Frozen Treats:

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"I haven't been here in ages!" Mara practically squealed.

Luke shot his wife an amused look, laughing at her sudden bubbly demeanor.

"It's just a frozen treat shop." He dared to venture.

She shot him a glare as frigid as a wampa's rear-end. "For a desert Farmboy, you sure don't seem to appreciate the delicacy that is frozen moisture. Let-alone frozen deliciousness."

Luke offered a mock-hurt look, to which she snorted.

"I'll have you know, I love water very much." Luke said indignantly.

"Love it, you practically worship it." Mara jibed with a snicker.

Luke shook his head with a sigh. "Yeah, well, I've had my share of frozen water, too."

Mara sobered as she picked up on his memories of Hoth. She took his hand, entwining their fingers.

"Hey, not all frozen things are bad." She said softly, urging him toward the shop entrance. "Come on, I want you to try this stuff."

Luke shoved the memories of Hoth to the rear of his mind, and willingly obliged his wife's request. They approached the counter, and Luke started in indecision at the assorted flavors of frozen treats.

"Um… how does this work again?" He inquired.

She shot him a patient grin. "Pick a flavor, and any toppings you want. They scoop it, you pay and eat."

Luke lifted a brow, but didn't rise to the bait. Mara eagerly scanned the selection, Luke watching with great interest. It was a scant occasion that Mara Jade was so openly enthusiastic about something… even rarer that it was displayed publicly. And when her eyes lit up upon seeing a certain flavor, Luke felt his heart swell at seeing her so happy.

And over so simple a thing. He admitted.

Mara ordered her flavor, and when the attendant finished her order, he turned to Luke. It took Mara elbowing him in the ribs to get his attention.

"Hm? Oh!" Luke blushed slightly, hurriedly scanning the flavor cards. "I don't know…"

It was Mara's turn to observe, and she couldn't help but poke fun at her Farmboy's flustered attempts to pick his dessert.

"You know, Luke, it might dry up before you pick at this rate."

He shot her a dirty look, but softened the unspoken rebuke with a wink. "I guess I'll try the dark chocolate, please."

The clerk dished up Luke's treat, and after paying, the Skywalkers retreated to a small booth at the back of the shop. A few stares followed them, no doubt wondering what such a famous couple was doing in such a 'low-level' restaurant. Luke was grateful that this particular booth sat at an angle to partially hide its occupants from the other patrons.

But they ignored their onlookers, and sat together at their chosen table. Luke rested for a moment, staring at the brown frozen cream. He had a crazy notion of what it would be like to have had this stuff on Tatooine.

Yeah, right Luke thought with a snort. This stuff would be melted before you left the building.

Mara glanced up from her treat, frowning at his snort. He noticed her scrutiny and chuckled.

"I was just imagining having this on Tatooine. I don't suppose it would work out quite as well."

Mara's face lit up as she caught his meaning. "You could be the first. You would probably make good money if you could find a way to get frozen cream to Tatooine." She leaned forward conspiratorially. "You might even be able to retire as Jedi Master early!"

Luke laughed with her, finally tasting his treat. He was halfway through his when he realized Mara was almost finished with her own dessert.

"What flavor did you get?" He asked, a thought forming in his mind.

She glanced up from her dish. "Fireberry. I used to sneak down here from time to time when I served Palpatine. I'd treat myself after a mission well-done."

He didn't point out her wistful tone, knowing that she was remembering one of the few good memories of her past. Instead, he took advantage of her distracted state to swipe some of her cream.

Or tried to.

Mara pounced on the encroaching spoon like a vornskr to a rival, slapping it away forcefully.

"Back!" She ordered, placing a protective hand over her bowl.

Luke chuckled, and moved his foot beneath the table. Bringing his booted limb to her leg, he stroked her leg as softly and invitingly as he could. She glared for a moment, and then relented a little as she relaxed into his soothing touch.

Eventually, as Luke had hoped, her hand slackened above her bowl, and he snuck his spoon back toward her dish as her eyes closed. As soon as his spoon touched the dish it clanked slightly, and her eyes flew open.

She swatted at the utensil more forcefully this time, and Luke parried her blow with his own spoon. He traded a few more jabs, thrusts, and parries with Mara's chosen weapon before he spotted a wayward spoon on a nearby table.

Using the Force, Luke called it to his free hand, and suddenly it was two to one odds.

"Ah!" Mara shrieked quietly. "No fair!"

Luke grinned evilly, and sent his new weapon into battle while he used his original utensil to sneak past Mara's defenses. Laughter bubbled from their booth as the pair battled for a taste of fireberry frozen cream.

"No!" Mara declared, using her free hand to move the treat out of Luke's current trajectory.

He grimaced, but was determined to get a taste. Luke's attention wavered, and Mara turned the tables. Using his own tactics against him, she waited for him to become distracted, and rapped his knuckles.

"Ow!" Luke complained with a shaky laugh.

He shook his hand, as if that could relieve the stinging sensation. He offered up his best hurt look, but Mara merely shrugged, a triumphant smirk on her beautiful face.

"Don't try to take things that aren't yours." She jeered.

Luke tilted his head, a new plan forming.

I will try that dessert of hers…

"You're right." Luke acquiesced.

Time to switch tactics. He added to himself.

Luke scooted forward slightly, Mara eyeing him warily. Her hand stayed near the bowl of frozen cream, determined to protect the remainder of her spoils.

Luke adopted a sweet smile, and batted his eyes at her.

"Dearest, may I please try some of yours?"

She squinted suspiciously, but shook her head. "No. Eat you own."

"But yours looks so much better!" He insisted.

"Sorry, Farmboy."

Luke leaned further over the table and pushed his lip out in a pout. "Please…?" He drawled.

Mara narrowed her eyes in mock-anger. But her lip began to tremble against her will, and suddenly she burst out laughing, clutching her sides. Luke laughed with her, recognizing the cheerful absurdity of the situation, but not caring in the slightest what others might think.

He snuck around the table to sit beside his wife, who had her back to the restaurant, and where they would have a little more privacy. She finally noticed his move, and abruptly stopped laughing, but the mirth still shown in her eyes.

She put a hand to his chest as he leaned determinedly forward, and hastily finished her last bites. Luke pretended to be hurt, which only caused her to laugh a bit more.

Her head turned to him slightly, and he saw the sweet, sticky shimmer of the residual treat on Mara's mouth. On sudden impulse, he snaked his hand to the back of her head, and captured her lips with his.

She froze, shocked, but leaned into him. Luke ran his tongue across her lips, but when she parted them to let him in, he pulled away. With a triumphant smile, he sat back. She looked at him in confusion.

"What…"

"Looks like I got to taste it after all." Luke beamed.

At this realization, she swung playfully at him, and he ducked, laughing. It was then that they realized that every other patron in the place was staring wide-eyed at them. Sharing a chagrined look, they finished Luke's dessert in silent companionship.

Luke watched his wife finish the final bite, and a smirk played upon his lips. Without a word, he went back to the counter and ordered another fireberry cream to go.

Mara joined him as the clerk handed him the item, and she offered a confused look.

"What's that for?" She asked as he steered her from the restaurant.

"Well, I have a few ideas about how we can taste test a bit more of this yummy fireberry cream." Luke replied.

He sent her a mental image of what he had in mind, and she gasped, blushing as passerby's glanced at them.

"Luke!" She whispered, swatting him on the arm.

"What?" he asked in his best Han Solo impersonation.

"Not in public!" She insisted, face still a bit red, but he could feel her anticipation of their return to the apartment.

"It's not like anyone can read our thoughts, Mara." He reminded her, though he too, was tinged slightly red in the cheeks.

Mara glanced at the treat in his hand as they entered the turbolift that would take them to their floor. She grinned maliciously, and sent him her own image.

It was his turn to gasp, but instead of embarrassment, Luke moved closer and captured her lips again. She brought her arms up and around his neck. They almost missed getting off the turbolift, but managed to catch the door just before it closed again.

Hurrying to their door in anticipation, the Skywalkers spent the remainder of the evening taste-testing fireberry frozen cream.