She and Han were seated side by side on the sofa in their apartment watching and waiting for their son's response to the news that Tenel Ka, Hapan queen and one-time love of Jacen's teenage life, wanted to marry him.

Jacen raked his work-hardened hands over his tanned face. "Wow. This is sudden--- and very unexpected," he stated quietly.

Leia frowned. She had expected a different reaction, something a bit more... exuberant.

He looked back over at his parents from his perch on the big easy chair. "And she actually asked you for consent?" he asked.

Leia nodded an affirmation. "She said she would talk to you at the banquet," she clarified. "Jacen, maybe I shouldn't have said anything, but I thought it only fair that you have some time to think about this. Marriage is a serious proposition, and you didn't deserve to have it sprung on you all at once."

Jacen glanced pleadingly at his father whose face showed an amazing amount of sympathy for his son. Obviously, Han hadn't told Leia about Jacen's feelings for Tahiri.

Leia continued, laying a motherly hand on Jacen's knee. "You know your father and I would never interfere in your life by trying to persuade you to make one decision or another." Jacen noticed a sudden look of guilt flash across Han Solo's face and then just as quickly disappear. "However, we want you to know that we support whatever decision you make."

A few more moments of silence passed and then Jacen said, "Does Jaina know about this?"

Han and Leia looked guiltily at each other before Leia finally answered. "Yes. She happened to walk in on your father and me while we were discussing it this morning."

Jacen smiled weakly. "So I'm the last one to know?"

"Welcome to manhood, son," Han declared. "Get used to it."