"Bounty hunter, was your mission successful?"

Vanna's sharp features appeared on the screen and she answered in a crisp voice, "Lord Vader, I have partially succeeded. I did not kill the Jedi, but I have captured their child, who is said to be very powerful."

Darth Vader's unchanging black gaze of his helmet looked at Vanna through the holoscreen and he replied with a bitter tone.

"We have no room for failures bounty hunter, but a child with Force Potential would be useful to us. Bring the child to the Imperial Palace on Coruscant. My master will want to see it. Be sure to leave the baby unharmed. She may be of some use to our growing Empire."

Vanna bowed slightly and said, "Yes Lord Vader, as you wish. I am entering hyperspace now." Vader cut off the transmission and Vanna spun around and walked down the short hall into the cabin where she was storing her valuable cargo. She was not usually one to follow direct orders, but when you were with Lord Vader, one needed to be careful. It was said that he could Force Choke people even over holotransmissions. "That is one guy you don't want to tick off.," thought Vanna to herself, glad that nothing went wrong and that Lord Vader was happy with her baby prize that she was bringing to Coruscant.

….

"She woke up with a start, suddenly feeling a tremor in the Force. They were on Coruscant, and Celeste was close. She could hear her scream, but try as she might, something kept her from reaching her baby. Marilee cried out as blue lightning struck around and near her, deflecting off of her lightsaber blade.

Her Celeste was in the hands of a hideous creature. He was clad in a quilted black velvet cloak, a lightsaber in one hand, Celeste in the other. Mari cried out again, as the blue lightning electrocuted her husband, and then her brother and best friend. She stood, but the lightning was reaching her. She lay there, writhing on the floor, unable to help anyone near her.

Then, to her amazement, people filed in the room and began to shoot at the evil man holding her daughter. The lightning stopped and Mari was able to catch Celeste with the Force from falling to the ground. The man, at least it looked like a man, spun his metal backed, bulletproof chair around, deflecting the blasts from the different blasters. Mari crawled to her baby, who she hugged and held like there was no tomorrow.

Another Jedi entered the room, lightsaber lit, ready to defend. Mari couldn't move from her position on the floor, as the lightning she had just experienced had rocked her bones to the core. She felt terrible. Shadow dragged himself across the floor to where Mari sat holding her daughter. Celeste squirmed and reached for her daddy. Mari placed her in his hands and then, to her horror, more of the wretched lightning came their way. She screamed in terrible pain. Her left hand sparked and sputtered and then she fell to back to the ground. Barely hanging on to consciousness, Mari blinked agonizingly as the lightning continued relentlessly.

Darkness was closing in on her when two lightsabers clashed in front of her body, deflecting the lightning, sending it back toward it sender. The evil cackling provided by the monster in the chair ceased and was then silenced. She felt Shadow's strong hands on the back of her neck as he lifted her from the danger. Then more blaster fire occurred and then…"

…

Mari sat straight up in bed. She was sleeping in a small cabin bed on the tiny ship she and Shadow were riding to Coruscant. She was resting as the Medics back on Alderaan told her to do. Mari's breathing was quick and lively, and her hands were still shaking, upset by her startling dream.

Mari stepped from her bed, and walked out to find her husband. Shadow sat, staring at all of the censors on his navicomputer board. Shadow turned around and smiled at his wife. She looked at him with troubled eyes and he stood up to see what was wrong. She explained her horrible nightmare and he consoled her upset soul.

Mari snuggled close to him and he just held her, stroking her silky light red hair gently. She had wrapped a blanket around herself and in such worry and nervousness, she was glad to be safe in her husband's arms. For the time being.

…

Clay smiled at Maryanna. They were on their way to Dantooine, sitting on a bench together in the ship. Clay and Maryanna sat close together and were busy talking. They were both very talkative, speaking about everything and anything. They were laughing and enjoying themselves while in hyperspace. Then Clay stood up and checked a few controls on the bridge. Maryanna stood as well, stretching her sore leg. Maryanna walked over to where her boyfriend stood, looking out the window into space. Clay put his arm around Maryanna's shoulders, and squeezed. She turned to look at him, and then they drew closer and closer until their lips were touching.

They kissed happily for a moment and after a while they drew back, still holding hands. Clay looked into Maryanna's beautiful blue eyes and said quietly, "I love you."

Maryanna smiled and replied, "I love you too."

He smiled at her and said, "Maryanna, we….we've been through a lot together haven't we?" Maryanna nodded and laughed shortly.

"Yeah, we have been. We've been dating for how many years now?" Clay looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Four years? Maybe five." Maryanna nodded again.

"Yup. Don't you think that now we are…..I dunno, more, than just boyfriend and girlfriend?" Clay looked surprised for a moment and then smiled slowly at her and reached deep into his pocket. He got down on one knee.

"You are right Annie, we are much more than that. Maryanna….will you marry me?" Tears filled Maryanna's eyes as her dreams were beginning to come true.

"Oh, Clay, Yes! Yes! I will marry you!" He placed the pretty Alderaanian ring on her finger and spun her around. They hugged and kissed some more as the ship flew through hyperspace.

Maryanna had never felt such joy before. The boy she was friends with since childhood, and in love with for years just asked her to marry him. How could she say anything but yes? She'd dreamt of this day for years, and it was finally coming true.

He captured her lips again, and Maryanna fell into his arms in bliss. Clay held her close, and whispered in her ear.

"I'm so lucky to have you." He said, holding her tight and the bridge of their small ship. "I've waited for this day for too long," he continued. "And I couldn't wait any longer."

"I'm glad you didn't," she whispered through happy tears, "or I would've asked you!" They both laughed and kissed again, happy to finally be engaged.

"I love you Maryanna Sorun…..so, so much." He said into her hair, holding her close once again.

"I love you even more Clay Sunstar. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. I love you so much!" she kissed him this time, eyes smiling as she leaned her head on his shoulder.

….

Vanna touched the little baby's soft cheek and smiled slightly, it was kind of cute when it was sleeping. Then Vanna got a hold of herself and thought to herself, "No. You are a bounty hunter, an assassin. You are heartless, let's keep it that way." She removed her hand and spoke out loud this time.

"Stupid baby, you are going to Darth Daddy now, no hope of your precious parents saving you." Vanna Ri smirked at the sleeping child and then spun on her heel and walked out of the cabin. She slumped back in the pilot's chair, her lips pursed in annoyance. How long was this trip supposed to take? She slammed the dashboard with her fist as the ship was slowly coming out of hyperspace.

She saw, even from the dark vacuum of space, the glowing lights of Coruscant nightlife. She began to enter its atmosphere when she suddenly picked up on another ship on her scanners. It was a small servants ship, probably delivering supplies and other goods to the Imperial Stormtrooper barracks. Vanna rolled her eyes and waited for the useless ship to pass her. She would usually bombard a ship like that, just for the fun of it. Just to give her pleasure. But with this ship, she decided not to bother it. Not only was she carrying extremely valuable cargo, but she just didn't feel like exerting that much effort.

Vanna slumped back further and awaited the comm message allowing her to land. Soon, the message came in and within minutes; she was flying toward landing platform B34. She looked on as the other ships zoomed rudely past her, annoying the living daylights out of her. "Why I could slice those inconsiderate beings right out of the living galaxy if I wanted to….." Vanna stopped thinking so harshly when the baby began to cry. She poked her head into the little aggravating brat's room and shouted.

"Shut Up! I'm busy!" Truth was, Celeste felt her mother and father's presence on Coruscant and was crying for them. She wanted to get up and crawl to them, but the mean lady would never let her do that. Plus her teeth hurt! The baby quieted, knowing her parents could not hear her.

….

Mari stood slowly as she saw the ship that was once hers allowing them to pass through hyperspace. Shadow saw it too. Marilee looked at him with panic.

"That's her! That's the bounty hunter! She still has our ship! And our baby!" Mari cried, looking to her husband for suggestions.

"Do something!" she said, reaching out with the Force for her daughter's presence.

"I can't do anything! If we shoot down the ship, we could hurt Celeste! We need to just let her get to Coruscant. We'll catch up with her there."

Mari nodded and watched the ship carefully on the scanners. She was heading for Coruscant alright, but there was nothing she could do to stop her from keeping her child hostage on the ship.

Marilee felt for her daughter's presence. She was okay, for now. She sent comforting words through the Force to her daughter, telling her that mommy and daddy were on their way. She almost instantly felt Celeste's Force Signature calm down. It comforted Mari to know that their daughter understood they were on the way to rescue her. And she would rescue Celeste, even if she died trying.

….

TADA! Chapter 21 is finished! I lied. I was able to edit this before my trip. I wasn't as busy as I thought this morning, and was able to get it done before going to lunch. ;-) This is probably the last chapter before I leave… The next few chapters are going to be harder to edit, so it may be a while. This chapter is so much fun! I love the Clay/Maryanna stuff in there. :3 So cute. Tell me what you think! Did I write the proposal well? Or was it to abrupt? I know y'all have been wanting a wedding….. ;-)

Well, enjoy! Review and tell me what you think! Love, Fallon.