Part 2

"Jasa, wait up!" Nine-year-old Jaina Solo shouted to her twin brother as he ran past her. "Jacen!"

The boy came to a halt, midway between the exhibits of Hothan tauntauns and Nabooian Peko Pekos. He turned around to face his sister, brandy-brown eyes staring into those of their twin, a slight annoyance gracing his features.

"Do you want Threepio to hear us," he asked sharply as Jaina jogged towards him.

"Of course not," Jaina retorted. "But you were moving too fast for me!"

"That's cause you're a slowpoke. I should've taken Anakin."

Jaina glared at her brother, placing her hands on her hips. "I know you're in a hurry to see the Mantellian Horn Blowers, but that's no reason to leave me behind! And Anakin's slower than me anyway! You know that!"

Jacen rolled his eyes at his sister. She had a point, and Anakin always made the better distraction for the golden droid anyway. Still, he wasn't going to give in that easily. "That's Ord Mantellian Horn Blowers, Jaya. And the performance is supposed to be any minute now!"

"What are we waiting for, then?"

With that, the girl sprinted in their original direction. Jacen watched her, perplexed. "Girls," he muttered under his breath in disbelief and aggravation. It took him a couple of seconds before he realized that his sister wasn't waiting up for him this time. Wide-eyed, Jacen gaped as he watched her retreating body move further and further away. It took him a couple of more seconds to realize he better run after her.

"You and Mommy were like me and Padmé," Mikhail asked his uncle in disbelief, interrupting the story telling. His emerald eyes glowed with excitement, evident as his voice picked up speed. "You'd run away from Threepio and play tricks on 'im and..."

Jacen laughed and reached over to ruffle Mikhail's hair. By now, he and the twins had moved from the table to the to a kitchen corner, each twin leaning on one side of their uncle. "Yes, Miki, we could be. I don't know if anyone can compare to the two of you, though your mom and I sure did try."

"Wow," Padmé whispered. "I can't wait to ask Mommy!"

"Oh no you won't," Jacen said, realizing how angry Jaina would be if she were to find out that he had been filling her children's heads with stories of the mischievous youth. "If you dare tell my dear sister, I'm pretty sure that'll be the end of visits with your uncle Jacen."

Both twins protested to Jacen's response, but the man silenced them. "Don't you two want to hear more of my story?"

Mikhail and Padmé exchanged glances with each other. Jacen tried not to gulp. He really hoped they wouldn't run off again. Chasing them once through the garden maze had been enough. And with two Force sensitive twins sensing his presence... It really had been a long day.

"Okay," Padmé began.

"We guess so," Mikhail finished.

Jacen smiled. Victory was his. "Let's see. Where were we?"