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 29: The Date

Jag and Jaina left the suite and headed towards the hanger bay.

"Jag, where are we going?"

"It's a surprise, trust me you'll love it," he assured her.

They arrived at his claw-craft.  Jaina just looked at Jag incredulously.

"You don't expect both of us to fit in your ship, do you?"

"Why not, neither of us is exactly huge.  The cockpit of a claw-craft is bigger than that of an X-Wing."  Jaina still didn't look convinced.  "Besides, it's only for a few minutes."

"Ok, ok.  Let's go."

Jaina climbed in first then Jag scooted in behind her.  The fit was a little tight but neither one really minded.  Jag leaned forward and reached around her for the controls.

"Hey, I can fly," Jaina said.

"Yeah, I know you can," Jag said grinning as he purposely misunderstood her.  He leaned forward further, brushing his arm against hers.  They both felt something akin to an electrical shock go through them.  'She smells good,' he thought.

"Thanks, so do you," she said grinning.

"Stang," he said blushing.  "I forgot you could hear me."

"It's ok.  So will you allow me to fly your ship?" she asked again.

"Well…"

"Oh, come on.  You'll be right here with me," she said pleadingly.

He knew how much it would mean to her.  'She loves to fly.  Well if it'll make her happy, tonight is her night.'  "Ok," he agreed.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," she said excitedly.

He saw the look of pure joy on her face, then realized, 'this is the first time she's flown since before her accident.'  He wrapped his arms around her waist and held onto her as she took off and began to fly.

"I can tell you love flying, Sticks," he said holding her tighter.

"Yeah, it makes me feel so free.  Where am I heading?"

He leaned forward resting his chin on her shoulder.  He spoke softly in her ear as he pointed out the canopy, "right over there.  I'm going to help you, these claw-craft are hard to land."  He reached around her and placed his hands over hers.  Together they landed the ship perfectly.  Jag climbed out first then helped Jaina out.  He reached in and grabbed a bag.

"Stay here Sticks, I'll be right back," he said.

"Ok."

He went and spread the blankets out for them to sit on and eat their dinner on.  'It's starting to get chilly, I'm glad I grabbed my jacket, Sticks is going to get cold.'

He made sure everything was still in the basket then lit some candles.

Back at the ship Jaina was studying his claw-craft.  'This is a great ship.  If I didn't love my X-Wing so much, I might want one of these.'

Jag came back to see Jaina studying his ship.  "you really love ships don't you?" Jag asked as he wrapped his arms around Jaina from behind, "You ready to eat?"

"Yeah," she said turning in his arms and giving him a quick peck on the lips.

He took her by the hand and led her to a clearing.  It seemed to be an old ruin.  She then saw the elaborate picnic dinner that was set up. 

"Wow, Jag, this is wonderful."

"You really like it?" he asked with happiness in his voice.

"Are you kidding?  It's beautiful, I love it."

Jag smiled and led her to the blankets.

"Well mi lady, shall we eat?"  She nodded.  "You just sit back, relax, and enjoy yourself tonight.  You are not going to lift a finger."

"Ok, sounds good to me."

"After we finish eating we can go for a walk and explore some."

"That sounds great, now lets eat, I'm hungry," Jaina said as she sat down.

"Wow Sticks, you must be really hungry."

"Yeah, I haven't eaten much recently," not wanting to bring up the subject of what happened back up, she looked away.

Jag knew she didn't want it brought up.  He gently took her chin and turned her to face him.  "Look, I know you don't want to at time brought up, I don't either.  Let's put it behind us in the past, please."

She nodded, he smiled leaned forward and kissed her slowly and thoroughly.  If she had been standing she was sure her knees would have gone weak.  When he finally pulled away he leaned his forehead up against hers.

"Better?" he asked.

"Yeah," she breathed.

"Still hungry?" he asked playfully.

"Of course," she said smiling.

Jag began to take the food out of the basket.  First he sat out salads.  He then pulled out two glasses and a bottle of Alderrian wine. 

"Wow, you really went all out for this, didn't you?" she asked.

"I had some help.  Do you like it?"

"Like it?" she questioned.  "I love it," she exclaimed.  "You shouldn't have gone to all of this trouble."

"It wasn't trouble, plus this is your night.  I love you Sticks, I just want tonight to be special."

They ate their salads in silence, enjoying each other's presence.  Jag then pulled out the next course.

"Next on the menu, marinated nerf steaks," he said presenting them with a smile.

"My favorite!" she exclaimed.

They finished their meals while talking and laughing.  Jaina shivered slightly.

"Are you cold?" Jag asked reaching for his jacket.

"I'm a little chilly, but I'll be ok," she assured him.

He just ignored her and slipped the jacket around her shoulders.

"Jag," she began to protest, but he just silenced her with a kiss.

He stood up and offered her his hand.  "Come on, there's something I want to show you."

"Alright, let's go," she said as he helped her up.

He led her into the wooded area.  Soon they came into a clearing.  It was a small beach, a gentle flowing river, and lots of beautiful flowers.

"Wow," she gasped, "it's beautiful."  She reached down and slipped her sandals off.  Then she walked to where the water was gently lapping the shore.

Jag smiled as he watcher her with a smile, 'I'm so glad she likes it.  Tonight I just want her to be happy.'  He walked to a bush that caught his eye…yellow roses, Jaina's favorite.  He walked up to Jaina from behind.  He slowly reached his arm around her to present the flower.

"Jag!" she exclaimed.  "You startled me," she informed him as she turned.  She then saw the flower, "Is that for me?"

Jag grinned mischievously, "I don't know, how does it look on me?" he asked as he tucked the flower behind his ear.

Jaina laughed, I don't think it's quite your color."  She shook her head and smiled. 

He mock-frowned, "Ok, let's see how it looks on you."  He took the flower and gently tucked it in her hair.  "Beautiful," he said while gently caressing her cheek, "just like you."

Jaina just blushed and smiled.

Jag moved closer and whispered, "And you're even more beautiful when you blush and get that pretty smile on your face."  He then leaned in and sweetly kissed her.  They pulled back and looked into each other's eyes, brown to pale green.

"I love you Jag."

"I love you too Sticks," he said, then added silently, 'More than you could possibly know.'

~'I know, I can feel it Jag,'~ she thought at him after hearing his last thought.

He backed away, grabbed her hand and smiled.  He bowed slightly and pressed a kiss to the hand he held.

"Mi lady, may I have this dance?" he asked smiling.

"But of course, my Darling Colonel," Jag chuckled at this.  "Gut what about music?"

"We don't need it darling," he said grinning.  'Nope, just going to embarrass the mess out of myself.'

He held her close and she rested her head on his shoulder.  'I wonder what he meant by embarrassing himself?' she thought.

Just then Jag took a deep breath, "My gift is my song, and this one's for you…"

Jaina just looked up at Jag.  He could sing!  'Stang, he has a great voice, and I didn't know it.'

"And you can tell everybody/This is your song/It may be quite simple/Now that it's done."

She looked into his intense green eyes and saw they were full of love and pure joy.  'He is really enjoying himself.'  As he began the next part he rested his forehead against hers.

"I hope you don't mind/I hope you don't mind/That I put down in words/How wonderful life is/Now you're in the world."

Jaina lost herself in his gaze and words.

"I sat on the roof/And I kicked off the moss/Some of these voices/They've got me quite cross/Well the sun's been kind/While I wrote this song/It's for people like you that/Keep it turned on."

"So excuse me forgetting/But these things I do/You see I've forgotten if they're green or if they're blue/Well everything is that I really love you/Yours are the sweetest eyes/I've ever seen."

Jag twirled Jaina playfully as he took a short rest from singing, 'Where did he learn to sing like that?'

"And you can tell everybody/This is your song/It may be quite simple/Now that it's done."

He pulled her close again as he continued.  "I hope you don't mind/I hope you don't mind/That I've put down in words/How wonderful life is…now you're in the world."

Jag just looked away and blushed.  Jaina stood in shock for a few moments.  She then gently grabbed Jag's chin and forced him to look at her.

"Jag, you have no reason to be embarrassed.  That was absolutely wonderful!  Where did you learn to sing like that?"

"You really liked it?"

"I loved it!  You have an amazing voice."

"My mom taught me when I was younger.  Over the years we would mess around the house.  You really liked it?"

She kissed him passionately.  "It was wonderful."

They continued to stand there and hold each other, neither wanting to leave that particular moment.  Suddenly they felt a rush of emotion. 

"What was that?" Jag inquired.

"It was Ben.  I felt something from him earlier while we were eating, but he said it was nothing.  But this is definitely something."

"Is it bad?"

"No, quite the opposite actually.  I'm asking him about it in the morning."

Soon their evening came to an end.  They flew back to the palace.  On the way back Jaina had fallen asleep, so when they arrived Jag carried her back to her room.  He gently laid her on the bed and kissed her forehead.  "I love you Sticks, don't you ever forget it," he whispered.  Then turned to leave the room.  As he left he heard a male voice in his head, 'Times will get rough Jag, but don't ever let either of you give up on your love for one another.  The bond you have it too special to be broken.'

After looking around the room, Jag just shrugged his shoulders and went on his way.

Author's note:  I don't own "Your Song" I just borrowed it from Moulan Rouge, well actually Elton John, but I like Ewan version much, much better.