Chapter Ten:
Forty minutes later found the Jedi and Trader dueling for superiority on the playing field.
"Ah! You can't do that!" Mara accused with a chuckle.
"Sure I can," Luke countered with a wide grin. "The card says to move ahead two extra spaces if I went to college."
Mara snatched the offending tag out of his fingers and read it. "Ah, fine."
Luke returned his playing piece to its position. Five minutes into their game, Luke had discovered how much fun Mara could be. She was loose and playful now, something Luke found heartening.
She also liked to win, and she wasn't exactly above playing slightly below the rules to make that happen. Luke found her strategy refreshingly fun, and he didn't mind one bit the banter it created.
"I do believe it to be your turn." Luke announced.
Mara spun the dial and was awarded with a move of seven spaces. She moved her cruiser which now contained a family of six miniature wampa figures. Mara read the text on her square and blushed faintly.
"What?" Luke leaned in to read it himself. "'You left your blaster at the park, the police thought it was a suspect weapon. Pay ten thousand credits.' Ouch."
Mara tossed the flimsi money into the ever-growing bank pile.
"So who'd you go after that time, Jade?" Luke jested, earning himself a mock-angry glare.
"How about the annoying thief who stole my very well-paying job and took it for himself?" Mara shot back.
Luke grimaced. "Uh… I was just doing what the game told me to."
Mara lifted a humored brow. "Do you always do what others tell you to do, Farmboy?"
Luke shot her a dirty look. "Hey! I am my own person, thank you very much."
Mara laughed. "Unless your sister wants her way."
Luke had to agree with that one.
He spun next, and moved three spaces, ending up one spot behind her vehicle with his family of four banthas.
"'Babysitter calls about sick child, pay five thousand credits.'" Luke shook his head. "I hope having children isn't this expensive in real life. Five thousand credits for a babysitter?"
Mara snorted. "Try ten thousand to convince the police I didn't do it."
"Or maybe it was to keep them quiet?" Luke couldn't resist.
Mara punched his arm mildly. "Watch it Skywalker."
Luke chuckled.
He glanced at his chrono and saw that they had been playing for some time now. "I think we should check on the food."
Mara nodded her consent and stood, stretching. "This game is kind of awkward at times, but interesting all the same."
Luke shrugged. "I like the random, off the wall things that happen in the game. It makes life interesting."
"Oh, Farmboy, you don't need help with that one." Mara winked at him.
Luke blushed, and led the way into the kitchen where their meat was just finishing cooking. Luke took the squash from the cooler and put it in the steamer while Mara swapped the meat for the potatoes in the oven.
Luke again checked the chrono. "I'm going to clean up now too, and then I'll help you set the table."
"Sounds good." Mara said.
Luke jumped in the shower, and quickly washed the day's grit off. He sighed contentedly as he toweled dry. Wrapping the linen about his waist, Luke went to his room and checked his closet for clean clothing.
He thought of Mara's ensemble, and grimaced, realizing he had very little to wear outside his normal black attire. He finally pulled out his one pair of grey slacks and a deep red tunic. He combed his hair, straightened the collar on his shirt and went back out to the common area to assist Mara.
He found her in the kitchen gathering the various dishes for the table. She glanced his way as he took a stack of plates to the table and then gave him a closer second look.
Luke noticed her scrutiny, and frowned.
"What?"
She looked him up and down, making him wonder if he forgot to zip his pants. He glanced down as casually as possible but saw nothing amiss.
"Wow, you look really nice, Luke." Mara finally murmured.
"Oh, thank you."
Mara chuckled, shaking her head. "I was beginning to wonder if you realized clothing came in more colors than black."
Luke shifted his feet, not answering. Of course Mara picked up on this, and had to ask.
"What is it?"
"Well… um, Leia kind of picked this out for me." Luke admitted. "But I rarely wear the outfit."
Mara smirked. "Well, I think you look very nice in regular colors and clothing. You should wear them more often."
Luke was floored by her comments, not used to such open compliments from his lovely companion.
He was saved a reply by the door-chime, indicating the arrival of their guests.
"I'll get it." Mara offered, leaving Luke to finish the final place settings on the table.
Luke heard the door open followed by the excited voices of the Solo children and the more subdued voices of their parents. Lastly he heard Chewie growl a welcome to Mara. Luke panicked for a heartbeat, having forgotten that Chewie was back from his trip to Kashyyyk.
He surreptitiously set a spot for the Wookiee before anyone could count the place settings, and breathed a sigh of relief as they all entered just after he completed his task.
"Uncle Luke!" Jaina and Jacen rushed to greet him, and he dipped down to grab them in a firm hug.
Anakin jostled for position in his arms, and Luke made room for him. He kissed all three children on their foreheads, and then pulled back.
"Look at all of you! You look a little taller than the other day." Luke winked. "What has your Dad been feeding you guys?"
"Lots of takeout when Mom's not home!" Anakin answered innocently.
Out of the corner of his eye Luke saw Leia shoot Han a look. Han merely grinned sheepishly and shrugged.
Luke released his niece and nephews. "Why don't you three go get washed up and find your seats?"
"Okay Uncle Luke!" they answered in unison before racing away.
Luke chuckled at their energy and stood to greet his twin.
"Leia, it's great to see you." They embraced, and Leia looked him up and down.
"Is that the outfit I bought you?"
Luke nodded.
"You look nice, Luke." Leia appraised.
"That's what I was telling him." Mara quipped. "I told him there are other colors out there besides black."
"There are?" Han asked with a mock-start.
The adults shared a laugh. Chewie grabbed Luke into a huge hug, ruffling the Jedi's hair.
"It's great to see you too, Chewie. How is your family doing?" Luke asked as the Wookiee set him back on the ground.
'They are doing well, thank you Cub.' Chewie said.
"That is good to hear. Welcome back." Luke patted his friend on the arm.
At that moment the children thundered back into the dining room and settled themselves.
"Uncle Luke, sit by me!" Anakin pleaded, patting a chair next to him.
"Miss Mara, would you like to sit by me?" Jaina asked.
Luke and Mara both obliged and ended up sitting beside one another with a child on the left and right. Han and Leia sat next to Jacen while Chewie settled at the head of the table where his larger size would be better accommodated.
"Luke this looks amazing!" Leia said as the adults all helped to dish out the food.
"Actually, Mara deserves the credit here." Luke nudged Mara's shoulder. "I only helped with the cutting of the veggies."
"Oh that's right; I forgot Han told me you were taking cooking lessons from Luke." Leia turned to Mara. "I'm sorry."
Mara waved away her apology "No worries. I just hope there is enough to go around."
"I'm sure there will be plenty." Leia assured her.
"So, Mara, how do you like cooking so far?" Han inquired around a bite of stuffed duck fillet.
"Actually, I really enjoy it." Mara admitted. "It's sort of relaxing, and it's nice to enjoy a home cooked meal."
"Yes, isn't it?" Leia asked with a pointed look at her husband.
Han offered his best mock-offended look, and pointed to his chest. "What? I can cook. I just like to take it easy every now and then."
Leia snorted, but let the subject drop.
Jaina tugged on Mara's sleeve.
"Yes, Jaina?"
"Are you dating Uncle Luke?" Jaina asked quietly.
Her comment was obviously not soft enough, though, because all the human adults at the table abruptly choked on their various bites.
When everyone had gained their composure, Mara noticed Luke looking at her in an odd way, making her a little uncomfortable. Why was he looking at her like he wanted her to answer yes?
"Um… not quite, Jaina." Mara finally replied, looking at the young girl. "Right now we're really good friends, but we haven't gotten that far just yet."
Mara tried not to notice Luke's slightly crestfallen expression. He covered it up instantly though, to Mara's gratitude. She didn't want any more awkward conversations in front of the children.
"Oh. But you like him right?" Jaina pressed.
Mara looked down at her plate, this time really feeling Luke's gaze. Leia came to her rescue, much to Mara's relief.
"Jaina, that's enough." Leia said firmly. "Leave Miss Mara be. She told you that she and Uncle Luke are friends."
"Okay." Jaina sighed. "Sorry."
"That's okay Jaina." Mara patted her shoulder.
Mara excused herself from the table, changing the subject. "I do actually have a surprise for all of you. Wait here please."
Mara disappeared into the kitchen. She paused at the door to the cooling unit and took a few steadying breaths. Jaina's innocent questions had invariably opened a can of worms for Mara, a can she had tried very hard to keep sealed.
No doubt Luke would want to grill her later on the whole debacle. She dreaded the end of the evening.
Gathering her composure when she felt the curiosity mounting at the dinner table, Mara took the towel-covered cheesecake out. She smiled when she saw that it was still in one piece and looked quite presentable.
It was with a well-earned grin of satisfaction that Mara re-entered the dining hall. She set the dessert on the table and sat down.
"Oh Mara!" Leia exclaimed as she leaned forward with interest. "That looks divine!"
Han and Chewie were already licking their chops, making Mara laugh. "You boys can quit drooling on the table and eat a slice."
"What kind of cheesecake is it?" Leia went on as Han sliced small portions for the children and then larger ones for the adults.
"I found a recipe for strizzleberry cheesecake with a topping of chocolate curls." Mara answered. "I wanted to test myself. Luke said trials are a big part of the learning curve, and I had some free time on my hands the other night, so I figured why not?"
Mara then noticed that Luke hadn't said a word since before she'd disappeared. She looked to him, expecting to see him still butt-hurt over her lack of response to Jaina. To her genuine surprise, he was simply gazing at her with open admiration.
Mara's gaze met his and she held it for a long moment. Then her less comfortable self caused her to look away and she proceeded to eat her cake.
They finished the dinner and as the kids took over Luke and Mara's game, the adults all pitched in to clean up. Luke and Han washed dishes while Leia and Mara put away the leftovers. Chewie settled in the front room with the kids.
"Dinner was wonderful Mara, thank you." Leia hugged her lightly.
"Well, I was lucky to have a great teacher." Mara said quietly as she prepared after-dinner drinks.
Luke looked over his shoulder at her and smiled before returning to his own conversation with Han. They chuckled about something, before Luke gasped and shot a small wave of rinse-water at his brother-in-law.
Han laughed harder while Luke blushed furiously. The Jedi glanced at Leia, who had her head cocked curiously and his face went a shade redder. Mara felt her own curiosity rise, but before she could question him, Luke pulled away from the sink.
"All done.' He announced loudly, brushing out of the kitchen.
Han grinned maliciously, and took Leia's arm. She handed him a glass and took one for herself.
"What was that all about?" Leia asked.
"Oh, nothing much, just something Luke was doing at the gym."
This time Mara sputtered with laughter, spitting out some of the liquid and ending up in a coughing fit. She knew all too well what activity Han was referring to that could garner such a reaction from Skywalker.
Han pounded her on the back after a moment, and Mara finally stopped choking, only to laugh some more. Leia, for her part, was looking half worried and half confused by the time Mara regained her calm composure.
Luke was hiding in the middle of the Solo children, helping Anakin move his bantha-laden speeder. Jacen and Jaina had claimed Mara's wampa family.
They spent a good hour socializing before the children began to yawn. Han took Anakin on one arm while Chewbacca carried the twins.
"Thank you again; we had a lot of fun." Leia said softly.
Chewie whuffed in agreement, and Han nodded to Mara.
"The food was excellent."
"Thanks Solo."