Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed...I'll respond to you individually... :-)
Chapter 6
Jacen came out of hyperspace and instantly his comm board began beeping at him. He sighed and reached over to answer the call. "Jedi Master Jacen Solo here."
"Master Solo," the Hapan control officer responded, "what is you destination?"
Jacen grinned but there was no mirth in it. Like you don't know. But he said, "The Queen Mother has requested my presence at the palace."
Jacen could almost feel the officer's smirk. "You may precede, Master Solo."
"Thank you." Jacen flipped the comm off and sat back, resting his head on the back of his seat. He was actually wondering how long before everyone began to equate Jacen's disappearances from the Jedi with his appearances in Hapes. He knew it was only a matter of time before the HoloNet got wind of his frequent visits to Hapes. However, suddenly, that possibility scared him like it never did before.
Jysella.
She had haunted his dreams like a phantom on the jump to Hapes. He knew without a doubt that he loved her. He thought of her green eyes that gazed upon him with all the trust and love that any man could possibly want or desire. Is that what drew me to her? That she wants me and me alone? he wondered. That she wanted to understand him like no other ever could, but she would never understand his love that he had for another woman.
Tenel Ka.
She was constantly with him also. Her beautiful grey eyes and the way they looked at him in the height of their lovemaking—trust, love and passion. He had always known Tenel Ka was a passionate woman, even though she never let the galaxy see that side of her. He enjoyed making the usually reserved queen so wild with passion that she screamed his name and clawed at his back. He enjoyed the fire in the silver depths of her eyes when they sparred and he was beating her. And he thought of the profound sadness in them when they said their farewells. Finally, he thought of the child that they had created together. Allana didn't know him as her father, it had been decided long ago that for her to know him as anything other than an old friend of her mother's could prove dangerous. For that reason, they both knew that there could never be a future for them, but he just couldn't let his first love go. He couldn't let his daughter go.
Maybe, that was what attracted him to Jysella. She was what he wished Tenel Ka could be—free to love only him. She could be everything Tenel Ka could never be—his wife, his friend, his partner. She could be the mother of the children that he could openly love and claim. The mother to the grandchildren his mother was constantly hinting that she wanted. But how could he leave Tenel Ka? How could I say good-bye to the nearly twenty years of loving her or the happiness I had found with her? How could I say good-bye to my Princess?
He couldn't. And he decided as he brought the ship down the gravity well, that he had no intention of giving up either one. He knew if he did decided to marry Jysella, Tenel Ka would be upset. Marriage? The thought actually jolted him. However, he knew that was what he wanted eventually for him and Jysella. But how in the galaxy could I keep that from Tenel Ka? But would I have to? She had once told him that if she ever was forced to marry, she would not give Jacen up. Surely, she would understand that he could feel the same way. Of course, he also knew Tenel Ka wouldn't love her legal consort. Well, I'm not ready to figure that out yet. I'll worry about that later.
Several long moments later, Jacen made his way past the palace security by masking his presence in the Force until he was safely in the queen's private apartment. He found only Allana in the nursery with her nanny droid her only company. She must have felt him as he finally dropped the shroud of Force illusion.
"Master Solo!" she called excitedly as she jumped up from her datapad she was working at a lesson on while the droid, who also served as her tutor, looked on. Jacen happily swept the young girl up into his waiting arms as she ran to him. After offering him a quick but loving hug, he put her back onto her own feet and she looked up at him, "Have you come for my party? Mother said that you may come. I'm so happy that you were able to get away, Master."
Jacen felt the sting in his heart nearly every time she referred to him. How he wished she could call him "Daddy."
He forced a smile that became genuine as he talked. She always had a way of bring him out of his dark thoughts. "Princess, of course, I wouldn't miss such an important lifeday. Eight is a very important for age for you."
She smiled and Jacen thought that her entire face lit up. Her brown eyes looked so much like Jaina's, like his, that it sometimes caused his breath to catch. Her long red hair was done in an array of braids that was all Tenel Ka. She was such a good mix of them, taking their best traits from them both. A perfect creation that he still couldn't believe he had a hand in sometimes, but he knew he did. She was his most important accomplishment, his shining star, and he loved her so much that it hurt.
He was so enthralled by her that he nearly missed her words, "I will begin my training to be the queen mother. It is very important, that is a fact."
Jacen smiled at her wording. It was such a "Tenel Ka-ism", as he called her use of "fact". But suddenly a sad observation came to his mind, She is more like Tenel Ka than she ever will be like me.
"Ahh—Friend Jacen, I see you have arrived safely."
Jacen turned from his daughter and his sad thoughts to look upon the beautiful creature Tenel Ka D'jo. He instantly felt his heart swell and he wished he could take her into his arms at that precise moment and kiss her senseless. She was dressed in her typical costume of leather. She must have just come back from a run because he could see the light sheen of perspiration on her forehead and bare arms. Her rich red-gold hair was a twist of braids and her grey eyes flashed with her own hidden love and desire. He never thought she looked more breathtaking or more desirable.
Of course, they hadn't been in the same room together for over six months. Tenel Ka answered a question that Allana had asked, but Jacen missed what was said. He was too preoccupied staring at the woman he loved.
Finally, the queen met his eyes and knowingly smiled, bringing him out of his fog, "I suggest we leave Allana to her studies and retire to the outer rooms."
Jacen bowed and then said once his tongue was able to work again, "I believe that is a good idea, Your Majesty." Turning back to Allana, "Princess, I'll see you later."
She smiled at him again from where she had retuned to her seat at the low table, "That would be great, Master Solo."
Tenel Ka smiled at her and then said to the nanny droid, "Nana, I would like her to take her afternoon nap within the hour." The droid acknowledged the command with a nod of its head. At the pout that the girl gave her mother, Tenel Ka simply responded, "You will have a big day tomorrow and it will not be as enjoyable if you are too tired."
She bowed her head in resignation and said, "Yes, Mother."
They then turned to leave when her words stopped Jacen in his tracks, "Master Solo," he turned back to her and she went on, "will you read to me later? After dinner. I love when you come and see me to bed."
Jacen nearly cried. It took all of his resolve to keep the emotion her words caused in him from leaking out of, not only his eyes, but into his voice and most importantly into the Force. It would only confuse her to feel him. It amazed him that only she could cause the type of response in him that forced him to fight to keep control of his incredible shielding. Finally he smiled and said, "Of course, Princess. After diner." Then he bowed his head and quickly left the room.
Jacen followed Tenel Ka through the outer rooms of the apartment. He knew exactly where he was going and it was to the only other room in the lavishly appointed five rooms she used—her bedroom. The only other room that was marginally used was the dining room, and that was only when she entertained personal guests like him or her father. Her inter sanctum was greatly different from the rest of the palace. The bed was probably the original high old fashioned canopied monstrosity that came with the room, but gone were any royal trappings and replaced with simple, functional bedding and linens.
He eyed the bed and Tenel Ka softly laughed as she turned to face him. "I have to wonder what is so fascinating with my bed suddenly, my friend?"
Jacen gave her a lopsided grin as he stepped over to her. Pulling her into his arms he gazed into her grey eyes and huskily said, "Emmm—I was contemplating what I'd like to be doing there."
She wrapped her arm around his waist and pulled him even closer to her with amazing strength, "Really? But you haven't even properly greeted me yet."
Grinning he said before crashing her lips in a blindingly passionate kiss, "Is that a fact?"
Tenel Ka shuddered and moaned as he deepened the kiss, tasting her, dueling with her tongue, sucking on her full lips until the need for air finally broke them apart. Then his hands were busy at the fasteners of her leather tunic jacket, his desire, or hers, could be denied any longer.
However, before he was able to completely remove the leather garment, she stepped away and flashed him one of her half smiles and he could see the mischief in her eyes. "I believe it would be only proper for me to take a bath before we carry this any further."
Jacen instantly knew what she was driving at and he raised an eyebrow and grinned. Playing along he said as he tossed his outer robe off and slipped out of the tunic he was wearing, "Really? You know I could use a bath as well. I just spent ten hours in hyperspace and nothing is better than a real water bath."
"That is a fact, my friend." She moved toward the door that led to the massive refresher and the huge marble sunken tub within. At the door she looked over her shoulder and flashed him another of her slight mischievous smiles that he found so alluring. "I have a suggestion for the solution of our troubles."
He moved up to stand next to her and grinned roguishly as he said, tone deep with desire, "And what is that suggestion, my queen?"
She took a deep breath as he pulled her into his arms from behind and she looked up at him from over her shoulder, "You could join me. Saves time, saves water."
Jacen loved it when they would banter like this. It was truly a side of her that no one ever saw. It was the real Tenel Ka. "I'm all for saving time and saving water," the words low and husky. He then kissed her again and this time he finished in his quest of undressing her.
Moments later found them locked in each others arms in a tub of hot, foamy water. And after they had gone to the edge of insanity and back, he held her as she leaned her back against him, his legs wrapped around hers. He was nuzzling her neck, kissing the pulse points when he was astonished by the suddenly strong scent of Hapan roses that infused the air with their sweet heady fragrance from the many potted rosebushes scattered around the room. He then realized that Tenel Ka reminded him of the rose famous to her world. A delicately beautiful flower that often caused one to forget its stem contained painful thorns.
Well, if she is my rose, Jysella is my lily, pure and innocent, he thought. She sighed contentedly, closed her eyes and laid her head on his shoulder while he caressed her flat toned belly. Two of the most beautiful flowers in the galaxy and I'm even more blessed because I can possess them both.
He leaned over and whispered into her hear, "I love you and always will."
--------------------------------
All reviews are welcome...
Thanks for reading...