{{ simply being loved - chapter 02
Jacen rifled through all of his drawers, finding suitable clothes to bring along to Hapes. The Solo family, along with many others, would be staying there for two standard weeks, long enough for the ceremonies and some added time off; which they all needed.
His comlink beeped, "Jacen?"
He picked it up and spoke into it, "Mom. Hey."
"Your father's almost ready to go. He's putting his stuff in the Falcon right now."
"Ha. It'll be at least another half an hour before we leave, knowing him," Jacen said, laughing out loud.
He heard his mother chuckle, "I know. But come on. I'd like to get there before the ceremonies start. Aren't you excited about seeing everyone again? Tesar? Zekk? Tenel Ka?"
A knot formed in his stomach as his mother recited the last name.
"Of course I'm excited."
"Then let's get a move on."
"Done," Jacen set the comlink down and picked up his bag.
Jacen threw his stuff down beside the bench on the Falcon and slid into the seat behind the dejarik board. Jaina came in moments after him, chucking her bag on the ground.
"Alright Jasa! Family trip!"
Jacen could hear the sarcasm dripping from his sister's voice. He laughed.
"You okay? You sort of left in a daze this morning."
Jacen nodded, "Fine. It was just that a few random thoughts managed to fester in my brain and I had to go meditate for a few minutes."
"As long as you feel better," A smile was shot in his direction. He just looked at her, an expression of nothing. "Oh come on. It'll be fun on Hapes! We get to see everyone... No Ta'a Chume. Tenel Ka gets to boss everyone around. It's a gorgeous place."
He let out a chuckle, much to Jaina's relief, and leaned his head back on the seat, "I'm taking a nap. Tell me when we get there."
His sister smirked and shrugged her shoulders, "I guess that's a good idea."
Han Solo, Leia Organa Solo and their twins, Jacen and Jaina Solo, were on their way to Hapes. Leia wanted the Solo family to have some time together alone, since it had been years since they spent time to themselves.
About halfway to their destination, Leia walked out of the cockpit and into the open lounge to check on her children, "Hey guys, I---"
She saw them curled up, sound asleep. Jacen, seated cross-legged on the bench with his head back against the wall. And Jaina, lying down, with her head resting on her brother's leg. Everything was quiet, except for the soft sounds of the twins' breathing.
Leia choked on her words and just stared.
It was peaceful.
She hadn't seen them together, this bloodless and calm since they were little.
It made her incredibly happy and at the same time, deeply morose. She could just picture Anakin's slightly smaller form under the holo-board, snoring like his father, with Jaina's arm hanging over him, like a protective canopy.
She smiled and turned away from the scene quietly, as tears welled up in her eyes.
Entering back into the cockpit, her husband turned to look at her.
"What are they up t--- what's wrong?"
Leia shook her head and pointed back towards the lounging area, "I'm never letting anything happen to them."
Han Solo slid out of his seat and walked back to check on the kids. Moments later, he reappeared beside Leia, with a small lopsided grin on his face, and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, "They're old enough to take care of themselves now. But if it makes you feel better, we'll always be here for them."
The sight almost made Han choke up and cry also. But he wasn't about to tell Leia that.
"Danni? What are you saying?!" Jacen yelled as loud as he could to the tall, blonde scientist.
Her mouth was moving. But he heard nothing. She was standing in between Tahiri and Jaina, who were also yelling soundlessly. Danni was jamming her finger in the direction of Jacen, pointing to something behind him, and screaming about it.
Jacen was never one to read lips, so he tried to turn around with that same slow-as-bacta feel.
His heart stopped.
The first thing he saw was the metal arm. Black. Shiny. Gushing and dripping some sort of dark liquid.
Next he saw her face. The same face he fell in love with. Framed with the same copper-red hair. Except it was contorted into a look of anger... a look of ferocity.
After that, he saw the blood red light clash with his viridian. They were fighting.
Fighting.
Blood red and viridian.
Dark side and light side.
Tenel Ka and Jacen Solo.
No...
Jacen awoke with a start, jolting Jaina awake.
"Sithspawn, Jacen!" Jaina said, after ramming her head into the underside of the dejarik board. "What the kriff are you trying to do?!" While rubbing her head, she aimed a suprisingly nasty scowl in his direction until she saw the look of shock on his face and the beads of sweat rolling down his temples.
"What...?"
"Jaya..."
She was disturbed by the weakness and desperation seeping into his voice.
"Jacen?"
He just stared aimlessly, right through her, a glaze coating his dark brown eyes.
"Jacen!?"
Leia called up from the cockpit, "We're landing now guys. Fasten up."
Jaina didn't even hear her, "Mom! Something's wrong with Jacen!"
She watched as her brother's eyes rolled shut and his body slid off of the bench, collapsing to the cold floor of the Falcon. Through the Force, she could feel mental pain radiating off of him and she didn't know what to do. She didn't know how to help.
She didn't even know what was wrong.
"Jaina, what are you back here yell-- Jacen!" Leia rushed to her son's body and fell to her knees beside him, opposite of Jaina.
"Han!" Leia yelled as loud as she could. She knew the Falcon had landed already, one of it's few smooth landings.
Han appeared in the doorway, saw the situation and then vanished again, to call down for help.
A few passing moments.
Han rushed out of the cockpit again, and over to his family, "The medics will be here any minute."
"Jasa... what's wrong?" Jaina placed her hands on her brother's arm and closed her eyes.
All they could do was wait.
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