CHAPTER 2

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The lightwhip slashes dangerously close to my head. I dodge swiftly to the right, avoiding the strike. Diving into a roll, I rise up on steady feet and parry against my attacker. She is angry that I have not succumbed to her yet, but I refuse to back down.

I push her back, using all of my strength. She screams in frustration and jumps back further, bringing the full length of her lightwhip against me. But I am ready for her. I throw my lightsaber toward her, slicing upwards and aiming toward her head. She swings her lightwhip up to block. I reach for my blaster to attack her while she is defenseless, but it is already in her hand before I can touch it. I grab for my vibroblade instead—

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"I'm sorry, Master Skywalker, but I just do not understand why the Jedi Academy needs additional funding. According to the documentation that you provided, the Academy is operating on budget. Why should we allocate more funds to the Jedi when there are numerous other, beneficial endeavors across the galaxy that are not operating on budget and could benefit greatly from credits we'd be giving the Jedi Order?"

The simpering tones of Borsk Fey'lya ripped me from of my daydream. I bit my lip and clamped down on my emotions, knowing that Luke would sense them. I did not want to distract him during such an important meeting. Even still, he glanced at me over his shoulder. It only lasted a moment, but it was enough to let me know that he'd sensed my emotions and that he could ask for a short break if I needed one. I'm fine,I sent to him, although I wasn't sure if I was. There was something odd about this dream, although I couldn't put my finger on it. Unlike the others, the ending was foggy. But for some reason I knew that was not necessarily a bad thing.

I gave him another reassuring smile. There was a mental caress, and then his attention shifted fully back on Fey'lya and the task at hand. "Of course, Councilor, I understand your concerns." Luke was much more patient with Fey'lya than I'd ever be, which is probably why I was able to get out of participating in the meeting. I would have ditched it all together, but I decided to attend at the last minute, just for moral support. I figured that Luke deserved it. Plus, I knew I'd hear all about the meeting later on anyway, so I might as well be there to witness it firsthand. "But the Jedi Order cannot grow if we continue to remained centered on Yavin IV on a permanent basis," Luke continued, the picture of composure.

"Is your Academy no longer operating to your standards?" The Bothan's face furrowed into what could only be interpreted as fake concern.

I felt the telltale stirrings of annoyance welling up within my husband, but as always he reached down into that vast well of Jedi patience. That patience would serve him well as a father. "Yes it is, very much so. That is why we wish to expand our ranks and open additional training facilities on other worlds."

"Additional training facilities?" Fey'lya sounded surprised, although he had no reason to be so. Building new facilities was clearly spelled out in the documentation that Luke had previously provided.

Luke shifted in his seat and ran his fingers through his hair, one of his major signs of frustration. I let out a tiny giggle. It took a lot to frustrate my husband, but politics was one surefire way to do the job. "Yes, Councilor," he said in clipped tones. "It is clearly outlined in the proposal that Jedi Solusar forwarded to your office over a week ago in preparation for this meeting."

"Of course." Fey'lya made a dismissive gesture. "I merely hoped you could provide some clarification on why new trainees cannot be brought to the Yavin IV facility, instead of spending vast amounts of funds to open new facilities elsewhere."

"Well, that is how we've been operating for the past several years," Luke said, once again the measure of patience. "But in order for the Jedi Order to spread across the galaxy, as it once did, we need to literally do just that. Open up additional facilities elsewhere. Teach people that they no longer have to fear the Jedi. That we are the defenders of peace and justice throughout the galaxy."

Before that meeting, I had never before witnessed a Bothan roll his eyes. But Fey'lya did so, right in the middle of my husband's impassioned speech. I narrowed my eyes in anger, and then lowered my right hand to my stomach as I felt a wave of nausea. I took in a few deep breaths and let them out slowly, trying to calm my upset stomach.

Luke turned around fully this time and his eyes locked with mine. You okay?

I nodded and motioned for him to turn around. I'm fine. The baby just doesn't like Fey'lya. Now go on, pay attention!

Luke smiled at my joke and did as ordered, although I could tell he'd return to the topic later on. Fey'lya glanced at the two of us, ready to pounce. "Is there a problem, Master Skywalker?"

"No, no problem," Luke said quickly. It had not yet been made public that I was pregnant. All of our friends and family knew, but we saw no reason to make a formal announcement to the galaxy as we did when we got engaged. We didn't want our baby to be part of a media circus. Once I started showing, the holoshills would do enough talking on their own.

I glared back at Fey'lya, almost daring him to call me into the meeting, so I could give him a piece of my mind. But he backed down. He'd never liked me very much, even after I aided the New Republic during the Thrawn crisis.

"Well Master Skywalker, the committee has looked over your proposal. For now, it seems sound and we will present it for approval in the full Senate."

Luke nodded. We'd both predicted that Fey'lya would give him a hard time, but in the end would acquiesce to the requests. "And when do you anticipate that vote occurring?"

Fey'lya shrugged. "I will have my secretary contact you when additional information arises. Until then." He stood in abrupt dismissal. Luke again kept his annoyance in check as he shook the Bothan's hand while remaining firmly in place. Fey'lya and the rest of the committee swept out of the room, leaving Luke and me alone.

Luke lowered his head into his hands as soon as the door closed. I got up from my seat and took the chair next to him. "Stop moping," I told him, and rubbed his back soothingly. "We got what we wanted, right?"

Luke nodded and rubbed his temples. "I know. I know. It's just so...frustrating!"

I snorted. It was almost cute to see Luke so angry. "Yeah, you're telling me."

He glanced up at me with a concerned expression. "Oh, I'm such an idiot. Are you okay?"

I waved my hand dismissively. "I told you I'm fine, just had a little nausea. Stop worrying."

"Okay," Luke said hesitantly. Then he grinned. "I should punish you for dozing off during the meeting."

I grabbed his elbow and pulled him out of his chair. "Please. You're lucky I even came to this thing."

"I know." Luke wrapped his arms around me and kissed my cheek. "I am lucky."

"And don't you forget it." I smacked him on his rear. "Now come on, Master Skywalker. We need to get ready to do battle with the Solos."

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"Uncle Luke! Aunt Mara!"

We barely got two steps inside the Solo's apartment before Jaina, Jacen, and Anakin threw themselves at us. The three terrors.

Luke smiled at them and lifted little Anakin into his arms. "Hey, kids! How are you?"

It was the wrong question to ask. They all piped up, eager for our undivided attention. "Daddy let me sit on his lap when he flew the Falcon!" Anakin said proudly.

Jaina rolled her eyes to show that she was completely unimpressed. "Big deal. Daddy let me help him fix the Falcon."

Jacen pulled on the end of my tunic so I'd look at him. When I did, he grinned. "I found a lizard."

I felt my eyes widen but tried hard to clamp down on my surprise. "That's…nice." I glanced at Luke, but he was still focused on Jaina and Anakin.

Jacen beamed and stood on his toes. I leaned down so I could hear him better. "You wanna see it?" he whispered conspiratorially.

"Um…no thanks. Jacen, does your mother know you have a lizard in the house?"

Jacen shrugged. "It's in a cage! It can't hurt anybody."

"Right." I stood motionless for a moment, not really knowing what else to say.

Thankfully, Han Solo came to my rescue. He sauntered in the room with a drink already in hand. "Kids! Give your aunt and uncle some space! They just got here."

The kids sighed in disappointment. "Okay." They backed up approximately two meters.

Han grinned and moved in toward us, offering Luke a handshake and me a tentative hug. "How're you doing, Jade? Any weird cravings lately?"

"Not at all, Solo." I spared a glance at the children, who had dragged Luke into the common area and now were arguing over who got first dibs on one of their many hologames.

Han followed my gaze and grinned. "What do you say? You ready for that?"

Inwardly, I cringed. No, I definitely was not ready for three rambunctious children running around my house. But I couldn't let Han know that, so I just shrugged nonchalantly. "Thankfully we're only having one, and that's the way it's going to be for quite some time."

Han snorted. "Sure, whatever you say."

My retort was cut off as Leia entered the foyer. "Han! Stop bothering Mara!"

"Hey, I'm not doing anything!"

"Right, like I believe that." Leia approached me and gave me a small squeeze. We'd had a precarious relationship, mainly because I broke her brother's heart a few years back when I left the Jedi Academy. But we managed to put aside our differences after Luke and I reconciled and I returned to Yavin IV.

"Hello, Leia," I said. "Do you any some help in the kitchen?" For once I was hoping she'd say yes, so that I could get away from the three rowdy children (and my husband) who were now involved in a heated round of a hologame called "Jedi vs. Sith."

But Leia shook her head. "Absolutely not. You need to relax." She gave her husband a sharp look. "You—set the table, now!"

Han knew better than to argue. He just rolled his eyes at Leia's back and shuffled into the dining room.

Even though she said otherwise, I followed Leia into the kitchen. "Seriously, can I help?"

She gave me a knowing look and gestured toward the living area. "Too loud for you in there?"

I smiled, embarrassed that she found me out so easily, and took a seat on one of the kitchen stools. "Do you ever get used to it?" I asked, wanting an honest answer.

While people often made fun of Leia's spiceloaf, she was actually a pretty good cook when it came to other types of food, especially Alderaanian, which was on the menu for the evening. As she hurried around the kitchen, getting everything prepared for dinner, I found myself wondering if I'd ever be as domestic as Leia. She was a princess, a hero of the Rebellion, and a leader of the New Republic, yet she seemed completely at ease in her kitchen. I was a good enough cook, but never felt very comfortable in domestic situations. It was just one more reason to worry about my unsure maternal instincts.

Leia smirked at me. "Do you want the answer that will make you feel better, or the truth?"

"You don't have to coddle me, Leia. Give me the truth."

Leia shrugged nonchalantly and turned back to the food. "I keep waiting for them to quiet down. Everyone tells me that it should happen any time now, but I have a feeling I'll be waiting until they leave home."

"I was afraid you'd say that."

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The rest of the evening could only be described as organized chaos. The kids were behaved enough while eating, but once the food was gone they started kicking and poking at each other. And after dessert they were in desperate need of a bath, so Han and Leia rounded them up in the 'fresher. Luke and I sat on the couch, absentmindedly watching some news show, but I wasn't really paying attention. Even though I'd had three long years to get used to the Solo kids, being around them always left me somewhat shell shocked. Intellectually, I knew that kids were supposed to be loud and obnoxious. But if I'd acted like that when I was a kid, I would have been sent to the dungeons. Literally.

Finally Han and Leia came back into the living area. Leia poured us all a drink—nonalcoholic for me, of course—and the conversation turned to Luke's meeting with Fey'lya.

"I know Fey'lya can be frustrating, but you got what you wanted, right?" Leia said.

"Sure." Luke took a measured sip of his Whyren's. "But I'm not looking forward to Fey'lya pushing against the Jedi Order at every opportunity."

"Just make sure your lightsaber is clearly visible at the next meeting, kid." Han raised his glass in a toast. "You'll be sure to get whatever you want."

Luke shook his head in disbelief. "I'm not doing that, Han."

"Well, then have your wife do it. Even Fey'lya will know better than to mess with an angry pregnant woman. Especially Mara Jade."

"You mess with me all the time, Han," I pointed out.

He grinned. "That's just because I'm a glutton for punishment."

"Oh really?" Leia raised one perfectly manicured eyebrow. "Is that why you're married to me?"

Han shivered and took a large sip of his drink. "I plead the fifth." We all laughed.

"Seriously, though." Luke fiddled with the small cocktail straw in his glass. Leia always went all out for company, even just family. "If we're going to face this kind of combativeness every time the Jedi Order tries to expand its numbers…" He sighed heavily. "I'm not sure it's going to work."

Leia glanced at him sharply. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm beginning to wonder if the Jedi Order should even be a part of the New Republic," Luke said cautiously. "The Jedi served the Republic once before, and look what happened then."

"Don't be ridiculous." Leia grabbed a coaster to put under Han's glass. "That sort of thing will never happen again."

"Are you so sure?"

"Why are you saying this, Luke? You like Mon Mothma."

"I do, very much! But this has nothing to do with her, or anyone else in the government. It's the bureaucracy. It worries me."

"Well, that's the New Republic for you. I don't know what else to tell you."

"Perhaps the Jedi Order should be an autonomous organization. Or perhaps it should be a part of many governments. I don't know." Luke shrugged his shoulders and took another sip of his drink.

Leia stared at him for a moment. "Many governments? You mean the Empire?"

"The Imperial Remnant, yes," Luke clarified.

"Is that such a good idea?"

"She's got a point," Han said. "Would the Empire want a bunch of Jedi Knights running around their part of the galaxy?"

Luke nodded. "With Pellaeon in charge of the Remnant, yes they would. And we need to have a better relationship with them, anyway. We've had peace for over two years and we still don't even have an ambassador permanently stationed on Bastion. Nor does the Remnant have an ambassador on Coruscant."

"I know, but what do you want me to do?" Leia asked. "The Advisory Council and the Senate are more concerned with the New Republic's problems than improving diplomatic relations."

"Maybe the Remnant could help with those problems," Luke said. "Not to mention the Empire of the Hand."

Leia paused and took a big sip of her drink. When she was finished, she placed her glass on a coaster and leaned back in her seat. "I don't know what you want from me, Luke. I can't force them to listen to me."

"Why not?" Han put his arm around her. "You do it to me all the time."

We all laughed, and the mood lightened. I'd remained silent during the exchange, having shared my opinion on the matter with Luke many times. I understood why he was considering making the Jedi Order an autonomous organization. After growing up in the Empire, I appreciated a smooth-running government more than anybody. But I also knew that such a thing came at a huge cost. Sure, the Empire provided stability, but only if one was of a certain species and class. Everyone else lived in abject poverty, and those who dared to speak their minds were thrown in prison, or killed. Several years ago, I was asked to stay on Nirauan and join the mysterious Empire of the Hand. I refused then, because I knew that my place was with the Jedi and the New Republic. Not to mention Luke.

Leia turned to me and changed the subject. "So, Mara. Have you gotten an ultrasound yet?"

I smiled at her and prepared myself for yet another enthralling round of baby talk. How in the galaxy had I gotten to a place in my life where I'd be sitting in Leia Organa's living room, and pregnant with Luke Skywalker's child? My life would never cease to amaze me.