First chap = disclaimers

Apparently the last chapter raised some questions. First off, when I wrote the last chapter, I did not think that it seemed to rank an R rating. It was admittedly a touch more crass than normal, but the last chapter is as far as I go in that area. If you think that I should change the rating for that chapter, feel free to tell me and I will.

Secondly, I did not mean to imply that Jaina is pregnant. She was sick because she had gotten drunk. Even if she was pregnant, she would not have morning sickness for at least a couple of weeks.

Chapter 29 mentioned children, but that was just in reference to something way in the future after marriage and the white picket fence deal.

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Leia sat across from her father. A tired smile crossed her face as he raised a questioning eyebrow at her.

"Things must be bad on the outside if you are actually enjoying seeing me," Ani observed.

"The deployment of the Jedi teams has been stressful to say the least. Between arranging support and helping to assist the movement, I think I've aged several years. Running the Rebellion was easier in some ways."

Ani nodded. "I hear that the military refused to dispatch Rogue Squadron."

"A fact that the entire squadron is currently howling about, I can assure you. But there is not much that you can do when the people that fund you say you need to be there for the protection of the people."

Ani snorted. "More like the protection of greedy senators. How is Jaina taking the separation?"

"Oh, she is taking it well. She is jealous that he got to go I think, but she has accepted it."

"Well, he is more important to the operation than Jaina is."

Leia's eyes widened. "I don't think I would put those types of qualifiers on two people."

"Leia, no offense, but I'd really rather have him beside me in a fight than Jaina. Their experience is totally different. Jaina does not have all that much structured battle experience, nor does she have the leadership experience."

"I don't agree. Jaina's experience could be more valuable in certain situations."

Ani rolled his eyes. "Okay, maybe she'd be better in a space battle, but really that whole 'I hate flying' thing is just an act."

Leia's face scrunched for a second. "I don't think that we are talking about the same thing. Who is 'he'?"

"Obi-Wan, who else?"

"I thought you were asking about Jacen. Why would you ask about Obi-Wan? He and Jaina are not particularly close."

"What do you mean they aren't particularly close? Last I checked they were…"

"They were what?"

"Um, really into battle strategies."

"You're a terrible liar. How did you ever hide your marriage vows?"

"Avoidance."

"Well, it won't work with me. What was it you thought my daughter was doing with Kenobi?"

"Nothing, I swear."

"Nothing? Why do I find that hard to believe?"

"Leia, maybe this is something to discuss with Jaina yourself. That's what Han did. I mean…"

"Han knows something about this? What? Is Kenobi trying to talk Jaina into studying the Old Jedi ways? Leave the Republic? Become a Senator?"

"No, I think Jaina was persuading him to try out a couple facets of the New Order."

Leia's face went white. "Tell me you don't mean what I think you mean. Tell me my daughter is not dating a man old enough to be her great-grandfather."

"Well… Hey! Did I tell you that I built C3PO?"

"My Baby is dating the crusty old hermit from Tattooine? AND HAN KNEW?"

"Isn't Anakin your Baby?"

"That's another thing. He raised my son. She's dating her bother's stepfather. Her name will be plastered on tabloids forever."

"Hey, I think it is romantic."

"You also think that broken power converters are works of art. I can't believe no-one told me."

"Maybe they thought you would react like you are right now."

"For a man trained in diplomacy, you lack large quantities of tact."

"For a Princess who married a smuggler, you lack compassion for nontraditional relationships. Han is what, thirteen years older than you?"

"I don't think you're going to help matters. You are obviously on their side."

"Who's side?"

"Obi-Wan's, Han's, etcetera, etcetera."

"Everyone who knew before you and supports the relationship?"

"Oh, you're incorrigible."

 Leia pushed herself away from the table and stalked out, leaving a laughing Ani in her wake.  She was halfway back to her speeder when she stopped in her tracks.

"Did he say that he built Threepio?"

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Jaina sighed as she swirled the remains of her tea around in her cup. She did not know what was worse. The fact that she could not go on the mission, or the fact that she was already missing Obi-Wan.

A salmon colored head tilted in her direction. "Obi-Wan get you hooked on that?"

Jaina smiled. Bant had volunteered to stay behind. She had always done well as a fighter pilot, but she was not familiar with the current systems. Consequently, Bant had agreed to help on the diplomatic front.

"You know, I hated tea. I don't know how he got me to drink it. One moment, I was a normal caf swilling space jockey, the next thing I know, I'm sipping tea and contemplating the nature of life."

Bant nodded in sympathy. "Qui-Gon infected Obi-Wan, one moment my best friend was drinking soda with the rest of us. The next moment, he was talking about the perfect steeping temperature. Of course, Master Yoda would say that we should always be contemplating the nature of life."

Jaina laughed. "Oh, I know I'm not the stellar Jedi I should be. Apparently, the only person that fits that billing is Windu."

Bant closed her eyes. "You don't care for Master Windu."

"That wasn't a question. That was a statement, and unfortunately, it is true. The man is totally inflexible."

"It can be good for him to be inflexible in certain areas. It is better than being too loose."

Jaina sighed and nodded. Her eyes widened. "Did you feeling that?"

Bant's eyes glazed over. "There is a slight disturbance over by the parking area."

Jaina's face fell. "That isn't a disturbance. That is my mother."

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(A few lightyears away)

Luke sighed as their transport drew ever closer to Kamino. He had foolishly hoped that after the Empire, he would not have to engage in this type of all scale battle again. It did not help that he was lonely. Mara had reluctantly agreed to stay behind with little Ben and take charge of the Jedi.

A gentle scraping of a boot on the deckplate shook Luke from his musings. Qui-Gon stood a few steps behind him staring out at the same blurred lines of hyperspace.

"This I am used to. I spent most of my life hopping from planet to planet. The occasional ferry from Coruscant to Yavin IV pales in comparison."

Luke smiled. "I spent most of my life wishing I was planet hopping. When I got my wish, part of me wanted to run screaming back to Tattooine."

Qui-Gon smiled. "Ah, I suppose it was overwhelming. One moment you are dreaming of being a starfighter, the next you are the last hope for the Jedi and peace."

 "I think that I was too young to realize the full implication back then. That was a good thing. I don't think that I would be able to become a self-study Jedi now."

"Thus why the council liked time limits. It is much harder to discipline yourself as you age."

"Master Jinn?"

"Yes?"

"When this is all over, I am going to organize a new council. The system I have now works well, but I think that we need something more permanent than the debate of head Masters and Knights."

"A wise decision, but why does this concern me?"

"I think it would be wise to include Masters from the Old Order as well as the New. Yoda was an obvious choice as was Obi-Wan. I thought you might neatly round out the selection."

"Me? I never made it onto my own council. I'm too reckless."

"That is exactly why we need you. The old council failed because it became too mired in itself. In an odd way, Callista has given us a second chance to reclaim what we had and improve upon it. The council needs to be truly balanced. I believe that you could help us achieve this goal."

Qui-Gon smirked. "I am not certain I am tempered for such a position."

Luke shook his head. "If you don't agree, Obi-Wan swore he would come and make you see reason."

"Obi-Wan always did want to see me locked up in a safe little debating room."

"That is the point. The council will have to be different now. No more sitting around and talking to politicians. We need to understand our people."

"You drive a hard bargain. Agreed then. Assuming I make it through the coming battle, I will be honored to be on the council. If nothing else, it will frost the butts off any Jedi that make it through Callista."