Chapter 3, Post 1
By obi's girl
"I still don't understand why you didn't say anything about Jaina's pregnancy when she was alive," Luke started as he followed his sister and brother-in-law into their apartment. Jaina and Cherith had already settled back into their apartment and were awaiting Jag's return. Cherith, that girl was his flesh as well as his concern. Before this morning, he had no idea Cherith existed.
Leia turned to him and smiled, "Now, you do know she exists," Leia interrupted his thoughts, "Look Luke, I really don't see the big deal. She still has as much Jedi potential as Jaina, maybe more than her mother."
"I'm not worried about that. Certain people knew Jaina was pregnant and didn't say anything about it," he paused and crossed his arms, "They were dead Leia, and now they're back. We don't know how it'll affect both of them, Cherith especially,"
Mara placed a hand on her husband's shoulder and smiled, "I think Luke's worried they'll be set apart from the rest of us, because they were dead and there might be a scar on both of them,"
"An emotional scar," Leia whispered and sat down, "I know what you're saying Luke but if there was a problem, Jaina would tell us, right?" she mused as Han stood up and answered the door.
He was shocked as Jaina and Cherith stormed into the room, Cherith dropping her mom's things on the couch as Jaina continued to ramble. But Han could make out clearly Jag's name and looked to his granddaughter. Cherith shrugged and sat down on the couch. "I can't believe he'd do this to me.. I mean, I know I was dead; Cherith was dead but I came to him and told him we were coming back and he still did this," she rambled.
"Jaina.?" Han asked but she ignored him, still rambling.
"I know I told him to move on after the funeral but I lied to him.Jedi don't lie I know but he believed me. How dumb can he be? I was pregnant with Cherith and he believed I didn't want anything to do with him. I knew Celeste existed but I didn't think --- maybe it isn't even his fault. Maybe she made him do this. I wouldn't be surprised, women can be forceful little sith sometimes,"
Han rolled his eyes and gestured for Luke to stop her before she started pacing all over the apartment and rambling. Luke touched Jaina's shoulder and she swirled around abruptly, facing him. "Oh, hi Uncle Luke,"
"Jaina, very slowly, what happened?"
Cherith laughed, "I thought you would have been able to pick up what she was saying," they all looked at her and she quieted down again.
"Jag, he slept with Celeste," Jaina cried, throwing up her arms and falling onto the couch next to her daughter. She grabbed a pillow and held onto it. "I mean, I know it was probably a one-time fling but I don't know who I should be angry with. Jag or Celeste, or both of them. I told Jag to move on because I knew there was someone else for him, and he believed me and thought it was Celeste. Please, I'm more prettier than her - that little Sith Witch. She was his doctor, his psychiatrist --- she doesn't know anything about him,"
Cherith shrugged and looked at Luke, "She's had a rough day,"
Luke rolled his eyes, "I think we all have," he paused and looked at his niece, "Jaina, when did this all happen?"
"Why in sith would I know? I talked to him very briefly after making my return.. it was in our apartment. I guess he'd just returned from a therapy session," Jaina bolted up, nearly knocking over Cherith, "It happened then! She made a pass at him then, I knew it. I know that witch did it then and then she persuaded him to sleep with her."
"Jaina, you don't know that for sure," Mara started.
She shrugged, "No, I'm sure of it," Jaina looked at her, "Jag, when I talked to him, he was distracted, thinking of something else or in this case, someone else. He was thinking about her then,"
Jaina, Qui-Gon started as he appeared behind Cherith. The girl turned, looked at him and shrugged, leaning on the couch again. Luke, what happened?
"Who are you again?" Luke countered.
Qui-Gon Jinn, Jedi Master. Obi-Wan was my apprentice, he said. Luke was about to question him further but he returned his attention to Jaina, Cherith, what happened to Jaina?
Jaina nodded, crying again, "I just don't understand how he could do this to me, Qui-Gon. I loved him, I still love Jag, but I can't even stand to look at him now, and Cherith, she was looking forward to meeting her father,"
You could try again, he suggested, I think you were right and it was just a fling. Jaina, Jag loves you. I know he does. He was in agony after you died...he almost killed himself with your lightsaber,
"I know," she whispered, "I probably should have stopped him then if it meant keeping him away from her," Jaina shrugged and looked at him, "It's still not right,"
No, it's not but Jag does love you very much, he paused and smiled, And you need to be with him,
Jaina scowled and looked away, "And live the lie? I won't do that. It's not fair to me or Cherith."
Jaina, I watched Anakin and Padme live a lie for three years and it tore them apart, but I refuse to stand back and watch the same thing happen to you and Jag,
She looked at him and sighed, "Padme? Who was she?"
Your grandmother, he whispered and knew Luke and Leia wanted to ask him more questions, Jaina, you need to go and see Jag again. Cherith will stay here.
Jaina stood up and sucked in her gut, "I think you're right. I do need to see Jag again," and she marched to the door.
tbc
Chapter 3, Post 2
"Potential"
By obi's girl
Cherith Solo huffed, draping her black hair over the head of the couch, sitting there with her grandmother, granduncle and the rest of her family. She wasn't familiar with a whole lot of them, but she knew her grandmother's side was Jedi. Han was a pilot and had lost his best friend in the war, also that the family had suffered a lot.
"Can I ask a question?" she piped and all eyes turned on her, "Um, what's it like being a Jedi? I mean, I know I'm probably part Jedi or something..."
Luke nodded, "Jedi are still human, Cherith. They just have special abilities most normal humans don't. They can sense other people's thoughts,"
She shrugged, "Is that it?"
"No, that's not all," Luke laughed and removed his lightsaber, "This is the weapon of a Jedi; it's a lot easier to wield than a blaster but there's so much more than just a lightsaber,"
Mara smiled, "For example, you can telekinesis to move things but not all Jedi can do that. Different Jedi have different abilities,"
"Oh," Cherith whispered, "So, what can my mom do?"
"Your mom's pretty good at sensing other people's emotions, a much better fighter between her and her brothers," Leia said, smiling at Cherith.
Cherith raked a strand of black hair away from her face and sighed, "That's fun," she mused, "I'm part Corellian, right? So, how do I know if I'm a Jedi versus a regular person?" Han grunted and mumbled something but Cherith didn't hear it.
"I'd say we'd bring you to the Temple to be tested, but the Jedi Temple doesn't' exist anymore," Luke added, "But we can find out another way," he stood and walked over to the Cherith and made her stand up. He took over to the center of the room and sat her down, and Luke sat across from her.
"Is this a Jedi thing?" Cherith asked, more than a little confused.
He nodded and whispered, "Just close your eyes, Cherith," Cherith let out a short breath and closed her eyes. Luke took her right hand and held it in his own; he felt himself connect to her. He saw Cherith as an older girl of nineteen on Niruaun. She was the only Jedi in the community she lived in, besides Jaina. He saw her as a lonely young woman, cursing her powers because she was different.
Next, he saw her at the edge of a mountain. She stood there for a moment before igniting her purple lightsaber and turning it off, and tossing it into the pit.
Luke backed away and looked at Cherith. It was only a possible future for her but if Jaina and Jag took her to Niruaun...He had to convince Jaina to keep her on Borealis with the Jedi.
"Cherith, you can open your eyes now," he whispered as he stood up and paced about the room.
Cherith did as she was told and stood up, looking at Luke again, "Well?" she asked.
"You have the potential." Cherith smiled proud and sat back again on the couch, spreading her black hair on the head and started to hum to herself.
tbc
I'd Miss You Still Chapter 3, Post 3 By obi's girl
Celeste tried to focus on her work but couldn't stop thinking about last night and the passion she and Jag shared. It was almost a haunt memory because of the consequences of their actions. They crossed the line and Celeste was certain her career was over because of what she allowed to happen. But she didn't regret what happened; she wanted it to happen but she was scared to admit it openly.
"Celestine Raven," a voice asked.
She looked up, staring at the petite young woman. The woman walked slowly into the office but something told Celeste, she should have known who she was but didn't know. "My name is Jaina Solo, Jagged Fel is my husband and father of my child," she paused and smiled, "I just wanted to thank you for keeping Jag company while I was gone, but I'm also here to tell you your services are no longer needed,"
"Did Jag request this or are you?" Celeste asked.
Jaina turned to her and scowled, "Stop playing games, doctor. I know everything; I know you slept with Jag. You seduced him and got him to sleep in your bed...and he was your patient! Sith, it's just so sickening you'd take advantage of him like that!"
Celeste shrugged, "Did you talk to Jag?"
"Jag told me you had an affair with him..."
"...then he didn't tell you the whole truth. I would think a Jedi would have been able to sense the truth. I didn't seduce Jag; he seduced me," Celeste finished.
Jaina stared at her in disbelief and laughed, "That's funny. Desperate, but funny,"
Celeste scowled, "It's the truth. He seduced me; I slept in his bed. My career is finished once word gets out about what happened, but I don't love Jag. I did enjoy last night, I enjoyed it a lot but I don't love Jag,"
Jaina bent down, her eyes narrowing on Celeste, "You slept with my husband and all you can think about is your stupid career?"
"I care about Jag too but I don't love him," she repeated, "I just realized that this morning when I got to my office. I said all I could about was last night, but all I could think about was the sex and not Jag,"
"You don't love Jag?" Jaina whispered, "Then why did you pursue him?"
She shrugged, "I don't know why but I don't love him," Celeste paused and huffed, "Jag loves you Jaina; he loves your daughter. Take comfort in that."
tbc
Chapter 3, Post 4
"Starting Again"
By obi's girl
"Are you sure I can't go anywhere?" Cherith asked Luke as she stood again and started pacing the apartment. The teenage daughter of Jaina didn't like to be cooped up for a long time and was starting to get restless. Luke looked at her and smiled, she was so much like Jaina, always wanting to do something to keep her busy. And Cherith was probably a lot like Jag too but she was also a Jedi.
When Luke bonded with Cherith, he felt she had a very strong Force aura. He saw her future, her possible future on Niruaun with Jag and Jaina. Now, he also realized if Jag and Jaina didn't resolve their differences, Cherith wouldn't end up there. She'd stay wherever her parents were. Luke turned and looked at Mara and Leia again.
The three of them had been talking through their Force bond. Leia glanced at Cherith, over Luke's shoulder and continued, ...You didn't have a sense of what her power was like?
No, I didn't. Matter of fact, I didn't see her use her lightsaber at all in my vision, Luke replied and looked at Cherith again, Why is she so restless? I can feel anxiety coming off in waves.
Mara smiled, She just doesn't like to be cooped up, Luke. Cherith's a teenager -- her emotions are natural.
Luke shrugged and turned again to his wife and sister-in-law, I don't think we can keep here any longer,
...Just as long as she doesn't start pacing again and whistling, Mara added, It was starting to really get on my nerves.
Luke laughed and cleared his throat, "Cherith, you know you don't have to hang around here. I know your Uncle Wedge would love to meet you, and your cousins too,"
"I don't know where they are," she mused.
"You can use the Force, but since you're not really familiar with that Threepio will take you," he replied and signaled the droid into the main room. "Threepio, will you help direct Cherith to see her Uncle Wedge and her cousins?"
The droid looked at Cherith and then at Luke, "Of course, Master Luke. Come child..." and guided Cherith out of the apartment.
Leia smiled, "You think she'll be fine?"
"She will; I'm still bonded with her. If anything happens, we'll know about it. But it's good for her to explore the base, especially since this place will be her home for a little while."
~~
Jaina started to fidget again as she stood before Jag's quarters, or what used to be hers and Jag's apartment. Used to be. Jaina had hoped for a nice homecoming but now, it looked like her homecoming was only a dream. She started to reach for the com pad but stopped and simply entered the quarters. She looked around the place for Jag but didn't see him anywhere.
"I didn't think you were coming back," he whispered, startling her from behind. "Where'd you go?"
She shrugged, "I took Cherith and we went to my parents," she paused and stopped fidgeting, "Jag, we need to talk again. I talked to Celeste and she said you seduced her, and that it wasn't the other way around,"
Jag turned to her and scowled, "I did," he paused, "What else did Celeste say?"
"She said repeatedly that she doesn't love you, which I believed, oddly enough," Jaina mused, "Look, I had been thinking about this the whole way over here."
"Thinking about what?" he questioned.
"I want to start over again; I want to give the benefit of a doubt that I know I can trust you again. Also, I don't know want our daughter to grow up without her father,"
He shrugged, "I don't want her to live that way either. Jaina, I love you both very much and I know I made a stupid decision but." he walked closer to her and touched her cheek, rubbing it, "I do love you and I want you both in my life,"
She smiled partially, staring up into his green eyes, "I want that too but this relationship has to be based on trust, and as much as I want you to hold me I need to believe I can trust you with my heart first,"
"You can, Jaina. You can," he whispered, leaning down to kiss her but Jaina backed away.
"We can't do that yet, Jag," she mused, "Not yet,"
Jag rolled his eyes, "When? When can I kiss you and hold you in my arms?"
She turned to him and smiled, "I, uh, I don't know---," she murmured as Jag suddenly grabbed her back and kissed her passionately. Jaina didn't pull away and kissed him back forcefully. "We should wait for this." she said between kisses.
"Why?"
".because we have to," she replied and pulled away from him again, "I'm sorry Jag, but we can't go there until we're ready to. Until I'm ready to and I'm not ready yet."
Jag looked down and huffed, "How will this work then? What will we do?"
She shrugged, "I guess we'll be starting over again," Jaina suddenly smiled and crossed her arms, "We need to start over again Jag, but we'll do it on my terms. I want to be swept off my feet and romanced. We never really had an official courting period before we were engaged."
"Swept off your feet and romanced?" he asked and smiled, "I think I can handle that."
"I'm looking forward to it." She finished and started for the door; Jaina turned back to him and smiled, "And for the time being, Cherith and I are staying at my parents. If you want to come by later and take me out to lunch or something, that's where I'll be."
tbc
"I still don't understand why you didn't say anything about Jaina's pregnancy when she was alive," Luke started as he followed his sister and brother-in-law into their apartment. Jaina and Cherith had already settled back into their apartment and were awaiting Jag's return. Cherith, that girl was his flesh as well as his concern. Before this morning, he had no idea Cherith existed.
Leia turned to him and smiled, "Now, you do know she exists," Leia interrupted his thoughts, "Look Luke, I really don't see the big deal. She still has as much Jedi potential as Jaina, maybe more than her mother."
"I'm not worried about that. Certain people knew Jaina was pregnant and didn't say anything about it," he paused and crossed his arms, "They were dead Leia, and now they're back. We don't know how it'll affect both of them, Cherith especially,"
Mara placed a hand on her husband's shoulder and smiled, "I think Luke's worried they'll be set apart from the rest of us, because they were dead and there might be a scar on both of them,"
"An emotional scar," Leia whispered and sat down, "I know what you're saying Luke but if there was a problem, Jaina would tell us, right?" she mused as Han stood up and answered the door.
He was shocked as Jaina and Cherith stormed into the room, Cherith dropping her mom's things on the couch as Jaina continued to ramble. But Han could make out clearly Jag's name and looked to his granddaughter. Cherith shrugged and sat down on the couch. "I can't believe he'd do this to me.. I mean, I know I was dead; Cherith was dead but I came to him and told him we were coming back and he still did this," she rambled.
"Jaina.?" Han asked but she ignored him, still rambling.
"I know I told him to move on after the funeral but I lied to him.Jedi don't lie I know but he believed me. How dumb can he be? I was pregnant with Cherith and he believed I didn't want anything to do with him. I knew Celeste existed but I didn't think --- maybe it isn't even his fault. Maybe she made him do this. I wouldn't be surprised, women can be forceful little sith sometimes,"
Han rolled his eyes and gestured for Luke to stop her before she started pacing all over the apartment and rambling. Luke touched Jaina's shoulder and she swirled around abruptly, facing him. "Oh, hi Uncle Luke,"
"Jaina, very slowly, what happened?"
Cherith laughed, "I thought you would have been able to pick up what she was saying," they all looked at her and she quieted down again.
"Jag, he slept with Celeste," Jaina cried, throwing up her arms and falling onto the couch next to her daughter. She grabbed a pillow and held onto it. "I mean, I know it was probably a one-time fling but I don't know who I should be angry with. Jag or Celeste, or both of them. I told Jag to move on because I knew there was someone else for him, and he believed me and thought it was Celeste. Please, I'm more prettier than her - that little Sith Witch. She was his doctor, his psychiatrist --- she doesn't know anything about him,"
Cherith shrugged and looked at Luke, "She's had a rough day,"
Luke rolled his eyes, "I think we all have," he paused and looked at his niece, "Jaina, when did this all happen?"
"Why in sith would I know? I talked to him very briefly after making my return.. it was in our apartment. I guess he'd just returned from a therapy session," Jaina bolted up, nearly knocking over Cherith, "It happened then! She made a pass at him then, I knew it. I know that witch did it then and then she persuaded him to sleep with her."
"Jaina, you don't know that for sure," Mara started.
She shrugged, "No, I'm sure of it," Jaina looked at her, "Jag, when I talked to him, he was distracted, thinking of something else or in this case, someone else. He was thinking about her then,"
Jaina, Qui-Gon started as he appeared behind Cherith. The girl turned, looked at him and shrugged, leaning on the couch again. Luke, what happened?
"Who are you again?" Luke countered.
Qui-Gon Jinn, Jedi Master. Obi-Wan was my apprentice, he said. Luke was about to question him further but he returned his attention to Jaina, Cherith, what happened to Jaina?
Jaina nodded, crying again, "I just don't understand how he could do this to me, Qui-Gon. I loved him, I still love Jag, but I can't even stand to look at him now, and Cherith, she was looking forward to meeting her father,"
You could try again, he suggested, I think you were right and it was just a fling. Jaina, Jag loves you. I know he does. He was in agony after you died...he almost killed himself with your lightsaber,
"I know," she whispered, "I probably should have stopped him then if it meant keeping him away from her," Jaina shrugged and looked at him, "It's still not right,"
No, it's not but Jag does love you very much, he paused and smiled, And you need to be with him,
Jaina scowled and looked away, "And live the lie? I won't do that. It's not fair to me or Cherith."
Jaina, I watched Anakin and Padme live a lie for three years and it tore them apart, but I refuse to stand back and watch the same thing happen to you and Jag,
She looked at him and sighed, "Padme? Who was she?"
Your grandmother, he whispered and knew Luke and Leia wanted to ask him more questions, Jaina, you need to go and see Jag again. Cherith will stay here.
Jaina stood up and sucked in her gut, "I think you're right. I do need to see Jag again," and she marched to the door.
tbc
Chapter 3, Post 2
"Potential"
By obi's girl
Cherith Solo huffed, draping her black hair over the head of the couch, sitting there with her grandmother, granduncle and the rest of her family. She wasn't familiar with a whole lot of them, but she knew her grandmother's side was Jedi. Han was a pilot and had lost his best friend in the war, also that the family had suffered a lot.
"Can I ask a question?" she piped and all eyes turned on her, "Um, what's it like being a Jedi? I mean, I know I'm probably part Jedi or something..."
Luke nodded, "Jedi are still human, Cherith. They just have special abilities most normal humans don't. They can sense other people's thoughts,"
She shrugged, "Is that it?"
"No, that's not all," Luke laughed and removed his lightsaber, "This is the weapon of a Jedi; it's a lot easier to wield than a blaster but there's so much more than just a lightsaber,"
Mara smiled, "For example, you can telekinesis to move things but not all Jedi can do that. Different Jedi have different abilities,"
"Oh," Cherith whispered, "So, what can my mom do?"
"Your mom's pretty good at sensing other people's emotions, a much better fighter between her and her brothers," Leia said, smiling at Cherith.
Cherith raked a strand of black hair away from her face and sighed, "That's fun," she mused, "I'm part Corellian, right? So, how do I know if I'm a Jedi versus a regular person?" Han grunted and mumbled something but Cherith didn't hear it.
"I'd say we'd bring you to the Temple to be tested, but the Jedi Temple doesn't' exist anymore," Luke added, "But we can find out another way," he stood and walked over to the Cherith and made her stand up. He took over to the center of the room and sat her down, and Luke sat across from her.
"Is this a Jedi thing?" Cherith asked, more than a little confused.
He nodded and whispered, "Just close your eyes, Cherith," Cherith let out a short breath and closed her eyes. Luke took her right hand and held it in his own; he felt himself connect to her. He saw Cherith as an older girl of nineteen on Niruaun. She was the only Jedi in the community she lived in, besides Jaina. He saw her as a lonely young woman, cursing her powers because she was different.
Next, he saw her at the edge of a mountain. She stood there for a moment before igniting her purple lightsaber and turning it off, and tossing it into the pit.
Luke backed away and looked at Cherith. It was only a possible future for her but if Jaina and Jag took her to Niruaun...He had to convince Jaina to keep her on Borealis with the Jedi.
"Cherith, you can open your eyes now," he whispered as he stood up and paced about the room.
Cherith did as she was told and stood up, looking at Luke again, "Well?" she asked.
"You have the potential." Cherith smiled proud and sat back again on the couch, spreading her black hair on the head and started to hum to herself.
tbc
I'd Miss You Still Chapter 3, Post 3 By obi's girl
Celeste tried to focus on her work but couldn't stop thinking about last night and the passion she and Jag shared. It was almost a haunt memory because of the consequences of their actions. They crossed the line and Celeste was certain her career was over because of what she allowed to happen. But she didn't regret what happened; she wanted it to happen but she was scared to admit it openly.
"Celestine Raven," a voice asked.
She looked up, staring at the petite young woman. The woman walked slowly into the office but something told Celeste, she should have known who she was but didn't know. "My name is Jaina Solo, Jagged Fel is my husband and father of my child," she paused and smiled, "I just wanted to thank you for keeping Jag company while I was gone, but I'm also here to tell you your services are no longer needed,"
"Did Jag request this or are you?" Celeste asked.
Jaina turned to her and scowled, "Stop playing games, doctor. I know everything; I know you slept with Jag. You seduced him and got him to sleep in your bed...and he was your patient! Sith, it's just so sickening you'd take advantage of him like that!"
Celeste shrugged, "Did you talk to Jag?"
"Jag told me you had an affair with him..."
"...then he didn't tell you the whole truth. I would think a Jedi would have been able to sense the truth. I didn't seduce Jag; he seduced me," Celeste finished.
Jaina stared at her in disbelief and laughed, "That's funny. Desperate, but funny,"
Celeste scowled, "It's the truth. He seduced me; I slept in his bed. My career is finished once word gets out about what happened, but I don't love Jag. I did enjoy last night, I enjoyed it a lot but I don't love Jag,"
Jaina bent down, her eyes narrowing on Celeste, "You slept with my husband and all you can think about is your stupid career?"
"I care about Jag too but I don't love him," she repeated, "I just realized that this morning when I got to my office. I said all I could about was last night, but all I could think about was the sex and not Jag,"
"You don't love Jag?" Jaina whispered, "Then why did you pursue him?"
She shrugged, "I don't know why but I don't love him," Celeste paused and huffed, "Jag loves you Jaina; he loves your daughter. Take comfort in that."
tbc
Chapter 3, Post 4
"Starting Again"
By obi's girl
"Are you sure I can't go anywhere?" Cherith asked Luke as she stood again and started pacing the apartment. The teenage daughter of Jaina didn't like to be cooped up for a long time and was starting to get restless. Luke looked at her and smiled, she was so much like Jaina, always wanting to do something to keep her busy. And Cherith was probably a lot like Jag too but she was also a Jedi.
When Luke bonded with Cherith, he felt she had a very strong Force aura. He saw her future, her possible future on Niruaun with Jag and Jaina. Now, he also realized if Jag and Jaina didn't resolve their differences, Cherith wouldn't end up there. She'd stay wherever her parents were. Luke turned and looked at Mara and Leia again.
The three of them had been talking through their Force bond. Leia glanced at Cherith, over Luke's shoulder and continued, ...You didn't have a sense of what her power was like?
No, I didn't. Matter of fact, I didn't see her use her lightsaber at all in my vision, Luke replied and looked at Cherith again, Why is she so restless? I can feel anxiety coming off in waves.
Mara smiled, She just doesn't like to be cooped up, Luke. Cherith's a teenager -- her emotions are natural.
Luke shrugged and turned again to his wife and sister-in-law, I don't think we can keep here any longer,
...Just as long as she doesn't start pacing again and whistling, Mara added, It was starting to really get on my nerves.
Luke laughed and cleared his throat, "Cherith, you know you don't have to hang around here. I know your Uncle Wedge would love to meet you, and your cousins too,"
"I don't know where they are," she mused.
"You can use the Force, but since you're not really familiar with that Threepio will take you," he replied and signaled the droid into the main room. "Threepio, will you help direct Cherith to see her Uncle Wedge and her cousins?"
The droid looked at Cherith and then at Luke, "Of course, Master Luke. Come child..." and guided Cherith out of the apartment.
Leia smiled, "You think she'll be fine?"
"She will; I'm still bonded with her. If anything happens, we'll know about it. But it's good for her to explore the base, especially since this place will be her home for a little while."
~~
Jaina started to fidget again as she stood before Jag's quarters, or what used to be hers and Jag's apartment. Used to be. Jaina had hoped for a nice homecoming but now, it looked like her homecoming was only a dream. She started to reach for the com pad but stopped and simply entered the quarters. She looked around the place for Jag but didn't see him anywhere.
"I didn't think you were coming back," he whispered, startling her from behind. "Where'd you go?"
She shrugged, "I took Cherith and we went to my parents," she paused and stopped fidgeting, "Jag, we need to talk again. I talked to Celeste and she said you seduced her, and that it wasn't the other way around,"
Jag turned to her and scowled, "I did," he paused, "What else did Celeste say?"
"She said repeatedly that she doesn't love you, which I believed, oddly enough," Jaina mused, "Look, I had been thinking about this the whole way over here."
"Thinking about what?" he questioned.
"I want to start over again; I want to give the benefit of a doubt that I know I can trust you again. Also, I don't know want our daughter to grow up without her father,"
He shrugged, "I don't want her to live that way either. Jaina, I love you both very much and I know I made a stupid decision but." he walked closer to her and touched her cheek, rubbing it, "I do love you and I want you both in my life,"
She smiled partially, staring up into his green eyes, "I want that too but this relationship has to be based on trust, and as much as I want you to hold me I need to believe I can trust you with my heart first,"
"You can, Jaina. You can," he whispered, leaning down to kiss her but Jaina backed away.
"We can't do that yet, Jag," she mused, "Not yet,"
Jag rolled his eyes, "When? When can I kiss you and hold you in my arms?"
She turned to him and smiled, "I, uh, I don't know---," she murmured as Jag suddenly grabbed her back and kissed her passionately. Jaina didn't pull away and kissed him back forcefully. "We should wait for this." she said between kisses.
"Why?"
".because we have to," she replied and pulled away from him again, "I'm sorry Jag, but we can't go there until we're ready to. Until I'm ready to and I'm not ready yet."
Jag looked down and huffed, "How will this work then? What will we do?"
She shrugged, "I guess we'll be starting over again," Jaina suddenly smiled and crossed her arms, "We need to start over again Jag, but we'll do it on my terms. I want to be swept off my feet and romanced. We never really had an official courting period before we were engaged."
"Swept off your feet and romanced?" he asked and smiled, "I think I can handle that."
"I'm looking forward to it." She finished and started for the door; Jaina turned back to him and smiled, "And for the time being, Cherith and I are staying at my parents. If you want to come by later and take me out to lunch or something, that's where I'll be."
tbc
