"There was an… incident a few kilometers from here. I was detained," he answered with a twinkle in his eye. Jaina raised her eyebrow.
"Everything okay?"
"It is now. Sorry I'm late, though." Jaina gave a small sigh an smiled.
"You know I was joking, Jasa. But I was beginning to wonder if you were going to show up at all…."
"Okay, so next time, you can be late as you please and I won't complain at all." They both began to laugh merrily.
"I'll hold you to that, brother dear." Jaina assured him. The serving droid chose that moment to come and take Jacen's order.
"Order please," the droid said in it's mechanical tone.
"Hot chocolate please," Jacen replied
"More Cren tea for me as well," Jaina added. The droid gave a short nod and was off to get their drinks. "Hot chocolate, Jasa? I think that you've been spending too much time with Uncle Luke." She gave a short huff as she moved a piece of her long brown hair from in front of her eyes and tucked it behind her ear. Jacen took a moment to study his sister, and gave a slight frown.
"What's going on, Jaina?" he asked. "Why did you want to meet me here?" Jaina took a small sip from the cup of tea in front of her and sighed as she considered her answer.
"Jag left me. Two days ago," she admitted.
"Jaina," Jacen said sympathetically. "I'm so sorry…" Jaina cut him off.
"That's the thing, Jacen. I'm not." Jacen looked at her quizzically for a few moments trying to figure out what was going on with his sister.
"What exactly did Jag say to you?" Jaina sighed again as the serving droid returned with their drinks. Jacen took his and nodded his thanks to the droid as Jaina accepted her refill.
"Thank you, that will be all for now," Jaina told the droid who left them promptly. She returned her attention to her brother. "Jacen, is it possible to be in love with someone for years and not even realize it?" she asked.
"You're asking me?"
"Yes!"
"Jaina, we both know I am no expert on anything that concerns romance…" he looked into his sister's eyes and the picture became clear. "This is about Kyp, isn't it?"
"Well…" he waited for her answer, but she was nervous and reluctant to give one.
"Okay, I'll ask again, what did Jag say to you, Jaina?"
"He said that I didn't love him. That I probably never did. He told me I was in love with Kyp," she admitted. Jacen gave a soft whistle at her response.
"So, that's why he left." Jaina nodded her confirmation.
"Yes, that's why he left. The thing is, Jacen, I'm afraid he might be right." Jacen grinned as he looked up from his hot chocolate.
"Of course he's right."
"What do you mean, 'of course he's right'?" She could tell Jacen was suppressing the urge to laugh at her.
"Jaina, sometimes, you are so dumb."
"I am," she asked hotly with a raised brow, not sure whether to laugh or be insulted.
"Yes, you are," Jacen confirmed calmly.
"Then enlighten me, wise one," she challenged.
"I asked you about Kyp after he briefed us on Ylesia. You told me what you felt then was gratitude. After the war was over I asked you again, and you told me he was a kind of mentor to you, and that falling in love your mentor was not a sane thing to do. You also admitted you'd considered the possibility. You and he have maintained a close friendship, a very close friendship I might add, since then," Jacen explained in his usual serene tone.
"What's your point Jacen," Jaina pressed.
"Kyp knows you better than practically anyone else. He was there for you after Myrkr, when you were at your worst. He stuck by you during and after the war, and, more importantly, you clung to him. To that relationship. Jaina, when you're with him, you seem more comfortable than you ever were with Jag. You may tell yourself that Kyp is your friend, a bit of a mentor even, but when you're together… it's more than gratitude, or feeling sentimental, as you once put it. He loves you as much as you love him." Jaina sucked in a breath.
"Why haven't you told me this before?" Jacen smiled ruefully at his sister.
"Because you weren't ready. You would not have listened and you would have denied it. You've held yourself back, Jaya. You've intentionally kept Kyp at a friendly distance since the war. When you said that falling in love with a mentor is a bad idea because you're more or less worshiping the idea, I think you were voicing your own fears. You are afraid that whatever you feel for Kyp has more to do with the idea then the man and that any attempt you make a closer relationship would be doomed because of it," he surmised. Jaina took a long time to consider her twin's words.
"I don't know what to do, Jacen."
"What does your heart tell you?" Jaina sighed.
"As horrible as I feel for what I did to Jag, even if it wasn't intentional, I think he's right. Being with Jag was … easier. Safer. I'm sorry for what I did for him, but I wasn't sorry to see him go. Does that make sense?" she asked aloud.
"Perfect sense," Jacen assured her.
"Does that make me a horrible person?"
"No, that just makes you a woman in extreme denial," he replied with a grin. "I figured you'd come out of it eventually," he added. There was something in his voice, his expression as he said that. Jaina arched her brow as she studied her twin's face..
"Spoken like someone who knows from personal experience." Jacen's expression darkened at the hint.
"We're not talking about me, Jaina, so drop it," he said shortly. Jaina knew by the look in Jacen's eyes he would not brook any further inquiry.
"No, we're not talking about you," she conceded with a sigh. She looked as her brother relaxed. "Not today, anyway," she finished under her breath.
"So where do you go from here," Jacen inquired, changing the subject. Jaina shook her head in response.
"I don't know, I honestly don't. This is uncharted territory, Jacen. I think I need time to sort everything out, but…"
"You're in love with Kyp," he finished for her.
"Force help me, I am." Jacen gave a short laugh as Jaina forlornly placed her arms and head on the table before her.
"Force help us all when you both figure it out. I'm not sure the galaxy is ready for you and Kyp together. Just promise me one thing, Jaina." She looked up to her brother. "Whenever you decide to break the news to Dad, let me know so that I can be sure I'm not there. I'd just as soon not be caught in the inevitable crossfire." Despite herself, Jaina couldn't help but laugh. Soon Jacen joined in and they both laughed together, too caught up in the moment to notice the man at the corner table, keeping himself in the darkened corner. His green eyes flashed as he overheard the Solo twins. Kyp Durron wasn't sure what to think.
"Stang," he intoned under us breath, never taking his eyes off the woman he was focusing on several tables away.
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