Jag was very nervous. [i]I really need some pre-invasion Corellian Wine[/i], he thought dismally. For the hundredth time since he set it up, he checked to make sure the music was set and the food was ready to be brought out. [i]Good thing there isn't a mirror in here[/i], Jag though, [i]I'd be checking my appearance every five seconds[/i].

He was about to check everything one more time when he heard a soft knocking on the door.

He smoothed out the non-existent wrinkles his dress shirt, took a deep breath and opened the door. Jaina was covered head to toe in a cloak so he had no idea what she looked like yet.

"Please come in," he said with no sign of how nervous he was in his voice.

She stepped in and he closed the door behind her swiftly but softly.

She had pulled the hood down and already he was taken aback at how beautiful she was. Her hair was in two buns on the top of her head with some hair hanging down frame her face and her bangs were curled and pushed to the sides of her face. She had something that made her entire face glimmer and her lips were so luscious he was beginning to fantasize about kissing them.

"Can I take your coat?" he asked politely.

She smiled at him. "Yes please." She let him help her out of her coat and turned around so he could see her entirely.

His mouth fell open at the sight. He'd seen many attractive women in his lifetime but Jaina was gorgeous even by Chiss standards. [i]That dress really is the finishing touch her magnificence, but she's still exquisite when she's in overalls and covered with grease[/i], he thought.

He had evidently been staring at her for a while because she called out his name in question, "Jag?"

He snapped out of his daze and hung her cloak up on the coat rack in the corner.

He walked back over to her and said, "You look gorgeous, Jaina."

She blushed at his compliment, "Thanks. You look pretty handsome yourself."

He smiled as he pulled her into kiss her and stopped a breath away, "I only look handsome because you're in my arms." Before she could reply he kissed her. She ran her fingers through his hair while his were caressing her bare back.

When they broke apart she grinned up at him, "Well you sure know how to make a lady feel welcome."

He gave her a subtle smile and gestured towards the table he had set up. "Would you care to dine, milady?"

She beamed up at him and for a moment his breath caught in his throat because of the magnificence before him. "I would love to Jag," she said, "it's so beautiful here. How did you find it?"

He knew she referring to wonderful view of hyperspace you could see because the entire wall was transparisteel. "I found it one day when I was looking for somewhere peaceful to be alone."

*****

The dinner Jag made delicious. He had chosen her favorite Corellian meal, nerf steak with sautéed vegetables with a spicy meat sauce covering it and what passed for whiskey.

They were just about to begin dessert. Jag had gone to get it and she had no idea what it was.

Dinner had been pleasant and she had successfully avoided mentioning any past relationships. She had been afraid she might mention something Zekk and ruin the night. It had only been a few months since she and Zekk had last broken up, which meant that it was still a touchy subject for her.

She was jarred from her musing by Jag's voice. "Oh, I'm sorry. Could you repeat that?" she asked.

"Sure," Jag said with one one corner of his mouth curving upwards in a smile. "I said I hope you like ryshate cake."

She sat there stunned for a moment. "How'd you a get a hold of some, Jag? I heard the only way to get it was off the black market."

"My little secret," Jag said with a hint amusement in his voice.

"Fine," she said sighing, "keep your secret."

He then carried over two plates with a slice of ryshate on each, and sat one in front of her and one in front of him. As he sat down he looked at the table seeming to decide something and said, "To the celebration of life."

She grinned and echoed, "To the celebration of life." They both took a bite. "Mmm," she said after she finished chewing, "this is delicious!"

Jag gave her the smile she knew she would grow to cherish and said, "I knew you'd like it."

"Getting a little overconfident, are we?" she replied, lifting her eyebrow in amusement.

"Not at all," he said, catching her gaze. "Would you care to dance?"

She grinned at him as he sat across the table, trying to hide his apprehension. "I would never pass it up," she responded.

He gave her a very rare, full smile and she stored it in her memory for future nights loneliness. "Good," he said, getting up from his seat and moving to stand beside her chair. "I wouldn't let you pass it up."

"Oh, you!" she said chuckling as he took her hand and led her away from the dinner table.

He let go of her hand and went over to the fireplace. Jag pressed a button on the frame and a familiar Corellian waltz began to play.

He returned to her and took her hand. She one hand on his shoulder and his other hand went to her waist. She nodded to him with a regal expression on her face and fought off the urge to giggle. Instead she just let a smile blossom on what some people had told her were beautiful features. She felt so stupid. She used to do this with Jacen and Anakin when they were bored at dinners they had had to attend. They'd plow through all the other dancers and pretend they were so important. [i]Ah, the good old days[/i], she thought wistfully. [i]But[/i], she snapped herself back to the present, [i]she did like this better because it was just her and Jag, no parental supervision, just having a good time on their first date.[/i]

"I had no idea you were this Corellian," Jaina said mischievously as he continued to lead her expertly through the steps of the waltz.

"Living under my parents roof, I think it would be impossible not to be very Corellian. Both my parents full blooded Corellian and stress that very much at home," he whispered loud enough for her to hear.

"Really?" Jaina asked disbelievingly.

His rich baritone laughter was her answer. She stopped dancing and looked up into his intriguing light green eyes in confusion. [i]His laughter is so sexy[/i], the part of her mind of her mind that was able swallow what was happening thought. [i]Whoa[/i], her more logical side took over, [i]stop acting like a love-sick teenager.[/i] All coherent thought processes stopped at that one word; love. [i]No[/i], she thought frantically, [i]it's only been a day. I'm not in love with him yet.[/i]

Deep down though, she knew it was true and it terrified her. This was her first serious relationship, and finding out only one day into it that she already loves him was a bit much to swallow. [i]I'm too young for this[/i], she thought.

"Jaina?" Jag's voice broke into her reverie.

She looked up at him and was sure she looked like a bantha in a speeder's headlights. She urgently needed to get to get away and think through this revelation.

"I. ah. um," she stammered. "I'm sorry, Jag, but I really need to leave."

His expression went from mischief to hurt. "Why?" he asked searching her eyes.

She turned her gaze to anything but him and replied, "I just realized something and I have to go think it through." She pulled away from their embrace and tried to turn away from him but found herself stopped by his strong grip on her forearm.

"Are you sure?" he asked, trying to hide his disappointment.

She nodded and said, "As soon as I have it figured out I'll get in touch with you. I'm really sorry to ruin the rest of the evening you had planned."

"That's okay," he said, letting go of her arm. He leaned down to kiss her, but she turned so her kissed her cheek. He seemed to accept this as well and said, "Sleep well."

"You too," she said, retreating to get her cloak from where he hung it at the beginning of the evening. She put it on as she keyed the door mechanism and opened it. She turned back towards him one last time and said, "Good night."

"Good night," he whispered as she left.