Note: This will be the the second to the last chapter. One more to go folks! Woot!
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After they had swam for awhile, the newlyweds got out of the water and stripped out of their wet clothing.
"Let's stay in here for the rest of the day." He could see her eyelids drooping. "I'm a bit tired." She toweled herself off, and fetched what looked like sleeping wear or about the house clothing.
"That's fine." He got dressed himself, finding his sleeping pants—which he had not worn at all come to think of it. Then again, with all the activities he'd had no reason to.
Mara had already crawled into the bed and had a datapad propped on her knee. She looked up and smiled.
"You look tired, dear."He brushed a strand of hair. "You know what I think?"
"What?"
"I think I wore you out."
She smirked sleepily. "Maybe so
"Why don't you take a nap? I'll wake you."
"I am tired." She admitted, then got underneath the covers. "Wake me in half an more no less."
"Half an hour." He promised.
Luke watched as she made herself comfortable and within seconds, Mara was fast asleep.
She was a goddess as she slept, so peaceful and serene. She was perfect in every way, even when she wasn't entirely perfect. And it wasn't just her looks, but her personality. When he thought all was for nothing, she had entered his life once more. The Force bond that had fused them together brought hope to his life; a promise that he wasn't to be alone for the rest of his life.
He thanked the Force every day for Mara.
He then reached over a stroke her cheek, brushing aside her hair.
As he turned over, to reach for his own datapad, he missed the subtle twitch beneath Mara's eyelid.
There was smoke and fire, the sound of a woman screaming. In the distance, a man stood en guard, brandishing a green lightsaber. He was broad shouldered with an equally broad back. He was on a rocky slope that was leading upwards.
"Get back, Marina." The man hollered. "I'll hold them off, you save her."
"Devin." The woman, Marina, in one hand held a purple lightsaber in her right hand, while she cradled a blanketed-bundle in the brook of her left arm. Her red-head whipped violently about her face as if stirred by an unseen Force. Her gray eyes were grey eyes were steady, her expression fierce.
She could hear a baby crying loudly.
"I will not abandon you, my husband." Marina hollered.
"Go, or I'll not be able to hold them back. I cannot protect you and the child."
The man turned and she could see his face. Piercing green eyes lay hooded beneath a veil of dark brown hair. The man's lips were pulled back in determination. Though under the faint dirt, she could red coming through.
Wind was whipping in their direction and Marina hurried to shield the child from the dirt. She pulled up her blue cloak up around the child. Hints of green and beige peaked in between the edges.
"Marina, go!" Devin shouted.
The woman finally gave flight, switching off her blade as turned to run. And that's when assassin's bolt struck her down. A brief look of shook and pain took over her face. Despite her pain, and imminent death, the woman instinctively turned to safe guard her child.
"Marina!" The man shouted, seeing his wife fall.
The man blocked the furry of bolts, but he did not expect the shot that came from the back. A startled look settled over the man's face; a mirror of his wife's.
He fell to his knees. As he fell backwards, he caught sight of his assailant.
"Why?" He croaked.
The trooper lowered his blaster rifle.
It was then that Mara woke up breathing heavily, eyes wide in terror, and letting out a whimper. She suddenly felt arms embracing her and for a moment she fought those arms. Struggling and still screaming. Instead of letting go, they only tightened, it was a warm embrace though and Mara started to ease slightly.
"Mara, Sweetheart, its okay." A familiar voice shouted. "Sweetheart, wake up. It was a dream. Mara!"
Mara opened her eyes and looked to the one whom the arms belonged to; she looked into her husband's clear blue eyes, her still wide with fright and panic.
"Mara, it's me Luke. You were dreaming. Mara, are you all right, Sweetheart?" Warms hands framed her face.
"Luke...?" She murmured after a moment, latching her hands onto his biceps.
"That's right it's me. You were having a nightmare…a dream. Nothing's going to hurt you."
She teared up and she let out a sob, burying herself into his chest. Within moments, hot tears fell onto it.
"Mara," He whispered in shock.
"Luke, it was terrible. I saw them."
"Saw who, my love?" He inquired gently.
"My parents…I saw them die. I saw them…"
"Shh, shh, " He embraced her, rubbing her back gently. "Are you sure?"
"No," She sniffed and pulled back. "Not entirely. But it felt so real...and I could feel…something."
"Tell me about it."
She did.
"She had my hair, Luke. And he, my eyes. I know that's only circumstantial, but why else would I have had that...horrible dream if it wasn't them?"
"I don't know, love." He reached out to touch her cheek. "Maybe it felt the yearning you hide deep within your heart. What you've denied for so long until today."
"But why that? Why not show me something…provincial. Domestic." She got up and began to pace widely. "Why show me their deaths?! What for!?"
Luke slowly eased out of bed.
"Perhaps…it was to show you that they didn't die in vain, they were protecting what was most precious to them."
"But Palpatine still got to me." She insisted. "I didn't see the end of the dream, but I know that's how it ended."
"Sweetheart, sometimes the Force doesn't always explain itself. The end result doesn't always happen the way we desire." He paused. "Tell me, would you have chosen to have not ever known, even if knowing brought a terrible reality?"
Mara remained silent.
"You're right. At least I know who they are..I really had parents, Luke," Tears welled up in her eyes once more. "The worst thing was not knowing." She smiled slightly. "And you know what I think I you may have been on the ball earlier."
"Oh?"
She told him about the red beneath the dirt.
"A bloodstripe?"
She strugged. "Don't know, but it would be pretty funny to see the look on, Solo's face."
"Or Corran's."
"That's only if there's anything to tell, but it's all speculative isn't it?"
"And you don't mind not knowing really?"
"I know what I need to know."
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They joined eachother back in bed, and Luke simply held his wife for awhile. He let her talk about what she'd seen. She had a certain glow to her face. Hope and pride and happiness.
"You're my family though." She whispered to him.
"But I'm happy if you gained an inkling of insight on them." He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "They are a part of you. From what you've described there are traces of them in you, Mara." When she opened her mouth to protest, "Even Palpatine couldn't banish that."
A wistful look came over her face.
"Oh, Farmboy," She murmured. "You are just so…"
A glint entered his eye.
"I know."
"Do you?" She gave him a questioning look.
"Mmmhmm." His hands found their way to her waist. "You were going to say sweet weren't you?"
"Maybe." She hedged.
"How about sexy?"
He brought her to him and began to kiss her neck.
"Perhaps."
He smiled against her skin and she laughed, squirming slightly. His hands traced over her body causing her to shiver. She moaned loudly.
She hadn't been lying; Luke was her family. Her parents would always be her parents. But he was her future.
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The dream that had plagued Mara earlier on didn't raise its head again. She slept peacefully throughout the rest of the afternoon and well into the evening. They arose late and night and called in for late night snack.
"I hope we aren't waking anyone." Luke murmured.
"Even if we are, do you really think they're going to complain?"
"Probably not." He paused. "So, you slept well."
"Very."
"Good; you know sleeping with you isn't that bad."
She scowled. "What's that suppose to mean?"
"I mean, usually when you sleep together in the same bed—actually sleep. It's supposed to be more difficult, each finding your rhythm. At least that's what Han tells me—and others."
"Well, I suppose if it was normal sleep." Mara smirked.
"You do tend to wear me out."
"Iwear you out?" Skepticism.
"Well, I do all the work."
"Excuse me?"
Realizing his error, Luke thought fast. "Of course, when I think about it," He blushed. "You were pretty impressive earlier."
"Was I?" She wasn't falling for it.
"Mmmhmm." He began to sensually stroke her him once more, his hand finding its way under her night shirt.
"Are you trying to butter me up?"
"No, I think I'm trying to…feel you up." He responded with much cheek.
"Is that so?" She moved her knee, brushing it against his inner thigh. "How's that?"
He gulped.
The door chimed.
"That's our snack." Her hand dragged along his thigh suggestively. "Don't move…I'll be back, Honey. I have a special treat waiting for you."
Mara slipped off the bed really slowly and seductively.
His mouth went dry upon hearing the news.
"Can't wait..." He croaked.
She gave him a knowing yet sensual smile.
Dear Force, that woman would be the end of him.
But what I way to go, he thought.
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