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            This fic was originally posted on theforce.net, where I go by the screenname of SaberBlade.  If you recognize this, don't worry, it isn't plagiarized; I'm simply reposting it here also.

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            General Disclaimer:  Star Wars belongs to George Lucas and the characters belong to their respective authors.  Anything you don't recognize is mine; please respect my muse.  I don't intend any infringement with this fic; it was created because I have an abiding love for Star Wars and a wish to share my interpretation of it with the world.

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            Details:

            Name: Whole

            Time Frame: Post-NJO

            Pairing: Kyp Durron and Jaina Solo

            Rating: PG to PG-13

            Post: Chapter 3 of ?

            Story Status: Work in Progress

            Notes: There is a prequel, Broken, which can be found both on this site and on theforce.net.  I recommend reading it before this fic, though it isn't technically needed.  This story starts a few hours after Broken ends.

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            As always, reviews are appreciated.

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They weren't talking.

            Mara kept the frown from her face only through long practice at hiding her emotions.  She sipped her drink casually, looking for all the world as though she was merely taking a break from the flurry of social activities that surrounded her.  But her mind hummed furiously, trying to understand what she was viewing.

            Her niece swayed in time to the music, seemingly perfectly relaxed in Durron's arms.  Comfortable enough, Mara noted with an inward frown, to have closed her eyes and rested her cheek against Durron's chest.  Durron seemed just as content with the arrangement as Jaina; one of his hands lay along her back, and the other cradled her head, lazily combing through her loose hair.

            But they weren't talking.

            In Mara's experience, dancing fell into one of two categories: it was either a social activity or an excuse.  Social dancing meant laughing and talking, singing along with the music and joking about other dancers.  Social dancers were happy to be dancing, happy to be alive, and determined to enjoy every minute of it. 

            The other type of dancers used the music as an excuse to be alone.  They were the subdued ones, the couples swaying on the fringes of the dance floor, the ones who kept away from the exuberant social dancers.  They were the ones who used the dance as an excuse to be together; they were the ones who were silent.

            And Jaina and Durron weren't talking.  Mara didn't want to consider what that meant, but forced her mind through it.  The two had been good friends for the latter half of the war, after Kyp had helped Jaina return to the light.  But they had drifted apart once the war ended, when they were no longer flying missions together.  Whatever Master-Apprentice bond that had ever linked them was long dead; the link that they had developed fighting the Yuuzhan Vong had been dormant for years.  They had been close friends for years, though.  That could explain it.

            The music ended, and Jaina and Kyp finally released each other and began to talk.  But they didn't split up; Kyp slung an arm over Jaina's shoulder, and she was comfortable enough with it there to actually lean against him. 

            Mara glanced away.  Jaina hadn't been herself in a long time; Durron was close enough to her to sense it.  He could just be offering support- they hadn't seen each other in a long time.  But he had taken advantage of Jaina in the past.  Granted, that had been years ago, before they had become friends, but Mara had a long memory when it came to betrayals.  Especially when it was someone she considered hers being betrayed.  So she was inclined to treat Durron and his motives toward her niece with a high level of suspicion. 

            Luke would have said that she needed to loosen up, to regain some faith in humanity.

            Mara preferred to keep an eye on things.

            She reached out through the Force and lightly brushed by the pair.  No sharp emotions, no obvious problems.  Jaina was more herself, a steady presence lightly colored with happiness; Durron was amused and enjoying himself.  Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was missing something.

            Mara reached past Jaina and Kyp, searching for her husband.  He might have some insight on the matter she didn't know about; it would be like him to have noticed and considered this already.  But instead of finding her husband, she found another familiar presence- one that should have been in bed hours ago.

            But Ben Skywalker was definitely out of bed and awake.  Mara couldn't see him through the crowd of people, but he felt both excited and confused.  He had managed to sneak into the party- the grown-up party- but he was too short to see much of what was going on, and he had to avoid Mama and Daddy so that he didn't have to go back to bed . . .

            Stifling a laugh, Mara very gently slipped into her son's still-sleepy mind. Cousin Jaina, she whispered through the Force. Find Cousin Jaina.

            Jaya would help him!  Daddy said she had been just as bad as him when she was six like him.  That meant she was safe.  She was like him.

            Mara smiled faintly at her son's simple reasoning, and waited while Ben sent out questing Force tendrils.  Evidently he found his cousin, for Ben soon began moving.  Mara half-turned and was able to see Ben weave his way around larger adults and launch himself toward Jaina- breaking up a handshake between Jaina and her former Jedi Master.

            "Jaya!" Ben's cry of greeting was loud enough that Mara actually heard it from where she was.  It gave her an excuse to turn all the way around and face the trio, but she waited to approach them.

            Jaina caught her younger cousin and said something back to him.  Indignation colored Ben's thoughts. Of course he shouldn't be in bed; he was having an adventure.  Jaya knew about adventures.  Both Jaina and Durron laughed, and Ben glanced at Kyp. Oh, it's him.  He's supposed to be polite to him and call him 'Master Durron', so he does.  But just because he's supposed to.

            Mara laughed out loud before she remembered she was standing all by herself.  A few of the celebrating party-goers glanced at her oddly, but then looked away when they recognized her.  Mara didn't mind.

            Durron had said something to Ben, and the young boy's thoughts filled with amusement and the vague, half-remembered sensation of being hoisted high up into the air by a strong pair of arms. That had been fun.  Just like when Uncle Han had done it and Mama had made him stop.  Except Mama didn't know that Master Kyp had done it because Daddy hadn't told her and so Mama hadn't made him stop.  So maybe Master Kyp would do it again?

            Skywalker had let Durron loose with their son?  Mara started forward grimly to rescue Ben.  She would need to speak with Luke later.

            She was fast enough to hear Durron and Jaina both laugh, and saw Ben's arms open and reach up at Kyp.  The Jedi Master bent and swung the boy high above his head so fast that Mara was sure Ben's neck would snap.  But Ben shrieked with laughter and spread his hands out like wings as Kyp held him up. Flying!  He wasn't allowed to fly on his own yet, even though Daddy could, but being up high was the best.  Daddy and Cousin Jacen could use the Force and fly up to the ceiling sitting still but he couldn't yet so he liked it when Uncle Han and Cousin Jacen and Master Kyp and Master Kam and Daddy would lift him up and make him fly.  Mama didn't like it but Daddy said it was fine since it kept him from trying to do it himself.  He wasn't stupid, he didn't want to try it himself 'cause he might drop himself and that would hurt.  Master Kyp wouldn't drop him and so he wouldn't hurt.  And he got to be up high.

            Then he caught sight of his mother.  His eyes widened, and his emotions swirled in panic. Mama!  He's going to be in trouble and Mama will make Master Kyp promise not to do it again and then he would have to try it himself and he would drop himself and it would hurt.

            "Can I come down now?" Ben asked, and Kyp immediately lowered his arms, carefully setting him back on the ground. 

            Jaya would protect him from Mama.  She liked flying too.  She would make Mama not get him in trouble.  Jaya was safe.  She was like him.

            Torn between consternation- had Luke let every blasted man in Ben's life play X-wing with her son?- and amusement, Mara joined the group and leveled a cool gaze at Ben.  "And just what do you think you're doing here?" she asked him.

            Ben blinked up at her with Luke's eyes.  "Ummmmm . . ." he stalled, while frantic thoughts flitted through his mind.  He's in trouble, he's in lots of trouble, and Master Kyp's going to be in trouble. "Nothing, Mama."

            Jaina put a hand on Ben's shoulder.  "He just wanted to come and say hello, since he was almost asleep when everyone landed."

            Yeah!  What Jaya said.  She always knew how to fix things.

            Mara blinked, but kept part of her mind lightly fixed on her son as she wondered just how many things Ben had managed to slip past her.  "I see," she said.  "But now that you've said hello to everyone, you're going to go back to bed, aren't you?"

            He wasn't in trouble!  Well, he did have to leave, but he wasn't in trouble. "I guess so."  He sounded dejected; Mara allowed herself to smile at last. 

            "Say goodnight to Jaina and Master Durron, and I'll go back to the rooms with you."

            "Goodnight, Master Durron.  'Night, Jaya."  Ben started to step forward toward his mother, but Jaina's grip on his shoulder stopped him.

            "I'll come too, if you don't mind, Aunt Mara," Jaina said.  She glanced over her shoulder.  "I've seen everyone I need to, and I think I'll call it a night."

            Mara was mildly surprised.  "All right.  I'll see you tomorrow, Durron."

            Kyp smiled faintly.  "Should I hunt down Master Skywalker and send him home after you?"

            Mara didn't allow herself to smile back at him.  "If you would."

            Durron gave her a half bow, black cape swirling behind him, and Mara gritted her teeth as Ben envied it and imagined wearing one himself.  "My pleasure."  He turned to Jaina.  "I'll find you tomorrow."

            Jaina nodded.  "We'll talk more then."

            Kyp looked down at Ben.  "You'll keep them safe on the walk back?"

            Of course he would; he wasn't a little boy anymore, he was six. Ben nodded.  "Yeah."

            "Good," and Durron straightened.  "Mara, Ben.  I'll see you tomorrow, Goddess."

            "Good night, Kyp," Jaina said, and he met her eyes, grinned, and turned away in search of Mara's husband.

            Ben's small hand slipped into hers, and Mara looked down at her son's determined eyes.  "Back to the rooms," he said, and reached for his cousin's hand. He was going to do what Daddy would do; he was going to make sure that Mama and Jaya got to the rooms safe.  'Cause that was what Daddy would do and that was what Master Kyp meant.  Master Kyp knew that Mama didn't need help staying safe- everyone knew that. Mara barely contained her laughter as her son escorted them through the crowded room.  He was tired, his thoughts sketchy and simple and brutally honest. She was Mama and nothing could hurt Mama 'cause she was the best, but Daddy didn't always remember that and so Daddy worried.  So he was going to go with Mama so Daddy didn't worry.  And Master Kyp wanted him to keep Jaya safe on the walk, 'cause Jaya was kind of empty inside and Master Kyp worried.  So he would pretend to look after Mama so Daddy wouldn't worry about her, even though Mama was the best and didn't need help, and he'd make sure Jaya stayed safe like Master Kyp meant so Master Kyp wouldn't have to worry about his Goddess.

            Ben pulled the two women through the door into the relatively quieter hallway, and then looked up at Mara.  "Mama?  Are you all right?"

            Mara blinked, and quickly retreated from eavesdropping on her son's mind.  "I'm fine, Ben," she said, though she felt dazed.  "Do you know the way back to the rooms?"

            "Uh-huh," he said, and tugged at her hand.  "This way, come on."

            Through the confusion that had settled over her brain, Mara dimly heard Jaina questioning Ben about how he had managed to escape the rooms.  But most of the conversation passed her by; Mara's mind was replaying the thoughts she had heard from Ben, comparing his child's innocent reasoning with her adult's jaded mind, and somehow coming to the same conclusion.

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Thanks!

-Keth

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