Chapter 35

Jaina awoke to the sound of her bedroom door opening. She opened her eyes, and was assaulted by the sunshine coming in her window. She barely had time to process what was going on before she felt something on her bed. She rolled over to see her Aunt sitting on the edge of her bed with a large smile on her face.

"Good morning!" She greeted beaming.

Jaina rolled back over and groaned, "Shouldn't you be having morning sickness or something?"

"Aren't we pleasant this morning." Mara commented dryly.

"Sorry. The twins had me up later than normal last night, and the bun was doing somersaults all night. Needless to say that I didn't really get much beauty sleep." Jaina said apologetically.

"You should have given me a call. I would have come over and taken care of the twins while you slept." Mara said.

Jaina smiled, and shrugged. "I likely still would have had to deal with the

somersaults, so it's really not a big deal. I'll just have to try get the twins to take an extra long nap today."

Mara grimaced, "Well, I don't think that will be getting done today."

Jaina looked at her sideways, "I think I may have misunderstood you. I think I heard you squash my napping plans for today."

"Well, it turns out that Wedge and Iella are going to be here today."

"Oh?"

"I had called last week after our family dinner and told her about the whole Jacen situation. Turns out that she and Wedge had some vacation they could take, so they decided to take it here."

"Did you tell her about the other situation?" Jaina asked looking at Mara's abdomen.

"That isn't exactly something you tell your partner in crime over the comm."

"I figured. So when exactly are they getting here?" Jaina asked sitting up in bed.

Mara looked at the chrono on the wall, "Any time actually."

"And you're here because?"

"I'm here to help you get the kids ready, since I know that Iella and Wedge will want to see them."

"Well thank you. I appreciate all the help that I can get."

"So I will go take care of the rascals, while you have some much needed mommy time." Mara said as she rose from the bed and strode next door to the twins' room.

Jaina threw the covers off, and padded over to the fresher. She turned on the sanisteam, and waited for the water to warm up. She looked in the mirror at her burgeoning baby bump. She had accidentally discovered what her third child would be, but wasn't telling any of her family just yet. Jaina hoped that she wouldn't have to keep her secret much longer, and that her husband would be coming home soon. She sighed as she discarded her clothes and stepped under the warm stream of water.

Jaina emerged after what felt like the longest sanisteam of her life. She looked at the chrono, she had been in the fresher for a half an hour. She threw on her robe, and made her way to the closet. It was a rare day off of teaching classes, so Jedi robes would not be required. Her mother had also made a recent maternity wear purchase for her. She found the outfit she was looking for and put it on. She threw her hair up in a ponytail, before making her way over to the twins' room.

Mara was sitting on the floor playing with the twins', who were fully dressed and appeared to be ready for an outing.

"Are we meeting them at the hangar, or are they coming here?"

"Well that depends on if you feel like leaving the house today." Mara pointed out.

"It's always fun to meet guests when they land, and the twins haven't had the chance to venture out to the hangar in a while."

"Then it's settled. They should be here very shortly, so we might as well make our way over there now." Mara said as she stood up.

Jaina saw her first glimpse of Mara's baby bump, "Iella is so going to figure things out before you say anything. You're already starting to show!"

"Yes, but if you didn't know that I was pregnant you probably wouldn't have thought anything of it. That's what I'm going for." Mara said as she picked up Halia, and grabbed Bens' hand.

Jaina bent over to pick up Hadrian, "You know, it's getting harder and harder to do that."

Mara laughed as she walked downstairs with her holddaughter on her hip.

Mara and Jaina walked into the hangar, just as the ship that Iella and Wedge traveled in touched down. They waited with three anxious children for their guests to emerge. They watched as the ramp lowered. Jaina smiled as she saw Iella walk down the ramp, with Wedge close behind her.

Their guests approached them with outstretched arms. Iella bent down to give Ben a hug, as Wedge greeted Jaina and Hadrian. He placed his hand on her growing belly and smiled.

"Jaina, you look fantastic." Wedge commented, "Clearly pregnancy suits you."

She smiled, "Thanks Wedge."

Iella turned her attention from Ben, to Mara and Halia.

"Hey partner, long time no see." She said before hugging her friend. "You look awesome, Luke spoiling you?"

"Something like that." Mara said smirking.

"These little ones of yours are getting pretty darn cute Jaina." Iella commented.

"Cute and bratty." Jaina added.

"Nice to see they got some of the Solo genes." Wedge commented.

"You guys can load your bags into the speeder parked out front. We can continue this little shin dig at our place." Mara said.

Mara parked her speeder outside of her house, and helped Jaina unload the kids. Mara felt Luke's presence inside, and saw the front door open. He helped Wedge bring the luggage inside.

Luke set the luggage down and shook Wedge's hand. "Nice to see you old friend."

Wedge smiled, "Thank you for having us."

"Well, I couldn't exactly say no when my wife said she needed her partner in crime here." Luke kidding.

"It would just be too much to deal with." Wedge said smirking.

Mara rolled her eyes, "You make us sound so difficult."

Luke put his hands up, "I never said you were difficult."

Iella arched her eyebrow, "You insinuated it."

"I don't think we can win this argument Luke." Wedge conceded.

Mara and Jaina set the twins on the floor.

"Well, space travel is rough. How about a drink?" Iella suggested.

"I'm in." Wedge said.

"Why not?" Luke added.

"I'm on water." Jaina commented smirking.

"No thanks." Mara said.

Iella whipped her head around. "Mara Jade-Skywalker, did you just say no to a drink?"

"It's Whyrens." Wedge added.

"That's okay." Mara assured them as she sat next to Luke.

"What? You pregnant Jade?" Wedge joked.

Iella laughed, "Just because a woman doesn't want a drink doesn't mean she is pregnant."

Mara smirked.

Iella looked back at her curiously. Her eyes widened when she realized that no sarcastic rebuke had come from Mara's lips.

"I didn't really think that it fit in the news cycle along with Jacen's secret wedding." Mara said shrugging.

"You're kidding!" Iella said at a louder than normal volume.

"Would I really make that up?" Mara asked indignantly.

Iella looked over at Jaina for confirmation. Jaina simply nodded.

"We're pregnancy buddies." She commented.

"When did you find out?" Iella asked excitedly.

"I noticed it about 6 weeks ago, but only had it confirmed before I called you." Mara explained.

"I should probably be mad that you didn't tell me before I got here," she said giving Mara an icy glare, "but I'm just so excited for you that I couldn't possibly stay mad!".

"Surprise I would imagine?" Wedge asked.

Luke nodded, "Very much, like Ben was."

"Except this time I won't be on the verge of death the entire pregnancy." Mara added.

"Luke might be though." Iella said.

"If he is, then he has done something to deserve it." Mara added with a smirk.

Iella turned her attention back to Jaina. "Have you told your in-laws about the upcoming event?"

Jaina shook her head.

"Do they even know you aren't on Mon Cal?" Wedge asked.

"I haven't even had many opportunities to speak to them since Jag left."

"You're a stronger woman that I am." Iella said, "I would have thrown in the towel and demanded he come home a long time ago."

"Believe me, the thought has crossed my mind several times. I just usually am able to talk myself out of it."

"I can't believe they have kept him out there this long." Wedge commented.

"No one can." Mara added.

"Speaking of not being able to believe, Jacen and Tenel Ka?" Iella said

"No one around here was surprised." Jaina pointed out.

"It's been one of those things they have been dancing around for years." Luke added.

"To actually get married though?" Iella asked.

"They might have gone off the deep end there." Mara confirmed

"I guess we'll just have to flex our scheming muscles." Iella conceded.

"It's always so fun when we do." Mara said grinning mischievously.

The chime of the front door sounded.

Luke rose from the sofa, "I figured that if Wedge and Iella were visiting, we might as well have Corran and Mirax over."

"Mirax is on Ossus? We'll have to save our scheming for later then." Mara said.

"It would be much more fun if you could drink." Iella said half pouting.

Luke opened the front door, and invited the Horns in.

Wedge and Iella rose from the sofa to greet their friends.

"I had no idea you were on planet!" Wedge said as he hugged his dear friend.

"I've been stopping in a little more frequently lately." Mirax said.

"Care for a drink?" Luke asked his guests.

"Whyrens?" Corran asked seeing the bottle on the counter.

"We only bring the best when we visit." Wedge commented.

"Except Mara can't have any." Iella said, shooting her red headed friend a look.

"Wait, what?" both Mirax and Corran said simultaneously.

Mara sat back on the sofa and shrugged.

"Are you telling us what I think you're telling us?" Mirax asked incredulously

Mara smiled, and nodded.

"Whyrens for everyone!" Mirax exclaimed, "Well, except for the pregnant ones in the room."