The Long Way Home

by fictionfrek101

Before vanishing, Luke Skywalker decided to make a detour to Jakku and collect the body of his reportedly dead daughter, Rey, only to find her alive. With hope renewed, Luke stayed on Jakku to raise and protect her from the First Order, while hiding their past from Rey. But while he waits for the day the Force awakens, he begins a chain of events that changes the story entirely.

25. Part Three: Intimacy

A/N: Welcome to the chapter where the more adult stuff starts kicking in. If you prefer a cleaner version, read the net version. If you want the smut, read the AO3 version. I highly recommend the AO3 version as I consider that the canon version, and things make more sense tone-wise if you understand what really went down in some of these cases (no pun intended.) Also, it's my first time really writing smut and I'm rather proud of myself, so I want to share it.

Plus, this chapter is probably not going to make a lot of sense if you read the clean version.

And for those worried that this story is going to suddenly become all smut, all the time, this chapter with be the one with the most love scenes as it is the period of time where Luke and Felicity's physical relationship develops. There will be other smut scenes in future chapters, but not as many as this chapter.

I'm just going to stop making promises about chapter lengths but surprise surprise, I had to split this one also in half… Actually, technically thirds as the love scenes took up so much space it made more sense to do one chapter that was about them becoming lovers, one about them dating, and one about them getting married. Why? Because the dirty version of this chapter is over 35k words aka over 80 pages long. Does this make up for not updating in a month?

Because, seriously, I have devoted over 50 hours to these three chapters, and they were just not getting done. Writing smut is surprisingly hard… pun not intended.

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The Long Way Home

Chapter Twenty-Five

Part Three: Intimacy

Dedicated to my wonderful Emily, who has been my absolute rock throughout the story, especially through writing this chapter. Thank you for your support, feedback, and helping me accept that it's okay to write some really naughty scenes.

---

11 Months, 19 Days

"You're really okay with taking a couple weeks off work?" Luke asked Felicity as they gathered their bags from the ship. "I'm sure Nils isn't too happy about it."

"Luke, it's Obik's wedding," Felicity laughed. "The entire Emissary department is coming. Nils is fine. Besides I had the vacation pay anyway."

"And how happy was he when you told him you went to Temple Village ten days early to help your boyfriend with preparations?" Luke teased.

Felicity smirked, "His exact words were 'It's about time you dated Skywalker. I've been calling this ever since you made him your emergency contact.' And then Ceilara said 'Seriously, what took you so long? If I had a shot with Luke Skywalker, I would have hopped at that right away.'"

"I think the same could be said the other way around," a voice interrupted.

The pair turned to see Lando emerging from the cockpit to grab his own luggage.

It was Lando's ship and he had accompanied them to Rornian since Luke's X-Wing only – at the time – sat one. He had decided to join them because he claimed it made no sense to make Luke go from Coruscant to Cloud City, pick up the ship, return to Coruscant, pick up Felicity (she had work and couldn't go to Cloud City with Luke), then go to Temple Village, when Lando was going to be on Rornian ten days later.

And no – he kept insisting – it had nothing to do with Alyla Kene. Okay, yes maybe that blue morning glory he has been caring for so delicately in his bag he brought to give to her, but that was only because they had talked one time about how they grew in the greenhouses of Cloud City, and Alyla wanted to see one, and why are you looking in my bag anyway?

"Honestly, Luke," Lando chuckled, "what took you so long to take a shot with this fine, sophisticated, beautiful woman right here?"

"Normally I would be annoyed with Lando flirting with me like how he always does even when I've asked him to stop," Felicity glared at Lando. "But I have to admit he has a point. Why did it take you so long to ask me out, Luke? You know I've made it no secret that I have been physically attracted to you from the moment we met, and the mental and emotional connection came so easily… Look, I'm just saying, we probably should have been sleeping together for at least seven months by now. Heck, we even used to talk about getting dinner or drinks when we first started hanging out. Why didn't you ever decide to make your move then?"

"I did try," Luke smirked, trying not to get distracted by Felicity's flippant comment about them making love. "I was going to do it, Felicity. I was prepared to ask you out, and even began the sentence to do so."

Felicity frowned, "Why did you stop?"

"Because your boyfriend you never told me about was going to be at your apartment in an hour."

Felicity's eyes widened, "Oh my God. You were going to ask me out then?"

"Had a whole speech prepared."

"Why didn't you give it?"

"You don't actually think I'm the kind of guy who would declare my attraction to a woman in a relationship?"

"I'd only been dating him, what? Three weeks?"

Lando looked between the pair, "I'll let you two work this out and see if anyone's come to greet the ship."

Lando knew when to make a quick exit.

"I can't believe it!" Felicity's arms were crossed and she was shaking her head. If Felicity was mad, Luke knew it was directed at her own self, "You let me waste my time with some airheaded podracer!"

"Airheaded?" Luke raised an eyebrow.

"Well, I didn't date him for his brains. He was just a handsome piece of arm candy who let me run off and do my own thing whenever I wanted. I'm not even sure we were in an exclusive relationship."

Luke paused, "So… Is that what you're looking for in this relationship? A nice face and someone you can drop and pick up again as easily as a book?"

Felicity's eyes widened, and Luke was surprised at the flash of fear that surged in the Force.

"No," Felicity shook her head quickly. She had gone very rigid, "No, Luke, I-"

"I'm not looking for a fling," Luke said plainly. "I love you, Felicity Rhiaon. I have fallen desperately, hopelessly in love with you… but I'm not some… pull out couch to be used when the occasion arises. I've had my fun, but now I'm looking for something serious, and if that's not what you're looking for-"

"It is," Felicity grabbed his arm. Shining hazel eyes stared out into his own blue orbs, something more than love reflected in them, "I didn't know it when I met you, or even know that I was searching, but you are exactly what I've been looking for. You're handsome, brave, kind, like my sardonic nature, but call me out when I step over the line. You have my back, and trust me to have yours. And your love is fathomless, for me, for your family, for everyone. I don't even come within an inch of deserving you."

"No," Luke placed a hand on her cheek. "I'm the one who doesn't deserve you. You're Rogue One. You were kicking ass and risking your life for a greater cause for years before I even got my act together. While you were shooting Sith Lords in the chest on the Death Star, I was home playing with model ships and worrying about power convertors. Everything I am is because of you, and nothing more than a pale imitation of your greatness. Even my elite squadron of pilots was named to honour your accomplishments."

Felicity laughed, "Did Diego have anything to do with the naming of your Squad?"

"No, actually… Mon Mothma named it. She told me that the Council had selected the name for our greatest pilots to honour our greatest soldiers… and like the fool I am, I never thought to look into it further."

"Well, in your defense, you were juggling Jedi studies without a teacher and being the Commander of the Rebellion's most elite squadron of pilots at the time." She reached up and played with a lock of his hair, "And you're no fool."

Luke pressed his forehead against hers and whispered, "I'm a fool for not making you mine the second I laid eyes on you."

"Oh Luke," Felicity chuckled, "Yes you were. But I think you'll soon find that it's not me who belongs to you… rather that it's you who belongs to me."

"I can be yours," Luke ghosted his lips over hers.

"Don't be a tease."

"I'm not."

Felicity gasped as her back suddenly hit the wall. Luke's hands were in her hair, his lips on her own, and his tongue in her mouth. She moaned and arched her back. Her hands wove into his hair, pulling him in as closely to her as possible.

"Luke!" Felicity gasped as his mouth moved from her lips down to suckle her neck.

"Felicity," Luke breathed into her neck, finding a particularly sensitive spot on Felicity's body: the skin perpendicularly beneath her earlobe.

His hands were on her, touching her, tasting her, memorizing every inch of her skin and mapping it in his mind. She was warm and her skin soft, though athletically muscular. While not muscular to the extent of himself – you had to have pretty good biceps if part of Jedi training involved one armed handstands – her arms and thighs were strong.

It was what he had been imagining for the past two weeks since they had started to date… or maybe it was slightly longer than when they started dating.

"What in the Seven Corellian Hells!" Obik Kenu suddenly exclaimed behind them.

"Oh my God, Luke!" Reine yelled.

Luke and Felicity froze. Their lips were on each other, and their bodies tangled in a rather inappropriate display.

"Please tell me you just sense two people behind us," Felicity whispered.

"Nope," Luke cringed. "There's more."

Quickly, Luke and Felicity untangled themselves, and turned to see their audience.

Standing in the ship, absolutely dumbstruck was their greeting party: a shocked Obik Kenu, a fuming Reine Agim, a grinning Gavyn Kene, a raised browed Zena Halcorr, a rather jealous looking Tyla Kinall, and a barely holding back a giggle Alyla Kene, who was standing rather close to a very proud looking Lando Calrissian.

"Whoa, I left you alone for five minutes," Lando gave a low whistle. "Good job, Luke."

"I'm sorry about the display, everyone," Luke hurriedly smoothed out his clothing. "I got a little carried away."

"Carried away?" Reine exclaimed. "Luke, what the hell was that?"

Gavyn chuckled, "Yeah, I mean, I know you two are friends, but don't you think you're getting a little too friendly?"

"I'm just happy we decided not to bring Miri," Zena shook her head. "I wasn't planning on giving her that talk anytime soon."

"Yeah, and considering our whole cross species thing, that's a long talk," Gavyn added.

"Luke," Reine snapped. "What. The. Hell?"

Luke sighed and looked at Felicity.

"I take it you didn't tell them?" Felicity asked.

Luke shrugged, "I didn't think it was going to be this big a deal."

"Tell us what?" Tyla demanded.

Luke glanced at Tyla, then took a subtle, protective step in front of Felicity. Tyla couldn't Force Choke Felicity if Luke was standing in the way. And considering Tyla had been taught to choke people from Vader himself, better safe than sorry.

"I didn't want to make this into a big deal so close to the wedding," Luke began, "but… Felicity and I have started to date."

Silence filled the ship for a long moment as all eyes turned on Felicity.

And then all at the same time:

"Called it!" Obik yelled.

"It's about damn time!" Gavyn exclaimed.

"Took you long enough!" Alyla laughed.

"They do make a lovely couple," Lando playfully nudged Alyla.

"I'm never going to have a shot with you, am I?" Tyla groaned.

"Wait, you weren't already dating?" Zena frowned.

But Reine still remained silent… and angry.

Luke frowned, "Reine, what's wrong?"

The look on Reine's face was deadly, and her arms were crossed.

"You've started to date Felicity?" Reine's voice was cold. "When?"

"Reine-"

"When?" Reine demanded.

Luke sighed and glanced back at Felicity. Of all the people he expected to object to his relationship with Felicity, Reine had never even been a mile close to the list.

"Two weeks ago," Luke confessed.

"Damn it," Reine whispered as Obik took a cautious step towards her. She yelled as Obik gently grasped her wrist, ready to pull her away from Luke and Felicity, "DAMN IT, LUKE!"

Luke scowled, trying not to let his anger flare up, "Reine, what is the problem? I thought you liked Felicity."

"I do," Reine replied. "The problem is…"

Reine exchanged a look with Obik. Some understanding rippled through the group as a series of looks were shot between various people.

"What?" Luke asked. "What's the problem?"

Reine sighed, "…I had next week in the pool."

Luke's jaw dropped, "You had a betting pool on when I would date Felicity?"

"Of course we did," Reine dismissed. "We always have pools like this. We've got another going on what's going to happen with those two."

Reine pointed back at Alyla and Lando. They exchanged an awkward look, and then took a step away from each other. Unfortunately, Lando's step made him bump right into Gavyn, who had a none too pleased look on his face on the topic of a betting pool concerning the love life of his formerly enslaved and abused twin sister.

"I can't believe it," Reine shook her head. "Three weeks. You couldn't have waited three more weeks? What even prompted this?"

"You are not going to believe it," Felicity laughed. "Han actually asked me out for Luke."

At the same time, jaws dropped, eyes went wide, and faces went pale.

"Han?" Reine exclaimed. "Han asked out Felicity for you?"

Luke and Felicity exchanged a look.

"Yes," Luke frowned.

"That cheating bastard," Gavyn shook his head. "I can't believe that guy would sink so low."

"What are you talking about?" Felicity asked.

Reine sighed, "Han had two weeks ago in the pool… He just won himself a hundred credits."

Felicity and Luke's jaws dropped.

"So, Han didn't ask me out for you to help kick start our relationship because we were so in love with each other and just needed a push?" Felicity exclaimed, "He did it to win a hundred credits?"

"Yep," Zena nodded.

Luke gritted his teeth, "I am going to kill him."

---

That night was the first time Luke and Felicity shared a bed… as a couple anyway. There had been a night several weeks ago where they had been forced to share a bed. It was the typical mission gone wrong and we have to spend the night on a strange planet waiting for rescue in the morning, and what do you mean there's only one room with one bed left available in this inn, and good Gods, no I'm not going to sleep on the floor, do you see the state of it, so I guess we have to share this bed, and no this isn't awkward at all with our unspoken sexual tension.

Han had actually been so annoyed at Luke that he didn't try anything – Luke wanted his relationship to start with Felicity in a romantic way and not with a hookup – that the next morning, Han had asked out Felicity for Luke.

The plan was as always for Luke to stay in Reine's spare bedroom – which was basically Luke's bedroom at this point – in the days leading up to the wedding. Originally Felicity was going to stay at Obik's place – Lando was staying with Alyla and Gavyn was quite unamused – and then on the wedding night, Obik and Reine would spend the night at Obik's house, and Felicity would come sleep in Reine's room at her house.

After walking in on Luke and Felicity's make out session, it was quickly decided that it just made sense for Felicity to stay in Luke's room for the duration of the visit.

"You don't mind?" Felicity asked as she and Luke unpacked their bags into a small dresser.

"Hey, if I can share a bed with you as just friends, I can do it as your boyfriend."

"As I recall it, we didn't really share that bed as just friends. You were pressed up pretty close to me."

"It was cold," Luke blushed. "We decided to sleep close for the body heat."

"It wasn't that cold," Felicity gave him that one corner smirk he loved.

Luke grinned, then pointed to each dresser drawer, "From top to bottom, the drawers are tops, bottoms, pyjamas, then underwear, socks, belts and other such miscellaneous. You can put shoes, dresses, coats, and anything that needs to be hung in the closet. And if you're not comfortable with putting your underwear in a place I can see, I'm sure Reine can find a hat in her closet or something."

Felicity paused from unpacking her dress for the wedding out of her bag on the bed, "I'm sorry?"

"Nothing," Luke winced, not meaning to have made a big deal out of it. "Just, you know, comfort levels and all."

Felicity hung her dress up in the closet, and crossed back to her suitcase, "Luke, you just made out withme against a wall in front of your Jedi friends. What makes you think I'm afraid of you seeing my underwear?"

Luke dug his fingernails into his palms, trying to control himself as Felicity mischievously laid out two weeks worth of bras and panties on the bed. They were all matching… and lacy… and cut seductively… and…

Not only did she unpack two week's worth of sexy undergarments, but she also unpacked four silky, almost transparent night gowns, and one black get up that was definitely for the bedroom, but absolutely not for sleeping.

"Does any of this make you uncomfortable?" Felicity challenged. He could sense that she was testing the waters.

His mouth felt dry. He took a step forward, his arms outstretched slightly, lust pulsing in the air.

"Felicity-"

"LUKE!" Reine's voice called from the hall. "Doctor Kalonia's here! She needs to go over inventory with you!"

"Coming," Luke called. He looked back at Felicity and apologized, "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay," Felicity nodded. "Duty calls. Do you want me to finish all the packing?"

Luke glanced at the garments on the bed, "Sure. Just… please put those away."

Felicity laughed as he made a quick exit.

---

"I love this," Felicity moaned that night as they laid in bed together, Luke's arms wrapped around her in the way that would become so familiar. "I could lie in your arms forever."

"I don't know how I've ever slept without you in them," Luke sighed, nuzzling her neck. He wanted to trail a hand across her bare shoulder, but Felicity had chosen to wear a long-sleeved pyjama top and pants rather than one of her nightdresses. "Nothing has ever felt so right in my life."

The moment was perfect as they held each other, sleep slowly creeping upon them. Silence filled the room, not out of awkwardness but simply that nothing needed to be said.

"I love you," Felicity whispered, darkness casting shadows over them. She was snuggled into his side, always sleeping on her side, while Luke was the kind of man who slept flat on his back. It allowed for a nice bit of intimacy.

"I love you too," Luke murmured, his eyes feeling heavy. "Now close your eyes and sleep."

"I'm not tired."

"Sleep, Sweetheart," Luke whispered, his eyes slipping shut. "Just sleep."

And she did.

---

11 Months, 29 Days

"…and from that first day when we joined the Rebellion and got paired together in fight training orientation… and you totally kicked my ass, I knew you were the one," Obik grinned as he recited his vows to Reine in the Meditation Gardens, surrounded by their friends and family (even if that family only consisted of Reine's sister.) "I only dreamed of this day when you would have some impossible moment of stupidity where you thought marrying me would actually be a good idea."

Reine raised a brow at him, "You know the marriage isn't finalized yet, Obik? I could still back out."

"Love you," Obik said quickly, flashing his most charming grin.

Reine smiled and shook her head.

"Reine Agim," Obik continued, "I vow that until the day I die, I will love you, and will always have your back. I will be there in good times and bad, there to support you through any challenge the Force makes us face, whether it be death, disagreement, or even the Dark Side. Reine Agim, you kicked my ass seventeen years ago, you kick my ass to this day, and I look forward to you kicking my ass for the rest of my life."

Luke, who had been granted the honor of officiating the ceremony, smiled at the pair, "Now that Obik and Reine have declared their vows to this marriage, they will exchange rings as a token of their love and symbol of their eternal bond."

Obik and Reine's wedding was the first legal one between two members of the Jedi Order (two years later, Gavyn and Zena accidentally discovered that their marriage hadn't been legal, leading to a hasty re-dedication ceremony.) As such, the Order had to come up with their own version of a ceremony.

One aspect of the ceremony had all the members stand on either side of the bride and groom. The rings were held by the two people at the end of each line – Shar'vida and Davarl in this case – and it would be passed down from member to member, each Jedi blessing whichever ring was passed to them, until the rings were handed to Luke in the center.

The "blessing" of the ring was simply saying "May the Force Bless This Bond" and shifting some of the Force around the ring into it, so that the rings were imbued heavily with it when they reached the bride and groom. When the rings got to Luke, he too "blessed" the rings, then used the Force to bond the rings together in the same way a Jedi bonded with their lightsaber upon its completion.

As the rings were passed down the line, Luke let his eyes drift among the guests. Ben was up on the raised platform with Luke and the other Jedi, standing in Obik's line. Han, Leia, Chewie, and Lando had all been invited (though Reine had threatened to kick Han out after the betting pool revelation,) but chose not to sit too close to the front. While they all were friendly to Luke's second and third in commands, the only time they spent together with the couple sans Luke was Han, Lando, Chewie, and Reine's monthly Sabacc game (which Alyla had been recently tagging along to even though she played so terribly that she insisted Lando help her every time… Though Han and Reine had a theory about that.)

But it wasn't his family Luke was looking for in the crowd, but rather the woman who had stolen his heart.

Felicity was sitting closer to the front, among the groom's guests. She was sitting next to Nils Arlos and the other former Recruiters Obik had worked with in his Rebel days.

She looked stunning; wide smile, simple makeup, a sleek black dress that fell just past her knees, and her brown hair was elegantly styled in an intricate up do resembling a bun. Honestly, Felicity Rhiaon spent at least 70% of her existence wearing a bun, so it didn't surprise Luke.

Felicity looked so beautiful, and Luke was ecstatic that she was here with him. The last time she had been to a celebration on Rornian, Luke had been with Calla, and Felicity with Drystan. Luke wished he could go back to the day of the Jedi Temple's official opening and share it with her, rather than with her… plus two significant others they were forced to be with while subconsciously longing for each other.

It no longer mattered; Luke Skywalker was in love with Felicity Rhiaon, and he didn't care what anyone thought.

But that didn't mean he didn't feel the eyes on him. They weren't of an audience member watching him officiate the ceremony, they were angry eyes, burning with rage as he watched Felicity.

Those eyes belonged to one of the Jedi standing on the platform, named Cade Ren.

Cade was nineteen and had joined Luke's Order when he was sixteen. Cade had very much the mindset of the ends justify the means, and vaguely Luke wondered if Cade had some sort of connection to the Empire in his past. Cade would often clash with Luke over his ideas of right and wrong, and Cade definitely took a more grey approach to the whole Jedi thing.

Honestly, Luke was even reluctant to take on Cade in the first place, but Luke had a policy that anyone who wanted to learn was welcome in Temple Village. If he hadn't turned away Tyla Kinall who still didn't exactly agree that the Sith had been a bad thing – undoing her brainwashing was slow going for Luke – he wasn't about to turn away Cade.

There were three things about Cade that made him particularly dangerous: first was his view that using the Dark Side wasn't actually a bad thing. Second was how skilled he was in lightsaber combat. Luke had actually barred him from building his own saber until Cade proved to him that he wouldn't be dangerous to the other Jedi with it.

But the third thing was that Cade could be quite charming when he wanted too. As such, he had gathered himself a little posse of the younger students in Temple Village.

Bakura Tarven was his second in command, equally as dangerous with a lightsaber, and there to agree with anything Cade said. Bakura had strong notions of who deserved Force powers, and been very much against accepting Zena's group of freed slaves into the Order.

Zhane Varss was definitely the group's muscle, and was one of the few in Temple Village who could take on Luke in practice combat. Zhane didn't play fair, and often Luke had to chew him out for using dirty tricks like distractions and feigning surrender only to deal a last-minute blow. But Zhane also didn't blindly agree with Cade, and often would call out his stupidity or arrogance.

Jake Comarila was a small, skinny kid with no mind of his own. Scared to death of the other boys, and unable to make decisions for himself, Jake blindly followed whatever Cade wanted. Even if it meant defying Luke, Jake always did what Cade demanded of him.

Luke glanced over at Cade who had sternly passed Obik's ring to Ben for blessing. Luke never liked Cade influencing Ben, and wondered why they had been placed together in line. He met Cade's burning gaze, and could feel the anger in the Force.

Discretely, Luke shook his head at Cade, and sent his thought through the Force.

Not now.

But Cade wasn't about to let it go.

I've heard the rumours, Master Skywalker. Have you really taken up with Rhiaon?

Now is not the time, Cade.

Are you sleeping with Rhiaon?

… No, at the moment I am not *sleeping* with Felicity Rhiaon. We are dating.

That's even worse. You can't take up with a woman like her. A faithless, non-sensitive. Do us all a favor, Skywalker, sleep with her a few times, use up the pleasure you desire of her, and then drop her. You're too powerful to waste your blood on mating with the likes of her. Take up with Tyla Kinall or Brinna Tharen, and forget this road of folly.

This discussion is over, Cade.

For now?

Forever.

"May the Force Bless This Bond," a pair of female voices – those of Tyla and Brinna who stood closest to Obik and Reine respectively – came from either side of Luke. He suddenly found the rings being offered to him, which reinforced Luke's ending of conversation with Cade as the attention of the ceremony turned back to Luke.

Shaking off the hostile words about his relationship with Felicity, Luke was overjoyed to complete the marriage ceremony of his closest and oldest students.

"Obik Kenu," Luke turned to the groom, "do you vow to take this woman as your wife? To remain loyal, respectful, her partner and equal in all things? Keep her first and foremost in your heart, and vow to love, support, and protect her until your dying breath?"

"I do," Obik's words had no hesitation.

"Reine Agim," Luke repeated his query, "do you vow to take this man as your husband? To remain loyal, respectful, his partner and equal in all things? Keep him first and foremost in your heart, and vow to love, support, and protect him until your dying breath?"

"I do," Reine didn't even look at Luke.

There was a sense of relief among all those gathered to watch the ceremony. Obik and Reine's marriage was a long time coming, and all were happy to see them finally give in to the love that had been just out of their reach for so long.

And as Luke observed the absolute love and joy in the eyes of his friends, all he could think was how happy he was that he decided to allow attachment, marriage, and overall love in his Jedi Order.

Luke smiled, "Obik, please place your ring on Reine's finger and repeat these words: With this ring, I, Obik Kenu bond my life to yours as it is bonded to the Force. For this day, for all days, and for beyond my end day."

"With this ring, I, Obik Kenu," Obik slid the ring onto Reine's finger, "bond my life to yours as it is bonded to the Force. For this day, for all days, and for beyond my end day."

Luke turned to Reine, "Reine, please place your ring on Obik's finger and repeat these words: With this ring, I, Reine Agim bond my life to yours as it is bonded to the Force. For this day, for all days, and for beyond my end day."

"With this ring, I, Reine Agim," Reine's hand shook as she slid the ring onto Obik's finger, "bond my life to yours as it is bonded to the Force. For this day, for all days, and for beyond my end day."

"Still sure you don't want to back out?" Obik winked at her.

Reine grinned and clasped her left hand with his, "Never."

"Then, by the power vested in me by the choosing of this Jedi Order, and the Government of the New Republic, I now pronounce you husband and wife." Luke grinned at Reine, "Reine, you may kiss the groom."

And the hall laughed and cheered as Reine did just that.

---

"To Obik Kenu!" Felicity raised her glass to toast Obik at the reception with the rest of the former Rebellion Recruiters. "You finally wore her down!"

"To Obik!" Everyone cheered and clinked glasses.

"Thanks, Everyone," Obik just shook his head and took a drink.

"You Rebel Recruiters sure are an interesting bunch," Luke was at Felicity's side, his arm lovingly wrapped around her waist.

"You don't know the half of it," Felicity smirked that one corner, upturned smirk Luke loved so much.

Luke grinned at Felicity, "You know, I'm really glad we're dating now."

"Why's that?"

"Because now I can kiss that smirk right off your face," Luke gave a husky whisper.

Felicity yelped in surprise when Luke suddenly grabbed the back of her head and crushed his lips against hers. It wasn't the soft, tender kisses they had been sharing as of late, but rather that hungering kiss he had given her ten days previous as he had slammed her against the wall of the ship.

Luke and Felicity had not yet consummated their relationship, but the sexual tension that clung to the air was abundant. They had spent nearly a year developing their emotional and mental relationship. Now it was time to explore their physical one. There was no doubt in Luke's mind that it would have the same sort of instant chemistry that had accompanied their friendship and romance, but he had yet to find an opportunity to prove that theory.

"Get a room," Drexel Orunitia laughed causing Luke and Felicity to come back to reality and break apart. "But truly, Kenu, it's been a long time coming for you and Reine."

"Well, that's why Kenu was such a good recruiter," Nils Arlos said, "he never did give up on a good thing. That's why he had the best success rate of any of you."

"I thought it was because he had the Force," Talanis Leentro rested her arm on his shoulder. "Gave him that extra edge."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Leentro," Gren Roscoe smirked over the rim of his champagne. "It's not Kenu's fault your numbers were so low."

"If I was so bad at recruiting, why did Arlos keep me on the team?" Talanis challenged.

"We needed someone to pilot our ships," Ceilara Keseg teased.

"Didn't stop us from getting boarded," Obik said in a voice that sounded like he was trying to pretend it was a mutter, but really wanted everyone to hear exactly what he had said.

"Oh, God no," Drexel shook his head, "we're not telling the 'sixteen-year-old Felicity Rhiaon talked two Stormtroopers into joining us instead of arresting the Batch she was picked up in' story again."

"I haven't heard that story," Luke looked at Felicity.

"I'll tell you later," Felicity promised.

"Besides, we've got other things to talk about." Sarli Kahn nudged Felicity, "When's your wedding? Think you and Skywalker are going to also have it here?"

Luke choked on his champagne.

"Oh, for the love of-" Felicity rolled her eyes, "I've been dating Luke for a month. Let's not start picking out wedding presents just yet."

"Speaking of," Gren looked around, "can I go in on a gift with someone? I'm really drawing a blank as to what to get them."

"Really?" Obik asked. "Reine and I figured it out months ago."

Luke groaned, dropping his head into his hands.

"That's it!" Felicity threw her hands in the air. "I'm going to go talk to Leia! Somebody sensible, who hasn't already started planning my future wedding."

The group chuckled as Felicity stormed off, but Luke had an uneasy expression on his face.

Luke looked at Obik, "Has Leia-"

"Already looking at florists," Obik smirked. "I think she's fond of the one we used."

"Of course she is," Luke shook his head and took another sip of his drink.

He turned his focus to the dance floor for a moment. Zena and Gavyn were awkwardly stepping to the music, more out of obligation to dance than actual desire to do so. Lando was twirling Reine across the room in an impressive display Obik could never dream of doing (Obik had never been the greatest dancer.) But Lando's eyes weren't on the bride; they kept trailing over to the scarred beauty that had somehow managed to convince Ben to dance with her.

"I can't believe how tall that kid is," Obik raised a brow as he and Luke watched Alyla and Ben. "You're positive he's only seven?"

"Last time I checked," Luke shrugged. "So, have we gotten a read on the whole Lando/Alyla situation and if I should be afraid of Gavyn murdering Lando?"

"No on both counts," Obik replied. "I don't even think Alyla and Lando know what's going on with them. All I know is that Alyla keeps making those trips to Bespin to be his plus one to various formal dinners. She says she likes doing it to see more of the world and experience the things she never could before… But let's not pretend there isn't something going on after dinner ends."

"And Gavyn?"

"He says as long as Calrissian treats Alyla with respect and she gives full consent, it's not his place to interfere. Considering he's married to a woman who once legally owned him, Gavyn doesn't really have a leg to stand on objecting to Alyla's interest in Lando. Nor does he seem to have the desire to interfere with Alyla's love life… or whatever they have."

"Wish I had a twin like that," Luke sighed. "You know that Leia originally thought that Felicity was only going to be interested in a fling with me, and actually tried to warn her off when they ended up stranded on Endor together a few months back?"

"No kidding," Obik said.

"Ended up actually making Felicity realize she was in love with me."

Obik smiled, "You know… I'm really happy you and Fliss got together. I've known her since she was sixteen, and boy has that girl gone through some messed up things."

"Yeah, she told me about her mother dying, and her father betraying her, and the whole Brendan thing."

"Oh, what happened with Brendan was awful. I was actually the one scheduled to pick him up, but… Well, you know what happened. I swear, if I ever meet that Third Sister Inquisitor, I'm not sure I can be responsible for my actions. I saw so many people destroyed by that bombing, and not just the ones who died."

Luke's eyes couldn't help but flick over to Tyla Kinall; he was the only person she had confessed her former identity to. Of course, both Felicity and Diego knew she was a former Imperial and close with Vader, having actually encountered her during Operation Citadel, but they didn't know her former Inquisitor role.

"Why Third Sister specifically?" Luke asked, carefully looking away from Tyla before Obik caught on that something was wrong.

"She's the only person living who was involved in the conspiracy," Obik explained. "Apparently after the last few Jedi died about a year before Yavin, Vader killed all the Inquisitors, but spared Third Sister because she was so obedient. Became his personal assassin or something. Last I heard she was alive, probably biding her time to kill us all. Just pray that Felicity is never in the same room as her, or Felicity might actually kill her."

Luke shifted uncomfortably, "I never really realised how close you were with Felicity."

Obik sighed, "After Riz died she was very lost. I stepped in with Nalto to fill the void Riz's death left. I always did sort of regret phasing her out after I joined the Jedi, but by then she was with Pax and it didn't seem like she needed me anymore. But I still remember the day I met her. She was so young and scared, yet strong and brave. She ran away from home at sixteen to join a war she barely believed in. I know that she would have been a very different person if Brendan hadn't died. But the amazing thing is that despite everything she's been through, there's been one thing no one could take from her."

"What's that?"

"Her passion. For romance, for fighting in what she believes in. Even her passion for architecture endured."

"She mentioned that to me," Luke said. "Was it a big hobby of hers?"

"Hobby?" Nils interrupted. "It wasn't her hobby; it was her dream job. Rhiaon's mode of recruitment was going into universities, being a student, and talking other students into joining us. Every single time when we asked her, what courses do you want us to enroll you in this time – because you actually had to do your studies undercover – it was the same answer; architecture."

"Really?" Luke frowned.

"Yeah, she's actually gotten a lot of credits in architecture study," Nils replied. "She could have gotten a degree with another year of study. She still could."

"I'm surprised she didn't," Obik said. "She always said that's what she was going to do after the war."

"Well, after the bombing while we were packing up the office," Nils said, "she felt a responsibility to the Republic and chose to take the job offer of Senate Emissary. I've encouraged her to pursue a degree, but she says there's no point."

Luke was silent; he wasn't sure if it was from his displeasure at hearing Felicity never achieved her dream job… or the low thrum of alcohol buzzing through his system. He wasn't drunk, but he certainly wasn't sober.

"Hey, Luke, I'm sorry to bring it up," Nils said, "but I've been meaning to ask. Did you manage to submit your T93847 form to the Senate yet?"

"It's almost done," Luke promised. "I've just been busy with the wedding and we've started construction on a new batch of houses. I'll submit it next week."

"Luke, you have to submit it tonight."

"Tonight?"

"The cut off for this quarter is tonight. We went over this. If you don't submit by midnight, your case won't go before the Senate until next quarter. That's a three-month delay, and we're talking about getting permission and funding to build your medical center. That's a vital piece of your claiming process. You could get delayed years if things don't move quickly."

"Alright," Luke groaned, "I can head to my office now and finish it."

"Fine," Nils shrugged. "But if anyone asks me if you did your paperwork under the influence of alcohol, I'm not going to lie."

Luke looked at Obik, "I'm sorry for running out. I'll be back as quickly as possible."

"Don't worry," Obik waved off. "I'll explain to Reine. She'll understand."

"Thanks."

"Just try to hurry. We're cutting the cake soon."

Luke shook his head in amusement, "I promise I won't miss the cake."

---

Luke was busy typing at his computer when he sensed the presence in the doorway.

"What are you doing here?" Luke asked, a grin across his face.

Felicity was standing at the doorway with a tray and a coy smile, "You missed the cake."

Felicity set down the tray on a side table. It held two plates of cake and two glasses of champagne. She sauntered across the room, swinging her hips, that irresistible smirk on her face.

Reaching him, Felicity placed a hand on his right arm, and slowly glided it across his arm, shoulder, neck, and other shoulder as she passed behind him. Her touch was with just the right pressure to be seductive, yet at the same time look innocent.

She clearly had an agenda.

"Mmm," Felicity gave a small satisfied moan as she ran her hand from his shoulder, across his chest, and back to his right shoulder. It was the kind of moan that set every nerve in Luke's body on fire.

Luke groaned and leaned back in his chair as her fingers glided over his chest, dipping down ever so slightly under his collar to brush against his bare skin.

Felicity smirked and wrapped her arms around Luke's shoulders, pressing herself against him ever so gently, nuzzling her nose just barely against the sensitive skin of his neck.

"Obik wanted to make sure you got a piece. And I…" Felicity began kissing up his neck making Luke groan loudly. "I wanted to make sure you weren't lonely.

Luke gave a short, strangled cry as she gave his earlobe a sudden quick nip. That minx smile ripped across her face as Luke struggled to control himself.

"Felicity," Luke whispered, weaving a hand through her hair to pull her in closer as her lips and tongue ran wild with deliberate motions across his neck. "Felicity, I want you so much."

She smiled, dislodging herself from his neck, and whispered in his ear, "I want you so much too."

Her hand trailed down his body, down his muscled chest and cut abs. She moved lower and lower, and Luke's breath came out in ragged pants.

"I want you so much, Luke Skywalker," Felicity continued to murmur in his ear, nuzzling it.

"Felicity," Luke's eyes were dark with lust.

"But…" Felicity smirked. Luke could feel her breath on his ear as she whispered, "You have work to do."

Suddenly she was across the room casually arranging the forks on the cake plates, leaving a completely dumbfounded Luke.

"You are the most evil person I have ever met," Luke stared at her with his jaw agape. "And I've met Palpatine."

"I'm sorry, Luke," Felicity laughed, carrying the tray over to the desk and setting it down. "I just couldn't resist."

"You are going to make that up to me."

"Oh, don't worry," Felicity rubbed his bicep, "I will."

Luke sighed, and shook his head, "I should have known what I was getting into when I decided to get involved with a woman who takes pleasure out of constantly messing with people."

"What did you seriously expect?" Felicity grinned.

"Were you just teasing about that then? Wanting me?"

Felicity gently ran a hand over the short hairs of his neck. She was standing so close to him, and his nostrils were filled with the light floral scent of her perfume.

"I can be yours," Felicity ghosted her lips over his.

"Don't be a tease."

"I'm not."

Felicity pulled his head forward, crushing her lips to his. Luke's arms locked around her waist, pulling her in as close to his body as possible.

"But," Felicity breathed as Luke's lips trailed down her neck to the scoop of her dress's neckline. She found it hard to break away while he gently nibbled her collarbone, but she managed. "You really have to submit that form."

Luke groaned, pulling himself away before he couldn't stop himself, "Fine, but if this is how visits while I'm working are going to happen from now on, you're banned from my office if I need to get work done."

"Deal," Felicity hopped up to sit on Luke's desk, her smooth, soft legs crossed mere inches from his face. It was impossible not to notice that her legs were bare; Felicity had forgone any hosiery.

"You are really going to be distracting, aren't you?" Luke sighed.

"Yep," Felicity grinned. She picked up the plate and said, "Cake?"

They spent a while in the office, casually chatting as Luke completed his paperwork. The mood had simmered down, but the sexual tension still clung heavily to the air. Just when Luke thought Felicity had finally stopped teasing him, she would cross her legs or brush her hand against his arm and set him off all over again.

"There," Luke finally declared as he hit a button. "Form submitted."

"Good job," Felicity smiled. "Nils will be so happy we don't have to delay your progress another three months. Although I wouldn't mind having you on Coruscant more often."

"I'll make an effort to be there more," Luke promised."Nils seems like a nice guy."

"Best boss you could ask for."

"He was telling me that he's encouraged you to study architecture."

Felicity looked away from him, "It's merely a hobby."

"Really? Because I recall you saying it was your dream job."

Felicity sighed, "Alright, fine, maybe I would be interested in taking some night courses and finishing my degree. You know, casually, maybe stretch it out over a few years. It would be fun."

"But?" Luke didn't need to be a Jedi to sense there was something more.

"But it's pointless," Felicity said flatly. "I'm too old to make a career change."

"You're only thirty-two. That's not old."

"It's old enough that my doctor recommends that if I do plan on having kids, to get on that as quickly as possible." When she saw Luke's expression, Felicity deadpanned, "I'm not joking. She told me that last week at my yearly physical."

"Wow," Luke just shook his head. "What did you even say to that?"

"That I'd get on you as quickly as possible," Felicity grinned.

A silence clung to the room as Felicity slowly realized the implication of her words.

"Luke," Felicity looked absolutely terrified as Luke stared at her, "I… I…"

"You want to have children with… me?" Luke said slowly.

"It… was just a joke," Felicity laughed, but Luke knew what genuine laughter from Felicity sounded like and that wasn't it.

"You want to have children with me," Luke repeated.

Felicity sighed, "Great, I've completely scared you off. Good going Rhiaon, you held onto him, for what? Three weeks?"

"Felicity-"

"Luke, the only reason I'm so comfortable with the idea is that, okay yes we've only been dating for a few weeks, but we've been getting to know each other and develop our bond for almost a year."

"Felicity-"

"Look, can we just forget I said anything?"

"Felicity!" Luke put two fingers over her mouth. "I want to have children with you."

It was Felicity's turn to be shocked, "What?"

"I want to have children with you," Luke repeated, not a trace of hesitation in his voice. "I've wanted that for quite a while now."

"When did you-"

He grabbed her left wrist and trailed a thumb over the tattoo, "When I saw you with FN-2187 that day, and how motherly and devoted you were to him, when I saw how hard you fought to safe him, and when I actually had to physically drag you away to leave him behind… I knew. I knew that was the mother I wanted for my children."

Luke took a deep breath as Felicity stared at him saying nothing.

"I'm not saying I want a baby in my arms nine months from now," Luke assured her. "But I want you to know… I'm not afraid of the idea of us having children someday… and it's not going to make me run. In fact, knowing that you do want that too…"

Luke gently pulled a loose strand of hair over her ear.

"It makes me want to stay all that much more," Luke said softly.

"Well…" Felicity coyly cocked her head to the side and played with the fastenings of his tunic. "It would be a lie to say it wouldn't make me stay as well."

Luke smiled brightly, "I want you to promise me something, Felicity."

"Luke, we've been only dating for a few weeks. I'm not promising marriage or kids or even being roommates at this point."

"Noted," Luke chuckled. "What I want is for you to promise me that you will pursue your architecture degree."

Felicity opened her mouth.

"It doesn't have to be now," Luke cut her off. "But someday. Please… you can't waste your life at a job you don't really want just because you feel regret for what happened to Alderaan. Yes, we lost billions, but through your work as an Emissary, you've saved trillions. Your debt has been repaid, and now it's time to pursue your dreams."

Felicity smiled, running her hands over his chest, her thumbs trailing across the bared skin at his collar, "How do you always know exactly what to say?"

"I practice speeches in my head before giving them. You wouldn't believe how many incarnations of I am a Jedi, like my father before me I went through."

Felicity laughed and bowed her forehead against his.

"Promise me, Felicity," Luke whispered. "Promise you'll pursue your degree."

Felicity gently nodded, "Alright… I'll do it."

---

1 Year

Tonight was the night, Luke was sure of it. One year from the day he had met Felicity Rhiaon, he was finally going to make love to her.

He had set the scene just right; no detail had been left behind in his apartment. The lights had been dimmed and some easy going instrumental music was being pumped from the various speakers throughout the apartment. The dining room table had been set by the droids with Luke's finest dishes, cutlery, tablecloth, matching cloth napkins and placemats.

In the center of the table, a pair of candles burned, held by some rather remarkable silver candlesticks that had been bequeathed by the Naberries to Luke. They had been given to Padmé from Bail Organa as a thank you for her participation in the peace summit held on Alderaan… even if she had almost been assassinated halfway through it. The same candlesticks had also been given to Mon Mothma for her participation in the same summit, and Luke had seen them used during dinner parties held by Mothma in honour of the memories of Bail and Padmé.

Luke had decided on the candlesticks not only because of the fondness Felicity had for Bail and Padmé, but it had been at Mothma's last dinner party that Luke and Felicity had made their first public appearance as a couple… To absolutely no one's surprise. In fact, more people were surprised to learn that Luke and Felicity hadn't been a couple up to that point.

General Madine even thought that they were married.

The bedroom had been thoroughly prepared too. Windows washed, furniture dusted and polished, carpet vacuumed and even shampooed. The nearby fresher had been scrubbed just as thoroughly, and some sweet-smelling incense had been burned in all the rooms. Luke's bed had been made with his nicest, silk bedsheets, freshly washed. The pillows had been fluffed and the cases had been replaced with the ones that matched the bedsheets.

He knew not to put any candles in the bedroom. During one of their romantic evenings in, Luke thought to inspire the mood by lighting a few candles. Several minutes later Felicity asked him to put them out as she always could never focus when candles were lit during a makeout session. She always was too worried one would get knocked over or something would happen while they were unsupervised and the apartment would burn down.

The mood had fallen apart shortly after that.

To be honest, while it was romantic to choose this day to make love to Felicity… it hadn't exactly been Luke's first choice. After their discussion about Felicity's degree, the mood had heated up leading to some very inappropriate actions on Luke's desk. They hadn't gone all the way to sex – although that would depend on your definition of sex – but after some intense foreplay, Luke had attempted to move things in that direction. Felicity was eager to partake, but when Luke had tried to pull down her dress straps, Felicity had stopped him and called everything off. She had said that she didn't want their first time together to be on Luke's desk during Reine and Obik's wedding, but Luke had sensed there was something else to it that she wasn't telling him. He had attempted several times since their encounter in his office to initiate physical intimacy.

He had been very unsuccessful.

Luke was putting the finishing touches on a romantic dinner that he had cooked special for her. The meal was a simple dish: pasta with cream sauce and roast nuna legs. It had been the first dish Luke ever taught Felicity how to make, an extremely easy dish that anyone could make. And yet, Felicity still had managed to get oil on the top of the pasta water… which she somehow managed to set aflame.

Only Felicity Rhiaon could set water on fire.

While easy, Luke pulled out all the stops to jazz up the dish as much as possible and show off his cooking skills. He marinated the nuna legs in a complicated marinade overnight, the pasta was homemade, and the sauce was made with the freshest ingredients.

Luke had literally done nothing that day but cook and clean in preparation for that night. In the past year, he had fallen hopelessly in love with this woman, loving her with a depth he never imagined possible. Her presence had been the gaping hole in his life up to that point, and with her finally in his arms, his life was perfect. Luke loved Felicity Rhiaon with all his heart and wanted to show her that. He just wanted to give her the greatest, most romantic night of her entire life.

He too had been cleaned up extensively. Luke had gone for a hair cut the previous day, that morning he had showered, scrubbing, shaving, and smoothing almost every inch of his body. His face had undergone an extensive skincare routine… though that was actually just an everyday thing for Luke.

Skincare is very important, alright? Why was it a bad thing if Luke took pride in his appearance?

Luke could almost hear Han's constant teasing about his complicated morning routine.

His hair was perfectly styled (as always), his teeth brushed, flossed, and rinsed with mouthwash, his brows tweezed, and his nails clipped, which Felicity would be grateful for. Finally, he was dressed in that black Jedi outfit he knew drove Felicity absolutely wild. He had briefly considered wearing his workout gear, which was another favorite outfit of hers, but he felt like it was a little too informal for a candlelit dinner.

Luke was just pulling the nuna legs out of the oven when the doorbell rang.

"Master Luke!" Threepio called from the dining room where he was putting the final touches on the table. "I believe Miss Rhiaon has arrived!"

"Thank you, Threepio. I'll get it," Luke called back. He looked over at Artoo, who was sparking up his lighting torch, "Thank you, Artoo, but not until dessert, remember?"

Beep bop boup boop.

"Yes, I know you're not a culinary droid. Just put them on the warming center on the stovetop until dessert."

Bop bee bop boo.

"Come on, you're not actually going to make me say it."

Boop.

Luke sighed, "Fine. R2-D2, you make the best crème brûlée in the Galaxy. Now would you put them on the warming center? I'll let you make a whole show about finishing the tops for Felicity."

Beep beep!

Luke shook his head as Artoo happily set the desserts on the warming center, "Of all the droids in the Galaxy, it's you I end up with."

The doorbell rang again, and Luke wiped his hands on a dish towel before exiting the kitchen. Reaching the door, he smoothed down his hair once more, righted his shoulders, and took a deep breath.

"Here we go," Luke muttered, and then hit the button to open the door.

Felicity was standing in front of him looking like an absolute vision. Every detail of her appearance that night had been seared into his mind.

Simple makeup with an earthy reddish-brown eyeshadow, a touch of black eyeliner and mascara, and bright scarlet lipstick. Her hair was styled up into a beautiful bun, though had no flair to it, like she was expecting to take it down that night.

The fragrant perfume of a flowery meadow danced off her neck. It was the same perfume he remembered smelling as he kissed her shoulder that night in his office.

Felicity's only jewelry that night was her kyber crystal bracelet and a small silver necklace with a red starbird pendant. No doubt a tribute to it being the anniversary of the Battle of Yavin.

Her legs were covered with short nylon stockings that looked to come up just above the knee, but as the ends were under her dress, Luke would love to see just how far up they went. Black strappy, open toed heels covered her small feet. Luke couldn't wait to pull them off as he kissed his way up her legs.

But the sight Luke could never forget is what she wore that night: a black leather jacket and that amazing dark red dress, that was low cut in the front, zipped up the back, and had a sort of scooped slit on the short skirt that barely reached past her knee.

"When you pick your jaw up off the floor, I'd love to kiss you," Felicity smirked that one corner smirk he loved so much.

Luke grinned that goofy grin she adored and said, "Come here."

He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in for a deliciously passionate kiss.

"You look wonderful tonight," Luke murmured when they broke the kiss, still not releasing her from his arms.

"You don't look half bad yourself," Felicity gave an appreciative look up and down his form. "Have I ever told you that you look sexy in black?"

"Not as sexy as you in black," Luke replied stiffly, quickly pushing her forward out of his embrace.

Felicity raised an eyebrow, "Getting a little too excited?"

"You know the influence you have over me," Luke played with her necklace. "I like this. Where did you get it?"

"Leia, actually. She gave it to me before the Imperial Ball when I was sixteen. She gave it to me as a symbol of our friendship or some other lie."

Luke frowned, "Lie?"

"Giving me that gift was probably one of the most despicable things Leia ever did to me. Sure, I now cherish said necklace as a symbol of our friendship and my history with the Alliance. But Leia gave me that gift before I had joined the cause. She had effectively marked her territory, claiming me for the Rebellion without my consent."

"Ouch," Luke winced. "Tell me you didn't wear it to the Imperial Ball."

"This is why I do not doubt Leia is the spawn of Darth Vader," Felicity teased. "I walked into the biggest Imperial event of the year wearing a necklace that screamed "I'm a member of the Rebel Alliance." And I had no freaking clue."

"Maybe it's a good thing I was the one trained to be a Jedi," Luke chuckled. "I don't trust Leia wouldn't have turned to the Dark Side."

"Look at the bright side; at least it would have been against Vader and Palpatine. You know she would have ripped them to shreds and then forcibly changed the Empire into the Republic."

"Tyrannical democracy."

"Isn't all democracy tyrannical?" Felicity grinned. It faltered when Luke started to take off her coat, "Oh, hold on a second. I have something here for you."

"For me?" Luke looked surprised.

"A small gift. I'm not exactly sure where we keep track of anniversaries in regard to our relationship, but I figured a year from the day we met counts for something." Felicity pulled a pair of black and white gloves out of her jacket pocket, "Here. I want you to have these."

Luke frowned as he took them, "Stormtrooper gloves? That's… interesting. Is it supposed to be a reference to Han and I pretending to be Stormtroopers on the Death Star?"

"Actually… no." Felicity was very quiet as she hung her jacket up in the closet. She took a deep breath, mentally readying herself before revealing the meaning behind the gloves, "They… were Brendan's."

Luke couldn't stop the stunned look on her face, "Brendan's? No, Felicity, I couldn't-"

"I want you to have them," Felicity put her hands over Luke's, clasping his over Brendan's gloves. "His death changed my life entirely… and it changed yours."

"Mine?" Luke looked confused.

"If he hadn't died… I wouldn't have been a Rebel… then I wouldn't have stolen the Death Star plans… and Leia would never have been given them… and then Artoo wouldn't have had them… then he wouldn't have met you… then everything that happened to you with the Death Star and Yavin and the Rebels… it wouldn't have happened."

"What are you saying? That it was destiny?"

"I don't believe in destiny, Luke, and certainly not one that says my brother died so you could get your sorry butt off Tatooine. But I do acknowledge the series of events that led to the intertwining of our lives, and while I do wish it didn't require the death of Brendan… I'm glad that it brought me to you. He meant everything to me, Luke… and now you mean everything to me too."

Luke placed a hand under Felicity's jaw and stroked a thumb under her cheek, "You still don't have to give me the gloves to prove that."

"I know, but I want to. I have my mementos of Brendan, Luke… I want you to have these." Felicity took a deep breath and looked down, "Luke, I wanted to tell you this the day you helped me in your guest bedroom mourn Brendan's death. But Luke… the way I feel with you, the trust, the loyalty, the safety… I haven't felt this safe with someone since Brendan died. Not with Leia. Not with Diego. Not with Riz, Ji-Dan, or even Pax. When I'm with you… I'm not afraid to be afraid. I trust you. I feel safe with you… I finally feel home."

Luke kissed her deeply as the tears fell from their eyes, "I'm home with you too."

They kissed over and over, tears and smiles mixing with laughter and sobs. The moment was perfect. The moment was complete.

"Master Luke! Dinner is ready!" Threepio called.

The moment was ruined.

"Thank you," Luke couldn't help but laugh with Felicity as they broke apart. He set Brendan's gloves on the ottoman sitting by the door, "I'll find a special spot for these. I promise."

"Thank you," Felicity smiled, running her fingers down his cheek. "I'm sorry for all that. This wasn't really the mood we were hoping for tonight."

"It wasn't?" Luke asked carefully. He may have been all set on consummating his relationship with Felicity, but he wasn't certain on her own designs for that night.

"Of course not," Felicity's eyes darkened, her fingers playfully trailing down his neck and torso. "I thought we were going for romantic and maybe a little bit… more."

"More?" Luke's throat felt thick.

"You think I would dress like this if we were just going to order in and watch HoloNet? …Unless you don't want more?"

"I am all for more," Luke bit his lip, his eyes roaming over her figure. "Felicity-"

"Master Luke!" Threepio obliviously entered the room. He came to a shuddering stop as he caught sight of his master standing locked in Felicity's intimate embrace. "Oh, pardon the intrusion, Sir. Hello, Miss Rhiaon. My, you look quite aesthetically pleasing tonight. Does she not, Master Luke?"

"Very aesthetically pleasing," Luke laughed with Felicity.

"Thank you, Threepio," Felicity chuckled.

"Dinner is served if you two are ready," Threepio announced.

"Yes, we heard, Threepio," Felicity said.

"Forgive me, Miss Rhiaon. I was not sure if you heard me," Threepio continued. "Master Luke can get quite distracted when you are in the room."

"Threepio," Luke tried not to blush as Felicity laughed at him.

Threepio turned to Felicity in confusion, "Have I done something wrong, Miss Rhiaon?"

"No, Threepio," Felicity shook her head. "But you don't have to call me Miss Rhiaon. We've known each other since I was fourteen. We have to be friends by now."

"I suppose we are," Threepio replied. "How do your friends address you?"

"As Felicity." She paused, "Well, actually I guess most of them call me Fliss."

"Then that is what I shall call you, Miss Fliss."

Felicity was silent for a minute, "Never mind. Rhiaon's fine."

"No, it isn't," Luke wrapped his arm around her waist. "You can call her Felicity, Threepio."

"If you wish, Master Luke," Threepio bowed his head. "Come, Miss Felicity. Master Luke has prepared a simply scrumptious dinner for you tonight."

"Oh, did he?" Felicity twined her arm around Luke's waist and rested her free hand against his chest. "Aren't I a lucky woman?"

"Just one of the perks of dating a romantic like myself," Luke smiled. "Though… I'd like to apologize in advance for dessert."

"Why's that?"

"Artoo is doing crème brûlée… and I promised that he could make a show of finishing the tops."

"You own a fire extinguisher?"

"Cannot own R2-D2 without one."

Felicity laughed as she and Luke followed Threepio into the dining room.

---

"That was simply delicious, Luke," Felicity declared as Artoo and Threepio cleared the plates away.

"I'm glad you liked it," Luke watched the droids head into the kitchen. Usually they didn't play wait staff for Luke, but he had bargained his way into the deal with a few promises of oil baths, replacing old wiring, and giving Artoo a dozen new memory chips.

The astro-droid knew how to drive a hard bargain.

"So, I meant to tell you before dinner, but I also got you a present." Luke used the Force to float in a small disc from the living room. He presented it to Felicity, "It's a Holo from the photoshoot we had last year at the ceremony on Yavin IV."

"The first Holo we ever took together," Felicity examined their small figures. "Damn, how did we look this good together and not decide to date from the get go?"

"As I recall, Leia dragged me off to meet someone important," Luke answered. "I really should have asked for your number."

"Well, you have me now," Felicity rested her head on his shoulder.

"Yes, I do," Luke chuckled, kissing the top of her head.

They sat peacefully there, enjoying the moment of contentment.

"But if you ever tell anyone you have me or own me or possess me in any way, I will break your nose."

"I believe you will," Luke said plainly. He looked down at Felicity curled up underneath him. "I've thought abouttonight so many times this week."

But there was a hesitation on her face, and Luke could sense that uneasy feeling in the Force that had always preceded Felicity's withdrawal. She was playing with her starbird pendant and biting her lip. Luke could sense she wanted him… but something held her back.

"Felicity," Luke lifted her chin to look in her eyes. There was something so unnaturally fragile in those beautiful hazel orbs, "I want this… I want you. Now and forever. Mentally, emotionally… physically."

"I want you too," Felicity whispered. "I… I want you so much."

"But every time we try to do this, you pull away. Felicity, am I fooling myself? Are we going to make love tonight?"

Felicity opened her mouth to respond when Threepio entered the room.

"We have started the dishwasher, Master Luke," Threepio announced. "Do you require anything else of us at the moment?"

"Actually, Threepio," Luke's eyes didn't move from Felicity, "you and Artoo can power off for the evening."

"Are you sure, Master Luke?"

Luke simply looked at Felicity to make the choice.

"He's right, Threepio," Felicity said. "We would like not to be interrupted of the rest of the night."

"As you wish, Miss Felicity," Threepio bowed his head and exited the room.

Luke couldn't wipe the grin off his face, "Are you sure?"

Felicity smiled, "Positive."

Luke outstretched his hand to Felicity, and she took it. He pulled her into his embrace and once more kissed her passionately. His mechanical hand was buried in her hair, his flesh one lovingly rested against her neck. Felicity's hands grasped his waist, settling above his lightsaber belt – with the life he lived, Luke always kept his trusty weapon on hand – stroking his sides.

Emboldened by her moans, Luke took a step, forcing her backwards against the table, almost in a sitting position atop it.

"Do you have a thing about having me sit up while you paw at me?" Felicity teased as Luke trailed his lips against the familiar paths of her neck.

"Not intentionally," Luke's breathing was heavily. "But if we're talking about the sitting position in general, I do find it to be the most intimate of all positions as that's when you're physically closest, on the same level to look each other in the eyes, and the partners are in mutual control. Personally, I think both partners sitting up is the ultimate lovemaking position."

"Well, that's good to know," Felicity chuckled, and then moaned. "Oh god, I love you touching me."

"Then let's go to the bedroom and get a little more comfortable."

Felicity put a hand on his chest to stop Luke, "The living room. Let's go to the couch for now, and… we'll work our way to the bedroom."

Luke pressed his forehead against hers and whispered, "I love you, Felicity."

"I love you too, Luke," Felicity stroked his cheek. "Now… the couch."

---

"Felicity… I want to see your mind."

Silence filled the room. Luke and Felicity were in an intimate position, Felicity straddling Luke who was wearing nothing but his underwear. It had almost been time for Luke to undress Felicity when Luke had sprung his idea on Felicity.

"I'm sorry?" Felicity asked blankly, her the skirt of her dress was bunched at her waist, and Luke had already removed her heels, jewelry, and nylon stockings.

"It's a Force Ability," Luke explained. "The most intimate thing you could do to a person: see inside their mind. What they see, what they remember, what they know. I would never do it without consent, but if you want… I think it would be the ultimate piece of intimacy while we made love."

Felicity didn't say anything for a long time, and Luke let her work it out in her mind.

"You want… to see what I see… and think and feel?"

"Just parts," Luke amended. "Just what you're feeling in the moment. I want to share in your pleasure and experience."

"Would it hurt?"

"Not if it's consensual. Think of your mind like a house. There are dozens of rooms in the house and each room is a memory or emotion. Each room has a door that only you can operate. You can close and lock it to others, but Force Sensitives can get in the house and try to get in the rooms."

"Could someone force their way in?" Felicity asked.

"Yes," Luke answered. "But I would never do that to you."

"I know…" Felicity frowned. "So… you want into the room?"

"Only if you wish to unlock the door."

She took a deep breath, "Alright… if it won't hurt-"

"It won't," he promised.

"Okay, so how do I do it?"

"Just take a deep breath and close your eyes," Luke instructed.

Felicity did just that. Luke watched her for a second and could feel her trust in the Force. He focused on her Force Signature, examining it deeply for the first time. Her colour surprised him: crimson, like the blade of a Sith. Perhaps her life had always been destined for Darkness if her family had red signatures.

Luke took a deep breath and leaned his forehead against hers. She flinched for a second on contact, but then relaxed.

"You're going to feel a slight pressure on your mind in a minute, Felicity," Luke continued. "It won't feel physical weight, but like a tapping against your mental barriers. If you want me to do this, take a deep breath, relax, and lower the barrier."

He watched her take the deep breath and relax. Luke felt the shift, and then he was pouring into the unfamiliar terrain of her mind.

Images and feelings overwhelmed him: memories he didn't know. Younger Leia. Younger Diego. Brendan. Riz. Drystan even. But the one overwhelming thought in her mind was Luke.

"Are you in?" Felicity whispered, cracking open an eye uncertainly.

Luke chuckled, "That's a phrase I didn't want to hear tonight, but yes, I'm in. I can see your thoughts. Thank you for letting me into your mind."

Felicity opened her eyes and smiled, "Anytime."

They kissed for a while, holding each other as Luke explored Felicity's mind. Memories of them filled it. Their first meeting. Laughing at Shara's funeral. Comparing Jakku and Tatooine in the cockpit of the Falcon. Working out together. Felicity sitting on Luke's feet as he did sit ups. Cooking together. Felicity playfully smearing icing on his face as he taught her to bake a cake. Having breakfast together at Dex's. Kissing Luke passionately in the booth to Dex's utter surprise, which was how they revealed to him they were dating. Drinking with Rogue Squadron. Dancing at Ayessa and Koran's wedding. Screwing around at Reine and Obik's wedding.

Love, that was the emotion that filled Felicity's mind, and there was no doubt that what she wanted most of all in that moment was to make love to Luke Skywalker.

"You have to step out of this dress, right?" Luke murmured, his hand trailing up the zipper.

Something flared in Felicity's mind. Something vague and distant. A yell? And a… crackle? Whatever it was, Felicity was fighting it.

"Yes, I do," Felicity tried to sound normal, but Luke could feel something struggling to take over.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Felicity said shortly.

She shifted on his lap and her leg knocked something off the coffee table. It landed on the carpet with a thud. Instinctively, Felicity and Luke turned to look at it: it was Luke's lightsaber.

All of a sudden, a flurry of images flooded Felicity's mind.

A scream, feminine and spine tingling.

A man lying dead on the floor.

Immense pain ripping down her spine.

A mechanical breath.

Another scream, male and familiar to Luke.

A kick to the ribs.

A blaster.

A control panel.

A scream of grief.

A-

"No! No! No!" Felicity suddenly shoved Luke away, and her mind was sealed to him.

Luke blinked, utterly baffled as Felicity sat with her head in her hands trying not to cry.

"Felicity?" Luke placed a hand on her back.

"No!" she instantly slapped it away.

It wasn't the playful sort of smack she might given his arm, or the sort of semi-violent way she would always threaten to kick people's asses but never actually doing so. It was a violent smack, instant and mindless like a reflex.

Felicity's eyes widened as she realized what she had done.

"Oh my God, Luke, I'm sorry," Felicity exclaimed. "Oh, Gods what's wrong with me? I can do this. I can do this!"

Luke frowned, unsure of what to make of the situation.

"Felicity?" Luke asked.

"I can do this. I can do this," Felicity desperately chanted to herself, her head in her hands. "I can do this."

Luke sighed, "We don't have to do this."

"Yes, we do!" Felicity snapped. Then she realized her words, "I mean… we can. I want to."

Luke looked away at a loss of what to say or do, "This isn't meant to be a chore, Felicity. It's just a way to express our love, and if you can't do this, that's alright. I still love you and want to be with you."

"It's not-" But Felicity didn't even know how to end that sentence. "I just… I can do this!"

"Felicity, do you usually have this problem with sex?"

"No. Never."

"Then why me?" Luke boldly asked. "What's so wrong with me? Why is it so hard for you to do this?"

Felicity looked away, nervously rubbing her shoulder.

Luke frowned. Hadn't she rubbed her shoulder the exact same way after turning him down at the wedding?

And then it clicked.

Felicity had rubbed her shoulder after turning him down at the wedding.

She had packed several flimsy nightgowns for their stay on Rornian, yet wore the same pyjama shirt every night after it had been decided they would share a bed.

She had stopped things in his office when he had started pulling down her dress strap.

When they went swimming on Rornian that one time, Felicity wore that extremely conservative one piece suit.

When they had been enslaved on Zygerria, she had been given a special shoulder and back covering that no other slave had.

She had hit him when he touched her back.

"Felicity…" Luke said slowly. "What's wrong with your back?"

Fear flooded Felicity's eyes, "What did you just say?"

"You're afraid of me seeing your back," Luke stated plainly. "That's why you keep stopping things. That's why you were willing at the weddinguntil I tried pulling your dress down. That's why you just slapped me. You don't want me to see your back."

Felicity looked away and said nothing.

"Why?" Luke demanded. "What's so wrong that you don't want me to see it?"

She still said nothing.

"Come on," Luke took her hands in his, "you know me. I'm not going to judge you. There's no scar, no tattoo, no brand, no birth defect, no traumatic injury that's going to make me find you unattractive."

Felicity looked him in the eyes, "I'm not afraid of you finding me unattractive, Luke."

Luke frowned, "Then what is it?"

Felicity took a deep breath, turned around, and pulled down her zipper.

At first Luke didn't see the problem; there was some subtle red mark near the top of her back. But as her zipper dragged further down, and the mark became clearer, Luke's heart stopped. His mouth was dry and eyes wide when Felicity's zipper reached the bottom of the track.

Splashed vividly against the pale skin of her back, an angry red scar ran the full length of her spine.

"I don't think I need to tell you what kind of scar this is," Felicity whispered. She was too afraid to turn back and look at him.

Luke felt like he was going to be sick. It all made sense now, why she didn't want him to see her back… and why she was so afraid of the weapon he proudly wielded everyday.

"There's nothing civilized about a lightsaber, Luke," Felicity said darkly. "Not when a man in a mask has dragged one down your spine."

Luke whispered painfully, "Vader."

Felicity turned to look at him, a challenge in her eyes, "You want to know why I hate people using lightsabers? Why I didn't want you to see my back? Why I will never forgive Vader? Go ahead, look in my mind and find the answer."

Luke took a deep breath, and looked.

---

The walls were familiar to Luke; eleven years later, he could still remember the halls of the Death Star, and so could Felicity.

Four figures ran down the hallway: three men and a woman. He recognized the younger Felicity Rhiaon and Diego Nalto, and he could figure out the bulky man loaded with weapons was Gunner and the slender one carrying a staff on his back was Ji-Dan. Gunner was holding Felicity in his arms, dragging her along. Felicity was hysterically shouting and squirming, trying to escape Gunner's grasp.

"We have to go back! We have to go back!" Felicity was screaming. "We can't leave him! I can't leave Riz!"

"Get a hold of yourself, Rhiaon!" Diego snapped, his tone far more aggressive than Luke had ever heard. This was the 'still had a stick stuck up his ass and an ego bigger than the Death Star' Diego Nalto Luke had heard so much about. "Drayson is dead! There's nothing we can do!"

"We still have to go back!" Felicity yelled. "I won't leave him!"

"Rhiaon, get it together or I swear to God, I will slap you!"

Gunner cuffed Diego upside the head, "Enough! Have you no heart? Were you not the same when you lost your first friend in battle?"

"It doesn't matter what I did," Diego exclaimed. "We have Death Star plans to get to the base! We can't go back for a corpse!"

"Felicity," a kindly voice said.

She felt a hand on her arm, and found Ji-Dan at her side. Felicity looked into those eyes, blind yet could deeper into a soul than anyone else.

"My child, he is gone," Ji-Dan said softly. "Mourn not, but rejoice that he has passed into a better world than this. He died a hero, and his memory will live on."

"It's my fault," the pouch around Felicity's neck felt like a ton. "How can I not be sad?"

"Because he's with people who will care for him, and he will never feel pain again."

"Who is he with?" Felicity shot. "His parents are alive. His daughter is alive. His friends are alive. The only person who's dead is his bitch ex-girlfriend who didn't even tell him they had a daughter until she was four… and that was only through her Death in the Line of Duty Action Plan. Who is there to watch over him? Because she sure as hell won't!"

"If he has no one, then I suppose he'll just have to borrow someone from you," Ji-Dan smiled softly. "I think Brendan wouldn't mind watching him for a while."

That brought a smile to Felicity's face, "He's with Brendan?"

Ji-Dan nodded, "He's with Brendan. The Force will care for them both, and they will care for and watch over you, as they always have, as I always have, and we always will."

Felicity grabbed and clasped his hand, "Alright, boys. Let's get these plans the hell out of here!"

"Yeah!" Gunner cheered.

Diego rolled his eyes, "Oh sure. Listen to the motivation speech we definitely did not have time for."

"One more comment, Nalto, and I'm reporting you for insubordination during the mission debrief," Ji-Dan warned.

"Besame el culo," Diego muttered.

"And no swearing in your homeworld language," Ji-Dan chided.

"Alright, let's go," Felicity wiped the tears from her eyes and broke into a run.

They raced down the hallway, weapons at the ready for the Stormtroopers that were trying to track them. Surely word would have gotten out by now of the group of Rogues who had stolen the Death Star plans. The directive would be clear; the Imperials would not let them leave that station alive.

Things were oddly quiet… too quiet. Felicity had just come to the end of the hallway and was about to direct their next move, having been the one to memorize the layout of the Death Star.

"The ship hanger is just one floor down," Felicity instructed, turning her back to face the men. "There's an elevator lift just down this hallway, so we should-"

Pain ripped open her spine, and Felicity screamed louder more painfully than ever before in her life as she fell to the floor. The world was dark as her face crushed against the floor. She was blinded and paralysed by the pain burning down her spine.

How wasn't she dead?

She could hear what was happening around her. Diego's screams and a thud to the floor. Had they killed him? God, she hoped they didn't. She may hate the man but she didn't actually want him dead.

There was a blast, a crackle, a zing, followed by Gunner's grunt and a thud as he hit the ground. What had been done to her team? What had been done to her? Where was Ji-Dan? And who had done it?

She got her final question answered a moment later when she heard an iconic noise.

Koo-pah.

A mechanical breath.

A black boot gave her a sharp kick in the ribs, turning her over to face him. Towering above her was Darth Vader himself.

"Organa's Handmaiden," Vader said. "I should have guessed."

"Did you hold your breath to sneak up on us?" Felicity moaned. She hissed in pain as Vader kicked her in the ribs again.

"This makes perfect sense," Vader began. "Alaric Rhiaon's known Rebel daughter showed up out of nowhere with another Rebel begging for a job on the Death Star, and when she arrives, three other Rebels manage to find their way onto the station. I told them not to trust you, but Tarkin and Rhiaon refused to listen. Why do you think I sent for Major Kinall? To keep an eye on you. And now here we are: exactly where we've been destined to end up ever since you stepped between the Princess and I all those years ago. And to think I stood up for you during the conflict over dealing with your brother's body."

"Oh yeah, I don't think I ever thanked you," Felicity glanced over at her companions. "Thanks for that. The lightsaber down my spine? Not so much."

"You've certainly gotten mouthy over the years," Vader kicked her again.

As sassy as her words were, there was no denying the fear burning in her heart and mind. Ji-Dan was nowhere to be found, but probably had ducked into a nearby hall. Gunner was not far behind Felicity, groaning in pain on the ground. She didn't know at the time that his legs had been slashed by Vader's lightsaber. Diego was lying next to Felicity, clutching his arm, moaning loudly as his lifelong hand injury was freshly planted in his body. Between Felicity and Diego, just out of her reach and not far from Diego's feet was Brendan's blaster, the weapon she would never abandon.

"I can make this easy on you, Rhiaon," Vader said. "Give me the plans and I may let you and your friends live."

"Do you think I'm an idiot?" Felicity challenged. She knew her words were a death sentence, having seen far too many times what this man in a mask could do in his fury. But still, Felicity grasped the pouch around her neck in a death grip and declared, "I'll never give them to you, Vader!"

"Then you have decided to die," Vader raised his lightsaber above Felicity.

She shut her eyes and waited for the blow. Her only comfort as she heard the zing of the saber swinging down was that when she next opened her eyes, she would see Brendan and Riz.

The blow never landed.

After a minute of confusion, Felicity opened her eyes. Standing over her, his staff blocking Vader's saber, was Ji-Dan.

"The Force is with this woman," Ji-Dan said boldly. "She will not die today, and not by your blade or corrupt ideology."

"You know nothing of the Force!" Vader snarled and struck at Ji-Dan.

They engaged in the duel that would end with Ji-Dan's death. He fought bravely against the Sith Lord wielding staff against saber, but all knew how this encounter would end.

As Vader's saber slashed and clashed with Ji-Dan's staff, it was clear that the Sith Lord wasn't putting his full effort in the fight. He was toying with the man, forcing his friends to watch helplessly as Ji-Dan edged ever closer to certain death.

Felicity watched in horror: Ji-Dan was the only one left standing. If he fell, none of them had a chance of escape. To their advantage, Vader had been proud enough to not believe he needed any Stormtroopers to back him up, and indeed Felicity, Diego, and Gunner were incapacitated enough to make that true. The battle station readouts hung from Felicity's neck like lead. It was her responsibility one way or another to get this into the hands of the Rebel Alliance. They had to find a way out of this, to escape Vader or the Galaxy was doomed.

But how?

Behind her, Gunner was struggling to get to his feet. He was unsteadied, and if he were to fight, it wouldn't take much to finish him off. To the side, not far from her brother's blaster, Diego was desperately clutching his arm, moaning in pain as he fought to stay conscious. It would take more of an attack to finish off Diego, and that was good as Felicity would need the help of a pilot… though with a bum arm like that, any more injury to it would mean a prosthetic.

It was bitterly cruel that Diego would be given a metal limb by a monster whose body was nothing but metal.

Words from the past suddenly flooded into Felicity's mind.

"As unbelievable as it may sound," Vader's voice boomed down the hallway to the young Felicity Rhiaon and Leia Organa, "my body is the flesh and blood of a human, with all its unfortunate limitations. But do not think I am not a very powerful man. I wield more power than you can possibly imagine."

The younger Felicity Rhiaon blurted out, "If you're so powerful, why are you in a life support suit?"

"FELICITY!" Leia, a mere thirteen-year-old screeched.

"What? I'm curious. How often do you get to ask Darth Vader what's up with the suit?" Felicity knew she had messed up but damn it, she was standing her ground. "It is life support, right?"

Vader was silent for a few moments before deciding he might as well answer Felicity's question.

"Yes, it is a life support suit," Vader replied. "When I was younger and more naïve, I suffered injuries from a nefarious, despicable man who sought to corrupt those I may have cared about."

The eyes of the twenty-one-year-old Felicity narrowed in on the control panel over Vader's chest. A life support suit: Vader's one weakness. Felicity's eyes flicked over to Brendan's blaster. If she could take out the suit, she could take out Vader.

Of course, that would require moving, and that was no easy feat. She tried to reach for her brother's blaster, and it took all of her strength not to cry out and alert Vader to her actions.

Felicity was still in immense pain from Vader's attack. Every time she moved, her spine felt on fire and she struggled not to vomit from searing pain screaming from her spine. Her limbs didn't want to cooperate, taking all of her willpower to move them before they would obey.

Then a swipe from Vader's blade got too close to Ji-Dan.

"Nalto," Felicity frantically whispered. "Nalto, my blaster. Quick!"

Diego frowned and glanced at the blaster near his feet, "What are you going to do? Shoot Vader?"

"It's our only chance."

"It'll never work. He's too powerful to be taken down by a single blaster bolt."

"We have to try."

"It's suicide, Rhiaon!"

"We can't give up on the Galaxy, Nalto!" Felicity's eyes burned with passion. "You and I may have no one left to fight for, but that's not why we fight. We fight so that everyone else doesn't have to endure the pain that we have suffered. Do I expect either of us to make it out alive today? Absolutely not, but the Alliance is getting these plans. And if we can't get out of this alive, Nalto, then damn it, they'll remember that we went down fighting! Now, Rogue Two… Kick. Me. The. Blaster!"

Something sparked in Diego Nalto's eyes, igniting the flame of hope and rebellion inside of him. With one firm kick, Diego kicked over Felicity's blaster.

Felicity's hands enclosed upon it just as Vader's saber went through Ji-Dan's chest.

"NO!" Felicity screamed as Vader extinguished his saber and Ji-Dan fell dead to the ground.

Adrenaline surged through her body. Without thinking, Felicity lifted her brother's blaster, and barely aiming, took a shot at Vader.

She hit him right in the control panel.

It was almost comical how hard Vader went down; wheezing and crackling as his electronics were fried.

"GO! GO! RUN NOW!" Felicity screamed as she, Diego, and Gunner shot to their feet and made a run for it.

"Nice blast, Rhiaon!" Diego laughed, something light in his tone Felicity had never heard before. It would be the turning point in their relationship.

"Come on, you two!" Gunner egged on, not acknowledging he was actually lagging behind the other two. He was moving in a sort of limping run, "We're not out of here yet!"

And as Felicity reached the end of the hall – her spine still aflame – she paused for a moment to look back. She shivered like a cube of ice had been shoved down her throat as she saw Vader slowly – extremely slowly – rising to his feet. He couldn't give them chase, but he was still dangerous as he summoned his lightsaber back to his hand.

Then her eyes set on Ji-Dan's body. Felicity thought of Ji-Dan's wife and two grown children. She wondered how she could ever tell them what happened. But then she saw something that lifted her heart ever so slightly: Ji-Dan had died with a smile on his face.

He would always be with her.

---

Luke pulled out of the memory.

"Wow," Luke simply said, staring at Felicity in shock. "You really did shoot my father."

"Uh huh," Felicity nodded. "Also, you agree with me, Battle of Yavin era Diego Nalto was an asshole."

"Undoubtedly. So that's it then? That's why you'll never forgive my father. That's why you hate lightsabers."

"I don't hate lightsabers."

Luke blinked, "I'm sorry?"

"I don't hate lightsabers," Felicity repeated. "I hate when they're wielded for evil. I have seen them and what they can do. I saw Vader put one through Ji-Dan's chest, I saw Tyla Kinall put another through Gunner's chest."

"She has renounced that life, Felicity."

"I know that, but that doesn't mean I'll ever be comfortable with her using one around me. That doesn't mean I'll be comfortable with anyone using one around me. Not Obik, not Reine, not even you." Felicity took a deep breath, "I have felt them, Luke, that horrible pain dragging down my spine. Burning and ripping my flesh. Scarring it forever. You know what's the worst part? He intentionally toyed with us; incapacitating us, but not killing us. He wanted to know who we were before he killed us. Diego and I weren't able to access real medical aide for a month, and as such we have permanent scars and injuries from that. That's why Diego's hand shakes and has its spasms. They told us that one more slice to Diego's arm and he would lose all muscle control in that hand. As for me, the doctors told me that if Vader had really been going for it, when he slashed me down the spine with a lightsaber it would have put me in a coma. It would have been so easy to kill me after that."

"Felicity…"

But Luke couldn't find the words to continue.

Felicity looked his deep in the eyes, "I am not afraid of lightsabers, Luke. What I'm afraid of… is you turning to the Dark Side."

Luke's eyes went wide, shock coursing through his body, "Felicity, no. I would never."

"You can't say never."

"Yes, I can. I've been tempted and tested. I've been to the edge, and I've walked away from it."

"You think that's the only time you'll ever be tested? You think you'll never tempted again?"

"I know better than that. I know how to walk away without losing myself."

"Said every single person who ever gave in to the Dark Side," Felicity snapped. "Your father himself probably once said something along those lines. I know you're strong, but what happens if that strength gets turned against you? Against me? I will not be Padmé Amidala, Luke."

"I know you won't," Luke sighed. "… And I know you would literally kick my ass if I ever Force Choked you."

"Well, without my permission."

Luke raised an eyebrow.

Felicity grinned, "Why don't we get the normal sex out of the way, and then we can talk about kinks?"

"I'm all for that," Luke leaned in to kiss her but was stopped by a finger on the lips.

"We're not done talking yet," Felicity said.

Luke sighed, "Alright, fine, I will admit that I will likely be tested in the future, but I swear to you I will never give in."

"I accept that, but you need to understand that if you ever do give in, we're done. I'm not going to come beg you to return to the Light Side. If you make the choice to forsake the Light Side, knowing all you do about the Dark Side, then that is a bed you need to lie in. If you turn to the Dark Side, I am leaving you, and if we have any children, I'm taking them with me and you will never see them again. We're not going to have a third fricking Skywalker with a mechanical hand. And if we do, I'm going to find who cuts off my child's hand, and cut off far more than just their hand."

"Agreed," Luke chuckled. Carefully, he lifted his mechanical hand, and trailed the fingers down the scar on Felicity's spine. He was testing her, and though she shivered, she did not push him away. "Is that why you don't like this hand touching you?"

"Yes," Felicity breathed. "I see that hand and not only do I remember what he did to you, but I remember what he did to me… I wish this was like a normal relationship, Luke. That we could come in with a blank slate, but we can't. We have a long, complicated history that started decades before we ever crossed paths. I wish we could just pretend that none of it happened, or at least that it doesn't matter. But it does. I will always hate your father, or at least be antagonistic about him. He tried to kill me, Luke, and I shot him in the chest. And you…"

Felicity sighed.

"You killed my father, Luke."

Luke frowned as he felt something dark and tragic pulse in the Force. He was surprised at the amount of sorrow that suddenly came off of Felicity. Usually she spoke of Alaric Rhiaon with such hatred and distaste; Luke hadn't expected Felicity to associate Alaric with grief.

Felicity took a deep breath, and it seemed that she knew the thoughts in his head, "My father did a lot of terrible things to me, Luke… but he wasn't all bad. I do have affectionate memories of him. You know the house I've been designing since I was a child?"

"Uh huh."

"When I was eight, he took the current design and had it made into a dollhouse for my birthday," Felicity had on a bittersweet smile. "It was exactly like my drawing, and he rigged the house himself to have lights that turned on and off, and doors that slid open… I did love my father, Luke. As much as I try to fight it, I did love him. I did want him to turn to the good side and reunite with me and we could be a family. The last time I saw him, he betrayed me, but I've always wondered if after the destruction of Alderaan he regretted anything. Maybe he changed his mind? What if I had one more chance to try to get through to him?"

Felicity sighed heavily.

"And I killed him before you had that chance," Luke said the words Felicity could not.

"When my father died, I shed a tear for him. A single tear, but a tear nonetheless," Felicity's eyes did not move from Luke's. "I know that it was his own doing, his own choices that put him on the Death Star… But I can't deny the facts. I can't deny that you played a role in my father's death. I can't deny that I did love my father. I can't deny that I have fallen hopelessly in love with the man who killed my father. I can't deny that I want to make love to my father's killer."

Felicity reached up and ran a hand through Luke's soft blonde hair.

"And I can't deny that… I'm perfectly okay with that."

"Felicity," Luke whispered trying to seek her lips, but Felicity stopped him again with a finger to his lips.

"I know I'm irresistible, but you are going to have to be strong for just a little longer," Felicity teased.

"How much longer?" Luke chuckled, always a little turned on by her self-confidence, especially with how she was never afraid to admit she thought she was attractive. Sure, Felicity sometimes had the usual slips of thinking maybe she could drop a few pounds, or thought her thighs were too large, but generally Felicity Rhiaon was confident in her body and not afraid to flaunt that confidence.

"I am going to make love to you tonight, Luke Skywalker," Felicity promised. "And it's going to be so hot and good, you're going to say, Calla who?"

"Calla who?" Luke went in for another unsuccessful kiss.

"But first," Felicity went back to being serious, "I need you to promise me three things. If we're going to have a relationship and move on from the scars of the past, I need you to promise me three things."

"Anything."

"First… you will never treat me as my father did: like his possession. I was his doll; dressing me how he wanted, putting me in pretend scenarios where I was this perfect, simpering daughter that he could used to better his position in life and prove to everyone he was worth something. I am not Luke Skywalker's Significant Other or some piece of arm candy or trophy for you to flaunt. I am Felicity Rhiaon, a woman with her own heroics and accomplishments, who just happens to also be bedding Luke Skywalker."

"I promise that," Luke took her hands in his, his mechanical thumb running over her knuckles. "But you have to promise to make that last part true."

"Patience, My Love," Felicity chuckled.

Luke pulled a face.

"What?"

"… Calla used to call me 'My Love.'"

Felicity frowned, "… How about Sweetheart?"

"That'll do," Luke nodded. "Second promise?"

"No Dark Side," Felicity said. "You have to promise me that you will never turn to the Dark Side. I saw that holo of your parents on Mustafar. I'm actually going to kill you if you try to pull that crap on me, and I'll get Han and Leia to help."

"I promise," Luke played with a strand of her hair. "What's the last thing?"

"Swear to me you'll never lie to me."

"Felicity, I-"

"I'm not finished. By never lying to me, I mean the big stuff. If you're planning a surprise party for me and lie, telling me instead we're going out for dinner, I don't give a shit… But if you've had sex with Tyla Kinall, I want to know."

"I can honestly say that I have never had sex with Tyla Kinall," Luke smiled, but his mind flicked over to Tyla for a moment.

No, he had never slept with Tyla, but he did know something that Felicity didn't: that Tyla was responsible for Brendan's death. It was Tyla's darkest secret that she used to be an Inquisitor, and it wasn't Luke's place to share it. But not telling Felicity Tyla's secret wasn't exactly a lie; she had never asked him if he knew anything about Brendan's death or Third Sister.

"Good," Felicity smiled and ran a hand through Luke's hair.

Luke was careful to make his tone just right, "Now, in this no lying rule… do you count lies by omission?"

Felicity raised an eyebrow, "Of course I do. You know better than anyone know how much that can mess up a person. Don't you ever do that to me."

"Alright, that's good to know," Luke looked away. He would absolutely have to talk to Tyla the next time he went to Temple Village.

When Luke looked back at Felicity, she was watching him with narrowed eyes.

"Is there something I should know about, Luke?"

Non-Force Sensitive as she was, Felicity Rhiaon could read Luke just as well as he could read her.

"Yes," Luke confessed. He let his natural hand gently graze Felicity's thigh, "But let's not let it ruin tonight."

"Luke…" Felicity warned.

"There's just something I have to do first before I tell you. It's not exactly my secret to tell, but I will ensure you learn it. I just want to respect the person whose secret it is, and let them come forward with it themselves. Can you accept that?"

"I'm not going to be mad at you for respecting someone's feelings," Felicity conceded. "Just… promise me there won't be lies."

"I promise you, and will make you a fourth promise on top of that." Luke summoned his lightsaber and held it out to her. He took one of her hands and put it atop the saber so they were holding it together. He looked her deep into her eyes, blue locking on hazel, "Felicity Rhiaon, I swear to you that this lightsaber will never be used to harm you. I will use it to defend and protect you until my dying day. I vow that, and I vow to spend as long as you're willing to tolerate me, loving you as fiercely and passionately as I can manage."

"I make you that same vow," Felicity smiled and stroked his cheek. "Now, with all of that out of the way, I guess this is the part where we have a perfectly normal relationship."

"Felicity," Luke set down the lightsaber and lifted a hand under her chin, "as far as I'm concerned, a normal relationship… sounds frightfully boring."

She laughed, "Kiss me, you idiot."

"Finally."

Luke captured her lips in a heady kiss. It was a kiss to end all others as they poured the depth of their love and connection into that intimate touch. When they broke for air, their parting was short lived. Luke's lips were once more against Felicity's neck, while hers suckled upon his collarbone, teasing it with gentle nibbles.

"Felicity," Luke whispered her name against her skin.

Luke's fingers played with her short neck hairs, and his tongue dragged up her thin skin. Felicity moaned at his touch, arching her neck for better access.

Then the thought crossed his mind, he was about to make love to Felicity Rhiaon. For real this time; he was going to join with her as one flesh and perform the most intimate act of love possible.

He couldn't wait another moment.

"Felicity," Luke whispered, his hands on the shoulders of her dress. "Please, let me make love to you."

She smiled coyly and pressed one more tender kiss to his eager lips. Luke moved forward to shove a hand in her hair and pull her lips in closer to him, but Felicity drew away. She watched with that one corner smirk as he jerked forward to kiss her again, but she leaned away. Felicity placed a hand on his chest to stop him from moving forward, and shook her head.

"Luke, please…" Felicity bowed her head against his and whispered just barely above his lips, "undress me."

Slowly, she turned her back to him and pulled her hair away with one hand. Luke was treated to a simply stunning view of her unzipped dress splayed open to present the pale skin of her back, the band of her black lacy bra, and the exposed, red, angry scar.

With tender hands, Luke reached forward, his mechanical hand taking hold of the right shoulder strap. His flesh hand gently caressed the length of her scar.

"Luke," Felicity whimpered, shuddering under his touch.

His hands moved to the bared skin next to the shoulder straps, and he gripped the skin, massaging the tension coiled in her joints. Felicity gave a sharp breath and bit her lip. Her desire for him with churning boldly in the Force.

Luke bent down and started to feather kisses along the length of Felicity's lightsaber scar, one of their most intimate acts from that day forward. She shivered again, as she would always do when he kissed her scars. When Luke reached the spot above her tailbone where the scar ended, he dragged his tongue back up.

Leisurely, Luke repeated the action of kissing and licking the other handful of scars that lined her back. He frowned at one scar that had almost completely faded away: the scar made by the whip she was struck with when they got captured on Zygerria. He could still remember that first time he had ever heard her scream in pain. How dare anyone do that to this amazing woman in his arms?

A moan from Felicity brought his mind back to the present. His hands ventured down for a moment to circle the tender flesh of her heaving breasts, and the hands immediately withdrew back to their original position on her shoulders.

"Luke," Felicity's head lolled back. Her eyes were squeezed shut, and Luke almost stumbled back when an extreme wave of pleasure crashed against him through the Force like a wave against a rock. "Luke, please, undress me."

He smiled and pressed one more kiss to the back of her neck. His thumbs hooked under the fabric of her shoulder straps, and with an almost painful lethargy, he pulled down her dress.

"You said you had to step out of the dress," Luke whispered in her ear as his hand ran over the muscles of her toned stomach. "I am so happy we focused on ab workout routines."

"Wait until you see what the flexibility ones made me able to do," Felicity teased as she stood and pulled the dress off her. She chucked it carelessly across the room like their other clothes.

Felicity stood before him in a simply stunning set of black lacy bra and panties, and Luke sat on the couch admiring her in his briefs. That which was unspoken clung to the air: there was no turning back from this… and both were perfectly happy with that.

"Enjoying the view?" Felicity placed a hand on her hip, which she popped to the side, modeling her body to him. As with any body, it did have its flaws, but for Luke in his memory of that night she looked like an absolute Goddess.

"Yes," Luke's answer was barely more than a puff of air as everything tensed in his body.

"Well, I guess this is it," Felicity climbed upon his lap, spreading her legs to straddle him. She deliberately shifted her pelvis across him, and Luke struggled to hold himself together, "I guess tonight, I finally learn if your saber skills-"

"I swear to God, Felicity, do not make a lightsaber pun right now," Luke gripped her hips.

Felicity seemed to melt in his arms; bare skin against bare skin. Heat burned in their bodies as they touched each other without restraint. Only one garment remained between them each. One year of sexual tension was finally bubbling to the surface, and with a surge of electricity, it was about to come to a head.

"Fine, I'll abstain," Felicity's lips found his ear as she rocked against him.

"I sincerely hope that is our only abstinence tonight." Luke's chest was already damp with sweat. "I think it would actually kill me if you stopped things now."

"Far from it. Oh, Gods, Luke!"Felicity panted heavily, her arms gripping his shoulders as she struggled to find purchase on him, "Luke, please! I'm ready. Take me to the bedroom! Let me make love to you!"

"Who am I to disappoint you?" Luke moved her legs to wrap around his hips, holding her upright as he stood. While Felicity gripped at him tightly so she wouldn't fall, he felt the rest of her relax when the pleasurable pressurebetween her legs was relieved.

"Good, that was getting a little much for now," Felicity rested her head against his shoulder. "Thank you for that, though."

Luke chuckled, "Anytime."

With Felicity's legs locked around his hips and his lips on hers, Luke carried Felicity to the bedroom.

"Droids won't bother us?" Felicity asked between passionate kisses as Luke carried her over the threshold.

"I bribed Artoo to keep Threepio out of the way," Luke set her down on the ground and turned to close the door. When he looked back at her, he couldn't help but chuckle.

"What?" Felicity grinned with a hand on her hip.

"You've got lipstick smeared all over your face."

"Oh really? You should see your face and neck with all that red all over it."

Luke wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her, "There's some tissues in my bedside table. I'll get the makeup remover from the fresher."

"Why do you own makeup remover?"

"I don't. Alyla left it here after last visit. I don't think she'll mind us using a little."

"I won't tell her if you won't."

"Deal."

When Luke returned from the fresher with the bottle, he found Felicity sitting on his bed waiting for him. Luke sat on the bed, his free hand going to rest on her thigh where he stroked small circles with his thumb.

He started to wipe the lipstick smears from Felicity's face, "We're really doing this."

"We are," Felicity took her turn to wipe the lipstick Luke's face. "Any hesitations?"

"None. You?"

"None," Felicity put the makeup removerin the bedside drawer and shut it as Luke used the Force to put the tissues in the wastebasket across the room. Their hands found each other's bodies in a second.

"So, birth control," Luke asked, "I have condoms this time."

"I'm still on the pill, and unless something's happened in the past few weeks that you need to tell me, I believe we're both clean."

"Bare it is then," Luke's hand ran slowly up and down her sides. "Just wanted to make sure we're safe."

"I'm not going to fault you for that," Felicity kissed Luke.

They kissed for a while, savoring each other's lips, and letting their hands explore each other's bare skin. Luke didn't call her on it, but there was no denying Felicity had goosebumps as he touched her. She felt so good, so soft but strong, smooth but had her scars as any soldier did.

He wanted to do so many things to her that night, just push her down and have his way with her, but tonight wasn't for that. Tonight he would make love to her as tenderly and passionately as possible.

"Felicity," Luke breathed, his lips trailing down her jaw, her neck, her collarbone, and to the tops of her breasts. He kissed there for a while at the edge of the fabric, his lips and tongue teasing the tops of her exposed skin.

Her hand was in his hair, urging him on, his own hands running up and down the length of her spine scar. Every time they reached her bra strap, he teased her a little, playing with the clasp and feigning release, but then continuing to run down her scar.

"Luke," Felicity pleaded as he teased her again.

With lust burning in his eyes, Luke reached behind Felicity and unclipped her bra.

It was on the floor in a moment… then her panties… then his underwear.

Now there was nothing to hide behind… they were completely bared to each other.

Felicity laidon the bed,presenting herbody to him as he stood before her, "Do you enjoy the view? I'm certainly enjoying mine."

"You are truly a piece of art," Luke's eyes roamed over her naked form, his breaths slow and heavy.

Felicity smirked that one corner smirk that had been driving him wild for a year.

"Well, I have some good news for you, Master Skywalker," Felicity's hands trailed down her body teasingly as Luke crawled onto the bed over her. She teased her lips over his when they came into reach, "This isn't a museum. You are more than welcome to touch the art."

And he did.

---

Felicity couldn't wipe the grin off her face as she lay nude, staring up at the ceiling, tangled in the sheets with Luke. They were sweaty and breathless, basking in the aftermath euphoria of their lovemaking.

"So, you were absolutely right," Luke said between pants, still in something of a daze. "Letting you – how did you put it – have your wicked way with me is something I definitely don't regret. How was it for you? Your emotions were pretty… well, let's just say I was getting a lot of positive feedback."

"That was… Oh, my God, that was amazing," Felicity struggled to focus on forming words. She'd much rather use her brainpower to memorize the images of their bodies pressed together, and the feeling of his gentle, yet commanding touch.

"Really? Amazing?" Luke couldn't help but feel a little smug. "How amazing?"

Felicity chuckled, rolling over onto her side to face him. Slowly she ran her fingers over his chest, tracing lazy patterns onto his skin.

"Well," Felicity tried to sound coy. "It wasn't the best I've ever had, but we need more time to learn each other."

"I am definitely up for that," Luke nibbled at her earlobe.

"Oh, Luke," Felicity moaned as his tongue and teeth played with the sensitive spot under her earlobe. She whimpered when he eventually pulled away. "All that said, it was by far the best first time I've ever had with a new partner. The way you can just sense-"

Felicity stopped short. Luke knew she had figured out his secret.

"You know," Felicity propped her head onto her hand, her elbow resting on the mattress. "I don't think you're allowed to use the Force for that."

Luke grinned at her, reaching out to run a hand through her soft brown hair, "I'm the Jedi Grandmaster."

Catching her lips in a heated kiss, Luke shifted his body so that he was hovering over top of her.

"And if I say I am allowed to use the Force to know to do this."

At his action, Felicity let out a loud moan.

"Then I'm allowed to use the Force for that." A thought occurred to Luke and he paused. Luke looked so innocent with his sparkling blue eyes, and he could sense the look was driving Felicity wild, "Unless… you don't want me to do that?"

Felicity grinned down at Luke, staring into his loving eyes, "Luke, if you don't do that to me again right now, I'm leaving you."

Luke did it again.

---

A/N: So I know I promised that I was going to suspend the whole guess the riddle thing, but I can't help but do this one. If you want a reward for a correct answer, sure, but this is mostly me seeing if I covered my tracks well enough.

Can you tell which one of Luke's memories I totally wrote out, and then realized I forgot to put Luke in? It's not a full day, but it's a part of one of the larger memories. I totally forgot for a minute these are supposed to be from Luke's POV, and originally had him off elsewhere. Can you figure out which scene that was?

Also, I apologise if this chapter destroyed your innocence… though really, you should see the AO3 version.