Chapter 4

Luke had stayed with them for the three days before the group's arrival. Mara wasn't thrilled to hear that they would be staying with Nomi. She personally didn't like her for the way she had treated Luke.

Mara had driven the speeder with the direction Luke had sent her. Jaina had fallen asleep. She had piloted most of the way here. Jacen was wide awake but kept quiet.

They passed many houses. When they pulled up to the right one. It had two stories. It had two balconies on the second floor. Behind the house you could see a lake and a few hills. With the sun setting behind the hills the scene seemed perfect. That disturbed Mara. She had a strange feeling that things here wouldn't end as lovely as they seemed to have begun.

Mara woke Jaina up and the three proceeded to exit the speeder. They each carried a bag up to the door way.

All five of them were sitting in the common room talking and drinking. Gracelin had been in and out because as her mother kept reminding her, she wasn't old enough to be drinking alcohol.

Gracelin walked into the common room to hear them all laughing. "Someone's at the door."

"I didn't hear anything." Greyton answered.

Then the door pager rang.

"You know that's really getting creepy." Ramey told her. Gracelin just grinned in response.

"It's Mara." Luke went to the door. Ramey, Greyton, and Nomi stayed seated. Gracelin headed to the kitchenette to get herself a glass of water before heading to bed. She walked back to see everyone standing and shaking hands.

Gracelin walked up as Luke introduced her to Mara. Then to Jaina, "this will be your room mate while we're here. Jaina Solo this is Gracelin Dathe."

"It's nice to meet you." Gracelin said as she stuck her hand out. Jaina grasped it and firmly shook it.

"Same here." Jaina said.

"Look who decided to grace us with his presence." Jaina said as Jacen came into the room.

"I was unloading the bags." Jacen said still not looking up at the group in front of him. When he did look up, she was the first thing to catch his eye. She looked to be a little shorter than Jaina with blonde hair. She had fair skin, she looks like an angel. Wait! Where did that come from?

"Jacen, it's so good to see you again." He was brought out of his trance by Nomi giving him a hug. Jacen remembered her, for the most part. It had been seventeen years.

"It's good to see you too. Ms. Nomi."

"Just Nomi. This is my husband Greyton, my son, Ramey. And this scoundrel would be my daughter, Gracelin." She pulled the girl toward the group.

"Hi." Gracelin said simply.

"Hi." Jacen said in return.

"You'll be staying with Ramey." Luke interjected.

Gracelin walked over and helped Jaina get her bags. They continued until they reached her room. Jacen just shrugged his shoulders and grabbed his bags and followed Ramey. Ramey gave him a short tour of the house.

Jacen was tired by the time they were finished. So was everyone else. They all headed to the bedrooms early that night.

Gracelin stood in the kitchenette making breakfast as the other three young people drug into the room. Jaina sat down and put her head on the table. The two girls had stayed up most of the night, talking and getting to know their new room mate for the next three months.

Gracelin saw Jaina as interesting and exciting. She had had the adventures Gracelin wanted. Even though Jaina had tried to say things weren't as exciting as it may seem. Jaina saw Gracelin's life as interesting as well. Gracelin apparently had a strange family arrangement and she had a strange friend circuit. She was very anxious to meet this Kristea character.

Jacen looked as if he could fall asleep where he was standing, as did Ramey. Gracelin had to chuckle. They weren't use to the time change. She, however, got up the same time she usually did for work.

She placed two eggs in front of each person. She knew that her mom and Greyton were at work, she wondered where Luke and Mara were.

"What time is it?" Jacen asked sleepily.

"About two hours until lunch. You three slept a long time." Gracelin replied.

"Well, we were tired. Duh." Jacen said as he took a seat.

"Ignore him, he's always like this."

Gracelin rolled her eyes, "so it's not just a morning thing? Great!"

Jacen gave a disapproving look to them and proceeded to eat. Meanwhile, Ramey had already finished. He set his plate in the sonic washer and returned to sit by Jacen. "Hurry up and eat, I'm going to show you the best places in Theed."

"What he means is he's going to go show you off to all his buddies. And hope you can help him pick up women." Gracelin translated.

Jaina couldn't help but laugh at the look Ramey had given Gracelin. The look on Jacen's face was quiet funny too.

"Well the women from Naboo are the most beautiful. Trust me Jacen, you find one here and you'll never want to leave. That's why I keep coming back." Ramey turned to leave. He soon had a rag hit him in the back of the head. He turned around to see Gracelin standing with her arms crossed over her chest.

"What about your little sister?"

"Oh, yeah, I forget about her sometimes. But I sometimes see her too." He said scrunching up his face.

Jacen laughed, mistake.

"What are you laughing at?" Gracelin asked.

Jacen then realized he had been the only one to laugh out loud and that only seemed to anger her. "I just think its funny how easily you let him get on your nerves; that's all."

"What do you know?" Gracelin mumbled and turned to finish putting up the cleaned dishes.

Jacen got up and followed Ramey out of the room. "Is she always like that?"

"No, not usually. She usually doesn't snap, something must be bothering her. Don't let it get to you." Ramey said, comforting Jacen.