The Sweetest Thing
by obi's girl

Chapter 9

Kyp Durron wearily rubbed his eyes as Jaina continually buzzed his comm., forcing him to wake up, leaving Sera to sleep alone and tend to her. Last night couldn't have been easy for her, her daughter's birthday had turned sour because her grams had passed out and was probably still at the clinic under the watchful eye of Tionne and her uncle Luke.

Before Jaina could buzz his comm. one more time, Kyp finally reached the door and allowed her inside, mumbling good morning to her.

"It's not exactly a good morning, Kyp," she muttered back and dropped onto the couch in the main room, "Ya know, I wanted last night to be special for Cherith. I never had a birthday party or anything growing up, I think, mostly because someone would make the mistake and buy me a dress but it was still important for Cherith to have a nice, quiet birthday,"

It seemed she rambled on and on until she heard a thud and noticed Kyp fall asleep on the counter, banging his head. "Oh Kyp, I'm so sorry! When did you go to sleep last night?"

He shrugged, "After your family made every one leave the party last night, Sera and I did some celebrating of our own...We were both awake for a long while, and a few minutes ago, I just started to really drift off into sleep mode,"

"Sorry, I woke you," Jaina quickly apologized and then remembered he said something about celebrating, "What special occasion were you and Sera celebrating last night?"

"I proposed, and she accepted," Kyp mumbled, "We were both too tired though to go out and celebrate with some drinks and a dinner, so we celebrated here -- in the bedroom," the Jedi Master said and grinned.

Jaina laughed and then quieted down, looking at Kyp seriously, "Is Sera still here?"

Kyp nodded, gesturing they move away from the main area and to the mini kitchen. Now awake, he poured himself a bottle of caf and offered another mug to Jaina. Jaina nodded her thanks as Kyp leaned against the counter, "How's Cherith doing?"

"She fell asleep on the couch after Valin dropped her off at the apartment," she paused, "I didn't say anything to Jag, but I think she was eating some ryshcate cake, the cake Mirax baked,"

"Well, she's likely to have a really bad hang over this morning," Kyp laughed to himself, "I'll pick her up later and drag her off to the gym, unless you want her to stay in today, so you can be together?"

Jaina moaned and rested her head in her arms, "I'd actually like it if Cherith weren't around. I don't want her to be worrying about what's happening,"

Kyp shrugged, "She's fifteen now, Jaina, I think she can deal with whatever happens,"

"I know she can, but still, she doesn't need to worry about everything. It's too much for a young girl like her," Jaina mused and then returned her attention back to Kyp and Sera's engagement, "So, you and Sera are engaged? You've finally found a woman that can and is willing to tolerate you,"

"I would have proposed to Sera earlier before the recon mission Antilles sent her on, but it was already too and then, when she came back, we barely had any time together and when we did have time together, I freaked out!"

Jaina smirked and took another sip of her caf, "Yes, I remember you telling me about your cold feet,"

Kyp grumbled, "It wasn't cold feet; she was just preoccupied and you know, I wanted everything to be perfect, but the circumstances never were...until last night,"

"So, how did it happen? Give her any hints about plans for the future? I want to know how this all played out,"

"No hints," he muttered, "She proposed to me,"

Jaina's mouth dropped, she looked at Kyp curiously for a moment before managing to say something, "She proposed to you? Sera got on one knee and told you, she wanted to be Mrs. Durron?"

"Not exactly," Kyp said, "We were talking and she brought up the subject, so I accepted. Made my job a lot easier,"

"I can't believe this; this is big news! I mean, you're engaged," Jaina rambled and stood up from her chair, hugging him, "Congratulations, Kyp. I know you and Sera are going to be happy together; you two practically have the same personality,"

He nodded, "I know. It's a wonderful feeling to be this happy, but I have to admit, it scares me sometimes,"

Jaina's eyebrows furrowed and she pulled away from him, "Why does it scare you? Kyp, this is a wonderful thing. I know Sera has been lusting after you for years, and once she becomes your wife, you'll be hers forever,"

"I don't mind that," Kyp added, "I love Sera very much; I just know happiness only lasts for a short while. Something big bad and ugly is waiting right around the corner to destroy everything,"

"No big bad and ugly here Kyp, just your worries and fears," Jaina smiled, "Oooh, I have to go. I need to be there when Cherith finally wakes up; someone needs to hold her hair when she hangs her head over the sink and I know, Jag wouldn't like it if he knew she went to sleep drunk last night,"

Kyp smiled, "Motherly duties calls," Jaina made a face, smiled at him briefly and then left him alone.

~~

Padmé moaned as she turned on her side and her arm dropped off the bed. Her mind was still a blur; she remembering being at her great grand daughter's birthday party, having fun and then a big blank. She knew she'd been able to control her coughs and dizzy spells during the last couple weeks, but last night, she'd lost control.

//I promised myself I was going to be okay for Cherith's party...Oh poor Cherith, her birthday is ruined now,//

She wearily opened her eyes, focusing on her surroundings. The ceiling didn't look her apartment ceiling, and then she turned her gaze to her bed...A medical bed, she was in the clinic on the base and her room, was for top priority patients.

"It could have been worse," she realized, "Last night, could have been the last time and I wouldn't be awake now,"

//Yes Padmé, it could have been the last time,// a voice said and then was accompanied later by the ghostly form of Ben Kenobi, //What happened last night, it scared us all. Luke was here almost the whole night, watching you but I convinced him to go home and be with his wife and son, and I'd watch you,//

She smiled briefly, "Ghosts don't sleep, do they?"

Ben shrugged, sitting down in the chair beside her bed, //Not really....Padmé, I told Luke that the episode you had last night, it could be a sign that maybe...//

"Maybe that I'm dying?" she finished for him, "I know I am, Ben. I've known for awhile that something was wrong with me. I knew I was sick but I didn't want to believe I was dying. To be honest, I don't think I'm ready to die. I love my children, Ben; I love my family...I'm going to miss them so much..."

Obi-Wan nodded, //I know, Padmé. I know, but if you want, I'll watch them for you. I promised you before I would and I have; I'll watch them again for you,//

Padmé smiled and rested her head against the pillow, "Thank you Ben, but you've been this family's guardian angel for a long time. Your Master, however, I don't think he'd mind taking over the job for awhile," she paused and sighed, "I'm tired now, Ben...I just want to sleep awhile,"

"Padmé?"

She waved her hand, smiling, "Just let me sleep, Ben. I'll be all right; I promise I'll open my eyes again. But later, I'll like to see all my children,"

Ben nodded and watched as Padmé closed her eyes, sleeping more peacefully this time.

~~

Cherith moaned as she tossed her head over the fresher, holding her black hair in a ponytail as more green/yellow stuff spewed from her mouth. Valin warned her that the ryshcate cake his mom made had a lot of alcohol in it, but she didn't listen and now, she had a deep achy feeling in her stomach. She could have blamed Valin but she knew it wasn't right; she was hungry and wanted to eat something sweet...

Sweet.

She smiled, remembering the kiss she shared with her friend last night. Cherith had kissed him several times before but the kiss last night was different. Maybe it was because she was a year older and more understanding of her feelings, but it was really special and Valin even admitted, he loved her. He'd never said that to her before but the question remained, did she love him?

//That's crazy! Of course I love him, otherwise the kiss didn't mean anything,//

Before she could finish that thought, she belted over the fresher again and threw up some more. Last night was really beautiful; despite her grandmother fainting and having to spend the night in the medical ward, her birthday was wonderful because of her beautiful friend.

Friend? Friends don't kiss or hold hands, she realized but also, if they went along like last night never happened, it would hurt them both. It would also drive her friends crazy. For so long, her girlfriends wanted her to hook up with Valin because it seemed like the next step in their relationship. Now, she and Valin were really an item, there was no reason why she couldn't make Shelly and Derora squirm.

That could be fun.

A moment later, as she cleaned up herself and sprayed the fresher with some air freshner, Cherith heard someone repeatedly beep the comm. She snorted and quickly splashed her face one more time with water, dried it and walked to the front door.

"Who is it?" she asked, though she had some idea who was there.

"Shelly and Derora, let us in! We need to talk to you, Cher," Derora cried.

Cherith grinned and then frowned, putting on a straight and calm face as she let her friends in. Shelly waltzed in first and checked several of the rooms as Derora looked at Cherith, eyeing her carefully. "What's going on? Why are you two here so early?" Cherith finally asked.

Shelly plopped herself down on the couch as Derora paced around a bit before confronting Cherith, "What happened last night?"

"My grams fainted; she's in the medical ward and my family, they're taking turns watching her,"

"No, not your grams!" Derora said, "Valin! What happened with Valin? We heard he walked you home last night. What happened? We need details,"

Cherith grinned as she walked over to the counter, grabbing herself some blue milk and crackers, "Nothing happened. Valin walked me home, we ate some and he left. I know I was vulnerable last night because of what happened to my grams, but nothing happened between us."

Shelly stepped into the conversation, "What did you two say to each other then during your little dance at the party?"

"We didn't talk loud enough for you, Shelly?" Cherith joked, "We just talked. Calm down; nothing happened and nothing happened when Valin walked me home,"

"We heard you didn't go home immideatly. We heard you had a little detour to the lounge and hung out there a little while, during closing hours," Derora added, "Don't tell us nothing happened there!"

Again, Cherith was calm, drinking her milk and eating crackers, "We just stopped by there because I needed to use the fresher before returning to the apartment. The one we have here is broken and has been for the last couple weeks,"

Shelly raised an eyebrow and then hmm'd. "I think you're lying. Something happened last night, Cherith...I mean, you've never been great at lying,"

"Lying? You think I'm lying, Shelly? Ever think maybe I don't want you to butt into my business? I'm a private person like my dad, you know that," Cherith said and Derora giggled, "And that goes for you to, Der!"

Derora stopped giggling and frowned, "We're sorry, Cher,"

Cherith nodded, "And stop calling me, Cher. My nickname is Cherry," Sudennly, all three girls laughed. "Honestly, I don't want you guys to get messed up in my messed up life. Besides, I'm too young for a boyfriend,"

"Yeah, but you're a Solo and Fel, Cherith. With parents like Jaina Solo and Jagged Fel, life is never slow going at least not for the Solo's anyway," Shelly added, "But you have to have your priorities straight, and we understand that. You're a Jedi apprentice, you have your family and two little brothers or sisters on the way."

Cherith moaned, forgetting about the two new members of her family. She wasn't particularly looking foreward to being an older sister. "Can we talk about something else, please? I don't want to think about how my life is gonna be an even bigger mess once the twins arrive,"