Thanks for everyone who has stuck around for this story. I am so sorry that it has taken me so long to update this, but life has been kind of crazy lately. I hope this chapter is worth the wait.

Chapter 31

Stirring awake from a deep sleep, Tahiri reached out with her Force presence. She felt something; something growing near. Sitting up in bed, she focused on that sense of anticipation, trying to figure out who or what was coming closer.

Cem. It popped into her head like a bolt of Force lightning. Cem and Wyn were heading this way along with the rest of the Fel family. But why?

Crawling out of bed, Tahiri walked over to her small comm station. Running her fingers through her hair once, she picked up the device and punched in the code that was still very familiar.

"Hello?" spoke a deep masculine voice from the other end.

A smile brightened her face as Tahiri answered quickly, "Hey, it's me."

"Tahiri? Is there any particular reason why you are calling me this early?"

Despite his rather standoffish comment, Tahiri could tell that Cem was excited to hear from her. "Sorry I woke you, but I felt your presence coming near."

"It's okay, I would've gotten up soon eventually," he said, but Tahiri could hear him yawn deeply. "Yeah, I'm coming back to Naboo with my family."

"Why?" Tahiri asked, becoming extremely curious.

"My mom and dad wanted to be here while Jaina's having her baby. And don't tell them that I told you this, but they're also thinking about moving out here."

"What!" Tahiri couldn't keep the shock out of her voice.

"I know, I was just as amazed. It seems that my parents are just fed up with everything in Imperial territory. They might just be ready to finally join up with the New Republic."

"That's great, Cem! I know Jag really misses you guys."

"Only Jag?" Their was a bit of a desperate plea in his voice.

"No, I'm sure Jaina does too." Tahiri felt bad about it as soon as the words left her mouth.

"Oh." Cem's disappointment was evident through the Force, but he didn't let on in his voice. "Well, tell them that we miss them as well and that we will be there soon."

"Sure thing."

The two said goodbye quickly and terminated the connection. Now even more awake than she was before that awkward conversation, Tahiri went ahead and dressed for the day. She had a feeling that it would be an interesting one.

The Fel family arrived on planet not long after the tense conversation between Cem and Tahiri. Although it was still rather early in the morning on Naboo, they decided that Jagged and Jaina would be excited to see them so they went on ahead to the newlyweds' home anyway.

Knocking firmly on the front door of the Fel residence, Soontir couldn't help but allow a small smile to grace his face. It had been a while since he had seen his oldest son, and the idea of a future grandchild suited him well.

The sound of a sudden loud pounding on the front door awoke the only resident of the small apartment. Jag had been soundly asleep on his living room couch, but the loud noise startled him so much that he ended up falling off of it.

His mind still foggy and confused from sleep, Jag stood up. He quickly glanced around his home and noted that it was in no condition to have company, no matter who they might be. Moldy food and dirty clothes were scattered everywhere, due to the lack of a woman's touch for so long.

As he walked towards the door dressed in only the bottom half of his military uniform in which he fell asleep in, Jag glanced over his shoulder at the one room in the apartment that was still somewhat presentable. The bedroom. Ever since Jaina left, he had avoided going in there if at all possible. That was why he had started to sleep on the couch; too many memories.

Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Jag palmed the door open. Glancing at the sight before him, he blinked. And blinked again. This couldn't be real. Why would his family be here?

"Well, aren't you going to invite us in?" asked his mother with a bright and charming smile.

Too baffled to think, Jag stepped away and watched as the group of four filed in to his messy home. He could tell by the looks on their faces that they were shocked by what they saw. This was not like him at all.

"So, where is Jaina?" Cem questioned carefully.

"Uh, she's not here," Jag mumbled. "Wait a minute, why are you guys here?"

"Don't sound so glad to see us, son," the older Fel spoke. "And we can tell that she isn't here. Just look at the place!"

"Now Soontir, be kind to the boy. Don't you remember what our home looked like when we first got married? Everything was a wreak!"

"Plus, with Jaina pregnant and all, I doubt she has had a lot of energy to help with the cleaning," Wyn chimed in.

Jag still was at a loss for words. "Once again I ask, why are all of you standing in my living room?"

"If I didn't know you better son, I would think that you weren't happy to see your family," his mother said with a bit of a hurt look in her eyes. "We came to see you and Jaina. We want to be here with you guys when she has her baby."

A deep sigh escaped Jag's lips as he collapsed back down onto the couch. "I'm afraid you won't be able to see her here."

Wyn walked over to her brother and sat down beside him. "What do you mean?"

"We…had a fight. She hasn't been living here lately."

"Oh, sweetheart. I'm so sorry." His mother wrapped her arms around in sympathetically in a way that she hadn't done since he was a child. "Where is she staying?"

"With her parents. I talked to her a few weeks ago, but things are still pretty rough."

"I'm sure everything will be better eventually. These things happen to young couples, but they almost always work themselves out."

Doubt it, he thought to himself. But instead of voicing his concerns, Jag plastered a smile on his face and said in a hopeful voice, "I'm sure they will."

Hidden by the shadows of the early morning hours, two Chiss stood outside of the Theed palace on Naboo. They had been sent there to follow the baron Fel and his family into rebel territory and to be sure that the family would soon return to the Empire. There had been whispers amongst the high court that the Fel's were entertaining the idea of moving into the Known Regions to be with their son, but these prospects were ludicrous. Surely the baron would know that he would not be allowed to just get up and leave like that. He was a vital member of the Imperial court!

No. There would be no staying in the Known Regions for the Fel family. They belonged to the Empire, and it was their job to make sure that Soontir Fel returned home no matter what.

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