Chapter 13
Jacen knew they'd both be at work. He used the access code to enter the house. Gracelin would be home in an hour. It killed him not to be able to go and surprise her at work.
Jacen went up to her room. It had been almost a month but everything seemed the same. He sat down on the bed and thought about the past. From the first time they met to the last tie he'd said goodbye.
Jacen came to realize he hated sneaking around. It bothered him to lie to everyone. Jacen leaned back and turned on the holonet and began to wait. He just didn't realize how long the wait was going to be.
"I want to go home and change. Plus tell my mother!" Gracelin complained.
"No! As your best friend I'm going to buy you a whole new outfit and take you dancing and to dinner as a celebration for your promotion."
"You don't need to do that Kristea."
"I know, I want to."
"Fine!"
"Good, come on." Kristea grabbed Gracelin and then they were off. They stopped in front of a local clothing shop.
They went inside and looked around a bit. That's where Gracelin found her perfect outfit. The tunic was skin tight and the sleeves went to the elbows. The skirt was a mixture of different shades of brown. Then to top it off there was a dark brown hat with a fabric flower.
Gracelin grabbed it immediately. It fit perfectly, emphasizing her physical features.
"You know what?"
"What?"
"I'd be perfect if you curled your hair."
"No Kristea!"
"You know it would be!"
"Not now. How about first paycheck?"
"You promise?"
"I promise."
Gracelin couldn't believe how fast everything seemed to be happening. And to think just a few months ago she was a lonely girl cooking in the Palace kitchen. Now I'm a totally different person.
They bought the outfit and she immediately changed.
"Now off we go." Kristea took her to eat where they met up with a few friends.
Vault leaned over to Leena. "Hey Leena, remember the time Gracefulness dropped the Queen's birthday cake and we had to start all over again. And Zeinh threatened to fire her."
"Oh yeah. There was blue and purple icing everywhere."
"Ha, ha, very cute. How about the time Vault tried to pull that prank on Zeinh? He put one of those electric Gungan shockers near his charging outlet."
Kristea busted out laughing. "That was you? It took maintenance fourteen hours to fix that!"
"Yeah, I know." Vault said, proud of his work. "Listen I have to be there early tomorrow, I'm headed out. You coming, Lee?"
Gracelin loved to watch Vault and Leena. They'd been married for almost a year. They were so much in love. Gracelin hoped her and Jacen would be like that.
"I'm coming." They both got up and said their goodbyes.
"So what do you want to do now?" Kristea asked.
"Um, go home. It's almost midnight. I'm in for it as it is."
"Why not stay out longer then?"
"Cause I'm tired Kristea. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Bye, Gracelin."
Gracelin left the restraint and headed for her speeder. She knew what was waiting for her when she got home, her mother.
As she pulled up, as she expected, Nomica was waiting on the porch. Nomica was using every ounce of self control she had not to start yelling on the porch. The door behind her slid shut and she let it go.
"Where the hell were you?"
"I was out with Kristea, Leena, and Vault." Gracelin remained calm as her mother's voice continued to rise. Gracelin could see Greyton come into the room, but ignored him.
"There is no reason for you to have been out that late!"
"We were celebrating a promotion."
"I don't car that one of them got promoted! I only care that your butt is in bed at a decent hour!"
"But Mom…"
"No buts Gracelin!"
"I don't want to talk about this now! I'm going to bed." Gracelin didn't let her say another word as she headed up the stairs.
Gracelin keyed her door closed and set the lock. She placed her hand on the back of her hat. She could feel a headache trying to come on.
"There's my girl!"
She turned to face the man she had wanted to see all day. Jacen sat at the far end of the bed. He was wearing his silly little grin.
Gracelin pulled the hat off and threw it on the floor. She grabbed her skirt and held it as she leapt onto the bed and slid to where he sat.
Before he could comment on how much he had missed her; she locked his lips with her own. It started off soft but soon the kiss grew more passionate. They kissed just as two lovers that hadn't seen each other in a month should have.
Jacen was the first to pull back. "You look so beautiful."
"I've missed you. Had I known you were here I would've come home sooner." Gracelin replied out of breath.
"I wanted to surprise you. If you don't mind me asking, why were you dressed up and out so late?"
"You didn't get my message?"
"What message?"
Gracelin proceeded to pull his outer tunic off. She ran her hand through his brown hair. "The one that said I got my promotion. That I start my training to be a handmaiden in two weeks."
Jacen put his hand behind her head and pulled her close for a brief, but strong, kiss. "Gracey, this is wonderful!"
"Really? You're okay with it?"
"I'm not too thrilled about the likelihood of my wife getting shot at but it's what you've always wanted!"
"I still can't believe it."
"Guess what." Jacen leased back against the head board of the bed.
"What?" Gracelin leaned back onto him. She laid her head on his shoulder and he began caressing her arm.
"I move the last of my things into my new apartment when I get back."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes! That means you can come whenever you can get away."
"I'll be with the Queen mostly though." Gracelin said in an almost depressed tone.
"Don't worry, we'll figure something out, my love." He kissed the top of her head.
"I've missed you; a lot Jacen."
"I've missed you too."
Then again their lips met and it wasn't long before they found themselves in tangled sheets.