Several months after a massive intervention that was performed by most of the member's of Jaina's family, Wedge no longer needed tranquilizers to numb away the reality that Jaina was still laying in the same position on the same sleeping tablet in the same medical center of the Jedi Academy. The only thing that had changed about her condition was that her stomach had ballooned out in a pretty impressive show of new life defying the odds. Wes' blaster wound had healed and he was out of the bacta-bed, but the lack of feeling in his body was slowly beginning to creep up his torso. He kept a brave face, as usual, but as the months wore on, he found himself becoming weaker and weaker.
After receiving a tip from Boba Fett, Han and Leia made their way to the unknown regions to meet with the Chiss government to discuss the abduction of their grandchildren. They were met with more hostility than normal, giving them all the more reason to believe that there was something fishy going on among the aristocracy. The husband and wife were both very surprised to see Soontir Fel sitting amongst various Chiss leaders.
"This sure makes things a bit more interesting," Han muttered softly as they took their seats.
Leia hazarded a look over to Fel, who simply stared right back at her. Thought he wasn't the warmest man she had ever met, he knew very well just how rude he was being in terms of etiquette. She cleared her throat as the room came to silence, focusing her words on one of the more prominent officials.
"Tukan'shoor," she addressed him, "Several months ago, my grandchildren were kidnapped by Chriss forces, including a former Galactic Alliance pilot Shawnkyr Nurrudo."
"Ah, yes," Tukan interrupted, "Your son, Jedi Knight Jacen Solo, murdered our dear Shawnkyr."
"Murdered?" Han blurted, "She posed a threat to my grandchildren!"
"Han, please," Leia rested her hand on his arm, and he silenced quickly. She returned her attention back to Tukan, "My son took Shawnkyr's life in self-defense of four young children, namely my grandson Alex."
"Your grandson?"
Leia's glare at the second interruption fell on Soontir, who spoke with contempt once he had her attention, "That child should have been handed over to his family for care years ago. As soon as his paternity was revealed, I have a right as his grandfather to honor my son's name in raising the child."
"So you kidnapped him and three other innocent children?" Han barked, "To prove what point? Alex has grown up with Wedge Antilles as his father, regardless of whether or not the boy carries his or Jag's genes."
"It is shame enough that my wife and deceased son have their own feet stuck in that same atrocious gene pool. I find it insulting that you would dare speak his name in front of me."
"Be realistic, Soontir!" Leia exclaimed, "He is your own brother-in-law! He had nothing but love and respect for his nephew, so much so that he didn't once complain of Alexander's lineage."
Fel's eyes smoldered as he attempted to stare down Leia. Underneath the table, her hands were shaking, but no one around the table dared to challenge her resolve. Soontir turned to Tukan'shoor, "I apologize, my Lord, but I can no longer sit here and tolerate this utter disrespect for my family. Alexander could have been a great warrior, a loyal servant of the Chiss."
The entire group watched as Soontir Fel stalked from the room. Tukan'shoor turned back to Han and Leia, wearing the usual lack of expression of the Chiss. Han took it upon himself to lay the emotions down on the table.
"I won't give up Alex without a fight. If you send another of your troops after our family, we'll send you back another corpse. It will be in pieces this time," he stood, "We're finished here."
As Han left the room, Leia was right on his heels, leaving behind a stunned roomful of Chriss aristocrats. When they returned to the Jedi Academy, as they walked to the medical center, Leia felt a strong sense of sadness washing towards her from the open entryway. She fearfully picked up her pace, taking hold of Han's arm and rushing him along with her.
Mara, Luke, Ben, Jacen stood back slightly from Wes' bed. Wedge's stood alone next to the bed, his hand on his friend's chest. Leia's hand went to her mouth and Luke's head snapped up.
"It's not what you think," he assured her.
"Not yet," Jacen said as everyone else's attention fell on Han and Leia. Everyone except Wedge, who's eyes remained downcast to Wes' still form.
"His body has slipped into a comatose state," Mara said sadly, walking away from the bedside, "The disease is spreading faster now. I need to go watch the children, Ben, come with me."
The triplets and Alex had long gone down to bed; it was obvious that Mara could no longer stand the grief that was suffocating the room. Luke walked to Wedge and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, "I'm going to get in touch with Tycho and Hobbie to see if they can get here."
"It's only right for them to have a chance to say goodbye," Wedge agreed, his eyes never coming away from Wes.
Leia followed Luke from the room, her heart heavy with sadness, leaving Han alone, watching Wedge.
"Are you going to be OK?" he asked, walking to his daughter's bedside and brushing her hair gently with his hand.
"Hard to say," Wedge answered after a few moments. He finally looked up from Wes, offering Han a weak smile.
"You should go get some rest. Go upstairs and climb into bed with your kids, I'm sure they need their father right now," he advised, "I'll stay down here with them for the rest of tonight."
"Thank you, Han," Wedge said softly, giving Wes' hand a gentle squeeze and walking to Jaina's bedside to kiss her forehead before heading out of the medical center, leaving Han to slouch into a chair and take over the restless watch.
Though her physical form was still, Jaina's mind had been coming more alive in the past few hours, since Wes' departure from consciousness. On some distant psychological plane, she sat alone, surrounded by nothing but whiteness. It was quiet and it was lonely, and she was quickly becoming frustrated with the fact that she had no idea what was going on.
"Where the hell am I?" she said, popping up from the ground with her fists clenched, yelling out into the surrounding nothingness.
"I knew I shouldn't have listened to anyone when they said 'Head toward the light.' It's terribly boring," a warm, familiar voice said from behind her.
Jaina turned, not believing what she heard, "Wes…?"
He was standing not too far behind her. She knew he was standing because she could see his bare feet against the white ground.
"You're walking…"
"Apparently."
"Where are we?"
"Haven't a clue."
"You're very calm about this."
"I'm starting to get the feeling that I'm not going back, so I may as well get used to it."
Jaina closed the distance between them so that she could see through the bright glare of the whiteness that surrounded them. His blue eyes were so clear, so sharp.
"Oh, gods, Wes…" her face fell when it dawned on her. She reached out and embraced him, and he returned it strongly.
"Don't be sad for me, Jaina," he said, stroking her soft hair, "I'm not even sad for me. You have to go back there. You're going to be very needed there."
"What are you talking about?" she asked, pulling back from him slightly.
"I don't think Wedge is going to be able to raise five children, no matter how many extended family members help," he said with a smile.
Jaina couldn't tell from looking down at her own body, but she took his word for it, "It worked?"
Wes nodded, his smile growing wistful, "Even though I couldn't look into your eyes at the time, I can tell you now that you are the most beautiful woman in existence when you're carrying my child."
Jaina could feel her eyes welling with tears and had to turn her face away. Wes caught her chin with the tips of his fingers, turning her damp eyes back to his and wiping a tear the fell away from them with a thumb.
"Don't cry for me," he told her, but she could see his own eyes becoming glassy
"I love you, Wes," she said, burying her head into his chest.
"I love you too, Jaina," Wes held her tightly, surprised when she crumpled into his arms, her legs going weak underneath her. He gently brought her down to the ground as she gasped for breath, "What's wrong?"
"I think…I think it's the baby…"
"The baby?" Wes became troubled; he could feel his heart pounding in his chest.
"It's coming."