Epilogue
Leia Organa Solo looked in wonderment at the small bundle in her arms. Hanna Fel looked much different than any child of her own, bearing an exact resemblance to her father, but such things could be overlooked. She was beautiful anyway. "So you picked a dress, I'm guessing?"
Jaina Solo-Fel smiled as she stepped into the plush Coruscanti apartment. The New Republic had made a swift and tidy recapture of their capital, and it was returned in mostly the same condition. The entire galaxy had been under clean-up for two months, and Coruscant had been the first planet deemed ready for its citizens to return.
Such a momentous occasion has needed a celebration, and Leia had thought it a splendid idea to make it the wedding she had always dreamed Jaina would have. Knowing Jaina and Jag would object to such a huge affair, she had announced it without their consent over a live Holonet broadcast, an so the two had really not had much of a choice. But after the process began, Leia thought that they secretly enjoyed it.
"Yes. I'm having it fitted today. I just dropped by to give you the bill, I'm on the way to the MedCenter. Cilghal and that huge entourage of healers have finally come to a consensus on Chak's prognosis," Jaina explained.
"Fine, I'll pay it right away. How is Jag handling everything?"
Jaina looked hesitant to divulge the information. "We're trying to be optimistic, but we really won't know if he'll ever recover until this evening."
Leia had been talking about the wedding, but to keep from appearing as if she wasn't listening she just smiled and said, "I'm sure he'll be fine. It's too bad Syal and Soontir won't be able to see the wedding."
Jaina shrugged. "The Chiss are still kind of holding a grudge against the two of us. They wouldn't be very receptive to Jag's parents coming. I'm surprised it holds Syal back, but I guess Soontir talked her into it. He's good at that."
Leia handed her granddaughter, who was starting to wriggle in her grasp, back to Jaina. "We'll need a decision on the caterer by this afternoon."
"I told you that we don't care. Just hire someone," Jaina said, setting Hanna on her hip. He small child busied herself by tugging playfully on a strand of Jaina's hair. "We have to go."
"Okay," Leia said, more than happy to oblige. "Make sure and tell me when you decide on a wedding march, too."
Jaina saluted facetiously as she hurried back out the door.
"Look who it is," Jaina said in a playfully simple voice. "Who is that? Is that Daddy?"
Hanna smiled her toothless smile, reaching for Jag and opening and closing her hands. Jag smiled warmly and took her into his arms, kissing the top of her head. "Hello, my little princess. Did you miss me?" Instead of using words she laughed happily, clapping her chubby hands on either side of his face. "I'll take that as a yes," he smiled.
"Well, I missed you," Jaina said with a smile, sliding under his other arm. He kissed her lightly, but she felt the deep emotion just underneath the surface, a promise for a better greeting later on.
"I missed you too," he replied. "How did things go on your little shopping excursion?"
"I found a dress," she said. "It's being fitted right now."
"Wonderful, maybe Leia will bump this thing up a few days and we can get it over with."
Jaina grinned knowingly and said, "But we're on a schedule, remember, everything has to be picked out and ordered in three days. Three days!"
Jag laughed at her mimicking. "She's driving you crazy with this, isn't she?"
Jaina waved him off. "I'll live. At least she's letting me have some choice in the matter. I was afraid the only thing I would get to do was show up."
"Jag, Jaina," a voice interrupted. They both turned to see Cilghal standing in the doorway, her group of fellow physicians close behind.
Jag, growing serious, handed Hanna back to her mother. "Can we see him?"
"Yes, come on in."
The three stepped into the room where Chak lay, stretched out along the medical cot. He had not returned to consciousness since they had recovered him, but Jaina and Jag both absolved to maintain a hopeful outlook. "What have you decided?" Jag asked anxiously.
"Well," the Jedi healer began, flipping through her records, "we believe there is considerable reason to believe this a temporary comatose state. His body has shut down temporarily so that it can absorb all the nutrients we have given him, and to help him return to a healthy state. Once he reaches that place we believe he will wake up with fully functional systems."
"And then?" Jaina asked, shifting her grip on Hanna. The baby squirmed as if to jump straight from her arms, and it took all her strength to wrestle her back into a safe position.
Cilghal's aquatic face looked hesitant. "This is the part you may not be pleased with. According to all the studies we have done on his brain patterns, we have every reason to think all of his memory has been erased."
"Everything?" Jag asked, incredulous.
"Everything. The galaxy will be completely new to him, just like Hanna. He will have to learn to walk and talk and feed himself, and go the refresher..."
Jag rubbed his eyes wearily. "As far as brain functioning goes...will he be normal?"
Cilghal inclined her bulbous head. "He will have the exact brain capacity for intelligence and the same rate of learning as before. He will just have to learn life all over again."
"Will it take as long as if he was an infant?" Jaina asked. Hanna was handful enough and she wasn't a tenth of his size.
"No, he already has the mental capability and body of an adult. He will catch on quickly. Within two years, I would say he should be ready to live independently like someone of his own age. Of course, there will always be irregularities and things he will adjust differently to. He will never be completely normal."
Jaina ran a hand over her husband's arm comfortingly. This couldn't be easy to hear. Then again, things could have been a lot worse. "Okay," Jag said finally. "What do you recommend?"
Cilghal flipped through her files again. "I'm referring you to a Dr. Ismene Banks. She's a specialist in amnesia and memory recovery. She has a wonderful installation here on Coruscant that he can stay in until he has enough of his facilities to come home with you all."
"Here on Coruscant?" Jaina squeaked. "But we were on making Bastion our permanent home."
Cilghal shrugged. "In my professional opinion, this is where Chak needs to be. What you all decide after that is up to you."
Jaina turned to Jag, taking his hand briefly in her free one. "We'll talk to Pellaeon. I'm sure he can work something out, now that the war's over. And we can be near my family now, too."
He squeezed her hand back and smiled in agreement. "Thank you." Then to Cilghal, "And thank you all. Give him whatever he needs, and if anything changes just let us know."
The sound of rustling sheets woke her, even though sleep hadn't come easily anyway. She turned over and reached for Jag, but he was gone. Sighing, she threw off the covers and swung her legs over the edge of the bed, looking around. The light was off in the 'fresher, so there was only one logical place he could be.
Jaina stood, pulling on her robe, and padded out of the room and down the hall to the nursery. Inside was Jag standing near the window, Hanna in his arms. She sucked vigorously at a bottle of formula, her appetite at this time of night always voracious.
She leaned against the door facing, just watching them. There couldn't have been a sweeter sight. Right there in the middle of that room stood her heart and soul. Her love belonged to them, and it always would. Feeling uncharacteristically sentimental, she padded softly into the room until she stood a few feet behind him.
Sometimes she wondered if he didn't have as much Jedi skill as herself. He sensed her immediately, turning to through her a fleeting smile. "She was crying," he explained in hushed tones.
Jaina wrapped her arms around his waist, laying her cheek against his broad shoulder. "It was my turn. You should have told me."
"You need your strength for tomorrow."
Jaina closed her eyes, forcing herself into somewhat of a calm. "You have to be as nervous as me. All those Holonet reporters, and people we don't know..."
"But I have the feeling Leia will make it a little harder on you than me," he explained, setting Hanna—who had fallen back asleep—back into her crib. After watching her sleep for a few second he turned back to Jaina, pulling her into his arms. "No one will look at me after they see you, anyway."
She laughed gently, burying her face against his chest. "Let's just forget about all of them."
Jag looked excited at her suggestion. "You mean we aren't going?"
"No," she said a bit wistfully. "I mean let's just forget anyone else is there. Just you and me. Let it be about us, and nothing else."
He kissed her softly, the sweet taste of his lips making a thrill run along her spine. "It's always been just us, baby. And it always will be."
Jacen pulled the squirming Hanna onto his shoulder, hoping against hope she wouldn't start crying. The service was going to start any minute. Hanna bowed backwards, squealing shrilling in her attempt to get down where she could play. "Come on, Hanna," Jacen pleaded quietly, pulling her securely back onto his lap. "Just a few more minutes and this will all be over."
"Da," she said, reaching out towards the slightly raised platform where Jag waited. It was covered in flowers and lace and ribbons, an elaborate, breathtaking panorama that Leia had put together. And it swarmed with guests and Holonet reporters, so much so that the actual ceremonial area had to be roped off to keep them from heckling Jag before it all began.
Jacen smiled, pointing to Jag. "Yes, that's Daddy up there. Can you wave?"
Hanna flapped both arms and laughed eagerly. "Da!"
Jag caught sight of them, and for a moment his sabaac face slipped. He smiled and gave the slightest of waves in her direction. Giggling, Hanna leaned back against Jacen and waited.
"I'm not late, am I?" a voice said to his left.
Jacen smiled and turned. "No, it hasn't started yet."
Danni sat down exhaustedly, her blond curls tussled and pinned messily to the top of her head. A pale blue dress clung tantalizingly to her skin, making Jacen's thoughts stray dangerously. "You look beautiful."
"Thank you," she said, blushing slightly. Sighting Hanna she said, "But not as pretty as this one."
Hanna just smiled her toothless smile, the one that tugged irresistibly at your heartstrings. "It would be hard to top her, that's true," Jacen agreed. "But if anyone can do it, it would be you."
She smacked his arm in mock reproach. "Watch your tongue! This is your sister's wedding after all."
The music started suddenly. Everyone stood, and as the music wafted through the crowd of thousands Jaina appeared at the end of a long white carpet. She was stunning, the white dress clinging to her petite from from her uncovered shoulders to her hips, then flaring into a mass of silk that barely brushed the floor.
The clicked of photographers' instruments almost droned out the music, but Jaina was the epitome of calm. Her eyes remained fixed directly ahead, to where Jag stood. Jacen felt a swelling of pride as she passed. She had been through things that no teenager ever should. But she had faced it with the courage and wisdom of someone three times her age, and he could only hope to one day be the kind of person she was.
Jag stepped forward and pulled her hand into the crook of his arm, smiling. She returned his grin, never breaking eye contact.
That was the kind of love he wanted. Or did he already have it? He turned to look down at Danni, her halo of curls a crown of glory. At for a moment, he thought he loved her. As if sensing his gaze she looked up at him and smiled. She slid a little closer to his side, her shoulder just coming under his arm. With one hand cradling his niece, he took the other and wrapped it around her slender waist.
As the ceremony began, all Jacen could think of was how proud he was of Jaina, of them both. Not only had they overcome obstacle after obstacle, but they had managed to turn this day which was so obviously about pomp and circumstance into a private moment revolving around them. Not the flashing of light nor the murmur of guests distracted them, and not once did they look away from each other.
To have had such a wretched beginning, it was truly a miracle that they had grown to love each other an build a family. Jacen knew there would be equally rough times ahead, but he had no doubt that they would come out of it as strong and as in love as they were right then.
