Neo-Paladin- Thanks! I'm glad you're reading.

InsaneJediGirl- Thanks. I was thinking that if Jaina was going to confide in someone it would have to be someone other than her mother.

Sorry for the long wait everybody, but here is part four:

Confrontation

It was three months later before Mara and I returned to Coruscaunt. She was dropping me off back home to stay with my parents while she went on a bodyguard mission for some dignitary or another. I've always had trouble keeping things like that straight.

While I was excited about going home to see my family, I was nearly sick with dread at the thought of having to see Zekk again. Earlier that week he had left me a message on my comm saying he couldn't wait for me to get back so that he could show me how much he missed me. Just the thought of his words sent shivers up and down my spine.

"You okay?" I heard my aunt's strong voice say from behind me.

Turning to face her, I forced a smile onto my face. "Yeah. I'm fine, why?"

Mara sat down at her customary seat in the galley. "Because you don't seem too fine." I think should could smell my inhibitions, because she continued, "Maybe it has something to do with the fact that we will be arriving on Coruscaunt in the morning."

To my credit, my face remained an emotionless mask. "And why would that bother me? I'm looking forward to seeing my family again."

After a moment or two of silence, I figured that she had decided to drop the subject. But then Mara placed her hand on my shoulder and said, "Because of him."

The two of us had not spoken of Zekk since that first night when I had broken down. It had been like an unwritten rule between us not to bring the matter up. Still, I knew that eventually she would. "I miss Zekk too. In fact, I miss him a lot."

"But you're afraid to see him." The way she said it, it wasn't a question.

Nodding my head, I gave in. "What am I going to say to him? Sorry, I love you but I can't make love with you? He'll drop me in less than a second."

"Jaina, if he cares about you as much as he says he does, then he will understand. Love is based on more than just sex. You have to be able to trust him, and he has to be able to respect your boundaries. And if he really is the Zekk I know, he will understand."

"I hope so," I mumbled under my breath. "I don't think I can handle loosing him right now."

Mara stood up and walked to a food prep machine. I watched as she began the process of making hot chocolate. "Promise me something, Jaina."

That startled me a bit. "If I can."

"Don't give in to him just because you think you should."

It was as if she had stolen the thought directly from my head. Over the past three months I had been trying to convince myself that I was overreacting. That I was being a baby. All I wanted was to be able to be normal and give him everything he wanted. I almost had myself convinced. "I won't."

The smile she offered me from across the room was filled with warmth and love. I knew then that my words were true and I would stand my ground no matter what.

The next morning I was awoken early by what originally felt like a tingling sensation in my gut. I first passed it off as nerves, but then realized that it was Zekk's force presence brushing against mine. We were there.

A short time later I was busy unpacking my things in my old bedroom. If felt nice to be back in my childhood home. Everything seemed more pure and innocent here.

After settling in and having evening meal with my family, I set out to find Zekk. We needed to talk.

It didn't take me long to reach his small home in the underlevels of Coruscaunt. His apartment was old and falling apart, but everything in it was clean and well taken care of. I had many fond memories of this place.

Softly I knocked on the front door, and seconds later it was thrown open. A pair of strong arms grasped me around the waist and lifted me into the air; twirling me around. I couldn't stop a small laugh from escaping my throat. I missed this man.

Kissing me softly before setting me completely on the floor again, Zekk smiled. "I've missed you so much."

"I can tell." My smile was still firmly plastered on my face.

"You want to come in? Old Pekhum is gone for the next couple of days so I have the place to myself."

I could hear the anticipation in his voice. He had been looking forward to this day for months. "Um, sure." I followed him through the front door and into the small living area. Taking a seat on a small chair, I pretended to be intently studying my finger nails.

"How was your time with Mara?"

"It was good. I learned a lot. She even let me fly her ship every now and then."

"Astral! It sounds like you had a great time."

I nodded while avoiding his eyes. "What about you?"
"I haven't done too much. Spent some time with your brothers getting into trouble. The usual."

I smiled at that. There was nothing Zekk could do better than get into trouble. It seemed to migrate towards him. Maybe that was why my mother was always so hesitant about me spending so much time around him.

Taking my hand in his, Zekk tilted my chin up to look in my eyes. "Is everything okay?" I could feel his concern not only in his words but through the Force.

"Yeah," I lied. "Everything's great."

Satisfied with my response, he stood back up and pulled on my hand. "Here. Come with me."

Oh no, I thought to myself as I followed him back through the small apartment. He led me to what I knew was his bedroom, but I was surprised by what I saw inside of it.

There was a bouquet of slightly wilted flowers and a couple of lit candles. Despite the awkwardness of the situation, I couldn't help but feel loved by his kind gesture. "These are beautiful," I said as I picked up the flowers.

"They looked better when I got them this morning, but I wasn't sure when you would be arriving, so-"

"They're great."

"Well I think you're great."

His comment made my blush and I cast my gaze back down at the ground. I could feel his hands on my shoulders and his lips pressing against my neck. "I love you," he whispered in my ear as he slid my shirt straps of my arm.

I was lost for a moment or two in the feeling of his touch. He loved me, so shouldn't I just give him what he wanted? His hands continued down as they met my zipper and began to pull.

"No."

"What?" he asked, sounding extremely confused. "Is everything okay?"

I turned to face him. "No, it's not. Zekk, I don't think I can do this."

"What do you mean?"

I could see the hurt in his eyes and I pulled him down to sit with me on the bed. "Do…this. I'm really sorry, but I'm not ready for this kind of relationship."

"But before-"

My cheeks were on fire. "I think before may have been a mistake."

Zekk's pain washed over me in waves. "A mistake? But we made love. How could that have been a mistake?"

"I wasn't ready."

"Do you love me?"

My heart beat several times before I answered. "Not like that. Not yet."

Zekk stood up from his bed and walked forward. I could see the tension in his movement. Suddenly, he punched the wall hard.

A little cry escaped my throat at the sight and I hopped up and ran towards him.

As soon as my hands touched him, Zekk shrugged me away. He blew out the few candles that were set on his desk and left the room.

"Zekk," I called after him. "Where are you going?"

He didn't answer me; just kept walking. I followed him through the living area and into the small kitchen where he stopped. He had run out of places to go. Turning sharply, he stared into my eyes. "Why did you let me do it then?"

I don't know what I was expecting, but that wasn't it. "I'm sorry Zekk. If you really want to, then we can do it again."

"That wasn't what I asked."

How was I going to answer him? "Because," I started slowly, "I thought it was what I wanted. It was what you wanted."

His eyes filled with tears before me. "You gave up your virginity just because you thought I wanted you to?"

My mouth opened, but he continued.

"I wanted to be with you because I loved you. I just wanted to show you how much. I never knew you weren't ready."

"Zekk, it's my fault. I was afraid of losing you."

"Jaina," he said as his first tear fell. "You will never lose me. I love you too much to let you go. But I don't think I can live with what I've done. I hurt you."

"No. No, Zekk, it was my decision to be with you that night. I could have told you to stop at any time and you would have gladly. That was my mistake and I have to live with it."

He took my hand in his and began to speak but stopped. He let me continue. "I love you Zekk, but I'm only sixteen. I'm not ready for that type of adult relationship yet. All I want is for everything to go back to the way things were."

Squeezing my hand, he said softly, "Okay. If that is what you want, then I will do anything for you."

I smiled up at him and for the first time that day willingly gazed into his bright green eyes.

Well? Whatcha think? Lukers, please send me a review! One more chapter to go.