Thanks InsaneJediGirl for your sympathy! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can get everything back. Today's chapter is fairly angsty, so be warned!

Chapter 32

When Jacen awoke the following morning he was brimming with excitement. He was in love with Tenel Ka, and she felt the same way about him!

Dressing quickly, Jacen had soon formed a brilliant plan in his head. She would never see this one coming!

Tenel Ka was awakened by the early morning sunrise pouring through the doors that led to her magnificent balcony. There were days when she would stand out there for hours, just gazing at the beauty surrounding her.

But this morning Tenel Ka walked out onto her balcony for a different reason. Yesterday in the gardens things had gotten carried away between Jacen and herself. As they had made love she was filled with such wonder and happiness, but when it was over a feeling of dread had begun to overcome her.

What did she do? Yes, she loved Jacen, but their relationship would never work out. She would not be able to give him everything he wanted; everything he deserved. And now the day in which they would part to go their separate ways would be even more heart breaking.

Standing there, alone in the sunlight, Tenel Ka broke down and began to cry. She had never been one for tears, but now she did not know what else to do.

Except that she did. She was going to have to hurt him, in order to spare him the pain later.

It did not take Jacen long to reach Tenel Ka's room, and once there he stormed by Laraissa and Britalia and let himself in. At first glance he did not see her, but then there she was. A vision of beauty out on the balcony.

She was wearing a tight, revealing red dress and her hair was pulled back in a fierce bun, yet it still glistened in the sunlight. Running towards her, Jacen easily picked Tenel Ka up and spun her around, setting her down with a light kiss.

"Good morning, beautiful. I couldn't wait to see you today!"

Placing a hand firmly on his chest to try and stop him, Tenel Ka said, "Jacen-"

But he cut her off with, "No, don't say anything. There was something specific I came here to ask you."

As Jacen dropped down on his knees before her, Tenel Ka's heart dropped. No, no please don't let this be happening!

"Tenel Ka, I know that I have absolutely nothing to offer you that could ever possibly compare to some rich prince or duke, but I can give you my love for the rest of my life. Will you marry me!"

Taking a deep breath, she gently pulled him back up to her. This was the most difficult thing she had ever had to do. Brushing her palm across his face, she said in a whisper, "No, I cannot."

The big dopey grin that had been spread across Jacen's face seconds earlier was now nowhere in sight. "What? Why? I mean, after yesterday-"

"Jacen, yesterday was the best day of my life."

"Then why won't you marry me?"

"Because I can't. If you were to marry me then you would be nothing more than my consort, there only to make heirs. You would have no power and no free will; always have to walk two steps behind me, never speak unless first spoken to. You have no idea what a male's position is here. I won't take your future away from you like that."

"Take my future away from me- Tenel Ka, you are my future!"

With tears shining in her eyes, Tenel Ka turned to leave. But first she said, "Not any more I'm not. I'm sorry but you deserve better."

Calling out to her retreating back, Jacen cried, "But I love you!"

Poor Jacen, he just got his heart broken :(

Chapter 33

Numb. That was how Jacen Solo felt as he made his way slowly back to his ship. He had just had his heart ripped out and stomped on by the woman he loved, and there was no possible way that he could stay there and risk running into her again.

But Tenel Ka's words kept running through his head. She had said he deserved better, but there was no one better than her. He had given her his heart, as well as his body, and he thought she had done the same in return. But apparently she did not feel the same way about him.

He had to leave. If he so much as saw her again he would probably break into a thousand pieces. During his captivity, it was Tenel Ka's face that had kept him going; gave him the strength to live, and now she no longer wanted to be a part of his life.

Jacen absent mindedly went through the motions of taking off and leaving the Hapes system. All he wanted to do was get back home to his family. He never should have left them to begin with.

It took Jacen nearly a week to return. By the time he arrived, the initial stun of Tenel Ka's rejection had begun to wear off. Now he was mad.

Infuriated to be more precise. And not because Tenel Ka was refusing to marry him. Because she was giving in to the one thing she had always stood against.

Back in their academy days, Tenel Ka would do anything she could to keep from being sucked into the ways of all of the corrupt Hapan royals around her. She refused to settle for a life that was pre-determined and controlled by others. But now she was not going to allow herself to be with the man she loves because he would not fit in with her people's customs? She's queen, for Forces-sake! She could change the expectations.

Jacen tried to block out his feelings for the rest of the trip home. Home. Such a strange word for someone like him who's only real homes had been destroyed during this terrible war. But home was with the ones you love, right? Love…

How was he going to explain this to Jaina? That he poured his heart and soul out to Tenel Ka and she simply dismissed him as if what had happened between them meant nothing at all. Maybe numbness wasn't so bad after all. It's at least better than feeling rejected and unloved.

Jaina was ecstatic. In less than a month, she would be Mrs. Jagged Fel. Plus, when she woke up this morning she could feel Jacen's presence growing near. Since she hadn't really gotten much of a chance to spend any time with him when he first escaped the Vong, she was now looking forward to spending the next few days with him.

Jaina also couldn't help hoping that he and Tenel Ka had gotten back together. She had felt Tenel Ka's pain when they thought they had lost Jacen. And even if the Hapan queen refused to admit it, Jaina knew that she was in love with him. She had been since they were kids.

But for some reason, Jaina had a bad feeling about everything. As if something wasn't quite right…It was probably just her imagination. Jacen and Tenel Ka were meant for each other; they both knew that. Hopefully.

As Jacen exited the ship, he saw that both Tahiri and his sister had come to greet him. Great. Better face my rejection head on.

"Jace!" his sister called out, throwing herself in his arms. "How did everything go with you and Tenel Ka?"
Taking a deep breath, he responded, "How about we talk about it later." Turning to give Tahiri a hug, he asked, "So where is my niece?"

With a little smile, Tahiri said, "Jag's brother Cem is watching her for me. I never would have guessed that he would be so great with kids."

Laughing, Jaina added, "Yeah, me neither. What's with you two anyway? It's like one minute you can't stand the guy, and now he's always around."

The trio had been walking for a minute before Tahiri answered. "I know what you mean. But I'm not really sure what happened. It's not that I never liked him, I just didn't like the way he treated me all of the time. But after I had Menley, he changed. I can't really explain it, but it's like he suddenly grew up."

Turning towards Tahiri, Jacen said, "Well, it happens. A lot of times guys don't even realize how big of jerks their being. It's just our nature."

As the group neared the Skywalker apartment, Tahiri excused herself. This left just Jacen and Jaina a few moments alone before they went to see their parents.

"So, now do you want to tell me about what happened with you and Tenel Ka?"

"I don't really know what happened between us, Jay. I mean, everything was great at first. Better than great! I hadn't expected her to fall in love with me so fast."

"But."

"But then something changed. I was with her, Jaina. And it was the best day of my life. Hers too, or so she said."

"Then what's the problem?"

"I…I asked her to marry me. And she said no."

Shocked, Jaina could barely manage to say, "What? Why, I mean if she loves you and all."

"She said she couldn't bring herself to marry me. Said I wouldn't be free. Like I know what that's supposed to mean."

The two walked the rest of the way home in silence. But before they even reached the door, it flew open and Leia rushed out, throwing her arms around her son.

"Oh, Jacen. I missed you."

Patting her gently on the back, he said, "I missed you too, mom, but I wasn't gone that long."

"Not gone that long! You were taken from me for over seven months, and then as soon as I get you back, you leave again. That is plenty long for me!"

With a sheepish grin on his face, he said, "Yeah, I guess you're right. Sorry, mom."

"It's okay Jacen. I know you had to go see your friend Tenel Ka. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you two. We're having a big family dinner tonight, so don't make any other plans." Brushing her hand across Jacen's cheek, Leia said once more, "I'm so glad your home."

Coming up next time: Tahiri has an important talk with Luke and a certain blonde scientist makes an appearance.