Thanks for the review!! Yeah Kyp and Ben's talk should be interesting, but we have more to happen before that trip to Coruscant however...

Chapter 4

Jysella Horn watched the retreating back of Ben Skywalker and shook her head in disgust and sadness. After returning to her seat on the couch she retrieved her cup of caf and took a sip. Then she let her mind wonder.

She had known Ben since he was a baby. She let a s mile touch her lips as she remembered her earliest memory of him when Tionne took care of her and baby Ben in Shelter during the Yuuzhan Vong War. She loved the baby and she would often beg Tionne to let her hold him. She was only four herself but she remembered how attached she was too him.

Then the war ended and they returned back with their fa milies. She and Ben still saw each other when her mother and Mara would meet up. Mirax and Jysella lived mostly on Corellia but they would often come to Ossus or Coruscant with her father when he was on Jedi business. Mara and Mirax had been good friends for years and they always made it a point to take time to catch up and to let Ben and Jys play together. However, by then toddler Ben was more of a pest then a cute little baby Ben had been.

Finally, Jys entered the Jedi Academy at Ossus, but Ben who refused to use the Force remained with his parents. Then came the Killik mess, Ben's unofficial apprenticeship with Jacen Solo and his semi-Joining with the Dark Nest, while Jysella continued her training and eventually her apprenticeship to Octa Ramis. It was seven years before she saw her old childhood playmate again and when she did it wasn't a happy reunion.

He and his battle group had just attacked her and her group of Alliance Defenders at Thyferra. They were on opposite sides of a three prong war which included the Sith and the Official GA government, the Jedi and a group of defectors from both the Corellian and GA sides known as the Alliance Defenders and on the other side was the Corllians and their allies. Ben nearly defeated her and her Defenders who were tasked with protecting the planet's Bacta supply.

However, eventually, the war ended but Jysella still hadn't seen Ben, nor at that point did she want to see him. He had killed her old Master and nearly killed her father. So, she avoided him, even while he was dating her best friend. She and Seha Dorvald had become friends during the civil war after the Battle of Duro. They had a lot in common surprisingly. Her parents were merchants from Coruscant, which Jys could relate to since Jysella's mother had been a smuggler and then a legitimate trader. After the final battle with the Sith in the Temple, Seha related to Jys that she had been infatuated with Ben since the beginning of the war. Jys was surprised but didn't say much. Then six months after Ben's redemption, he and Seha started dating. She was concerned for her friend, but Seha was so in love that she wouldn't have listened to Jys anyway.

The couple didn't listen to anyone; Seha and Ben ran off and eloped, despite their parent's reservations. Again, Jysella felt that her friend was making a mistake, but she stayed out of the couple's affairs. Even though Jysella had forgiven Ben for what he had done as Sith Lord Darth Blasen, she couldn't help feeling that his relationship with Seha didn't mean as much to him as it did to her. She was his crutch and she provided the distraction that he needed to survive his time with the Jedi and the constant reminders of what he had done. Then Seha became pregnant. Unplanned but not unwanted, at least for Seha. Ben, on the other hand, didn't want children. His fears of the Skywalker "curse", as he called it, scared him. Although, once he was able to sense his daughter, he couldn't wait until she was born. He even insisted upon naming her.

Everything seemed "perfect" between Seha and Ben for nearly a year after Melina's birth, until he began cheating on his wife. Jysella and Seha had grown even more distant during this time of her marriage to Ben. It wasn't until she got a frantic comm call from Seha, in which Seha was distraught and wanted to see Jys immediately, that Jysella realized the truth. Jysella came back to Coruscant to find out that Seha had discovered Ben's infidelity and was filing for divorce. Three months later on the day their divorce became final, Ben disappeared. Only leaving a message for Seha that he regretted what had happened both in his past and to their marriage, but insisted Melina was better off without him around.

Jys took another sip from her cup and was brought out of her memories as the door slid open. Through the barely opened passage bounded a wiry red-headed, bright emerald-eyed girl of nine. She stopped as Jys stood to meet the returning female Skywalkers and watched as Mellie looked from her to quickly scan the room. Then she felt the girl reach out into the Force. And instantly she withdrew and her excited twinkle was replaced with disappointment.

"He isn't here?" she asked Jysella so quietly that Jys nearly missed the words.

Jys swallowed and glanced at Mara and then to Seha. Mara's expression nearly fell as visibly as her granddaughter's before she moved toward the door, but Seha pursed her lips and responded apologetically, "I'm sure he had other things to do, Mel. After all, he had just arrived."

Jysella met Melina's pleading eyes and swallowed hard. She had admired Seha, in a way, despite all that Ben Skywalker had done to her; she never dishonored his name before his daughter. Seha didn't hide the fact that Ben had been a Sith, but she didn't discredit all the good that Ben did do either. Most people, including Luke and Mara, figured it was Seha's way of allowing her daughter the chance to create her own opinions about her father and to show her that he really was a good guy. However, Jys knew the real reason, which she didn't admire and as she looked into his little girl's startling green eyes she wondered about the underlying coldness of the reasoning. Seha said she was giving Ben Skywalker enough rope to hang himself. Someday, Seha rationalized, he would need his daughter and when that day came his daughter may not be willing to forget or so willing to forgive, not his being a Sith, but his abandonment of her just so he could save the galaxy.

Jys finally found her voice and said, "He did say that he had things to do. I'm sure he will come see you later. He isn't leaving," she added reassuringly when Mellie averted her eyes to the floor space between them.

Melina took a deep breath that visibly raised the child's narrow shoulders and she looked back up to meet Jysella's green eyes, "I wanted to just meet him, Aunt Jys." Then she said in a more hopeful voice that didn't match the dejection she was projecting in the Force, "But I can wait until he's finished with whatever he needs to do."

Jys forced a s mile and patted her shoulder. "I know that he very much wants to meet you."

Seha threw a sharp disbelieving look at Jys as she went into the kitchen, but Jys ignored it and shielded her own emotions that would reveil the statement as a lie. Then she said, "Why don't you go outside for a little while. I would like to talk to your mom."

Melina glanced questioningly at Seha, who was coming from the kitchen with a cup of caf cradled in her hands. Seha nodded and s miled, "Yeah, why don't you do that. Mommy wants to talk about the baby shower for Aunt Syal and everyone knows that you can't keep a secret." Seha was referring to Jys's sister-in-law, Syal Antilles Horn, who had surprised everyone when she and Valin announced that they were expecting a third child, a daughter this time. However, Jys got the impression that wasn't going to be the topic of their conversation, but Melina didn't catch on.

"Mom, I can too keep secrets," Melina stuck her chin out defiantly and put her hands on her hips.

Seha sat down on the couch beside Jys and grinned, "No, you can't. Let me see," she raised an coppery eyebrow and pretended to think, "Oh, the most recent evidence of this fact is when you told Cassa Tainer that her mom was going to be promoted to Master. Something that really should have never left this house, much less be gossiped about in a training hall." Jys all but s miled at Mellie's glare that she gave her mother at the mentioning of Melina's lapse of judgment when she told the daughter of Tahiri and Doran Tainer about Luke's suggestion that Tahiri be promoted. It turned into a big mess when Cassa let the information slip to one of her instructors—another Knight who had also wanted promoted. Finally, Seha triumphantly finished, "So, if you can't keep something as delicate as that to yourself, I know you won't be able to keep this a secret from Wedge." Wedge Antilles-Horn was a year older than Melina and was her best friend, if not the girl's first puppy-love crush.

Almost instantly, Melina Skywalker's cheeks turned pink and she lost the glare. Instead, she huffed and said, "Oh, very well." Then she turned and couldn't leave her grandparent's living room fast enough.

As the door slid closed Jys shook her head and laughed, "That's all you have to do is mention my nephew's name and she can't escape fast enough."

Seha grinned as she put her cup down on end-table by her side. "I know. Though, Wedge is as clueless to my daughter's infatuation as they come."

"Or maybe he is just as infatuated."

"Oh, please, Jys," Seha pleaded, "I'm already wondering where I'll find a tower to lock her away in in a few years and it has nothing to do with the fact that she could become a Sith."

Jys laughed at her friend's dread but it was quickly replaced with a gravity equal to a backhole when Seha asked, "So, what was Ben's excuse for not sticking around until we got here?"

Jysella shrugged and watched as Seha took a sip from her cup of cooled caf, "Just what I told Mellie, that he had things to do."

Seha sat the cup back down and huffed as she sat back into the couch. Looking toward the far wall where the Skywalkers proudly displayed a holo of a young adolescent Ben, she finally said, "I really would have been more surprised if he'd actually been here." She looked at Jys and went on, "I really think the reason he abandoned her to begin with is because he's ashamed of his past. But as I've said many times before, it's not his past that his daughter needs, it's his present. Someday he'll regret it."

Jys swallowed and stared at her friend, "Seha, I can't believe you'd really think that. And believe me when I say that I'm shocked that I'm sticking up for Ben Skywalker, but hasn't the man suffered enough?" Then she added, "Besides, it really isn't fair to let Mellie build this fantasy up around Ben. You know it isn't just Ben that will get hurt in the end."

Seha sat straight and after a second couldn't hold Jysella's hard green gaze, "I know what you say is true, but he left her, Jys. For eight friggin' years I've received nothing. Not even a holocard asking if she was okay. Kriff, he hasn't even asked his parents about her. It's like he didn't want her and decided to throw her away. But yet, I know Ben can do decent things. He's doing them, but why? Is it because he feels guilty for what he did as a Sith or it because he doesn't what to remember that he left a baby that he proclaimed to love?"

Jysella looked away and leaned back against the couch, "I don't know, Seha. I don't know. But I hope if Ben does totally reject her again it doesn't shatter her more than it will Ben."

After a long silence, Seha looked at her chrono, "Oh, stang. I'm going to be late."

Jys quirked an eyebrow, "Late for what?"

Seha s miled audaciously and Jys regretted asking, "Daryl and I have a date tonight. Mara already agreed to keeping Mel tonight so…"

At her mischievous grin, Jysella held out her hand, "Please spare me the details. I don't honestly know what you see in that man."

Seha stood up and winked, "Oh trust me, I usually see plenty."

"Seha!" Jys crunched up her face disgustedly, "T-M-I!"

Seha laughed and shook her head, "Like all of the men you ever dated were perfect! That last one you were with was good looking but didn't even have air for brains."

Jys laughed and agreed, "Yeah, about all he had was a great body and lots of vacuum."

Then Seha became serious and said almost wistfully, "But seriously, Jys, I've fallen in love with him and I know that he loves me. I think I intimidate him sometimes because I'm a Jedi and he isn't. But he treats me well and more importantly, he adores Melina."

Jys was suddenly hit in the heart with a pain so sharp that it couldn't have hurt more if Seha had stabbed her with her lightsaber. Everyone around Jys was either married, getting married or in love. Many of them even had fa milies, like her brother and Tahiri and Doran. Even Myri was getting married in a few months. And now Seha was happily in love with an Ossusan hyperdrive mechanic who worked at the Academy. Jys really didn't care for him but he did seem nice enough and he always put Seha first. Suddenly, Jys made an important self discovery—was it really that she didn't like Daryl Boskett or was it because she was jealous of the relationship he and Seha shared?

She didn't know. Sure Jysella dated and her sex life was far from non-existent, but she had been only in love once and truly doubted that she'd ever find that kind of love again. Jard Wessmir was a fellow pilot who flew in the squadron Jys commanded after the war. He was tall, handsome and smart. He came from an affluent background as the son of a leader in the Bacta Cartel on Thyferra. He had left home young and joined the military as a pilot. He had been assigned to GAG and was actually stationed on the Anakin Solo during the early days of the war. His first engagement was at Hapes. However, as Jacen Solo became more power hungry and more evil, Jard deserted and eventually rejoined the Alliance Defenders. By the time Jysella and he met they both had been hardened by war, but yet hopeful for peace.

The two of them had fallen in love but never admitted it to each other until it was too late. Jysella's dreams were still haunted with that heated moment when they finally admitted their love. The intense love making and the promise of their future together that followed. Neither one of them ever dreamed that they would never have another day, that they had squandered the time that they could have shared together. For the very next day, Jys watched horrified as the man she loved was killed when the X-wing he flew was hit nearly point blank with a proton torpedo. It happened during what should have been a routine inspection of a freighter for the newly reformed Coruscant Security. The accident happened five years ago and Jys supposed she had gotten over him for the most part. Although, she truly doubted she'd ever really get over him, she had tried to find love, but it never seemed to come to her.

As if sensing her friend's sudden withdrawal, Seha sat back down and embraced Jys. "I'm sorry, Jys."

Jysella held back the tears that threatened and suddenly felt very foolish. She gave Seha the most mischievous s mile she could muster and said, "You had better go. 'Spannerboy may begin to wonder where you are. I'm sure he's heard by now your ex is back in town."

Seha glared at Jysella and playfully punched her arm, "You are a heartless wench. You know that? I want as much to do with Ben Skywalker as a Hutt wants with an honest trader." Then she lost the feigned venom and leaned in and hugged her friend again. Letting Jysella go, she said, "Someday, Jys, you will find someone. I know you will."

Jys only shrugged but nodded and then Seha left the home of her ex-in-laws. Jys stood up and picked up her cold cup and that of Seha's and headed into the kitchen. She hoped her friend was right that there really was someone out there for her. However, she never had the chance to ponder the prospects, because the door slid open as Mara Skywalker returned. Jysella could feel the strong sense of sorrow and yet hopefulness that surrounded the Jedi Master and she wondered how the older woman's visit with her son had gone.

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