Jacen Solo watched Tenel Ka all night standing in a secluded corner near a buffet table. He had been working up the courage to talk to her all evening and saw his chance when the Queen Mother excused herself and left the hall. He took one last, large drink, mustered his courage, and started after her. He watched her gently open the doors to the balcony. A gasp almost gave him away as the moonlight spilled over her, illuminating her features. Features he'd memorized when they were children and had to re-memorize as they changed during the war.

He had to quickly duck behind a narrow pillar as Tenel Ka turned around in response to his gasp. He tried to mute his presence in the Force but didn't feel any probing through the connection they shared, which both surprised and worried him. He waited a few minutes until he heard the door click closed. As he slowly emerged from his hiding place he watched in silent horror as another figure, a strong, solid figure, crossed to the balcony and opened the door, following Tenel Ka.

Jacen's anger only grew as the door swung shut, locking Tenel Ka on a balcony, in the moonlight, over looking a beautiful sea with a man that wasn't him. This strangers intentions couldn't be read through the Force, so Jacen stayed close to protect Tenel Ka, even though she didn't need it.

The minutes stretched on for hours it seemed and Jacen sunk back in the deep shadows in the dark hallway. People came and went sparingly and if the knew of his presence, they didn't let on. It was so silent, Jacen could hear his heart beating and was almost certain that everyone else on Mon Calamari could as well.

Had he lost the only opportunity to finally tell Tenel Ka how he really felt? Would this other man steal her away from him? Was this how it was going to end, after all they'd been through together?

These questions beat against Jacen's skull and many more like them, as he waited alone.

Finally the doors to the balcony opened. The man who had joined Tenel Ka minutes earlier stuck his head out and cautiously looked around. The moon was at his back so his features were hidden in the shadow but Jacen could see his curly brown hair. As the man reentered the seemingly empty hall, his left hand trailing behind his body attached to something. Jacen has to catch himself and he leaned heavily on the stone pillar at the man's arm came into full view and brought along another, slimmer, deeply tanned arm. Then Tenel Ka entered, and as if some sort of barrier wall had come crashing down, Jacen was hit full force with Tenel Ka's excitement, happiness and worry through the Force.

Jacen's breath rushed out of his body and he felt like dying when he finally looked upon Tenel Ka's face. This man, in the process of just a few minutes, had gotten Tenel Ka to do something Jacen had been trying to do for over 10 years.

Tenel Ka was openly smiling.

Jacen returned to the ball as it was ending, with a heavy heart. He had watched Tenel Ka, the woman he loved for most of his life, being drug off by another man. Her actions were abnormal for her, but Jacen figured every girl gets sick of waiting, even Queens.

The hall was nearly empty now as the band played slow song after slow song. He noticed his mother and father dancing close together in the middle of the floor. He was happy they were happy once again after the war with the Vong almost cost the all three of their children. He didn't bother them as he skirted the end of the large, wooden dance floor. To spare himself questions he tried again to dampen his emotions through the Force. His mother didn't seem to notice as she continued to dance with Han, her eyes closed and head upon her husband's shoulder. Jacen almost made it to the side of the hall when Jaina came jogging up behind him. Jag and an exhausted looking, red eyes Tahiri followed at a slower pace.

"Hey, what is up with you tonight? Did you talk to her?" Jaina asked as she drew even with her twin.

Jacen didn't stop walking or answer his sister.

"You didn't talk to Tenel Ka did you?" Jaina asked again sensing Jacen's angry mood.

Jacen stopped quickly and rounded on Jaina. "No. I didn't talk to Tenel Ka. Someone beat me to it. Some pilot by the looks of him. And besides, did you see her tonight?"

"Yes, of course. She was beautiful."

"To beautiful," Jacen echoed, quietly.

"She hasn't changed, Jacen, if that's what's worrying you. She's just force to dress a bit different, that's all."

Jacen took this in and continued to walk. He wanted to go home and not discuss it any more. He noticed Jaina let him leave without any protest. She knew how upset he was by their twin bond they've shared since birth. He could also feel warmth and support form a different presence. Tahiri. This didn't surprise him as Tahiri had become like another sister to him.

He walked in silence through the busy streets of Mon Calamari. Those who hadn't been invited to the ball had decided to celebrate in their own ways. Some of these individual parties had merged together in the night and at this late hour, nosily spilled into the streets. Species from all over the galaxy, human and alien alike were feasting together and well over half of them seemed very much inebriated. Jacen didn't recognize any faces and was glad that most of the people he encountered were to drunk to recognize him, the Jedi hero and savior. This didn't stop any of them from inviting this official looking passer by into their homes or places of business. Jacen just wordlessly pushed them away and walked on.

He didn't want to go home yet, knowing that Jaina would be there and might start questioning him again about this new man in Tenel Ka's life. He could go to his parent's apartment, but he'd get the same reaction from his mother when she returned home as he would get from his sister. And Uncle Luke and Aunt Mara were visiting Ben off world so they were gone.

Jacen walked on a bit more, noticing that as he got farther away from the center of town, the fewer parties there were. Or at least there were quieter than most.

He turned a corner onto a street lined with hole in the wall cantinas and private houses. He snuck into the first bar he came to and walked hunch shouldered to the bar. Not taking a seat he signaled to the barkeep and waited while the man finished his conversation. The room was nearly empty and those beings that were here didn't look up when Jacen entered. The barkeep finally ended his conversation and slowly walked down the bar to Jacen.

"What'll it be, youngster?" the man asked.

Jacen almost retorted until he remembered he was clean shaven and did look younger than his actual age. "The strongest you've got," he answered.

"Woman trouble?" The older man asked as he went about fixing Jacen's drink.

"Am I that readable?"

"No. It's just that usually when a man your age comes in and asks for the strongest drink I've got he's having girl troubles."

"Well add me to that list then."

The old man smiled as he sat a large glass of dark red liquor down in front of Jacen. "I'd be careful with that if I were you. The only man I've ever seen finish that and walk out of here on his own steam ended up turning on me."

"What do you mean? Turning on you?"

"Well maybe not me individually but on the galaxy. He was about your age, your build. In face, he looked a lot like you. Having woman troubles as well. Name was Anakin. Shame he turned out to be Darth Vader."

Jacen choked a bit on the drink and set it down. "Anakin Skywalker was here?"

"Sure. He came here shortly before he turned evil. I think the woman in his life was giving his grief over something and he needed to get away from it all. Came all the way out here to Mon Calamari and the next thing I knew he'd left the Jedi and helped declair war on their ways. He sure was something."

"Yeah, I'm sure he was," Jacen replied silently. He was amazed that this man knew his grandfather, even platonically. He took another long swig of the drink and realized why the man had warned him. He swallowed again, trying to get all of the liquor down before moving on.

"So, it's women troubles," The keep stated again.

Jacen only nodded, still a bit stunned by the drink.

"Care to talk about it?"

Seeing as how this was as good a chance as any to talk to someone who didn't have a bias either way Jacen spilled about the events of the night. The older man listened intently, taking it all in and nodding at certain parts. When Jacen finally got to the end of the story the man smiled at him.

"So that's it? You're just going to let this woman you've loved your entire life walk out of it so easily?"

"What other choice do I have?" Jacen asked with a sigh.

"Are you the Jedi I've heard about or not?"

"You know who I am?" Jacen asked, again, a bit surprised.

"Of course I do. Again, are you the Jedi I've heard about or not?"

"I don't understand what you're saying."

""If you love this woman, fight for her. Don't just give up. Go to her, tell her everything. Don't leave anything out. She'll understand why it took so long for your confession."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. And is she doesn't return your feelings, come back for another drink and we'll start again."

Jacen reached into his pocket to retrieve a few credits for the drink. The old man held up his hand to stop Jacen.

"It's on the house."

Jacen smiled at the man and took another drink. At that moment another customers came up to the bar and the barkeep headed off to serve him, leaving Jacen alone to think about the man's advice.

What he had said made sense. He was a Solo after all, know for fighting for the women they loved. Was he really going to let Tenel Ka go that easily? Just roll over and die? Of course not. He and Tenel Ka were meant to be together and he'd stop at nothing to make her, and the galaxy, see that.