A/N: I can't believe you guys would think I would actually do THAT to them! I promise it's a nightmare and nothing more. places hand on stack of Star Wars books I swear! Now, on with the story…

Chapter 27

Gracelin and Jacen walked hand in hand with Maria running in front of them. They were on their way to landing pad one forty three.

After Gracelin's nightmare he started to rethink leaving her. But the stubborn person she is, insisted he go. But Jacen had spoken with Jaina and asked her to keep an eye on her. Of course she couldn't know that.

Gracelin hated saying goodbye. She felt they were always being separated. At least this time I'll have company, she thought. She watched as Maria ran toward the ship.

Jacen slowed his pace until they had both stopped. Jacen turned Gracelin so she would look at him. He knew she wasn't going to cry only because Maria was there.

She was trying so hard, but the way he was looking at her was making her loose her battle. She gave up.

He pulled her into a strong, warm embrace. She just buried her head into his tunic. He stroked her blonde curls and kissed the top of her head.

She pulled away and wiped at her tears. "I'm okay."

"If you don't' want me to go I wont. I can stay."

"No you need to go. You'll be taking leave in a few months. I'll be fine; Maria and I will be fine. I promise."

"You call me if anything happens." He stroked her cheek. "Good or bad."

"I promise." She gave him another hug. "Go say bye to Maria."

"I love you." He whispered.

"I love you too." She whispered in his ear as they pulled away from each other.

"Were you going to leave without saying bye to your sister?" Jaina asked from behind him.

"I was going to try." He joked. He hugged her too and went to say goodbye to Maria. She had been running around the ship but was now following an insect as it crawled across the hangar floor. She stopped when she saw Jacen coming toward her.

He bent down to her eye level. "You know what this means?"

"You're leaving again." She said sadly.

"Yes, but it also means you have a big responsibility. I need you to look out for Gracelin. Sometimes she can be very stubborn and hard headed, but I want you to look after her and the baby."

"How can I look after the baby if it's still in her tummy?"

"If Gracey gets sick or her tummy starts hurting, call Jaina and then send me a transmission as soon as possible. If anything happens make sure you let me know. Can you do that?"

"You can count on me, Jacen!"

He hugged her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "That's my girl. I love you and I promise to be home soon."

She kissed his nose, "I'll see you, when you get here."

She ran from him and into Jaina's waiting arms. She waved at him as they turned and walked away.

Jacen stood and watched them as they left. When they were out of sight he turned to board his ship. He felt something in the Force and turned around to see Maria running at him.

"Jacen, wait!" She called out of breath. "Gracelin wants you." She said as she reached him.

Jacen didn't wait for her to catch her breath. He picked her up and took off running. He let the Force guide him into the hallway they were in.

He saw Gracelin but instead of a troubled expression, as he had expected, she wore a large goofy smile. He noticed that she was waving him toward her. She slowed his pave a little but was still jogging.

When he reached them he noticed the look on both Jaina and Gracelin's faces. "Everything okay?" He asked out of breath and a little confused.

Gracelin grabbed his hand and placed it on her stomach. "Feel." He place Maria down and complied.

Jacen stood there a moment and nothing happened. Then he felt something hit against the palm of his hand. "It kicked!" He said rather loudly. But he didn't care if he sounded like an over excited child, because that was how her felt. He gathered her in his arms and kissed her. He felt the baby kick again as it hit him in the abdomen. He touched his forehead to hers. "And to think, I could've missed this."

She kissed him, "You better get going. So you can hurry back and no miss anything else."

He kissed her more passionately this time. He would've held the kiss longer had he not felt a little hit to his own stomach. "I love you." He whispered before turning to leave for his ship.

"I love you, too." She whispered back aloud and then sent it to him through their bond.

Gracelin rolled on her side once more. She was slowly drifting to sleep. They had been always from one another for longer periods of time before but she had been finding it hard to sleep without the familiar warmth beside her. She allowed her heavy eye lids to close and finally going to sleep.

What felt like, ten minutes later, she was awoken by a small poke on the shoulder. She reluctantly opened her eyes to see Maria standing in front of her. "Is everything okay?"

Maria rubbed at her eye, "I can't sleep."

Gracelin scooted over into the middle of the large bed. "Climb in."

"Really?" Maria asked surprised at the gesture.

"Yes."

Maria climbed in next to Gracelin. She covered the girl up and made sure she was comfortable and had enough room. Once they were both situated, Gracelin closed her eyes to attempt to return to her previous slumber.

"Gracelin?" Maria asked in an almost whisper.

She opened one eye. "Yes?"

Maria started to giggle. "You look funny with that face."

Gracelin smiled and propped her head up on her hand. She opened both eyes, "Yes?"

"Would it be okay, if, maybe, I just once, could, umm…?"

"Its okay, just ask." Gracelin encouraged.

"Could I touch your tummy?" Maria asked a little embarrassed.

Gracelin smiled and pulled back the covers. She lifted her silky pajama top so her oversized stomach showed. Maria slowly inched her hand toward her stomach. "You won't hurt it. And I promise it won't try to bite you."

Maria giggled and placed her hand gently on her belly. "Wow! That's so cool!"

Gracelin watched the excitement play across Maria's face. When Maria moved her hand away she brought the covers back up. "It is cool."

They both settled down and went to sleep.

Gracelin woke with a start. There was that feeling she had had about five months ago. Jacen will be home in two days. Thank the Force, she thought. She could feel the danger was close.

She rolled over and gently woke Maria. She had been sleeping with Gracelin since Jacen's first night gone. "Come on, Maria." She guided her into the common room.

Gracelin turned on the apartment's comm station. "Jaina? Jaina, are you awake?"

A groggy voice replied, "I am now! This better be good, I was in the middle of this really great dream. Kyp and I were, kind of…"

"Jaina, I have Maria in the room."

"Oh, sorry."

"I need you to come down here, something's wrong. I can feel it."

"I'm coming." Jaina said a little more awake.

"Oh and do try not to wake your parents. And hurry!" Gracelin cut the transmission. She went and sat on by Maria on the sofa. The sat and waited for Jaina.

"Gracelin!" Maria squealed and pointed toward the doorway that led to the nursery.

Gracelin squinted her eyes, in the still dark room, and saw something crawling on the floor. She used the Force to retrieve the blaster she knew was strapped to the underside of the caff table.

Jaina heard three blaster shots as she was sprinting down the hall. At the sound she took off running. She quickly undid the lock and palmed on the lights.

Gracelin was standing with the blaster in her hand. Maria stood on the sofa starring at Gracelin, wide eyed and mouth agape.

"Are you okay?" Jaina asked as she walked up to Gracelin, lightsaber drawn but deactivated.

"That's a kriffin kouhun!" She almost shouted.

"Oooooo, that's a baaad word!" Maria commented.

"Not now Maria!" Jaina said as she clipped her lightsaber back to her belt. She pulled the blaster out of Gracelin's hand. "It came out of the nursery?"

Gracelin just nodded trying to register what had just happened.

"I'm calling Jacen!" Maria said as she hopped off the sofa.

That brought Gracelin back. "No you won't! He'll be home in a few days, it can wait."

"He told me to that if anything happened, that I should send him a message." Maria informed them.

Gracelin was about to come back when Jaina's commlink beeped. "Solo." She answered.

"Jaina is everything alright?" Luke's voice came through the speaker with concern dripping.

"It is now, but I think you should come up here."

"I'm on my way."