Chapter 25

Jaina was walking hand in hand with Kyp. She had left right after Jacen had told her of the threats. She had gone to Naboo to try to figure out who it could be. She had returned late the night before.

She was glad to be home. As they walked along, she saw her brother and Gracelin.

"Gracelin!" She called.

Gracelin quickly headed toward Jaina's direction. "Jaina! How are you?"

Jaina hugged Gracelin, "I'm fine! Look at you! You're showing, already!"

A huge smile came across Gracelin's face. "I know, I'm so excited."

"Come on lets go sit down." Jaina guided them to the table in which they'd be eating at.

Jacen and Kyp just stood by and watched them walk away. "So how you been, Kyp?"

"Good, good." He glanced at Jacen and then grabbed a drink from a passing waiter. "You didn't realize she was showing, did you?"

Jacen coughed. "Not really." He blushed with his admission.

Kyp laughed. "Don't worry. I didn't notice when one of cousin's started showing. So are you starting to get nervous?"

"I've been nervous, Kyp, for a while now."

He chuckled at his friend's apprehension. "I'm going to go sit with the girls."

Jacen was left standing alone until a little girl with auburn hair and hazel eyes pulled at his pants leg. Jacen looked down and a huge smile came across his face. "Hello, Maria."

"Don't 'hello Maria' me! Jacen Solo, you have not come to visit me once in two months!" The small child said with as much anger as a seven year old can muster.

"I'm sorry, Maria. I've been very busy. Please don't be mad at me, Short-stuff." He knelt down to her eye level.

She folded her arms over her chest and shook her head. "No. You had time to come to the Senate building but couldn't come up to the children's floor and see me!"

"How did you know I went to the Senate building?" Jacen asked lifting his eyebrow.

"You know the Senator from Ord Mantel. Well his son Austin, his older brother Auden told us. He said that for almost a week you've been es, es, estorting…"

"Escorting." Jacen corrected.

"yeah, that word! Escorting a young lady to the building." She blushed. "Who is she?"

"Her name is Gracelin."

"Do you like her?"

Jacen chuckled, "Yes, a whole lot."

"She's not all, you know, girly, is she?" Maria asked with her nose scrunched up.

Jacen laughed at the thought of his Gracey being 'girly' in the since that Maria was speaking. "No, she's not. I think she was probably about as excited to put her dress on as you were tonight."

"I still can't believe Momma made me where this stupid dress. I can't stand it!"

"But that doesn't change how beautiful," she hates the word cute, "you look in it."

"Don't change the subject Solo! I'm still mad at you."

"What if I make it up to you?"

"How?" She looked at him skeptically.

"You can sit with me for dinner. Jaina, Kyp, Luke, Mara, and Gracelin will be there too. What do you think?"

"Okay I want to meet this girlfriend of yours."

"Auden didn't tell you? He would've told you in a heartbeat; he must not know yet."

"Know what?" Maria said a little worried.

"Gracelin isn't my girlfriend. She's my wife."

"You got married!" There was a look of complete shock plastered on her features.

Jacen stood up and took the little girls hand. "Let's go sit down."

They both walked in silence as they came in eyesight of the table. Maria dropped Jacen's hand. "Jaina!" She squealed and took off running.

"Don't run!" Jacen called after her but it was too late.

Jaina spun around just in time to catch the little girl. "Maria! How are you?"

"I'm wonderful!" She looked over Jaina's shoulder. "Hi, Kyp." She waved to him.

"Hi, Maria."

Jacen strolled up behind Maria. "She's going to join us for dinner."

Maria nodded with a large smile. "Can I sit between you and Jaina?"

"Of course," Jacen answered. He grabbed a chair and placed it in the middle. Jacen was about to introduce Gracelin when Luke and Mara walked up.

"Hello, Maria." Luke said as he ruffled her hair.

"Hello Masters Skywalker."

"I thought we went through this last time." Mara said, sounding in an especially good mood. "It's Luke and Mara."

"I'm sorry, Luke and Mara." She tested out their names.

Jacen picked her up and placed her in his lap. "Maria, I want you to meet Gracelin. Gracelin this is Maria."

"Hi Maria." Gracelin spoke first.

"Hi." She returned almost shyly.

"So may I ask how you know Jacen?" Gracelin asked the girl.

"My mother is a senator." She left it at that and became very interested in the flower pinned on Jacen's suit.

Jacen stepped in to fill in the rest of the information. "Her mother became ill, so Mom decided to keep Maria until she recovered. We had lots of fun, didn't we Short-stuff?" He tickled her sides while awaiting an answer.

"Yeah, we had lots of fun." She answered with a giggle.

"Who's your mother? I might know her." Gracelin asked.

"You work in the Senate?" Maria asked surprised.

"Only as an aide." Gracelin admitted humbly.

"That's so cool!" Her face lit up. "I want to go into politics. Former Chief of State Organa-Solo," Jacen nudged her shoulder, "sorry, Mrs. Leia, said I would do good as to come and work with the different aides. But Papa won't let me."

Jacen snorted, "You're only seven, Maria, and you have the rest of your life to worry about politics."

"Maria Semaja, this is a party, not a chance for you to talk politics and rally ones to your cause." Everyone at the table looked to see Senator Semaja standing behind Jacen.

"I'm sorry, Momma."

"It's okay." She ran her hand through her daughter's hair. "I just don't know what I'm going to do with you child." Senator Semaja said sarcastically.

"Well, if you ever decide to dispose of the cretin let me know. I'd be glad to take her." Jacen said jokingly.

"Come, Maria, it's time to go sit down. Dinner will be served shortly."

Maria threw her arms around Jacen's neck. "But, Momma, Jacen told me I could eat with him."

She looked at Jacen, "She didn't invite herself, did she?"

"No ma'am she didn't." Jacen replied.

"Alright then if you get tired of her send her over to my table."

Jacen sat Maria in her own chair. Gracelin just watched as the two interacted with one another. She wondered if he would act the same way with his daughter.

Son, she heard him say inside her head.

She smiled and rolled her eyes. Compromise: child.

Jacen looked at her. He gave her a classic heart-melting Solo grin. And kissed her cheek before the waiters came, bringing the night's first course.

Jaina excused herself from the table to usethe fresher.

"I'll come with you." Mara volunteered.

Jaina cast a confused glance to her brother. He just shrugged.

Jaina said nothing until the door to the large refresher shut. "Are you okay?" She said looking at Mara.

"Mmhmm." She nodded as a funny grin took control of her face.

"Mara, stop! What's going on?" She couldn't help but laugh at the look on Mara's face. She had only seen it twice before. Once, when Luke asked her to marry her; the second on the day of the wedding.

"If I tell you, you can't tell, anyone. Your Uncle wanted me to wait until tomorrow, but I can't."

"Well, what is it!"

"Jaina, I'm pregnant!"

"Are you serious?"

All Mara could do was shake her head. Jaina quickly threw her arms around her aunt. "I'm so happy for you!" She pulled back.

"When did you find out?"

"We found out officially this morning."

"Wow." Jaina commented.

"What?" Mara asked a little confused at her remark.

Jaina flashed a huge smile. "I'm just wondering if this family can handle two pregnant women at the same time."