Vignette Three (one year later, immediately after the Swarm War)

Love Will Prevail

Jag and Shawnkyr were lead to their table by a silver protocol droid. They were in one of the best restaurants the Imperial Remnant planet of Bastion had to offer. After being seated at the private table Jag requested, he ordered a bottle of fine champagne. As the droid moved away, Jag smiled at the Chiss woman across the intimate table from him.

"You are staring again, Tako," she said without taking her eyes from the menu screen before her. But Jag could see her fighting the urge to smile by her compressing her delicate lips into a straight line.

"There is nothing that I'd rather stare at. You are absolutely breathtaking tonight." Jag was having a hard time not to stare at her. They were both dressed formally, he was wearing a simple suit of black but Shawnkyr was stunning in the floor length black gown she wore to perfection. It was fitted, off the shoulders, long sleeved, and had a low rounded neckline that showed off her long neck. The fabric was a matte black but had a slivery thread woven throughout which would catch the light interestingly, making her sparkle. Her hair was left free to fall down her back with silver clips holding it away from her face and she wore simple silver jewelry of a chain necklace and earrings, both of which Jag had given to her.

She looked up and was not able to fight the smile any longer, "You had better decide your order."

"Ah, but I already know what I want," he said and watched her eyes twinkle in the low light of the dining room.

Jag remembered the past year with a mix of emotions. He loved Shawnkyr and she loved him but they had had their share of differences and heart aches. They came back from Zaria to discover something that could have destroyed them both. But when they lost it they held each other not wanting to lose anything else. However, despite the pain it caused them they looked upon it as an omen and decided that maybe they should try to go back to being just friends.

Jag had received a promotion to captain and was given command of the Star Destroyer Fell Defender. Shawnkyr and the squadron she commanded were reassigned to another ship. Although, at the time Jag was furious, sure that her father had something to do with her reassignment, he was glad for it because Shawnkyr was removed from the worst part of the fighting; whereas, he was placed in the thick of it. However, before the conflict was over with the rescue of the Joiner Jedi and the destruction of the Dark Nest, she was reassigned again, this time directly under Jag's command.

Jag tried to honor their agreement to only be friends but neither of them was truly happy and their friendship suffered. Finally, after she was nearly shot down and his not being able to take another sleepless night, he had made his way to her quarters under the pretense of visiting her as she recuperated from her mild injuries. They had been lovers ever since, deciding living in secret was easier than pretending they did not love each other.

Now, the war was over. Jag had actually come out of it with several service accommodations and there was a rumor that his name had been mentioned for promotion to a Fleet Admiral. Jag did what he had set out to do; he proved his worth to the Chiss. Now, if he could prove to the Chiss that he considered them worth his talents.

They ordered their meals and toasted the end of the war. They talked about their families, Jag telling her about Wyn's latest antics and Shawnkyr related that her mother's research was bringing her back to Csilla for a short time.

"Will she be visiting you?" Jag asked between bites of the Corellian spiced nerf he ordered.

Shawnkyr shrugged and said as she picked at the mynock she ordered, "She did not say. But I am assuming she would visit Father and me during her stay in Csalpar."

Jag felt a stab of pain for her. He knew that she had been raised in typical Chiss fashion and she accepted that as the way things, but he couldn't help but wonder about Kyrn's mother. "When will Merel be home?"

Shawnkyr looked up at him from her plate and said with a note of correcting his wayward statement in her voice; however, Jag already knew Merel did not consider Csalpar her home, "Mother will be in Csalpar for two weeks, starting next week. I am hoping to see her but do not know if her schedule will allow it."

"Oh." Jag didn't say anything else. Shawnkyr's parents had what was the normal Chiss marriage alliance. Neither one loved the other. Shawnkyr had told Jag once while they were discussing such intimate details, that she sometimes wondered how they created her. They never were together long enough. Merel was an Inrokoni and a famous research scientist. She had married Thevan to alliance herself to the powerful Nuruodo House which ensured she would get military projects for herself and her family members. Likewise, Thevan's alliance to one of the best scientific families in the Chiss Empire ensured the Nuruodo House would always have top notch scientists to work for them. It was the typical Chiss match made in heaven.

Jag had only met her mother twice and he did not come away from either encounter with a warm feeling. Merel was a hard and calculating woman whose only expression seemed to Jag to be one of sternness. She was very much unlike Kyrn's father. Although, General Thevan was stern, he at least had a great sense of humor and often lost to Jag's father in Sebacc and Soontir often lost to his Chiss friend in dejarik. Shawnkyr took more after her father who practically raised her on his own. Jag somehow knew Merel would be the most against what he was about to suggest and he needed Shawnkyr to understand his argument if he held any hope of convincing her.

Shawnkyr who had been watching Jag closely for the past few moments, finally said, "Tako, you are far too quiet this evening. What has you wondering about my mother suddenly?"

Jag met her intense gaze and smiled, "You know, Ailen Mel, you have an uncanny way of reading my mind."

"That is because you wear your thoughts on your face, Tako, and I know you best." She smiled and then asked, "But why are you thinking of Mother?"

Jag laid his fork down and took a sip of his champagne. Then he gave her his complete attention and asked, "Kyrn, if I had been born a Chiss, what would your parents say about me?"

Shawnkyr looked down at her plate and thought a moment. Then she looked up at him, her expression and voice puzzled, "They would probably be trying to negotiate a betrothal between us."

"Why?" Jag asked, he knew the answer but he wanted to make sure she did.

"Because, you, at the moment, have one of the most promising military careers in the Fleet. But why are you asking such questions?" Shawnkyr was not one to divulge in such flights of fantasy.

Jag ignored her question and came back with another, "Okay. Why would it be beneficial for me to accept such a betrothal of a low ranking commander? Of course, we are still assuming I am Chiss but not of the Nuruodo House," Jag couldn't help but smile at her perplexed and somewhat annoyed expression. She honestly had no idea where he was going with this.

She stared at him and then said in an uncertain voice, "Because I am a Nuruodo and you are not, marriage to me would cement your place among the Fleet Command and the Nuruodo Ruling Family. Jag, I do not understand why…"

As she was giving her explanation, Jag reached into the pocket of his formal jacket. He pulled out the small box and opened it. After glancing at the object the box held, he met her questioning with and expression that forced her to let the question she asked trail. Then he smiled and said, his voice deeper with the emotion that suddenly filled him, "Shawnkyr, I told you once that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. I still do. I spent this war trying to prove that I deserve you. That you deserve me." Jag paused and looked back down at the simple diamond solitaire ring and pulled it out of the box. As he nervously, fingered it, he looked back up at her.

"Shawnk'ry'nuruodo," he annunciated her entire Chiss name then swallowed the lump that suddenly formed in his throat, "Will you marry me?" Then he held out the ring, offering it to her as he did his heart.

X

Shawnkyr stared at the proffered ring, stunned. She hadn't been expecting this, but as she thought of their conversation, she should have guessed where it was going. The diamond caught the light from the lamp on their table and glittered in pure white brilliance. She knew that presenting a ring upon a marriage proposal was a human tradition that was common on several planets throughout the Galaxy, Corellia among them and that Jag's mother wore such a ring.

Finally, she looked up into Jag's light green eyes those eyes that wavered between blue and green and were so different from her own. Jag had often accused her of reading his mind, of knowing what he was thinking, but it was his eyes that gave so much away. She knew how to read him so well and what she saw in those green depths made her heart skip a beat. She loved him, there was no deigning that, but could she marry him? Could she spend the rest of her life with him?

She thought about her parents' marriage. She knew her father and mother did not love each other. They were friends and colleagues but she had never seen them so much as touch each other. Her mother had once admitted to Shawnkyr that she and Thevan had only been intimate three times, the last time resulting in her pregnancy with Shawnkyr. Shawnkyr had been young and had asked her mother about such things. She would never forget the displeasure her mother displayed at discussing such matters, but someone needed to have the discussion with the eleven year old. Shawnkyr never expected to fall in love with the man who would seek an alliance with her. She expected to have a marriage much like her parents', where she and her husband would endure intimacy to produce a child or two and then basically go their separate ways performing the duties they were assigned by their Ruling Family, each raising their children in the Chiss traditions and each reaping the benefits of their alliance.

But, now, knowing what true love felt like, knowing that Jag was there for her whenever she needed him, knowing that he loved her, knowing that he desired her companionship as much as he did her body, and knowing the pleasure she discovered in his arms, Shawnkyr could not even imagine enduring a life like her parents'.

She lifted her eyes from the ring that Jag held in a trembling hand and said quietly, her voice suddenly thick with emotion, "Yes, Jagged Fel, I will marry you, but we will need the approval of your families to ensure the Ascendancy accepts our alliance. If the Ruling Families thinks our parent's sanctioned our union then they have no reason not to concur."

Jag smiled, and said, "That is what I was thinking. We will still have our work cut out for us. But, convince them we will, even if I think convincing the Ruling Families may be easier than convincing our own." Shawnkyr couldn't help but smile at the determination behind the words. Then he asked, "Will you accept my gift of this ring as a token of my love?"

She nodded and smiled, then watched as he reached for her hand. Jag gazed at her as he poised to slide the ring on her finger. "Yes, Tako, and I hope you are wrong about our families because I do not know what I would do if they refuse to see it our way."

Jag slid the ring onto her left ring finger an squeezed her hand, his voice full of hope and love, "They will if we just believe our love will always prevail, Ailen Mel." He smiled and then he raised his glass of champagne.

Shawnkyr shook her head and laughed as she lifted her glass to meet his, "Tako, you have always been too full of human idealism."

Jag's only response was to smile and hold her gaze as he sipped his wine.

XXXX

One week later and after their return from the holiday on Bastion, Jag found himself pacing in the sitting room of his parent's estate which was situated outside of Csalpar. He tried to find calm, but he couldn't. He honestly had no idea how his parents would take to the news that he wanted to marry a Chiss but his instincts told him that they probably wouldn't take the news lightly. He still remembered his announcement that he was in love with Jaina Solo and how his father disapproved of her, then his biggest argument was that she was Han Solo's daughter.

He knew that his mother did not embrace the idea of him being in love with Shawnkyr and he could imagine she would be even less enthusiastic about his engagement to her. Syal had never approached him again about his relationship with Shawnkyr but he knew she still suspected that there was more than just friendship between them.

His father was truly an unknown. The old Imperial baron who had become a Chiss general was respected by the people he had made his home among, and he respected them, but Soontir Fel was still an Imperial at heart in much of his thinking. He may have been willing to raise his family among aliens and even sacrifice his life and those of his children for their causes, but would he be willing to welcome one of them into his family? Jag had no idea.

Jag turned away from the window that his pacing brought him to when he heard the scuff of his father's boots on the wood floor at the door way into the sitting room. He took a deep breath and remembered what he had told Kyrn about love prevailing, suddenly he hoped he was right.

Soontir Fel peered at Jag and he suddenly realized just how intimidating his father could appear. He was Jag's height and they had similar builds, but Soontir's short black hair was more silver than black and he wore a black eye patch over the eye he lost, giving him an almost menacing appearance.

Jag moved his gaze to his mother and swallowed. He loved his parents and he knew that they loved him but he knew how stoic and stubborn they could be and that frightened him.

"Alright, Son, you asked to meet with us. What is on your mind?" Soontir said as he and Syal sat side by side on the couch.

Jag rubbed his hands together nervously, took another deep breath and as he sat in the chair across from them plunged, "I have asked Shawnkyr to marry me and we would like to have your blessing."

For a moment he wondered if they had heard him. They both sat there staring at him. Then finally he saw his father swallow and his jaw clinch and Jag knew this wasn't going to be easy, but then he would have been astonished if it had, nothing worth anything was ever won without a fight.

"You what?"

"Jag, you can't be serious," this more quietly from his mother.

Jag swallowed the lump in his throat again and as calmly as he could say, "I feel that it would be beneficial for me to marry into the Nuruodo House. I believe that by marring Shawnkyr I can garner more support and therefore increase my chance at further promotion with greater responsibilities. Likewise, the Ascendancy would know it would always have my loyalty and my talents. Besides, I have never loved any one as much as I do her and want to spend the rest of my life with her."

Soontir stood unable to contain his disbelief or his growing anger. However, when he spoke his voice as a deadly calm that betrayed very little, "Jagged, you cannot be serious. She is Chiss. I know you have been raised among them and consider yourself one of them, consider them equals," at Jag's glare, he quickly added, "and they are, but they are different." He paused and walked over to the window there he turned and continued, "I know you have embraced many of their ideals, and, truth be told, so have I, but, Son, you cannot marry Shawnkyr. I think it is time that you go to Bastion or even Coruscant for a while."

"Why, so I can meet another woman like Jaina Solo?" Jag retorted.

Soontir glared at Jag but again his voice betrayed nothing, "There are more women out there than just Jaina Solo, but if you want the truth, I would take her over the alternative." With that he turned back to the window.

Jag stood and persisted, "Why, just because she is human?"

"Yes," this came from Syal. Jag turned to her and she continued, calmly, "Jag, Tir, sit down."

Both men obeyed the quiet command and she did not speak until they both had resumed their seats. "I've been afraid that something like this was going to happen. So, you and she have been lovers all this time?"

"What are you talking about, Syal?" Soontir glanced at his wife. "You knew about this?"

She didn't take her gaze from Jag's as she answered her husband's questions, "Yes, I knew Jag was in love with her. He has been for several years." Then she asked Jag, "What happened on Zaria?"

Jag met his mother's stare stubbornly and related, "Kyrn and I became lovers. We tried to go back to being friends after…" Jag paused and he wondered if he should tell them. He felt the pain the loss brought to his heart and took another deep breath deciding now was the time to lay it all out on the line. "After she miscarried our child." Then he mentally prepared for the blast.

"She was pregnant with your child? Is that even possible?" Syal asked astonished before Soontir was able to say anything. He only continued to stare at Jag with his jaw clinched.

Jag looked down at his hands in his lap which were fisted to keep them from trembling. After a moment he quietly related, "Yes, it is possible because it happened. The reason she aborted the baby was because of the stress she was under, not because of incompatibility. She was nearly four months when it happened. When she first discovered she was pregnant neither of us had any idea what we would do." Jag looked up at his parents with a feeling of profound loss. "But once we figured out a plan, we both loved that baby. It about crushed us both when she lost him."

For several moments they sat in silence. Soontir was the one to break it, "You know it was a boy?"

Jag nodded, "Yes, and he was perfectly normal. The medic believed it was the tremendous stress Shawnkyr was under that caused the abortion."

"What was your plan?" Syal asked softly.

Jag glanced away as he said; he knew his parents wouldn't like this, "I was going to send her to live with Uncle Wedge. And once I was able to, I was going to meet her and we would be married and raise our child."

"That would have ruined you, you know that?" his father asked his voice laced with disappointment and disbelief.

Jag met his father's hard brown-eyed glare and said harshly, "We both knew that, Father. That was probably the contributing factor to Kyrn's stress. She felt like she failed me."

"So, what happened after that?" Syal redirected the conversation.

"We decided to go back to being friends. It worked until she was placed under my command and we couldn't go on pretending we didn't love each other. We've been lovers ever since."

"And now you want to get married."

Jag looked at his father and responded, "Yes, and we both believe if it appears that our parents agree, maybe even appear to have been the ones to suggest it, our marriage will be accepted by the Chiss."

"It won't happen," was Soontir's simple matter-of-fact reply.

"What? Our marriage being accepted by the Chiss or your blessing?

"Neither." Soontir got up again and moved away from them. Once at the window he looked out at the pristine whiteness of the countryside. "I do not believe in the mixing of the species, Jag. It's as simple as that."

"But why, Dad?" Jag's heart was sinking. "Obviously, there is not much difference in the Chiss and true humans or we wouldn't have been able to create a child in our first time together." Jag didn't really know that for sure, they had made love several times while on the mountain, but he had always had a feeling about that first time.

"Jag…"

Jag looked at his mother and she stopped before she could say any thing else. He got up and walked over to his father. He knew if he couldn't win their support, Shawnkyr would have a hard time being convinced to go against their wishes. He knew he needed to get through to his father. He tried the method he thought would convince the Chiss, now he needed to use a method he hoped would sway a human. "Dad, what if Mom had not been human?"

Soontir smiled at Jag for the first time, but it was not because he felt mirth, rather he recognized his son's stubbornness. Jag was a Corellian after all and Corellians never gave up easily. "Son, I would not have even looked at her."

Jag moved away from the window and stopped before the fireplace on the adjacent wall, there he turned and said, "But what if she appeared human. Let's say she was a Clawdite and you did not know and fell for her."

"Jag, this is silly," Syal smiled sadly.

But Soontir stared at Jag and his heart skipped a beat. There was something about his father's gaze. "What if you fell in love with her and then found out she was not human? Let's say you decide that you couldn't possibly be in love with something as hideous. But you find your self empty when you are not with her," something caught in Jag's voice and he turned to face the fireplace as he continued, "You are miserable because you dream about her. You worry about her safety and wonder what she is doing, and if she is thinking about you. You miss the long conversations that you have, both the serious and the silly. You miss her smile, her laughter, and you miss the way she can make you smile or laugh without even trying. You miss the wonderment and pure excitement that her simple touch can elicit. You find that no one ever made you feel this way and no one can ever fill your heart with joy like she can. What would you do, Father? Would you accept her alienness or would you spend the rest of your life searching for a human to fill the hole in your heart?" Jag sniffed, he did not want to feel the sting of tears and he squeezed his eyes closed but he knew he had lost. And he was not able to stop the flow of the tears of defeat.

X

Soontir and Syal both stared at the trembling shoulders of their son. It wasn't his scenario that held them speechless; it was his description of his love for Shawnkyr. They both looked at each other and after Syal nodded her head, Soontir quietly said, "I would love her anyway."

Jag turned and the sight of his tears surprised both of them. Soontir went on to say, "Jag, you really love her that much?"

Jag sniffed again, and said hoarsely, "More than words could ever describe, more than my career, more than anything."

"And you honestly believe the Ascendancy will approve of this marriage?" Syal asked softly.

"Yes, as I described. We both would come away from our union with an alliance that would benefit both of us, our families and the Ascendancy. "

After a moment, Soontir nodded and said, "Very well, I will give you our blessing, but will only agree if Thevan and Merel do."

X

Jag gazed at his father, smiled and quietly said, "Thank you." Then silently prayed to whatever gods were out there that Shawnkyr was having the same success.

XXXX

Shawnkyr looked up from her plate to her father and suddenly felt nervous. It was an unusual fluttering in the pit of her stomach. The only other time she ever felt like this was right before she flew into battle—not good. She hoped this didn't turn into one.

She was both glad and disappointed that her mother canceled her visit with them. She wasn't really looking forward to facing Merel with her announcement. Her father at least liked and respected the Fels. Her mother disliked all aliens. But, going through this for a second time did not exactly make Kyrn happy either.

Thevan realizing Shawnkyr was looking at him with a peculiar expression upon her elegant features laid his fork down and asked, his tone concerned, "Daughter, is something on your mind? You seem extremely preoccupied this evening."

Shawnkyr sighed and swallowed hard. She glanced down at her folded left hand which lay in her lap. She looked at the simple diamond ring and found strength in her love for the man who had given it to her.

She then met her father's gaze and announced, "Father, I have found someone who wants to make an alliance with me and I feel that it would benefit us both to proceed."

Thevan stared at her, "Do I know this man?" She knew that this was a surprise for her father and that from his tone he was concerned with her disregard for the custom of the parents of the betrothed being involved in the engagement and setting up what the alliance would entail.

She wasn't sure what to tell him but she knew the direct approach would not work. She would have to convince her father that her marriage to Jag would be a benefit to her Family House. "He is a promising young officer who has quickly moved up the ranks. He comes from a good family but he is not a Nuruodo and would like to marry into the House to help cement his future appointments. And I feel that because he is slated for promotion it can only help me."

Thevan peered at her and Shawnkyr knew by her father's expression he was trying to discern the young man's identity. There were others in the Fleet who were not Nuruodo by birth but they were few. She suddenly feared he would figure it out before she had a chance to elaborate. Then he narrowed his eyes and after a moment sternly said, "You do present quite a convincing argument as to why an alliance with Jagged Fel would be a good one, Daughter." She should have known she could not fool the great strategist that was her father. He went on to say, "Shawnkyr, please do not look so surprised. I know that you have not given up your sentiment for him. However, you can not expect me to grant you approval for this."

She looked at him with sorrow and defeat growing within her, "Why, Father? Is it because he is human? But what if he was Chiss, what would your response be?"

Thevan pushed his plate back and leaned on the table, a very casual posture for the dignified Chiss general. He looked at her and then smiled sadly, "If Jagged Fel was Chiss, marriage to him would be very beneficial, but he is not, so, there is no point discussing this further." Then he stood and turned to leave the room.

Shawnkyr looked down at the diamond ring and felt her hopes fall. Then she said quietly, causing her father to not only stop but to turn toward her, "Father, I know that I should be repulsed by him. I know that I should feel that I am superior to him because he is not Chiss. I know I should not crave his touch." she looked up at him and went on, fingering the ring on her hand, "I know I should not love him, but I do, Father. I can not imagine my life without him. I will not defy your wishes. But, I fear that the Ascendancy will lose a great asset, because Jag will not continue to serve the Chiss in the capacity he is now."

X

Thevan stared at his daughter and suddenly wondered where he had gone wrong. Then he thought about her words. It was true Jagged Fel was one of the most talented officers in the military. He was smart and he was one of the best pilots he had ever seen, save for maybe his sire. But, it was not these things that Thevan was considering as his best talent. That was his leadership ability. Soontir Fel led by intimidation and sometimes right-out fear, it came from his years of being an Imperial officer and especially one under Thrawn. Jag, on the other hand, lead by example and had a charisma about him that made those under his command like him and want to follow him. Thevan knew that was what would make Jag Fel a real leader and a powerful one. That boy had a bright future ahead of him.

Then he considered his daughter's final statement. Could the Ascendancy afford to lose such a leader? Thevan knew the answer before he even asked himself the question. And the answer was—no. But if Jag Fel could become part of the Nuruodo House, then his continued service would be guaranteed.

Thevan looked at his daughter and realized he had never seen her so bewildered. He had never loved her mother, but he loved her without question and it made his heart heavy to see her thus. He also remembered the relationship his parents had. They had a loving marriage, theirs had not begun as one, but they had fallen in love during their marriage, something he and Merel were never able or were unwilling to do. That was when he made his decision.

"Shawnkyr, I will give you my support for this marriage. The Nuruodo House will benefit significantly by bringing the Fels officially into the Family."

"Father?" She was stunned. He never rescinded on a decision.

He ignored her question and went on to say with a hint of annoyance in his voice, "You may want me to handle Merel, regarding this matter. She will not see it my way but I will convince her. I have my ways with her."

With that said he left a very stunned but excited Shawnkyr staring after him.

To Be Continued...