ENTRY 26

.

After our dramatic rescue the four of us went back to the Pulsar Skate, where we waited for Leia to work her diplomatic magic and took two well-deserved sanisteams. I really wanted to get the disguise off, but that would have to wait until later.

After a very tense hour Leia commed and requested that Mirax and I meet with her in the President's office. Luke made to join us and I shot him a very icy glare over my shoulder. "Going somewhere?"

"Um," he shifted his feet awkwardly, "I figured we'd come with you, just in case—"

My glare got harder. "We can take care of ourselves."

He couldn't resist, and smirked, "Can you?"

I scowled but didn't favor him with a response. I grabbed Mirax's hand before she could punch Corran in the face.

I tried to clear my mind as much as possible as we drove to meet Leia, but I couldn't stop thinking about our mission and how terribly wrong it had gone. Once again, the New Republic had kriffed up and I was left to take the fall, this time with one of my best friends. We really could have gotten in trouble on this mission. I knew that I belonged with Luke and the Jedi (as much as he was annoying me at the moment), but I couldn't help but wonder if the New Republic was truly the answer to the galaxy's problems. There may have been peace in the galaxy, but were all the silly squabbles and incompetence worth it?

Then again, was the lack of freedom under the Empire worth the safety and order it had provided to only the most elite of citizens?

I was still deep in thought when we arrived at the President's office, which was thankfully not in the building we had helped destroy. Leia, along with Iella and Winter, were seated opposite the older, bearded man. Winter shook her head at us as we took our seats next to them.

"President Grendle, may I present Mara Jade Skywalker and Mirax Terrik Horn, the agents in question."

The President extended his hand, which Mirax and I tentatively accepted. I wasn't able to get a good reading on the guy, but Leia seemed confident, which was a good sign.

Then again, Leia always seemed confident.

"It appears that this has all been a big misunderstanding," Grendle began. "Chief Organa Solo has explained the situation and I see no reason to keep you detained. You are hereby exonerated of all charges and free to leave the planet."

I heaved a sigh of relief. Even though I knew Mirax and I weren't at fault for anything, the thought of a lengthy legal process was not appealing to me in the slightest. "Thank you, President Grendle. We appreciate your understanding in this matter."

.

.

.

I decided to fly back to Yavin IV with Luke in the Jade Sabre, even though I had no desire to be alone with him just yet. But Mirax had seemed desperate to take out some vengeance on Corran and, being the good friend that I am, I had to give her that opportunity.

We were quiet during take off, exchanging words only when necessary. Once we hit lightspeed, however, Luke got bolder. He turned to me with a gleam in his eye. "So…how does it feel to be exonerated?"

I rolled my eyes and slipped out of my crash webbing. "It feels good, actually. Much better than being left to rot in a cell thanks to NRI's incompetence."

"Right." He mimicked my motion, turning to face me. "So then why don't you seem that relieved?"

"Maybe I'm annoyed that, once again, I had to be rescued by my great Jedi Master husband."

Now Luke was the one to roll his eyes at me. "Oh, don't be that way. Corran and I just couldn't help ourselves. You and Mirax have been gallivanting around the galaxy having these grand adventures, while Corran and I've been back at the Praxeum, teaching apprentices. You can't blame us for rubbing it in a bit."

I gave Luke an incredulous look. "Wait a minute, you're jealous of us?"

"No!" He reached over to take my hands in his. "Don't take it the wrong way. You know how much I love my work at the Academy. It's just…sometimes I still feel like you're so much more worldly than I am."

I threw back my head and laughed. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Do I need to list all your accomplishments and give you a big head?"

Luke shrugged. "Doesn't matter. Sometimes I still feel like a poorly-educated farm kid. And you're so…well, so nota farm kid."

I leaned forward, placing my hand on his cheek. "Luke Skywalker, you will always be a farm kid, and that's why I will always love you, no matter what." Unable to resist him—even though I was still slightly annoyed with his brash rescue—I leaned forward and kissed him gently on the lips. After a few moments, he returned the kiss. Moments turned into minutes. Minutes turned into hours.

Later that night, curled up in our stateroom, I glanced up to gaze upon his face, hidden in the darkness of the room. At one point in time, I would have never been able to deal with him having to save my life. It had almost been too much on Nirauan. Thankfully, I'd learned how to deal with my issues with closeness, and let him into my life. I reached up and moved a lock of hair out of his eyes. "By the way, Luke…thanks."

He nodded, meeting my gaze, not needing clarification. "You'd do the same for me, and have on many occasions."

I smiled. "I have, haven't I?"

"You saving my life was the beginning of our entire relationship. Why stop now?"

"Point." I snuggled close to him, feeling myself drifting off to sleep.

His hand gently stroked my back. "Night, Mara."

"Night, Luke."

.

. . . . .

.

Somebody get me a barf bag, stat! - MTH