I just realized that it's been a week since I posted Chapter 7. So, update time!


Han woke from the luxurious throes of slumber to his comm vibrating and buzzing on the nightstand, casting a faint and yellow notifying light. He was about to sit up when he remembered Leia lying asleep on top of him, her head resting on his chest. Han held her head there so she wouldn't move while he reached a hand to his side, grabbing for the comm. "Hello? he grumbled, making it clear that he had been awoken and he was not happy about it.

"Han, I need you and Leia in the Council room right now," his brother-in-law responded with his usual calm.

"Mm, okay, but we're not ready."

"You're not- what? Why not? What are you doing?"

On cue, Leia stirred on Han's chest, stretching her legs as she woke. "Well, we were sleeping."

"You sure were sleeping in late."

"Well, we got a late start."

"Nevermind. I don't need to hear anymore. Can you and Leia just head over here? We've got to do some damage control."

"What's up?"

"Someone happened to find Anakin's room in the medward."

"What?!"

"Jedi Knights Dorvald and Quee happened to stumble upon Anakin's room when they were looking for Master Cilghal yesterday. The Order thinks it's some kind of conspiracy and the Council is going absurd."

"Kriff! We're coming."

Han got up quickly and Leia nearly fell off the bed. "Han?"

"I hate to wake you but it's time to get up, sweetheart."

She groaned, twisting her body in the blankets. "I thought we'd decided to ignore everyone's calls this week. We're playing the grief card, remember?"

"Yeah, but I was just reminded why we can never do that. Luke needs us."

"Luke always needs us. Did you remind him that he has a son? Kids are great for this kind of stuff."

"Unless you want Ben trying to explain to the entire Jedi Order why Seha and Danni saw Anakin's body in the medward, I would rethink that."

That jarred Leia's attention and she sprang out of bed, tossing the blankets off to the side. "Is he okay?"

"Sweetheart, I'm sure he's fine. Right now, we gotta' worry about performing some damage control."


"But how can you be positive it was Anakin Solo? You said that you both hurried out of the room. Did you reach into the Force to analyze whatever you were seeing?"

"Well, no, Master, but-"

"And how much did he really look like Anakin? Did he look exactly the same?"

Danni Quee was fighting the urge to glare daggers at Master Durron as he fired this obvious question like she and Seha didn't know what had happened. None of the other Council Masters were objecting, so Danni answered,"No, he did not appear identical to the late Anakin. But he looked just like him. Say, he looked like how I might imagine how Anakin would appear now were he not dead. I wouldn't say he was any taller. He had the same hair color, that mix between blonde and brunette. And he had a few months' worth of a beard and mustache. Lastly, I do remember seeing that his side was bandaged." Danni wrapped a hand just above her hip to illustrate. "The blanket was pulled down so that I could see. If you will remember, Master, I believe you even saw Anakin's body at his funeral on Hapes. He died of an amphistaff wound to the side."

"What is this?" Jaina muttered to her parents as they cautiously entered the large room. "A trial?" She stepped forward, nearly to the center of the room where Danni stood. At once, all but Corran Horn and Kyp Durron added to the room's growing discomfort via the Force. Danni swallowed but didn't step back.

"My little brother didn't die of that amphistaff wound, by the way. He had several other injuries and was running on the very last ounces of energy and life that he had. It was a combination of his injuries and the pure Force energy he was emitting." She turned on her heel to face Durron. "Now, Master, just what is this?"

"Jedi Quee? Care to explain?"

The poor woman looked so frightened and sick with the Solos now in the room. Nevertheless, she took in a shaky breath and insisted, "I can't explain myself any further but I still stand by my word. I can't simply brush away what I saw."

From the other far side of the room, Master Hamner stepped forward, his arms firmly crossed over his chest. "Captain and Jedi Solos, what do you make of this? Dorvald and Quee claim-"

Luke raised a hand and, begrudgingly, the other Jedi silenced himself, stepping back. "I am sure that the Jedi Solos and Han have been made aware of the situation. Would you like to speak or not?"

A pregnant, unbearable silence came into being from one end of the conference room to the other. The Council Masters waited, their faces bearing more anxiety than a Jedi Master ought to. Corran's nervousness was palpable and he did little to hide it, watching Han and Leia and earnestly trying to offer them feelings of support. Kyp was impassive, seemingly unperturbed by the room's tension, his gaze flicking between Jaina and her parents. Luke was Luke, the calm, collected, levelheaded Grand Master. Leia drew heavily upon him for support and he happily provided.

Leia, who held onto her husband's arm like a life raft, looked up to meet his gaze and they remained still and silent in their own moment for a while, blocking out everyone else around them. Then, Han gave a subtle nod and, together, they took Danni's place in the center of the room. "Han and I have been made aware of this rumor- and we've come to put everyone's confusion to rest. . . . . We aren't sure how it happened or even what happened, but after Darth Caedus died . . . we found our younger son's body there. He was alive. Anakin is alive."

The discomfort did not necessarily break with this revelation. Rather, the Masters didn't know how to respond and turned their disoriented expressions on each other. Nor did either Danni or Seha seem victorious but just as shocked as the rest.

Cilghal joined the Solos where they stood and began to address the crowd. "I have spent the last week working to come up with an idea to explain this but even I am lost. Perhaps, with this confirmation, the Council would like to help me?"

"Whoa, slow down, Master." Katarn held up a hand. "If Captain and Jedi Solo don't mind, do you think we could see the body for ourselves?"

Leia shrugged and nodded. "Of course."

Cilghal commend Tekli and the Chadra'Fan moved Anakin behind a viewing pane in the medward. The Council gathered on the other side, watching in awe as Tekli brought up Anakin's vitals to a large display and showed them his beating heart and comatose, even breaths. A collective gasp sounded in synchronization. From the other end of the group, Luke looked to his sister, caught her eye and smiled. Leia returned his relieved beam just as she sensed a serene presence discreetly join the gathered group, sneaking up from behind her and Han. Leia looked just past her shoulder to see Tahiri. "Hi, Tahiri. What are you doing here? Are you sure you want to see this?"

The blonde woman frowned at her. "What are you talking about? Of course, I'm fine. I- I've already seen him. Did Jaina not tell you?"

Leia and Han swung their gazes to their daughter who merely smirked. "I thought you deserved your quiet moment alone," she told Tahiri. "I felt bad for interrupting it."

Tahiri shook her head. "It's fine, you're fine. I got my moment."

"And?" Leia probed gently. "How do you feel?"

Tahiri could only shake her head.

"You're alright, kid," Han soothed, patting her back. "We've got ya'."

She smiled lightly.

"So, no one has any idea how this happened?" Hamner broke the silence, slowly turning to face the group. "He just- appeared?"

"I have no definitive explanation to what happened," Cilghal said, "but I've started to think that we might have Caedus to thank."

Leia and Han shifted uncomfortably.

"Flow walking. Of course!"

Cilghal's bulbous eyes bulged even more as her gaze fell to Kyp. "Master Durron, how did you come up with that? I only just came up with this theory."

"Well, I apologize, Master Cilghal, but I just thought it was kind of obvious. What else could explain this?"

"Alright, then why don't you explain it to the Council."

Kyo actually laughed. "No, I'm sorry, Master. I believe this is your area of expertise."

Cilghal seemed to be growing flustered by this interruption, but she pushed it away and continued. "I considered that it must have to be related to something happening in the biodisposal room where Anakin's body appeared and that was also where Jedi Solo and Darth Caedus were dueling. I spoke with Jaina and she explained to me how the duel had stopped, replaced by a windstorm." She looked to Jaina for confirmation.

"The best way I can explain it, it was a maelstrom. There was this wind that took over. When it ended, Anakin was lying there and Caedus was gone. But I felt him die."

"You're proposing that Caedus used flow walking while Jaina was trying to kill him and brought Anakin back to life on purpose?" Kam Solusar asked this and he looked flabbergasted.

Kyp shook his head. "Caedus certainly didn't do this on purpose. I would have to guess that he was attempting some sort of technique to appear like Anakin by connecting with him in the past. This would have been in order to vex Jaina, distract her, then deliver the final blow. Unfortunately for Caedus, his little trick failed. Instead of connecting with Anakin, he switched their places, transporting Anakin to our present and causing himself to die in Anakin's place on Myrkr."

"You sure sound like you've thought about this," Leia spoke up.

Kyp didn't respond with as much shock as Leia had been hoping for. Still, he hesitated, cocking a brow at her. "Well, what Cilghal is saying just makes sense."

"Right."
Hamner sighed. "I just wish we knew more about flow-walking to understand half of what Caedus was trying to accomplish with it. The more we hear about this technique, the more uneasy I feel. Where did he learn about it? What all was he trying to do with it? Is there anyone else he may have shared his knowledge of the technique with?"
"It's no fighting technique," Tahiri spoke up, surprising Leia. Immediately, all eyes settled on her, wide and expectant. "I can tell you that much. It's not meant to be a battle technique. It's a torment technique. I don't know the answers to all your questions- I don't even know exactly how Caedus brought Anakin back. I suppose Masters Cilghal and Durron's theory makes sense. I can share my experiences of the technique, however."
Saba looked at her carefully, her scales rippling with empathy. "Your experience?"
She shifted uncomfortably. "I'd rather not share in front of this entire group."
Luke waved a hand, dismissing the discussion. "Jedi-er, Miss Veila has already shared some of that with me. None of that if the Council's business. Master Cilghal, do you have anything else to share with us?"

"Unfortunately, that is all I have to present. Now, if you don't all mind," Cilghal said and pushed her way to the viewing room's door. "It's time I tend to this patient." She disappeared inside and the group slowly broke up. They all passed the Solos and Tahiri. Corran nodded to them, then squeezed Tahiri's shoulder before he left. With wet eyes, the Solusars offered their support, hugging Han and Leia. "How wonderful! You both must be so thankful," was passed along in several forms before nearly the whole Council had given their hugs and slowly drained down the hall. Kyp was the last to go and Leia hurried to chase him and grab his collar before he went anywhere. She suddenly burst, "Kyp, how did you already know?"

"Pardon? Leia, you're choking me!"

Leia let go and the man nearly collapsed to the floor. "How did you already know about Anakin? We certainly didn't tell you!"

"You think I knew about this? Thought the idea had just casually occurred to me?"

"Don't lie to me! How did you know?"

"Mom." Jaina spoke firmly but her touch was gentle as she started to steer her down the hall. "Come on. We haven't had breakfast yet."


"Why don't I get to come?"
Leia smoothed back her granddaughter's black-dyed hair and left a kiss there before she passed. Allana had been living with her and Han for just about two weeks now, and Leia couldn't get over it. She and Han had a granddaughter and they'd known about her for only a mere few months. She was already five. The moment that Leia had come to realize who the Hapan princess was in relation to her and Han, the girl had become as precious to her as her own children had. It amazed her that this adorable little girl was her son's daughter, making her a grandmother. Of course, at her age and Jaina's and Jacen's, she'd begun to wonder when either of her grown children would start to consider their own futures with a family and which twin would be the first to give their parents a grandchild. In all honesty, Leia had long thought- before he died- that Anakin would. But her elder son had snuck this huge detail to his life under her nose and the reveal had been whipped out from under her feet. Nevertheless, Leia had been overjoyed when Allana had verbally connected the dots for her. You're Jacen's mommy. He's my daddy.

The transition was smoother than Leia had predicted. She had no problem accustoming herself to the role of a grandmother- it was all just natural. Acting as a mother was even easier if albeit just a little rusty. To Leia, it felt like finding an old dress in her closet, putting it on and finding it still fits after so many years. She loved being a mother, and she loved having the time to be Allana's, but her heart ached for Tenel Ka who had risked everything to give her daughter's life a chance and was willing to be separated from her for that chance. It was something Leia understood all too well, though it felt strange to be standing on the other side of that wall. Now she and Han were Allana's caretakers.

"Sweetie, we would love to bring you with but we're not so sure that's a great idea," Leia began carefully. "He won't know who you are and we don't want to overwhelm him."

"When he wakes up, though, I promise you'll get to see him soon after we do," Han promised her. He took her empty plate from the table and handed her a napkin. "I'm sure he'll be really excited to meet you, kid." Allana smiled, satisfied with her grandfather's response. "Now, why don't you get washed up before we turn on Perre Needmo for the night."

Allana's face brightened and she jumped out of her chair. "Are you going to make hot chocolate for us again?"

"Sure thing, kid. But you better hurry up." Giggling, the small girl hurried off.


"You like it, don't you?" Jaina asked her parents with a smile as she helped them clean up the table from dinner. "Being parents again."

Leia frowned. "I miss when you were that little. It went by too quickly and we didn't get to enjoy enough of it."

Jaina shrugged, letting her mother take her into a hug. She'd noticed that her mother's displays of affection in the forms of hugging and kissing her had grown much more frequent since her Caedus's death. In two weeks, Jaina had received more hugs and cheek kisses from her mother than she had all her life, she was sure. Her father seemed to be noticing too. Jaina didn't mind; in fact she cherished it and gave all the love she had into each hug. Sometimes, she tried to remember to offer a hug or kiss her mother's cheek before Leia could. She'd managed this three times in the last two days.

"We've already missed five years with her," her father said with just a little bitterness seeping into his tone. He took a stack of plates from Leia, telling her, "I'm going to go wash these. I've got some dishes to catch up on."

She nodded, taking a dish rag and wiping down the dining table.

"Mom," Jaina swallowed. She braced her arms against the table, the end opposite where Leia was working. "There's something I need to talk to you about. It has to do with today's meeting."

Leia paused her work, surprised only due to her daughter's tone. "Okay," she said, "Is everything alright? Do you need me to call Dad out-?"

"No!" Jaina answered too quickly. She calmed herself with a long breath. "I wanted to talk to you first. I thought things might go better this way." Leia said no more, just nodded slowly, waiting for her to continue. "I needed to tell you that- I broke up with Jag."

Leia froze.

"For good."

It was a few seconds before she even blinked. She set down her wash cloth and turned to face her daughter, regulating how much of her surprise showed on her face. "For good? What happened, sweetie? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Really, it happened quickly and it's done. I'm okay."

"When did it happen? What happened?"

"I broke up with Jag shortly before I left for Mandalore."

Leia's face was overtaken by another sweep of shock. "That long already?"

"He wasn't really supporting me. He didn't understand what I was going through, what I was about to do and that I needed his support for it. He had no idea what I was going through and he couldn't support me through any of it. It made everything that was happening ten times worse. I couldn't tolerate that for much longer."

"So you broke up again."

"Yes, again. This time, though, I'm not going back."

Jaina didn't miss the relief that swept through her mother. Turned away, Jaina cracked a smile. She took the rag from Leia and wiped at her own chair. "I also started another relationship."

"Oh, honey. Take it easy! Give yourself a break! You deserve to-"

"I know, Mom. I wasn't planning on any of it, but it all just happened. I-" she sighed. "A small part of the reason I broke up with Jag was also to start this new relationship. He made me realize that I could have a lot better than what Jag offering me. He gave me the support that I needed. He still is."

Leia looked up slowly as the whole puzzle slid together. Jaina recognized the understanding as it came over her and she realized exactly what had happened, what Jaina had done. "You told Kyp."
Jaina only nodded.

Her mouth fell open slowly as though she were just looking for the words to say but then realized that she had none. Jaina waited a long moment, gauging her reaction in her facial expression, waiting for the next word. There was none.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, but you and Dad were both so distracted by what had happened to Jacen and it took you a long time to accept that he was actually gone. And then we found out that he killed Aunt Mara and I was trying to figure my own things out and I just didn't think it was a good time to throw that on you and Dad. I wasn't sure how either of you would take it, if it would upset you or . . ."

Leia broke enough out of her shock to quip, "Well, I like him more than Jagged."

Jaina laughed boisterously. "I do too."

"Just give me a minute to recollect myself," she further joked, but quickly turned serious. "How long have you been together with him?"

"We got together after I broke up with Jag and before I left for Mandalore. We stayed in contact while I was away. So, we've been in a relationship for a couple months already."

"But Jag has still been- around. He was there when we were getting you off the Anakin."

"We agreed to keep up the public image until Jag can tell his family. He commend me just yesterday- he's heading for Csilla tomorrow. By next week, everything will be done. It won't be a huge fanfare announcement on the HoloNet. We'll just stop showing up at things together and people will eventually get the hint. Now, it's just- me and Kyp."

"You," Leia muttered, "and Kyp."

"Mom, please actually say something. What do you think?"

"What does it matter what I think? You're a grown woman. I couldn't have stopped you from seeing Jag even though I wanted to. I can tell you what I think, but it matters more what you think, how you feel."

"Just tell me what you're thinking."

"I'm thinking that I'm very surprised. This seems to be coming from out of the blue."

"It is, but it's no less genuine."

"Tell me what you think. How did this start?"

"He'd heard from Katarn that I wanted to find Fett, he told me. He came to me to talk, asked me how I was. It was just a conversation- until Jag and I talked it over a second time and I noticed all the differences in talking to him and talking to Kyp." She gave a laughing smile, busying her hands with the edge of a chair. "It's canny how well Kyp understands. Everything that I'm going through, that I was preparing to do, Kyp- it was the story of his life. He understood how I felt, how I needed him to treat me, talk to me, what I needed. And he could be anything I needed at any given moment. It felt better when I talked to him. The pain, the anxiety, the fear, he could turn it down for me. He could relax me. He reminded me that he knew exactly what I was dealing with. That's what I need."

"And how do you know that's what you will need tomorrow or the next day or the day after?"

"Because someone who understands me like Kyp does will always be what I need."

Leia looked at her daughter with an approving smile, like her question required a specific answer and Jaina had given the right one. "You're going to have to tell your father about this." Jaina made a face to which her mother laughed. "You might be surprised how he reacts. He'll probably take you out for frozen cream like you're a kid again just for breaking up with Jag."

Jaina smiled amusedly.

"I just have one more thing to ask you. You told him about Anakin how long ago?"

"As soon as we got back."

"You haven't told him about Allana, have you?"

"If he knows, then he actually figured it out for himself."

"Thank you!" Leia gave her a kiss this time, pressing it quickly to Jaina's temple before she hurried off to kitchen. Jaina still felt the emanating waves of relief she'd left behind- and with it, a sense of joy that her mother felt for her. She was surprised but smiled at the unexpected, reassuring herself with it.


You need to help Tekli. I'll be along.

Soon then.

Kiss Tahiri for me.

He tossed the grenade, pushed it closer, closer.

I can't hold on any longer-

Then, seconds later-

Like rising from a deep, unearthed grave, he came to. Light beamed brightly where darkness felt like it had been eternal. Sounds and feelings returned to existence. The beeps of monitors, a steady, rhythmic pulse, a heartbeat. A soft cloth enveloping, light and warm. Muffled speaking in relaxed tones nearby.

Anakin Solo woke up.


AN: Please don't leave me! I'm begging you! I'm a shameless Jyp shipper- I can't help it! Look, I've tried writing J/J before and I can't. I just can't. I hate Jag so much, I just can't write him. This won't be an essential part of the plot either, Anakin will always be the main focus, so please don't leave me over this!