10Etain-Skirata: Haha, you're right! "Union" is actually one of the few Comics (of any kind) that I have read in my life. Well, Jaina was young. Maybe she just didn't remember...
Furyan Jedi 13: Don't worry about it, glad you're back! By the way, I didn't know you were Australian! One of my other stories has a reader in Columbia... wow I feel world famous lol! It's always really cool for me to get international readers, although I also love my fellow Americans :)
Still don't know what happened to Blaze... maybe the ferocious monster called "School" ate her...
I'M JUST BORROWING A LOT OF GEORGE LUCAS' STUFF. IN THE WORDS OF JADE-MAX, "It's George's sandbox, I'm simply wrecking the sandcastles." :)
Jaina opened her eyes to see a pair nearly identical to hers staring back at her. The little boy had a mop of dark hair and a button nose. A grin spread across the kid's face.
"Hi der Mommy!" Judging by the way he was speaking, he seemed to be two or three years old.
"Hi, wheres Daddy?" She asked with a smile. The little boy's eyes shot back and forth.
"Um, He's wiv Sissy makin you a surprise. But don't tell him I said dat, I not supposed to tell you." Jaina laughed and ruffled his hair. He slipped under the blankets with her.
"How did you get so cute?" she asked him.
"In the closet," he answered simply. Jaina laughed at his ridiculous answer. She took note of the room she was in. It was luxurious and spacious. Two large glass doors draped with curtains opened to a balcony. Jaina heard a door open, and a little girl about the same age as her son toddled in. She stopped and cocked her head at Jaina and the little boy.
"Jacen, Daddy's wookin' for you," she said. Shortly after she said this, Zekk walked in wearing pajamas.
"Jacen, I thought you were going to help me with something," he said.
"Yeah, but den I decided to wake Mommy up," Jacen said.
"Jacen! You weren't supposed to wake her up!" Zekk said, patiently, but slightly exasperated.
"Just like I wasn't supposed to tell her dat you made breakfast for her?" Jacen asked innocently. Zekk rubbed his forehead.
"Yeah, just like that," Zekk said as he walked out of the room, only to return moments later with a tray piled with eggs, toast, nerf bacon, and two cups of caf. He set it down on the edge of bed. "Why don't you two go find Uncle Jolvin to play with," he said to his two young children. They scampered off. "Tell me again, why did we have twins?" Zekk asked as he slipped into the bed beside Jaina. Jaina used the force to bring the tray up between them.
"Because we decided we want kids, and it runs in my blood," Jaina said matter-of-factly. Zekk rolled his eyes.
"So why is it we decided to have another?" he asked. It was then that Jaina noticed the pretty significant swell at her belly.
"Because, two kids wasn't enough of an adventure." She kissed him, and he kissed her back.
"Happy anniversary, Jaya," Zekk said, his forehead resting against hers.
"Auntie Jaina?"
"Auntie Jaina?" Jaina woke up the second time she heard her name called. Allana stood beside her bed were she was alone and definitely not pregnant, nor did she have breakfast in bed.
"What is it, Allana?" she asked.
"Grandma says you need to get up and get ready." Butterflies fluttered through her stomach. Today was her wedding day. She slipped out of her bed, immediately missing it's warmth. Walking out of the room, she found the sitting area of her suite transformed. There was the wedding dress that she had picked out with her mother a few days earlier, and the traditional coat that she would wear with it. A makeup artist was setting up a table with various cosmetics, a hair stylist was setting up a similar table near that one. A few of Jaina's bridesmaids fluttered around the room.
"I'm not putting on any dresses, or makeup, or anything like that until I have breakfast and caf," Jaina declared. Leia walked her to the kitchenette, where she produced a plate of crepes from food warmer. She set in before her daughter, and then poured her a cup of caf.
"Eat up, but do it quickly," Leia said to her before turning on her heel to talk to Tahiri; one of the bridesmaids.
"Tahiri, you better have found a pair of shoes..." Leia's voice trailed off. Jaina shrugged. It looked like it was going to be a long morning.
~.~.~.~
Zekk emerged from his sleeping quarters shirtless and yawned. "I was starting to wonder if you would sleep through your wedding," a voice said. Zekk turned to see a human man of average height with green eyes and dark hair. A scar connected his right eyebrow to his scalp. He stood with his back nearly impossibly straight, and a mostly serious look on his face. But Zekk caught the glint of humor in the man's eyes. The shorter man broke him to a rare grin.
"Congratulations, Jedi," Jag said as he moved to embrace his lost friend.
"Jagged Fel, how have you been?" Zekk asked.
"Besides being kidnapped and now hiding in a palace full of finicky Hapan women, not to bad. Given that you're about to marry the woman you've been trailing after for years, you seem to be doing well yourself," Jag said.
"Correct, apparently you do have some brains in that block of duracrete you neck holds up," Zekk shot with a smirk.
"Apparently you haven't found a filter for that gaping hole on your face."
"Seems like you never had that much money as head of state. You never got your face fixed." Zekk said.
"I don't see the point in having my scar erased. I think it sets me apart," Jag said.
"Oh, I wasn't talking about your scar. I was talking about your whole head."
"Would Jaina really want us bantering on her wedding day?" Jag asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"No she wouldn't, but she's naïve if she thinks it's not going to happen..."
~.~.~.~
Jaina sat in a chair. A makeup artist was brushing product on her face while a hair stylist curled her straight, brown hair. She really didn't like getting all girly-fied like this usually, but it was her wedding. It seemed like she didn't really have a choice. Oh well. The makeup artist and hair stylist finished, and Leia ushered her back into her bedchamber, where she changed into her undergarments. Her mother brought in the dress. Jaina slipped into it and waited patiently as her mother laced up the back. It brought back déjà vu; reminding her of when she was younger and was forced to attend banquets, balls, and other formal, frilly events. She turned to look at herself in the mirror, and drew in a gasp. The reality of the situation finally hit her. She was getting married. She was in the last hours of being single. Within less than ten days, her husband would be in charge of a system, with her being second in command. She remembered her relationship with Zekk during and after the Vong war, but before he had disappeared. Most of it had consisted of Zekk offering himself humbly, and her figuratively slapping him in the face. He would sometimes get mad and figuratively slap her back, but often, would turn the other cheek. How many times had she just shoved him away? He had been there for her through almost everything, in fact, the only time he hadn't was during the war when he left from Hapes, but looking back, she knew he had done it so he would not have to put himself in a place where he would have to hurt her. Yet, she just kept putting him as second priority. She bit her lip. He didn't deserve her. He deserved a princess, and all she deserved was heartbreak.
~.~.~.~
Zekk stood in the chapel, a priest stood ready to wed the next General Supreme. He looked out at the small gathering of friends and family, and an overabundance of Hapan security guards. The large doors swung open, and the ceremony began. Jag, the best man, escorted the maid of honor, Tenel Ka, down the aisle. They were followed by other pairs of groom's men and bridesmaids: Avan and Blaze, Raynar Thul and Tahiri Veila, and Myka and Jolvin. The women all wore dark purple with lace gloves. The men all wore solid black tuxedos. And there she was. Han Solo escorted his daughter down the aisle. Jaina was absolutely radiant. Her gown was timeless, a simple, lace A-line dress, with the traditional coat. The veil was simple, not distracting from the minimalistic elegance of the ensemble. Han kissed Jaina on the cheek, and then stepped back. Zekk reached a hand out to take hers. She took it, and Zekk noticed that she was trembling. He took her other hand and gently squeezed them both. She was looking down. Zekk continued to gaze at her face. He watched her say "I do," very softly, and still trembling.
"…and keep her as long as you both shall live?" Zekk only heard that last bit of the question. But it didn't matter; he already knew the answer.
"By the power in me, under the law of Ennth, I pronounce this couple husband and wife."
~.~.~.~
The reception was joyful, but Zekk noticed Jaina was unusually quiet. Something was wrong. He pulled her into a hall leading away from the hall.
"Jaya, what's wrong?" he asked softly. She bit her lower lip and turned her face away.
"I don't deserve you!" she exclaimed suddenly, and surprised him by breaking down sobbing. He wasn't sure what she meant by what she said, but his wife was upset, and it was his job to comfort her. He wrapped his arms around her and just held her close for several minutes, stroking her hair and murmuring comforting phrases. Finally, he pulled away to arm's length.
"What do you mean?" he asked softly, brushing tears away from her face. She poured out about how she had just pushed him away for so long, but he still stayed there with her, how he always put her first but she put him second.
"Jaya, I still think I don't deserve you, but 'who deserves who' doesn't matter; who loves who is what matters, and I can tell you this much; I love you more than I can express, I always have, and I always will. You can count on that." He kissed her softly, and she kissed back, still trembling. He pulled away and smiled at her.
"Feel better?" he asked. She nodded. Zekk wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her back into the festivities.
~.~.~.~
Jaina left the building laughing. She had changed back into Jedi Robes, as did Zekk. He led her to a speeder, and they got in, driving away.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"To our honeymoon, where else?" Jaina rolled her eyes.
"Where's that?" She asked. He reached over and squeezed her leg.
"You'll see soon enough."
After kilometers had passed below them, Zekk finally stopped the vehicle. He took out a blindfold and wrapped it around her head, ignoring her laughing protests. Jaina could see nothing, and Zekk had insisted that she not use the force to sense her surroundings. His arm slid around her waist as he led her somewhere. She heard rushing water, and a light mist settled on her as they walked by the sound. After that, she could hear their footsteps echoing. They stopped.
"Wait here, don't move," Zekk told her. She waited for about a minute, and then he returned, and removed her blindfold. She gasped at what she saw. They were in a cavern made of volcanic glass. A very comfortable bed had been set up, complete with chocolates on the pillows. Scented candles were everywhere, and the light reflected of the walls and ceiling of the cavern. A think, soft rug was on the floor, and behind them was a waterfall, a wall of rushing water covering the entrance to the cavern.
"Is this satisfactory, Mrs. Jaunter?" Zekk asked. He held a bouquet of roses for her. Jaina grinned.
"It's perfect."
Author's note: AWWWWW! I think I started this whole series JUST so I could write this chapter! I feel like my life is complete now... at 1:40 AM... :)
By the way, if you're feeling sad anytime... look up the song "Hello" by Hawk Nelson. That should cheer you up. I think it's impossible to be sad when you listen to that song... Even better look up a video on youtube of them performing it live... That should not only make you feel better, but it might make you smile too :) SMILING IS GOOD FOR YA! Yes, I went and saw that band last week along with one of my all time favorite bands (Fireflight, look them up... They're awesome! Kinda like a more Gothic version of paramore... I really can't describe them other than they're unique and REALLY good, in fact, their song Unbreakable really helped me through a very tough stage of my life)
By the way, the whole 'How did you get so cute?' 'In the closet' thing was taken from my child hood. My family would ask me that question, and I would say that :) I also ate my lip-smackers kiddie lip glosses... I was a strange (but adorable) kid...
Rock on Dudes and Dudettes!
L3VE,
Bethany :) :) :)