I hope everyone had a very happy father's day yesterday! Here is a happy/mushy post for you today.

Chapter 30

Deciding that his sister was right, Jacen made plans to leave for Hapes the next day. But when morning came, he knew that there was one more thing he had to do.

Knocking on the door to the Skywalker apartment, Jacen silently questioned himself about why he was there. Of course he had a reason, but he doubted that anyone would completely understand it.

His aunt Mara soon opened the door. With a grin, she said, "Jacen, this is a surprise. Come on in."

He followed her through the door and asked, "Is Tahiri around?"

"I believe that she and the baby are in her room at the end of the hall."

Murmuring his thanks, Jacen walked over to Tahiri's room and knocked gently on the door. When she answered, her surprise was obvious. "Jacen! What are you doing here?"

"Oh, well I came to see that little princess of yours."

Tahiri walked back into her room and picked up the newborn girl out of her makeshift cradle. "Here she is. Little Menley." Tahiri gently placed her daughter into Jacen's open arms.

"She's beautiful."

"Thanks. But for some reason I don't think you came here just to take a look at my baby. What's on your mind?"

Jacen began to get nervous and started fidgeting a bit; like a child. "Well…there is another reason why I came here. It's just that, back on Myrkr, I made one last promise to Anakin before he died."

"What kind of promise?"

In answer to her question, he quickly leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. They tasted like exotic fruit and both lingered for a moment or two, neither sure why.

But when they pulled apart, Tahiri had her eyes closed, lost in the past. "Anakin…" And when she opened them, reality struck again. She was still standing in her room at the Skywalkers; with Jacen.

And as Jacen stood in front of this poor girl, his heart went out to her. She had lost the one person she ever loved, and then had his baby. That's a tough life. "Sorry, it's just me."

With a sad smile, she said, "I know. Wishful thinking. So, it's really great that you are back and all. What's next for you?"

"Um, well I was thinking about going to Hapes. To see Tenel Ka."

"That sounds like a plan. Good luck."

"Thanks," he said before quietly leaving the room to face what came next.

While he was in route to Hapes, all Jacen could think about was Tenel Ka. Her face, her hair…everything. He didn't know why it had taken so long for him to notice, but he now knew that he more than just kind of liked her. They were merely kids when they were together at the academy, but even then they had had some sort of connection. Maybe she had felt it too. When she kissed him by the bon fire that one time when he was fifteen, he felt like the whole world had stopped spinning.

He would never forget that first kiss. Jaina used to tease him when they were younger because Zekk had first kissed her on their fourteenth birthday, not long before the twins had left to go to the academy and he had never even had so much as a crush. But you know what they say; girls mature faster than boys. And boy was Tenel Ka worth the wait! From the moment he had first laid eyes on her, he knew that she was perfect for him. Opposites really do attract.

As he neared Hapes days later, Jacen began to feel Tenel Ka's presence again, and it was the best feeling in the galaxy. All he wanted was to hold her in his arms, the way he had in his dreams during his captivity with the Vong.

By the time he had landed, he had the Hapan queen in his sight. Sprinting down the boarding ramp, Jacen ran straight into her arms, and held on to her as if he was never planning on letting go.

Tenel Ka couldn't believe her eyes. Jacen Solo was really alive! She hadn't allowed herself to completely believe the good news until this moment for fear of waking up and realizing that it was all a dream. But as she held him in her embrace, she knew all was well.

Later that afternoon the two sat together in Tenel Ka's private reception room, which she uses to receive guests. They were alone except for the two Hapan bodyguards standing watch by the doors. Jacen had fought a lot of diabolical bad guys in his time, but just by looking at the two muscular women in front of him, he could tell that they were a pair he should never attempt to take on.

Jacen and Tenel Ka had been making polite conversation for hours, but they both knew that the topic they really wanted to discuss had yet to have been brought up.

Placing her hand on his, Tenel Ka said, "Jacen, my friend, I have missed you so much. When I thought you had died…"

Lacing his fingers through hers, Jacen replied, "I know. To be completely honest, you're what got me through my time with the Vong. I was in so much pain all of the time, but when I thought of you, things got a little bit better."

This brought a smile to the usually solemn face of the queen. "My life was over when I thought I lost you. Had I not had a duty to my friends and my people, I would have gladly died right there with you. But now you're back and everything's different."

"It doesn't have to be different. I really care about you, Tenel Ka. I always have."

And for the second time in his life, Jacen was filled with utter bliss as Tenel Ka gently brushed her lips against his.

So, we got some J/Tk mush, and there will be some more in the next post. I hope to have it up by Thursday, so keep an eye out! Also: lurkers, come out, come out wherever you are. Send me a review! (I won't bite, promise.)