We all know the feeling - some days you're the statue and some days you're the pigeon, right? I sure as heck do, and for this little outing Jacen Solo does too.
This kind of follows on from 'Conversations' but at the time I wrote this I was writing constantly and really had no idea where the 'story' was going until I started putting fingers to keyboard. If you're sticking with me, thank you - it really means a lot, and if you're reading for the first time - well, I hope it's not too crummy!
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"Some days you're the marble statue, and some days you're the defecating mynock!" his mother had often been heard to quote.
Well for most of Jacen Carlist Solo's formative years, and throughout all of his adulthood, he had felt like the statue, whilst his twin sister, older by no more than a few minutes, was very definitely the mynock. And Jacen had a feeling the next twenty-four hours would be no different.
"You're sure. I mean, you're really sure?" Jacen queried.
"It may have escaped your notice kid, but we did raise a whole gaggle of you without too much incident!" Han growled at his son.
"It's just..well, we've never left them overnight before." Tilly explained.
"It's up to you." Han shrugged.
Jacen and Tilly's restaurant, Rey's, had been nominated in the prestigious 'Table Manners' Awards for Restaurants and Fine Dining Establishments. It was an honour to be nominated, to win would be a dream come true for the hardworking pair. Not only for the extra trade it might bring their way but also for the exposure it might bring to their still missing baby girl after whom their restaurant was named.
The ceremony was to be held on the third moon of Cressida, a full half day's journey from their home on Terrendoc, and the need to leave the ceremony early in order to collect their offspring could be eliminated if they would just get over themselves enough to grant the children's grandparents, Han and Leia Solo, the chance to pull an all-nighter.
"It would give us the chance to talk about Rey's regardless of the outcome of the vote." Tilly mewled at Jacen.
Tilly, Rey's birth mother, felt her loss most acutely. She had been in charge of the infant at the time of her mysterious disapearance and having her baby's twin by her side served as a constant reminder.
Jacen considered a moment further before answering. "You'd call. You know, if there was anything." Jacen stressed.
"Sure. You know we will." Han assured them.
"Well..I dunno..." Jacen worried at a frown on his forehead.
"Kriff sake son it's one night!" Han barked, then glanced back into the house and lowered his voice. "Between you an' me, I think it would really help your mother."
"Mom? Why, what's wrong with Mom?" Jacen asked, worried.
Han waved his hands to indicate he should keep his voice down. "See, the thing is...Jorj is on a sleepover." Han explained.
"What? Like all night?" Jacen queried.
"No, for the afternoon." Han sneered. "Of course all night! An'..well..you know your Mom, she's been feeling a little...clucky. You know, Jorj is growing up so fast, an' I think she's finding it a bit much for her."
"Huh." Jacen grunted, unconvinced. "It'd be great. Can't remember the last time there was just the two of us." He turned a beaming smile on a still sceptical Tilly and nudged her into action. "Let's get out of here before he changes his mind."
"Anything at all, you'll call." Tilly reminded as she was shoved toward the landspeeder.
"One of 'em farts, you'll be the first to know." Han agreed, waving as they climbed into the 'speeder.
"Don't take this the wrong way Jacen, but your mother doesn't strike me as the 'clucky' kind." Tilly said, still concerned.
"She isn't. Oh, don't get me wrong, Mom's the best. But 'clucky'...that's not her style." Jacen said, giving his father another wave before flooring the pedal. "Dad now...if anyone's clucky, it'll be him."
Han exhaled and lowered his arm as the landspeeder disappeared into the distance and as Leia stepped out onto the porch, Ren clutched to one hip while Anais trotted by her side.
"They couldn't wait long enough to say goodbye?" She queried.
"Worried about missing their transport. Born worrier that kid!" Han lied, scooping Anais into his arms. "Hey there beautiful." The little girl's legs dangled, feet pinwheeling.
"She doesn't much care for being picked up since she found her feet." Leia reminded.
"She might not like it when that strip of wind called her father picks her up, but I'm her Grandpa an' I got muscles where her Daddy can only dream about." Han crowed while Anais wriggled against him.
"That's our son when you've finished running him down." Leia pointed out, sitting and perching Ren on her thigh. "Did you wish them good luck?"
"It was implied." Han answered.
"So no." Leia said.
"It was implied." He insisted, finally giving into his grand-daughter's desire to be free. "Don't you go yanking on your Grandma's flowerbed like last time."
"I hope they do well." Leia mused. "Did they say when they might be back?"
"Yeah. 'Bout that." Han said, sitting beside Leia.
"What did you do?" Leia sighed.
"Jacen asked...begged, as good as..." Han started.
"What did you do?" Leia repeated, sternly.
"He wondered if we might keep them the night. I said it was a bad idea, I said to him they haven't stayed with us all night before who knows how they'll settle. But Jacen insisted, he said they just seem to know when they're tired and then they just fall asleep." He went on.
"Ahuh. He said all that did he?" She asked.
"Word for word. Pretty much." He replied, one shoulder lifting innocently.
"Did he say where he thought they might sleep?" She queried.
"Well, no, not in so many words. But I figured we could set up a cot in our room for Anais and that this little fella could come in with us." Han suggested, letting his grandson wrap a small hand around his chunky finger.
"Do you remember when we had the twins?" She asked.
"Like it was yesterday." He beamed.
"No babies in bed with us was your mantra back then." She pointed out.
"That was before Jorj. Keeping him out was a full time occupation." He countered.
"Well..." She said, admiring her grandchildren. "We don't get to see them as much as I'd like. And Lei and Jorja even less. It'll be nice to have them all to ourselves for a little while."
"Plus, they don't come with the same rules and regulations our daughter's kids seem to." He added. Leia found it hard to even begin to argue with that particular assessment.
"I have an appointment with Kennedy in the morning and I can't duck out of it." She reiterated.
"May I remind you, I have raised a family already." He argued.
"Point taken." Leia agreed, sniffing the air. "Looks like it's your lucky day to show off your abilities." She smiled sweetly and handed the baby to Han while she raced to snatch up Anais before the infant could get her fist around one of Leia's particularly delicate flowering buds.
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Tilly tugged at her dress, a small frown creasing her brow as she stood in front of the mirror. "They're all going to look so glamorous!" She muttered.
"What was that honey?" Jacen called from the 'fresher.
"Oh nothing." She said, spinning as he entered their hotel room from the en suite. Her smile begged for his approval.
"Can't quite get this tie right." He whined.
Tilly's smile faded and she crossed to straighten up the mess he had made. "You got your speech all prepared?" She queried.
"Are you kidding! I doubt we'll even get to glimpse the winner's rostrum, have you seen where they've seated us? We're right at the back." He said.
"At least no one will see this dress." She mumbled.
"What sweetie?" He asked.
"Nothing. Just wondering if the kids have had time yet to make a mess." She smiled.
"Probably. They make enough of one at home." He chuckled, checking his top lip and chin for any stray bristle his razor might have missed. "By the way, you remember that hair clip you wanted."
"Not really." She admitted.
"You do. The blue, you said it didn't go with anything plus it was overpriced and not very practical." He reminded.
"Oh that. I remember now, yes." She agreed. He pulled a box from his pocket and held it out for her. "You bought it for me?" She asked, astonished.
Receiving the box, she opened it to see the beautiful blue and gold hair clip that had taken her eye a few weeks before. As stunning as it was, it reminded her of the age old dress she was shoe-horned into and tried not to show her mixed emotions.
"It's lovely Jacen. Thank you." She said, her smile fighting to reach her eyes.
"I remember Mom saying the worst thing about these kinda things is that Dad could get away with wearing the same old suit time and time again, but that she had to have something new or risk being judged as less thrifty and more dirt poor." He said, adding. "So I got you this, to go with the hair adornment."
He slid the door of the wardrobe aside to reveal a pale blue and gold dress, full length and dripping with sensuality.
"Oh Jacen!" Tilly breathed.
"And, as long as you don't well up and have to retouch your makeup, we just about have time to get you out of those old rags and into this finery before we have to be downstairs." He said.
"It looks expensive. Can we afford it?" She asked, already unclipping her dress fastenings.
"Sure." He assured her. "Besides, on the off chance the spotlight does turn our way do you think I want my wife, the mother of my children, to stand up in front of all those people in anything that others might want to judge her for wearing."
"For the record, I love my old rags. But, would you help me into this new one, please." She said, tossing the dress onto the bed.
"On one condition..." He said, leaning into her ear to whisper. "I help get you out of it again later."
Re-dressed and with her hair clipped in a casual style complimented by her new hair jewel, Tilly Solo stood smiling up at her husband.
"'Bout the prettiest restauranteur this side of the Harmeesi Quadrant!" He sighed.
"A lie. But one I can live with." She blushed and offered him her hand. "Shall we?"
Jacen tilted his elbow in her direction and said. "Would you do me the honour of allowing me to escort you to dinner?"
Tilly giggled. "It would be my pleasure."
"It better be, the price they're charging for the tickets!" He added.
Tilly couldn't help but laugh. Jacen Solo was the most generous person she had ever met, but he still occasionally showed the Solo streak that could make him appear frugal.
The dinner was magnificent, whatever the cost. Though Jacen considered his root vegetables to be a little 'under' and would have preferred his meat a darker shade, to Tilly it was just a sheer pleasure not to have to cook the food or be stuck with the washing up!
Their after dinner liqueurs sat enticingly on the table in front of them, just begging to be tasted, when the lights dimmed and the awards ceremony began. There were several categories ahead of Jacen and Tilly's and whoops of joy rang out as each of the winners were announced and delighted recipients thanked friends, family and colleagues.
"Not nervous are you?" Tilly asked, noting Jacen's sudden interest in his napkin.
"Me? Nah! I'm a Solo. We don't do nervous!" He replied, unconvincingly. "But...just say we did win. Have you any idea what that could do for us?"
"It's crossed my mind, yes. But, you know, we'll be no worse off if we don't win." She answered.
"Except the hotel, dinner, your dress and that hair bob I bought!" He said, instantly regretting his words. "Not that any of those things matter. I mean, when was the last time we actually treated ourselves to anything."
"You didn't need to buy the dress. Or the hair clip. I was perfectly happy with the things I came with." She told him, blushing.
"Except you weren't. Not really. Were you?" He queried.
Tilly considered her response before replying. "I'm...It was a lovely thought and I'm really very grateful..."
"I'm sorry Tilly, I never should have said anything. It was dumb and it was stupid and...and...and sometimes, try as I might not to let it, the Solo in me just can't be contained any longer and has to come out." He said, wearing a wry smile. "Dad'd be so proud. Mom..not so."
"You made a good point though." She said, fingering the tablecloth. "We do need to consider our financial position."
"We're doing fine. Same as Dad, he just refuses to recognise it." He grinned.
"Things change though." She pointed out.
"We serve good food at good prices, and people appreciate that. I think as long as we keep doin' what we're doin' the way we're doin' it, then people will keep coming back. And so long as people keep coming back...why are you looking at me like that?" He asked, frowning at her quizzical expression. Her countenance melted into a smile.
"It's nothing. I was just thinking ahead. To a time when we might consider, maybe, expanding the business or perhaps having another child." She replied.
"It's funny you should say that..." Jacen started, hunkering down in his seat. "Because I've been thinking. One of the things we promised was to start classes for the less advantaged and I think we've kind of reached the point when we could start doing that."
"Classes." She stated.
"Yeah, you know, we said we wanted to offer regular cooking demonstrations and lessons for local children as well as showcasing favourite recipes and taster menus. Well, I think now's the time to start those lessons." He said.
"You want to teach people how to cook what we cook?" She queried.
"Well, no, not exactly what we cook. They'd never come back to us." He chortled. "Just, how to get the best out of what they've got."
"The restaurant's a full time job Jacen." She reminded.
"I know it is. But if we take on a couple of proteges to share the workload..." He continued.
Tilly's mind stopped working. Jacen's mouth was still moving up and down, his fingers still toying with the glass in front of him. His ambitions were tumbling from his lips like water from a fountain. And for the first time, Tilly felt like she was moving in a different direction to him. Everything slowed, passing waiters seemed to move in slow motion and the background chatter, the chinking of glasses and applause was muted by the sound of her own heartbeat and the crashing of waves in her ears.
"So, what d'ya think?" She heard him ask, expectantly.
Tilly blinked, suddenly aware of where she was. "It's a lot to take in." She finally said.
"You're right. You're always right. We need to consider our options..." He began.
"You know what? I might step outside for a moment, just to check everything's all right with the kids." She said, already pushing to her feet.
"Oh. Okay. You want me to come with you? Only, they'll be announcing our category any minute." He said, rising also.
"No, no. I'll just be a minute." She smiled and waved him back into his seat. Sharing a quick, almost embarrassed kiss, Tilly exited to the hotel foyer and took a moment to steady herself, breathing deeply. Try as she might, the nagging sense of doubt wouldn't abate and was quickly followed by a rising feeling of nausea. Rushing to the 'fresher, she held her wrists beneath the cold faucet to cool her pulse points until the urge to vomit had passed.
After a moment she examined her face in the mirror. Hardly a vision of loveliness! Tilly splashed her face with fresh water, patting it dry with one of the soft handcloths available and pinched a little colour back into her cheeks. Then she hurriedly placed her call through to the Solos, before Jacen could miss her.
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Han rolled his eyes at Leia as he returned to the living room where she sat at the dining table, feeding Ren in his high chair. "Anyone would think we couldn't be trusted around children!" He grumbled.
"We? I'm the one looking after them!" Leia arched an eyebrow whilst trying to keep Anais' little fingers out of her brother's bowl of puree. "No sweetie, this is for Ren."
"I was on the comm!" Han defended, hoisting Anais into his arms. "C'Mere, you little rascal!"
Anais squealed, disturbing Ren from his feed and earning Han a sharp glare from the little boy.
"Be gentle with her Han. Force Sensitive, remember." Leia reminded, lightly.
"What's Ren gonna do, burn me with his eyes!" Han scoffed.
"We don't really want to find out, do we?" Leia sing-songed, wafting the puree spoon in front of Ren's eyes to distract him.
Han pulled out a chair and sat, wrapping one arm around Anais' waist and reaching for a blood orange with the other. "You don't really think he could do us any harm do you?" He asked.
"Asking for a friend?" She queried, drily.
"No. A ten-year-old son, actually." He answered, equally drily.
"I don't intend giving him the chance." She replied, spooning some more goo into Ren's open mouth. "That's why I talk softly around him. Until he's old enough to be able to understand the complex emotions he's experiencing."
"I'll tell you now what I've told you before, it's nurture not nature that guides us and that's a fact." Han said, peeling the fruit one-handed and holding a segment for Anais who grabbed the orange and rammed it into her mouth.
"Did Jacen say how they did?" Leia asked, changing the subject.
"It was Tilly. And no, she said they hadn't announced the category yet." He replied, feeding Anais more blood orange.
"Wouldn't it be just wonderful if they won." She suggested.
"If! 'Course they're gonna win." Han said. Leia cast a sceptical look. "Well...they deserve to at least." He added.
"They've only been trading a few months." She pointed out.
"That's why they're in the 'newly opened' category. It'll be harder next year when they're up against more established businesses." Han said, laying the fruit segments on the table within Anais' reach.
"They might not even be nominated next year." She said, shrugging her shoulders at Ren. "All gone sweetie."
"Guess I'll just have to find twice as many palms to grease!" He grumbled.
"Han! You didn't!" Leia scowled, her head snapping in his direction.
Plucking the last segment of fruit from the table and popping it into his mouth Han rose, lifting Anais into his arms. "What do you say to sharing a bathtub with a handsome ex-scoundrel before getting ready for bed little girl?" Han asked. Anais squawked, fruitjuice dribbling down her chin.
"She says find her a handsome ex-scoundrel and she'll tell you." Leia said, sarcastically.
"Funny lady." He laughed and tickled Anais' neck.
The little girl's giggling sent Ren into fits of laughter also.
Han leaned down to kiss Leia's cheek, tenderly. "For the record..." He said. "I never cheat family or friends. Only strangers."
Leia watched him go; the sway of his hips hypnotic as he left the lounge and mounted the stairs.
"Pervert!" He called over his shoulder.
Ren laughed harder. Leia sighed, her lips forming a thin line. "He's really not that funny you know." She told Ren who had discovered he could suck two fingers and a thumb whilst simultaneously inserting the remaining fingers in his nostrils. Leia smiled and smoothed a hand over his head. "What do you care, eh? So long as you get fed, watered and have a comfy bed at night then you're happy." She said, leaning forward to gently persuade his hand away from his face. "Enjoy this time all you can little one, because the burden of responsibility that comes with age is a pretty heavy one." Ren barked another laugh. "Hm. Laugh it up." Leia commented, then released the baby from his chair. "Let's go see if there isn't room in that tub for two more along with your grandpa's delicious hips, shall we?"
Ren didn't argue, although Leia didn't give him chance to. She had him in her arms and heading toward the stairs before he could utter even the tiniest of complaints. One foot hovered over the first step when the door demanded her attention. Exhaling and swearing beneath her breath, Leia tucked Ren against her side and edged the door open.
"Jaizun!" She exclaimed and stole a glance up the stairs. "What are you doing here, you know Han doesn't approve of you coming round."
"It's Gambe and Gum. I...I didn't know where else to go." He replied.
"Gambe and Gum." Leia said, hitching the baby against her hip. "What is it, what's happened to them?"
"'S Gum. He's gone." Gambe told her, stepping up beside Jaizun.
"Gone? Gone where? Do you mean he's disappeared?" Leia queried.
"He's dead." Jaizun answered. "Gambe called me, said she didn't want to stay in the house with his, you know, with his..body." He mouthed the word 'body'. "I just figured you'd know...I mean, you always used to know...you know, what to do."
"You better come in." Leia stated and stepped aside. Ushering them into the lounge, Leia slipped a confused Ren back into his high chair and hurried upstairs to where Han and Anais were splashing happily in the bathtub.
Han grinned, eyeing Leia. "Hey, lookie who's come to join us? Don't mean to state the obvious, but didn't you forget something. You know, little guy, about so big." He held his arms apart to approximate Ren's size.
"I need you downstairs." She told him.
"I'm slippier when wet." He replied, waggling his eyebrows at her.
"Just put some clothes on and come downstairs. I've got Gambe and Jaizun in the living room." She commanded and hurried back downstairs before Han had a chance to question her further.
She was disappointed to see Ren had managed to grab the empty bowl of puree he'd had for dinner and was now wearing it on his head, sweet sticky fruit remnants dribbling down his cheek. She was about to remove it when Han entered the room with Anais, both fragrant from their bath.
"Someone mind telling me what's going on?" Han asked. Leia explained whilst removing the bowl and wiping as much excess juice from Ren's head as was possible while the infant struggled against his grandmother's touch. "And?" Han asked, expectantly. "What is it you want me to do about it?"
"Well, I think you should go to the house. Make sure he's, you know..." Leia suggested.
"What? Not faking it? Why? They got good insurance?" Han growled.
Leia tugged Han away from the main group. "You could be a little more sympathetic! Gambe's just lost her husband, her partner in life." Leia scowlded.
"Partner in crime more like." Han grumbled.
"I'm just asking you go over there and check things out while I call the authorities. And I think Gambe should stay here, just for a few days, while she sorts herself out." She told him.
"You gotta be kidding me!" He moaned.
"It's a few days Han." She reiterated. "It's the neighbourly thing to do."
"Then let her go stay with a neighbour." He argued.
Leia stood her ground and glared up at him. Han held firm and glowered right back.
"Perhaps you'd prefer me to go." She offered, her voice steely.
That was when he crumbled. As if Leia hadn't seen enough death and destruction in her life already!
"No, I'll go." He said, unfolding his arms and pointing a finger at Jaizun. "You. You're coming with me."
"But I..." Jaizun started.
"You got drawings of my wife naked, you think I'm leaving you here with her then you can think again pal." Han growled, then turned a long finger toward Leia and lowered his voice. "If I find that old man in the throes of jacking off, you are gonna owe me big time!"
With a wave of his arm for Jaizun to follow him, Han swept out of the house leaving an utterly bereft Anais in his wake.
"It's all right sweetie, Grandpa will be back soon." Leia soothed and released Ren from his high chair again.
"That young man really got pictures of you naked?" Gambe queried.
"It's not how it sounds." Leia assured her, sitting to one side and balancing Ren on her knee whilst patting the sofa for Anais to join them. "He's a very talented artist. His drawings are really more like still life sketches. You couldn't tell who they were if you didn't already know."
"Hmmm." Gambe grunted. "Told Gum and me, ours was the only ones."