Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Lucasfilm, Ltd. No money is being made and no infringement is intended

Author's note: Sith Sora Jade: I'm really glad you liked Ben. I had a blast writing him.

Flute Kahlan Solo Fel: Thanks for the baby names suggestions and I'm glad you liked the purple ewok. Vader_Incarnate's fic was even funnier.

Mara. Jade: I'm glad you liked the glowy Anakin scene. It was soooo hard to write.

Sticks: I'm so glad you liked it and I can't wait for you to update your fic.

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Jaina climbed carefully out of the cockpit of her x-wing to give her muscles a chance to unwind from hours of staying in one position. She and her squadron had been flying for hours, and she had been glad for a reprieve in the fighting, especially after that nasty business o Hoth, but this was the life she had grown accustomed to. It didn't mean she liked it, no she hoped she would never grow to like the killing and the death, but this was what her whole life had thrown her towards. The only things she knew how to do were fly and fight. Yes, this was her life and there was nothing she could or even would do to change part of it.

A hand grabbed hers, fingers threading through hers with the ease of familiarity. Jaina grinned and turned to face her now long time boyfriend, Jagged Fel.

"Mortal," she demanded conscious of the mechanics and other squadron personnel in the docking bay. Her squadron members had all long since been filled in on the Goddess charade, once they were proven trustworthy, but it was impossible to trust everyone. "You dare touch a Goddess?" She continued.

"Great One," interjected Kyp who had just walked over, and although his face was serious, she could se the amusement in his eyes, "Please spare this ignorant mortal. Besides I have the perfect punishment for him.

Gesturing impatiently for him to speak and trying to hide her own amusement and chagrin at this situation, she said sharply, "Speak."

"Put him in a one-on-one tactical meeting with Wes Janson."

If she had been allowed to, Jaina would have fallen on the floor laughing at that point at the hysterically panicky look on Jag's face. However, although, she appeared to be thinking about Jag's punishment she had already thought of a plan that would look suitably cruel to Jag, should any Vong be watching and give her the time with him that she had wanted. "You speak wisely,' she said to Kyp, then qualified, "but I wish to see him suffer in person. He will accompany me."

In her most commanding tone, she added, "That will be all Master Durron. Come along, Colonel."

The moment she stepped inside their quarters, however the act dropped. "I'm so sorry," she said to Jag, knowing even now that, that would still be hard for his Chiss pride. "Sometimes I wish I had never even thought of this goddess thing. I hate what it does and I hate that I have to pretend I don't love you."

"Jaina," he said quietly after her tirade ended, "I love you. I don't care. I just want to spend as much time with you as possible."

They both cursed in disgust as Jaina's comm. link began beeping insistently. "If this is some general calling me to duty because of some Sithing Vong raid," Jaina threatened, but was interrupted as Jag playfully put his hand over her mouth and plucked her comm. up from where she had lain it.

"Fel," he stated into it."

"Jag," came a familiar voice, "Is Jaina there? I wanted to invite both of you over for dinner tonight."

Swatting Jag's hand away from her mouth and snatching the comm. away, she said, "I'm here Aunt Mara and we would love to come to dinner tonight," she said with a confirming glance at Jag.

"Good, Ben will be delighted too," Mara added dryly. "Your parents and Tahiri will be there, too."

Jaina smiled happily even though she knew Mara couldn't see her. She and Mara had always had a special connection and she relied on her Aunt many times, to help her through the worst times in her life and to knock some sense into her where her relationship with Leia was concerned. Most of all though, Mara was someone that could be trusted absolutely and completely. She was human, but her checkered past made her the perfect person to confide in or talk to.

"Mara," she asked seriously, sitting down on her bunk and curling up, drawing her feet up to her, "Is Mom okay? I know what she says, but she's under a lot of stress and well, she's not as young as she used to be."

"I know, Jaina," said Mara. "Like you I haven't seen her much, but when I have.She's happy, Jaina. She knows the war is still going on but she wants to do this right this time. As a chance to correct all the mistakes she made with you and your brothers." Mara chuckled, "Of course, as you can imagine Han is at her side all of the time, taking care of her as much as she'll let him."

"She's still as stubborn as ever, I suppose," Jaina observed wryly.

"Of course," answered Mara breezily, "Where did you think you got it from?"

"Oh, I don't know," Jaina said bantering easily with her Aunt as she got up and began to pace the small room, "I thought it was less hereditary and more trained, say by my Jedi master."

"Oh very funny, Apprentice," said Mara sarcastically, "but I suppose if that's the case then you wouldn't mind babysitting my son, sometime, purely to save him from my stubborn influences, of course.'

Jaina laughed and then said quickly, "I take it back, Mara, I take it back." She should have known better than to banter with Mara Jade Skywalker.

Mara chuckled at her niece. She might have a child of her own, now that she loved dearly, but Jaina would always hold a special place in her heart. "Seriously, though, Jaina," she added, "Tahiri is with her constantly and she's almost more protective than Han is. As far as I know, Tahiri's status right now is as Leia's bodyguard. She said that if someone wanted her for a mission she would evaluate it on a mission by mission basis and then decide. No, Jaina," she concluded, "I think Leia is fine, as good as she can be under the circumstances. You can see for yourself tonight."

"Okay, Aunt Mara," she said gratefully, "We'll be there."

After she finished her conversation with Mara, she walked over to their bunk, where Jag was sitting. He was looking at a datacard in deep concentration, when she sat down beside him. Curious she leaned up against him to take a look at it. She immediately saw what had him so enthralled. It was the tactical data from their last skirmish against the Vong.

"The numbers weren't good," she observed, "but at the same time, they weren't as bad as I feared. I have too many rookies, right now."

Jag grimaced slightly and then looked up at Jaina. "You know Uncle Wedge is using your squadron as a training squadron, right now."

Jaina nodded, "Twin Suns has the highest percentage of rookies still alive to reach veteran status. The people I train are also in the top twenty- five percent of the best pilots we have." She sighed, "I'm not happy about it, but right now it's okay. Despite the almost constant fighting it's mostly small skirmishes, easy victories. But later_" she let her words trail off.

"I know," Jag said, "but don't worry the new tactics we've been coming up with have been invaluable."

"Yeah, they'll_" Her comm. link beeped again and Jaina groaned in frustration. It seemed like there was never time for anything these days. "Goddess," she snapped into it, wishing for a moment that her guise really would scare whoever was interrupting her time with Jag.

"Great One," squeaked a generic voice, "We must inform you that it is necessary for you to receive your annual physical. Pleas report to the nearest med bay within eight standard hours." And the annoying voice cut off.

"A physical! I'm working on plans that might determine the fate of the galaxy and they want me to go to a physical!"

Jag grimaced. He had known Jaina long enough to realize that she had almost always put the fate of the galaxy before her and he had even managed to accept that, but maybe he could convince her to go anyway, he hated the thought of anything happening to Jaina.

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Dinner that evening was a cozy and relaxed affair that differed greatly from the formal affair where Leia had announced her pregnancy. The dining room in the Skywalker suite was too small for the number of people present, so everyone had sprawled out over the larger living room.

Leia sat awkwardly in a conformable chair. It seemed that no matter what she did these days, she couldn't get comfortable, although she had to admit she was much less hindered by this pregnancy than when she was pregnant with the twin. Han sat sprawled at her feet, half-heartedly eating and playing with Ben while keeping an eye on Jaina and Jag.

Leia had to stifle an amused smile at Han's expense. Even after years as a couple, he still watched Jaina and Jag carefully. Looking at her daughter, Leia did smile. She couldn't help it. The look on Jaina's face was so peaceful as she rested her head on Jag's shoulder that Leia almost envied her. As she watched Jaina and Jag have a whispered conversation, Leia felt a brief nagging pain. It was unfair, she decided, that she was growing older. The aches and pains that accompanied old age were almost not worth its benefits.

"What did you say, Skywalker?" Mara's playful teasing, cut into Leia's thoughts.

"I didn't say anything, Mara," he said innocently, but Leia wasn't fooled. Apparently neither was anyone else in the room.

"Looks like you're in trouble now, Kid," Han said helpfully from his safe distance on the floor.

Ben, as used to his parent's playful teasing as Jaina was to her parent's bickering, crawled unhesitatingly up into his mother's lap. Curling up with his head resting on his mother's chest and holding one of her hands in his, he said solemnly, "It's okay, Mama, I'm sure Daddy didn't mean it."

Everyone except Mara laughed at the serious little boy. Instead, Mara hugged him closer to her and kissed the top of his head, while sending his father an evil glare.

"I don't know, Ben," said Jaina with a smile, "it all depends on the nature of the offense."

Jag straightened slightly as Jaina leaned against him. Through the years, he had learned to be careful at times like these, the woman tended to band together against the men and somehow the fault of one man became the fault of them all.

Mara smiled sweetly at her niece. They both knew she was more than capable of dealing with any insult, real or imagined. This was just at type of friendly family banter that had become almost a tradition.

"I suggest you don't try to make it better, Brother," Leia added cheerfully.

"I think you're right, Sister dear," added the Jedi Master with an air of charisma and charm that many in the galaxy wouldn't even believe he possessed. Dropping on one knee in front of his wife, he gently claimed her free hand. "Mara, darling, love of my life, light of the universe."

"I think you've laid it on thick enough, Uncle," Jaina helpfully interrupted, with a giggle as Jag tickled her lightly.

"Thank you, Jaina," he said as solemn as his son had been moments ago. Turning back to his wife as if he had never been interrupted, he said calmly, "I apologize for my stupidity. I would never mean to imply that you were getting slow with a blaster or that your eyesight was slipping." He ignored the fact that his son was now giggling uncontrollably in his mother's arms and the fact that he could see a smile tugging on his wife's stony face. "It is my professional opinion that you are_"

He stopped abruptly and whirled to face his sister. "Leia," he called out worriedly even as Jaina quickly moved to her mother's side.

"Mom," she questioned. She felt the disturbance in the force around her Mother just as clearly as Luke. Even the non-force sensitives in the room knew something was going on.

Reaching out shakily for her husband's comforting hand, Leia said simply, "I think I'm going into labor.

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