solo_sword | Jag's hotel- Coruscant- Tuesday afternoon

Jaina put off seeing Jag the first day she got back. Between their conversation before she left and Wuul's request that she convince him to help, she wanted to take some time and really think about things. So the next day she called Jag so she could meet him at the hotel where they usually stayed, since she didn't feel right invading his office again, and there weren't many other places where they really had privacy anymore.

It didn't occur to her that this might put Jag a little on edge about what he might be walking into until he opened the door to let her in. Feeling bad about that, she sent a little reassurance to him through the Force. He wasn't walking into a breakup, but there did need to be a Serious Talk.

Seemingly not sure how to start, he asked, "How did things go?"

Jaina bit her lip. "Can't say."

"Ah."

There was a moment of awkward silence, and she was pretty sure she was picking up some irritation at that from him, too. And he did still have a right to be mad.

"Jag, I'm sorry about what happened," she said. "I shouldn't have put you in that position, I shouldn't have said any of the things I said-"

"Why did you do it? Try to give me back the ring, I mean." She did notice him glancing towards her hand to make sure that she was still wearing it.

Jaina took a deep breath and sighed. "It's just a lot. We barely have any time together even though we're finally on the same planet, our jobs keep forcing us onto opposing sides, if I'm not having to ask you for something, someone else wants me to ask you for something-"

"Wait, what?"

She shook her head. "I'm not getting into it. Bad enough I did that to you before."

He still looked curious, but shook it off. "Do you want to break up?"

"No," Jaina said, as immediately as a person could reply to something. "I love you, and I want us to spend the rest of our lives together. But I don't see any way around all this. Things aren't going to change."

Jag paused, and said, "No, they're not. But maybe they don't need to."

Jaina frowned at him. "What's that mean?"

"It means that you and I need to accept some truths about our relationship. Things we've been trying to get around, rather than accepting," he said. "First, that we both are doing the things we do because we're trying to do the best thing we can. Nothing you've asked me for has been for you. Second, that circumstances will continue to put us at odds. And third, that absolutely none of this is personal."

Her frown deepened. "Are you saying we ignore the big stuff?"

"No, not ignore. Accept it," Jag corrected. "There are times my job won't permit me to tell you everything I know. There are times you're going to have to keep me in the dark because of what the Jedi are doing. All we can really do is know and remember that, and to be as honest as we can about everything else. And to not get angry at each other when we can't do more."

"I wasn't mad that you couldn't help with Daala-"

"You were mad when you first found out she was working with the Mandalorians," he reminded her.

Jaina wrinkled her nose, because he had her on that one. Actually, while this wasn't the most ideal resolution, it was probably the best they had. It was at least worth giving it a try.

"It could work," she said slowly. And then, trying for light, she said, "Are you sure you still want to marry me after all this?"

Jag nodded. "Mostly."

Jaina grinned and walked over to him to give him a kiss. And to punch him in the shoulder for that one.

[THE BOOK TOTALLY SKIPS OVER THIS. NFB, NFI.]