CORUSCANT

FEBRUARY YEAR 1053

Jaina followed Kyp down the hallway silently, with Jag bringing up the rear, his familiar presence a soothing balm to her wounded soul. She flashed him a quick reassuring smile over her shoulder, trying to ease the guilt and concern she saw in his wary eyes. Her carefully crafted composure almost broke when he gave her a small smile back, one that didn't quite reach his haunted eyes. She knew every time he looked at her, he was reliving the terrible things Zekk had done to her. He blamed himself when he shouldn't, and she was terrified that this would forever change the dynamic of their relationship. On both sides.

Taking a deep breath, Jaina pushed her emotions down knowing she couldn't let them overwhelm her. Not now. They needed to get out of the palace, off Coruscant as soon as possible, and that had to be her only focus. She could deal with everything else later. When they were safe.

She pulled down the oversized hood of the cloak Jag and Kyp had found for her. It was imperative that they keep their identities hidden as long as possible, and she had been too small to fit into the stolen stormtrooper uniforms Kyp and Jag both wore.

Kyp suddenly stopped at a discreet door, before turning to Jaina and Jag.

"Alright, kids. This is our exit," Kyp said as he put on his helmet, nodding for Jag to do the same. "Remember, try to blend in and not draw too much attention."

Kyp opened the door and stepped out into utter chaos.

Jag's hand involuntarily tightened around Jaina's as they all took in their grim surroundings. The palace hallways that had been bustling with life mere hours ago were now deadly silent, littered with the bodies of fallen stormtroopers. Kyp and Jag both took off their helmets, taking a closer look.

For a moment, Jag worried that this had been the work of his rescuers, but quickly dismissed that thought when he saw the clear shock on Kyp's face.

"So I am guessing this wasn't part of the plan, then?" Jag asked laconically.

"No," the older man answered tersely.

Jag glanced down, taking in his wife's white face and hollow eyes. Following her gaze, he cursed as he noticed the dead weren't all troopers. A young woman clutched the hand of a small child, both of their faces frozen in a horrible death mask. Jag squeezed Jaina's hand and moved to block her from the horrendous view, once again feeling powerless to protect her. She had been through so much, seen unimaginable horrors. And it seemed that it wasn't over yet.

Jaina was one of the strongest women he knew, but one glance at her bloodless face terrified him and he knew he had to get her out of here.

"Kyp," Jag said sharply. "We need to get out of the Palace. Now."

"I agree," Kyp muttered, "I would just rather know what we are walking into beforehand."

Kyp sighed, gesturing for Jag and Jaina to follow him as he led them carefully down the silent hallway. Stepping over yet another fallen trooper, he flipped on his comm unit.

"This is Durron. Someone tell me what the hell is going on," Kyp growled, no longer concerned with discretion. There was no one still among the living to overhear them after all.

"Durron, thank the Force- we have been trying to reach you. Sir, you need to get out of the Palace. Now," a rough voice sounded back over the comm unit. "Orders from General Antilles."

"Calling himself General now, huh," Kyp answered breezily. "I guess the old man's officially out of retirement."

Jag grabbed the comm unit from Kyp's hand impatiently.

"What's going on? Who attacked the Palace?" Jag asked bluntly.

"The Vong turned against the Moffs. Massacred the whole council before letting loose on the rest of the Palace. Commander Darklighter and his men are trying to hold back the Vong forces from destroying the rest of Coruscant. The Grand Admiral has been informed, and has sent reinforcements who should be arriving shortly."]]

Jag and Kyp exchanged looks.

"And the Emperor? What about Jovan?" Jag asked urgently.

"We don't know yet, Sir," the voice crackled over the comm unit. "Rumor has it that everyone at the feast was slaughtered. But that hasn't been confirmed. It's possible some were able to slip away in the chaos."

Jag tried to hide his annoyance at the lack of information. He was about to press for more details when a small gasp from his side distracted him.

"Jaina," Jag said as he leaned down, his voice laced with concern. Jaina's face was a pale, deadly white and Jag was concerned to see that she had broken into a cold sweat.

"I just- I just felt a bit light-headed for a minute," Jaina answered shakily, a pathetic attempt at a smile on her face. "It's nothing."

Jag stared at her frowning, and then turned to Kyp, "We need to get off-planet and get her to a med ward."

Both men ignored Jaina's half-hearted protests.

"Right," Kyp said in agreement. "Probably not a bad idea for you to take a dip in a bacta tank, either. Alright, let's go. It's not too much longer to the rendezvous point."

Jag nodded grimly, then turned back to Jaina, his expression softening, "Do you think you can make it a little further, Princess?"

"Force, I felt a little light-headed, that's all," Jaina answered tartly, arms crossed as she glared at Jag. "If you can make it with those broken ribs you've been trying to hide, I'm sure I'll be just fine."

With that, Jaina turned and pushed past the men to head down the hallway. Jag sighed, exchanging a concerned glance with Kyp who just shrugged.

"You heard the lady," Kyp said. "Let's go."

NABOO

FEBRUARY YEAR 1053

Jag had plenty to occupy his thoughts as he floated in a bacta tank, still trying to fully process what had occurred and then determine his next move. Despite Kyp's protests, when they had landed on Naboo he had demanded a full briefing before he agreed to enter the med ward. Jag had brushed off Kyp's objections, knowing he could deal with his injuries for a while longer. In fact, he would never have left Coruscant- would have insisted on going out to help his squadron battle the Vong- if it hadn't been for Jaina.

Realizing that Jag was too stubborn for his own good, Kyp had eventually taken him to the Royal Theed Palace, where the Imperials had set up a makeshift command center.

Wedge had taken one disapproving look at his nephew, before updating him on all the intel that had come in during the rescue mission. And everything that Jag had missed while locked up in a dirty dungeon cell.

The Emperor was confirmed dead, killed by his own Vong allies at the dinner banquet meant to represent their treaty of peace. Many on the Moff Council were also murdered, mostly those who had supported Jovan or been part of his inner circle. Jag wondered if he was the only one who appreciated the irony. That those who were so eager to sacrifice their fellow Imperial citizens to the Vong were the ones who had ended up paying the ultimate price.

Their intelligence officers were still unsure if this had been the Vong's plan all along or if something had happened at the banquet to trigger the slaughter, but it hardly mattered at this point. Jovan was dead, his lackeys along with him.

Jag wasn't exactly sure how he felt about it. Grateful the galaxy had finally been rid of the tyrant, of course. Vindicated, perhaps, that the man's own selfish decisions had lead to his downfall.

But at the same time, Jag couldn't help but feel a bit cheated. After everything Jovan had taken from him- from his family- he had envisioned bringing the man to justice personally. Jag finally decided it was best not to dwell on it and just appreciate the fact that the monster was gone.

His uncle had been worried that they would still have to contend with Zekk, but Jag had quickly alleviated that concern. He had been deliberately vague on how the other man had died but assured his Uncle that he was positive the man was no longer a threat. His uncle had seen no reason to question him and had thankfully left it at that.

But with the Emperor and his heir confirmed dead, there was a dangerous power vacuum within the Empire. Wedge had been adamant that the time had come for Jag to stake his claim and he was inclined to agree. Most of the Imperial Squadron Commanders had already thrown their support behind him and there was a clear path to the throne.

However, nobody yet knew where Grand Admiral Palleon stood and his opinion still carried a lot of weight in the Imperial army. There were also the few Moffs who had been able to escape the planet before the massacre- or had made the smart decision to stay away from the Peace Conference in the first place- to consider. It was only a matter of time before one of them saw an opportunity and threw their hat in the ring. The last thing the Empire needed now was to be divided, especially if they wanted to beat the Vong back once and for all.

And there was a real chance that they could do just that. The Imperials had been able to push the Vong out of Courscant and the Core, the Vong forces not expecting the Imperials to attack from off-planet during the Peace Conference. Kyp also updated Jag on Commander Thrawn's latest plans and the successful results of his recent meeting with the Freed Ones. There was still a lot that had to be done to fully defeat the enemy but Jag was determined that it would happen.

His thoughts soon turned to Jaina. Jag couldn't erase the images of what she had been through- what Zekk had done to her- from his head. The sleemo had provided vivid details that continued to torment him relentlessly. And if that's how he felt, he could only imagine what it was like for her.

He also knew that, while Jaina had dreamt of being a fighter pilot, she had never actually killed another being. Either way, shooting someone down from a fighter was very different than killing someone in cold blood. Watching them die mere feet from you, knowing you were responsible. Even a monster who deserved to die like Zekk.

Jaina had held herself together well during their escape from Coruscant, but Jag was concerned about what would happen when the adrenaline wore off and all of her repressed emotions came to the surface.

Then she had that fainting spell in the Palace and had looked pale and shaky the entire ride over to Naboo, causing him to worry about the physical ramifications of her ordeal as well. Jag had watched her anxiously but discreetly, especially after she had viciously snapped at him when he had asked how she was doing.

Once they made it to the Naboo base, however, he had been insistent that she see a medical professional as soon as they got off the ship. Jaina fought him on it, of course, claiming she was perfectly fine and there were men in greater need of medical attention than her. It wasn't until Jag had gotten on his knees and begged her, promising that he would go right into the bacta tank if she agreed to see someone, that she conceded.

It had been a while since Jag had groveled to anyone, but he had gladly done it without a second thought and only felt relief when it worked. He did feel slightly guilty, knowing Jaina would not be happy at all if she found out that he had actually gone to meet with Wedge after dropping her off at the medical wing. But he was just hoping that his uncle would keep that particular piece of information to himself.

Jag was a man used to taking decisive action and he seldom second-guessed himself, but he found that he was unsure of what to do for his wife next. He desperately wanted to help her any way he could but was terrified of doing the wrong thing.

There were a hundred things Jag needed to do, people he needed to meet with to determine the next steps for the Empire. But before he did any of that he would go see Jaina. He refused to let Zekk come in between them, would not let the man's ghost continue to haunt their relationship. He would be whatever Jaina needed him to be, do whatever she needed him to do, and they would get through this.

Because he knew now that nothing meant more than her- not his duty, not his father's legacy, not even the future of the galaxy. There was no future for Jag without Jaina. And even though he had no idea what he was doing, he was determined to be there for her. And then he would figure out what to do about everything else.

Now he just had to wait to get out of this bloody bacta tank.

"Well, physically it seems like everything is okay, although there are definitely signs of trauma," the healer said, finally lifting her eyes from the datapad to look at Jaina. "While there is nothing I can recommend physically, I am happy to give you my comm number if you ever need to talk through anything."

Jaina smiled at the other woman, glad that she had been assigned this healer with kind eyes and a gentle understanding voice. When she had first entered the cold sterile med ward and been directed by a droid to change into a loose paper robe, she had started to regret giving in to Jag's pleas. Luckily, the healer had soon arrived and something about her immediately put Jaina at ease. Somehow, she found herself telling the other woman exactly what had happened to her, details she had sworn she would take to her grave.

The woman had merely listened with an expression of understanding and Jaina had felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She had not realized how much she needed to talk about what happened. And for some reason, it was easier to talk to this stranger than her own husband.

"I might take you up on that, actually," Jaina said.

"I do have some good news for you," the other woman continued with a smile. "Even with the stress your body has been through, it looks as if the baby is still perfectly healthy."

"Wait, what?" Jaina questioned, her face a mask of shock.

"Luckily the injuries to your body, and more importantly your internal organs, were not extensive so the baby was not impacted in any way," the healer answered. "Though I would recommend taking it easy-"

"A baby?" Jaina interrupted. "You mean there's a- I'm-"

"Almost three months pregnant, yes," the medic answered slowly. "I'm sorry, I assumed you knew since you were this far along. Have you not felt any symptoms?"

Jaina stared back at the healer, still trying to process what she had just been told. "I mean, I have been tired lately. And I've had a few dizzy spells. Certain foods have been harder to keep down. But I just chalked it all up to stress or something. I mean with everything going on... I just never thought…"

"Yes, I could see how you might think that," the other woman said kindly. "But they are all completely normal signs of pregnancy."

"Right, perfectly normal," Jaina repeated, tone blank.

"Are you okay?" The healer asked, obvious concern seeping into her voice. "Based on the timing, I was under the impression that this happened before…"

"Yes," Jaina answered quickly. "Yes, it did. I'm just- I'm sorry I'm just a little caught off guard, that's all. To be honest, this is the last thing I was expecting."

"I understand, it's a lot to take in," the other woman said, then turned briskly. "Well, there are a few things- vitamins and whatnot- that I would recommend you start taking. I can give you some capsules to take with you. Otherwise, you have a clean bill of health."

"Thanks," Jana answered weakly, still not quite believing the news. She was going to be a mother. She was carrying another life- a life she and Jag had made- inside of her. It was almost surreal after everything else she had been through.

"Oh, I almost forgot," the medic said turning and handing Jaina a flimsipad. "Your first sonogram."

Jaina looked down at the image on the pad, and at that moment everything seemed to change. Her hand moved down to her stomach of its own accord as it finally sunk in. The tiny spark of life she carried. Part her, part Jag.

She felt a fierce maternal pride, a desire to protect this precious being that had already been through so much. Her baby, Jaina thought, and her lips curved up in a smile.

"You can keep it," the healer said kindly. "I'm sure the father will be excited to see it, too."

Jaina looked up hastily, the smile falling from her face. Jag. How would he feel about her being pregnant? They never talked about having children, never really had much time to discuss such things. Their romance had been a whirlwind, their time together focused on enjoying the present versus planning for the future. Their lives had been so uncertain after all, what with the war and Jaina's exile…

But was it any more stable now? They were still at war with the Vong and Jaina did not doubt that her husband would be back in the thick of the fight soon enough. And if the Emperor was truly dead, now was the time to press his claim to the throne. Many would look to him to lead them, to save them from the alien invasion. With everything that was about to fall on his plate, how would he feel about suddenly becoming a father? Jag was the type of person who liked to have things methodically and strategically planned and this was anything but.

Thanking the nurse absently as the other woman left the room, Jaina changed back into the flight suit one of Kyp's men had found her, mentally preparing herself for an important conversation with her husband.

Jaina paced back and forth outside the conference room, waiting anxiously for the doors to open. Once she had left the med ward she had gone to the quarters assigned to her to get some much-needed rest, figuring Jag would be in the bacta tank for a while yet. Besides, she was just so tired all the time.

At least now she knew why.

Unfortunately, Jag had been out of the bacta quicker than she had expected- although she should have known they wouldn't be able to keep him out of action for long. When she was finally able to track down Kyp, he informed her that Admiral Palleon had just arrived on Naboo and that Jag had been pulled into an emergency planning meeting with the Imperial commanders and Wedge.

Jaina had felt an irrational sense of disappointment that he had not come to see her first. She tried to brush it aside, knowing that the fate of the galaxy was more important. Still, she couldn't seem to completely suppress the sense of hurt.

Something must have shown on her face because Kyp confided that Jag had gone looking for her as soon as he had been released, only to find that she was sleeping. Not wanting to disturb her, he had let her rest and occupied himself with catching up on reports while he waited by her bedside. She had still been sleeping when the Grand Admiral arrived, so Jag had reluctantly agreed to attend the meeting.

Jaina smiled at the realization that Jag had put her happiness above duty. It was unlike him and bolstered her confidence that he would not react as badly as she had anticipated to the unplanned addition to their family.

Jaina straightened as the conference room doors opened and a handful of men strode out. Commander Darklighter caught her eye as he walked by and sent her a small nod in greeting. Jaina smiled back before her eyes returned anxiously to the door, waiting for her husband to appear. Finally, he walked out, deep in conversation with the Grand Admiral.

And Jaina hesitated.

Jag looked completely in his element, his single-minded focus, and self-confidence that just bordered on cockiness, in full display. He was meant to command. Meant for this moment.

Suddenly Jag looked up and when his green eyes connected with hers, she saw a flash of apprehension before they went blank. He turned back to the Admiral, quickly exchanging a few words before making a beeline for Jaina. When he finally came to a stop in front of her he started to reach out, then let his hand drop awkwardly to his side.

His eyes were cautious and Jaina realized bitterly that Zekk was still coming in between them, even after his death. She determined then and there she would not let that happen.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there when you woke up. I just figured that you could use the sleep, and then-"

"It's fine, Jag, really," Jaina said with a small smile. "Kyp filled me in."

"Good. I- How did it go with the medic?" Jag asked, and Jaina recognized a hint of relief in his tone.

Jaina hesitated, biting her lip nervously as she looked away.

"Jaina," Jag said, the sudden anxiety clear in his eyes as he stepped closer to her.

"Jag, we need to talk," Jaina started, eyes darting back to his face.

Jag took a hesitant step back, as he seemed to suddenly realize how close he was.

"Of course, yes," Jag answered quickly. "We can go back to your room and-"

Jaina frowned, and Jag flinched, biting his lip in frustration. Jaina quickly regretted her reaction, knowing that Jag was reading it the wrong way, had thought that she was reacting to his suggestion.

"Or we can just find a conference room if that would make you more comfortable," Jag continued, his voice low and carefully controlled. "Whatever you want, sweetheart, I didn't mean to suggest-"

"Jag, I'm pregnant," Jaina blurted out before she could stop herself. She had needed to stop Jag's uncharacteristic uncertainty, the painful self-doubt.

Now Jag just looked dazed, the previous line of conversation momentarily forgotten.

"You're pregnant?" he questioned, slowly, as if to make sure he heard her correctly.

"Yes. Almost three months along apparently so it's definitely not- I mean, I just found out and I understand that this must come as a shock. It definitely did for me. And we didn't plan for this, like at all. And I know there's-"

"This is amazing news, love," Jag responded with a smile, cutting her off and pulling her into a hesitant embrace, still too careful and unsure for Jaina's liking. But she had other things to worry about now and was struggling to interpret Jag's reaction. Then he pulled back, eyes shining, and Jaina wondered why she was so worried about telling him in the first place.

"We're having a baby," Jag said in awe. "I'm going to be a father. I can't believe it."

"That makes two of us, kid," A familiar voice broke in.

Jag quickly looked up over Jaina's shoulder and felt his heart drop as he came face to face with the legendary Han Solo.