Chapter 31

She knew the voice. It brought back hurtful memories of their time together. She felt tears rolling down her cheeks as he pulled her into the middle of the ballroom. Gracelin panicked at the way he shoved her. She grabbed a hold of his arm to make the shoves less forcefully, for the baby's sake.

She saw people clearing out of the room. Then she met Jacen's gaze and the tears fell faster. He demanded her release, but Bow wouldn't comply. That was when she felt cold metal touch her temple. She knew exactly what it was. She put a hand on her stomach and feeling the baby kick because of her anxiety.

She looked out among the faces starring at what was happening. She saw her mother's tear stained face. She saw Taylor with his arms around Kristea trying to support her.

She saw Han and Leia standing in shock beside Mara and Luke, who were talking. She knew they were already planning. If she wasn't so scared she would've smiled when she saw Kyp and Jaina. Kyp had his arms tight around her. She was writhing trying to get loose to come help her brother and his family.

She looked back at Jacen and he looked as if he was going to break. Thats when she felt hot breath on her ear.

"That was supposed to be our baby. If I can't have you in my family, neither can he." He whispered low enough for only her to hear.

She looked to Jacen but he was looking at something behind her. As soon as she saw him breath more deeply she knew he was going to try something. She saw him start running and wanted to tell him to stop, but couldn't.

She felt a hand on her back a split second before the shove. She landed on her side and then hit her head. She felt everything starting to go dark when she heard the blaster go off.

Leia sat beside Gracelin on the bed. She held her close and stroked her hair. Gracelin continued to cry on Leia's shoulder. Leia had tears rolling down her face as well.

Gracelin sat up and pushed her stray hairs back. She sniffled and wiped her nose with her sleeve.

"You can come stay with Han and me. We can help you out as long as you need us to. Okay?"

She just shook her head in agreement. "I miss him." She whispered as she put her head in her hands.

Greyton sat beside her on the medical bay bed. She had started mumbling something. He gently shook her. She began breathing faster. He put the bed into a sitting position to help her breath better. Suddenly her eyes popped open and she sat the rest of the way up and into his chest.

She saw that he and her mom were the only ones there. She began sobbing and buried her head into his chest.

She balled up her fist and started hitting him in the chest frantically. "Where is he? Where is he?"

"Shhh. Gracelin, calm down. He's just down the hall." Greyton nodded for Nomica to go find Jacen.

"Is he okay? Why is he down the hall?"

"Shhh. He's okay; Luke's room is down the hall."

"Luke?"

"He's alright. Bow fired the blaster. Luke was trying to keep him from shooting anybody but got hit. The healer said he'll be fine."

Jacen ran into the room with Nomica trailing behind. He pulled her to him. He was crying almost harder than she was. Gracelin just clung to him.

Nomica and Greyton left so they could be alone.

"You're okay." Gracelin stated to assure herself.

"I'm fine." Jacen said as he kissed her forehead. "The healer said the baby was fine too. He placed a stray hair behind her ear.

"Did they get him?"

Jacen knew who she was referring to. "He's not going to bother us anymore. I promise." Jacen used his thumb to wipe away a few tears.

She put her head on his shoulder and began crying. This time, of joy and relief that her family was safe.

Things were quiet for the next few weeks. Gracelin was watched almost all the time for the first following days. Nomica, Greyton, and Kristea had returned to Naboo.

Gracelin stayed close to the apartment and to Jacen's family. Jaina would occasionally come and spend the night with them.

Gracelin especially loved having Maria over. The little girl was never boring. She loved to watch Jacen's over protectiveness of her.

Maria had started staying with them more once her father passed. Gracelin had never met him but she went for Maria. She knew what it was like to have a 'dad' missing from your life. The funeral had just been three weeks ago but Maria was already adjusting.

"Gracelin, is Jaina coming tonight?" Maria asked from where she was coloring on the floor.

Gracelin looked up from her data pad. "She's supposed to." She looked back down at what she was reading. Next thing she felt was someone breathing on her ear. Gracelin turned and met a small face. "May I help you?"

Maria stood on the sofa and flopped down. "I'm bored! Why can't you just have the baby so I'll have somebody to play with?"

Gracelin ruffled the little girl's hair. "It doesn't work like that."

Maria started pouting. She crossed her arms over her chest and mumbled. "I wish it did."

Gracelin pulled herself off the sofa with some trouble. "Don't worry; Jacen should be home any minute."

About that time the main entrance door slid open. "I'm home! Where are my girls?" Jacen called from the foyer.

Maria looked at Gracelin with her eyebrow raised. "That's still creepy, you know."

Gracelin laughed. "In the common room, Sweetheart!" She called back.

Jacen walked in and over to his wife. He gave her a hug and a kiss. He turned to Maria to find her impatiently jumping on the sofa.

He went into 'father' mode. "What did I tell you about jumping on the sofa?"

Immediately her legs collapsed and her bottom was getting associated with the cushion. "I love you." She said as she stuck out her bottom lip.

"I'm not Gracelin; that doesn't work with me."

"Hey!" Gracelin said feigning insult.

"But Maria," Jacen started, "I still love you." She shot him a sarcastic look that he knew she picked up from Jaina.

"Alright you two break it up." Gracelin said as the two stared blaster bolts at one another. "It's time for you to go wash up for dinner."

"Yes, ma'am," Maria slid off the sofa to do what she was told.

Jacen watched Maria leave and turned to see Gracelin grimace. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, just kicking like crazy." Gracelin answered as she sat herself down on the sofa.

"He giving you trouble?" Jacen sent soothing waves to the baby through the Force.

"No, she is just a rambunctious Solo."

"Ha ha, very funny. Is my wonderful sister coming tonight?"

"Stop being sarcastic and go set the table for four."

"Ha, ha you gots to set the table!" Maria sang as she walked into the common room.

"Just for that, you get to help him."

"Aww man! I never shoulda said nothing." Maria said as she followed Jacen.

Gracelin sat and waited. She could sense Jaina coming up the hallway. "Maria! Go get the door, Jaina's here."

"Yay!" Maria yelled while running. Maria returned with Jaina.

"Hey Gracelin."

"Hey Jaina."

"You ain't dropped that load yet?"

"You were just here three days ago! And don't say it like that it sounds like I'm a freight speeder. Plus, you'll be one of the first to know when this little Solo decides to come see us."

"Table's set!" Jacen hollered from the kitchenette.

Jaina held her hand out to help Gracelin up. "Come on, Solo Blimp, let's eat."

"You need to stay away from Mara." She joked.

"Just remember, we get to start in on her in a few months." Jaina said with a mischievous smile plastered on her face.