It was the start of a brand new year. It had been several months since the New Jedi Order was forced to flee Coruscant. They sought refuge in the Hapes Consortium, and the Hapans gladly gave them refuge. The months that followed involved the Jedi and their families getting settled in.
Vestara Khai woke up in her room in the Skywalker Penthouse. Due to how close the Jedi were with the Hapan Royal Family, many of their needs were taken care of. Luke would've gone with something like a modest apartment or a decent hotel room, but with Vestara under his care, not quite yet technically a part of the family, and the only girl, he figured she could use the space to give her some sense of privacy.
She lifted her blanket off of her, and went to her closet. She unhooked a tan dress that reached just below her kneecaps, and brown trousers. She put on the trousers first, and then put the dress on. Once that was done, she went into the refresher, and began fixing her hair with her comb and brush. Once she was done, she left her room.
She walked into the dining room, and was met with sweet smells of cooking. Luke Skywalker was sipping on a mug of caf, and acting like he was paying attention to the holonet. Ben SKywalker was cooking in the kitchen. She walked up behind him. She stood up on the tips of her toes, and rested her chin on his shoulder. Without turning he said, "Morning Ves."
She wrapped her arms around him in a hug, being careful to not prevent him from cooking. "I didn't know you could cook." She said, using one of her fingers to trace his chest.
"Oh, he can't," Luke called from the dining room, "This is his third attempt."
Ben got flustered, but Vestara giggled. She then realized how childish she sounded, yet it felt as though it were normal. Ben turned to her, hoping to direct attention away from his horrible cooking. Aside from her laugh that he got to hear when they were held by Klatooinian authorities, he had never heard her giggle. "This has to be the first time I've heard you giggle."
This time, it was Vestara who was flustered. Her cheeks burned a deep pink.
Then, the smell of something being left on the stove for too long filled the air. "Ben, I hope you're not burning anything in there." Luke warned.
It was then that Ben and his girlfriend finally realized the burning smell coming from the stove. "Oh, kriff!" Ben yelled. Vestara began laughing as Ben rushed to the sink, filled it with cold water, then used the Force to put the pot in the water. "Language." Luke called. That remark made Vestara laugh harder. She was clenching her stomach with the force of her laughter. She took deep breaths in to calm herself, while Ben restarted again.
Eventually, Ben succeeded in making breakfast on his fourth attempt. He and Vestara set the table. Luke set down his mug. "Why didn't you help?" Ben asked.
Luke looked at his son sternly. "Figured this would be a good learning experience. Though I didn't think it would end that badly."
Vestara chuckled. "Master Skywalker makes a fair point. Failure is the best way to learn."
Ben let out an exasperated sigh. He didn't have much cooking experience because most of his life, he had to eat instant meals due to being involved in one bloody war after another.
Luke gave a reassuring grin, and clapped his son on the shoulder. "No one gets it the first time. You're still learning."
"Which is embarrassing when you consider your age." Vestara added.
"Hey, I'll bet you don't know more than I do!" Ben warned.
Vestara was about to refute Ben's claim, but Luke interrupted. "We can either let the food get cold, or drop this and eat the food."
They calmed down, and began eating the food. It consisted of blue milk pancakes and bacon. After a little bit into eating, Ben swallowed a bite of food, then stabbed a slice of pancake with his fork, then turned to Vestara. With his usual ridiculous grin he said, "Ves, open wide."
She looked over, and shook her head repulsed. "No way! That had your mouth on it!" She pushed his fork away with the Force.
Ben was dumfounded. "So kissing is fine, but you draw the line at eating off of my fork?"
"He got you there." Luke remarked. He took another sip of caf.
"Yes, we kiss. But we don't taste each other's saliva, that's gross."
"She got you there."
"Dad, stop playing mercenary for hire!" Ben then got an idea. He used the Force to lift a different slice of pancake into the air, and towards Vestara. "Now open wide." He said with a devious grin on his face.
Vestara smirked, then engulfed the food with her mouth, and chewed. After chewing to satisfaction, she swallowed it. "You're such a tease."
"I know." Her boyfriend laughed.
After they finished breakfast, Luke opted to clean things up. Ben wanted some alone time with Vestara. They spoke in the living room. Ben had his arm around her shoulder, and she was curled up against him. "Ves? Do you want to go to Hoth? I've got a fun activity for us planned."
She thought for a second. "Sure." She kissed his cheek.
Ben got up afterward, and went to the kitchen. Luke was finishing up with dishes. "Dad, is it alright if I take Vestara with me to Hoth?"
Luke pondered that question. Ultimately, he accepted his son's request. "You two can go. Just be back by next week at the latest."
Ben held his hands up. "I promise."
Ben and Vestara began packing warm clothing, a scarf, 2 sticks, a hat, and some coal. "So, what are we gonna do?" Vestara asked.
"Well I was hoping we could build a snowman perhaps."
Vestara looked at him in genuine confusion. It was then that Ben remembered that the Lost Tribe had likely never encountered snow, let alone had fun in it. "I'll teach you. It's really easy." He promised. Vestara smiled, then nodded.
Jaina Solo Fel woke up from her sleep. She carefully stretched. It was slow, and gentle. She didn't want to harm the new life growing inside of her. She caressed her womb. It stuck out from the rest of her body by 2 centimeters. She was into the thirteenth week of her pregnancy. She looked to her left, but Jagged Fel–Jag–wasn't in bed.
She narrowed her eyes in confusion. Odd. She thought.
Her husband was there when they fell asleep, spooning. Already, she missed the warmth and security of his embrace. She slowly, and carefully got out of bed. She immediately felt thirsty. Her blood volume had increased to support the baby. Her sudden thirst, which usually didn't happen within a minute of waking up, was a result of that. Jag better come back with some juice, or something. She thought.
She went to the refresher, and relieved herself from last night. After flushing, she got into the sanisteam, and was bathed in the moist sanitizing mists. It felt warm against her skin. But it wasn't the same as being cuddled and snuggled by her beloved husband.
After she finished up in the sanisteam, she dried off. They had recently gotten an airdryer to make that task easier for her to account for her pregnancy making some tasks harder.
Then, she sensed her husband's presence in the Force. "Honey, I'm home!" He called, with a little song to his voice.
Once sufficiently dried, she didn't bother wanting to get dressed. She quickly–and carefully–walked out of the refresher. "Where were you?" She asked.
Jag set some bags on the table. "Sorry dear, I went to get the recommended supplies that Cilghal suggested from the last appointment." From one of the bags, he pulled out a carton of Muja Fruit juice, and handed it to her. She smiled lovingly, and took a big swig. After swallowing, she set the carton down. Jag just stared at her wide-eyed. "What?" Jaina asked.
Jag snapped out of his small trance. "Nothing."
Jaina wiped her mouth with her arm. It was then that she realized she was still undressed. Her face flushed, and she went to get clothes on. Jag didn't care because they weren't in public, and didn't have visitors.
After Jaina walked out of the refresher, Jag gently took her into his arms. His hands went straight for her womb. It wasn't very big, but he still caressed it lovingly. Jaina looked up at him, and his eyes met hers. "Excited?" She asked.
Jag smiled and nodded. "We're gonna be parents," his excitement growing, "and we'll have so much fun."
"That won't happen until after five or six years." Jaina remarked.
"I was talking about that." Jag said, knowing that he was sort of lying.
Jaina then grew concerned. "What if I miscarry?" She asked. Jag put his hands on his wife's shoulders. "Let's not worry about that." He urged.
"But… just in case?" A tear fell from Jaina's eye. Yes, she was only nearing the age of 34, but she felt like she'd be replacing her child if it died while in the womb. Jag took her hand, and kissed it. "In the event that does happen," his voice soft and soothing, "we'll mourn the loss. But we shouldn't let it stop us from trying again."
It didn't come out the way Jag had hoped, and he was about to explain himself, but Jaina put her finger to his lips. She knew that he meant to say it in a more caring way, but she understood what he was trying to say. "You're fine. I'm not offended," she leaned against him, and kissed his neck. Jag leaned his head down, and kissed her head. "Thank you." He whispered. He leaned his head around her neck, and licked her nape.
Jaina giggled and shuddered at the sensation. "What was that for?" She asked in a slight giggle.
Jag caressed her cheek, and played with her soft, moist hair a little. "To make up for lost time. You must've been freezing without me."
Jaina giggled again, and got back on the bed. Jag crawled beside her, and hugged her. Jaina quickly returned to embrace, setting her head between his chin and neck. "Next time, maybe leave a note." She said.
"I'll remember." Jag promised. He stroked her back, and she shuddered as he made her nerves tingle in just the right way.
Luke allowed Ben and Vestara to take the Jade Shadow to Hoth. Ben was planning this date for quite some time, and made sure that it was during the months with the least blizzards. The Shadow came out of Hyperspace. The stretched streaks of starlight returned to tiny dots in the Galaxy. Vestara saw the planet that was Hoth, and was in awe. It's light blue hue was more beautiful than she could imagine. I wish it could've been closer to its star. She thought.
"So, how do you build a snowman?" She asked.
Ben began explaining in a simple way. "Well, first you make a palm-sized ball of snow. You roll it around until it's big. Then you get another ball, and roll it around, but a little smaller than the first ball. You then place it on top. Repeat with the third ball, again, slightly smaller, then put it on top. Attach sticks to the middle ball, rocks to the face and body, a scarf around the neck, and a hat."
Vestara thought about what it could've been like to have a normal life. One where she could have fun with her parents, and not just obey them. Ben sensed her sadness. He placed his hand on her shoulder, and gave a reassuring smile. "Hey, it's okay. We will care for you," He paused, and slid his hand down to grasp hers. "I will care for you." Ben brought her in for a kiss. Vestara was too eager, and beat him to the punch, her lips locking against his.
After the Shadow landed, Ben and Vestara walked out into the snowy planet. They were in heavy, dark clothes to ensure their warmth, but that didn't stop them from still huddling close together like penguins. Vestara looked up, and was in awe with the snow. She cast her eyes about, taking in the view. She held out her hand, and watched with a childlike awe as a snowflake drifted into it. She looked up to Ben, smiling. He smiled back, then took her hand.
The cold winds rapped at their bodies. They walked a few meters from the Shadow, then got to work constructing their snowman. Vestara at first attempted to use the Force to form the snowball, but Ben stopped her. "No. I want us to form and roll it ourselves."
"Oh! I'm sorry." She said, and let the snowball drop to the ground.
Ben gently clasped her hands, and kissed her cheek. "Don't be. I know you're still getting used to not using the Force so often. You're okay." Vestara nuzzled his chest.
They began rolling a new ball of snow into the base of the snowman. Ben could sense Vestara's giddiness. "We should do this more often." He suggested. Vestara's excitement spiked once he said that. "Yes! I'd love to!" Ben couldn't help but find her more adorable.
Once they finished the base, they began working on the middle part. After a little while of rolling, it was ready to be placed on top. Vestara and Ben knelt down, and placed their hands underneath the ball. "On three. One… two… three!" Ben counted. They lifted the ball at the same time, then carried it over to the base. After it was set down, they began making the final ball.
After the head was finished, they began dressing it. Vestara put pieces of coal on the middle ball. Ben fixed 2 sticks to the middle ball. Then, they put the coal eyes, mouth, and nose on the head. Vestara couldn't help but smile bigger and bigger as they got closer to finishing. Ben was getting more excited too.
He wrapped the scarf around the neck, and his girlfriend put the hat on. Once it was all finished, they took a few steps back, and admired their work. Ben got out his holorecorder. "Stand in front of it." he instructed. Vestara did so.
"Smile!" Ben added. Vestara gave a wide, beaming smile, and the image was saved. Ben walked over, and handed it to her. "Now you do the same for me."
They went through the same process. After that, Ben used the Force to hold the holorecorder at a distance, while he and Vestara put their arms around each other's shoulders. Vestara lifted her leg up behind her, and the holopic was taken.