Chapter 23

Jacen lay in bed and watched Gracelin sleep. He knows she doesn't like it. But he doesn't care.

Tonight had been wonderful. He seemed to have his Gracey back. And she had agreed to cut back on work. She was even gong as far as to start working on the baby's room.

They had stayed up late talking about the baby. They had talked about names, which led to the same argument of the sex of the baby, but they ended talking about its future.

Jacen used the Force to tough its Force signature. He had done it so many times during the night he lost count.

Gracelin would be waking up soon to go meet Kristea. He knew it would be good for Kristea to be here. But that doesn't mean he was ready for the day to start.

He snuggled close to his wife. He wrapped his arm around her abdomen. He felt her move under his embrace.

Gracelin's eyes fluttered open. She instantly felt the weight around her waist. Every time she woke up like this it reminded her of the first morning she had woken up in his arms. She attempted to move his arm but it only tightened and pulled her closer. Gracelin laughed.

Oh, how he had missed the sound of her laugh. He pressed his lips to the smooth skin on the crook of her neck.

This elicited a giggle from her, "Jacen, stop."

"Why?" He whispered before he began a rain of kisses on her jaw line.

"Because, um, I've," she giggled again, "I've got to meet Kristea."

He slipped his hand under her sleep tunic and started rubbing her abdomen. "Let her hang out with Jaina for the day. We can put her up for the night and you three can go out tomorrow."

Gracelin considered the tempting offer. And the trail of kisses that were currently going across her shoulder weren't helping her decline. She was just about to give in, when a familiar taste came in her mouth. As soon as she recognized it as last night's dinner she hopped out of the bed and ran to the 'fresher.

Jacen was at first confused but realized what it was when he heard her throwing up. He just rolled his eyes and sighed "Morning sickness."

Jacen pulled himself out of bed when she didn't come right back. He walked in and found her sitting in front of the refresher bowl. He sat down beside her and she put her head on his shoulder.

"Why don't you go lay back down?"

"I can't." she sighed.

"Why?"

The door pager sounded. "Jaina's here."

Jacen stood up and helped Gracelin to her feet. "I'll go make you something to drink. Caff?"

She nodded. The pager sounded again. "Ugh! Coming Jay!"

She walked to the door and punched in the access code.

"What, no using the Force to unlock it?"

"Not today, Jaina?" Gracelin walked into the common room and Jaina followed.

"You okay?" Jaina asked as she sat down in the chair across from Gracelin.

"Here's your caff, Gracey? You want any sis?" Jacen interrupted, as he walked into the room.

Jaina turned around to face her brother, "Dear Force, Jacen! Go put some clothes on!" Her hand was at her eyes.

"Jaina, it's not like I'm walking around here nude. But, by the way, it is my apartment, so I could if I wish." Jacen was enjoying her uneasiness.

"Jacen, quit picking, and go put a shirt on." Gracelin told him, even though personally she liked him walking around the apartment shirtless.

He handed her her cup and kissed her temple. "Only because you say so." He walked out and called back to Jaina. "What are you doing here anyway? I thought the three of you weren't going to meet up until later."

"That's what I came to talk about. Kristea's transport didn't leave when scheduled. She won't arrive until midday."

Jacen returned in time to hear the last bit of information. "You came over here to tell us that? Why didn't you just call?"

"I tried the apartment, and both commlinks. But there was no answer to any of them."

"I forgot to turn the comm unit back on." Sorry! She sent Jacen through the Force.

Something clicked in Jaina's head. "I just needed to tell you. I'll go now." She had finally added up the 'coincidences' and realized what could've been going on before she arrived. "I need to call Kyp."

"Thanks for coming by and letting me know."

"You're welcome. I'll just let myself out." Jaina left with that.

Gracelin grabbed a pillow off the sofa and threw it at her husband. "You're so mean to your sister."

Jacen caught the pillow and threw it back on the sofa. The door pager chimed. Jacen walked to answer it. He called back, "It is called sibling rivalry."

Gracelin heard the door open but no voices. She heard Jacen cough and then felt his distress through the Force. She ran to the entry way.

"Gracey! Some help! Please!" Jacen choked out.

Gracelin was in complete shock when she saw a hand was holding Jacen to the wall by the throat. And that hand just happened to be attached to the arm of one Ramey Darklighter.

"Ramey! Let him go!" She yelled at her step-brother.

"NO!"

"What do you think you're doing?"

"He got you pregnant so now I have to kill him!"

"NO you don't! Ramey, we're married!"

"He, damn well, better have married you!"

"Ramey! Stop! We were married before I got pregnant!"

Ramey loosened his grip on Jacen's throat. "What?"

Jacen coughed, trying to gather as much oxygen as possible. Gracelin pulled Ramey's limp arm away. "We go married before he left Naboo."

"Wow! Really?" Ramey asked.

"Yes, really. Ramey, you are crazy! You could've killed him!" She knew she was exaggerating, a little, because if need be Jacen could've used the Force. Gracelin helped Jacen to the sofa.

"I'm okay, Gracey."

"Are you sure?" She asked. Ramey had followed them into the common room.

"I'm positive."

"Good." Gracelin stood up and straightened out her tunic. Then abruptly turned and began hitting Ramey. "What is your problem?"

"Ouch, Gracelin!"

She stopped her onslaught of punches. "Answer me! What do you think you were doing?"

"I come home to find out my little sister had moved, not only out of the house, but off planet! Then when I ask why I found out my almost eighteen year old sister is pregnant. And by the guy I shared a room with! How did you want me to react?"

"Better than the way you did!" Gracelin said frustrated.

"I'm sorry Gracelin. Mom didn't say anything about a wedding."

"It's okay. Sit, Ramey." Gracelin offered, ignoring the stare her husband was giving her.

"I can't. I have a meeting at 0900 hours." Ramey felt so stupid, now he really was glad for the meeting.

"You just stopped by to strangle Jacen, and then you were going to go about your day?"

Ramey thought about it for a second. He shrugged, "Pretty much."

"That's comforting," Jacen mumbled.

"How long are you going to be on planet?" She asked, ignoring her husband's comment.

"I'm not sure."

"You must have dinner with us before you leave." Gracelin pleaded.

"I'll try, I promise." Ramey walked to the door and Gracelin followed. "Jacen, listen, I'm really sorry."

"Yeah, that's alright." Jacen answered not sounding convincing. He shrugged as Gracelin shot him a glare filled with daggers.

"Bye, Ramey." She said hugging him.

"Bye, sis." He kissed her cheek and left.

Gracelin walked back into the common room and smacked Jacen on the back of the head.

"What was that for?"

"He's my brother, for Force sake."

Jacen couldn't believe she was sticking up for him. "He tried to kill me!"

Gracelin rolled her eyes. Now he's the one exaggerating. "And what would you do if you found out Kyp had gotten Jaina pregnant?"

"I'd kill him!" He answered as if that was pure logic. "Oh!" Jacen sighed. "Fine."

Gracelin smiled and sat next to him. "Gives new meaning to the words 'sibling rivalry,' don't it?"