A Gift From the Heart:

20 ABY

Jaina Solo glanced around quickly as she and her two brothers were herded through the crowds to their seats in the grand chamber. She wasn't looking at all of the decorations or guests, however. Instead, she was searching for an opportunity to sneak away from Winter and C3PO. Finally her chance came when Winter had to push through a large crowd of bickering adults.

Jaina held back until everyone had preceded her, and then veered off to the side of the room. Her smaller size helped her to move rather quickly through the crowd, and she was certain that she wouldn't be missed by Winter or 3PO until they reached their assigned seats and counted heads.

She finally shoved her way out of the throngs of bodies and breathed a sigh of relief. Scanning the area, Jaina spotted an archway near the front of the room.

That must be where the men are waiting. Jaina mused as she snuck closer.

She spotted a security guard at the same time that he spotted her, and in a desperate rush, Jaina sprinted toward the doorway.

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"Nervous much?" Han Solo teased from behind.

Luke Skywalker glanced at his brother-in-law's reflection, and grinned. "A bit."

"Cause I think that poor towel deserves a break." Han smirked.

Luke glanced down. He grimaced upon seeing said cloth being squeezed senseless in a death-grip. Luke consciously relaxed his hands, shaking his head.

"I guess I'm more than a little nervous." Luke admitted with a sigh. "I just hope everything goes smoothly today."

Han placed a reassuring hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Don't worry so much. The important thing is that you are waiting for Mara when she walks down the aisle."

Luke flashed a wry grin. "I thought it was more important for Mara to actually walk down the aisle?"

Han shrugged nonchalantly. "Eh, details."

They shared a chuckle. A muffled thud against the door followed by an indignant shriek caught their attention. The men shared a frown, and then heard a voice from the other side.

"But I need to see him!"

"This area is off limits, little girl! Now scram! Go back to your parents."

"Get off me! Uncle Luke!"

Luke was out of his seat before Han had taken a step toward the entry. The Jedi Master flung the door wide open, much to the surprise of a disgruntled security guard. And struggling against his rough grasp on her bicep was his eleven year old niece.

"Uncle Luke!" Jaina cried, tears streaming from her eyes.

"Let her go!" Luke demanded, marching up to the guard.

The other man shrank back from Luke's ice-cold glare, but did not release Jaina. "But Sir, I have orders to keep anyone from disturbing…"

"She isn't disturbing me." Luke cut him off. "She's family." At this Luke leaned in; his face inches from the other man's. "And you're hurting her."

Even Jaina winced at the steel in her uncle's voice. The guard swallowed thickly, and then released Jaina, who immediately turned and kicked him.

"Stupid bully! I just wanted to see my uncle!"

"Jaina, enough." Han said from the doorway.

Jaina turned, wiping away at her tears, and looked up to her father. "Sorry Dad. I didn't mean to cause a fuss."

Luke placed a hand on her shoulder and gently led her into the small chamber.

As he passed Han, the other shook his head in awe.

"Remind me never to cross you if you have a daughter."

Luke lifted an eyebrow, but didn't comment. He sat Jaina down on the chair he'd been occupying, and crouched before her, inspecting her arm. It showed angry red marks, but otherwise, she was unscathed.

"What did you need from me?" Luke asked gently.

He tugged a tissue from the box on the desk, and dabbed at her moistened cheeks. She pulled something from her handbag, and handed it to him. Luke glanced at her, curious, and then returned his gaze to her closed fist.

She took his free hand, and dropped something into it. "I wanted to give you this. I made it for you for your wedding. Since I couldn't buy anything, I still wanted to help your day be special."

Luke stood and pulled up a second chair. Once he was seated, he took a close look at the item Jaina had placed in it.

It was a small pendant; very reminiscent of the one's he'd seen on Tatooine during his youth. Luke picked it up carefully, and turned it over. A smile played across his features upon seeing the carving.

Jaina had somehow found a japor snippet, had rounded it at the edges, and then etched the twin-sun sunset of Tatooine deeply into the surface. The relief stood out more because she'd used a dark dye to accent the lines of the sunset. And tied about the edges was a thin strip of leather.

"Thank you Jaina. It's lovely." Luke beamed.

When he looked back to her, however, it was to find her frowning.

"I don't think it's long enough to fit over your head though." She pouted. "It was supposed to be a necklace."

Luke nudged her chin with his fingers, and then glanced at his dress coat. He spotted a loose button hole, and threaded the leather strip through it, and then passed the snippet through the loop created. Lastly, he tightened it so that it held securely against the garment.

"There, now I can still wear it for the ceremony." Luke offered.

Jaina's face lit up with joy, and she hugged her arms around his neck. She then pulled back and traced the design with a finger.

"I did the twin suns not just because Tatooine was your homeworld, but because I think the suns represent two friends." Jaina said. "I heard that there is a story of the suns being two people in love."

Luke nodded. "Yes, Tatoo I and Tatoo II are said to be two lovers who were separated by death, only to be reunited and forever inseparable by the same thing."

Jaina smiled. "Just like you and Aunt Mara will never be apart, right Uncle Luke?"

Luke offered another grin. "That's the plan."

"Alright Kiddo, let your uncle finish getting ready, will ya?" Han interjected. "Don't want him being late to his own wedding. Mara would never let it go."

Luke cringed at that thought.

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Mara Jade Skywalker leaned closer to her newly-minted husband, examining the small trinket he wore upon his coat. She'd noticed it only briefly during the wedding ceremony, but had paid it little mind at the time.

"What is this?" She inquired.

Luke turned to her, glancing down to where her fingers outlined the twin suns on Jaina's necklace.

"A gift from the heart." He said with a warm smile.

Mara offered a curious glance upward, and Luke elaborated.

"Jaina made it for me for our wedding; it shows the sunset on Tatooine." He took her hand in his. "She meant it to represent us being together forever."

Mara smiled, and inwardly shook her head, amazed at the undying love Luke held for his only niece.

She's like the daughter he doesn't have.

That thought sent a pang of remorse through her, and she turned away to hide her face by taking s sip of her drink. Luke, however, was not one to be so easily fooled.

"Mara?" He laid a hand on her forearm, and she hesitated before meeting his gaze.

He must have seen her silent plea in her eyes, because he scooted his chair out, and offered his hand.

"Come here." He said gently. "Please."

Mara took his hand, and he led her to a private balcony behind the table where they could speak without interruption. Mara's stomach knotted the whole way there, and when Luke turned to face her, she felt her calm mask cracking.

"What is it Mara?" Luke asked, his concern evident.

She turned away, pacing a few steps toward the wall, and then about-facing to backtrack. Luke waited in nervous anticipation for her to voice her concerns.

"Luke… I…" Mara broke off, shaking her head, and then opened her mouth, the words tumbling out. "I know you want children, and you deserve them, but I don't know when, if ever, I will be ready to…"

Abruptly she sat on a nearby stone bench, face in her hands. Luke stood rooted to the spot for precious seconds, astonished. It took him seeing her shoulders quiver to snap-to. Luke hustled over, and gathered her into his arms.

She resisted, holding stiff.

"Mara…" Luke began, his own heart wrenching at the sight of his precious wife so distraught. He chose his next words with care. "Yes, I would love to have children… in the future. I don't expect a child nine months from today."

Mara finally looked at him, and Luke worried that his word choice wasn't the right one. But, determined to finish what he'd began, he ploughed ahead.

"Mara, I love you. And I promised I would stand with you through anything. And that includes the possibility of not having children. If having a family meant losing you, then I would never risk it. You are my top priority, Mara; I would never force you into motherhood."

She continued to gaze at him; her green eyes alight with a grateful glow. Finally she shook her head, and brought one hand to his cheek.

"Oh, my sweet, darling husband." She murmured. "Only you would be so understanding. Don't get me wrong; maybe someday I could be a mother, but not anytime soon. I don't know that I could handle two life-changing events so close together."

She softened this last bit with a wink, and Luke allowed a small smile to play across his lips.

"Jaina is one lucky girl, to have such an incredible uncle." Mara said softly.

"Not as lucky as you are to call me husband." Luke quipped.

He chuckled heartily as he ducked a mock-angry swing from his wife.

"Oh! So modest!" Mara mocked.

Luke shrugged, then pulled her close, and planted a gentle kiss on her lips.

"I love you, Mara."