Note: You'll notice that we jump from the third proposal to the twenty-ninth. I totally realize this is probably cheating, but if I had to actually write all two-hundred proposals, well, let's just say it probably wouldn't have happened. ;) And it would probably get really boring, really quickly! So from here on out there are random proposals on different days, each highlighting a moment on the way to the altar. I hope you'll enjoy and thanks so much for reading!
The Twenty-Ninth
Day 51:
You may begin to notice your clothing becoming tighter around the waist and bustline as your body changes and your baby grows. Are you showing yet?
When Luke Skywalker set his mind to something, he gave it his all. Twenty-six days had passed since she had said yes to his marriage proposal with a proposal of her own: that they wait until after the baby came to plan a wedding. She'd thought he had taken her stipulation as a challenge and she was right. The very next morning he had awakened her with a kiss and another proposal before surprising her with a cup of de-caf that actually tasted like the real thing. But even her favorite beverage hadn't been enough to sway her, so her answer had still been yes, just 'not now'.
He did not seem concerned, however, or even put out. She suspected it was because he could feel how much she really did love him, and therefore wasn't worried. Instead shebecame the worried one, but only because bridal flimsies had shown up on her nightstand, next to the ones for obstetrician offices. Mara picked one up and rolled her eyes at the blushing bride pictured, shown wearing a ridiculous white dress. She tossed them all, unopened, into the recycling container.
But she had finally taken the time to look through the ones concerning obstetricians. Merely eating healthy and taking vitamins wouldn't sustain the baby forever. It needed to be checked by a doctor, and sooner rather than later. After much discussion she and Luke found a practice that had been set up near the Palace and found that the doctor was trustworthy, not someone who would sell their news to the highest bidder. The appointment had eased Luke's worries, and Mara's too, as the baby—one baby, thankfully—was growing well and seemed healthy and robust.
After the appointment Luke had taken the holo they'd received of the first prenatal-scan and watched it on repeat. There wasn't much to see. The baby was still mostly a small cluster of cells, but one could almost make out a head and stumps for the arms and legs. The heartbeat was the main attraction of the holo, the steady and fast thumpa-thumpa-thumpa hypnotic and amazing. Taking her hand in his as they watched, Luke had leaned his forehead against hers and whispered, "Marry me," into her temple. And as her eyes watched their baby's beating heart, she didn't exactly turn him down. She had responded with a simple, "I am."
Yet every morning, he had awakened her with another proposal, and this morning had been no different. Her eyes had barely blinked open when she saw Luke's wide blue eyes staring at her. She rolled her own eyes in greeting; she knew what was coming. But a grin only spread across his face in reaction and she put her hand over his mouth to cover it. "Too early for that." Her voice was husky from sleep, and she cleared her throat. He kissed her palm and she shivered.
"Too early for that?" he asked against her hand.
She shook her head, but smiled exasperatedly at him. "I think you've already done enough of that, and look where it's gotten us." Removing her hand, she traced his lips with her fingers.
His hand snaked between their bodies to splay against her belly. "'l'll take the blame." He rubbed tiny circles over the small raised patch just below her navel. To anyone else, and under Mara's clothes, it was invisible. It had only become evident over the past few days, and Luke couldn't keep his hands off of it, the small bump that held their baby. While the idea of her burgeoning belly thrilled Luke, the idea of it still scared Mara. The reality of the baby was becoming more tangible with each passing day.
Flopping her head on the pillow, Mara threw her arm over her eyes to hide from the sunlight creeping across the bed. "You'll take the blame. That's good. Unless the little chat you arranged at your sister's for tonight has been cancelled?" Mentally, she crossed her fingers. Maybe Leia had been called away on a diplomatic crisis. Perhaps Thrawn had been resurrected somewhere. That would certainly tie up Luke and the Solos for a few weeks. The Force owed her a small favor, at the very least.
That last thought broadcast over their bond, and Luke chuckled next to her. "Come on, Leia's not nearly so scary as a Grand Admiral."
Mara removed her arm and turned her head to glare at him. But his damnable smile only grew.
"Well, I know of one way you could make her happier," he said, picking up her hand and rubbing her bare fourth finger. Her ring was on the nightstand, and he reached over her to grab it. She was careful not to wear it in public yet.
This time Mara did roll her eyes. "So we've come to that portion of our morning, have we?"
Luke placed the ring back on her finger and kissed her hand. "Marry me, Mara."
"Later." She forced herself to sit up and started to leave the bed. "What's for break—" She found herself cut off as strong arms wrapped around her.
"One day you'll marry me," Luke whispered hotly into her ear.
She shivered again, gooseflesh rising in his wake. But she pulled from his arms and gave him an impish grin. " 'One day'. Nowyou're getting it, Farmboy. Come on," she said, grabbing his hand. "You can fix us breakfast."
Us. The word stuttered through her mind, as she realized that was the first time she had thought of herself and the baby that way.
Mara frowned. Yes, a Grand Admiral was definitely easier to deal with than all of this.
.
.
Mara tried not to squirm as she stood in the lift to Han and Leia's floor. She wasn't so much nervous as she was uncomfortable. She tugged at the fabric of her trousers and frowned down at them. They were her loosest pair, and even they were now tighter than usual. The shirt was thankfully one that draped gracefully over her midsection, meant to be voluminous. But she still couldn't understand how such a tiny bulge could make her clothing feel so tight, already.
Luke seemed to sense her unease, because he reached out and took her hand. He gave it a single squeeze before letting it drop back to her side as the lift stopped and the doors opened. "Ready?" He reached up, running the hand through his hair and Mara realized that he was nervous, too.
She wanted to assuage his worries. Truthfully, in the deepest part of her mind, she knew that everything would be fine. Han and Leia and some of Luke's other friends might be hurt that they hadn't known the truth of their relationship, but the baby, while a shock, would be a balm to soothe any ruffled feathers. And they had never set out to hide their relationship. The first time they'd had sex wasn't planned, and hadn't really been anything Mara wished to discuss afterward. But Luke had pressed his advantage, and eventually they had fallen into a pattern of being together. It had helped that Luke was often away from Coruscant, planning his Academy and helping the New Republic. She, too, still worked for Karrde, even if her home base was with the Smugglers' Alliance. Slowly, over the course of a year they had fallen in love, and now…
Well, now it was time to face the music. "Where's that Grand Admiral when you need him, Skywalker?" She smirked at him and nudged him through their still new and seemingly ever-expanding bond in the Force.
He laughed lightly, and his presence felt lighter as he released his anxiety.
"Hopefully nowhere near," he said, placing a hand on the small of her back to guide her to the door. "After you," he said off her look, palming the controls for secure entry.
Mara looked back and rolled her eyes, but Luke's unrepentant grin didn't falter. And in any case, he won no victory. The entry hall was deserted. She gave him a triumphant look of her own, and stalked forward.
"Must be putting the kids down," Luke mused. "I wonder if—hey, Chewie."
Chewbacca was heading into the kitchen from the dining area and growled a welcome. [The children are protesting bedtime.] He barred his Wookiee fangs in a grin. [Han is trying to wrangle them into their bed clothes.]
"And you're not helping?" Luke's voice was amused as they followed him into the kitchen.
[My debt runs only so deep.]
Mara smiled outwardly, but in her mind was mildly panicked. She found herself wondering just how to keep a Force sensitive child in a bedroom they didn't want to be in. "Are they like this every night?" The question was asked before she could stop herself.
[Not every night,] Chewie answered, after a split second of thought. [But enough of them to drive Han crazy.]
What about Leia?Mara wondered. But she didn't have time to dwell on that thought as Leia herself came out into the kitchen, smoothing her hair back from her face.
She smiled and hugged Luke, leaving a slim arm around him as she turned her smile politely to Mara. Tilting her head up, she gave her attention back to Luke. "I was glad to get your comm. We haven't seen much of you lately." She pecked his cheek and looked back to Mara. "It's nice to see you again, too. I can't remember the last time we spoke."
Mara smiled faintly. "Not since the Alliance moved headquarters to its permanent suite." The Smugglers' Alliance had kept her mostly grounded on Coruscant in the months after Thrawn's unsuccessful campaign, and she had often run into Leia in the corridors of the Imperial Palace. Leia always found time to stop and exchange pleasantries, to give updates on the twins and inquire as to how Mara was. But in the months before and since Anakin's birth they hadn't crossed paths nearly as often. Mara had resumed her duties on the Wild Karrdeand her time on Coruscant had been limited or taken up by other…activities.
"Do you find it easier to liaise now that you've had some time to settle in to the position?"
Leia seemed genuinely interested and Mara glanced between Luke and his sister as they stared at her, awaiting her answer. They were more alike than they even realized. "Let's just say that sometimes I think running the senate would be an easier prospect."
Leia grinned. "Let me disabuse you of that notion. In terms of the senate, sometimes dealing with cranky two-year-old twins is easier."
"Says the woman that left me to finish the bedtime routine," Han groused, walking into the room and throwing his signature lopsided smile at his wife. "Say, Junior, can't you go and use some of that," Han moved his hands around his head in mocking fashion, "to put the kids to sleep? This toddler bed switch hasn't gone over so well."
Leia let Luke go and poked her husband in the side. "No, he can't."
Chewie wuffed a laugh. [She means that she already tried and it didn't work.]
Han pointed his index finger at Chewie and pantomimed firing a blaster. "I think you're right, pal."
Luke laughed and even Mara tamped down a smile, but the twisting of nervous energy in her stomach wasn't abated by the Solo/Wookiee comedy routine.
"And besides, I didn't leave you to finish bedtime routine as much as I was kicked out," Leia said, picking up the earlier thread of conversation. "The twins like to have their father to themselves at night," she explained to Luke and Mara. "And I had to check on Anakin."
"Yeah, still sleeps like an angel. Here's a tip, Kid." He mock-punched Luke in the shoulder. "If you ever have kids, keep them in the crib as long as possible." He slung himself down in a chair. "Let's stay in here awhile, let the ankle biters calm down before we head out into the den."
Chewie was agreeable to that and sat down in another chair, while Leia gave her husband an eye-roll. "Honestly, Han. Ankle biters?"
"I'm sorry, Junior Senate Leaders?"
Even Leia smiled at that one, but turned to Luke. "Help me with the cake?"
"You got cake?" He moved over to the counter with her and pulled a few plates from a cabinet. Mara watched them with a distracted interest, more to keep from sitting down at the table with Han and Chewie than out of any real interest in what they were doing. The cake that Leia pulled from the bakery box did look delicious, however.
"You said that you wanted to come over and talk to us, and that you were bringing Mara. I thought dessert would be nice."
"Have a seat, Mara." Han used his foot to push a chair out from the opposite end of the table.
She eyed the chair. "Charming." But she sat and accepted a plate of cake and a mug of what she suspected was hot chocolate. A sip confirmed it and the liquid heat of it seemed to calm her nerves slightly. But she glanced over at Luke and noted the set lines of his face and her stomach lurched just slightly again.
After everyone was seated, Han set his utensil down and regarded Luke and Mara. "So, kids, what did you want to talk to us about? I figure with those serious faces the two of you are sporting it's one of three things." He held up his hand and started ticking off with his fingers. "One, Thrawn's come back to life." He glanced around at the others at the table, and receiving no confirmation, moved on. "Two, you're moving to Endor to join the Ewok branch of the family." Luke's eyeroll seemed to take care of that supposition, so Han moved on. "Then there's three..." he chuckled before continuing. "Mara's pregnant."
The word had barely left Han's mouth before Mara choked on her mouthful of chocolate and zest cake, coughing and trying to draw in lungfuls of air as Luke rubbed her back and said her name, panic in his voice. She waved her hand at him to push him back, swallowing hard to clear her throat.
Luke jumped from her side to get a glass of water, and she took it gratefully, clearing her throat again in the silence that had fallen over the group.
"I can't believe…we knew…" Leia's sputtering voice broke the hush before trailing off again.
[That they're moving to Endor?]
"Yeah, that was my guess, too, pal." Han looked back and forth between Luke and Mara. "So when's the big move, kids?"
Mara rolled her still watery eyes. "Cute."
But Luke was looking at his twin. "What did you mean, Leia? You knew? Knew what?"
Leia's mouth quirked in amusement. "I meant that Han and I suspected there was something between you and Mara, but we obviously didn't know everything."
Luke flushed and looked down at the table. "We never meant to keep anything from you. But Mara and I have been…together…for a while."
"About a year, right?" Han was also looking entirely too amused by the situation. "Give or take."
"How did you—"
Even Chewbacca was grinning now. [It wasn't that hard to figure out.]
"Yeah, not when you suddenly stopped showing up here all the time, and when you did, wearing a huge grin on your face…"
Mara's cheeks warmed. "He wasn't that obvious. Was he?"
"Keep telling yourself that, sister." Han chuckled and then looked somewhat uneasy. "So...kids…"
Mara glanced sideways at Luke as he nudged her through the Force. She nodded slowly and he turned back to their captive audience.
"Mara's pregnant."
"We got that," Leia said with a smile. She jumped up and threw her arms around her brother. "Congratulations!"
Luke smiled into her shoulder and returned the hug, and Mara couldn't help the small smile that tilted at her lips as she watched them. A memory tugged at her mind, of once speaking to Leia about family, back when she had been angry and confused. She'd changed a great deal since then, she realized, and it wasn't as much of a shock as it once would have been. She barely had time to process the thought before Leia was bearing down on her with a hug, too. She patted Leia's back awkwardly, but was genuinely pleased that she was happy with their news.
Leia returned to her seat and leaned her head against Han's arm. "I'm going to be an aunt."
"I noticed." Han smiled his indulgent 'what am I going to do about her?' smile. "So, baby makes three…when's the big day?"
Luke told him the baby's due date, but Han shook his head. "No, Kid, I mean when's the big day?" He pointed to Mara's left hand and the ring that graced it.
Mara's eyes followed his and her face turned white. "Knew all along my ass," she muttered, cheeks warming at the Solos' knowing gazes.
[We've known for sure since you walked in the door, at least.] Chewie barked out a laugh.
"Well, here's something you didn't know: we're not getting married yet." Mara watched the flicker of shock across Leia's face with a small measure of satisfaction.
"She doesn't want to get married while she's pregnant," Luke explained. "Don't worry, I'm wearing her down." A devious smile threaded across his face and Mara scowled to see an identical one gracing his twin's. She took another bite of her cake and regarded the others at the table: her future family. Her stomach twisted at that thought and the realization that Luke had just gained three supporters to his cause.
Han smirked. "Kid, you've knocked up the woman who once wanted nothing more in this galaxy than to kill you." Luke's cheeks burned red again at the description, but Han wasn't finished. "I believe you can do anything you set your mind to."
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Heh. ;)
