Chapter 37

After his toast, Han sat down as if he hadn't said a thing.

"Let's eat." He had said, ending the toast.

Myra was sending a questioning, almost scathing look in Ben's direction, while the youth was trying to play it off calmly. The young woman restrained herself though, as if holding off the chewing out her fiancé was sure to receive for later.

His son, he decided, was a dead man.

Despite all this, Myra handled the rest of the evening with aplomb in the light of Han's insinuation. She graciously thanked Leia for having her over and commented on the food.

It was Corellian.

"It's from that café a few streets down right, Luke?" Leia directed the inquiry to her brother.

"Right."

The place Luke had ordered the food from was a Corellian restaurant Han favored. The meal was also significant because Myra herself was a Corellian; a fact that Han was over the moon about.

So, needless to say, it was very significant to Myra herself.

Han began serving himself. "Nothing better than some good spicy food, right, Myra?"

She smiled. "Absolutely," She looked it over with a pleased look. "The looks wonderful, I always enjoy some good Corellian food." Myra started to pick up her fork, but then seemed to think better of it and placed it down.

Luke caught the look in her eyes; determination clear.

"But..."

His sister's mouth formed an O, and he saw his son's muscles seize as if waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"But, before we eat, I'd like to thank you, for including me in this. For making me feel a part of your family, I love mine and I'd love to be a part of yours." Tears barely glistened in her eyes. "That's part of the reason Ben and I have gathered you here today…" She looked to her fiancé and he reached over to squeeze her hand.

Ben smiled, looking deep into her eyes for a moment, returning the squeeze before turning his attention back to the others.

"Myra and I are getting married." He announced, pride in his voice.

Luke simply smiled, noting the light that entered his son's eyes. He had no doubt the boy loved his fiancée, but now he saw the happiness, vivid in his clear blue eyes.

There were whoops of joy and pleased gasps.

Most of the party was already privy to the secret, and Han had obviously suspected the same, but still they did their best to disguise this. He could tell though that their excitement was genuine; to actually hear the news first hand from Ben's own lips.

Leia and Han simultaneously let out their joy at the news.

"This is so wonderful." Leia exclaimed, tears springing to her eyes.

She got up to embrace Myra then Ben.

"I knew it!" Han crowed

Myra looked up startled.

"That obvious, huh, Uncle Han?" Ben was positively grinning from ear tear.

"I had a feeling." He said smugly, "Luke rarely calls a dinner, it's usually your aunt that does it." He shook his glass at them, sloshing liquor onto the table.

"Han!"

"Don't worry, sweetheart, it'll come out." He gave a devilish grin. "Besides, we've got more important things to do."

Ben lifted his brow.

"Like drink to this." Han informed as he picked up a decanter of whiskey and generously began to pour his nephew a tumbler full. "Bottoms up, Junior. We're going to have a true toast."

Han refilled his glass and lifted it once more.

"I couldn't agree more."

Everyone turned to Luke to see him rising from his seat, a contented looking spreading across his face, reach all the way to his eyes. He crossed over to Ben and wrapped him in his arms, hugging him tight. His only child had become a man, but now he was about to become a husband. He sniffled, trying to stop the flow of tears that threatened to fall.

"Dad…" Ben ventured, "You all right?"

Luke released Ben, blinking away the tears.

"Yes, I'm just so proud of you…and I've always been."

He touched the Ben's hair briefly and in his mind he could see the freckled-face red-headed boy standing on the bridge of the Jade Shadow. He was grinning mischievously, revealing that he'd cleverly duped his "dumb" Nanny droid.

Ben cocked his head.

"What's that look for?" He asked.

"Oh, just reminiscing…" He patted his son on the shoulder then went to embrace his daughter-in-law. "Welcome to our family, Myra, but know this…you always were."

Now it was Myra's turn to start crying.

"Thank you." She sniffed.

He nodded warmly, before releasing her.

The three remaining members took turns embracing the coupe and wishing them the best, then took their seats once more.

Ben leaned over and gently wiped his fiancée's tears away with his fingers. It was such a gentle act.

Han cleared his throat, signifying Luke wasn't the only one who had noticed.

Jaina grinned.

"Let's eat and get toasted shall we?" She announced merrily.

Jag gave a startled look in his wife's direction, but Jaina was clearly oblivious in light of the moment. Luke couldn't help but chuckle, the girl was so much like her father it was scary.

As everyone settled down to eating and drinking, he swept his gaze over his family. The joy and love was palpable in the air and in the Force as well. So much so it overwhelmed him and made his heart swell.

His life couldn't have been more perfect then it was at this moment.

A sudden feeling niggled at the back of his brain.

Well, maybe…there was something more, he concluded.

Something that would make it more complete.

The dinner concluded three hours later-being extended by conversation, desert, and then caf in the living room. Ben and Myra took their leave first, hugging and kissing everyone, while his sister wrung a promise out of Myra to get together to discuss wedding details.

"Absolutely." Myra said graciously.

Luke could see the ideas turning over in his sister's brain like cogs. If there was one thing, Leia took pleasure in was wedding planning. And she was an expert at expediently putting one together. When Myra informed her of the desired date, Leia's eyes lit up.

"I think we can pull that off," She said with a wink. "Call me tomorrow; you have our number."

"I will," Myra promised then turned to her husband-to-be. "The dinner was great," She added, then disappeared out the door with Ben in tow.

His sister beamed with pleasure.

"Look like you have your work cut out for you." He commented, lingering in the foyer.

"Yes, it'll be a tight, but I think I can do it."

Luke leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

"OF that I have no doubt, you did have a lot to do with our wedding."

"Only until Threepio took over." She reminded him dryly.

"Still." He stepped back, "You did a marvelous job, Mara and I would have been a wreck without your expertise."

She rolled her eyes at his clear exaggeration.

Leia patted his arm. "Well, there won't be any terrorists this time, so that'll make my job a bit easier..." She jested.

Luke let out a light-hearted laugh; his sister did always know how to make him laugh—and now there was no better time to do so.

Luke had bid his sister and Han goodnight then took his leave as well. He stepped out into the night, feeling the cool air against his face, and stood there for a moment. He was still smiling and his heart retained the light feeling it had early in the evening. He looked back up at the building where his sister lived before stepping onto the pedwalk, starting for home.

He had taken a skycab there, but decided to take advantage of the beautiful night. As he walked, he couldn't help but think of good things that had come to be; all the wonderful, new moments in life. He thought about all the people in his life who brought him great joy; his sister, his brother-in-law, Jaina, Jag and little Jett. He thought of his son and his new bride-to-be and the future that awaited them.

He stopped, his beloved Mara coming to mind, and he wished she could be with him now to share in his joy. He felt wordless caress as a particularly strong gust blew and reflexively squeezed his eyes shut. The wind whistled in his ears and tingling feeling raced up his spine.

Open your eyes.

His eyes opened at this, lashes fluttering, and Luke noticed the wind had died down considerably. He looked around searching for what he knew not.

Then there, off in the distance, a figured lingered. Female. She had long hair that was brilliantly reflected under the moon light and was dressed in a volumous coat that did poor job at hiding her figure. A hint of familiarity coursed through him as the sweet scent of blossoms wafted along the breeze.

His face softened, and his eyes lit warmly.

"Melinda…" He breathed.

"Hello, Luke." She said softly.

He stared openly at her, his head spinning, his blood humming loudly.

"I… wanted to see you."