Jaina closed the message to her mother, ate a quick lunch of leftover ration bars, and got herself cleaned up. She pulled on a clean white tank, a pair of gray pants and a black jacket. She then shoved similar clothes and flightsuits out of the way so she could have access to the back corner of her closet. She reached for a certain garment and hoped it would still fit.
Jaina had bought the dress on a whim while on some planet whose name she had forgotten; the purchase had been made two weeks before the war ended. Jag had always said one of the first things he was going to do when the war was over would to take Jaina out to the nicest restaurant near their location. There they would have their first official date as a couple who no longer had to keep their relationship a secret.
This was the dress she had planned to wear to dinner. Two years later, it had never received the opportunity to be showcased until tonight.
Jaina felt no regret over the matter. No, they hadn't gone out to dinner when the war finished. No, they had never made their relationship public. And no, they wouldn't be at some fancy restaurant tonight, but that was okay. She didn't want to have to deal with first date jitters and people gawking at her and Jag while they talked and had dinner.
She gently folded the dress and put it in a bag she slung over her shoulder. Leaving her apartment and beginning the fifteen minute walk to her parents' place, she began to thing about what this—her relationship with Jag—would do to her family.
Her father would no doubt have a fit. He would rant and rave about how Jag had "abandoned" Jaina and never said a word to her for two years. It didn't matter that Jag had left for noble and sincere reasons, or that Jaina didn't talk to him till a month ago. All that mattered to her father was that Jag had left. Even if it hadn't happened that way, Jaina was sure that her father would find something wrong with Jag. Deciding that she could do nothing more than make sure Han wouldn't pull any punches—or blasters—when Jag was around, she shrugged the matter off until the occasion arrived.
As for Jacen, Jaina assumed he would take the news well. He would probably need to meditate on the matter, but Jaina figured he would be fine with the relationship. And if she had to guess, the reason Jacen had been coming off as being surprised and closed the other day in their twin bond was because he had run into Jag before she had.
As for her mother, well, that was the reaction she dreaded the most. Yes, her father might want to kill Jag, but Leia would try to kill Jaina with wedding planning. Not that there was an official reason for there to be wedding planning, but Jaina had a feeling it wouldn't be long until there was one. After all, Jag has said, "Not yet."
Approaching her parents' place, she probed with the Force to identify the occupants; she only picked up a warm glow that was becoming irritated: her mother dealing with Threepio. Entering the passcode, she entered the place her parents were starting to call home.
"Mom?" Jaina asked. She didn't need to find her mother's location; she knew where Leia was. Jaina was announcing her presence even though she knew her mother would've been keeping a lookout for her given the nature of Jaina's visit.
"Back here," Leia called from the bedroom. Jaina entered the room to see her mother, wearing a simple green blouse with brown pants and hair pulled back in a single braid down her back, setting up a miniature salon at the vanity.
"You know, I reserve the right to back out of this at any moment." Jaina said, eyeing the various containers of makeup and tools for styling hair.
"Oh hush," Leia responded. "Please tell me you haven't wadded up whatever you're wearing tonight in that sack." Noting Jaina's slightly embarrassed look, she gingerly took the bag from Jaina and removed its contents. Giving the dress a thorough look, Leia gave her daughter an approving smile and called Threepio into the room to request that he steam the dress. Once the droid had bustled out of the bedroom, mother and daughter stood in silence. Their relationship had been strained for years, which was hardly anything new. This was the first time in a long time Jaina had contacted her parents and turned to her mother for help.
"Umm, Dad isn't going to be back for a while is he?" Jaina asked.
"No, he went with Wedge and Tycho to see the new Incom prototypes. He shouldn't be home until after dinner. Why?" Leia responded. She had a good idea of why Jaina was here, asking for this kind of help, and wanting to ensure her father didn't know what was going on.
"I have a date tonight." Jaina answered.
"With whom?" Leia asked cautiously. She and Jaina may not have always gotten along well, but anyone could have seen the love in Jaina's eyes for a certain Chiss-raised pilot. She was curious to hear about the man who was attempting to replace that spot in Jaina's heart.
"Jag." Jaina answered, and for once left her mother speechless.
"When… when did he come back?" Leia managed to ask once she found her voice again.
"Two days ago… I think. I woke up this morning, and there he was, asleep on my couch."
"Why was he sleeping on your couch?" Leia asked warily.
"He wasn't stalking me if that's what you're thinking. He wanted to surprise me, I think. It was part of some mission he cooked up to win me back." Jaina knew her mother wouldn't ask about the status of the "mission", but she could feel Leia's curiosity in the Force. "No, he didn't need to win me back; he never lost me." Jaina responded.
Leia's reaction was the smile of a proud mother with tears welling up in her eyes.
"Aww, Mom, please don't start crying." Jaina nearly whined.
"I'm sorry," Leia said, wiping tears from the corners of her eyes. "I just haven't seen you this happy in a long time."
Jaina smiled shyly, unsure of what to do or say next. Hesitantly, she reached out and hugged her mother.
The response Leia gave to the hug was almost bone-crushing. Slowly pulling away, Leia smiled and cupped her daughter's cheek. "Now how about we start making you look so beautiful he'll never think of leaving again."