Here is the next chapter! I hope you enjoy!!

:hugs:

--mav

Chapter Nine: Shoulder

As the light started to peep through the window, Mara prepared to do her usual sneaking out to her make-shift bed when a sleepy voice stopped her.

"Good morning."

--

Hearing Luke's voice, Mara wasn't sure which thought made her more nervous: that Luke had just awoken and still in a sleepy haze thought Mara was Adalet, or that he had been awake and was just waiting for her, wondering what she was doing in his bed.

Turning to face him, she found she was astonished. Though she wasn't sure why, she shouldn't have expected any less. What she saw was... amusement. There was a little confusion mixed in, but the main emotion was something she hadn't seen in a while, something she just now realized how much she missed.

"Was the couch that uncomfortable?" he asked with a small laugh.

Not wanting to ruin the mood, Mara answered with something tha was not quite the truth, "Not that this is all that much better," or maybe not the truth at all.

Luke laughed, he knew what she was saying wasn't the truth, but at the moment he didn't exactly care. Yes, he was curious and he had been surprised to find her in his bed, but it wasn't entirely unwelcome. He had slept better in the last few nights than he had in a while, and he figured this wasn't the first time he and Mara had shared a bed in the last few days.

Before any more thought or conversation on the situation could take place, Mara jumped out of the bed. "Breakfast? I could make eggs, or I could go get us something."

"How about we go out? I could really go for some Myfanwy's."

"Sounds... good." Mara nodded her head --a little shocked at his sudden decision to go out after she had tried time and time again to get him out of his apartment-- but she did her best not to show it. She walked out of the room to allow Luke to change, and so she could do the same.

They arrived at Myfanwy's and headed straight for their usual seat in the back, close to the kitchen. Mara put their usual order into the on-table ordering system, not even having to ask what Luke wanted, this was a place they frequented for breakfast, and they both got the same thing every time.

Their conversation was light, they talked about nothing in particular, they talked like they always had. They didn't talk about Adalet's death, there would be a time and a place for that later, but when she did come up, it was happy things and fun times they had all shared.

Mara smiled at her friend while he was telling a story that she had heard several times, she knew he loved it and wasn't going to begrudge him a very happy thought. She smiled because she could see Luke in his eyes, not the mask she had seen the past few weeks. He wasn't healed, that would take more time, but he was getting there.

Several days later, Luke took another big step in the healing. After dinner with Han and Leia, Mara came back to help Luke box up Adalet's things. She was putting clothes in bags as Luke was going through Adalet's more valuable things. Every now and then Mara would hear a chuckle or a sniffle, but she didn't say a word. She was here for him, would listen if he wanted to talk, but until he started talking on his own, she wasn't going to ask.

When they were through, Luke put the things he was keeping of Adalet's away. As they walked out of his bedroom Luke stopped in the door way. "Thank you for your help, Mara." There was a sad smile on his lips, but it was a genuine smile.

Mara turned around and returned his smile, "You're welcome." She held his gaze for a few moments before her eyes drifted to the room down the hall from Luke's. The door was closed, but Mara knew what it looked like: the walls were green with baby banthas around the bottom. There was a crib, a changing table and a rocking chair that was loaded with stuffed animals.

Luke closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "I... I can't, Mara. Not right now." He opened his eyes and looked directly into hers, his usually bright blue eyes were dark with unshed tears. "I just can't."

This was something Mara had expected, and if she was honest with herself, feared. She remembered the look on his face when they told her they were having a baby; there wasn't a word to describe how thrilled he was that a dream of his was finally coming true. But now, that dream had been ripped from him, and he wasn't ready to let it go.

Mara walked over to him, cupped his cheek in her palm and looked directly into his eyes. "When you're ready, I'll be here."

Luke nodded.

After a few moments, Mara's hand slid to his shoulder, down his arm and, finally reaching his hand, she slid hers into it. She led him over to the couch and tucked a leg under her as she sat on the end, pulling Luke down beside her. As he plopped down, he leaned towards Mara and laid his head on her shoulder. Together, they sat in silence, staring off into nothingness.

What could have been hours later, which in actuality was only about half an hour, Luke lifted his head from Mara's shoulder and walked towards his bedroom.

"I think I'm going to bed," he turned around and gave Mara a smirk. "You coming?"

The next thing Luke saw was a pillow flying towards his head, which he deftly dodged with a laugh.

"Actually, I think I'm going to visit my apartment. Your couch is killing me and I don't want you to get too much enjoyment out of me being in your bed," Mara joked. She watched Luke's reaction carefully. She felt like it was time for her to go home, but if he wanted her there she would gladly stay.

"Okay," Luke said. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Absolutely."

AN: So... who spotted the vague reference to a TV show? A huge batch of E-cookies if you can name the reference and the show to which it belongs!!