Hello everyone. I know it's been a long time, but I had quite a bit of planning to do for this chapter. Here is chapter 12 of A Gift Lost. Hope you like.

A Gift Lost: Chapter 12 – Mara's Play

Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano-Bonteri was in a state of worry. It had been over a week since the events in the senate. Fortunately, the rest of the session in the new senate had gone without a hitch. Luke Skywalker had been declared fit for duty so could take some of the protection duties off her.

Ahsoka used this extra time to meditate and train more; she really had to gain more control of the powers she inherited from the Daughter, especially the glowing; that really freaked people out. Finally, after much practice, she's got to a stage where she can prevent the glow from occurring and turn it on if she wants it; which is never.

Unfortunately, Ahsoka had been sick for the last two days. She kept throwing up 'Just a virus probably' she thought to herself; although her aging had stopped; she was still a biological being after all so she could still get ill.

At that moment therefore, Ahsoka was glad to be back in their apartment; Lux was still in the senate at that point, but her two daughters were with her. "Are you sure you're ok mum?" Mina asked. Mina's own force sensitivity had started to show itself; she could sense her mother's slight distress.

"I'll be fine darling. Everyone gets sick occasionally; it'll pass."

Padmé wasn't so sure. The nine year old could be as stubborn as her mother; she didn't like her mother's illness and she decided to tell her "Mummy, you're not well; please see someone about it."

Ahsoka had to smile at her daughter's insistence. She was originally going to give her a reassuring response when another round of nausea hit her. She ran into the refresher.

Ten minutes later she came back out of the refresher; this was no good, maybe her daughters were right; she should get this looked at. Fortunately, the Rebel army had full medical back up. "Come you two; I'm going to see some medics."

"About time" Mina snapped "Come on Padmé let's help mum."

Mina and Padmé helped their mother to stand up and the three of them headed out of the door and headed off towards the medics; fortunately, they were situated quite nearby.

-0-0-0-0-0-

A couple of hours later, Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker was waiting at a space port near the senate. The senate session had finally come to an end and some of the senators were on their way home; those that weren't required immediately anyway. The Force was telling Luke that not all was well; he could tell that something was wrong with Ahsoka and he could sense that something was about to happen. It was with some relief that he spotted Ahsoka approaching him with her husband. However; he could sense that something had shocked Ahsoka and she was keeping something secret.

"Master Skywalker" she stated as Ahsoka and Lux got close enough.

"Hi Ahsoka, Senator Bonteri. Where are your daughters?" Luke asked as he noticed they weren't with them.

"Oh they're with Leia" Lux replied "She seems to love them and they love her."

Luke smiled; he'd never thought of his sister being good with younglings, but he was glad he was wrong. "We'll have start teaching them…."

Luke was cut off by a flying piece of metal that narrowly missed him but hit Ahsoka firmly in the chest. She immediately dropped to the floor, blood coming out of her mouth. "Ahsoka!" cried Luke and Lux together. Lux dropped to the floor trying desperately to see if his wife had any signs of life.

Just as Luke was rushing to her side, he was cut off by a red lightsaber blade sweeping just in front of him; Mara was back and she may just have killed Ahsoka. Igniting his saber he just blocked the attack in time. "How is she?" he shouted as he tried to lure Mara away.

Tears flooding in his eyes Lux checked for Ahsoka's pulse. He cried even harder when he felt the rhythmic thumping in his fingertips; she was alive "She's still alive, but only just."

"Aw isn't that sweet" taunted Mara "The senator still has his little Togrutan girlfriend." Mara was actually delighted; she had removed the main threat to her; Luke would be no trouble.

"You evil witch" Lux screamed; his anger out of control "she is everything to me."

Mara gained an evil scowl, her eyes yellow "Fortunately for you my dear senator, neither you nor her are my target, so run away and get your precious girlfriend a medic."

"She's my wife" Lux stated with anger "I would try and kill you myself, but she needs help. Master Skywalker, please end this evil bitch." Lux ran off to desperately find a medic before his wife did die.

Mara just laughed as she turned to Luke "Well farmboy, I believe we have unfinished business. What was it again? Oh yes.. your death."

Luke studied Mara both visually and with the Force; Ahsoka was right, there was a conflict within her, but she was doing a good at hiding it. Could she really be turned? He had to try; he owed that to Ahsoka. He tried to remember her advice "Mara; we don't have to do this. The emperor is dead, he doesn't control you anymore."

Mara blinked; she'd had enough of this from that freaky Togrutan. Secretly, Mara was glad that Ahsoka was still alive. Ahsoka had gained her respect and Ahsoka had spared her life twice; she didn't really want to end Ahsoka's life. "Oh come on Luke; you don't expect me to fall for that do you?" She reignited her lightsaber and jumped at Luke.

Luke brought his saber up to block then spun round and swung straight for Mara's head. Smirking, she rolled under the attack and swung for Luke's legs. Seeing this, using the Force, he leaped over her attack and landed behind her. He immediately spun round on landing aiming his swing at Mara's chest. She immediately spun round and blocked the attack, bringing up a leg and kicking him in the chest.

Luke staggered backwards, but quickly regained his composure. Again, he sensed Mara's conflict he also realised her beauty; he really didn't want to fight her 'I…I love her' Luke thought to himself 'why must this happen why?' he extinguished his saber "Mara please, I can sense part of you doesn't want this fight any more than I do."

Just then Lux came racing back with a Medic, Princess Leia and his two daughters. "Mummy" they both exclaimed, tears in their eyes. The medic raced beside the unconscious Ahsoka after a few checks he said "I think she's ok, but the impact has damaged one of her lungs. She'll need a bacta tank to heal fully, but she should come round shortly."

Princess Leia stood in shock at the scene in front of her. Ahsoka on the floor with a medic and Lux beside her was a terrible sight as was Ahsoka's two children crying at the sight of their mother. What was worse however was the sight of Luke facing off with Mara. Leia cursed herself for not having a blaster on her at that moment.

Mara smirked at all this "Well well well, it looks like your precious togrutan has got help after all. Now Luke, you will die." She began to move towards Luke ready to swing her saber.

Luke raised his voice "Mara, look at them. See how they are all crying? Mara, look at those younglings, you almost killed their mother. Is that really what you want for yourself?" Luke sensed a change in Mara. He remembered that Ahsoka predicted there would be a change in Mara; this was the time, he knew it. "Mara, I don't know why, I don't know how, but I want you. Mara I can sense your conflict, your feelings. Ahsoka was right; this isn't you. Please look at those children. If you really want to be a woman that takes away people's mothers and fathers, then kill me. I won't stop you."

Leia was distraught at her brother's statement "LUKE! What are you doing?"

Mara smirked; was Skywalker really going to make it this easy? Oh well. She walked up to Luke ready to give the final blow, when she felt something. She looked in his eyes 'What am I doing?' she asked herself 'Why do I get this feeling when I look at him? Wait…I…I love him?' She renewed her swing, but the final act just wouldn't come. At this point Mara remembered something Ahsoka said to her during their last encounter.

"I never said you couldn't beat him, I said you won't be able to kill him. You will understand when the time comes."

Mara began to understand, she again glanced at Ahsoka's children 'Those kids will hate me till the day they die if Ahsoka doesn't make it' She looked again at Luke 'Can I really kill him? He's making it easy for me, but can I?' When she realised the answer, Mara broke. Streams of tears flooded out of her eyes "I can't. I can't do it…I love you." As the darkness left her, she dropped her lightsaber, fell into Luke's arms and sobbed.

Smiling, Luke brought Mara into an embrace, his heart hammering, both from the impending doom and from having Mara in his arms "Shhhhh Mara, it's alright, it's alright. The darkness has gone Mara." He looked down at her now green eyes full of tears and his heart melted. He kissed her on her forehead "Now let's take you to meet everyone, this time properly."

Mara was overcome by this feeling of love. As a Sith she never knew it existed, now it had defeated the dark side in her and she had a new future; one of happiness. For the first time in her time Mara felt peace; she promised herself that she would never leave Luke's arms again. She was terrified of what everyone else made of her however. Lux Bonteri had every right to kill her. How was this going to go? How was she going to make it up to those beautiful children?

Well that's it for this chapter. I apologise that it has taken this long, but as I said this has been hard to plan and The Order Redeems has been taken some time. Next chapter, how will Leia, Lux and his two daughters respond to Mara now she has renounced the darkness and what about Ahsoka?