Chapter 9

Gracelin stood in her room getting ready for her best friend's party. Gracelin had been waiting all week for the party. She also was ready to get away from her house. Every time she saw her mother or Luke it reminded her about the "incident" between her and Jacen. Incident. She didn't see it as an accident; so what else should I call it. She was putting on the tunic her best friend had bought for her. It was the same color as her eyes; it tied at the neck and left her upper back bare. She wore tan pants and a tan hair pin. She was slipping on her white boots when Jaina walked in.

"Are you going somewhere?" Jaina asked. "It's getting a little late."

"I'm going to Kristea's party. Only my mother doesn't know about it."

"Oh," Jaina said sitting down on the bed.

"You know you can come too, if you want. Plus I'd hate for you to have to lie to Luke and my Mom about where I am."

"When you put it like that… okay, just let me change." Jaina changed quickly. They were just about to open the window to her balcony when Jacen busted into the room.

"Where are you two going, dressed like that?"

"None of your business," Jaina replied.

"Kristea's part." Gracelin told him.

Jacen looked at Gracelin alone. "You two shouldn't go out by yourselves at this hour. I'm coming with you." Jaina was confused when Gracelin didn't object.

The three proceeded to sneak out the window. They had to walk to Kristea's house; Gracelin hadn't got the speeder fixed yet. They walked inside to a house full of people. Gracelin quickly found Kristea.

"It turned out pretty good." Gracelin commented.

"Did you notice the music?"

"Is that our music?"

"Yeah, we recorded it today."

"Sweet, listen I hope you don't care but Jaina and Jacen are with me. I need to go find them."

"That's fine, go!"

Gracelin quickly found Jacen. "Where's Jaina?"

He pointed to where Jaina stood talking to a young man. "She's just talking but I wonder what Kyp would say."

"Who?"

"I'll tell you later." They watched her for a few more moments. When Gracelin recognized one of her songs she grabbed Jacen's arm.

"Let's dance."

"No! I don't dance."

"It's not that hard." Gracelin told him.

"No, Gracey!"

"Pleeaase?"

"Alright, but don't make it a habit!"

She led him to where a group was dancing. She thought he was embarrassed or didn't know how to dance. She was wrong. "How did you learn to dance?"

"When your mother is a diplomat, you go to enough party's to learn."

"I didn't know your mother was in politics. You actually have barely mentioned your parents."

"Well, my father had been a little depressed since his best friend died. My mother retired, supposedly, form the political arena. His name is Han and hers Leia. She's Luke's sister. Now that we've discussed me, what about you?"

"You know my mother."

"What about your dad? You've only mentioned him once that I remember."

"There's not much to say. He left my mother two days after I was born. He never visits or calls. I don't know much about him. I know they met on Coruscant, married here on Naboo. My mother gave me a picture of him. Personally I don't think I look like him."

The song was over and the next song began to play. Gracelin began to walk away but was stopped by a tug on her arm.

"One more?" Jacen asked. The music was slow paced. Gracelin returned to where he was standing. She placed her laced fingers behind his neck. She let him put his hands on her hips. Even though at first she was nervous, she was quickly able to match Jacen's slow movements. The song she realized, she realized was the one she had written after he had spent the night consoling her.

Gracelin soon became entranced in his eyes. She could feel them swaying to the music perfectly. They didn't worry about stepping on the other's feet; they knew where the other was fixing to step.

Jacen could tell the song would be ending soon but he didn't want it to. He wanted to be close to her without anyone bothering them. He wanted to be like this, with her, forever. When he was with her he didn't allow himself to worry or be depressed.

The song ended and they stood for a second more. Jacen leaned in and kissed her. She replied with an equal hungrily kiss. When she pulled back she saw her emotions reflected on his face. She leaned in for another kiss but had to pull back when a sharp pain went into her side.

Jacen noticed the smile had left her face. Now it was replaced with one of pain. "What's wrong, Gracey?"

Gracelin wasn't entirely sure herself. Suddenly another wave of pain shot through her. This one more intense, the pain was making it hard to breathe.

"Gracey?"

She stuck her hand out and grabbed a handful of his tunic. She started to fall but Jacen was quick to catch her. "Gracey, talk to me!" Jacen said worriedly.

Jaina could feel the distress coming from her brother. She came running, "Jacen what happened?"

"I don't know! Come on, Gracey!"

"He's here." That was all she said before the pain came on again, only this time stayed.

"He?" Jaina asked, "Who?"

Gracelin wasn't listening the pain was becoming too much. She was leaning against Jacen; she squeezed her eyes shut and tears began forming.

"Bow." Jacen said to himself.

"What?" Jaina asked.

"What's going on?" Kristea asked coming out of the crowd, and at seeing her best friend in pain.

"Is Bow here?" Jacen asked her.

"If he is, I didn't invite him." She replied.

"Who's Bow?" Jaina asked, feeling left out and completely confused.

Before anything else could be said, Gracelin collapsed. Jacen, again, caught her and picked her up. As he did he heard Kristea talking to someone.

"Bow, nobody told you, you could be here."

Before Bow could reply Jacen was there with the two. "If you ever come within fifteen feet of her again, "gesturing to Gracelin in his arms, "I'll personally hurt you."

"Jacen, calm down." Jaina came from behind. "We need to get her home."

"No, we need to her to a healer, now."

"We can't, we weren't suppose to be here tonight!"

"Sith! Come on!" Jacen began to walk quickly to the exit.

As they hurried back the way they had come, Jacen continued to send Gracelin calming waves through the Force. As they reached the house Jaina climbed up the balcony. She then used the Force to levitate Gracelin to herself. When Jacen reached the balcony Jaina already had Gracelin lying on the bed.

"What should I do?" He asked Jaina.

"Go get Luke and Nomi! Hurry!"

As Jacen ran out the door Jaina heard Gracelin let out a small painful cry.

Jacen was the first back to the room. He realized that both Gracelin and Jaina were in their sleep clothes. So that's the plan.

He sat in Nomi's common room. He could sense someone beside him but couldn't turn his head to see. Instead his eyes stayed fixed on the tow figures in front of him. Jacen and Gracelin. Is he holding her hand? He could see her mouth moving but couldn't hear what she was saying. He could see the tears coming in her eyes. Her face suddenly turned pale and she looked as if she was going to fall. Jacen was holding her up.

She turned abruptly and bumped into Jacen. She put her arms around him and it looked as if she was crying. Jacen put his arms around her and then, did he just kiss her? Jacen looked up and gave him a disappointing look.

Luke awoke to Jacen sitting beside him shaking him. "Uncle Luke, please, get up!" Luke quickly stumbled out of bed.

I've had that vision before. Luke realized. Only the last time he had had it was seventeen years ago.

Jacen sat in a chair in a corner at the end of Gracelin's bed. He sat there just watching her breath. He was wondering whether it really was Bow that had caused her to react that way. Maybe it was me?

Jacen was brought out of his thoughts when the bedroom door slid open and then shut.

"How's she doing?" Kristea asked him.

"Better."

"Did they say what was wrong?"

"No, they took some blood and are going to run tests. They wanted to take her to the med ward but Nomica wouldn't let them."

"Understandable."

"So how did things go after we left?"

"I made everyone leave, so I could come over. You see how long that took."

"Yeah, listen none of the adults know we weren't here tonight. We're trying to keep that way too."

"Okay, thanks for the heads up."

"How long are you here till?"

"I just needed to see with my own eyes she was okay. It's a best friend thing, just hearing it doesn't end your fears."

"Understandable."

"Oh, here." She handed him a music disk.

"What's this?"

"Those are songs she's written lately, and one that she sang."

"Is the one from tonight on there?"

"The one you two danced to?"

"Yeah."

"The version from the party isn't on there. The one she sang is on there."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome." After a bit of silence she spoke up, "you love her, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do." Jacen's voice was barely above a whisper having just truly admitted it himself and to someone.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"I'll be back in the morning." With that she left.

Jacen reached for the player and stuck the disk in. He had only heard her sing once before but her voice seemed only to improve.

You found me when no one else was looking, how did you know? How did you know?

You broke through all of my confusion the ups and the downs and you still didn't leave.

I guess that you saw what nobody could see,

The good and the bad and the things in between,

You found me.

A/N: did anyone notice that it was the same dream Luke had in 'An Old Friend's Secret?

Also those lyrics are NOT mine! Those are from Kelly Clarkson's song You Found Me.