Luke, Mara, Anakin, Padme, Obi Wan and L'wren all boarded Padme's Naboo star skiff. Han insisted on taking his own ship of course co-piloted by Chewbacca and Leia had argued to much to Anakin's chagrin to go with them on the Millennium Falcon.
Mara sat alone in the small cabin she and Luke shared aboard the star skiff and stared blankly out of the transparisteel window at the stars that shot by. She shook her head slowly, this was amazing. If she could have gone back in time and told herself six months ago that she would be marrying Luke Skywalker, and having his son she would have never... well to be honest she probably would have vaped her future self.
To think, she and Luke Skywalker were getting married, she was going to be Luke Skywalker's wife. Did she deserve that title? Did she honestly deserve a man like Luke? After everything she had done, Mara could forgive herself eventually knowing that she'd had very little control of what she had been made to do. But did she really deserve all of this? The family? Luke?
The door opened and Luke poked his head in, "Yes, you do!." Mara laughed as she remembered the strength of their bond and Luke added, "If I didn't have to help my father at the controls right now, I would show you just how much you do." He kissed her on the top of her head and asked, "You're okay? No, uh wet feet as you would say?" Mara rolled her eyes laughing and said, "I didn't know okay! Yes, I'm fine no wet feet, they're totally dry. And just to remind you that's not my fault. You don't hear very many expressions in the Imperial Palace."
Luke smiled and asked, "What about all the assignments you went on?" Mara sighed, "Those weren't exactly social trips, and very rarely if ever did I speak to anyone. They were merely objectives to be completed. I was pretty much emotionless until you came along.: Luke smiled and Mara continued, "Even though in the beginning they weren't very good emotions. Not until the ball anyway." Luke remembered that night and said, "Did I tell you how utterly breathtaking you were that night?" Mara smiled and shook her head, "Must have slipped your mind." Luke feigned shock, "Oh no, we cannot have that! The ball changed everything for us. Can I ask if it's still worth it?" Mara smiled and looked lovingly at him replying, "Always."
Luke dropped a quick kiss to the top of her head, "Glad to hear it. I love you." She smiled at him and said, "I love you too, I think I'm just gonna try to get some sleep. Our son seems to require it from me." Luke nodded obviously pleased, "That sounds like a good plan. I wonder what he'll be like." he squatted before her and laid his strong hands gently against her abdomen. Mara laughed, "Hopefully nothing like me!" Luke protested, "I don't know, I wouldn't mind a feisty, intelligent, handsome red haired son."
Mara retorted, "Ha! What about a sullen angry indignant stubborn teenager?" Luke replied, "They're all like that." Mara moved into his arms, "I'm sure he'll be exceptional especially in the force. Just like his father." Luke kissed her softly, "Just like his mother too."
Mara smiled softly and laid down on their cot. Luke kissed her gently, "Rest easily my love." And he slipped out of the room and helped his father prepare for the jump to light speed. She lay on her side with her hand resting lazily against her ever so slightly swollen abdomen. She reached out to the small life form which greeted her happily and informed her of his own happiness. She smiled and feel asleep soundly.
Han fidgeted uncomfortably in the captain's chair of the millennium falcon. Chewbacca finally asked after Leia too went to get some rest, "What is wrong with you? You keep hopping around like a corellian jumping bean."
Han looked over to his best friend and first mate, "Yeah, I don't know. It just seems like this thing with me and Leia...that it's the real thing." Chewie barked out a small laugh and said, "It seems that way to me too." Han sighed, "But that's the problem you see? Who am I? A no good smuggler, not fit to shine her boots." Chewbacca protested, "You're more than you realize! You saved my life, you deflected from the Empire to save me." Han agreed, 'Yeah, and went right into illegal smuggling for no good outer rim scum. She's a princess, well she was raised as one anyway. Then she was and imperial senator, then rebel command intelligence. How can I even begin to measure up to what she deserves?"
Chewie shook his head at his insecure friend and said, "Can you see her with one of those kind? Do you think she'd be happy married to some political high hat?" Han fidgeted more as he accepted Chewie's argument, "No I guess not, she's got too much fire for any of those nerfs." Chewbacca added, "Exactly. Plus you will know that every moment of every day that you maybe don't deserve her, and so you will. Because you will never take how special she is for granted." Han nodded, moved by Chewbacca's kind words and said, "I love her, I can't see my life without her in it." Chewie nodded and said, "Right, then you know what you need to do." Han smiled sheepishly, "Yeah, I guess I do." Chewbacca barked out a laugh and said, "That won't be the hardest part though." Han shook his head not understanding and Chewbacca replied, "You know that you're going to have to ask her father's permission first." Han protested, "Wait just a minute! What! Her dad hates my guts!" Chewie nodded and said clearly amused, "You're going to have to win him over before you can even think about asking her."
Han rolled his eyes, this is why he was such a simple man. He hated all the customs and pomp and circumstance - but - he reminded himself. She was worth every bit of posturing he was going to have to do to even try to get her father's approval to marry his only daughter.
They arrived on Naboo several days later. Their ships landed in the bustling capital city of Theed, where they were met with enormous cheering crowds and Queen Kylantha herself. Who greeted them like royalty as they came down the ships ramp together, "Heroes of the galaxy." she said regally, and the crowds grew louder with their exultation. She continued, "It is my pleasure to welcome you to Naboo. We would invite you to be our guests of honor and ride in a parade specially planned to honor your victory which has freed us all from decades of tyranny."
Padme spoke for the group her own excitement at being home evident. "We would be delighted your majesty."
Queen Kylantha gestured to the three opulent speeders behind her driven by uniformed guards. Luke send Anakin a desperate look, he didn't like crowds very much having grown up in seclusion. To him, they meant a fair bit of danger. All it took was one imperial sympathizer who had a long scope blaster and was a decent shot.
He mentally begged his father to decline the grand offer, if only for security reasons but knew that it was hopeless once he saw the look on his mother's face. In a moment he knew that this meant the world to her, to be with her family on her home and to be free of the hiding she had committed herself to so completely twenty years previously. Being celebrated down the same streets she had previously been mourned. Luke acquiesced telling himself that these people wouldn't be here celebrating if they'd had any sympathy for the destruction of the Empire, and the Naboo themselves were a peaceful intelligent people.
Luke and Mara were moved into the back of first speeder, with Anakin, Padme and Obi Wan following them in the second and Leia, Han, L'wren and Chewbacca in the third. Luke sighed and said, "Sorry, it looks like we're stuck here for the day." Mara smiled and said, "It's not so bad. They just want to show their gratitude I think it's very kind of them." Luke nodded putting his arm around her and pulling her closer to him, "I agree, and I'm grateful. But I wanted you all to myself at Varykino."
Mara kissed him lightly and said, "Soon sweetheart, lets just enjoy this time. Heroes of the galaxy and all." Luke smiled and said, "Right, that's a little over the top." Mara smiled and said, "It's all a little over the top. But these people are free now and they see us as the people who freed them." Luke kissed her forehead and he told her through the force, 'you freed them Mara.' she shook her head at him, 'couldn't have done it without you. Guess we're heroes of the galaxy after all.' Luke chuckled, the speeder continued to move slowly down the congested streets of Theed.
The roars for them were deafening and Mara was beginning to get a true feel of just how unhappy people truly were under Palpatine's rule. After the fight with Palpatine, she'd felt no better than any common murderer, a justified murderer but one all the same. But now seeing these people and their faces, their relief and gratitude pouring out in heavy waves she felt for the first time like maybe she did deserve this. Luke squeezed her closer in comprehension, they waved from the speeder and she reached out to him, 'this is so surreal,' he replied, 'I know, but it's nice to feel how elated they all are.' Mara agreed, 'Yes, we sure did an amazing thing.' Luke looked at her, the pride and love he felt for her threatening to overwhelm him and nodded saying aloud, "We really did."
Varykino was as beautiful as always and just as peaceful. Queen Kylantha had promised the family their solitude for the remainder of their stay on Naboo. The night before the wedding ceremony was to take place Leia had somehow managed to get Luke and Mara to sleep in separate rooms.
Padme, L'wren, Mara and Leia all sat in Mara's bedchamber while L'wren and Padme plaited Mara's long thick hair. Padme laughed suddenly, everyone in the room looked to her and she said clearing her throat, "Sorry, I was just thinking about the night before my own wedding."
Mara asked, "What happened?" Padme smiled, remembering the time fondly and said, "I'd never seen Anakin more nervous in my life. In fact I've never seen anyone more nervous. He was absolutely beside himself with worry that I would come to my senses and make off in the night. He paid every single person with a boat, skiff, or raft anywhere near Varykino to hide their watercrafts so I wouldn't escape!"
The four women laughed loudly at the idea of the calm patriarch behaving so foolishly. L'wren said, "Yes, men can be foolhardy - especially before they're to be married. When I married my husband, he got so drunk the night before to bolster his nerves that he nearly passed out at the altar! He was literally green! People thought he must have been miserable to be getting married."
They all roared in laughter again.
Luke looked at the hallway again to the source of the laughter - it had been going on for some time now. Himself, Anakin, Obi Wan, Chewbacca and Han were all situated around the large dining room table playing sabaac. He looked to the other men and asked nervously, "What do you think they're talking about?" Anakin smiled, and looked more intently at his cards. The laughter came again even louder than before. This time Han looked as well and said, "I don't know but that just can't be good." Obi Wan grinned and Chewbacca barked a laughed saying, "I'm glad Malla isn't here with them." Luke shot up as the laughter rang out again loudly, "I don't like this!"
Han added, "I mean they must be talking about you kid. After all it's your wedding tomorrow, and that's your fiancé, your mother, sister and your lady's maid in there. They all know you so it must be about you. They're all in there telling embarrassing humiliating stories about Luke, it's as simple as that."
Luke frowned, not liking that idea at all and clicked his tongue looking at Han challenging, "So...Han old buddy. Speaking of getting married. Do you have any plans to marry my sister?"
The air was immediately thick. If he could have kicked Luke hard in the shin under the table discreetly he would have. If it wasn't the kids wedding day tomorrow, he would have hauled off and hit him in the face. Anakin looked up from the cards his face suddenly serious.
Han stammered, "Marriage, yeah...Well..., uh there's yeah... just a few things that I need to wrap up before I get to that."
Anakin asked cooly, "What kind of things?"
Han nodded nervously, "Oh right...yeah... well you know. Manly sort of type masculine things... just things to take care of...man stuff." Obi Wan rolled his eyes and Han continued to stutter digging himself a deep hole, "You know, there's just stuff that you have to do before you...uh marry someone...to make sure everything's all good before you do."
Anakin's eyes grew wide with misinterpretation. Luke looked down and shook his head. Obi Wan covered his eyes with his hand, and Chewbacca let out a heavy sigh. Anakin growled menacingly slowly rising from his seat, "You surely don't mean what I think you do...if I thought for a minute that you did...testing my daughter to see if...to see if...IT is good!"
Han blanched, then went as scarlet as Mara's hair and he rose as well, "No! No! That's not what I meant! Of course not! She and I have already...well anyway, what I meant was there are customs and traditions that are important to her - and me I guess . I just, well I'm just supposed to..." he looked to Chewbacca who nodded encouragingly and finally said, "I need to ask your permission first. So I guess I'm asking now, I know I don't deserve her. I know that I never could. She's like no one else in the entire universe. I'm not a jedi or rebellion intelligence of some poo doo eating politician. But I love her. Master Skywalker, can I marry your daughter?"
Anakin sat back down hard in his seat he had expected this day to come, but so soon?. Obi Wan looked at him and eyed him as though to say, 'you can't really say no after all that.' Anakin shifted, narrowing his eyes at the fidgeting man and asked, "How will you take care of her. You're a smuggler." Han nodded, "I've given all that up. I gave all that up when I joined the rebellion. I've saved up quite a good amount of credits. I can take care of her."
Anakin nodded, rubbing his chin in thought and said, "Let me think on this. Leia is my only daughter. Man to man, you and I need to have a long discussion before I can say yes to this." Han felt sick to his stomach, nerves eating away at him. He merely nodded and Anakin gestured to one of the far balconies and rose. Han moved swiftly to follow him. Luke rose both eyebrows and looked back at his cards smiling. Chewbacca chortled a bit of laughter and Obi Wan shook his head grinning.
Mara wiped her eyes, she'd begun to cry from laughing so hard. She said as the laughter died, "I wish that I had funny stories of Luke." Padme replied, "Oh you will. Men tend to make fools of themselves rather often. Especially in regards to the woman they love."
Leia smiled softly into her lap, and wondered when they all would have this moment for her. The night before her wedding, to Han. L'wren looked at Leia and said, "I have no doubt that he'll ask you Miss Skywalker." Leia blushed furiously, "Oh I don't know he's given very little indication..."
Padme interrupted, "He loves you a great deal sweetheart, and he's been completely devoted to you for years. I think he may surprise you." Leia shook her head, "I don't want to think that he will, only to realize that he may never. Han isn't a great believer in conventionalism, he likes to do things his own way and that's it. If its not in his mind to marry, he won't."
Padme said, "I think you'll find that most men are traditional when it comes to marriage even a maverick like Han Solo."
The girls talked long into the night, as they retired. Padme noticed that Anakin and Han were on a secluded balcony talking to each other in urgent hushed tones. Padme wanted to move closer, but told herself that it was clearly something they wanted to keep to themselves for the time being. She went upstairs to the bedroom that she and Anakin shared.
As the warm Naboo sun rose in the clear dusky sky, it streaked phosohorus pinks and purples across the horizon and poured light into Varykino like a beacon to signal the beauty of the day.
As usual Padme and Anakin rose with the sun. Padme mused as Anakin poured caf for both of them, "You and Han were certainly up late last night." Anakin nodded, handing a mug to her, "He and I had important things to discuss." Padme's eyes sparkled with recognition and she replied, "Ah, I see. And?" Anakin sipped his drink and said, "Well, I know that he loves her. He wasn't truly able to convince me that he can support her and care for her. I was under the impression that he was a complete disgrace, but I just keep coming back to the fact that he loves her, very much. And she loves him. What more could I want for my child? She will be loved, and I am certain that he will work very hard to make her happy, but she will be happy just by being with him."
Padme kissed Anakin's lips softly and whispered, "You're a good man, and a great father." Anakin brushed her thick curls back from her shoulder and said, "I cannot believe that our son is getting married today." Padme sighed, "I know, I can hardly grasp it myself. It seems just recently I was in Polis Massa giving birth to them. And then...they were gone. You know I was able to see them but very infrquently. I remember watching under a miserable heavy clock, Luke playing in the warm sand on Tattooine. He was very young, and the sand burned his feet. Beru swept him up in her arms and carried him inside comforting him as she went. I almost hated her in that moment. He was my son, and I was unable to go to him."
Anakin's heart clenched in sympathy and he hugged her tightly and said, "I'm so sorry my love. I'm sorry that I was not strong enough to kill the Emperor and reunite us with our children." Padme nuzzled into his strong arms and buried her face into his chest.
Obi Wan came into the main room having overheard the exchange between them and said, "I wish I had known, I could have helped." Anakin turned to his former master and said, "Obi Wan, you wouldn't have never allowed me to follow through on my plan." Obi Wan replied staunchly, "Of course not, there must have been another way." Anakin sighed heavily, "Nothing I was able to think of at the time. I hadn't planned to enslave myself for so long. But in that time I saved those that I could, protected who I could, and my family. Owen and Beru...I didn't know about them until it was too late. I knew that you had Luke with you, so at least I knew he was safe."
Padme took his hand tenderly in his own, "What you did, you did for all of us. We would have most certainly been killed had we all been together. You saved us, all of us...the whole galaxy." Anakin nodded and turned to stare at the sunrise, "But Alderaan?"
Obi Wan hung his head in reverance, and Padme's eyes watered remembering the loss of her dear friend Bail Organa and said, "Anakin, it was a terrible tragedy - but it was Tarkin's fault not yours. You couldn't have prevented it." Anakin sighed, "I would have given anything to prevent my daughter from witnessing such a hateful act, and feeling the pain that it caused. I would gladly have died to keep it from her."
Obi Wan stepped forward and said, "And we all know that my friend. Including Leia. But as Yoda would say 'change the past we cannot."
Anakin smiled at the oddly structured language. Padme sighed softly, the light encompassing them, "Today is a happy day. We didn't have enough time with our children when they were young, but we are with them now. Our son marries today, and soon we'll have our first grandchild. All the ones we love are safe and happy."
Anakin couldn't fault her logic, they were both right. Darth Vader and the past may still haunt him, and he may wonder if he could have done things differently to spare lives, or spare people, most of all spare his wife and children pain or heartache,
But today was not for living in the past, today his son was getting married to a woman Anakin was rapidly growing to love as a daughter. It was time to let the mistrust and shadows of the past fall away and embrace the promise of a new day, and a new future. He looked over to the blazing sunrise, and decided to embrace it.
Luke woke up not long thereafter, his stomach already buzzing with nerves. What if Mara changed her mind! What if she'd come to her senses that a complete goddess like her could never be happy with a simple farmboy like him?
Anxiety and fear poured off of him in waves, which prompted a small knock on the door.
Luke opened the door groggily, only in his underwear. Anakin laughed at his appearance and asked, "Rough night?"
Luke nodded, "Come in Dad." he shut the door behind his father and flopped back down on the bed, "I just had awful nightmares. Mara realizing that she didn't love me and couldn't possibly marry me. That I was too provincial for someone like her, and couldn't offer her what other men could." Anakin smiled sitting on bed by his son and asked, "But not visions right?" Luke replied, "No, just plain old bad dreams."
Anakin nodded, "Well then, I can tell you unequivocally that what you're feeling is completely normal. I felt it, and did some rather rash things because of my own fear. But I was a fool for having those insecurities, and so are you. Deep in your heart you know that Mara loves you deeply."
Luke sat up, smiling warmly at the thought of his Mara, "I know. I love her just as deeply, she's just so amazing, I don't know how I ever got so lucky. I can't even fathom the idea of making her happy just by being with me." Anakin replied, "But you do, otherwise she wouldn't love you as much as she does. Marriage isn't easy son, but having a deep bond of love with one another helps. During the arguments, and the bad times it's that love that will sustain you, and remind you that it is all worth it."
Luke was touched by his father's words and could only nod in reply. Anakin kissed Luke's head and ruffled his hair, "But it's time for you to get up, after all it's you're wedding day!"
Mara woke to insisting tones from L'wren, "Mistress! Mistress! Mara!" Mara blinked her eyes open, 'force she was just so tired' . L'wren hauled her up by her arm.
"Hey!" Mara yelled L'wren put her hands on her hips taking her most formidable stance and said, "Mara, you must get up so I can start your preparations." Mara narrowed her eyes at her handmaiden, "The ceremony isn't until sunset." L'wren gave a little huff of impatience, "I know! That's why I need you to get up now! I'll go and get your breakfast, but you have to promise me that you won't go back to sleep!"
Mara flopped back down in defiance and said, "Force L'wren! It's going to take you all day to get me ready for my simple wedding?" L'wren was already pulling her again, 'Yes! And you'll thank me for it to! But you're not going to thank me if I pour cold water on you to get you out of this bed!"
Mara sat up, "You must be joking!" L'wren moved to the door, "Oh just try me!" Mara laughed, "You're being ridiculous." L'wren smiled, "Yes, but you really do need to get up. You can relax for awhile, I'll get you something to eat. There are a few crackers on your bedside table in case you get nauseated."
Before L'wren could finish the sentence Mara was clutched with intense nausea and nibbled the crackers daintily to salve her raging stomach.
L'wren sighed, "I'll get you some juice, and maybe some -"
Mara put her hand up, "Don't mention food just now L'wren. Wait until it passes." L'wren vividly remembered the unpleasantness of morning sickness. She said comfortingly, "It will be over soon my dear. I'll return shortly, ring for me if you need me immediately."
Mara chewed the cracker staring out at the stunning scenery of the sparkling lake. Today was her wedding day. Today was the day she married, her love. Happiness surged through her, this day was a miracle. Somewhere deep inside her abdomen her son sent her a happy surge, glad that he could be there for this day too.