Chapter 23

"Master Durron? Is there anything else that I can help you with?"

Kyp turned his attention back to the elderly valet, "No, thank you, Phizel. You may go."

The servant bowed at the waist and left.

Moments later there was a soft knock on the old wood hinge styled door. "Come in." Kyp turned grinning at the nervous presence he felt opening the door.

Han Solo, dressed similarly to Kyp stepped into the large bed chamber. He smiled at Kyp upon seeing him. "Well, Kid, you look a site."

Kyp's grin broadened and he replied, "I'm not sure how I should take that."

Han's chuckled and slapped Kyp on the shoulder, "Let's just say you'll knock her out." He winked at him and then he looked around the bedroom Kyp had slept in for the past two weeks. Finally, he looked back at Kyp and asked, "You nervous?"

"Of course, I am," Kyp snickered as he added, "Especially, when the bride's father shows up in my room."

Han laughed and patted Kyp on his shoulder again. He then turned and walked over to the large windows on the opposite wall of the room where two large overstuffed chairs were positioned with a low table between. He sat down and said, "Well, that is a good thing because I'm here to give you some fatherly advice."

Kyp followed Han to the chairs and sat in the one opposite him. He grinned as he asked, "And what might that be?"

Han looked at Kyp and sighed then turned away as he looked out the window, which looked out over the South Lawn and Tenel Ka's Jungle Garden. "I remember my wedding day like it was yesterday and yet it sometimes feels like a million years ago. If Chewy hadn't been there, I'd been all alone. Luke was to be my best man but got caught up in some mix up with the taxi driver and didn't show up until Leia and I were saying our vows." He paused and looked back at Kyp who was just staring at the older man. Kyp expected Han to continue with the gentle teasing and joking that had been the norm for them when it came to anything personal concerning Jaina not become so serious. Then Han said, "I wished for one of the few times in my life that I would have had my father there. Even if I really did not know him.

"Kid—," Han's voice seemed a little deeper with an emotion Kyp couldn't even begin to fathom. "Kyp, I know things haven't been easy for you these past several months but I want you to know I'm here for you."

Kyp looked away, leaned over and rested his elbows on his knees as he studied his hands he quietly said, "Han, I—um—I don't know how much Jaina has shared with you about my recovery." Then Kyp turned and looked at Han, "But I need to apologize."

Han searched the younger man's eyes, "What for? I know some things but—" He let his voice trail off.

Kyp turned his attention back to his hands and rubbed them together, "I broke my promise to you, Leia, Luke and Mara, kriff even to myself. But most of all I broke my promise to Jaina." Kyp looked back at the man who had for many years been like a father to him and one of his closest friends, and in less then hour would become his father-in-law. "I promised that I'd never intentionally hurt her, and yet for every day for over a month I did exactly that."

"Kyp, that wasn't your fault. You were—"

Kyp's slow head shake stopped any further comment from Han, "No, Han, I said terrible things to her. I told her that I didn't need her love and that she would be better off with someone else. I—" Kyp paused for a moment and swallowed the lump in his throat, "I told her that she would only end up hating me because I couldn't satisfy her or be the man she needed or wanted. That she would only want to leave me like she left Jag and Zekk." Kyp turned and gazed at Han, when he didn't see any or feel any surprise in him, Kyp straightened and said somewhat defensively, "I guess she has told you more than I thought she would."

Han frowned and held Kyp's gaze, "Only I know certain things, Kyp, not even Leia. Jaina needed someone to talk to. She needed advice and someone to lean on when things between you two got really rough." Han paused and shook his head, "Kyp, she loves you so much I'm actually afraid of what would have happened to her if you would have died." Then he gently added, "It took you to bring her back when Anakin died, but if you were gone, she would have surely fallen completely to the Dark Side with no one to save her, no matter what Jacen says about it."

Kyp stared at the older man; his momentary annoyance at Jaina's divulging such private things quickly drained away, "You are probably right about Jaina." He paused again and looked out the window, "I was so afraid that I couldn't be the man she wanted me to be or needed me to be. I was afraid that I'd never get back what I lost. I didn't want to hurt her any more than she already was. I thought if she left me now she wouldn't waste her life on me, causing her more pain later." He looked back at Han and finished by saying, "I ended up hurting her anyway."

After a moment, Han took a deep breath and solemnly said, "I think the only reason I'm not extremely furious with you is because I would have done the same thing if it had been me." Kyp's look of surprise caused Han to give him a slight smile, "Kid, you and I aren't that different in so many ways. You do know that, don't you?" Han didn't let Kyp answer but went on to say, "I also know that you love my daughter and it was because of that love that you felt you needed to protect her from something you thought would cause her deeper pain."

Kyp nodded and replied, smiling, "Han, I love Jaina more now then I ever thought possible. I wonder what I would have become if she would have walked away. She never gave up faith in me or in the Force."

Han reached over and gripped Kyp's forearm. "Kyp, I—um—I'm proud of you, Son."

Kyp reached over and laid his hand on top of Han's. "Thanks," was all he could choke out.

A knock on the door ended the emotionally awkward moment. The knock was followed by Jacen peeking around the door when there was no response, "Kyp?"

"Here," Kyp swallowed and stood.

"We're about ready," Jacen said as he walked in. He looked from Kyp to his father and smiled when he saw the solemn expressions on the two men, "What's he doing? Giving you the dos and don'ts of what you can and can't do with my sister?"

Han grinned, looked at Kyp with a meaningful look in his eyes and said, "Yeah, and he better never forget it. Or—"

Kyp nodded an understanding, chuckled and picked up the rest by saying, "I know, or I'll wish you left me on Kessel."

They all laughed and then Jacen said, "Dad, Mom wants you to meet her outside Jaina's room."

Han nodded and then turned back to Kyp. He didn't say anything he didn't have to, his eyes said it all. As much as Han accepted Kyp for Jaina, he was still taking his baby girl away.

X

Jaina turned at the soft knock at the old fashioned door, "Come in." She smiled at the feeling of apprehension she felt from her parents even through Leia's shielding. The door slowly opened and Han and Leia stepped through. Jaina added a gentle blush to the bright smile at their reactions upon seeing her.

Leia gasped and stepped across the room to where Jaina was standing before the full length mirror in the large bed chamber she occupied since her arrival on Hapes two weeks ago. She finally reached out and grabbed Jaina's hands holding them she stared at her daughter. After a moment of staring at Jaina, tears welled up in the corners of Leia's beautiful brown eyes. She quietly said in an unnaturally shaky voice, "You are absolutely breathtaking, Jaina." Then she hugged Jaina in a tight embrace.

Han's reaction was open-mouthed speechlessness. As Leia let Jaina go and moved away, she looked at her father and asked softly, "Daddy?"

That served to break the spell; Han swallowed hard and said in a small voice, "Wow." He shook his head and stepped over to her and after she hugged him he added, "Kyp Durron isn't going to know what hit him when he sees you."

Jaina's smile turned into a giggle, "That's the general idea."

Another knock at the door brought Jaina's sister-in-law, Tenel Ka and Allana, Jaina's two year old niece who would be the flower girl. The little princess let go of her mother's hand and immediately ran to Han squealing, "Granpee!" Han held out his arms and she in a blur of pale lavender and white shimmersilk leapt into them.

"Hey, Princess," Han gasped as the unexpected force of her hitting his chest nearly winded him.

"Allana!" Tenel Ka scolded, "You must behave yourself." The Queen then lifted her eyes to her father-in-law and the corners of her mouth raised ever so slightly in what constituted a smile for the reserved woman. Allana was proving to be her father's daughter when it came to toddler precociousness and mischievousness. And she absolutely loved her "Granpee" Han.

"Ah, she's okay, Tenel," Han laughed and proceeded to tickle the auburn haired, brown eyed little girl. "You really are a moneylizard, just like your father and aunt were." This only brought more giggles from her.

Leia watched with admiration then asked Tenel Ka, "Bail is napping, I assume." She was referring to her three month old grandson who Jacen surprised her with by naming him after her adopted father, Prince Bail Organa, First Chairman and Viceroy of Alderaan.

"Yes, he went down directly after his feeding," Tenel Ka responded and her smile broadened, Leia had been quite taken with her grandson, who she claimed looked just like Anakin did when he was a baby, light brown fussy hair and deep blue eyes.

The Queen and Princess were closely followed by Tahiri Horn, the other member of Jaina's bridal party. Both women were dressed in similarly designed gowns of amethyst. Tahiri's long wavy blond hair was pulled high and was held in place with sliver clips with the curls spilling over them. Her face was framed with long wispy curls. Tenel Ka's rich auburn hair was done in a delicate array of braids that were woven together, holding her crown of office in place.

Upon seeing Jaina, Tahiri gushed as she quickly hugged her friend, "Oh, Jaina, you are so beautiful."

"That is a fact, my friend," Tenel Ka added in way of agreement and then hugged her also.

Jaina looked from woman to woman and said, "You three are just as beautiful." She smiled, "That's not fair. I'm supposed to be the most beautiful today."

"What about me, Auntie Jaya?" Allana chirped from where she was sitting on her grandfather's lap. Han had seated himself near the window.

"Oh, you are just as beautiful." Jaina turned to her niece and leaned down to gently kiss her on the cheek. "I hope Uncle Kyp doesn't forget all about me and decide to marry you."

Han laughed, "Don't give the monkeylizard any ideas."

Leia shook her head and laughed. "Oh, I think your groom will only have eyes for you, trust me." Leia gracefully walked over and sat down on the other chair across from Han. She smoothed the skirt of the simple Alderaanian styled gown of the palest green shimmersilk which contrasted nicely with the attendants. Jaina couldn't help but smile when she saw her father watch her mother as she moved his eyes tinkling.

"He'd better," Jaina's smile turned mischievous, "if he knows what's good for him."

That brought laughter from everyone which Jacen interrupted by knocking and peeking in around the door. "We're all ready, ladies." He smiled at his sister and the others then he gently kissed Jaina on the cheek. He said as Tenel Ka moved beside him and he put his arm around Tenel Ka's waist, "Jaya, you look wonderful."

Han chuckled as Allana began to pull on his tie and said, "So, Jacen, you're the Prince of Hapes and besides making me a grandfather twice, it seems your only other function is messenger boy."

The women including usually reserved Tenel Ka laughed. She added at her husband's expense as he stepped over and rescued his father from the family monkylizard who nearly had Han's complicated tie undone, "That is a fact, my consort does make a very useful messenger boy."

Jacen shifted the auburn haired princess who possessed his eyes on his hip and locked gazes with his wife. He grinned lopsidedly and after a second Tenel Ka did something no one in the room had ever seen her do, she blushed an extremely bright shade of red.

Jacen snickered at his usually reticent wife, tickled his daughter and headed out the door.

Tenel Ka stammered, "Um—please excuse me." Then she quickly followed her husband out of the room.

The rest glanced at each other and they laughed. Leia quickly fixed the damage done to Han's tie after he stood and he said, "Well, that was interesting." He winced as his wife fussed longer than he thought was necessary, "I really hate when you guys do that." He was referring to the telepathic exchange that seemed to be the norm in the family of Force users except for him.

Jaina looked at her father and said through her laughter, "I think Dad, you will be glad you didn't hear that aloud."

"Why?" Han said as he brushed Leia's fussy hands away.

"Because, I think he just told Tenel that he prefers making you a grandfather than being a messenger boy."

Han and Leia just stared at her and Tahiri chuckled as she picked up the rose Jaina would be carrying. But it was Leia who responded, "Thanks, I really did not need to have your clarification. I'm not ready to be a grandmother again."