"Ben, don't go too far," Mara called to a four year old already 20 feet ahead of her. "Stay in sight.'
"There's no danger here, Mara" Luke assured his wife. "Ben is fine."
"His last name is Skywalker." Mara bent to take off her shoes. She loved the feeling of sand beneath her feet. She had chosen the remote beach on Ossus as a vacation spot just for that sensation. "Ben is always in danger, even on this island."
It reminded her of the synthetic island Lando once owned on Coruscant. The one Luke and Mara had been vacationing on when Mara had relapsed during pregnancy. It was a stressful time for the galaxy. Politicians were becoming more and more corrupt. The Skywalkers, though retired were arguably under more stress than any other family in the galaxy. With the emergence of a terrorist group petitioning the organized government that had been the New Republic, their family had split apart. An ailing Han Solo had gone into hiding after an assassination attempt with his wife, while their children Jacen and Jaina had taken opposing sides in this new dispute.
Jacen had shocked everyone with his decision to openly condemn the corruption of politicians. Under the rule of the republic, there was peace, there were power hungry people in position, but there was peace, which Jacen held above all else. He had yet to openly support the new rebellion, which compared itself to the one that toppled the empire, naturally. Jaina kept faith in the Republic, and her status as Colonel.
Luke knew the time was rapidly approaching when there would be a stand off. Hostile situations were unavoidable. He knew that his family was a target or both sides, and whichever side he chose, he would face retributions from the other. From a sort of implied exile, to assassination attempts. He understood why Yoda had gone into hiding. Luke wondered if Obi-Wan's hut was still uninhabited.
"A war is coming, Luke." Mara said, as if she was reading his thoughts. "We can't hide from it forever."
Luke nodded and watched Ben run along the beach.