The Funeral Chapter 7, Post 1 "The Kiss" by obi's girl

Sera smiled partly as she kissed Kyp one last time as they both stood at the door of the training room. She had broken her promise to Gavin but now she realized, one way or another, Kyp or someone else would have found out the truth about Jaina. She reached for his hand and tightened her grip on it, staring up at his face, "Kyp please promise me, whatever you're going to do, don't do anything stupid,"

"I won't; I promise I won't," he mused, kissing her hand, "I'll come back,"

"You better Durron because I look horrible in black," Sera solemnly laughed as she kissed him, bracing his neck, "Please come back to me, Kyp. I need you here."

~~

"Jag?" Celeste asked, alarmed he wanted to see her still after the kiss. She unconsciously tightened the robe around herself as she stepped back, allowing him into her apartment. It was early, very early but after years of practicing, Celeste had become accustomed to patients showing up at her apartment in early hours of the morning. "Is something wrong?"

Jag turned to her and braced her neck, kissing her again. He stared at her face for a moment as he let go and stepped back, "Sorry for the intrusion, doctor,"

She shrugged, "Which intrusion are you sorry for?"

"The kiss in your office should have never happened," he mused, "It was crossing the line and I'm sorry -- and just now, that was the last time,"

Celeste breathed, glancing at her chrono, "I suppose it's pointless to take this discussion to my office...what happened after you vanished from my office yesterday?"

"I saw Jaina's ghost again...she said the military grabbed the wrong body and now, they're searching for her real body and somehow, she and Cherith are coming back,"

"Coming back?" Celeste questioned, "You mean they're --- how is that possible? No one returns from the dead; it's a whole other world."

Jag shrugged, mumbling, "It's a Jedi thing I guess," he glanced at Celeste, "What did you feel?"

Celeste frowned, "I'm not sure I understand what you mean ---?"

"The kiss. What did you feel?"

She shrugged, turning away from him and sitting on her bed, "I thought this issue wasn't going to be discussed anymore,"

"The kiss will never happen again but the discussion isn't closed, doctor,"

"I suppose --- I guess I liked it, but I know I shouldn't and neither should you. Jag, you're a widow. You loved your wife and your daughter very much and this --- what's happening between us is too soon and I'm not the right person for you to move along with. I'm your doctor, your therapist," Celeste reasoned, glancing at him, "There, the discussion is closed."

He shrugged, "The discussion isn't closed," he mused, walking over the bed and cupping her cheeks in his hands, "I lied," and bent down and kissed her again.

tbc

The Funeral Chapter 7, Post 2 "Crossing the Line" By obi's girl

Celeste shrugged, pulling away from Jag. No, this couldn't happen. Jag was very attractive and she did have feelings for him, but Celeste was sure it wasn't love. Celeste rubbed her lips, looking at him. "That was crossing the line,"

He shrugged, "I'm sorry Celeste...I don't know. All these feelings are mixed up with a load of other feelings. I'm sorry I kissed you,"

Celeste smiled; she didn't want to discourage him --- scratch that. As a psychiatrist, it was her job to help him move on. "Jag, it's all right to feel,"

Jag looked at her, "Then you did feel something?"

"I didn't say I felt something. You're twisting my words. I said it was all right to feel ---" she said.

"Do you think I could love you?" Jag asked as he looked at her again.

Celeste shut her mouth. For the first time, she didn't know what to say. Jag was reaching out to her but if she accepted, she'd be taking advantage of his feeling as well as her own. "Yes, I do think you could love me Jag but it wouldn't be real. You loved Jaina and your daughter very much and I --- I would only be a substitute for that love."

He shrugged, "You're right, doc. It wouldn't be right if we pursued this; both our feelings would be hurt in the end,"

"Jag," Celeste started, "If you weren't a widow and I wasn't your doctor -- things would probably very different between us but the reality is I am your doctor and you are grieving for your wife and child,"

"Then I'm not your patient anymore and you're not my doctor. I release you from your services,"

Celeste smiled, "Are you always this stubborn, Jagged Fel?"

"Kiss me again," he whispered.

She huffed and leaned forward again, touching her lips to his. Celeste's mind screamed 'this was wrong and she should stop' but her heart told her a different story. She broke away again but it was only for a moment. Jag smiled, brushing her bangs away as he stared at her green eyes. This was crazy. He was reaching out to her that day in her office but after he kissed her that day, things were different. He bent down to kiss her again but stopped. Celeste's head hung in the air, waiting for another kiss.

"No, I shouldn't be doing this. We shouldn't be doing this," Jag realized, leaving her on the bed.

Celeste opened her eyes and looked at Jag as he shrugged helplessly. "You were right before. If this happened, we'd be playing with each other's feelings and that's not fair,"

"I said that?" she echoed as Jag nodded yes. Celeste then cleared her throat, gaining her composure again. "You're right. We can't do that to each other,"

"So I guess I'll see you for my appointment later?"

She shrugged, smiling, "Didn't we just have one a few minutes ago?"

Jag smiled, blushing a bit, "Oh yeah -- I forgot. Then I guess I'll see you tomorrow, Celeste."

"Tomorrow." she mused. Jag smiled at her and turned, leaving her quarters. Celeste moaned, falling back on her bed. How much longer could she deny these feelings?

Tbc

The Funeral Chapter 7, Post 3 By obi's girl

I remember when Cherith, my sister and Davin died. My father was in his office, going over new flight plans. A man, no not a man, an ensign came into the office and handed my father a holo pad. My father took the holopad; he might have glanced at it briefly but he knew what the message meant.

The ensign stood there for a minute longer than he was supposed to before my father shouted at him to get out. He jumped and quickly left the office. Baron Soontir Fel dropped on to his seat and buried his face in his hands. He had been used to receiving death certificates...usually he'd have to fill them out for another pilot's family. War kills you; it eats you. My father had dropped all his protective barriers that day and allowed his human side to surface.

The death certificate was of my sister and brother. Cherith was helping refugees to another world, far away from Vong space but not far enough. Davin was on patrol, accompanied only by five claw crafts.

And now I was going to give Jaina's parents and family the same holopad and bad news. I huffed, glancing down at the holopad and then at the door. The holopad was only for formality. I stood there a little longer and as I reached for the COM, the door slid open.

Mara stared at me for a moment and then glanced down at the holopad. She stepped aside, joining Luke and little Ben on the couch. Ben was silent, sensing there was something dark and solemn about the occasion. They knew; they all knew what happened. Kyp was right; they sensed her death through the Force. My being there didn't really matter; all of this was just pretense.

"Jag," Leia started.

"Leia," I whispered, removing my gaze from Ben. "Where's Han?"

She shrugged, smiling, "Jag, I know why you've come -- Jaina's dead. We all know; we felt her death through the Force,"

I nodded, "Yes, I thought so," I glanced the holo pad and handed it to her, "This probably doesn't even matter but it's the official report of what happened to her,"

Leia took the holopad in her hands and touched her thumb to the ident pad. The words scrolled on the screen but she probably didn't even see them. I glanced up again as Han entered the room. He and I stared at each other for a minute, but it could have been longer. Han stepped forward, stalking over me. I could have sworn he was going to hit me in the face or yell but he grabbed me in a big hug instead.

"I know you loved her Jag," he whispered in my ear, "And probably did what you could to get to her in time --- so I'm not mad at you. Besides, I know you've lost a lot more than Jaina." Han patted my back and let go, bracing Leia's shoulder.

I shrugged, looking at Leia, "I'm not really familiar with Jedi burial rites..."

"I'll work on it," Luke added, speaking up for the first time, "I'll take care of everything,"

"Um," I added, grabbing a silver cylinder from my belt, "The rescue team found her lightsaber. I don't know what to do with it but Kyp said you might know,"

Luke smiled, taking the lightsaber in his hands. "Thank you, Jag...I'll hold onto this now but I'm going to give it back to you later,"

I didn't say anything as I looked at Leia again, "Are you going to be all right?"

"Jaina was our last child, my girl but I know wherever she is, she's with her brothers,"

It was a cliché answer but I didn't want to say it was. I simply smiled at all of them. I turned, staring at the door again as Mara clutched my hand. I turned and looked at her, "If you ever want to talk to anyone Jag, we're here."

Tbc

The Funeral Chapter 7, Post 4 Revelation

By obi's girl

Sera Fey`lina took another sip of her beer as she sat alone at the bar of the pilot's lounge. There had been days, even good days, she'd go in there and order herself a drink and watch many of the pilots humiliate themselves. Those were definitely the good days; other days, one of her fellow Jedi would talk her to death about the direction of the Jedi. It wasn't new. Everyone had a view of how things were supposed to be.

But this wasn't one of those days. After so many years of flirting and fights, she and Kyp finally hooked up only Sera wasn't completely convinced. Kyp still had feelings for Jaina -- she was sure about that. Before leaving, she asked him to be careful and not to do anything stupid, but knowing Kyp, he probably would.

"Sera?"

She turned slightly and rolled her eyes as Corran Horn sat next to her. "Horn,"

"What are you doing here?"

Sera shrugged, fingering her glass. "Thinking," she turned to him and sighed, "What's your excuse?"

Corran smiled, ordering a beer himself, "I saw you and Kyp leaving the gym room. You too...you seemed close."

"I'm not ashamed of anything, Horn. Unlike everyone else, I don't care what people think. Kyp and I have been friends for a long time; we understand each other because we come from the same background. Why should the fact Kyp and I are lovers now change anything?"

"Just making conversation," he mumbled, "I also heard something's going on with Jaina's body. Is that true too?" Sera scowled, averting her eyes and Corran frowned, "It is true then. Her body is missing,"

Sera huffed, drinking again, "I wish it weren't true but it is...How did word reach you? That meeting was classified,"

"Wes...he's a bad liar,"

She smiled, "Yes, I always suspected he was...Now you know, you know you can't tell anyone else not even Luke. Matter of fact, its better if he doesn't know at all."

"Not tell Luke? Sera...You know he'll find out eventually. It doesn't have to be through me; he'll find out another way,"

"Just don't tell him, Horn," she hissed, looking up at him.

Corran shrugged, "If we can't talk about Jaina's missing body than we can talk about your involvement with Kyp?"

Sera rolled her eyes, standing up, "I'm not a little girl. You don't have to tell me anything I don't already know..."

"Then can I give you advice?"

"Whatever," she mumbled, sitting back down.

Corran huffed, fingering his glass, "Kyp's been through a lot of hurt, Sera. Give him some space."

Sera nodded, "I know that. I was there when for him when Wurth died.... You were at Jaina's funeral, right? What was it like? How did Kyp act then?"

He shrugged, "Everyone said something about her --- except Kyp and Jag. They didn't talk at all. Luke, he gave Jag Jaina's lightsaber. Kyp left immediately after the service. Why do you ask?"

"Doesn't he seem a lot more mature since then?"

Corran grunted, "I guess he is..."

"Then there's no need to worry about him," she finished, "Excuse me." Sera jumped off the stool, dropping a few credits on the table for the beer and started to leave. As she started to leave, Sera turned to him again, "Did you ever see the body?"

"Luke did before the ceremony and he clarified it was Jaina...Sera, what are you thinking?"

She shrugged, "..and no one questions him and I guess no one really knew where to look when she died. So many pilots were involved in that dogfight and shot down ," Sera paused, looking at him, "Are you sure she was properly identified?"

"Why would Luke misidentify his niece? He has no reason to lie."

"No, he wouldn't," she mused. Sera smiled, biting her lip, "It's just a hunch...I may not even be right."

Corran huffed, "Right about what? Sera, what's going on?"

Sera waved her hand, "I can't explain it." She grabbed her jacket and ran out of the bar.

"Sera," another voice asked from behind.

She turned, expecting to see Corran again but was shocked when she saw Kyp instead. "Where are you going?"

"I know where Jaina's body is; it's just a hunch though. I may not even be right."

Kyp gasped, "Only a hunch?"

She shrugged, repeating, "I may not even be right."

"I owe you a date if you're right," he said.

Sera smiled, walking closer to him, "You'd owe me a lot more than a date, Durron. A lot more."

tbc

The Funeral Chapter 7, Post 5 "Final Goodbye"

By obi's girl

A/N: This chapter is an extended version of the first chapter, which was the actual funeral, but more is explained in this chapter.

"Jag, we're ready to start," Luke whispered to me as I stood there, staring at the wooden pyre. I had never been to one of these things before...that's a stupid thing to say, obviously. I attended my brother and sister's funeral. I remember looking over at my mother.

My father held her shoulder as she cried uncontrollably. We were the only humans there; everyone else around us was Chiss and for the first I realized how much of a minority we were. And how hard it must have been for my parents to make a name themselves in the community. The prejudice, the hate...we were the aliens.

But here, I was the only one that wasn't a Jedi. I turned around; many of the senior Jedi had already gathered...Corran Horn, Kam Solusar, Streen Tionne, and Cilghal. A lot of brown hoods were drawn but I knew who they were. Zekk, Jaina's childhood friend, Rayner...and Leia.

I had never been able to picture Leia as a Jedi, even though it was in her blood. She was more of a politician but for Jaina's funeral, she donned the traditional Jedi robe and wore her lightsaber. I turned back to Luke, "Is there anything I'm supposed to say or do?"

He smiled, patting my shoulder, "You can say something if you want to but you're not required to do anything." I watched as Luke backed away and stood at the foot of the pyre. "Welcome," he said and then breathed, pacing himself, "Many of you had known my niece since she was a young girl at the academy. All my life, all I wanted to do was protect Jaina and her brothers from harm but knowing our family, trouble always seems to follow us," he laughed to himself, "I don't want to be here because this is Jaina's funeral and I know many of you don't want to be here either. We were all forced to be strong up to a point -- I think Jaina's death has broken all of us because we believed so much she'd out live this war and have a family of her own one day."

I looked away, scowling but didn't say anything as he continued, "I ask you know, if anyone has anything they want to say, come forward and say it." Luke raised his head, looking at each of the Jedi until his gaze rested on his sister.

Leia looked up at him and held her head high, walking forward and taking the podium. "My brother was right --- I don't want to be here because this is Jaina's funeral. She was my last child. After Anakin and Jacen died, Han and I made it our mission to keep the same thing from happening to Jaina and her death is even more depressing because..." she turned and looked at me, "because she had so much to live for; so much to look forward too. She was engaged and one day have a family and Han and I were going to be grandparents."

She was quiet for a moment, almost as if she was expecting me to say something but sighed when she realized I wouldn't give. Leia raised her gaze as she noticed a hooded Jedi arrive late. He lowered his hood and she realized it was Kyp. "Thank you all for coming; I have nothing else to say." Leia hugged Luke briefly before stepping down and taking her place next to Han.

Han kissed his wife's cheek and went up the podium. He smiled nervously at all the Jedi, "I don't know what exactly to say...Ya know, before the accident, we sprung an engagement party on Jaina and Jag. They probably weren't expecting that but I remember it was the first time she had been happy in a long time, and I know her brothers' are taking care of her wherever she is but I can't guarantee she's happy."

Several of the other Jedi came up and spoke as well but all I could do was stare at the burial pyre. I wasn't lying when I said I had never been to one of these things, a Jedi burial. From what I had read and heard, the Jedi burned the body of the fallen Jedi and I guess, the ashes were lifted up to the sky and the spirit would be raised to the sky or after life or something like that. Only, it wasn't just Jaina's spirit that would be raised but Cherith's too.

I removed my gaze from the pyre and looked at the podium. Curiously, Tahiri Veila, the youngest Jedi Knight had something to say. She had been with Jaina and her brothers on Myrkr. She mourned Anakin for months and now Jaina was gone. They hadn't been very close but they knew of each other.

"Jaina and I were never friends...that's a strange thing to say since we both loved Anakin very much. But we were never close, never talked or laughed together but I had grown up with her and her brothers. Jaina was all about the rational; that there always had to be a logical solution for everything," she smiled to herself, "Now I bet Anakin's up there telling Jaina her actions were irrational and not logical, and he would be right. We were never friends but I remember one conversation we had after Anakin died. I told her that she shouldn't avoid her family and distance herself from them because one day, they might be taken away from her and she'd regret not ever telling them she was sorry or that she loved them."

Tahiri turned and looked at the pyre. She knelt down , took her hand and kissed it. Tahiri turned and smiled again and quietly walked back to her place.

~~

How could this happen, I cried, staring at his fiancé's burial pyre. We never even had the chance to be together or grow old together and watch our grandchildren...I wanted to hit something, anything to dull the pain of loosing Jaina. I glanced up as Luke Skywalker and his Uncle neared him; the two of them probably wanted to offer their condolences but I didn't want to hear it.

I just wished all the pain could go away and there was nothing, no memories, nothing. I turned away, walking in the opposite direction. It would be hard the next couple days; people would stop by and say they were sorry and it was a great loss to not only to me but everyone. I'd have to smile and say 'thank you' and move along, only to be met by someone else who would say the same thing...

Strangely, I always believed Jaina was invincible because she was a Jedi. A warrior and immortal; it was stupid to believe that but I never once believed it could all end and Jaina would be taken away from me. Just once, I wished were a Jedi so I could go out and slaughter the Vong. They didn't deserve to live; none of them.

"Jag...?" Luke asked, stopping me in my tracks as I started to leave. I huffed, facing the Jedi Master. It was strange, throughout the entire service, I expected Luke to belt over and start crying uncontrollably because he was Jaina's Uncle. He never did and in a way, that angered me but I knew he was grieving in his own way. Luke smiled at me, removing a silver cylinder from his robe --- Jaina's lightsaber. "She would have wanted you to have this...I don't know what you can do with it since you're not a Jedi, but I know she would have wanted you to have it and keep it safe for her."

"Just wish I could have kept her safe," I mumbled, taking the lightsaber in his hands. Jaina's lightsaber had been everything to her, despite the fact she rarely used it. She was more accustomed to using a blaster than a lightsaber; her aim was always precise and hardly ever off-target. "Thank you, Master Skywalker." I turned away from him, gripping the lightsaber in my hand as I disappeared from the Temple.

~~

I huffed, staring up at the night's moon. I had been sitting on one the hillsides for the past two hours, trying not to remember Jaina and my own pain. I'd have to go through her things tomorrow. After Myrkr, everyone believed Jacen was dead along with Anakin. I couldn't even imagine what Leia was probably going through at that moment. She had lost both her sons on Myrkr and now, she'd lost another child.

It wasn't fair...Everything was a wreck...

I stood up, glaring at the clouds, "Why did you leave me, Jaina?!" I shouted, tears threatening his eyes, "We could have been so happy! I hate you for this, Sticks! Damnit, I loved you...and I still do. But you're not here; you'll never be here again. I'll never have the chance to tell you 'I love you' every morning after waking up. It's not fair, Sticks, what you're putting me through."

Jag... a voice cried.

I turned, if it was one of Jaina's family, I didn't want to talk to them. I didn't want to see anyone, except her face. I wanted to run my fingers down her cheeks and stare into her eyes, and know everything was going to be all right.

Jag... the voice repeated as Jag's eyes cleared.

I was able to make out a bluish-white ethereal body, but it could have been anything but it wasn't. It was Jaina. She smiled lovingly at me; her hair was unbounded and dressed in a loose white gown. Hello, my love.

"Jaina....? How? What are you?" I asked, still in awe of how beautiful she actually was.

She shrugged, I'm dead; I'm not here, well, physically anyway. But I had to talk to you. [/]

I huffed, staring again at the moonlight, "What about? That you're sorry you're dead?"

I expected her to get angry with me but she didn't. Instead, Jaina simply touched my shoulder. It was a weird feeling; she was after all a ghost but it was a soothing feeling; like she was still with me and had never left. [i]I know you miss you, Jag. The dead can feel when people in this life miss them...I miss you, too. I'll always miss you.

I turned to her, "Why? Why did you have to be shot down....?"

Jaina shrugged, You think I wanted to be shot down, Jagged Fel? I was careful but something went wrong...Look, Jag I came here to talk to you about what's going to happen tomorrow.

"I don't want to talk about that, Jaina..."

You have to because it's important. Not only tomorrow but the rest of your life...I know it's something you probably don't want to hear but you have to. Jag, you will move on and you'll find love again. I promise you you'll never be alone. I'll spare you that pain.

I looked into her eyes; I wanted to be angry with her but I couldn't. "You were my true love, Jaina. My life was supposed to be spent with you and you only. I know that now, but moving on? That'll never happen."

She smirked, Oh, it'll happen. Not right away, of course, but it'll happen and you'll fall in love again. Just to let you know, I won't be jealous as long as you're happy and not wasting your life. I don't want you to waste your life, Jag. You need to live it and find happiness. Jaina stood up, smiling at me, I have to go now, but I'll always be watching over you, my love. Goodbye, Jag.

"Jaina, no, don't go!" I cried but it was too late; her ghost had already disappeared and I was alone again.

tbc