Disclaimer: I'm tired of writing these things, see the previous chapters.
Author's note: First of all let me say how monumentally sorry I am that it took me this long to update. I had a small case of 'wanna be writer's block' and then real life caught up with me and kept me so incredibly busy that it took me a while to write this.
Movielovero3- Thanks and don't worry there will be more of that to come.
Jedimaster-jaina-solo- *gulp* sorry about that posting soon thing.
Serepena-Thank you very much.
Sticks-Yeah I really tried hard on those moments between the sisters to get them just right. I liked my first version of that much better, but unfortunately I lost it.
Garnet Turner- I'm glad it wasn't confusing and I hope you like this next part to.
Firey- I am continuing and sorry about how long it took.
Tahiri Veila- Thanks for the feedback and I'm glad you thought it was cool.
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Jag Fel climbed out of the cockpit of his clawcraft. Fortunately they hadn't been forced to make the whole journey in their fighters. He and his squadron had simply used them to transfer back to their base of operations, Pride of a Goddess.
He couldn't wait to see Jaina. He knew it would instantly ruin his reputation as the stoic and grim Chiss raised pilot, if the general public ever found out about how much he loved Jaina, but at that moment he didn't care. It was also the things that beings found so intriguing about the couple. Many beings wondered why Jaina stayed with him when he was so cold and unfeeling.
At one time Jag had even cared what people thought about them being together, but that was years in the past. Now he had Jaina's complete devotion and nothing else mattered. Let them talk, let them wonder, all he cared about was Jaina. That was why after a quick glance around the docking bay to see if she had come to meet him, he raised his comm. link to his mouth and flicked it to her frequency.
"The Goddess awaits," she answered, giving her usual greeting.
Jag had to stifle a laugh, well able to picture the look on Jaina's face. She always said that greeting made her feel ridiculous, but after Sharr and Piggy had insisted she had finally given in after many complaints.
He was so glad to simply hear her voice that he almost forgot to speak. "I'm back, Darling," he said softly, his back to everyone else.
"Jag," she asked and he was happy to hear the note of excitement in her voice.
"Are you all right," he asked immediately concerned with her welfare, with Jaina there was no telling what could have happened while he was gone.
"Now that you're back," she said softly.
Jag frowned when he heard deep voices in the background. "Are you in a meeting," he asked concerned.
"Where else would a Goddess be," she asked wryly.
"I'll let you go then," he said regretfully.
To his surprise, Jaina jumped in quickly, "No, meet me here?"
Most people would have been surprised at the note of pleading in her voice so at odds with the strong confident image she portrayed, but Jag was allowed to see past her facades.
"Of course. I love you," he added trying to give her as much strength as she would accept.
"I love you, too."
It was the second thing that he had heard all day that had made him feel better. He said good bye to Jaina and started down the corridor towards the conference rooms. It didn't take him long to find her and when he did he simply eased into the room to take up a position slightly behind her. He noticed almost immediately that despite her deadly serious concentration on the goings on, there was an upbeat glow about her.
He was also glad to see Kyp beside her. At one time the two men had been rivals for Jaina's affection, but no more. Kyp and Jaina shared a force connection, not as strong as a couple's and different than what was shared by siblings, but her love for him was so much more. Jaina and Kyp were partners, but in an entirely different way which Jag had learned long ago not to be jealous of.
No, in truth he was grateful that Kyp could be there for Jaina at times when he couldn't. The way she seemed to attract impossible situations, she could use all of the help she could get.
Jag felt an invisible hand grip his and give it a light squeeze. He smiled inwardly; this was Jaina's private greeting and her way of letting him know she was glad he was there. He snapped to attention as the presiding officer called the conference to a close and everyone began to leave.
"Fel," said Kyp when he turned to face him, "I'm glad you're back."
Jag nodded in response. The two of them would never be the closest of friends, but their personal loyalty to Jaina tied them together as devoted comrades in arms and over the years they had formed a familiar if not always easy relationship with the other.
"The Goddess here," Kyp continued, "was getting all worked up about you. Seemed to be missing you for some reason. She must be getting soft in her old age."
Jaina's happy gaze shifted from Jag to Kyp changing in route to an icy glare. "I'll show you soft, Durron." She said coolly.
"But it will have to wait for another time," he cut in swiftly derailing Jaina's wrath as only someone as reckless and foolhardy as Kyp could. Fortunately, it worked, this time. "I need to get some sleep before this battle and so do you. Besides you need to fill him in on our plans."
Jaina nodded effectively diverted for the moment by the seriousness of the situation. "I'll see you when the fighting starts," she questioned seriously.
He nodded, just as serious, "I'll have your wing if you need me."
Jaina nodded and surprised Jag by reaching over and hugging the Jedi Master. "Thank you, Kyp," she said genuinely.
"My pleasure, Jaina," he said and Jag noted the use of her name. This conversation was personal not professional. It was totally real and not an act in any way. They were saying their good byes and last words in a way, in case either of them didn't make it. They would see one another before the fighting started, but there would be no time or place for personal feelings. Then there was only focus on the battle, focus on winning and on being alive at the end.
Now was the time for old friends and long time companions to say their last words to one another, just in case the odds finally remembered them and called their number.
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Throwing aside caution Jaina and Jag walked down the corridor arm in arm. On the way back to their quarters, they only exchanged a few brief murmured sentences. The corridor was not a safe place to talk, whether it was a personal or professional discussion and they had a lot to discuss.
The moment they entered the private sanctuary of their quarters, Jaina abandoned all pretenses and kissed him without hesitation. "I missed you so much," she breathed the moment they pulled apart.
Marveling at the contradictions that were Jaina, Jag lightly brushed a hand over her cheek before he lowered it to settle on her shoulder. "I missed you, too, Darling," he replied, pulling her closer, kissing the tope of her head as he held her tightly.
She pulled away reluctantly after a moment and he looked down the mere inches necessary to look her in the eyes. "Are you really okay," he questioned and then quickly amended, "Are both of you okay?"
Jaina smiled at his concern. She didn't understand how people could think Jag was unfeeling, he loved her so much. "We're fine," she murmured quietly. "But there's a lot we have to talk about."
"I know," Jag agreed easily, "I've been thinking a lot lately about what I want to do after we win this battle."
Jaina nodded, "I have too."
Neither mentioned the possibility of loosing because then it would no longer matter, there would be nothing left.
Slowly Jaina stated, "I want to raise this child, to be there for her. I don't want to be too busy with the galaxy to have time for her."
She noticed the intensely curious, but slightly reticent look on Jag's face and raised an eyebrow at him questioningly.
"She," he asked softly, "You know the baby's sex?"
Jaina grinned and nodded, "I wish I knew how to share this feeling with you," she said. "It's so amazing to be able to feel her through the force already."
Jag smiled. There would forever be a part of Jaina's world and his daughter's that he couldn't experience, but he had long ago made peace with that. Now he was happy because she was happy. However, like so many of the defining moments of their young lives, this one would be rushed.
They were delaying the inevitable, keeping it at bay with their happiness, but reality would be invading their happiness in a matter of hours. They retreated to their small couch and off loaded the various junk that usually made its home there in order to sit down.
Jag was hesitant to voice his ideas; they were so radically different from the life they had been living. Jaina however, ended up being the one to speak first.
"This battle is going to be major," she stated the obvious. "Wedge knows the Vong won't fall for our bait again. So we're taking the fight to them." Jaina shook her head and a disbelieving smile worked its way on to her face. "Wedge is insane. The Insiders worked up this plan together and you won't like how it starts but," she sighed, "Well it's just crazy and audacious enough that a goddess should be able to pull it off."
Jag frowned but decided to reserve criticism or anxiety until he had heard more details. "What exactly are we doing?" he inquired hoping he wouldn't have to resort to more drastic measures like pleading and groveling to get the information out of Jaina.
"The Vong are massing forces at a world relatively near the Hapes cluster. It doesn't have a name, but it's listed as NREP 1587 on the old Imperial surveys." She sighed reluctant to continue. "Twin Suns will be jumping in to the system first posing as scouts."
"By ourselves," Jag demanded, losing all pretenses of calm, "Jaina." He stopped but still seethed when she put a finger to his lips.
"It will be insane," Jaina acknowledged, "but that's just the first part. Moments after we enter the system, the Wraiths will come in at the back of the System."
"So far that doesn't seem much better."
Jaina glared at him and then continued talking. "The Wraiths job is to locate the Yamosks and then provide back up for us. As soon as they find that out a small fleet of interdictors will be jumping in to prevent the Vong from leaving."
"Uncle Wedge has the whole thing planned I'm sure," he said tightly, "Jaina things are different now. We can't afford to put it all on the line like we used to." He looked down and then locked eyes with her. "The odds of either of us making it out of this are very slim. You're not just risking your life. We have too much to throw it away on a crazy attack like this."
Tears stung her eyes as she looked at him. "You think I don't know that. Do you actually think I want to risk our daughter's life or that by worrying about my safety during this fight I might lose this battle or get myself killed? Because I do Jagged, but I have to do this. If I don't, I we don't there will be nowhere safe for this child anyway."
Jag didn't speak just pulled her closer. "I can't live without you, Jaina. I can't. You have to promise me...."
Please leave me a review to let me know how much you loved it or hated it, either one. It will be greatly appreciated.
Author's note: First of all let me say how monumentally sorry I am that it took me this long to update. I had a small case of 'wanna be writer's block' and then real life caught up with me and kept me so incredibly busy that it took me a while to write this.
Movielovero3- Thanks and don't worry there will be more of that to come.
Jedimaster-jaina-solo- *gulp* sorry about that posting soon thing.
Serepena-Thank you very much.
Sticks-Yeah I really tried hard on those moments between the sisters to get them just right. I liked my first version of that much better, but unfortunately I lost it.
Garnet Turner- I'm glad it wasn't confusing and I hope you like this next part to.
Firey- I am continuing and sorry about how long it took.
Tahiri Veila- Thanks for the feedback and I'm glad you thought it was cool.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Jag Fel climbed out of the cockpit of his clawcraft. Fortunately they hadn't been forced to make the whole journey in their fighters. He and his squadron had simply used them to transfer back to their base of operations, Pride of a Goddess.
He couldn't wait to see Jaina. He knew it would instantly ruin his reputation as the stoic and grim Chiss raised pilot, if the general public ever found out about how much he loved Jaina, but at that moment he didn't care. It was also the things that beings found so intriguing about the couple. Many beings wondered why Jaina stayed with him when he was so cold and unfeeling.
At one time Jag had even cared what people thought about them being together, but that was years in the past. Now he had Jaina's complete devotion and nothing else mattered. Let them talk, let them wonder, all he cared about was Jaina. That was why after a quick glance around the docking bay to see if she had come to meet him, he raised his comm. link to his mouth and flicked it to her frequency.
"The Goddess awaits," she answered, giving her usual greeting.
Jag had to stifle a laugh, well able to picture the look on Jaina's face. She always said that greeting made her feel ridiculous, but after Sharr and Piggy had insisted she had finally given in after many complaints.
He was so glad to simply hear her voice that he almost forgot to speak. "I'm back, Darling," he said softly, his back to everyone else.
"Jag," she asked and he was happy to hear the note of excitement in her voice.
"Are you all right," he asked immediately concerned with her welfare, with Jaina there was no telling what could have happened while he was gone.
"Now that you're back," she said softly.
Jag frowned when he heard deep voices in the background. "Are you in a meeting," he asked concerned.
"Where else would a Goddess be," she asked wryly.
"I'll let you go then," he said regretfully.
To his surprise, Jaina jumped in quickly, "No, meet me here?"
Most people would have been surprised at the note of pleading in her voice so at odds with the strong confident image she portrayed, but Jag was allowed to see past her facades.
"Of course. I love you," he added trying to give her as much strength as she would accept.
"I love you, too."
It was the second thing that he had heard all day that had made him feel better. He said good bye to Jaina and started down the corridor towards the conference rooms. It didn't take him long to find her and when he did he simply eased into the room to take up a position slightly behind her. He noticed almost immediately that despite her deadly serious concentration on the goings on, there was an upbeat glow about her.
He was also glad to see Kyp beside her. At one time the two men had been rivals for Jaina's affection, but no more. Kyp and Jaina shared a force connection, not as strong as a couple's and different than what was shared by siblings, but her love for him was so much more. Jaina and Kyp were partners, but in an entirely different way which Jag had learned long ago not to be jealous of.
No, in truth he was grateful that Kyp could be there for Jaina at times when he couldn't. The way she seemed to attract impossible situations, she could use all of the help she could get.
Jag felt an invisible hand grip his and give it a light squeeze. He smiled inwardly; this was Jaina's private greeting and her way of letting him know she was glad he was there. He snapped to attention as the presiding officer called the conference to a close and everyone began to leave.
"Fel," said Kyp when he turned to face him, "I'm glad you're back."
Jag nodded in response. The two of them would never be the closest of friends, but their personal loyalty to Jaina tied them together as devoted comrades in arms and over the years they had formed a familiar if not always easy relationship with the other.
"The Goddess here," Kyp continued, "was getting all worked up about you. Seemed to be missing you for some reason. She must be getting soft in her old age."
Jaina's happy gaze shifted from Jag to Kyp changing in route to an icy glare. "I'll show you soft, Durron." She said coolly.
"But it will have to wait for another time," he cut in swiftly derailing Jaina's wrath as only someone as reckless and foolhardy as Kyp could. Fortunately, it worked, this time. "I need to get some sleep before this battle and so do you. Besides you need to fill him in on our plans."
Jaina nodded effectively diverted for the moment by the seriousness of the situation. "I'll see you when the fighting starts," she questioned seriously.
He nodded, just as serious, "I'll have your wing if you need me."
Jaina nodded and surprised Jag by reaching over and hugging the Jedi Master. "Thank you, Kyp," she said genuinely.
"My pleasure, Jaina," he said and Jag noted the use of her name. This conversation was personal not professional. It was totally real and not an act in any way. They were saying their good byes and last words in a way, in case either of them didn't make it. They would see one another before the fighting started, but there would be no time or place for personal feelings. Then there was only focus on the battle, focus on winning and on being alive at the end.
Now was the time for old friends and long time companions to say their last words to one another, just in case the odds finally remembered them and called their number.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Throwing aside caution Jaina and Jag walked down the corridor arm in arm. On the way back to their quarters, they only exchanged a few brief murmured sentences. The corridor was not a safe place to talk, whether it was a personal or professional discussion and they had a lot to discuss.
The moment they entered the private sanctuary of their quarters, Jaina abandoned all pretenses and kissed him without hesitation. "I missed you so much," she breathed the moment they pulled apart.
Marveling at the contradictions that were Jaina, Jag lightly brushed a hand over her cheek before he lowered it to settle on her shoulder. "I missed you, too, Darling," he replied, pulling her closer, kissing the tope of her head as he held her tightly.
She pulled away reluctantly after a moment and he looked down the mere inches necessary to look her in the eyes. "Are you really okay," he questioned and then quickly amended, "Are both of you okay?"
Jaina smiled at his concern. She didn't understand how people could think Jag was unfeeling, he loved her so much. "We're fine," she murmured quietly. "But there's a lot we have to talk about."
"I know," Jag agreed easily, "I've been thinking a lot lately about what I want to do after we win this battle."
Jaina nodded, "I have too."
Neither mentioned the possibility of loosing because then it would no longer matter, there would be nothing left.
Slowly Jaina stated, "I want to raise this child, to be there for her. I don't want to be too busy with the galaxy to have time for her."
She noticed the intensely curious, but slightly reticent look on Jag's face and raised an eyebrow at him questioningly.
"She," he asked softly, "You know the baby's sex?"
Jaina grinned and nodded, "I wish I knew how to share this feeling with you," she said. "It's so amazing to be able to feel her through the force already."
Jag smiled. There would forever be a part of Jaina's world and his daughter's that he couldn't experience, but he had long ago made peace with that. Now he was happy because she was happy. However, like so many of the defining moments of their young lives, this one would be rushed.
They were delaying the inevitable, keeping it at bay with their happiness, but reality would be invading their happiness in a matter of hours. They retreated to their small couch and off loaded the various junk that usually made its home there in order to sit down.
Jag was hesitant to voice his ideas; they were so radically different from the life they had been living. Jaina however, ended up being the one to speak first.
"This battle is going to be major," she stated the obvious. "Wedge knows the Vong won't fall for our bait again. So we're taking the fight to them." Jaina shook her head and a disbelieving smile worked its way on to her face. "Wedge is insane. The Insiders worked up this plan together and you won't like how it starts but," she sighed, "Well it's just crazy and audacious enough that a goddess should be able to pull it off."
Jag frowned but decided to reserve criticism or anxiety until he had heard more details. "What exactly are we doing?" he inquired hoping he wouldn't have to resort to more drastic measures like pleading and groveling to get the information out of Jaina.
"The Vong are massing forces at a world relatively near the Hapes cluster. It doesn't have a name, but it's listed as NREP 1587 on the old Imperial surveys." She sighed reluctant to continue. "Twin Suns will be jumping in to the system first posing as scouts."
"By ourselves," Jag demanded, losing all pretenses of calm, "Jaina." He stopped but still seethed when she put a finger to his lips.
"It will be insane," Jaina acknowledged, "but that's just the first part. Moments after we enter the system, the Wraiths will come in at the back of the System."
"So far that doesn't seem much better."
Jaina glared at him and then continued talking. "The Wraiths job is to locate the Yamosks and then provide back up for us. As soon as they find that out a small fleet of interdictors will be jumping in to prevent the Vong from leaving."
"Uncle Wedge has the whole thing planned I'm sure," he said tightly, "Jaina things are different now. We can't afford to put it all on the line like we used to." He looked down and then locked eyes with her. "The odds of either of us making it out of this are very slim. You're not just risking your life. We have too much to throw it away on a crazy attack like this."
Tears stung her eyes as she looked at him. "You think I don't know that. Do you actually think I want to risk our daughter's life or that by worrying about my safety during this fight I might lose this battle or get myself killed? Because I do Jagged, but I have to do this. If I don't, I we don't there will be nowhere safe for this child anyway."
Jag didn't speak just pulled her closer. "I can't live without you, Jaina. I can't. You have to promise me...."
Please leave me a review to let me know how much you loved it or hated it, either one. It will be greatly appreciated.