Disclaimer: Same old one, none of these characters belong to me. I am making no money off of this. If you have any questions, or want to see the complete disclaimer and list of characters, see the Prologue
A Complicated Friendship:
The Story of Jag Fel and Jaina Solo
Chapter 28: Arrivals
"Sean-Conner Antilles, if we don't get to this place soon this blindfold is coming off!" Taylor said heatedly.
He took her by the shoulders and turned her to face him. It was at times like this that she reminded him of Mara the most. It almost made him fear for his life. Almost.
"No," he said kissing her lightly, "you won't. It would ruin my surprise for you."
"Fine," she said, pouting.
'Yeah,' Sean thought, smiling, 'just like her mom, the perfect picture of defiance.' He grabbed Taylor's hand, "Come on TJ, let's continue."
"Alright."
Back in the palace:
Corran, Ben, Kyp, Jacen, Anakin were back in the room.
Corran, Ben, and Kyp sat patiently as Jacen and Anakin talked about how much they missed Tenel and Tahiri.
"Oh geez," Ben said, "listen to those two."
"I don't think I've ever seen anyone worse," Corran said laughing, "except maybe Luke."
"Ben," Anakin asked, "don't you miss Ally?"
"Of course I do Ani," Ben protested, "more than you could possibly know. But we've decided to make the most of our time together and try not to dwell on it at other times."
"Good idea, that's what Tycho and Winter did," Corran informed them.
"But Corran," Jacen protested, "we're in the middle of war. Who know what could happen?"
"Jace, so were we. I was trapped on Coruscant immediately after Mirax and I decided to date. She thought I was dead. After I escaped and returned they told me she was dead. Then we each found out that the other was alive. Then I had to deal with Booster, which was almost worse than being captured. Then we went after Iceheart and Thrawn. So, it's no different."
"Yeah, well you just wait and see what Jys goes though when she starts dating," Anakin said with a grin.
"If I have it my way, she won't date until she's 50."
Just then Ben had a vision of a girl standing with a guy, in blue and black Jedi robes, talking and laughing. 'It's Jys,' he thought. Suddenly the guy leaned over and kissed her. 'Well, well, well my dear uncle looks like your baby girl will be dating sooner than you thought.'
All of a sudden Ben felt shaking.
"Ben…Ben," he looked up and saw Corran standing over him. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah, I had a vision," he paused, "it wasn't bad, so don't worry." He got up to leave.
"Ben," Jacen asked, "where are you going?"
"To talk to Kyp."
After he said that and left they realized Kyp was gone.
Ben found Kyp out on the balcony. He sat legs handing off the edge. He seemed to have a cloud of despair or depression around him.
"Despair leads to the Dark Side, Kyp."
"Tell me something I don't know Ben," he threw at him bitterly.
Ben went and sat beside Kyp. "What's wrong?"
"Don't worry about it Ben. Go back inside and talk with them about everyone's girlfriends," he spat out.
"It will help for you to release your anger and talk about it."
"Ben, you are reminding me entirely too much of Luke right now."
"Yeah, but unlike my father, I'm not going to sit here and ask until you answer."
"Good."
"I'm going to be more like my mom, I won't ask, I'll just sit here until you spill."
"I should've known. Fine, I'll tell you," he sighed. "I just get so sick of hearing those guys talk about their girlfriends all of the time. You're not so bad because you don't let Ally consume your thoughts."
Ben just looked at him, not sure what to say.
"Do you think I'll ever have that, Ben?"
"Have what?"
"What you guys have, someone to love and protect. Or do you think my past will just follow me around like a dark cloud over my head?"
"You will Kyp and she won't care about your past."
"I hope you're right Ben, I hope you're right."
Back to Sean and Taylor:
"Alright, here we are," Sean announced.
"Wow, this waterfall is beautiful Sean," Taylor said excitedly with a huge grin on her face.
"I'm glad you like it. You know TJ, I am…"
"Hey, isn't that your dad's ship?"
"Yeah, what in the world?"
"I don't know Sean, let's go find out."
'Well so much for an evening alone,' Sean thought.
They headed back to the palace. As they did Sean just looked back at the beautiful waterfall and thought, 'One day, I'll get to spend some more time with you.'
In the Antilles' Ship:
"I can't wait to see Sean-Conner again," Iella said excitedly.
"I wouldn't call him that," Wedge said as Iella gave him a funny look. "If you hadn't noticed, our boy has grown into a young man. He's head of the Rogues now since Gavin accepted his promotion. And if we don't pay attention one day we're going to turn around and have a new family member."
"WHAT?"
"Not anytime soon, I don't think they'll rush anything, but one day he's going to realize, like I did with you. He won't want to let go of Taylor."
"I guess you're right. I really don't see him with anyone else, Taylor's perfect for him," Iella finally conceded. "But what's wrong with calling him Sean-Conner?"
"He said it make him fell like a little boy, he's all grown up now Iella."
"Wedge," she said turning to look at him with tears in her eyes. "When did our little boy turn into a man?"
Wedge just wrapped her in a hug, "While we weren't paying attention. He might not be our little boy anymore, but he'll always be our son." He then looked over at Syal and Myri.
"I guess Syal's next," she stated.
"I'm just glad it's Ben she likes, if someone has to take my eldest daughter from me I'd rather it be him." Iella just smiled as Wedge continued. "But I've already told him that if he ever did anything to her all of his Jedi powers combined couldn't save him from my wrath."
"I don't think we have to worry about that. Besides, Luke would probably have something to say. Well at least we have a while before Myri starts dating." (Note to reader: I know that I've said before that Myri and CJ were dating. Well I've decided to change that, hopefully in anticipation of a spin off story involving the two of them.)
Just then Syal came up to them. "Do you think Ben will be surprised? It's so hard to surprise him."
"I'm sure he'll be surprised Sweetie," Wedge assured her. "We're about to land, buckle up everyone."
In Corran, Kyp and Jag's room:
Ben reached out with the Force to check on everyone. Taylor was getting slightly annoyed with Sean for blindfolding her. ~Calm down, dear sis,~ he thought at her playfully.
~Stay out of my mind, Skywalker!~ she returned playfully.
He just chuckled and reached out for everyone else. His parents were resting, peaceful and happy. Jaina was anxious to find out where Jag was taking her. ~Quit worrying, Sticks, you'll love it.~
~Thanks, Ben,~ she sent with a mental smile.
He then reached to Jag, he was so nervous. ~Jag, she'll love it, calm down,~ he reassured.
~I hope so.~
Ben just smiled and reached out further. He felt a familiar presence, 'She shouldn't be here!' he thought. He jumped up and ran out of the room towards the hanger bay.
"Well, what's gotten into him?" Jacen asked.
"Why don't we go find out?" Kyp suggested.
In the Hanger Bay:
Ben rushed in to find a ship landing. He waited for the ramp to come down. Soon a young girl about his age with brownish-blond hair and pale green eyes came down.
"ALLY!" Ben said as he took off into a dead run; when he got to her he picked her up and twirled her around. "I've missed you so much."
"Ben!" she said, then got a little sad. "I didn't surprise you did I?"
"Surprise me! You shocked the mess out of me. I had no idea you were coming, I'm so happy to see you!" He then captured her in a kiss.
"Hey, break it up you two," Wedge said chuckling as he shook Ben's hand. Just then Sean and Taylor walked in.
"Hey old man," Sean said with that famous Corellian grin.
"Hey little boy," Wedge said, shaking Sean's hand then pulling him into a hug.
Sean then greeted the rest of his family, except Ally who was still with Ben.
"Hey," Sean said, "Isn't my little sister going to say hey to me?"
"Hey nerf-brain," she said smiling and giving him a hug.
"Hey munchkin, a hug is the least you could do after ruining my date," he said crushing her in a hug. "But I still love ya."
Soon Corran, Kyp, Jacen, and Anakin arrived.
"So where is my nephew at?" Wedge asked. "Come to think of it, I haven't seen Sticks either."
"Well, Jag's on his first date with Jaina," Corran informed him.
"Well it's about time!" Wedge exclaimed. "Iella, Myri, you guys are going to like him."
"Well everyone," Padme announced, "it's getting late. Wedge, Iella, girls, I have your suite set up. Sean's things are being moved there as we speak. Corran, Kyp and Jag will stay where they are for new. All Solo's and Skywalker's know where to go. See you in the morning."
"Goodnight," everyone replied.
"Well, we're going to go unpack," Iella said as she motioned to Wedge.
"And this old man needs his beauty sleep," Corran said pointing to himself and laughing.
"That could take a while," Ben said drawing a chuckle from everyone.
"You just had to get my sister's sense of humor didn't you?"
"But of course," Ben replied with a huge grin and giving a small bow.
"And I need to meditate," Kyp said, "Goodnight everyone," he added while following everyone else out.
After they left Myri spoke up, "Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but SHE," Myri said pointing to her sister, "kept me up all night talking about Ben. So goodnight."
Ben and Ally sat talking with Sean and Taylor. Jacen and Anakin were off to the side looking at a tiny black box.
"Hey, Jace, what's the big secret?" Ben inquired.
"Something I want to talk to you guys about," he said shutting the box. "But I want to wait for Jay to get back from her date. So, we'll talk about it over breakfast tomorrow."
"Whatever," Taylor said, shrugging her shoulders. "I think we should get to bed. Goodnight everyone," she said as she pulled Sean up.
"Goodnight," everyone said as they went their separate ways. Jacen and Anakin went towards the door that led to their part of the suite.
Sean took Taylor to her door. "Sorry our date was ruined. I'll make it up to you sometime."
"I plan on it, you'd better…"
Sean cut her off as he gave her a nice, long, sweet kiss goodnight. "Goodnight sweetheart."
"Goodnight."
During that time Ben and Ally went to the special room. Inside they stood in the moonlight by the creek, kissing. When they broke apart, Ben spoke up.
"I've missed you so much Ally."
"I've missed you too Ben, I love you."
"I love you too Ally," he said kissing her again, this time sending all of his love to her.
When they broke apart once again Ally asked Ben, "What's up with Jace?"
"He's going to ask Tenel to marry him," he stated bluntly.
"You don't agree?"
"Well…not really…it's just…"
"that you would wait," she finished for him.
"Right. I'm not saying he's wring…"
"it's just not right for us. War is so uncertain. But then I guess if you look at it his way he loves her and wants to do it because war is uncertain."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Ben said holding her tightly.
"I love you so much Ben. I wish this stupid war was over so we could get on with our lives and plan our future."
"Well how about this Ally. Why don't we decide that as soon as this war is over we make plans to get married? Right now it can just be our little secret, what do you say?"
"Benjamin Brady Jade-Skywalker, are you proposing to me?" she asked astonished.
Ben got down on one knee and took Ally's hand in his own. "Syal Antilles, the love of my life, as soon as this stupid war is over, will you make me the happiest and luckiest man in the galaxy and marry me?"
Syal just stared at Ben, she was a lot like her cousin Jag, she didn't show a lot of emotion, except to Ben. So when Ben saw the tears in her eyes he knew she was ecstatic. "Of course I will you silly jungle boy," she said as she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him until he thought his lungs would explode from lack of air.
Ben just sat on the ground with Ally in his lap for a long time, just holding on to her, enjoying their time together.
"You know that TJ, Sean and Jaina will know that something is up," Ally said. "We're going to have to tell them if they ask."
"Right, but only if they ask. I don't want anybody making plans for us just yet. I want it to be the right time for us."
"Me too," she said relaxing into his arms. Soon he felt her breathing slow down and realized that she was asleep.
He gently lifted her into his arms and slowly started towards the suite she was staying in. He arrived got her inside and took her to her room. He laid her down and kissed her gently on the forehead. He then said, "Goodnight my beautiful fiancé, sweet dreams."
With that he left and had sweet dreams/visions of his own about their life together after the war.
Next, the long awaited chapter 29: The Date.
