The storm raging outside was relentless. Thunder echoed in the distance, lightning flashed across the sky. He stood at the window, one hand tucked in his pocket while the other cradled his drink. A million thoughts ran through his head, a million more pierced his heart. The darkness that blanketed the sky was almost suffocating and if it wasn't for the inclement weather, he would have walked miles just to clear his head. His eyes scanned the horizon as if they were searching and hoping for someone to walk through the storm.

*If something were to happen to you, not only do I lose a pilot, I lose a member of my family. I'm not a stupid man. I know that is a consequence of war, but that doesn't mean that I want a moment to come where I have to contact your family and tell your mother--my sister--that her third child is dead. *

Those words have haunted him for four days.

Wedge Antilles leaned heavily against the window frame, the drink in his hand untouched. It was just past the midnight hour on Borleias and despite the rain storm drenching the planet, there was a constant bustle of activity. He had tried to sleep but his eyes would not close, his mind would not rest. A long breath escaped him as he thought about the nephew he barely knew.

Jag had not reported in or returned to Borleias in the three days he had been granted to go on reconnaissance to Kesna. Both Luke and Leia had assured him that Jaina was all right and because of that, so was Jag. He trusted the Jedi completely; their Force insight never failed them when Wedge called upon it. Yet, as much as their words and assurances were comforting, it was not enough.

The part of him that was practical and realistic worried. He did not possess Jedi powers and therefore could not rely solely on them. Jag had made an agreement with him that he would return in three days. When his nephew had come to inform him that Jaina would be accompanying him, he was relieved that Jag would not be going alone to Kesna.

However, he was concerned for the both of them. He worried that the Yuuzhan Vong had discovered them; that something had happened that prevented them from returning to Borleias. He believed Luke and Leia yet at the same time he couldn't deny his concern.

Jag had been a liaison between the New Republic, the Imperial Remnant, and the Chiss for a little more than two years and yet Wedge hardly knew him. He had wanted to spend time with his nephew on a number of occasions, talk to him about his life in the Unknown Regions. He wanted to know about his childhood, his siblings, how his father was fairing, how Syal was...

Wedge closed his eyes, feeling exhaustion weigh heavily on his shoulders. Syal. When was the last time had seen his sister? When was the last time they had talked? A lifetime ago. He wondered if his sister knew that his eldest daughter was named for her. He wondered if Jag had spoken of her brother's family. He wondered how she endured the deaths of two of her children, how she found the courage to go on. He wondered if there would ever come a time when he would see her again.

Jag would be the bridge between the families. He believed that deep in his soul. His nephew's presence on Borleias made him feel closer to his sister somehow; he could see her spirit and her strength in his eyes. When he had first met him two years ago, he had been struck by the similarities between them. They had resembled each other in appearance and Jag was gifted with remarkable piloting skill, no doubt inherited from both Antilles and Fel bloodlines. His nephew's personality at the time was identical to Soontir's when he had been with the New Republic. Arrogant, confident, cool, and calculating. A smile touched Wedge's lips as he recalled thinking that Jag had been born without a personality.

That had all changed the evening he walked into his office asking to go on a recon mission alone. Jag had reminded him so much of himself at that age. He had shown a passion and belief in himself that was refreshing. He pleaded with him not as an officer but as family. He appealed to his rebellious nature and Wedge had found himself coaxed into allowing Jag to go on this mission and then to take Jaina with him.

Now he feared he had sent his nephew and another Solo to their deaths.

"Dad?"

Wedge started, surprised by the soft voice behind him. He turned and saw his eldest daughter, Syal, standing just inside the living area of their quarters. Her hair was tousled from sleep, her eyes droopy from weariness. She stood in her pajamas, arms folded across her chest.

Setting his glass down on the table near the window, Wedge walked over and squatted in front of her. "What are you doing up at this hour?" Even as he asked the question, he already knew the answer.

"I had another nightmare."

He noticed now in the dim lighting of the room that his daughter's cheeks were stained with dried tears, that her eyes were haunted and afraid. Wedge wrapped her in his arms. "Hush, love. You're safe now."

"Will it ever stop, Dad? Will I ever stop dreaming about Coruscant?"

The pain in her voice robbed him of breath. He hated that his family was subjected to the horrors of Coruscant's fall. He hated that his girls had witnessed things they never should have seen. Since the war with the Vong began he had noticed changes in himself. He felt a rage and contempt that he had never known before. There was a violence in him that scared him; he wanted to smash the Vong and anyone else who tried to hurt his family. His enemies would pay dearly for trying to harm his family, for giving his daughters nightmares.

They would pay with their lives.

Wedge shook the anger and hatred from him. He did not want Syal to see that side of him. He pulled back far enough to look into her face, placing his hands on her shoulders. "I can't promise you that the nightmares will stop. I still have nightmares about things that I have seen, that I have been through."

Wedge brushed stray strands of hair away from her eyes. "However, if you think about all the good things in your life, I promise that they nightmares won't seem so bad. You have me, your mother, Myri, and many friends and that is more than a lot of people have. If you concentrate on the good things, it will get better."

Syal nodded slowly. "Is that why you're awake, Dad? Because you had a nightmare?"

Wedge frowned. "I wish that were the case."

"What's wrong?"

He sighed, studying his daughter's face. Syal was just as perceptive as her mother; nothing could get past her curious mind. Wedge took her hand and brought her over to the sofa. He sat down, drawing her up onto his lap. "There is a lot going on right now, you know. I have a lot on my mind."

"You're worried about Jag."

Wedge blinked. Syal was studying him with the same intensity he had given her moments ago. She brought one hand up around his neck, the other rested over his hand. "Why do you say that?"

Syal pursed her lips in thought. "Because he was suppose to be back yesterday. He and Jaina."

"I'm surprised you've noticed that." he admitted.

"He promised to take me for a spin in his ship." Syal grinned, a slight blush fusing her cheeks. "I was counting the days until he came back." She rested her head against his shoulder. "You're worried that something has happened to them?"

Wedge nodded. "Luke and Leia have reassured me that they are okay, but I'm still concerned. I don't have Force powers so it's hard sometimes to rely on them."

"Do you think that Jag and Jaina are in danger?"

"I don't know, Syal." He confessed, drawing his daughter closer. "Anything can happen on a recon mission. I hope they are okay."

"I don't know Jag very well, but I want to. He seems like he can be fun guy, but he's a little stiff."

Wedge laughed as Syal smiled up at him. "Well, he was raised differently than we were."

Syal rubbed her eyes while at the same time trying to fight her exhaustion. "I was named for his mother, right?"

"Yes."

"What is she like?"

Sadness swept over him like a giant wave engulfing the shoreline.*How to answer that?* Wedge sighed, tapping his finger thoughtfully on Syal's knee. "That's tough for me to say, sweetie. I haven't seen my sister in too long a time. I really don't anything about her anymore. I remember that she was beautiful; her hair was blonde like yours and she had a wild spirit." He smiled. "You are very much like her in that regard."

"Will we ever get to meet her?"

"I hope so."

Syal wrapped her other arm around Wedge's neck and hugged him with all her might. "Don't worry, Dad. Jag and Jaina will come home safely. I just know it."

Wedge smiled. "You have Jedi powers now?"

Syal grinned up at him. "No. He has to come back and take me for a flight in his ship or I'll break his kneecaps."