Disclaimer: I own nothing! Star Wars belongs to George Lucas. Now, if you excuse me, I think I'm going to go cry over the fact I just stated.

Chapter Eight: Talking

As soon as Jaina walked into the door, Zekk was up in a flash and had her locked into a tight embrace. He was muttering something that sounded like "Sith you, Jaina". He pulled back for a second and gave her a stern look. "If you ever block me again then –"

He let the threat hang in the air and instead pulled Jaina into another bone-crushing hug. She grunted and muttered, "Zekk, I can't breathe."

Zekk immediately pulled away, a blush creeping onto his face. "Sorry, Jaina, I uhh…" Crap, of all the times to become tongue-tied.

"Don't worry about it, Zekk. I need to –"

"You don't need to do anything. You're going to sit and tell me what the kriff happened on that mission now."

"Zekk, I don't want –"

"Fine, then, take a quick rest, but when you get up we're talking." Almost instantly Jaina headed towards the hallway. He called to her retreating form, "And don't even think about sneaking out!"

XaXaXaXa-

(Random hotel suite, with Jacen and Tenel Ka)

"Tenel?" Jacen walked into the room where his wife-to-be was reading a report sent from Hapes.

"Yes, Jacen?"

"Did we ask Jaina and Zekk what we wanted to ask them?" Jacen plopped down on the couch next to her and rested his head in her lap.

"I do not believe we did." She glanced down at him and gave a slight smile. "Should we comm them and ask?"

"Naw, let's go over instead. Jaina's back, which you know, no doubt, so there shouldn't be much of a problem with us stopping by. What do you think?"

"I do not know. Friend Jaina and friend Zekk might not appreciate us coming by unannounced."

Jacen waved a dismissive hand. "They aren't together, so there isn't anything we can walk in on. I'm sure they won't mind."

Tenel Ka nodded her consent after a moments thought. Jacen grinned and leaned up to give her a quick kiss. He got up and went to search for his shoes.

XaXaXaXa-

(Jaina's apartment, a bit later)

Jaina and Zekk were fighting over the remote – literally. Jaina had Zekk pinned and was reaching for the device as he held it out right when Jacen and Tenel Ka walked in. Jacen stared openly while Tenel Ka averted her gaze.

Zekk and Jaina looked at each other for a moment and realized the slightly compromising position they were in. They blushed a bright shade of red. Jaina got off of him half a second later. Tenel Ka had a hint of amusement in her grey eyes when she looked back at them. Jacen was still openly gaping, his mouth in the shape of an 'o'. He snapped out of it a few seconds later. "I thought you said you weren't together!"

They went an even brighter shade of red.

"We aren't, Jace," Jaina said quickly - suspiciously quick, if you asked Jacen. "You just caught us at a bad time. We were fighting over the remote."

Jacen gave her a disbelieving look. Then herolled his eyes and looked at them. "Did youguys fight in here or something?"

Feathers and empty pillow cases were strewn about the room. A few cushions from the couch and chairs were all over the room. Speaking of chairs, one had been tipped over by mysterious circumstances.

Somehow, the offending adults went an even brighter shade of red. Zekk coughed and looked at the ceiling while saying, "We had a pillow fight."

"Really? I couldn't tell." Jacen surveyed the wreckage once more. "That had to be one wild fight. Wait a minute, why in Coruscant were you having a pillow fight?"

Jaina and Zekk stood in thought for a moment before shrugging. In unison, they said, "We don't really know. Spur of the moment?"

"Blaster bolts,and I thought I was an idiot at times," Jacen stated.

Jaina snorted and muttered, "Funny, I thought you were an idiot all of the time."

Jacen didn't notice and walked in the room, righted the chair before sitting down in it. Tenel Ka also walked in and sat down next to Jacen.

"Jacen, is there a reason for your intrusion in our private life?" Jaina asked as she perched on the arm of the couch. Zekk put the cushions back onto the couch before sitting down.

Tenel Ka gave Jacen a slightly triumphant look. "We are sorry friend Jaina, friend Zekk, but we have something to ask you."

"Ask away," Zekk said waving his hand.

"Will you guys be a part of our wedding?" Jacen blurted out.

"Uhh… sure," Jaina answered. "Like a bridesmaid or something?"

"Actually, friend Jaina we wish for you to be Maid of Honor and friend Zekk to be Best Man," Tenel Ka corrected.

Zekk blinked in shock. He cocked his head in confusion and absently pulled a feather that somehow became lodged in his hair. "Umm. . . wow, Jace, are you sure you have the right guy?"

"Who else could it be? You've known me since forever!" Jacen exclaimed. His arms made a large sweeping motion to emphasize the forever.

"Jacen, you're exaggerating again," Jaina pointed out. "Tenel Ka, Jasa, I accept your offer."

Zekk still looked hesitant. Jacen frowned and started to list off all the reasons why Zekk should be his best man. "First, you'll know both the bride and groom well; secondly, you're responsible enough not to forget anything; thirdly, you won't get rip-roaring drunk at the reception; fourthly, you'll already know Jaina pretty well." He said this last part with a large, impish grin.

Zekk blushed slightly. Jaina poked him in the arm and he looked up. "Yeah, it's not like you don't know me, Zekk. C'mon, it might be fun. Besides, if I have to wear adress, I'm going to have to take someone down with me."

A small smile tugged at Zekk's mouth and he found himself nodding his consent. Jacen whooped and jumped up. "Great! Now, what do you guys have in your fridge?"

Jacen wondered off, leaving Tenel Ka with Jaina and Zekk. Tenel Ka gave the two a calculating look before nodding to herself. The other two were oblivious to this nod for they started arguing over the remote again. She smiled inwardly and called to Jacen through the Force. A couple seconds later, Jacen was back in the room – he had a couple mujas in his hand – looking at Tenel Ka questioningly.

She glanced towards the door and stood up. After saying goodbyes that went unnoticed, Jacen and Tenel Ka took leave. Outside, Jacen asked, "So why'd you want us to leave, Tenel?"

"Jacen, did you notice that friend Jaina and friend Zekk seemed closer?" Tenel Ka asked.

"Closer? They've always been close," Jacen pointed out. "Ever since we were little, Jay and Zekk seemed really close."

"Ah… aha, but you forget that the war has driven them apart. I believe that friend Jaina has had her feelings for friend Zekk reawakened. And friend Zekk has always had feelings for friend Jaina," Tenel Ka explained.

Jacen was quiet for a moment. Then, slowly, a lopsided grin that made him look remarkably like his father appeared on his face. He nodded to himself and then turned and stated to Tenel Ka, "And I'm going to push them together!"

Tenel Ka raised an eyebrow to him but didn't comment. It was so easy to manipulate him sometimes.

XaXaXaXa-

(Jaina's apartment . . . bah! Is itjust me or do these sound like broken records?)

Jaina smirked as she changed the channel. This smirk had to do with three things. One, she got the remote; two, Zekk was going to be part of the wedding torture; and three, up to this point she had managed to avoid talking about what happened on her mission. Of course, Jaina knew this couldn't go on forever. She was just waiting until she was summoned to give a briefing. Yeah, that was it! Her hesitation had nothing to do with the fact that every time she thought about it she feltan overwhelming sense of guilt and…

"You don't have to look so self-satisfied." She looked over and saw Zekk looking slightly disgruntled. He was frowning a bit and Jaina grinned at this. "It was only a kriffin' remote."

"You're such a baby, getting all upset over a little argument over the remote." Jaina flipped it to a different channel just to irk him a little more. The longer she kept his mind off talking about the mission the better. Even though bugging the heck out of him wasn't the smartest thing to do.

Zekk's eyes narrowed. He gave Jaina an appraising look before saying, "You better watch it, Solo. You don't know what you're getting into."

Jaina tapped the remote on her knee. "I think I do know what I'm doing, Zekk."

Suddenly, Jaina was pinned down on the couch by Zekk. She froze, staring up at him. Zekk smirked and reached for the remote. As luck would have it, at this exact moment, Kionne and Marin walked came in. Neither girl noticed their masters on the couch until they went over to the sitting area.

"Holy sith!" Kionne yelled.

"Holy Full Metal Alchemist!" Marin exclaimed.

The adults jumped and toppled off the couch. They somehow untangled themselves and stood up blushing.

Kionne grinned and shouted, "Master, you're back!"

This yell was accompanied by Kionne jumping on Jaina, causing her to fall into and knock over Zekk once again. Kionne had disentangled herself easily. Unfortunately, that didn't happen for Jaina and Zekk. When Zekk had attempted to get up the first time his head connected with Jaina's, making them both release a string of curses. A few colorful words later, Jaina became aware just how close Zekk's face was to her own. She blushed and tried to untangle herself. At the same time, Zekk tried to do the same. This resulted in the accidental connection of their mouths.

XaXaXaXa-

Zekk was stunned to say the least. How the kriff did he end up kissing Jaina? Oh yeah, the fluky contact of faces. How cliché. Oh well, might as well enjoy it. In the back of his mind, Zekk realized that the apprentices had left right after they bumped heads the first time. However, he didn't register this at the moment seeing as he was kinda busy. Slowly, Zekk started to pull away, remembering the fact that the apprentices could come back at any moment.

He felt his face heat up and glanced at Jaina. She was blinking in surprise with a slight blush creeping up her face. Zekk cleared his throat and Jaina looked at him. For a brief moment, Zekk thought he saw a loving expression in her eyes but it passed before he could decipher it. Jaina scrambled off of Zekk a few seconds later.

She gave him a slightly awkward smile before running off into the kitchen. Zekk pulled himself up onto the couch. What the Sith hadjust happened? Why, oh why was the Force so cruel? Did it really want him to go through another heartbreak with the same woman? A random and totally irrelevant thought crossed his mind. They still hadn't talked about what happened with her mission.

XaXaXaXa-

Dinner was a totally troublesome affair. Jaina and Zekk were fidgety and uncomfortable. Even Marin noticed that there was a problem. Kionne was looking worried and glanced back and forth between the two. They ate in silence, which was unusual to say the least. Afterwards, Jaina went into her office and Zekk left to go meditate.

Kionne and Marin looked at each other.

"Something's wrong," Kionne stated.

"Yeah, why were Jaina and Master Zekk so quiet?" Marin waved her hands around. "They didn't even react when I started to rave about Ed-kun!"

"Do you think anything happened after we left when they were swearing?" Kionne bit her lower lip. It had seemed a bit quiet for a few moments after they hadleft.

"Maybe they just had a misunderstanding?" Marin offered.

"I guess so, but wouldn't they still be bugging one another?"

"I'm sure this'll all pass over by morning." Marin nodded firmly. "Just you wait. When morning comes, everything will be back to normal." She got up and walked over and started to watch the holovision.

XaXaXaXa-

Zekk arrived back home around 2200. The apartment was as quiet as a tomb while Zekk – barefooted - crept around in the darkness. He didn't want to turn on a light, for fear of waking the sleeping person on the couch. As quietly as he could, Zekk made his way to his room. Sadly, fate wasn't on his side and Zekk ran into the wall, successfully managing to stub his toe. He cursed loudly, forgetting that there was another person.

Instantly, the silence was broken by the snap-hiss of a lightsaber and a ghostly violet light pierced the darkness that surrounded him. He could vaguely make out Jaina's features as she peered around, and her gaze finally locking on him.

"Uhh… hi?" Ooohhh, that was real smooth, Zekk. Why don't you just slap a large, flashing neon sign on your forehead that says, "I'm an idiot!"?

She sighed and extinguished her blade. "Zekk, what are you sneaking around for?"

There was a shuffling noise and then a flash of brightness. Spots appeared in front of his eyes as they adjusted to the sudden change in light. Jaina was sitting on the couch staring at the ceiling with a vacant look. He sat down next to her. She didn't acknowledge his presence any further than a nod. Silence reigned for a few moments until Zekk finally said, "Jaina, we need to talk."

She stiffened. "About?"

"The mission, what happened? I know you don't want to talk about it but –"

"No, it's okay, Zekk. I knew I couldn't keep you in the dark forever." Jaina shifted a bit but was still looking at the ceiling. "We were supposed to be infiltrating this planet's government and overthrowing it… I think. Everything was going fine and normal. Mystiran did most of the destroying on the outside while we covered for him and made sure no one noticed. Al and Dai supported us by sending viruses and causing almost everything electronic to malfunction. We thought it was going –"

"Who's this 'we' you keep mentioning?" Zekk asked.

"Carey Adair, Clare Ahearn, 'Ran, and me," Jaina answered. "Carey, Clare, and I found out what was important to them and relayed the information to 'Ran who either blew it up or did something to scare them. Somehow, they caught us. We were walking in the hall when it happened. Eighteen men jumped us. There wasn't much shelter. Clare went down first. Carey and I managed to shoot our way out of there, we brought Clare with us. Along the way, 'Ran caught up to us. A couple guys found him too. So we were pretty much being chased by these guys. We decided to double back and go to the place Mystiran had been trying to blow up before he had gotten caught.

"'Ran thought he had disabled the bomb, but it turns out he didn't. A piece of shrapnel lodged itself in his shoulder and he was badly burned when it blew. Carey suffered the brunt because he went in first. He got badly burnt and a rock knocked into his head. 'Ran carried Carey while I got to drag Clare. We stole a speeder and managed to escape the pursuit. Right as we got back to the ship, Carey died; he bled to death from a deep cut we hadn't noticed until we arrived at the base. And that's about it."

"That's it? Really? You didn't get hurt? At all?" Zekk was baffled. Something didn't seem exactly right with her explanation.

"I burned my right arm and got shot in the shoulder. It was nothing a bacta patch and healing trace couldn't handle."

"That's not what I meant. You seemed rather… I don't know, guilty feeling when your shields slipped."

"Wouldn't you feel guilty if you lost two of your pilots who you've trained and been with since the war? I was the one who caused their death because I asked them to come along."

"No you didn't. Unless you pulled the trigger or set off the bomb, you didn't do anything."

"Yes, I did. Carey was one my closest friends in the squadron, I heard him tell his wife that he would be coming back safely. Now, tell me, do you think I did anything?"

"No," Zekk stated firmly. He reached over and pulled her into a hug.

TBC-

Wait a minute… didn't I just post? Oh well, you guys are getting a double post… sort of. Hope you'll enjoy it! The kiss scene was done at the urging of my good friend, AgentJaid or Jaid Ziaen.