Chapter 19

Gracelin walked into the common room of her old home. It had been two weeks since she was here last, but to her everything felt different.

Jacen sat her bag on the floor and helped her off with her coat. He took a deep breath and looked at his surroundings. The house he had visited only a month ago now, somehow, seemed darker.

"What are you doing home?" Nomica asked from the bottom of the stair case.

"The doctor said I could leave as long as I had an escort." Gracelin wasn't sure whether it was the argument she knew was coming or getting shot that was making her bitter.

"We should all talk." Came a masculine voice from behind Jacen.

"You want to talk? Alright, Luke, talk." Jacen was eager to get everything out and in the open. NO more lying.

"I think you may want to sit." Nomica suggested to the young couple as she and Luke sat on the couch.

"I'd prefer to stand." Gracelin informed her mother.

"Okay." Nomica paused, "Luke and I talked about it and we think it'd be for the best if you two separate."

"What!" Jacen asked starring, incredulously at his uncle.

"Like hell we will!" Gracelin exploded, trying desperately to hold her temper.

"You're both so young."

"You're both headed down different paths." Luke added hoping they could convince them without telling the truth.

"You'll change who you are a thousand times."

That's it! Gracelin was loosing her temper and there was nothing to stop her now. "Okay, mother, I'm sorry I'm not following in your perfect footsteps. I'm sorry I didn't wait to get married like you did! I'm sorry I didn't sleep with every guy I dated before I got married!"

She couldn't stop the words before they left her mouth. "I'm sorry I waited until I got married to get pregnant!" Gracelin winced when she realized what she had said. I'm sorry! She sent Jacen.

"You're what?" Jacen wanted to laugh at the way Luke's eyes were bugging out of his head at the moment but knew better.

"Nomica turned to Luke, "It just got complicated."

Luke sat silent for a moment with a solemn expression on his face. "Tell her."

"Tell me, what?" Gracelin grew a bit worried.

Nomica took a deep breath and turned toward her daughter.

The tears he saw welling up in his mother-in-law's eyes instilled a bit of fear in him.

"I lied to you Gracelin."

"About what?" She too was beginning to tear up.

Nomica opened her mouth a few times before the words finally left. "Javon Dathe isn't your father."

It was the premonition he had been having. He saw Gracelin lose the color in her face. Jacen was standing behind her, trying to comfort her and hold her up.

"What?" Her voice faltered and her tears spilled onto her cheeks. "But you were married to him when I was born."

"I was pregnant before we got married."

"Back when you were on Coruscant?" Gracelin asked.

"When you and Luke were living together?" Jacen asked.

"What? You two lived together?" As the realization hit she put her hand to her mouth. She abruptly turned to walk away but ran into Jacen. She started crying into his shoulder, and whispering, "No, it can't be."

Jacen too, had connected it. That would mean Luke was her father. But that can't be! He looked up at Luke in an almost disbelief.

Jacen put his arms around Gracelin as her body was racked with sobs. He moved her out of the room and toward her old bedroom.

Nomica sat and watched at the reaction of her daughter. Greyton had wanted them to talk in private and chose now to walk into the room. Nomica was quick to put herself in his embrace.

"You told her?"

"I told her."

Luke knocked on the door but there was no answer. He opened the door to Gracelin's bedroom. He saw Jacen asleep in the bed, but there was no sign of Gracelin. He would've been worried had he not seen the window open or not felt her presence.

He climbed out the window and onto the veranda. He saw Gracelin leaning against the railing with her back turned to him.

"Hi, Luke." She said just audibly.

Luke was a bit startled. "I forgot about you being Force sensitive."

She turned toward him and forced a smile.

"What are you doing out here? You should be inside."

"Apparently now that its presence is know the baby doesn't want to let me sleep."

"Jacen and Jaina did Leia the same way." Luke saw her smile fall. He walked up to where she stood. "How you holding up?"

She turned back around to face the Nubian scenery. "At the risk of sounding selfish, hateful, and ungrateful, I really don't want you to be my father. I love Jacen and without him these past seven months, who knows where I'd be."

Luke put his arm around Gracelin, "And at the risk of sounding selfish, hateful and ungrateful, I'm not sure I want you to be my daughter. Don't get me wrong. I've always wanted a child, but for your, Jacen's, and the baby's sake I hope I'm not."

"Thanks Luke."

"Tomorrow morning, before your mother wakes, we are going to go down to the med center and have get some test ran."

"Really?" She gave him a look of shock.

"It's not that I don't trust your mother, but we all make mistakes."

"Okay."

"We'll get this straightened out, I promise." Luke turned to leave but stopped at the window. "By the way, Javon is going to meet us there. Apparently we aren't the only ones that want answers. He said he's looking forward to seeing you." With that Luke left Gracelin alone on the veranda with her thoughts.

Gracelin hadn't slept. Jacen had woken up and stayed up with her most of the night but had fallen back asleep. She started feeling nauseous. She was unsure if it was nerves or morning sickness.

It had been a very long time since she had seen Javon. About sixteen years to be exact.

She rolled out of bed and headed to the 'fresher. She began brushing her teeth. After spitting in the sink, it startled her to see Jacen's reflection in the mirror.

He noticed she was starting to tremble. He put his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. "It's going to be okay."

"What if it isn't? I don't know what I'll do."

He pulled her closer, "We'll figure it out, Gracey."

Hearing his voice break made her lose her resolve not to fall apart. As the sobs began to rack her body Jacen just held her tighter.

"How could she lie to me? Us? Everyone? And for so long?"

Jacen just held her as a silent tear rolled down his face. "I, I don't know, sweetheart. But I'm sure she felt the reason was best."

Gracelin turned in his arms to look in his eyes. She saw his tears and gently wiped them away. He, in turn, wiped away her tears as she spoke. "I don't care what her damned excuse is. It hurt Luke, it hurt you, and it hurt me; that's more than enough hurt no matter the reason."

Jacen just pulled her back to him. He couldn't deny how much they had both been hurt. So he remained silent.

"I though I heard you two." Luke said as he stood at the doorway of the 'fresher.

"I'm just getting ready." Gracelin said, slowly pulling herself out of the warm, protective cage Jacen's arms had locked her in.

"Are you almost set?"

"Um, just let me change and put on some boots."

"Take your time, just let me know."

"I'll be there in a minute." She paused to take a hold of Jacen's hand. "I want to hurry and get this over with."

"I'll be downstairs." Luke walked away.

Gracelin went into her bedroom to change. She went down stairs to find Jacen had fallen asleep on the common room couch. She knew he hadn't meant to, they were all tired.

She sat at his feet; grabbed the blanket on the back of the couch and covered him with it. When she looked up she saw Luke looking at a picture on the wall. She stood up and walked beside him.

"When was this taken?"

"I think I was about ten. Gavin had come in for a visit. Ramey and I had been so excited."

"Where was this at?"

"There's a memorial site to a former Queen, near the gardens. I love it there, its just so calming. I can really think there. I haven't been in some time. Oh, that other woman, there, was one of the Queen's handmaidens, Sabè."

"Maybe you can take me there sometime?"

"Maybe. You should really meet Sabè. She has stories about the Old Republic that are amazing."

"It's a plan?"

"Sure, we'll do it someday."

"Let's get going, before we wake them up."

"Yeah, okay." Gracelin followed Luke out the door.