Chapter 36
Sleep wasn't coming easy these days, and the dreams were as vivid as ever. It made for long nights, and even longer days for Jaina Solo-Fel.
Jaina awoke to the creaking of her bedroom door. She stretched her arm out to the empty spot where Jag would sleep and sighed. She opened her eyes and saw her daughter looking at her, vivid green eyes just visible above the edge of the bed.
"Good morning my little one." Jaina greeted, not quite awake yet. "And just how did you get out of your crib?"
"Jasa." Halia answered shortly.
"Oh, uncle Jacen is here is he?" Jaina said throwing the covers off.
Halia nodded.
"Well then, I guess we had better go see what kind of trouble he and your brother have gotten themselves into." Jaina said scooping her daughter up and placing her on her hip. *I won't be able to do this for much longer.* She thought.
They made their way down the hall to the twins' new bedroom. She saw her brother had already changed Hadrian, and was working on getting him dressed.
"You know, I think I'm going to need to change my locks." Jaina commented as she walked into the room. She was startled to see another person out of the corner of her eye, sitting in the rocking chair.
"Tenel Ka!" Jaina exclaimed, putting her daughter down on the floor. "When did you get here?" She asked hugging the Hapan queen, who was nearly her sister-in-law.
The Hapan queen hugged her longtime friend back, "I arrived late last night. It wasn't really a planned trip, but I jumped at the chance to get away when it presented itself."
"How long are you here for?" Jaina asked curiously.
"I'm hoping that I will be able to stay for a month." Tenel Ka answered.
"Does Mara know she is here?" Jaina asked her brother.
"She will later. I didn't exactly want to comm her and inform her last night. You pregnant women will kill for sleep." He answered as he put Hadrian down on the floor.
Tenel Ka laughed at the glare Jacen was getting from his twin.
"You look fantastic Jaina!" Tenel Ka complimented her sister in law. "How much longer until you deliver?"
"I'm about 29 weeks right now. So I still have a while to go yet." Jaina said keeping an eye on the twins.
"Still no word about Jag?" Tenel Ka asked carefully.
"Nothing yet. Syal commed me a few weeks ago, but she has no idea that I'm pregnant or on Ossus."
"You didn't tell her?" Jacen asked surprised.
"I didn't want to worry her. I'm sure one day I'll lose it and demand they bring him home for all the good that will do, but for now I'm playing the role of patient wife and mother."
Jacen tried not to snort, "Yes, because patience is one word that is synonymous with the name Jaina Solo-Fel."
She pinned her brother with a blasterbolts stare, "Are you sure you want to marry this nerf?" Jaina asked Tenel Ka.
Tenel Ka smirked, and chuckled. "I've never been more sure of anything in my whole life."
"Well, don't say we didn't warn you." Jaina said shrugging.
"We should probably tell Mara that Tenel Ka is on planet." Jacen conceded.
Jaina nodded, "Force knows she is having fun trying to scheme."
"Aunt Mara scheming always leaves me a little concerned." Jacen commented.
Jaina glanced at the chrono on the wall, "She should be awake by now. Ben doesn't let her sleep in too often."
Jacen nodded, and scooped up Hadrian. "Alright little man, let's go see aunt Mara."
Jaina went to pick up Halia, but Tenel Ka stopped her.
"I'll get her. You have enough heavy lifting to do." She said scooping up a willing Halia with her one arm and placing the toddler on her hip.
Jaina looked impressed, "Please tell me you've been practicing that skill."
Jacen laughed, "Auntie Tee-Kay to the rescue."
They made the short trek next door to Luke and Mara's house. Jacen pressed the door chime, and waited for the door to open.
Mara opened the door, and was pleasantly surprised when she saw who was on the other side.
"Come in!" she greeted, ushering the gang into the house.
Jacen and Tenel Ka put the twins down on the floor, who proceeded to toddle over to their older cousin Ben who was playing in the living room.
Mara hugged Tenel Ka, "Jacen didn't tell me you were coming."
"It was a very impromptu trip. I arrived late last night."
"Well, we are happy to see you nonetheless."
"I must offer my congratulations on the baby! You must be excited!"
Mara smiled and rubbed her barely-there baby bump, "Thank you, we are very excited. Especially Ben now that he can feel the baby in the force."
"All we need now is for you guys to have babies and we'll have the Skywalker trifecta." Jaina said winking
Tenel Ka laughed, and Jacen blushed. "Not something we are planning anytime soon." He said taking a seat on the sofa, Tenel Ka soon followed.
"Not to burst your bubble, but there are three kids running around and two more in the oven that weren't planned." Mara added dryly.
Jacen looked at her deadpan, "Thanks for that."
"I'm just sayin."
"If I'm not mistaken, you have been doing some scheming for about a month." Jacen asked awaiting confirmation from his aunt.
"That's assuming that I have actually been devoting most of my time to this." Mara countered.
"We all know you have been, so let's hear the progress."
Mara sighed, "Well, ever since you dropped your news on us I have been trying to work some magic. Iella took a quick trip here, I was she could provide any insight, or any ideas."
"Did she?"
"Not as much as I would have hoped. Though, she does think that I can make it happen."
"Well, I appreciate that you are trying. I know it's a lot to ask of anyone, let alone someone who is expecting." Tenel Ka said.
"I'm not going to lie, this may end up taking a while." Mara admitted.
"I think we would all rather it was done correctly than quickly." Tenel Ka added.
"Jacen's already been waiting since he was thirteen to marry her, what's a couple more months?" Jaina quipped, evoking an eye-narrowing glare from her brother.
Mara laughed, "Well, in any case I will tell you what I have so far." She said, delving into her increasingly elaborate plan to get her nephew hitched.
A few hours later, Luke arrived home from the temple. He was surprised to see his living room occupied. He smiled when he saw Tenel Ka.
"Your Majesty! It's so nice of you to visit."
"It's very nice to see you again Master Skywalker."
"I'm imagining that you are all working on the plan that has kept Mara busy over the past few weeks." Luke said.
"I've just been telling them about my progress so far."
"We'll be happy when all of this is over and done with, and Mom will be happy too." Jacen stated.
"Speaking of Mom," Jaina started, "does she know her future daughter-in-law is here?"
Jacen blanched, "Kriff."
"How about you go use the comm station right now." Luke suggested.
Jacen looked at Tenel Ka, "Coming?" he asked.
She smiled as she rose from her seat on the couch. "Of course."
Luke walked over to the couch where his wife was sitting. He leaned down to give her a kiss. "Ben upstairs?" he asked
Mara nodded. "He's playing with the twins. Nana is keeping an eye on them."
He sat down beside her and put his arm around her shoulders, "If you're satisfied that they aren't doing anything they aren't supposed to, then I am too."
Mara's eyes twinkled with mischief, "I never said they were behaving Skywalker. The ringleader is your son after all."
Luke got up back up from his seat, "Maybe I'll just go take a peek."