Title: Clear As A Bell
Author: Sw (aka Jeditheskyisblue)
Rating: Teen
Summary: Mara waited too long to accept Luke's offer of marriage or did she?
Author's note: I wrote this for a challenge I believe from a yahoo group about how the Emperor got Mara Jade as a child.
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars and am making no money off of this story. I just wrote it for fun.
Part 1
Mara Jade stood behind a corner and watched as Luke Skywalker and his one time girlfriend, Callista, walked down the hall. They were side by side, talking about something.
Mara was too far away to hear what it was. She knew that if she really wanted to know, all she would have to do is reach out and touch Luke's mind. He would let her in. 'The only reason she stopped herself from doing that, was because Luke would then know she was there watching him.' She didn't want that at all. She couldn't waste all the hours she had spent making sure he didn't know she was there.
There was no way she would just throw that away. Just to know what he and his girlfriend were talking about. 'Probably making wedding plans,' she thought to herself.
Her heart ached because that could have and should have been her. He had asked her only three short months ago to be his wife. Now that seemed like another lifetime. Why did she have to go tell him she needed time to think about his offer? She should have told him 'Yes' and jumped into his arms. But instead, she had sent him away, giving her time to think, and him time to find his lost love.
Mara wanted nothing more than to ran to the Jedi Master this second and tell him she loved him. But he already had someone to fill the role of love of his life and it killed her that it was Callista instead of her. "Love is pain" The Emperor's voice in her mind said. Mara was only now seeing that he was right. Love only brought pain.
As Callista leaned closer towards Luke to whisper something in his ear, Mara felt a tear run down her cheek. Any chance she had for Luke Skywalker to love her had been blown away by Callista's smile. Mara's hand went to her stomach and she whispered to the life that was growing in side of her.
"It's okay Ami. You're going to be a part of you Father's life even if I'm not." She still smiled at herself every time she called her baby Ami. She didn't know where that name came from, only that it just popped in her mind one day when she was feeling her daughter's presence inside of her.
She knew Luke would be happy to learn he was going to be a father. Well, she hoped he would. All he ever talked about was his niece and nephews. Callista would make a wonderful step-Mother. Of that Mara was sure. It still didn't stop her heart from breaking at the sight of Luke and Callista together. All Mara waited for now was for Luke and Callista to tie the knot. Once that was done she would go to her former lover and tell him about his impending Fatherhood
She didn't want Luke if he didn't love her. But she wasn't going to steal his only child away from him like the Emperor had done to her Parents. She wished that it would happen soon and this could all be over with. Her heart, on the other hand, didn't want it to end like this. It called out to Mara to stop Luke from making a mistake.
But it just wouldn't listen. Luke was in love with Callista not her. Yet even in her own mind, that didn't sound or feel right.
How could a man go from loving someone three short months ago to loving someone else? To be fair, he had loved Callista first. But he had sworn to her that he didn't love Callista anymore and that she was the only woman in his heart now and forever. Oh, how things change, Mara thought.
Luke glanced around. He had a funny feeling he was missing something important out there.
Callista looked at the love of her life and smiled. "Why don't you go in, Callista? I have a feeling that I'm needed out here," Luke said as he glanced at the wall that stood a good 50 feet ahead of them.
"Okay, don't be too long. I'll see you inside," Callista said, as she left Luke alone. He didn't even notice her leave as he headed for the wall in front of him. He had a feeling someone important was waiting there for him.
As he rounded the corner what he saw brought a smile to his face. Mara Jade stood there, wearing a black jump-suit, with her fiery red hair loose.
She was shielding herself, masking her presence from him. But she couldn't sense him either. Luke studied her for a moment, thinking she had never looked so beautiful.
He had been searching for her for months. He had something important to tell her. Something he could only say in person. Knowing Mara she would probably try to kill him before he could finish.
"Mara have you been crying?" Luke asked as he saw a tear ran down her beautiful, sad face. At the sound of his voice Mara's eyes flew open. This wasn't part of the plan. Luke wasn't supposed to find her now. This could destroy her whole plan.
Luke quickly gathered her into his arms and murmured into her hair, "Why are you so sad?" She pushed herself away from his embrace, refusing to let him have an ego boost.
"Is this about Callista and Me?" Luke asked, with a glimmer of hope in his tone, which Mara interpreted as his ego kicking in.
"I couldn't care less what you and your body switching girlfriend do," Mara said bitterly as she backed away from the man she loved with her whole being?
She hadn't meant to pick on Callista like that, it just came out.
"That wasn't very nice to say Mar" Luke said trying not to laugh. He had never seen Mara jealous before. Luke using his nickname for her sent her heart racing.
It also started her temper up as well. How dare he call me that when he's going to marry Callista!
"Skywalker, I'm not nice, we both know that. If you don't mind I have to be going." With that said she pushed her way past the Jedi Master, leaving him to watch as she walked away. A strange emptiness settled inside him without her close by.
He was just about to turn and enter the hall again when he heard a voice tell him to, "Follow Jade." He looked around but no one was there. He checked with the Force and still found no one. But whoever or whatever it was had told him to follow Mara so he decided to do just that.
As he rounded the corner, his senses drew his eyes to the ground in front of him where Mara had collapsed. His heart started to race. Was she okay? Had someone hurt her? If they had, he would kill them. (I'm fine Skywalker I just past passed out. You can go back to the party now.) Mara sent him as she opened her jaded green eyes.
Luke smiled at her and felt happy that she was, in fact, okay. "I'm afraid you're stuck with me for the rest of the night. Why don't I take you to the med center so we can find out what happened?" Luke suggested. He noticed Mara's face turn pale at his suggested.
"I have the flu. Don't worry you don't have to leave your girlfriend hanging on my account." Mara said as Luke offers her, his hand to help her up. "Mara I've never heard of the flu making people pass out." Luke stated. He didn't believe a word she just told him. "It's not my fault you grew up on a dust ball and didn't learn anything" Mara retorted as she took his hand.
Luke pulled her to her feet and smiled. He loved that he and Mara seemed to get into all the time. It made him feel normal again. If one could call making friends with the person who wanted nothing more than to kill you for a long time normal.
"Okay, no med center. But I'm still seeing you home Jade." Luke said in his Jedi Master voice. Mara knew that once he turned into Jedi Master mode there wasn't anyway to stop him from doing what ever it was he wanted to do.
"Okay Farmboy. I'll lead the way. But shouldn't you tell your date you're leaving?" Mara asked.
He just smiled that farmboy smile and replied. "Callista came with Leia and Han, I met them here. I'm sure they can bring her home. After all she is staying with them." Luke said as he pulled Mara forward.
Mara just smiled and took the lead. If Luke had ever left her at a party to go help his 'ex' she would kill him. But that was just like the Farmboy she loved. It was such a shame that he didn't love her.
TBC…..