InsaneJediGirl- Thanks!

gamrwraith- Your fic is doing what the movies briefly brushed upon and what the books avoided like the plague: genuine humanization of the Lucas characters. Well done. Wow. Thanks.

Neo-Paladin- Thanks. I was trying to make everything appear honest.

Elorinna Evenstarre- I'm glad you liked it!

Alright, this is the end. I hope you have all enjoyed this fic. This one has minor spoilers for the NJO and the Dark Nest trilogy. Nothing too major though.

Completion

Ten years have passed since the day I lost my innocence to the young man who had always held my heart. Lots has happened in the past decade, and while my feeling for Zekk have been tried and tested, they have never changed. We've been through so much, together and apart, but somehow my heart always points me back in his direction.

Take the Vong war for example. We went for years without seeing much of each other, and then all of a sudden we were thrust into the Myrkr mission together. I was eighteen at the time and more confused than ever about my feelings for him. After we left the academy, Zekk and I never officially broke up, so I felt really bad when I started to have feelings for Jagged Fel.

I'm still not sure what drove me away from Zekk and straight to Jag. Maybe it was the excitement and thrill of being with a new person. Maybe it was the fact that when I needed him most, Zekk abandoned me on Hapes. I was angry with him for a long time about that, but then I realized that the reason he left was because he was scared of falling to the Dark with me. He knew that it would have to be someone else to bring me back; someone stronger. It's safe to say that he probably didn't think that person would be Jag though.

I remember talking with Zekk one day not long after my relationship with Jag began. He seemed politely interested in the new direction my life had taken, but I could see and feel the hurt in his eyes. He didn't have to say the words, but I could tell. He still loved me.

The last few years of the war went by. I was still happily with Jag, but I didn't see Zekk all that often any more. This made me sad to think that all of our years of friendship could have been for nothing.

When the war ended, so did my relationship with Jag. Although we had promised to keep in touch and visit whenever we got the chance, I knew that things would never be the same. He had a life in Csillia, and I needed to be with the Jedi. We did meet up a few times in some rather romantic locations, as promised, but things were different. I was gradually growing apart, but not just from Jag. My relationships with everyone I knew were changing. Cilghal said I was suffering from a post-traumatic stress disorder, but I wasn't sure if that was the answer.

I spent the next several years being a good little Jedi; righting wrongs and fixing people's problems. Yet I couldn't seem to get over my own. On a sudden impulse, I went along with the other young Jedi from the Myrkr mission to help an insect race known as the killiks that were living near Chiss space.

This was the first time I had seen Zekk in a while. We were cordial to each other at first, but as our stay with the killiks grew longer and more intense, we became closer. The two of us decided to stay behind with the hive while all of the others left with my uncle Luke.

During our stay there, Zekk and I became Joiners. We were so close that we could literally hear what the other was thinking. Although my first instinct have been to resist, I can now tell that I am slowly falling back in love with him.

We have been gone from the hive several months now. It has been extremely difficult; as if we were forced to leave a member of our family, but we are suffering together.

Like I have on many occasions lately, I now walk towards his room at the new Jedi Academy. Today has been especially hard, and I am in desperate need of his comfort.

He is at the door before I have a chance to knock; he knew I was coming. He smiles and puts his arms around me as I enter the room.

"How are you?"

"Better, now that-"

"you're here?" he finished for me. We've been completing each other's sentences often lately.

"Yes." I glance around the small chamber. It's small and messy, but comforting in a way. This was Zekk.

"Do you want to talk?"

I nod and he ushers me over to the bed where we take a seat. I flash back to ten years before, the last time we were in a situation such as this. "Zekk, I've been thinking."

"About what?"

"Us," I say quietly. He takes my hand in his and starts to gently rub it. "There is something I have to tell you."

A smile grows on his face. He knows what I am about to say. "And that is?"

I take a deep breath in preparation. This has been a long time in coming. "I love you."

He continues rubbing my hands and doesn't say a word for several minutes. I'm afraid that maybe I was wrong; maybe he didn't feel the same way about me anymore.

His gaze slowly meets mine. "I've been waiting for ten years to hear you say those words." He brushes his fingers against my cheek and I feel as if I am going to melt. "Jaina," he murmurs softly before he presses his soft lips against mine.

Our kiss is slow and loving, yet hot and passionate at the same time. His hand grazes down my arm and settles against my hip. My skin where his fingertips touch feels as if it is on fire.

I pull away slowly from his kiss, and I can feel and hear his disappointment. I only smile in response as I reach my hands to my chest and slowly unzip my flight suit.

His eyes grow large as he realizes my intentions. We are no longer children, and I am no longer afraid. It has taken time, but our love has slowly grown and blossomed.

Taking my hand in his, Zekk forces me to meet his gaze. "Are you sure about this?"

His words echo in my head. He asked this very same question ten years ago. Then I answered wrong. I was too young to understand that there would be consequences to our actions.

"Yes." I smile and his relief is displayed on his face. "I'm ready this time."

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