Chapter 35

What's Closest to the Heart

A/N- Well, weekend's over, Everyone, time to get back to work (school or job or both, depending).

I'm pleased to see that the numbers for the hit count are going up (albeit only a few hits at a time) but it's passable so I won't comment on that other than to say, keep up the good work and if you know anyone who likes YJK, NJO, LOTF, or anything like that, send them along to read this series. Thanks!

As you guys might have noticed, I've thrown in a lot more romance and as my awesome unofficial beta delicately put it "Kirk has finally gotten his head out of his butt." The romance is meant to balance out the conflict that is rising and the topsy -turvy twist this story is going to have (if all goes well with my writing)- I make revision as I go along so it's helpful to hear from you guys while I'm still working on the story.

A special thanks to Timothy Zahn for being himself and for inventing all the awesome characters I am currently using. I own nothing: credit goes to all the authors and to Lucas LTD. I just finished reading "Last Command" and I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't read the Thrawn Trilogy.

This chapter is dedicated to my younger brother and my cousin, both of whom had birthdays this week. I love you two!!

This chapter is shorter than the others, but I'll make up for it later.

As always, a pleasure writing for you all,

-Don "QuixoticQuest" =)

Tahiri sat up, rubbing her forehead and then her eyes as the rays of sunlight slipped in through the small slivers between the curtains illuminating the brown of Anakin's hair. She turned to look at him as he slept peacefully on his stomach. One of his arms was stretched out in her direction and had dropped when she sat up. The other remained tucked under his pillow and occasionally twitched as he slumbered on. Tahiri quietly slipped out of bed, not wanting to wake him.

She went to the kitchen and began to make coffee when a knock on the door turned her attention around. Not surprisingly, Anakin didn't even stir at the sound: he could sleep through anything, except, of course, meals and lightsaber training. Tahiri went to the door and opened it to find James and Wynn standing there.

"Hi, Tahiri," Wynn said with a bright smile, "Sorry to come at such an early hour. Is this a bad time?"

Tahiri shook her head, "Not at all, I was just about to make some caf, do you want some?"

Wynn nodded and looked over at James, who seemed strangely quiet, even for his demeanor. Tahiri seemed to notice the concern in Wynn's eyes because she waved her two friends inside and closed the door behind them.

"Have a seat on the couch, I'll bring the caf," Tahiri said. She stopped, "Do you want some, James?"

Gray eyes lifted focused on Tahiri but James didn't respond, he simply nodded and continued to look downcast. Tahiri's own concern built at the expression on James' face. She had known James for a little longer than Wynn, so naturally Tahiri knew something about James' mood swings but this was completely new. James had never been this depressed and Tahiri could feel his depression clearly through the force.

Apparently so did Anakin because he walked into the living room, rubbing his neck and looking groggily over at James and Wynn. "Morning…" Anakin mumbled and then slow walked over to where Tahiri was.

He gave her a questioning look to which she shrugged. I don't know any more about this than you do. They just walked in.

James has enough stress to wake up anyone. Any idea what's going on?

I don't know, Anakin. They seem okay, health wise, but something's off with James, Wynn seems normal.

Anakin looked over at James and Wynn and then returned his attention to Tahiri. You've known James longer than any of us, are you sure nothing comes to mind?

Tahiri poured the coffee and racked her brains for anything that might help them to unravel the mystery before Wynn and James said anything, but nothing came to mind. I can't think of anything.

Anakin gave Tahiri a comforting smile, don't worry about it, I'm sure whatever it is, we can help them figure it out.

I hope you're right, Tahiri said, her tone voicing her clear doubt in Anakin's words. He squeezed her shoulder and then took two of the cups over to James and Wynn while Tahiri grabbed the remaining two and walked over herself.

Anakin eyed James as Anakin sat down on the chair he'd brought in from the kitchen. "So, mind telling us what you woke us up for?" Tahiri elbowed him as she sat down in the chair she'd brought over.

"What Anakin means," She glared at him, "Is whatever you guys have to say we'll help you."

James exchanged a look with Wynn, who nodded before James spoke for the first time since he entered Anakin and Tahiri's apartment. "It's not so much of a definite problem as a possible problem."

Anakin's brow furrowed at James' wording, "Possible problem?" He continued to frown until he thought about the words for a moment, "What do you mean?"

Wynn spoke up this time, "It's something James noticed when we were going through the records of his, well, cloning history." She gave James an apologetic look to which he shook his head in dismissal. He'd obviously put that behind him because he didn't comment further on the mention of his clone status.

"I believe your father was looking through some records, Anakin," James said, his voice was the sternest Anakin had heard in a while, and so apparently for both Wynn and Tahiri because they sat up straighter, their eyes firmly fixated on James as he continued. "Merlin Genrick: does that name ring any bells for you?"

Anakin shook his head, "No, should it?"

James didn't answer right away but began to furrow his own brow as he cupped his chin in one of his hands. His lip twitched slightly before he found the words to answer with. "There's a possibility that your father is trying to track down the very man that was the clone master for the army of clones that Grand Admiral Thrawn created."

"Thrawn?" Wynn repeated. She had obviously not heard this part of the story because her normally upbeat and positive tone became dark. "Are you saying that something is going on with this clone master?"

James smiled grimly, "There has to be, because if the records are correct, Genrick was just broken out of prison recently."

Anakin exchanged a quick glance with Tahiri while Wynn's eyes hardened, "Thrawn was one of the coldest and calculating Chiss the galaxy had ever seen. He was the only non-human that the Emperor saw fit to serve as a Grand Admiral. It's precarious to take the man Thrawn deemed worthy to clone and use him as a clone master again."

"Is that what's going on?" Tahiri asked, "Someone is trying to create another clone army?"

James looked firmly at her, "Why not? They've already got people like me who're clones of soldiers from the Old Republic era." Silence fell among the four friends as they all considered what this could mean. Anakin was the first to break out of his reverie.

"There's no time to worry about what it means, we've got to tell everyone what we already know. If my hunch is correct, I think this is linked to all the attacks orchestrated by Xillanor." Anakin's eyes went icy as he said the name of the murderous bounty hunter. Tahiri's green eyes went wide with concern as she felt Anakin's pain over Jacen's death rise again. Xillanor's name was a trigger for the feelings of bitter resentment that Anakin harbored and carried with him all the time now.

So naturally it worried Tahiri that Anakin's almost hateful bitterness towards Xillanor bordered on obsession. She wondered what exactly he was thinking but feared trying to open their bond right now when he was completely focused on something else. He would most likely tell Tahiri when the time was right, but Tahiri knew that it was time she talked to someone about his increasing interest in Xillanor.

Anakin apparently wasn't paying attention because he didn't even turn when she continued to gaze sidelong at him with her misgivings reverberating through her entire body. James, on the other hand, had. He caught Tahiri's eyes with his gray, indicating immediately that he wanted to talk to her about whatever was on her mind in private. Wynn would probably want to know too, since she hardly ever liked to be left out of any discussions. However, it would be tough to convince Anakin that something wasn't going on if the three of them met and Anakin wasn't there.

Tahiri nodded in James' direction and sent him a brief mental message, later, in another place. Anakin will get suspicious if we stay here to talk.

I don't like going behind his back, James replied. She flicked her eyes over to Anakin to indicate how out of it he was. Anakin was standing up and staring intently at the floor, his hands curling and uncurling themselves.

I don't either, but we need to talk about this. Any ideas?

One, James said cautiously, but it's a stretch.

I'll take whatever you have. Tahiri broke their connection and then gently pulled Anakin back into his seat. "We don't know if it's Xillanor, Anakin. This is only something James just found out."

Anakin bristled, "What if it is? Are you willing to just wait until something bad happens to someone else? Kirk was almost killed by Xillanor, Jacen's dead, and now there's a chance that Xillanor's got a cloning master at his hands. I'm not sure I want to find out what he's planning to do with that."

This time it was Wynn who cut in, "We're not saying we won't do anything, Anakin, we're only saying it's best to tread be carefully now that we know what we do. Xillanor seems to know who's got information on him. He could kill us if we misstep."

"Wynn's right, Anakin," James put in firmly, "We understand that we need to act quickly but right now isn't the time for brash actions."

Anakin's mouth twitched as he turned his head away as though he'd been punched, "I'm going for a walk." He then walked to the door, opened it and slammed it in one swift movement. Tahiri looked over at James, who took a moment before he nodded solemnly. They had to talk to someone and fast.

Tenel Ka found herself slowly beginning to enjoy the simplicities of living in an apartment: even if it wasn't one she had entirely to herself. The Solo Family's apartment was one large space that was constantly filled with people who loved one another unconditionally and despite the initial misgivings she might have had about staying there, Tenel Ka conceded. She had sold the apartment she'd shared with Jacen to erase the memories but found it comforting that she could sleep in his room.

Tenel Ka could feel the clear tension when she requested it, but eventually Han and Leia caved in. It had to with Jaina's attempted suicide, Tenel Ka gathered, though no one actually said it out loud, she knew. Tenel Ka wouldn't give up the life Jacen had died to protect and not only that, there were now two small children who needed Tenel Ka to be there as a mother.

Leia lent Tenel Ka the crib that was leftover from when the twins were small to Tenel Ka for Rose and a small bed with sides for Valin, who was slowly outgrowing the crib setting. He was a lively child, and clearly channeled the heart and spirit of his father in Valin's growing interest in the animals and other living things around him.

Tenel Ka looked over at Valin as he knelt down on the side of the pathway of the park they were walking through, and watched as the small boy tenderly picked up a small animal from the bushes and cradled it to his chest. She then turned to look at Rose, who slumbered peacefully in Tenel Ka's arms. The girl wasn't a wailing type like her brother but instead she took to silent stares around her to take in the world around her. Rose was clearly her mother's daughter, Tenel Ka could feel the intense calm coming from Rose and as time went on, Tenel Ka could only guess that it would increase. Despite this, what Tenel Ka could already see of Rose's eyes, she looked more like Jacen.

"Excuse me, Your Majesty," Yuuna said, "Are you sure it's okay to be so far out in the open?"

Tenel Ka nodded confidently, feeling out with the force, there weren't all that many people or aliens in the park, and those that were, didn't pay too much mind to Tenel Ka or to her companions. Especially since Tenel Ka had one of the best body guards one could have.

"What's that you've found, Valin?" Over the calm of the park came the tender voice of the brown robed man crouching down next to Valin. For some reason Tenel Ka didn't mind Anakin calling Valin by his name. It was something about Anakin that caused both calm and serenity to fall over Tenel Ka, which rarely happened these days.

"Ani!" Valin exclaimed and presented his young uncle with a flower. Anakin smiled gently and accepted the gift while ruffling Valin's hair. There was a lot about Anakin that Tenel Ka didn't understand. Some things, like his fierce loyalty, had gained Tenel Ka's admiration and respect. Others baffled her somewhat, like his sense of the galaxy. Anakin wasn't like Jacen in Anakin's belief that the balance of light in dark in Jedi techniques was essential. Jacen firmly believed that using dark was always a negative thing and that it was easy to lose one's self in fighting.

"That's a Rose, like your sister's name," Anakin was saying as Tenel Ka returned her attention to the scene in front of her. "Can you say 'Rose,' Valin?"

Valin frowned in concentration, "R-brose."

Anakin gave a shrug in Tenel Ka's direction, "He was close."

"He seems to like you a lot, Anakin," Tenel Ka said, voicing her thoughts. Anakin stood up, his eyes growing serious.

"Probably because he doesn't know I'm not his father and that his father is dead because I didn't do anything," Anakin looked over at Valin as the boy sat himself down on the brick pathway and used a piece of bark to pat at the bricks.

"No, this is not a fact," Tenel Ka replied with a harsh stare in Anakin's direction, "He likes you, because you are a good person, Anakin."

Anakin laughed, "You, like Jacen, naively believe something about me that isn't true," Anakin smiled, "But thank you."

Tenel Ka turned her head to look across the park as a flock of birds took off from the cluster of trees at the far end of the path. "I don't understand how you can be so insulting towards yourself when it was you who showed Jacen what was important."

Anakin blinked, "I didn't do anything."

Tenel Ka smiled, "Ah, aha, but you did. You had always had a strong passion for the things you believed in and for the people around you. Before Jacen might not have told me how he felt, but because you were so confident, you showed him how things could be." She let her gaze drift contently off towards the path as another person stopped at its entrance. "Your love, Anakin, is something to be proud of, for it is a rare thing to have passion that is so pure that it can overcome the dark side of the force."

Anakin hid his embarrassment behind his hood as he brought it up around his face. Because of that he didn't see the figure approach him from the side and only turned when something touched his hand.

"I was wondering where you'd gone," Two green eyes peered into Anakin's from the side. Something threw back his hood. "You look inconspicuous like that, you know."

Anakin decided against telling her that he'd only put it up a minute ago because he'd been embarrassed by Tenel Ka's compliment. Anakin knew as well as anyone that Tenel Ka rarely gave out compliments, they were as rare as the number of Sytars left in the galaxy. It was a gift to be treasured that she'd voiced the compliment at all.

"Anakin?" Tahiri stepped over so she was in front of Anakin. He shook his head.

"Sorry for running out on you guys like that," He looked at Tahiri, "I wasn't being rational."

Tahiri touched his cheek, "You were upset, I know you're still hurt and I'm sure James and Wynn do as well."

Anakin sighed, "That's no excuse for me to be a-" All other words were lost as Tahiri pressed her lips to his. There was a brief pause after they broke off where Anakin regarded Tahiri with a questioning look.

"That wasn't very nice, I was trying to apologize," Anakin said irritably. She smiled.

"And I'm saying you don't have to," Tahiri replied with a small laugh, "Sometimes it's just understood that you don't mean things the way they come out. I'm sure anyone with a head on their shoulders knows that too."

Anakin rolled his shoulders to loosen the tension that had been there since he'd stormed out of his and Tahiri's apartment. "So you're not going to kick me out?"

Tahiri made a face, "Why would I do that?"

"I can get pretty annoying in large doses," Anakin said with an arched brow. They stared at each other for a few minutes before they both cracked up laughing.

"Better?" Tahiri questioned. He smiled warmly this time.

"Yeah, much," Anakin glanced back at Tenel Ka who nodded in assent of his unspoken question, she didn't miss much, not that Anakin expected her to.

"You should go home, Anakin, we will be fine on our own," Tenel Ka watched as Anakin's blue eyes showed his hesitation. That he could care about so many people, showed how large his heart really was, Tenel Ka had never met anyone on Hapes like Jacen or Anakin, both of whom had hearts large enough to fit the whole galaxy. Jaina was like that too, though she was harder to get to admit it than Anakin or Jacen were. "I will summon someone else."

"I'll take care of it," Anakin said with a shake of his head. He pulled out his comlink and prepared to call in a favor, at least for the duration of Tenel Ka's stay Anakin would make sure she stayed safe.

As an unspoken promise to Jacen.

"How about this?"

"No."

"This?"

"I'm going to puke."

"Okay, then, this one?"

"Are you kidding," It wasn't a question.

"Right…. This one?" His tone was now painfully hopeful.

"I can't believe I'm marrying a guy who's completely color blind and tone deaf."

Zekk snorted defensively, "Tone deaf? I've never sung in front of you!" He muttered something under his breath before looking at Jaina once more, "You're being excruciatingly stingy, you know," Zekk grumbled as he threw behind him what seemed like the hundredth rejection of wedding colors. Every single time he'd made a combination Jaina had given him an even weirder look as the combinations continued to grow more and more "off" in her opinion. To Zekk, however, they were brilliant.

Which brought the subject of conflict to the forefront, "Fine, you seem so confident that you know what colors we should have, tell me," He frowned at her as he nodded, "Well, go on, then."

Jaina sighed, "Zekk, I'm not trying to start a fight here."

"Then what are you doing? You don't seem to want to agree with anything I suggest either," Zekk pointed out and Jaina was forced to concede that she had in fact been a little more difficult than she originally intended.

"It's not that I didn't like any of your choices, Zekk," She said hesitantly. Zekk noticed the change in her tone because he stopped his next retort from rising and brushed it aside. He then reached out and touched her hand.

"What's going on, Jaina?" He asked. "I know you well enough to know that you're not worried about the colors." She shook her head wordlessly in confirmation. "Then what's wrong, Jay? Tell me."

She shifted a little and then bit her lip, an incredibly uncharacteristic gesture for Jaina to make, so Zekk was immediately on his feet and walked over to the other side of the table where Jaina was seated in the kitchen of the Solo Family's apartment. He brought his arms around her as he kneeled next to her.

"I love you, Jaina, so please, if there's something bothering you, I need to know what it is," Zekk said, his voice unusually soft. Even though he had a gentler voice, it always had a teasing and sort of roughness to it at times, but now it was completely soft. Jaina could almost lose herself in the sound alone.

"I'm just nervous about the future," She admitted, looking decidedly at the floor. Zekk lifted her chin so her eyes were level with his.

"I'm going to be right here next to you the whole time, Jay," He said, his green eyes shining with his usual confidence. The light there was something Jaina knew she'd missed for the three years she'd thought he'd been dead. Zekk leaned his forehead against Jaina's. "You know I wouldn't leave you, right?"

She nodded, the flare returning to her brandy eyes, "I know." She touched his cheek and then kissed him lightly on the lips before Zekk looked into her eyes, his own still ridden with the deep concern he felt.

"Was that all that was bothering you?" He asked.

She shook her head, "I was worried about whether or not I'd be able to handle whatever happens to the galaxy. I mean, we're going to be the ones taking care of it soon."

Zekk shrugged, "I don't know what you're so worried about. You're a Solo that kind of thing is in your blood."

Jaina grunted, "Yeah, right. In my mom's and maybe Anakin's but I think it skipped Jacen and me."

Zekk chuckled, "You're a little too modest for your own good, Jaina. I know that a lot of people would follow you if you just decided to lead."

Jaina raised a brown eyebrow, "Really?" She asked wryly, "Like whom?"

Zekk made a mock thinking face, "Oh, I don't know…. Me?" As Jaina continued to look unconvinced Zekk poked her and then began kissing her on the ear when she shoved him away.

"Stop that, Zekk," She said, although her face showed the humor that she barely managed to hide from Zekk, who grinned, seeing that he had won. Without any warning he began tickling Jaina who shoved him back, but he lost his balance and fell back down, hovering over her as she lay on the ground, speechless. After a moment Zekk brushed the hair from Jaina's face and leaned down to kiss it, as he moved back up, Jaina wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him back down, kissing him harder and fuller than she ever had before.

Their bodies touched one another briefly during the kiss and that only served to deepen their embrace. After they broke off, Jaina smiled up at Zekk, who returned the facial expression to the ends of his mouth.

"How about brown and green?" Zekk suggested. Jaina thought for a moment and then nodded. The colors of their eyes were fine and in truth, she hadn't disliked any of Zekk's choices. But at the moment, neither of them really cared.

Kirk pulled nervously at his white collared shirt as he stood waiting outside of the apartment building. He wondered if it was enough that he was only wearing a simple collared shirt and Khaki pants accompanied by his usual boots.

He smoothed over the front of his shirt for what seemed like the fiftieth time. His preoccupation with his attire tore his attention from the approaching person behind him. When Natie's hand touched his arm Kirk nearly jumped a foot in the air.

"What's got you all jumpy?" She questioned, raising an eyebrow at the man, whom she had never expected any signs of surprise, yet here he was, completely and honestly startled.

"I just didn't notice you coming," Kirk said, catching his breath and calming himself, he knew he was overly nervous and that the fact that it was obvious to Natie was a bad thing.

"Don't you sense people when they're coming?" She waved her hand to indicate his Jedi powers. "You know."

Not when they're not paying attention or distracted, Kirk thought to himself with some annoyance in his own direction.

"Well, let's go," Natie said and started walking. "Where did you say we were going?"

Kirk looked over at her, his usual calm returned, "I didn't, it's a place only I know about."

Natie looked at him strangely, "Only you?"

"Yes," Kirk replied, And one other person.

After an hour long landspeeder ride, Natie got out and immediately saw why Kirk had said that. "Wow, Kirk, this is amazing."

A/N- Well, it's a more pleasant cliffie, so I think you guys can live with it. Please R &R!! =)