Jax glanced at Jek when he suggested that perhaps she had gotten sick. “Maybe,” he replied, although he hoped that she was not ill. Of course, he didn’t know what exactly to hope the issue was to begin with, other than to hope that it wasn’t serious, and that he could find some way to help her. He barely spared a glance for the soldiers when they returned with the speeders, as his attention was too focused on An.<br/><br/>He had to fight not to run to her and wrap her in his arms when he felt her fear turn to terror. His hands were balled into tight fists and his jaw clenched as he fought to root himself in place, knowing that there was nothing he could do for her at this very moment. She had chosen to confide in Aeris and not in him, so the only thing he could do was respect her wishes and trust that Aeris could handle it, and that An had a reason for choosing not to come to him just yet.<br/><br/>He felt the tension in his body ease up when An calmed back down. He couldn’t help but wonder what was going on, but he had decided that he would let her tell him when she was ready, so he kept his questions to himself when the two women finally came their way. Jek had reacted first, pulling both of the women into a hug and kissing her head. Jax didn’t move at first, struggling to push down the emotions that rose in him. He pushed away the thought that it should have been him who held her and calmed her fears, knowing that as he was now, he couldn’t offer the calm Jek did.<br/><br/>When Jek had pulled back, Jax initially ignored the question that was asked with the gesture towards the speeder. He moved to wrap his arms around An, trying not to hold her as tightly as he wanted to. He did not share the other two’s talent for conveying things through the Force, but he tried to allow her to feel his love for her, his desire to protect her and support her no matter what she was going through, both through the Force and in the way he held her.<br/><br/>He didn’t hold her as long as he wanted, as they had to get on with their mission, but when he pulled away, his blue eyes gazed down into the amber of her own, not fully releasing her immediately. He brushed a gentle finger across her cheek and tucked a little stray hair behind her ear before he leaned down and kissed her softly, if far more briefly than he wanted to. He reluctantly released her and offered a hand to her, if she wished to take it, before heading towards the speeders.<br/><br/>--<br/><br/>Aeris was glad that her words and the second hug she had offered An-Lok helped to calm her down a little. She could feel the other woman beginning to accept that she was not alone, that she was going to be a mother. It was a lot to take in, so Aeris didn’t move to release her friend, allowing her to take whatever comfort she could in holding her until she was ready.<br/><br/>She was, admittedly, a little taken aback by the question that An-Lok posed once she had taken a deep breath and had gotten a little more control of her emotions. “I…don’t know,” she admitted hesitantly. “I like to think that it is something we can all learn and figure out,” she added with a small smile. “Believe me, being raised by parents doesn’t always put you in a better position to raise a child,” she explained, averting her gaze and taking a deep breath. “Sometimes all you can learn from them is what not to do,” she added softly before exhaling hard and looking her in the eyes again.<br/><br/>“At any rate, I think you’ll be a great mother, and Jax will be a great father. Just trust in each other, trust in the Force, and do the best that you can. That’s all any of us can really do,” she offered with a reassuring smile. She was about to turn and head back towards the two men when An-Lok grabbed her arm again and asked her not to tell them yet. Aeris shook her head and smiled, “It isn’t my secret to tell,” she assured her, placing a hand on her shoulder for a moment before turning and heading back towards the men.<br/><br/>She mulled over the question An had asked her before as they walked back, wondering if she was right in what she had said. If she wasn’t, if the way one was raised determined how fit they were to become parents, what hope was there for her? She swallowed that thought back, reminding herself of the conversation that she’d already had with Jek, allowing herself to believe in those things, in him, in herself, in all of them. She meant what she had said. She did think that they would be fine, that they would be good parents. And one day, she knew in her heart that she and Jek would, too.<br/><br/>She allowed any lingering worries to melt away when Jek smiled at them as they approached. She leaned into him just a little, taking a deep breath and relaxing. She might not always be free with PDA, but there were times when she didn’t mind, or when she even welcomed it. It seemed that Jek always managed to recognize those moments when she needed him. She returned the quick peck he’d given her with one of her own, smiling at him and trying her hardest not to look like a love-struck fool.<br/><br/>“Sure,” she replied to Jek's suggestion, stepping forward, away from An, so that she was next to Jek as Jax moved to hold An in his arms. She touched Jek’s arm gently, moving to kiss his cheek before gesturing to the side with her head, as if to tell him that they should give the other two a moment to themselves. She headed towards the speeders, taking a deep breath as she did, trying to clear her mind and focus on the mission at hand, despite the different thoughts and emotions inside of her all vying for her attention.<br/><br/>Once they reached the speeders, she leaned her back against one and glanced over at An-Lok and Jax before looking to Jek. “I think it might be best if An-Lok pairs up with me today,” she said, thinking aloud, feeling as though An might be more comfortable this way, all things considered. “As much as I would love to stick with you,” she added with a somewhat teasing smile, resisting the urge to once again display her affections for him, if only barely. Perhaps this was for the best anyways, as it seemed that it was now her turn to struggle with the temptation to be distracted by the one she loved.