Chapter 10

Jaina could hardly wait to find out what he had "in store" for her that night. She had dressed in a sleeveless, short black dress that she had since before her time in the Unknown Regions. She looked at herself in the mirror of the dresser and signed. The dress was about five years out of fashion. Looser styles with longer skirts were now in vogue. And she subconsciously found herself pulling on the tight short skirt. She really hoped Kyp wasn't planning on taking her anywhere. She also wished she had more than two dresses to her name. The other one was hanging on the hook of the closet door. She turned to look at it and thought that she should change into that one. But she couldn't bring herself to wear that dress. Not with Kyp. Not now. She had bought it just three months ago before Jacen's wedding. It had cost her a small fortune, more than she and Zekk could afford, but she had wanted a new dress to wear to the diner she had taken Zekk out to for his lifeday and for her trip to Hapes. She suddenly wondered if she could ever bring herself to wear that dress with Kyp. It just felt wrong.

She went back into the 'fresher and began to brush her hair. She pulled it to one side and used a silver comb Mara had gifted to her a few years ago to hold her hair in place. She applied a small amount of makeup and frowned. She never liked to fuss. She was a fighter pilot at heart. Then she remembered something Kyp had told her years ago when they were—what were we doing?—dating? after she broke up with Jag.

"Few women have the privilege of being so beautiful that they never need to wear makeup, Goddess. In fact I only know of three, you, your mother and Tenel Ka D'jo."

She laid the applicator down and smiled at the memory. She had responded with a flippant remark after, she was sure, turning a deep red from the complement. Kyp's complements had always had that reaction in her. She was surprised that even the memory brought her cheeks up a shade more pink.

She heard the outer door slide open and smiled and quickly put the things she had out away. She came out of the hallway and stepped down into the living room to find Kyp putting down packages on the island counter of the kitchen.

He turned and she could tell he had his breath taken away. She blushed as he looked her over. The dress, despite being out of style, did complement her, its tightness and matte finish highlighting her figure, while its simplicity didn't distract from her natural beauty.

He slowly recovered and said as he walked over to her, "You are a vision, Goddess." He enveloped her into an embrace and gently kissed her. She moaned as he deepened the kiss, ravaging her mouth. She shuddered at the spicy taste of him. The need for air finally ended it, but its passion left her trembling.

Finally, he pulled away from her and said his voice husky with passion, "You are the most beautiful woman in the Galaxy. Do you realize that? No wonder half the Galaxy is in love with you."

She blushed and then lowered her gaze, the passion fleeting as she thought of the other person in love with her. "Sometimes I don't feel very beautiful. I feel terrible for what I did to Zekk. He didn't deserve that." She looked up at him and added, "I love you and always will, Kyp. But Zekk and I were friends since we were kids. I know that he has loved me since then and I deliberately broke his heart.

"He attacked you, Kyp," a tear escaped from the corner of her eye. "If he would have killed you and his turn to Darkness would have been because of me. I couldn't go on—I would've—" She fell into his arms and sobbed. He hugged her close and whispered into her hair words she couldn't hear or understand over her sobbing. His passion completely replaced by his unconditional love.

X

There was no jealousy in Kyp at the pain Jaina felt. He understood that she loved him and that she only felt miserable for breaking her friend's heart so that hers could be free to love.

She sobbed for several moments then pulled away leaving his chest damp. She blushed as she looked into his eyes and stammered, "I—I'm sorry." She hiccoughed and went on to say, "You must be thinking that I'm crazy. But thank you for understanding and not—" She wasn't sure how to finish and lowered her head.

"For not being upset or jealous." He smiled and lifted her chin with his finger to meet his gaze again. "Jaina, my beautiful Goddess, this is one of the many reasons that I love you so much, don't you understand? If you felt no remorse over Zekk, I'd be more concerned. Because the Jaina Solo I fell in love with all those years ago didn't want to hurt anyone. She only wanted to save the Galaxy and those she loved from pain, remember? Even if it meant risk to her own neck. You haven't changed all that much over the years, you know?"

"Oh, Kyp," she smiled and hugged him tighter, laying her cheek on his chest. "I love you."

"I know," he lowered his chin until it rested on top of her head and held her close for another few moments. He then pulled away and grinned, "Now, about that surprise I promised you."

She looked up at him expectantly. "Remember the other day when you said that you wanted swept off your feet?"

She nodded and smiled.

"Well, I plan to do just that." He moved away from her and headed for the bedroom. At the step up to the hallway he turned and winked at her saying, "And no peeking into those packages."

She laughed, "What would make you think I'd do that?"

"Because I know you, Miss Snoop." He called her by the name he coined for her when she was six years old.

"That was a long, long time ago, Kyppie," her childhood nickname for him caused his smile to broaden. "And how was I to know that package was for me. You told me it was for Jacen and I already knew he had one. I thought Dad had gotten him two presents and I wanted to know what they were. Because, I hadn't gotten one yet." She stamped her foot in perfect imitation of her six-year-old self. Both she and Kyp laughed as they remembered her and Jacen's sixth lifeday.

Kyp still laughing headed to the bedroom. After she thought he was gone she immediately turned towards the kitchen and the packages. Kyp's renewed laughter startled her. "I knew it!"

She turned red-faced and pouted. Then she smiled, "Guilty." She went and sat on the couch and said, "Don't worry, I won't look."

He shook his head and retreated around the corner, excitement filling him.

X

Fifteen minutes later he emerged freshly showered and sharply dressed. Jaina looked up form the datareader she was flipping through and let out a low whistle that brought a faint blush to his cheeks. His damp hair was pulled back and tied at his nape, but rebellious shorter wavy curls framed his strong face and fell over his forehead, naturally parting just off center. The sharp lines of his face were cleanly shaven. The burgundy shirt he wore contrasted nicely with his green eyes and dark hair. He roguishly kept the top three buttons open and the long sleeves were rolled up to just below his elbows. The black jeans that completed his clothing were just a little too tight. His feet were bare which completely thrilled her.

He held out his hands while he raised an eyebrow and grinned as he watched her come around the couch. "So, Goddess, I guess you approve of your mortal."

She swallowed hard and stepped into his arms and leaned against him as she put her arms around his neck. She pulled him down breathing in his spicy scent from the aftershave that she had always known him to wear and seductively whispered, "I suddenly could care less what's in those packages. I only want you. Force, Kyp, you could make me drool. You may think I'm beautiful, but do you honestly know how kriffin' handsome you are?"

X

His answer was a grin and then she kissed him. She had just made him very pleased. He broke the kiss when he felt her desire building as she put her hands on his chest. Pulling away slightly he chuckled and shook his head, "Nope, none of that until I achieve my goal." He released her and moved towards the kitchen, he caught her pout as he moved past her. He turned before stepping up into the kitchen and winked at her, "Besides, I'm hungry. Mortals can't live on love alone, Goddess."

She could only follow her curiosity completely taking over her desire as she wondered what Kyp Durron was possibly going to do in the kitchen.

He opened one of the packages and pulled out a sealed vase with two dark lavender roses in it. He peeled off the protective covering and the air was almost immediately perfumed with the scent of Hapen roses. He then sat them on the table. As he stepped back into the kitchen, Jaina went to the table and leaned over to breathe in the sweet musky fragrance. Kyp watched her as she opened her eyes and turned toward him.

"You knew they are my favorites." He nodded as he placed two candles he had bought on the counter.

He pulled from a counter drawer a lighter and lit them. He lowered the living area lights and came around to set the candles on the table next to the roses. He watched as Jaina was bathed in the soft gentle glow of the old fashioned flame candles.

"Yeah, I knew," he said softly. Then as he moved once more into the kitchen he added, "I'm also going to prepare for you one of your favorite dishes." Then he began to remove food items from the other package.

She looked at him questioningly as she came up into the kitchen, "You can cook?"

"Of course, I'm a bachelor, remember? And I love good food. Comes from practically starving to death as a kid and living off military rations," he said as he grabbed a pan off the side wall and began melting blue butter. After the butter was melted and hot he opened the package of fresh shell-less Mon Calamari claims. He dumped them into the hot butter and began to sauté them.

She watched him as he daftly removed the claims after cooking them for a few minutes and began making the blue cream sauce that would smother the claims. In another pan he began steaming mixed wild grains and Corellian spices. The smells were delightful. Next he steamed the mixed yellow, green and purple vegetables. When they were done he sprinkled them with more of the spice. The sauce was beginning to thicken over the low heat and he opened the bottle of wine he had gotten and poured a generous amount into the sauce. Then he replaced the claims to let them simmer in the sauce.

She was mesmerized. She could hardly believe this was Kyp. He wasn't finished though, he next began whipping up a frothy chocolate mousse that he put into individual dessert glasses and topped with whipped cream and bassberries. The meal was complete and he went about setting the table.

"Where did you learn to cook like that?" she asked admiration clearly evident.

"Do you remember Haga?"

"From Yavin Four? She was the cook when you were there. She retired right before we got to the Academy, right?"

He nodded and said while placing the utensils on the table, "Yes, she was the cook. She was from Corellia and liked her food spicy but she was a good cook." He stood to admire his handy work and went on to say, "She befriended me when I came back to the Academy after I—after my turn. She taught me the basics and since then I've picked up a bit more." He looked back at her and smiled, "I actually enjoy cooking. Maybe I could teach you someday."

She laughed, "Me, cook? I can't boil water. So, you have to be kidding." He joined in with her laughter as he poured wine into the tall glasses.

Jaina stepped down and moved to the table. She looked at the placement of the utensils, puzzled. He had placed them at the top of the plate instead of on either side as was the usual custom.

"Kyp, who taught you to set a table?"

X

He had stepped back into the kitchen and was dishing out the food onto their plates. He returned with the two heaping plates and set them down. "My mother, why?" he replied taken aback. He had very few memories of his childhood that were happy and setting the table for his mother for the family meals was one of them.

"Well, I thought the utensils went beside the plate."

He pulled her chair out and she sat down, answering, "Oh, that may be so on Alderaan or Corellia but on Deyer in the Durron house, anyway, this is how it was done."

He smiled at the blush her embarrassment brought to her cheeks as he sat down across from her. Then he quickly lost it as he went on to add, "I don't remember much about my home or my family. So, what little I do I've tried to keep." There was a moment of the deep sadness he felt at remembering his first eight years when all that worried him was if Zeth would let him go on the latest adventure with his friends and the occasional freighting sound of the ocean as it hit the pilings that held up his home during one of Deyer's frequent storms.

Finally, he put those memories behind him and focused on the woman he wanted to create a new family with. Picking up his glass he smiled and said, "To us and a life full of love."

She picked hers up and lifted it to his as she gazed into his eyes which in the candlelight appeared almost black. "To us," she smiled and repeated as the glasses clicked together, "and a life full of love."

The wine was an exquisite Naboo vintage that Jaina knew as quite expensive. She noticed Kyp staring at her as she put down the glass after sipping the sweet dry deep red liquid. She gave him a Solo grin and picked up her fork. "This smells delightful, Kyp." She forked one of the blue cream sauce smothered clams and some of the spiced wild grains into her mouth.

Kyp watched as her expression changed from surprise to pleasure as she chewed. After swallowing she looked at him stunned, "This is wonderful!"

Kyp smiled broader, "I'm glad that you like it." Then he picked up his own fork and they ate in delicious silence savoring each others company and the food.

Kyp cleared the plates and brought out the chilled desserts. After sitting down again he poured more wine. After taking a sip of his he said, "Never guess what I found out today."

She swallowed the spoonful of the mousse and looked questioningly but annoyingly at him.

He chuckled, Jaina never liked guessing games. "Valin Horn and Tahiri Veila are engaged."

"What?" She then added, "I knew that they were getting close, but married? What did Corran have to say about that?" She joined in with a chuckle of her own, "His first two Apprentices getting married."

Kyp winked and quipped, "Not as bad as Masters marrying their Apprentices."

Oh, Kyp!" She scolded, "At least you won't be the first. Technically, Aunt Mara was Uncle Luke's Apprentice."

"That's right! Never thought of that!" He ate some of his own mousse and then said, "To answer your question, I think The-Self-Proclaimed-Perfect-Jedi Corran was pretty surprised according to Valin." She rolled her eyes at his jibe at Corran and he gave her mischievous look. "Of course, considering how close your father is to Tahiri, Valin should be more concerned about Han Solo. Know I am." Jaina shook her head and he want on, "I don't know why their relationship is such a surprise to everyone. They were friends since they were kids. And I think people forget Valin is only year younger than her." He drained his glass.

"Yeah, I think it's because Valin got a late start at his apprenticeship because of the Vong War." She took a sip of her wine and then asked, "So, when's the wedding?"

"Valin didn't say, except that it will be on Zonoma Sekot and his dad will officiate."

After they finished the desserts, Kyp stood up and walked to the entertainment unit. There he took a moment to find a music chip he wanted and put it into a reader. As he made his way back across the room the sultry strains of a contemporary musical group filled the air. Kyp held out his hand to her while raising an eyebrow and asked, "May I have this dance, Goddess?"

She looked at him with reservation, "I'm not very good at his kind of dancing."

"I've seen you dance, you are too."

"Only Alderaanian waltzes and such." She stepped into his arms and grinned, "They don't play much of this kind of music," she tilted her head towards the entertainment center, "at State Dinners and Hapan Royal Weddings."

"That's true." He led her into the middle of the space between the table and the living room furniture and began to move to the music while holding her very close. As the music sped up to its climax he spun her into a low dip that took her breath away. After three similar pieces, the next was a slow seductive ballade. Kyp held her close and knew as he felt her heart race against his chest she was lost in the song.
The music stopped and before the next could start, Kyp used the Force to turn the reader off. Jaina lifted her head off his chest and looked up at him. The look of love in her brandy eyes nearly melted him. And he smiled and huskily said, "I have yet one more surprise for you, Goddess." He then moved away from her and headed toward the bedroom. She moved to the couch and sat down. He returned and sat down beside her, handing her a small black jewelry box tied with a silver sateen ribbon.

She looked up at him expectantly and he said before she could ask, "You will never know how you made me feel last night when you said yes to my proposal of marriage. I wanted to give you something the shows you, at least in some small way, what you mean to me. No amount of credits or the largest gem could ever compare, but—" he swallowed the lump in his throat and went on his green eyes glazed with emotion. "I had this made for you today to symbolize our promise."

Jaina's hand trembled as she took the box from him and she gasped after opening it. On the black velvet interior laid a necklace depicting two crossed amethyst lightsabers. She picked up the delicate necklace and watched as the light played off the crushed stones that made up the blades and the diamond in the center. The hilts were silver and an elegant "J" was on one with "K" on the other. Even the chain was a beautiful intertwined work of silver links. She turned her gaze to him and stammered her voice low, "Oh, Kyp, it's beautiful." She reached over and hugged him placing a gentle kiss on his lips. Before he could deepen it she pulled away to look at it again.

"I thought you'd like it," he said as he rested his elbow on the back of the couch and rested his head against his hand. He watched her as she turned the sabers over in her hand. He went on to say, "I wanted something that represents us and our special bond as Jedi." She looked up at him. "The diamond in the middle stands for love, longevity and strength. The chain represents how our lives are interwoven."

She stared at him agape and finally said, "Kyp, that's beautiful." Then a delighted smile lit up her face, "You are such a romantic."

He couldn't keep the slight blush from his cheeks. "Well, I didn't think that all up myself, I have to admit. The artist at the store took my ideas and created this."

She could only stare at him then abruptly she handed him the necklace and turned around. She lifted her hair and he gently put the chain around her slender neck. He clasped it and was pleased at the shudder the touch of his fingers as they brushed her skin caused to run through her. He bent and replaced his fingers with his lips. He peppered kisses from her nape to her ear, and then whispered causing her to shiver again, "I love you, Goddess."

She moaned and turned while he drew her closer. Their lips met in a passion filled kiss that left them both breathless. Kyp stood taking Jaina with him and carried her to the bedroom. He laid her on the bed. Then he bent over her and as he gazed into her deep brandy eyes he whispered, "Well, Goddess, did I succeed? Did your mortal knight sweep you off your feet?"

A tear escaped her eyes while she smiled so beautifully Kyp thought he'd melt. Her answer was a choked emotion filled, "Yes."