Chapter 4
Jaina could barely contain her excitement as she left Thrawn's office. Finally, at sixteen, she was getting her chance in the wider galaxy. She practically skipped down the hall to her quarters, ready to pack her pilot's bag. Gently, she ran her fingers over the rank insignia she'd been handed on her way out the door. Her bag was packed in minutes, and her smile couldn't be contained as she looked through her room one last time.
"Major Solo, are you ready?" The gleam in Colonel Fel's eyes was unmistakable.
"I've been ready for years, Colonel Fel." She flashed her quirky, lopsided grin his direction. Today, she was reporting as Spike 2. Knowing that Thrawn wanted her in that position to ensure Jagged could protect her didn't dampen her excitement at flying his wing. Jaina was aware that her "uncle" had ordered Jag to keep her safe at all costs. In just a few short hours, she would be on the Chimaera. She had vague feelings and impressions of what her parents had been like, and she'd never told anyone just how closely she held those memories. Perhaps she would soon be able to add real memories to those feelings and impressions.
They talked animatedly as they walked to the hangar, never noticing the speculative gleam in the eyes of the aging Baron as he watched them go.
Her nerves increased dramatically as Jagged communicated with the Chimaera. As she set her clawcraft down in the main hangar, she was sure her heart was ready to explode. Assuming her proper place behind and to the left of Jag, her hands were shaking so badly she could barely get her helmet off. She struggled to breathe normally as Admiral Pellaeon walked towards them. He was in the middle of returning Jagged's salute when he froze, gaze locked directly on her.
"It can't be." The shock on his features was obvious. He struggled to school his features into an impassive mask before finally giving up. Without skipping a beat, Jagged turned to introduce the admiral to his wingmate. She quietly stepped up to Jagged's side to offer a salute.
"I'd recognize your eyes anywhere, Jaina Solo. I have spent the last 16 years wondering what happened to you. After all the Jaina imposters over the years, I'd almost given up ever finding the real one. Please, Major Solo, Colonel Fel, join me in some refreshment. It seems we have much to talk about." Jagged gave Jaina's shoulder a reassuring squeeze as they followed Pellaeon. To someone who did not know her well, Jaina looked perfectly relaxed and at peace. He knew her well enough to know that she was bursting from the tension. She was practically shaking.
He seated her as quickly as he politely could once they reached the conference room. She shot him a grateful smile, trying to tame the rampant butterflies in her stomach.
"Major, I would not feel right satisfying my own curiosity until your parents are notified. Do you object to a holocomm call?"
Jaina could only shake her head, too stunned to trust her voice. Jagged grabbed her hand under the table, and she promptly had his hand ensnared in a death grip, grateful that Thrawn wasn't around to chastise them for it. This was the day she had alternately dreamt of and feared for years.
"Ambassador, Captain Solo, I apologize for the call at the late hour, however I felt this could not wait. I have news."
"Is it Jaina?" There was no mistaking the cautious hope mingled with desperation in the aging captain's voice.
Almost in a daze, Jaina made her way to the holocomm. She didn't hear what Pellaeon was saying, all she heard were her parents, trying to talk through their tears. "Mom? Dad?" Jaina wanted to drop into the holocomm and land in their arms. Her tears fell freely down her face as she and her parents talked over each other before finally settling into a rhythm. She didn't know how long they talked; all she knew was that she didn't want to stop. When they finally had to say goodbye, she wasn't surprised to find Jagged there, pulling her into his arms as she cried.
When Jagged had turned to make his excuses to Pellaeon, he'd been waved off. So it was that he found himself escorting Jaina down the corridor, quietly offering emotional support. It was no surprise that she was distraught, he'd anticipated it. Using his orders to protect her at all costs as an excuse to follow her into the small cabin may be taking it too far, but she needed him. Sitting on her bunk, he pulled her back into his arms, letting her cry until she slept. Gently, he pulled the blankets on the small bunk over her shoulders, and settled into the bunk on the other side of the hall, alert for any indication that she needed him.
It was the blaring of alarms that woke them both the next morning and sent them sprinting to the pilot's ready room. As he headed for the door, he was surprised to feel her hand on his wrist, pulling him back to the center of the now-empty room. Her lips met his, causing all coherent thought to leave his mind. Belatedly, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. She broke the kiss, giving him a roguish smile.
"Our secret?" Jagged nodded agreement, wondering how he could possibly keep it secret when his thoughts were a royal muddle and he just wanted to take her in his arms again. It only took him a moment longer to realize the alarm was still sounding. He led the way to the hangar, running at full speed, Jaina half a step behind him. As he turned the corner into the hangar, he noticed instantly that there was no ladder at her fighter. Before he could call a tech to remedy the issue, she was executing a perfect, arching front flip to the top of the craft. He caught her smile and wink as she dropped into her cockpit. He made sure his helmet was in place before allowing an uncharacteristic smile to grace his features.
With some difficulty, he pulled his mind away from his wingmate, and started issuing orders to his squadron. His soul soared as he directed his fighter out into space. The knowledge that they were headed into battle never had been able to dim the pure joy that he only found in the cockpit. A thrill ran through him at the knowledge that he was heading into battle with Jaina at his side. He knew her well enough to know that her personal issues had been shoved to the side and she was intently focused on the battle at hand. As his clawcraft leapt into hyperspace, he allowed his thoughts to drift back to the young woman flying confidently on his left.
That he cared deeply for her was something he'd long ago accepted, and he'd only recently begun to ponder the concept of moving past friendship. She was without a doubt beautiful, but what drew him was her refusal to be tamed. Jaina was wild and free, openly defying anyone and everyone who attempted to mold her into anything resembling a proper Chiss. He'd given up counting the number of times his father cursed the Solo name as she rushed into a meeting late with hair falling out of a rather messy bun. Despite the number of times Soontir had cursed her rebel tendencies, his father's respect for Jaina ran deep. That the former commanding officer of the 181st had watched Jaina's progress carefully, and was all too happy to sneak her some gift from offworld was no secret to Jag. Should he request her hand in the future, he was sure of his father's approval. Thrawn's approval was another matter. And yet, now that they were in the known regions, he may not need it. The thought of Han Solo knowing he was dating Jaina was terrifying. The fact that he'd protected her during her "stay" in the Unknown Regions had to count for something, right? Perhaps not, given that his father was the reason she was in the Unknown Regions in the first place. Maybe facing Thrawn wasn't as daunting as facing Han Solo after all…
He tried to shove those thoughts away. The last thing she needed was a love-sick human throwing himself at her feet and declaring undying devotion, despite any kisses she might have initiated. She had too much to sort out, and that process would be more than difficult. Regardless of his place in her future, Jagged was determined to make her present as bright as he could. She'd been there through his darkest days; he would be there for her on this path. As his clawcraft reverted to realspace, all thoughts of romance were swept away, swiftly replaced by thoughts of the battle.
The door to her room had barely shut when Jaina was kissing him again. Pellaeon had made a short jump out of system to rendezvous with the New Republic forces, and her brother would quickly be joining them on the Chimaera. As she broke the kiss, Jagged simply held her, rubbing her back and soothing her. She leaned on him, allowing him to comfort her. Jaina would never allow anyone else to comfort her when she was upset, and he relished being the one she allowed past her guard.
He hadn't been holding her long when her commlink chirped, summoning Jaina to the conference room they'd called her parents from the night before. Jag turned his back as she changed from her flightsuit into an off-duty uniform. This time, it was Jagged who initiated the kiss before she left the room. She flashed him the trademark Solo smirk as she walked out the door and made her way to the conference room. Jagged made his way across the hall and slowly lay back on his bed, unable to control the smile that had taken hold of his features. He could get used to kissing Jaina.
As she walked to the conference room, she fought the urge to empty the contents of her stomach right there in the hallway. Trying to avoid dwelling on the idea of meeting her twin, she directed her thoughts to Jagged Fel. He had always been there when she needed him, knew her deepest secrets. Her thoughts, fears, dreams… Jag was familiar with them all. He was the one person she knew had only ever acted out of unselfish interest in her. The one person whose motives she'd never had to question. She had to know, that morning, if the feeling was mutual. What she hadn't been prepared for was his reaction as he returned her kiss. How she'd managed to run to her craft with her knees knocking like a newborn bantha calf was a mystery. She knew he'd been thinking about her during the hyperspace jump, and the intensity of his emotions was illuminating. The depth of her own was terrifying.
What would happen if she disobeyed orders and stayed in the Known Regions? Would he stay with her? Go back to Thrawn? Before she had time to consider how she'd react if he didn't stay with her, the conference room door was sliding open and she was nearly bowled over by a young man she guessed was her twin.
"Jaina, it really is you! I've missed you so much." The twins collapsed, not caring that Pellaeon saw them land on the floor in an undignified heap. They were together, and their Force bond shared more than words could ever express. It was everything Jaina had dreamed of and more.