Disclaimer: All characters or part thereof are property of George Lucas,
Timothy Zahn and
Lucasfilm. Don't sue me cos I ain't making any money from this. It's written for the
pure joy of writing.
Don't know why I did this, must be cos of the boredom on this godforsaken country. I hate Singapore. Anyways enjoy the fic.
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"It's big I grant you that," his sister Jaina commented.
"Big is an understatement," Kyp put in.
"Come on Jacen," Danni said pulling Jacen into the apartment with her. Jacen blushed when Kyp and Jaina snickered at him being pulled by a woman.
Jacen agreed with Kyp, the apartment was huge. Slightly bigger than the Solo residence that had been reduced to rubble on Yuuzhan'tar. The apartment consisted of two living rooms, a dining room are complete with a table that could seat twenty and music player, a kitchen and three bedrooms.
Three bedrooms.
"Hey look, since they're three bedrooms, me and Kyp can take one and you and Jaina can have the other," he said looking at Danni. Kyp chuckled at Jacen's statement and Jaina and Danni both stared at him. Jaina giving the "I-cant-believe-you-said-that" look and Danni had a look of pure hurt.
"I'm sorry Jacen. I'll be sharing one room with Jaina. You and Danni can share another one," said Kyp as he put his arm around Jaina and winked at Jacen. Jacen was about to protest his sister sleeping in the same room with Kyp Durron.
*I'm a big girl Jacen. Don't worry about me* she sent to him via the Force.
*Okay but take care of yourself. I don't want my big sister getting hurt* he sent back.
*You just worry about Danni*
Jacen flushed and so did Jaina as Kyp chuckled picking upon Jacen and Jaina's Force discussion. The chuckle died on his lips when Jaina nudged her elbow into Kyp's side. Wordlessly, he picked up his and Jaina's bag and headed into the one of the three bedrooms but not before what Jacen saw as a slap to his sister's behind.
"In that case, Danni can have one room and I'll take the other," he said to his sister, picking up his bag and Danni's. He could feel Danni's anger and so could his sister and if looks could kill, Jacen would be reduced to a pile of ash by two dual-linked strikes.
*I'm not ready yet Danni. Please understand* he sent her.
*Of course you're not ready! You can't even deal with a stupid kiss!* she sent back. Jacen winced at the anger he heard in her tone as she brushed past him and entering another bedroom. Jaina merely shook her head at her brother's naïve.
"Take care of her Jacen. She won't wait for you forever," she said sadly to him and going into her room. He was left standing alone at the doorstep with a bag in each hand.
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Jacen stepped out from the fresher in his room and headed to the dining room. Jaina had told him that they were going to eat dinner at eight o'clock sharp. He sighed, threw on some clean clothes and went out of his room.
It was their first dinner together in the apartment. Both Jaina and Danni had been cooking in the kitchen for the past two hours. There were many smells coming out from there, some of them smelled good and some of them were horrible. Jacen sat down at the dinner table and noted with surprise that there were at least another ten plates on the table.
He wondered what they were cooking until it required more than ten plates. He also noted the music player was playing some slow music and that there were flowers on the table. What was the occasion?
"We've got people coming over as well," he heard Kyp Durron's voice behind him. He watched the older Jedi smirk and take a seat opposite of him.
"Don't read my mind without permission Durron," Jacen bit out.
"Hey you were projecting ever since I came here. Besides I made a promise to your sister not to read anyone's minds without permission," the older Jedi said.
"Speaking of my sister, keep your hands to yourself Durron or I could just kill you. And if you hurt her, I'll let my father and mom loose," he threatened.
"Sithspawn Jacen! What can I do to convince you that I really love your sister. Even when she was with Jag, I'd stuck by her to give her my support. Not once, not once did I even think of telling her how I felt back then to confuse her. And now when I finally found her, you think I'm not good enough for her. I know I did some bad things to her and that I have the blood of millions on my hands but I swear I love her with all my heart. So either you accept that or you're not happy with it. Either way is fine by me!" he dished out, Kyp's eyes blazing.
Jacen was taken aback by the passion he heard in Kyp's voice. He could also see that Kyp was dead serious, something he had never seen in Kyp before.
"Well take care of her, she's my sister," was his reply. He looked straight in Kyp's eyes and he was surprised to see the Jedi Master grin at him.
"Thank you for understanding Jacen," he said.
"No problem," he said when he felt his uncle's approach. He reached out with the Force and felt the presence of many other people behind his uncle. He stood up and went to the door.
Sure enough as soon as he reached the door, the chime sounded and he opened it. His jaw nearly dropped. All the guests were close friends of the family. He had a sinking feeling in his stomach when both his dad and Lando Calrissian smirked at him.
It was going to be a long dinner.
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"So that's how you and Mara ended up getting married? Pretty strange especially when she wanted to kill you at the start!" Danni piped up while everyone laughed at her comment. Jacen had heard how his Uncle Luke and Aunt Mara met but he forced a small laugh for Danni. He was feeling very uncomfortable right now, despite the relaxing mood set by Jaina and Danni.
However, it was his close proximity with Danni that was troubling him. They were seated so close to each other that he could feel her leg resting against his. Just her leg was enough to distract Jacen from his food and his powers of speech. He just did not feel comfortable with her so close in front of so many people.
"So when do you plan to have a mini Talon Karrde running around?" his father blurted out in between bites of food at Karrde and Shada.
"Master Solo, that is very inappropriate question and at a formal dinner. I am absolutely horrif-" the family droid, Threepio piped up, his rebuke dead when Han tripped his circuit breaker. In the background another family droid, Artoo-Detoo, whistled as what could pass for astromech laughter.
"Don't talk with your mouth full scruffy looking nerf herder!" his mother, Leia admonished her husband with a jab to his side.
"I can't help it! Danni's cooking is just the best!" he admitted.
"Just Danni's?"
A stunned silence fell over the table when they saw who made the comment. It was Jaina.
"No offense kid, you're a great pilot but when it comes to cooking, you're still a rookie just like your mom," Han said, laughing heartily not noticing Leia and Jaina's stares. "I hope you know what you're getting into Durron," he added.
"Well I couldn't care less about her cooking. I still love her all the same," Kyp admitted putting an arm around Jaina who seated next to him and placed a light kiss on her cheek. Jaina blushed and everyone was surprised that Leia was smiling happily at the couple. Then, everyone turned to stare expectantly at Jacen.
"What?" he spit out. His tone meant to say "back off" but for some reason everyone had a faint smile tugging at their lips. Even little Ben Skywalker, in his mother's arms, was squealing with delight. He was about to shout out when he felt Danni's hand on his kneecap. He nearly choked on the small slice of nerf steak in his mouth.
The table broke out into huge fits of laughter but only his Uncle Luke was smiling at him. He felt his uncle's encouragement. Encouragement? Encouragement for what? He turned to Danni and felt his knees go weak when he saw the dazzling smile she had on.
*We don't have to do this now* she sent.
*Thanks for understanding* he sent back.
*Well don't take too much time Solo or I'll just leave you for someone else*
*I'll never let you go* he sent and gripped her hand resting on his knee. She gripped even harder and she put a small kiss on his cheek. The table erupted into laughter again and even his uncle was nodding in approval as Jacen flushed.
"Well my boy is growing up and he definitely takes after his father when it comes to women," Han put in and shut up after looking at the disapproval on Leia's face.
"Well how about some wine?" Karrde put in taking out the bottle he had brought(magically) and handed it to Lando who popped the cork and poured some in his glass.
"Not so much or you're going to tire me out tonight again," Lando's tall wife, Tendra, admonished. Jacen and the others watched Lando with great interest when he recognized the embarrassment on Lando's face. He had never seen his father's friend embarrassed.
Jacen simply took a sip of his wine that his father had poured out and smiled at Danni.
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Most of the guests were loitering in the living sitting on the sofas and chatting about past events and the upcoming strike against the Yuuzhan Vong or so that was what Jacen Solo thought.
"So when do you think Jacen will get his act together?" Lando asked his friend, Han.
"When Corellia's nine hells freeze over," he replied.
"Surely it can't be that bad," Karrde put in.
"Actually Karrde's right. I seem to have a knack in interrupting those two whenever they get.....er...intimate," Luke said, wearing a foolish grin that Mara had seen once before.
"Guess you still haven't lost the farmboy naivete, Skywalker," his wife put in. She was holding Ben in her arms who was sleeping.
"Hey it's was my farmboyish-ness that you found so appealing," he replied back smoothly and laughed as Mara blushed.
"Put a lid on it Luke!" she bit back, still blushing causing everyone to chuckle.
"Good thing the kids ain't here to listen to all this," Shada added. Jaina, Jacen and Danni were washing the dishes and clearing the table.
"Just who are the kids?" Han's daughter came, plopping down next to Kyp Durron playing with his blond hair.
"Nothing dear. Just the usual adult talk. Nothing for you to know about," her mother put in, trying to keep a face and failing miserably. Jaina's eyes narrowed but her amusement was easily read on her face.
"Wait a minute! You left Jacen and Danni in the same room!?" Lando gulped.
"Is that a bad thing?" Jaina asked.
"We better check on them," Luke said standing up and moving quietly to the kitchen. He looked behind and scowled when he saw that everybody was following him. He put his finger to his lips indicating quiet. He could hear laughter coming from the kitchen.
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Jaina had left Danni and Jacen together. They were nearly done with washing the dishes. He had offered to help her with the remainder of the dishes. She had insisted that he do them with her so the job could be done faster.
He reluctantly stood next to her over the sink and assumed the position to help her. Occasionally, their hands would brush and she would quickly pull them away. Also, with the two of them washing over the small sink, he had flicked soapsuds at her and soon enough the two of them were engaged in a splashing battle.
*She's beautiful* he thought when he saw her laughing flicking water at him. She picked up on his stray thought and had stopped flicking water. She took a step closer to Jacen and put her arm around his waist. Even drenched with water, she looked beautiful.
"So I'm beautiful? Not perfect anymore?" she asked seductively, her voice low and husky.
He grinned and her pulled her closer as he remembered his words to the scientist during the time when he waited for her on the docking bay of the Venture. She had taken his breath away that day and she still took it away whenever he looked at her.
He lowered his head to meet hers and his lips were descending when he heard someone clear his or her throat.
It was his Uncle Luke, once again and this time he brought all the dinner guests with him. His uncle's face reddened and he could hear the rest trying to hide a snicker or a smirk. Jacen reddened a bit more when his Aunt Mara made an unnecessary snide comment. Once again, the moment with Danni was lost. He heard his uncle say something that included the words "not again".
"Well, well!" his father said, the lopsided grin on his face, so wide it could have broken his face.
"Err..it's nothing..Jacen was trying to get something out of my eye. Yeah! He was trying to get something out of my eye. It's not what you think it is. Anyway I better get to sleep," she said brushing past everyone and going into her bedroom.
Jacen just glared at the rest smirking at him, most of his glare directed at his uncle.
"Well would you look at the time. We'd better get going. Bye!" his uncle said and made a quick retreat to the exit bringing Mara along with him. Jacen moved to glare at everyone else and was rewarded to see them make a mad rush towards the exit.
He sighed and went to his room.
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It was late into the night and Jaina was finally beginning to settle to sleep next to Kyp. His arms were outstretched and she was resting her head on his bare chest.
"Kyp?"
"What is it sweetheart?" he asked looking at Jaina's hair. She raised her head and looked him in the eye. For a moment, Kyp was lost in her beautiful features. Her hair was cascaded around her face and she had a smile on, reminding him of a drawing he had seen once. A drawing on an angel.
"Make love to me?" she asked looking him straight in the eye.
"What!?" he blurted out.
"I want to experience it," she replied innocently.
"You mean you've never had sex with Jag before?" he asked, blurting out the words.
"No. I felt that something was missing between him and me so I never once thought about it. Now I realize that I have it right here, in the form of Kyp Durron. Please Kyp?" she asked, he could feel the desperation in her voice.
He was going to oblige her when he heard a loud thunderclap followed by a flash of lightning. It was soon followed by heavy rain and both Kyp and Jaina felt a small tendril of fear through the Force.
It came from Danni.
"We should check on her," Kyp told Jaina.
"You go. I'll be waiting right here," she said huskily, winking her eye.
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Jacen could not sleep as his mind played the scene in the kitchen over and over again as his fingers tapped lightly on his bare stomach. He was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard thunder and rain amidst something he known as fear radiating from Danni in the next room.
He jumped up from his bed, threw on a shirt and rushed out the door. He scowled when he saw Kyp Durron in front of Danni's door, the older Jedi's hand coming into contact with the door in a knock. Jacen gathered the Force around him and gently pushed Kyp out of the way.
"Don't ever do that again!" Kyp said glaring at Jacen.
"You just mind your own business Durron," he replied coolly. For some reason, Kyp seemed to blush.
"Well you take care of her," Kyp replied still red.
"And you better take care of my sister....brother," he finally said. On hearing Jacen's words, Kyp broke out into a jawbreaker of a smile and gave Jacen a thumbs up sign.
Gathering his wits, he knocked on Danni's door after watching his sister's lover go back into their room. He waited for what seemed an eternity before the door finally opened revealing a pale-looking Danni clad in a flimsy nightgown.
Wordlessly, he took of his shirt and wrapped it around the scientist who looked up to him and smiled.
"Can I come in?' he asked. She nodded and he stepped in her room. The first thing he noticed was the room smelled of Danni, so intoxicating and he was caught in the act when Danni looked at him oddly. He was about to answer when a loud thunderclap reverberated through the room. Danni shrieked and clung to Jacen's hand, burying her face in his chest.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I just have a natural phobia for thunderstorms ever since I was young. My father was killed in a thunderstorm when I was only five. He got struck by lightning. I've always been scared of thunderstorms ever since," she replied, tears sparkling in her eyes as she pulled back painful memories.
"I'm sorry," he mumbled, wiping the tears of from her cheek. "If you want to, I could stay here inside your room. I'll sleep on the floor of course," he continued, slowly gulping in case she refused him.
"I don't want you to sle-" she replied when he cut her off.
"It's okay I understand. If you need anything call me," he turned and started to walk back.
"No you don't understand! Listen to me! I want you to stay but not sleep on the floor. I want you to sleep on the bed with me," she replied.
Jacen fairly blushed as she led him to her bed. She motioned for him to get on the bed first as she took his shirt and folded it, placing it on her table. Reluctantly, he got on her bed and settled down on the far side of her bed. He could not help but feel self-conscious of his appearance when he got a good look at her nightgown.
She chuckled a bit but it was stifled when another thunderclap filled the room. She jumped onto the bed and settled herself on his chest. His hand immediately came around her neck and wrapped itself around her waist. He heard Danni's sigh of satisfaction as she fell asleep on his chest. Jacen was baffled as why he did that.
*Probably one of those common male reactions she talks about* he thought.
Settling himself, he closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
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"Jacen!" she screamed.
He stared blankly at her for a moment before he turned his attention back on the dozens of Yuuzhan Vong warriors charging in.
"Force Deadly Sight," he muttered as the Yuuzhan Vong warriors stopped in their tracks. Some of them got burned to death while others fell down, their bodies melting into a mass of swirling, dark liquid.
He must have been using a dark side power. Only the Dark side had aggressive powers, powers of the Light side were used in defense. That must mean that he was...
"Jacen No!" she screamed out.
He looked at her for one second and one second was all it took for a Yuuzhan Vong warrior to hurl his amphistaff at Jacen, piercing through his stomach. Blood crept out from his mouth as he smiled at Danni before falling, dead, to the ground.
"NOOOOOOOO!" she cried out as she ran to his lifeless, limp body cupping his face with her hands. She was staring at his face which was still smiling, shaking it furiously as if willing her love to come back to life through sheer force of will.
Then, she felt pain on her back as the same Yuuzhan Vong amphistaff that killed her love descended on her spine, leaving a huge gash. She sighed and lied down next to her love, happy that she would soon join him. To join her love.
Jacen.
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She woke up in a cold sweat, gasping for air and her hands grasping the sheets of her bed. Her hands brushed against something solid and she looked to see Jacen still sleeping next to her. Relief engulfed her washing away her worry, which came back again like a slap to her face.
*Was it a dream? Or a Jedi Vision?* she thought.
If it was a dream, she would have nothing to worry about but what if it had been a vision? She was a Jedi, at least she thought she was, so what would she do if the vision came true?
She looked at Jacen's sleeping form, her hand tracing his pectoral muscles and his stomach abs. He smiled softly in his sleep as her hand touched his body. She leaned over and kissed his cheek. She settled back to sleep in his arms, vowing that no matter what, nothing would hurt her Jacen.
Even if she died saving him.
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Lucasfilm. Don't sue me cos I ain't making any money from this. It's written for the
pure joy of writing.
Don't know why I did this, must be cos of the boredom on this godforsaken country. I hate Singapore. Anyways enjoy the fic.
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"It's big I grant you that," his sister Jaina commented.
"Big is an understatement," Kyp put in.
"Come on Jacen," Danni said pulling Jacen into the apartment with her. Jacen blushed when Kyp and Jaina snickered at him being pulled by a woman.
Jacen agreed with Kyp, the apartment was huge. Slightly bigger than the Solo residence that had been reduced to rubble on Yuuzhan'tar. The apartment consisted of two living rooms, a dining room are complete with a table that could seat twenty and music player, a kitchen and three bedrooms.
Three bedrooms.
"Hey look, since they're three bedrooms, me and Kyp can take one and you and Jaina can have the other," he said looking at Danni. Kyp chuckled at Jacen's statement and Jaina and Danni both stared at him. Jaina giving the "I-cant-believe-you-said-that" look and Danni had a look of pure hurt.
"I'm sorry Jacen. I'll be sharing one room with Jaina. You and Danni can share another one," said Kyp as he put his arm around Jaina and winked at Jacen. Jacen was about to protest his sister sleeping in the same room with Kyp Durron.
*I'm a big girl Jacen. Don't worry about me* she sent to him via the Force.
*Okay but take care of yourself. I don't want my big sister getting hurt* he sent back.
*You just worry about Danni*
Jacen flushed and so did Jaina as Kyp chuckled picking upon Jacen and Jaina's Force discussion. The chuckle died on his lips when Jaina nudged her elbow into Kyp's side. Wordlessly, he picked up his and Jaina's bag and headed into the one of the three bedrooms but not before what Jacen saw as a slap to his sister's behind.
"In that case, Danni can have one room and I'll take the other," he said to his sister, picking up his bag and Danni's. He could feel Danni's anger and so could his sister and if looks could kill, Jacen would be reduced to a pile of ash by two dual-linked strikes.
*I'm not ready yet Danni. Please understand* he sent her.
*Of course you're not ready! You can't even deal with a stupid kiss!* she sent back. Jacen winced at the anger he heard in her tone as she brushed past him and entering another bedroom. Jaina merely shook her head at her brother's naïve.
"Take care of her Jacen. She won't wait for you forever," she said sadly to him and going into her room. He was left standing alone at the doorstep with a bag in each hand.
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Jacen stepped out from the fresher in his room and headed to the dining room. Jaina had told him that they were going to eat dinner at eight o'clock sharp. He sighed, threw on some clean clothes and went out of his room.
It was their first dinner together in the apartment. Both Jaina and Danni had been cooking in the kitchen for the past two hours. There were many smells coming out from there, some of them smelled good and some of them were horrible. Jacen sat down at the dinner table and noted with surprise that there were at least another ten plates on the table.
He wondered what they were cooking until it required more than ten plates. He also noted the music player was playing some slow music and that there were flowers on the table. What was the occasion?
"We've got people coming over as well," he heard Kyp Durron's voice behind him. He watched the older Jedi smirk and take a seat opposite of him.
"Don't read my mind without permission Durron," Jacen bit out.
"Hey you were projecting ever since I came here. Besides I made a promise to your sister not to read anyone's minds without permission," the older Jedi said.
"Speaking of my sister, keep your hands to yourself Durron or I could just kill you. And if you hurt her, I'll let my father and mom loose," he threatened.
"Sithspawn Jacen! What can I do to convince you that I really love your sister. Even when she was with Jag, I'd stuck by her to give her my support. Not once, not once did I even think of telling her how I felt back then to confuse her. And now when I finally found her, you think I'm not good enough for her. I know I did some bad things to her and that I have the blood of millions on my hands but I swear I love her with all my heart. So either you accept that or you're not happy with it. Either way is fine by me!" he dished out, Kyp's eyes blazing.
Jacen was taken aback by the passion he heard in Kyp's voice. He could also see that Kyp was dead serious, something he had never seen in Kyp before.
"Well take care of her, she's my sister," was his reply. He looked straight in Kyp's eyes and he was surprised to see the Jedi Master grin at him.
"Thank you for understanding Jacen," he said.
"No problem," he said when he felt his uncle's approach. He reached out with the Force and felt the presence of many other people behind his uncle. He stood up and went to the door.
Sure enough as soon as he reached the door, the chime sounded and he opened it. His jaw nearly dropped. All the guests were close friends of the family. He had a sinking feeling in his stomach when both his dad and Lando Calrissian smirked at him.
It was going to be a long dinner.
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"So that's how you and Mara ended up getting married? Pretty strange especially when she wanted to kill you at the start!" Danni piped up while everyone laughed at her comment. Jacen had heard how his Uncle Luke and Aunt Mara met but he forced a small laugh for Danni. He was feeling very uncomfortable right now, despite the relaxing mood set by Jaina and Danni.
However, it was his close proximity with Danni that was troubling him. They were seated so close to each other that he could feel her leg resting against his. Just her leg was enough to distract Jacen from his food and his powers of speech. He just did not feel comfortable with her so close in front of so many people.
"So when do you plan to have a mini Talon Karrde running around?" his father blurted out in between bites of food at Karrde and Shada.
"Master Solo, that is very inappropriate question and at a formal dinner. I am absolutely horrif-" the family droid, Threepio piped up, his rebuke dead when Han tripped his circuit breaker. In the background another family droid, Artoo-Detoo, whistled as what could pass for astromech laughter.
"Don't talk with your mouth full scruffy looking nerf herder!" his mother, Leia admonished her husband with a jab to his side.
"I can't help it! Danni's cooking is just the best!" he admitted.
"Just Danni's?"
A stunned silence fell over the table when they saw who made the comment. It was Jaina.
"No offense kid, you're a great pilot but when it comes to cooking, you're still a rookie just like your mom," Han said, laughing heartily not noticing Leia and Jaina's stares. "I hope you know what you're getting into Durron," he added.
"Well I couldn't care less about her cooking. I still love her all the same," Kyp admitted putting an arm around Jaina who seated next to him and placed a light kiss on her cheek. Jaina blushed and everyone was surprised that Leia was smiling happily at the couple. Then, everyone turned to stare expectantly at Jacen.
"What?" he spit out. His tone meant to say "back off" but for some reason everyone had a faint smile tugging at their lips. Even little Ben Skywalker, in his mother's arms, was squealing with delight. He was about to shout out when he felt Danni's hand on his kneecap. He nearly choked on the small slice of nerf steak in his mouth.
The table broke out into huge fits of laughter but only his Uncle Luke was smiling at him. He felt his uncle's encouragement. Encouragement? Encouragement for what? He turned to Danni and felt his knees go weak when he saw the dazzling smile she had on.
*We don't have to do this now* she sent.
*Thanks for understanding* he sent back.
*Well don't take too much time Solo or I'll just leave you for someone else*
*I'll never let you go* he sent and gripped her hand resting on his knee. She gripped even harder and she put a small kiss on his cheek. The table erupted into laughter again and even his uncle was nodding in approval as Jacen flushed.
"Well my boy is growing up and he definitely takes after his father when it comes to women," Han put in and shut up after looking at the disapproval on Leia's face.
"Well how about some wine?" Karrde put in taking out the bottle he had brought(magically) and handed it to Lando who popped the cork and poured some in his glass.
"Not so much or you're going to tire me out tonight again," Lando's tall wife, Tendra, admonished. Jacen and the others watched Lando with great interest when he recognized the embarrassment on Lando's face. He had never seen his father's friend embarrassed.
Jacen simply took a sip of his wine that his father had poured out and smiled at Danni.
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Most of the guests were loitering in the living sitting on the sofas and chatting about past events and the upcoming strike against the Yuuzhan Vong or so that was what Jacen Solo thought.
"So when do you think Jacen will get his act together?" Lando asked his friend, Han.
"When Corellia's nine hells freeze over," he replied.
"Surely it can't be that bad," Karrde put in.
"Actually Karrde's right. I seem to have a knack in interrupting those two whenever they get.....er...intimate," Luke said, wearing a foolish grin that Mara had seen once before.
"Guess you still haven't lost the farmboy naivete, Skywalker," his wife put in. She was holding Ben in her arms who was sleeping.
"Hey it's was my farmboyish-ness that you found so appealing," he replied back smoothly and laughed as Mara blushed.
"Put a lid on it Luke!" she bit back, still blushing causing everyone to chuckle.
"Good thing the kids ain't here to listen to all this," Shada added. Jaina, Jacen and Danni were washing the dishes and clearing the table.
"Just who are the kids?" Han's daughter came, plopping down next to Kyp Durron playing with his blond hair.
"Nothing dear. Just the usual adult talk. Nothing for you to know about," her mother put in, trying to keep a face and failing miserably. Jaina's eyes narrowed but her amusement was easily read on her face.
"Wait a minute! You left Jacen and Danni in the same room!?" Lando gulped.
"Is that a bad thing?" Jaina asked.
"We better check on them," Luke said standing up and moving quietly to the kitchen. He looked behind and scowled when he saw that everybody was following him. He put his finger to his lips indicating quiet. He could hear laughter coming from the kitchen.
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Jaina had left Danni and Jacen together. They were nearly done with washing the dishes. He had offered to help her with the remainder of the dishes. She had insisted that he do them with her so the job could be done faster.
He reluctantly stood next to her over the sink and assumed the position to help her. Occasionally, their hands would brush and she would quickly pull them away. Also, with the two of them washing over the small sink, he had flicked soapsuds at her and soon enough the two of them were engaged in a splashing battle.
*She's beautiful* he thought when he saw her laughing flicking water at him. She picked up on his stray thought and had stopped flicking water. She took a step closer to Jacen and put her arm around his waist. Even drenched with water, she looked beautiful.
"So I'm beautiful? Not perfect anymore?" she asked seductively, her voice low and husky.
He grinned and her pulled her closer as he remembered his words to the scientist during the time when he waited for her on the docking bay of the Venture. She had taken his breath away that day and she still took it away whenever he looked at her.
He lowered his head to meet hers and his lips were descending when he heard someone clear his or her throat.
It was his Uncle Luke, once again and this time he brought all the dinner guests with him. His uncle's face reddened and he could hear the rest trying to hide a snicker or a smirk. Jacen reddened a bit more when his Aunt Mara made an unnecessary snide comment. Once again, the moment with Danni was lost. He heard his uncle say something that included the words "not again".
"Well, well!" his father said, the lopsided grin on his face, so wide it could have broken his face.
"Err..it's nothing..Jacen was trying to get something out of my eye. Yeah! He was trying to get something out of my eye. It's not what you think it is. Anyway I better get to sleep," she said brushing past everyone and going into her bedroom.
Jacen just glared at the rest smirking at him, most of his glare directed at his uncle.
"Well would you look at the time. We'd better get going. Bye!" his uncle said and made a quick retreat to the exit bringing Mara along with him. Jacen moved to glare at everyone else and was rewarded to see them make a mad rush towards the exit.
He sighed and went to his room.
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It was late into the night and Jaina was finally beginning to settle to sleep next to Kyp. His arms were outstretched and she was resting her head on his bare chest.
"Kyp?"
"What is it sweetheart?" he asked looking at Jaina's hair. She raised her head and looked him in the eye. For a moment, Kyp was lost in her beautiful features. Her hair was cascaded around her face and she had a smile on, reminding him of a drawing he had seen once. A drawing on an angel.
"Make love to me?" she asked looking him straight in the eye.
"What!?" he blurted out.
"I want to experience it," she replied innocently.
"You mean you've never had sex with Jag before?" he asked, blurting out the words.
"No. I felt that something was missing between him and me so I never once thought about it. Now I realize that I have it right here, in the form of Kyp Durron. Please Kyp?" she asked, he could feel the desperation in her voice.
He was going to oblige her when he heard a loud thunderclap followed by a flash of lightning. It was soon followed by heavy rain and both Kyp and Jaina felt a small tendril of fear through the Force.
It came from Danni.
"We should check on her," Kyp told Jaina.
"You go. I'll be waiting right here," she said huskily, winking her eye.
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Jacen could not sleep as his mind played the scene in the kitchen over and over again as his fingers tapped lightly on his bare stomach. He was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard thunder and rain amidst something he known as fear radiating from Danni in the next room.
He jumped up from his bed, threw on a shirt and rushed out the door. He scowled when he saw Kyp Durron in front of Danni's door, the older Jedi's hand coming into contact with the door in a knock. Jacen gathered the Force around him and gently pushed Kyp out of the way.
"Don't ever do that again!" Kyp said glaring at Jacen.
"You just mind your own business Durron," he replied coolly. For some reason, Kyp seemed to blush.
"Well you take care of her," Kyp replied still red.
"And you better take care of my sister....brother," he finally said. On hearing Jacen's words, Kyp broke out into a jawbreaker of a smile and gave Jacen a thumbs up sign.
Gathering his wits, he knocked on Danni's door after watching his sister's lover go back into their room. He waited for what seemed an eternity before the door finally opened revealing a pale-looking Danni clad in a flimsy nightgown.
Wordlessly, he took of his shirt and wrapped it around the scientist who looked up to him and smiled.
"Can I come in?' he asked. She nodded and he stepped in her room. The first thing he noticed was the room smelled of Danni, so intoxicating and he was caught in the act when Danni looked at him oddly. He was about to answer when a loud thunderclap reverberated through the room. Danni shrieked and clung to Jacen's hand, burying her face in his chest.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I just have a natural phobia for thunderstorms ever since I was young. My father was killed in a thunderstorm when I was only five. He got struck by lightning. I've always been scared of thunderstorms ever since," she replied, tears sparkling in her eyes as she pulled back painful memories.
"I'm sorry," he mumbled, wiping the tears of from her cheek. "If you want to, I could stay here inside your room. I'll sleep on the floor of course," he continued, slowly gulping in case she refused him.
"I don't want you to sle-" she replied when he cut her off.
"It's okay I understand. If you need anything call me," he turned and started to walk back.
"No you don't understand! Listen to me! I want you to stay but not sleep on the floor. I want you to sleep on the bed with me," she replied.
Jacen fairly blushed as she led him to her bed. She motioned for him to get on the bed first as she took his shirt and folded it, placing it on her table. Reluctantly, he got on her bed and settled down on the far side of her bed. He could not help but feel self-conscious of his appearance when he got a good look at her nightgown.
She chuckled a bit but it was stifled when another thunderclap filled the room. She jumped onto the bed and settled herself on his chest. His hand immediately came around her neck and wrapped itself around her waist. He heard Danni's sigh of satisfaction as she fell asleep on his chest. Jacen was baffled as why he did that.
*Probably one of those common male reactions she talks about* he thought.
Settling himself, he closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
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"Jacen!" she screamed.
He stared blankly at her for a moment before he turned his attention back on the dozens of Yuuzhan Vong warriors charging in.
"Force Deadly Sight," he muttered as the Yuuzhan Vong warriors stopped in their tracks. Some of them got burned to death while others fell down, their bodies melting into a mass of swirling, dark liquid.
He must have been using a dark side power. Only the Dark side had aggressive powers, powers of the Light side were used in defense. That must mean that he was...
"Jacen No!" she screamed out.
He looked at her for one second and one second was all it took for a Yuuzhan Vong warrior to hurl his amphistaff at Jacen, piercing through his stomach. Blood crept out from his mouth as he smiled at Danni before falling, dead, to the ground.
"NOOOOOOOO!" she cried out as she ran to his lifeless, limp body cupping his face with her hands. She was staring at his face which was still smiling, shaking it furiously as if willing her love to come back to life through sheer force of will.
Then, she felt pain on her back as the same Yuuzhan Vong amphistaff that killed her love descended on her spine, leaving a huge gash. She sighed and lied down next to her love, happy that she would soon join him. To join her love.
Jacen.
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She woke up in a cold sweat, gasping for air and her hands grasping the sheets of her bed. Her hands brushed against something solid and she looked to see Jacen still sleeping next to her. Relief engulfed her washing away her worry, which came back again like a slap to her face.
*Was it a dream? Or a Jedi Vision?* she thought.
If it was a dream, she would have nothing to worry about but what if it had been a vision? She was a Jedi, at least she thought she was, so what would she do if the vision came true?
She looked at Jacen's sleeping form, her hand tracing his pectoral muscles and his stomach abs. He smiled softly in his sleep as her hand touched his body. She leaned over and kissed his cheek. She settled back to sleep in his arms, vowing that no matter what, nothing would hurt her Jacen.
Even if she died saving him.
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