Chapter 3

Jysella had just finished putting the last of her things away when the door chime sounded. She turned from the bed and reached out with the Force to see who was there and was very pleasantly surprised. She instantly smiled and hurried to the dresser mirror. Quickly running a brush through her long black tresses, the chime sounded again.

"Coming," she called out when she felt a flicker of doubt in the visitor's thoughts. After another quick look at her appearance in the mirror, she finally turned and hurried to the door. She hit the stud and the door slid open to have her breath taken away by Jacen Solo who standing there with his hands in his pockets and a smile brightening his handsome features even more. "Jacen, hi. I wasn't expecting you." She said after she found her breath again.

"Hi—Jysella, I was wondering if you'd like to join me for diner tonight. I know this nice little Corellian place in the Mid Level restaurant district that has wonderful food and a great live band."

She was nearly stunned by his invitation. She swallowed hard and smiled as she nodded her head, "Yeah, emmm—I mean that sounds great. But," she looked at the simple tunic and pants she was wearing, "Could I get a shower and change?"

Jacen smiled and nodded, "Of course, I'll stop by in about…" He left the sentence trail.

She quickly picked up the hint and provided, "thirty minutes. No, wait, you better give me forty-five."

Jacen laughed and Jysella thought it was the most beautiful sound, "How about I pick you up in an hour. I know how women can be." At her raised eyebrow, he snickered, "Remember that I do have a twin sister."

She joined his laugh with one of her own, "I never knew Jaina to be the fussy sort."

"Oh, she's not, but sometimes she can be. I'll be back later," he said with a grin and turned to walk back the way he came down the hall way.

Jysella couldn't believe it. She was going on a date with Jacen Solo. She stood there staring at the door for what seemed like an eternity until another disturbing thought entered her mind. What am I going to wear?

She turned and practically ran to the 'fresher. She showered quickly and then reentered the bedroom to stand before the closet. She owned several dresses, nice ones that she'd pick up when she visited her grandfather on the Errant Venture, but she only had two with her on this trip. They were the dresses she had taken with her to Kuat incase she needed to wear something other than Jedi robes. Damn, she thought as she looked from one to the other. Finally, she sighed and hung the one she didn't want back in the closet. The dress she chose was a tight, mid-calf length, black dress more suitable for a dinner party than a Mid Level Corellian joint. But she disliked the other one even more. It was a dark blue and was way too matronly for a date. Especially a date with a man she desperately wanted to impress.

She slipped the satiny material over her head and wiggled as she pulled it over her curves. She turned to the mirror on the closet door and smiled. Although, it wouldn't have been a dress she would have chosen for this particular date, she had to admit she liked what she saw and she was sure Jacen Solo would too.

She smiled at the thought of the man who had been occupying much of her thoughts lately. Ever since that night in the waterfall garden she couldn't think of much else. She was so sure that if Ben hadn't interrupted them, Jacen would have kissed her. She went over to the dresser and picked up the brush and began to apply it to her hair. She then pulled it back and used a small silver comb to pin it in place on the left side, leaving the other side free. She added sliver dangling earrings and a silver necklace then applied a small amount of makeup; just enough to add definition to her sea-green eyes and some rouge to her otherwise pale cheeks. Finally, she added a deep brunt red lip color to her full lips. She smiled at the reflected result of her artful handiwork and then began to rummage in the top drawer to find her dressy black handbag. In it she dropped her lipstick and the couple other cosmetics she had used. Never know if she'd need them, she thought. Then as she turned to wait for Jacen so proud that she had finished getting ready within the allotted hour, she realized she was still shoeless.

Looking down at her bare dark red painted toes she nearly laughed. She had completely forgotten about shoes. She instantly went back into her closet and pulled out two pairs of black dress shoes that she had with her. Frowning, she inspected one pair then the other, wondering which pair would be suitable with her dress and with where they were going. Dancing, she suddenly remembered Jacen saying; well, maybe that wasn't actually what he said, he had said that there was a live band but that implied dancing. With that memory she threw back the more practical of the pairs and chose the high, strappy heels and smiled. She loved to dance.

She just finished with the second tiny silver buckle when the door chime sounded again. Almost literally jumping from her perch on the edge of the bed she made her way to the door and smiled as it slid open to reveal Jacen standing there in much the same posture he had taken the first time.

Jacen smiled and she was sure she saw a flash of something in his whiskey colored eyes. "Hi, again. I'm ready," she smiled and said, trying not to sound too breathless. Why did he always take my breath away with only a smile?

He held out his hand and she took it, a feeling of warmth flooded through her and she hoped she wasn't blushing. He said, his voice seemed to be a little deeper than she remembered, his eyes intense, "Jysella, you are an absolute vision."

Now she knew she was blushing, she felt the heat on her face. Glancing away she stammered, "Thank you." Then wanting to repay the complement she met his eyes again and smiled but no words came to mind. She was just too mesmerized by the mysterious depths of his golden-brown eyes.

Finally, he asked never taking his eyes from hers, "If you're ready, we can go. I have a speeder waiting."

X

They ordered their meals and Jacen was actually surprised at the ease in which he could talk to Jysella. He found himself talking about things he hadn't spoken to anyone about except maybe Tenel Ka. Over their meals of Corellian spiced nerf steak, he told her about some of his experiences while he was on his search for answers.

She asked, after taking a sip of the wine they had ordered, "I don't know if I'd ever have the nerve to do what you did. I think I would get very lonely out there all alone."

Jacen swallowed his bite and thought a moment, "Yeah, at times it was lonely but I used those times to explore my purpose for being and meditated on what I thought it was. I learned a great deal and sometimes I think the Jedi are becoming as complacent today as they were before the Great Purge. Don't you find it odd that Palpatine only targeted the Jedi and not the other Force users in the Galaxy, unless he considered them a direct threat to his power? Others out there have learned to tap into the Force as powerfully as the Jedi or the Sith but don't limit their understanding of it in such limited ideas as Light and Dark and don't use that power to bend the will of others."

"I guess I never thought about it. But that is an interesting idea."

They continued along these lines for a little while longer; but finally, Jacen said deciding that the conversation was becoming too intellectual for what he was hoping to accomplish tonight, "It looks like the band is starting to warm up." He indicated the group of mixed beings on the small bandstand.

She smiled as she turned to glance towards it as strains of music filled the dimly lit, slightly smoky air then after tuning back to him, her green eyes flashed with excitement. "They sound like they are actually pretty decent."

"I've heard that they are," he replied as he watched her.

She raised a dark brow and smirked, "You bring all your last minute dates here, then?"

He grinned and countered, "Actually, I've never been here. Jaina told me about it."

"Oh?" the questioning look and tone not lost on him.

He chuckled, "Apparently, Kyp has brought her here a few times." He then stood and held his hand out to her, a lopsided grin in place, "Would you like to dance?"

She grinned back and took the proffered hand and stood, saying, "I never thought you'd ask."

They danced for what seemed like hours. Jacen was actually amazed by her talent, but then he remembered that she spent a lot of her off time on her grandfather's ship where such things as night-life fun was a constant. He silently thanked his mother for all his dance lessons as he twirled her into another spin, her smile lighting up her beautiful face.

After a while the tempo slowed down and the band began to play and sing slower, more romantic ballads. Jysella moved into his arms of her own accord and Jacen willing wrapped them around her. After the first song during which they just gazed into each others eyes, Jysella moved even closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder, sliding her arms more around his neck and her fingers into his thick long chocolate hair.

Jacen sucked in his breath at the feel of her pressed up against him so closely. As they swayed to the slow, sultry music, Jacen couldn't resist the temptation of nuzzling her neck, breathing in her scent. She smelled of Corellian lilies, an intoxicating fragrance that coupled with her closeness was driving his desire to new heights. He knew he was falling in love with her and he knew that he really didn't have the right. He had promised his heart to another but as he held Jysella he realized he could never live without her. She had become as much a part of him as Tenel Ka was and he would stop at nothing to have her as his own.

The band played its last song and Jacen and Jysella were the only ones left on the dance floor. They barely swayed to the music not really hearing it as they held on to each other. Finally, the music stopped and after a moment of them still locked in each others embrace and gently moving, the lead human male singer called out in a rather amused tone, "Mates, we're all through and the restaurant is about to close."

Jacen heard the words and as they registered in his fogged brain, he pulled away from Jysella. She met his gaze and he almost kissed her, right there, right in front of everyone. But her soft words caused him to pause and regain his sanity, "We better go." Her face was flushed and Jacen couldn't tell if it was from the dancing or from something else.

He swallowed and smiled, "Yeah. It's really late."

X

They came to her door and Jycella turned toward him after she punched in her code, "I had a wonderful time tonight, Jacen. Thank you."

Jacen stepped closer and leaned in until he was only centimeters from her lips, looking directly into the endless green of her eyes, he said huskily, "I had a great time too. I was hoping that I could see you again." Then he held his breath.

She swallowed and gave him a small smile, "I was hoping that you would."

Jacen reached up and cupped her face, moving closer, "Then I take that as a yes?"

She whispered, "Yes," just as he claimed her lips. The kiss was passionate and tender. Jacen took her into his arms after she snaked her arms around his neck. He deepened the kiss when she moaned and opened her lips to his tongue. She tasted as good as she smelled and Jacen was lost in the sensation.

Finally, the need for air broke the kiss but he didn't pull completely away, he couldn't. He leaned his forehead against hers and smiled as he looked deeply into her eyes. Breathlessly, he said, "I'd like to see you tomorrow night. Same time?"

She nodded and smiled as she quickly kissed him on the lips. Then she moved away and stepped over the threshold, "Until tomorrow then. Good night, Jacen."

"Good night, Jysella." The door closing before either had the chance to move toward the other.

X

Jacen, still enchanted by the night's events, entered his apartment and wasn't surprised Ben was a sleep. As he moved through the darkness he noticed a red indicator light blinking on the comm station status board. He had a message. He decided to ignore it and just go to bed but as he stepped closer to his bedroom door, he stopped and glanced back. Sighing, he turned and went to the station to listen to the message. After discovering it was a special encrypted message, he typed in the code to allow it to play out. He knew immediately who the message was from and his heart skipped a beat as her rich, silky voice filled the void and her shimmering, beautiful form came alive over the holoplate.

"Friend Jacen, I am calling you to remind you of Allana's lifeday celebration in four standard days from today. She has been asking after you. It would mean a great deal to both of us if you are able to make it. May the Force be with you, my love."

Jacen listened to the words of the Queen Mother of Hapes for a second time. The hidden message within the third line was not lost on Jacen. They had been having an affair for nine years. He loved her with devotion and the passion they shared was unbelievable. She had never asked him to be her consort and he never asked her. They both knew that it was impossible and they both knew why. He was a Jedi, he along with his brother had destroyed the Hapan Fleet at Fondor, he was the son of a smuggler, he was not Hapan, and the list went on and on. The only thing that really was in favor for him was that he was the son of a princess, but even that was called into question because Leia was adopted and did not contain the blood of the Alderaan royalty, she only held onto the title. Of course, the Hapans suspected that he was Tenel's lover, but no one suspected that Allana was his daughter. Not even his own family knew that secret and they never could know.

Jacen smiled as he thought of Tenel Ka, he couldn't wait to see her. As he erased the message he whispered, "And I love you too, Tenel." But as he said the words, he remembered the amazing night he just had and the other amazing woman who also possessed his heart. And wondered just what he was going to do.

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