Another song with the chapter! Do You Believe in Magic? by Aly and AJ. # will tell you when to start playing it. Plus, you'll get to meet some more OCs in this chapter...

Chapter Fifteen: Corellians Know How to Party

Jane giggled as she hid behind Qui-Gon. Jane, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon had been invited to a party on Corellia by Denn and Jace to celebrate Denn's sister's wedding anniversary. Yoda—who was just as happy as Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan that Jane had a friend her own age—had overheard that Jane had gotten a new dress for the occasion, and demanded that she model it.

Qui-Gon, smiling at the girl behind him, knocked on the door to the Grandmaster's quarters. Yoda opened the door and Jane stepped into view.

"The belle of the ball, you will be!" Yoda declared as Jane twirled in her dress; the top piece was a velvety dark green while the rest of the body was a silky cream color. She had her hair pulled back with a black headband decorated with a rose on one side and wore black dress shoes with white tights.

Happy with Yoda's approval, Jane could hardly stay still over the next few days, anxious to go to Corellia and see Jace. A year had passed since they first met, and they were always writing and calling each other; they even got to see each other a few times. But now Jane was going to get to meet Jace's friend Marcus and his cousin Maria, both of whom Jace talked about a lot.

The day of their departure, Jane was helping Obi-Wan bring the bags onto the ship when she noticed Mace Windu hanging out by the hanger. Noticing that Jane had seen him, Master Windu beckoned her over.

"Master Yoda told me about your new dress," Master Windu said, reaching into the sleeve of his robe. "And I thought, what is a new dress without new earrings?"

The Jedi pulled out a small velvet box and pressed it into Jane's hands. Opening it, Jane found a pair of gold earrings with green stones the color of her eyes.

"I saw them the other day and thought of you," Master Windu said; Jane knew this was a lie, but was not going to call the Jedi on it. The box had the year the earrings were made on it and both the box and earrings looked brand new; the date was eight years previous. The designer of these earrings didn't allow anything to be sold two years after it was finished. What was leftover was given to smaller stores for cheaper prices and were always snapped up instantly. Over the course of eight years, there would be nothing left of that stock, especially nothing that had never been worn previously.

"Thank you, Master," Jane said, bowing. "They're beautiful."

Master Windu muttered something about it not being a problem, patted her shoulder and told her to have a good time on Corellia before walking away.

"Those are lovely," Qui-Gon said, having asked Jane what the other Jedi had given her. "I think those will match your dress perfectly."

"Yes, they will," Jane said, settling into a seat behind Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. "Master?"

"Yes, Jane?" Qui-Gon asked, plugging the coordinates into the navacomputer.

"Did… did Master Windu know my mom?" Jane asked.

"Yes, they were in the same year," Qui-Gon said. "They were good friends. Why?"

"Oh, no reason," Jane said.

What she didn't say was that she knew that Mace Windu was always watching her, but could never meet her eyes. He was always nice, but a little stiff and awkward around her. More than once did the Jedi start to call Jane 'Jocelyn'. The earrings only confirmed Jane's suspicions.

Mace Windu had been in love with her mother.

Jane grinned as Jace brought her into a hug.

"Force, I've missed your scruffy-looking nerfherder-ness," Jane said, squeezing him tightly.

"Missed you, too, Jainy," Jace said, giving her his trademark lopsided grin. "You look very pretty."

"You've cleaned up nice, as well," Jane said as Jace took her on his arm. "So, when do I get to meet the famous Marcus and Maria I've heard so much about?"

"Right now. Maria's dragging Marcus this way as we speak," Jace said with a laugh.

A girl somewhere between the ages of seven and eight came bounding towards them. She was very short her age, with a slender figure and arms and legs that, while thin, were also muscled. Her blonde hair was in corkscrew curls and she had big emerald green eyes that twinkled and a large smile.

The boy she dragged along was easily a foot taller than her and twice as wide as she was. He had a broad chest and square shoulders, his dark red hair cut in a military style and his fair skin was coated with freckles. He wore all green and his dark blue eyes flickered around the room, trying to take everything in. He had a bit of a nervous look on his face, and seemed to be a little uncomfortable around the girl pulling him. Jane knew at once that this boy was Force-Sensitive, both by feeling him through the Force and from Jace telling her that Marcus was the son of two Corellian Jedi, his parents known for their unique forms of Healing.

"Hi!" Maria said, stopping in front of Jane and Jace. She instantly threw her arms around Jane, standing on her toes with ease to do so. "Ohmygosh, I can't believe you're here in the flesh! I've been dying to hug you since I got your first letter!"

Jace laughed.

"Maria, let go of her so she can breathe," Jace chastised lightly.

Maria did so and reluctantly got off her toes, still grinning. Jane couldn't stop grinning herself. Shortly after Jane and Jace had started their correspondence, Jace sent her a letter with a warning. Apparently, he had told Maria about Jane and now Maria was dying to talk with Jane. The two instantly got along and frequently wrote letters to each other. Maria told Jane all about her life on Endor and that she was training to become a professional dancer. In fact, as she had confided in her last letter to Jane, the day after the party Maria was going to audition at the Corellian School for the Arts.

"You'll forgive me if my greetings aren't as warm as Maria's," The red-haired boy said, grinning slightly. "However, no one can be as friendly as Maria." He stuck out his hand. "Marcus Jade, at your service. Jace has told me a lot about you."

"All exaggerations, I'm sure," Jane said, taking Marcus' hand. "Jane Mago."

Jace grinned, happy to see everybody getting along. The four spent the entire night together: Marcus was interested to learn that Jane had already completed her lightsaber, ("Lucky. Dad won't let me till I'm thirteen."), discussed Marcus' recent trip to see his Jedi anthropologist uncle, dodged Asana skillfully, and introduced their guardians to each other. Maria, seeing her parents in deep conversation, pulled Jane aside.

"We need to get ready," Maria whispered into Jane's ear. Jane grinned and nodded, and the two girls scurried off, giggling.

"Oh, Force, what are they doing?" Jace asked, watching Jane and Maria climb on stage.

Marcus shrugged.

"I have a feeling we're about to find out." Marcus said.

Everyone was surprised to see the two girls on stage, except Qui-Gon and Denn, who were in on the girls' plan.

"Hello!" Maria said cheerfully into her microphone, a large grin on her face. "For those who don't know us, I'm Maria, Lizzie and Louis' daughter. And this is my close friend, Jane Mago." Jane waved at the crowd, her own smile on her face. "Jane has agreed to help me with this little surprise for my parents. The song we're about to sing is special because my Dad proposed to my Mom after they danced to this song, and played this at their wedding ten years ago today. Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad."

Maria nodded at the DJ, who started a song.

# (Jane Maria Jane and Maria)

"Do you believe in magic," Maria started to sing. "In a young girl's heart? How the music can free her whenever it starts. And it's magic if the music is groovy, it makes you feel happy like an old-time movie."

"I'll tell you about the magic that'll free your soul," Jane took over. "But it's like trying to tell a stranger 'bout rock n roll. If you believe in magic, don't bother to choose if it's jug band music or rhythm and blues. Just go and listen. It'll start with a smile it won't wipe off your face, no matter how hard you try."

"You're feet start tapping and you can't seem to find how you got there so just blow your mind.

"If you believe in magic, come along with me. We'll dance until morning till it's just you and me. And maybeif the music is right, I'll meet you tomorrow so late at night.

"We'll go a dancing baby then you'll see all the magic's in the music and the music's in me, yeah. Do you believe in magic? Yeah. Believe in the magic of a young girl's soul, believe in the magic of rock n roll. Ohhhh, talking about magic.

"Do you believe, like I do, do you believe in magic?"

"Do you see it, Denn?"

Jace and Marcus turned to see Qui-Gon and Denn standing behind them, watching them.

"Yes, yes I do," Denn said with a smile.

"See what?" Marcus asked.

"The look in your eye," Denn explained. "Both of you have it."

"What look?" Jace asked, his brow furrowed.

"The look that says, plainly and clearly, that you're in love." Qui-Gon said, his blue eyes smiling.

Both boys started sputtering, cheeks red, trying to deny the Jedi's remarks to the older men's amusement. Seeing a losing battle, the two excused themselves and ran off.

"We're not in love," Marcus said. "Right, Jace?"

"It's impossible," Jace said. "Dad and Master Qui-Gon must have had too much to drink tonight."

"Clearly," Marcus said. "I mean, where would they even get that idea?"

Neither boy made direct eye contact with Jane or Maria for an hour.

As the party wound down, the four kids decided to take a walk in the garden. Half-way down the path, though, Maria shivered from the cold night air. Marcus offered to get her his jacket, which Maria accepted. They both went back inside, and Jace and Jane sat on a bench to wait for them.

"So," Jace said, leaning against the back of the bench.

"So," Jane repeated awkwardly. It was the first time they had been alone all evening.

"Am I allowed to call you Jaina in private?" Jace asked. Jane scowled.

"No," She said sharply. "You ask me that every time we see each other and I always give you the same answer. Why do you keep asking?"

"I like the name Jaina," Jace said with a shrug. "It's elegant and exotic all at once. It's the dynamic mark of a beautifully composed piece. When I say it, it makes the perfect sound and is pleasing to the ear. It fits you perfectly. I wish you would go by it."

"One, stop talking in fancy speak. You're way too young for that. And two, you know why I can't," Jane said, glad of the dark light so that he couldn't see the sudden change in color in her face.

"I know why, but I don't know why," Jace said, adding emphasis. "Are you ever going to tell me what the deal is with your dad? He's dead, right, and you never knew him. Why is it so important that it stays a secret?"

"Why does everyone want to know about my father?" Jane demanded, pointedly turning her head away.

"Because you're a puzzle," Jace said. "Everyone wants to solve you. You're mysterious and enchanting."

"Why? Why can't I be a mystery?" Jane asked, turning briefly to look at Jace.

"Like I said, you're a puzzle. You form a beautiful picture, but there are so many missing pieces that it won't come together. Your father is a part of you. A dark part, as you point out, but it's important to see the whole picture. Besides, what difference does it truly make?"

"What do you mean?" Jane asked, turning to face Jace again.

"Do you seriously believe that anyone—Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Maria, Marcus, me—will change how they feel about you if they know who your dad is?"

"Stop calling him my 'dad'. He fathered me, yes, but I could never give him the title 'Dad' like you do with your father. That title implies love and affection. Knowing that person. I never had that," Jane said. She looked at her hands. "And do I truly believe you and the others will change how you feel about me? No. The rest of the Jedi population currently residing on Coruscant? Yes."

"Are they really that bad?" Jace asked, his brow furrowed. Jane had mentioned that she had a few run-ins with some unsavory members of the Order, but she always seemed to blow it off.

Jane nodded.

"I decided a long time ago that I will only tell when it is life-or-death necessary or when I have no say in the matter," Jane said.

"When you have no say? You make it sound like someone's going to set an interrogator droid on you," Jace said in a teasing tone. His smile dropped when Jane scowled. "Jane, what-"

"C'boath wants to set an interrogator droid on me," Jane said. "He tried a few weeks ago. Cornered me after my lessons. Tried to lead me off, said Qui-Gon asked him to take me to him. Like I couldn't see through that lie. Qui-Gon sensed my distress and he and Obi-Wan both rounded the corner not a minute later. Obi-Wan took me off and while Qui-Gon spoke with C'boath. He was livid. C'boath didn't even try to deny what he was doing. Master Yoda has arranged it so that C'boath is on missions whenever I'm at the Temple."

Jace was stunned.

"That's… that's just sick," Jace said with a sneer. "What kind of psycho would try to set an interrogation droid on a seven year old!"

"I just told you, C'boath, otherwise known as the Temple's resident Twisted Duck," Jane said bitterly. "Half of me just really wants to tell, get it over with, but I know that if I do, everything will get a lot worse." For the first time in their conversation, Jane met eye contact with Jace. It broke his heart to see her hazel eyes filled with tears. "I'm scared, Jace, I really am. I'm in too deep. I'm at the bottom of the hole, but I keep digging myself in deeper."

Jace leaned over and wrapped his arms around her shoulders and rubbed her back as she leaned her head against his shoulder, taking deep breaths.

"It will all be alright," Jace whispered in her ear. "I promise you, everything will be alright."