"How in the sith am I supposed to be a credible witness when I've lost my mind?" Jade asked, talking to no one in particular. She'd taken to talking to herself in the last two weeks and that scared her just a tad. The guard across the room from her chuckled and she was thankful that at least he had a good sense of humor.
"I'm not sure he's worried about that." The guard, Devin, answered her, not looking up from his data pad.
"Obviously." Jade said, sarcasm dripping from the word. Devin had gotten used to the ambassador's ramblings and he honestly couldn't blame her. She'd had no contact but him and one of the other guards the entire two weeks she had been sequestered. Actually, he was surprised she hadn't lost her mind yet.
At least he got to go home one day a week and see his wife.
Devin went back to the messages he had waiting and nearly jumped when his comm unit trilled. Setting the datapad down, he stood up and walked down the hall to take the call.
"Jackman."
/____________________________________\
Devin came back into the living room a few minutes later and Jade looked up to see him smiling.
"What? They've canceled the trial?" She asked, knowing that wasn't the answer.
"No, but this one I think you'll like."
"What?!" She yelled, making him laugh.
"They've moved your place in the docket up. You testify tomorrow."
/____________________________________\
Next day…Michael made his way through the throngs of people to find a seat in the third row of the courtroom. He'd been to the trial everyday and while it was interesting, he was not the only one who wanted it to be over with. Jade was a very missed person right now, especially by one person. He had been to lunch the day before with the Jedi master and had to say that every time he talked to him he liked him even more. There was hope for Jade to be happy yet. If the two of them didn't get in each other's way.
Someone sat down next to him, but he didn't turn to acknowledge them thinking it was just a stranger.
"Do you know how hard it was for me to get in here?"
Michael turned in surprise and laughed when he saw Kyp sitting next to him, in causal clothes. Somehow, he wasn't surprised to see him here.
"You didn't wipe any minds, did you?"
"It was hard, but I resisted the temptation." Kyp snarked, joining the governor in a chuckle. Even without the force, Michael knew Kyp was anxious. Jared had told him the master had not handled being away from Jade for the last two weeks very well. He had pretty much kept to himself, snapping at people when he did happen to venture out of his apartment or office.
Michael started to say something, when he heard the noise of the room die down signaling the entrance of the jury and the judge. He frowned, not seeing Jade and wondering if they were going to make her wait until the end of the day to testify.
"The matter of the State vs. Senator Bela Mnaa will now come to order. The honorable Judge Ruben Fey presiding."
"Please be seated." The judge commanded and it was surprisingly quiet as everyone complied. Kyp figured it was because people wanted to hear every word of this trial. It had sparked so many discussions and debates in the two weeks since its inception and was the talk of the holonet almost constantly. He didn't even watch the news anymore he was so sick of it.
"I'm hoping it's going to be a short day gentlemen, since we only have one witness on the docket." Fey threw out to the two lawyers sitting in front of him. A murmur ran through the crowd and Kyp and Michael glanced at each other. Interesting.
Both lawyers nodded and the judge looked back down at his datascreen. "Mr. Lowen, I believe you have the witness first." He said, looking up at the Defense attorney. Jade didn't like Marv Lowen. She never had. He'd been Bela's attorney for as long as she had known him, and he just gave her a weird feeling.
"Please state your name for the court."
"Jade Storm."
"And what is your occupation ma'am."
Jade took a deep breath to keep the snark silent that was fighting to be free. "Ambassador to Nyreen."
"And are you married?"
She let the snark loose then.
"Last time I checked." Kyp felt a smile come to his face. Yep. This guy was in for it.
"Ambassador Storm." He gently admonished.
"Yes. I am married to Senator Bela Mnaa." She said, tonelessly.
"Thank you. How long have you known the Senator?" The man asked, pacing towards the jury.
"Seven years."
"And how long have you been married to him?"
"Six years."
"Very good. How would you describe your relationship with your husband?"
"At which point in time?" The man looked up at her surprised, and she just smiled.
"All of it."
"Up until three months ago, I had a very good relationship with Bela. Or at least the illusion of one."
"And do you love your husband?"
"Objection!" The DA called out. Jade took the opportunity to look at Bela while the lawyers argued. He had on his Senator face right now, so she really couldn't tell if this affected him. Not that she cared, she was just curious.
Rolling her eyes at the two men arguing, she leaned into the microphone. "How is that relevant?" She said loudly, the judge not being able to get a word in edgewise. A smirk came to the judge's face, but she didn't see it.
"Are you going to answer the question Ambassador?" He asked, and she looked over at the DA and received a 'it's up to you' look.
"I think that's a mutli-faceted question. To some extent I'll always love Bela, but not like I did before I found out about his hobby."
"Would you say that you hate your husband now?"
"What the…no." She said forcefully, starting to get agitated.
"So you didn't go undercover to get back at your husband?"
"No. I went undercover, if you want to call it that, to make someone pay for their crimes against humanity. I wouldn't have cared if it were Luke Skywalker himself. The fact that it was my husband had no relevance. I just happened to be the person in the best position at the time." She threw back.
"And you had no idea what your husband was doing before you found the evidence that has been submitted?" The attorney asked incredulously.
Jade just stared at the man as if he had gone mad. "No. I didn't make it a point to get up in the morning, kiss my husband and ask 'Honey, what nefarious activities do you have planned for the day? Anything I can help you with?"
Michael saw the judge try to hide his smile and there were various snickers throughout the courtroom. What drew his attention the most, was his daughter. She looked weary, and her sarcasm was just one way she used to hide her anger. He hoped this was almost over.
"Do you wake up and ask your wife that everyday?" She shot back at the lawyer. He had the decency to flinch at least.
"I'm not married."
"There's a big surprise." Jade mumbled to herself and sighed. "Do you have any relevant questions for me? Anything besides trying to implicate me in Bela's side job? I think it's been pretty clear that I was not involved."
"Ambassador, please. I don't want to have to ask the judge if I can treat you as a hostile witness." Kyp dropped his head into his hands. That had been the wrong thing to say.
"Hostile witness?" Jade asked, the disbelief rolling off her in waves. She calmed herself before she spoke. "Mr. Lowen, you'll have to excuse me if I'm a little bitter right now. I've spent the last six years thinking I was married to an honorable man who was making a difference in the universe. Only to find out he was going against the very principles he was espousing to the rest of us. Then, after I find out the truth, I am attacked numerous times and require a bodyguard to make sure I make it through the year. I can't leave my house without protection and my family and friends were also suspected to be in danger because of something I had nothing to do with. Then, just when I think it's all over I'm sequestered away from everything I hold dear and you want me to be docile?" She let the silence hang for a moment. "I think you're asking a bit much."
"But your husband has been proven to not be behind the attacks. "
"I know that now, but it doesn't really absolve him of his crimes does it. If anything, it makes it worse."
Lowen was quiet for a moment, then looked over at the judge. "I have no more questions at this time your honor. But I would like to reserve the right to call this witness again."
The judge nodded his approval and the DA to begin. This line of questioning was much more serene of course, since Jade was just giving the facts. It took her 30 minutes to outline everything that had happened in the last three months and she felt drained at the end. The DA sat down and she looked down at her lap, hoping this was it.
"Any more questions, Mr. Lowen?" The man shook his head and Jade sighed quietly.
"Ambassador, I believe we are done with you now. You may take a seat if you like."
Covering the microphone, Jade leaned over to whisper to the judge.
"I don't have to go back to that safehouse do I?" The judge laughed and shook his head. Relief flooded her and somehow she found a way to take a seat in the front row behind the DA.
/____________________________________\
The judge offered a few remarks to the court, then called the day over but Jade didn't move from her seat. Her gaze had stayed drawn to the floor for the 15 minutes of talk after her testimony and she had just emptied her mind and thought of nothing.
She was surprised she hadn't fallen asleep in that short time, but she almost felt too exhausted to even do that. The empty courtroom, finally came to her attention and she stood up to leave when she felt someone enter the room. Looking over, she smiled at her father and slowly walked over to him.
"It's almost over angel." He whispered as he pulled her to him and held her. She felt like she had lost weight, just in the short time she'd been gone and that worried him. But he knew something that would make her feel even better.
"Come on. I'll take you back to the hotel and you can get some rest." Jade mindlessly nodded and allowed her father to lead her outside. Surprised, she looked up expecting a media frenzy but there was none. Her father chuckled, guessing what she was thinking.
"We had some interference on that particular problem. If we hurry, they won't realize it until we're gone."
/____________________________________\
Jade preceded her father into the hotel room. She stood there for a minute, unsure of which need was greater. Food or sleep. In the end, she didn't have a choice to make. A familiar tingling started in her brain and she looked up to see the most beautiful sight she thought she'd ever laid eyes on.
Before she knew what had happened, she was crying in Kyp's arms. She never heard her father leave the room, or wondered how they made it to the bedroom. The next thing she knew, she was laying in bed, covered up with Kyp lying next to her on top of the covers. She didn't question why that was. The fatigue was starting to catch up with her now and she had no choice but to give in.
Kyp lay there staring at her for a long time. He ran his thumb over the circles that had gathered under her eyes and bit back a curse. She had lost weight too, he noticed as he ran his hand down her arm and over her hip feeling more bone than he remembered. Well that shouldn't be too hard to rectify, he thought to himself. Though there was the issue of them being seen together too often now, he would worry about that later. Everything would happen in due time.
Jade sighed in her sleep and he couldn't help but smile. Now that he had her back, there was no way he was letting her go.
/____________________________________\
6 months later…
"Kyp. Stop that. We're going to be late." Jade admonished him as he leaned down to pull her back flush to his chest and place a few kisses on her neck.
"I don't really care." He murmured, continuing his distraction.
"Well I do. We are not going to be late to the wedding. You know that Jaina and Jag would kill us." She said, stepping away from him, but smiling at his groan when she did so.
"You're so mean to me." He pouted as she walked over to slip her shoes on. The temptation to touch her again flitted across his brain, but he ignored it. She was right, much as he hated to admit it.
"Besides." She called back to him, as she left the bedroom. "I promise to make it up to you later." He raised an eyebrow at her sultry promise only hesitating a second before following her.
/____________________________________\
Jaina and Jag had finally convinced Leia to let them have a small ceremony. They didn't want all the pomp and circumstance that would inevitably come with a marriage announcement for them and finally she had relented. Jaina had however, asked her to help pick out her dress. Nothing too dressy, but something feminine enough to not be mistaken for her flight suit.
So they had settled on a simple white dress, that made Jaina look like the princess she was. Leia had cried when she had tried it on and Jaina had to agree with her. It did look good. Though she was sure Jag would be more interested in getting it off. A smirk graced her face at the thought.
"Do I even want to know what you're thinking about?" Her father asked, and she looked up to smile at him.
"No. Definitely not." He raised an eyebrow at her response, but she just laughed.
"You ready?" A voice popped up from behind her. She turned to find Ben, dressed in jedi robes and smiled at her cousin. A quick nod of her head was the only response she found she could give. Biting her lip to keep from crying, she felt her father move closer to her side and hold his arm out for her.
"It's showtime princess." Jaina looped her arm through his and started to walk when he stopped her. Leaning down, Han placed a kiss on her temple. "I love you Jaina."
She beamed at him. "I love you too daddy."
/____________________________________\
"If you pull on that jacket one more time Fel, I think it's going to rip." Kyp commented from the front row, earning him a smack from Jade. They had decided to sit on Jag's side of the sanctuary, since Jaina had enough people already. Jag smiled his thanks at Jade and pulled on the jacket again, making Kyp laugh again.
Jade could tell he was nervous, but it was a good kind of nervous. After all, his dreams were about to come true. She couldn't blame him for being a tad nervous.
The sounds of the Corellian wedding march filled the room and Jade had to smile at the look on Jag's face. Actually, she was surprised he was still breathing. A chuckle escaped her and she turned to look at the back of the room. Jaina wore a floor length, three tiered dress and looked absolutely radiant. Though Jade suspected the glow wasn't from the dress, but from the man she was about to pledge her life to. There were quite a few tears among the crowd as the bride made her way down the aisle.
Han and Jaina stopped at the bottom of the steps and Jag walked down the meet them. It was only three steps, but to them it felt like a lot longer. He smiled at Jaina, not really in control of his facilities at the moment.
"Take care of her Fel," Han whispered, then handed his pride and joy over to a man who was more like him than he would ever admit. Jag nodded, not taking his eyes off his love. They stared at each other for a moment, then remembering they weren't alone, they ascended the steps together.
Luke smiled, remembering what his own wedding day had been like. He had been just as nervous and just as anxious as these two and could understand how they were feeling. They stopped in front of him and he nodded.
"I'd like to welcome all the friends and family that have joined us here today to witness this union. I can't think of any two people more suited for each other, than the two that are in front of me. Nor two people more deserving of each other." He joked, receiving light laughter and a grin from the couple. "And I know I speak for all those present when I say it's about damn time."
The laughter was anything but light this time.
/____________________________________\
"Here you go beautiful." Kyp said, handing Jade a glass of champagne. She smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks handsome."
"I swear, you two are gonna make me throw up." Jared said, from beside them. Kyp laughed and turned to cuff his friend on the shoulder.
"You shouldn't let your jealousy make you bitter Jared. We'll find someone who will put up with you."
Jared snorted, but the smile on his face was genuine. He was happy for his friends and wondered, not for the first time, when they would be having their own wedding. Because at this point, it was inevitable.
Jade took a sip of her drink and watched the couples out on the floor. Jaina and Jag had been out there most of the reception, but no one was bothering them. She smiled as Jag gave his wife a gentle kiss and leaned into Kyp's arm that was around her shoulders.
"You ok?" He asked, concern lacing his voice. She nodded and he squeezed her shoulders in response.
"Would you like to dance ambassador?" He whispered in her ear, and she shivered at his suggestive tone.
"I would love to master Durron." She said, looking over at him. He took the glass out of her hand and set it down on the table in front of Jared.
"Now don't drink that, because little boys shouldn't drink alcohol." He told the man, and moved just fast enough to avoid a kick to his leg.
Jade laughed as Kyp led her out onto the floor, and found herself sighing as he pulled her into his arms. She rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of being close to him. Even though she got to see him everyday, she still couldn't be around him enough. At first, she had thought it was due to the short time she had been forced away from him, but she had come to realize it was simply because she loved him and wanted to be around him.
She frowned suddenly, when she felt apprehension from him and looked up to find him staring at her.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"Wrong?" Kyp laughed. "Nothing's wrong. Everything's right for once." He told her, placing a kiss on her nose, then staring back into her eyes. Jade smiled, but still felt that he was uncomfortable. She was about to ask why, when he cleared his throat and put his hand in his pocket. Frowning, she watched him bring something out and hold it up to her.
Biting her lip, to keep from crying Jade looked from the ring to him and back again.
"I can't wait anymore." He whispered, his own eyes tearing. "Will you marry me?"
She couldn't speak for a moment. The lump in her throat preventing even the one word from passing. So she nodded and held her shaking hand out to him. He slipped the ring on her finger, then cupped her face in both of his hands.
"I love you Jade."
"I love you too, Kyp."
Then he kissed her.
/____________________________________\
Han drank his whiskey and listened to his friends talk at the table, but he wasn't really paying attention. He was too busy watching his little girl dance with her husband. Husband. The reality had threatened to break him a couple of times. His baby was married now and he couldn't be happier for her. He noticed another couple slip onto the dance floor and glanced over to see who it was. A smile crept to his face when he saw Kyp and Jade almost mirror his daughter and Fel's pose. If they were any closer together he'd swear they were one person.
He watched them for a while, glad that Kyp had finally found someone who accepted him. That had always been a worry of his. He knew that Kyp had done some bad things in his life, but he was a good man and he was overjoyed that the person he felt was like a son to him was finally happy.
Han started to look away, when he saw Kyp reach into his pocket. He narrowed his gaze and couldn't contain his grin when he realized what it was.
Elbowing Luke, who was sitting next to him, he took a small drink until his brother-in-law turned.
"I think you better prepare yourself for another wedding kid."
/____________________________________\