chimpo- Yep. I'm not too happy with Kyp at the moment either.

PrincessSkywalkerOrgana-I hope you get J and J back together again. Hmm. We can't make it too easy, now can we?

InsaneJediGirl- Thanks. I wonder who the mystery woman is...

Chapter 19

In the weeks since Wyn left, Valin Horn had grown rather sullen. He spent most of his time alone, practicing with his lightsaber. But today Wedge Antilles had come to his home at the Jedi Academy to discuss some things with his father Corran, and Wedge had brought his two daughters Syal and Myri along to spend some time with himself and his own sister Jysella.

The four were now currently seated on the grassy hill outside of the academy, watching little Ben Skywalker play with his infant sister. Myri and Jysella were sitting slightly off to the side and were giggling continuously in the ways of eleven and twelve year old girls. Valin sat beside Syal, but the two weren't talking much.

Valin had known Syal his entire life. She had always been like the girl next door to him and he liked her. She was smart, and funny, and pretty with her short blonde hair and blue eyes. What was strange about her though was the fact that for someone he knew so well, Syal seemed completely different to him now. She used to talk his ear off, but was now oddly quiet whenever he was around. Also when they were younger they would spend most of their time together rolling around outside or playing fighter pilots; now Syal always seemed too delicate somehow. She no longer wandered around in over-sized flight suits; instead she wore dresses and put on makeup. And the most surprising thing of all to Valin was that he kind of liked the change. It proved that they had grown up; that they weren't children any more.

Valin and Syal continued to sit in silence for another couple of minutes until he felt a presence coming near them. Turning his head slightly, Valin saw Tahiri walking up behind them. Tahiri Veila was another girl he had known most of his life. She had come to the old Jedi Academy on Yavin Four when he was only seven years old, but the only memories he had of her then were of a short, talkative girl who never seemed to stop moving. In many ways, despite what some people thought, Tahiri had stayed the same. She was still short, loud, and energetic, although not quite as wordy as in the old days.

"Hey there Val," she called to him as he looked at her over his shoulder. "What are you two doing?"

"Nothing much," he said, trying to hide the slight boredom from his voice.

"Want to spar then?" she asked while she unclipped her lightsaber from her belt.

Valin considered Tahiri's offer for a moment. She was seventeen and already a Knight. He knew that Tahiri could easily pick him apart in a fight, but he didn't want to look like a sissy by backing down in front of Syal. "Sure," he said before he could change his mind.

The two stood across from each other, their blades humming in the wind. Valin's blue sword contrasted strongly with the pale pink of Tahiri's newest weapon. They circled around each other for several seconds, neither making the first move.

As he rotated around with Tahiri, Valin caught sight of Syal out of the corner of his eye. She was watching him with a big grin on her face. "Come on, Valin!" she cheered.

Newly encouraged, Valin struck. Tahiri easily blocked his attack and countered with one of her own. The two held their ground against each other in several minutes of combat.

After nearly half an hour of sparring with neither faltering, the two began to grow tired. Trying to break his focus, Tahiri started to speak. "You know that Syal likes you, don't you."

Valin blocked two more swings before asking, "What are you talking about?"

Tahiri giggled a bit until she was almost hit by the blue blade. "Can't you tell? The girl is crazy about you."

"Shh, keep your voice down or she might hear you. And no, I haven't seen anything that would make me believe that Syal liked me like that."

"Well she does."

By now sweat was poring off of Valin. "How can you tell?"

"Women's intuition," Tahiri replied with a grin. "And by the way she stares at you when she thinks no one is looking. It's the same way I used to look at Anakin."

"You're crazy," was all Valin could manage before Tahiri knocked his feet out from under him and placed her blade up to his neck, acknowledging her win.

As Tahiri was giving Valin a hand up, they could hear someone walking up behind them clapping. Tahiri glanced over her shoulder and saw Jaina standing there with a small smile on her face.

"Nice work you guys," she said, her voice sounding oddly weak.

"Thanks," they both responded simultaneously.

"What are you doing up here, Jaina?" Tahiri questioned curiously. "Are you looking for Luke or Mara?"

"No, I was looking for you actually. I had some things I wanted to talk with you about."

Not one second after those words were out of Jaina's mouth, she doubled over and began throwing up violently.

"Jaina, are you okay?" Tahiri cried, the worry apparent in her voice.

Valin as well as his sister and the Antilles girls had all run up behind Jaina and were rubbing her back comfortingly. "What's wrong?" Myri questioned.

"Oh, nothing," Jaina said sarcastically as she sat down on the grassy hill. "I've never been better. I'm pregnant."

Hehehe. Am I evil, or what?