Notes: This alternate universe is basically one where Anakin wasn't an idiot and didn't turn to the dark side. Yay!

Written for a challenge over on the TF.N fanfic boards. Many thanks to Gabri Jade for the inspiration and beta work!

Those Three Words

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"What do you mean, I have to dress up?"

Luke Skywalker looked up from the holofeed he'd been idly perusing as the sound of his twin sister's voice echoed loudly through the house. He grinned a little at Leia's blatant indignation, remembering the understated, yet elegant evening gown she'd been forced to wear about five months ago, on one of the diplomatic missions they'd been assigned to. She hadn't wanted to admit it, but Leia had actually liked that particular dress, even if she insisted that it wasn't at all suited for combat. It was telling that their father had been the one to remind her that not every mission was going to end in a lightsaber duel.

Come to think of it, Luke wasn't sure if any of their missions had ever ended in a lightsaber duel. Huh.

Footsteps rang down the hall, and Luke glanced over his shoulder to see his mother gliding toward him, eyes forward, a small and slightly exasperated smile on her lips as Leia chased after her.

"Mom!" his sister said again, fighting to control her volume. "You didn't say anything about this being a fancy, high society evening. I thought we were going to look at some art?"

His mom caught his eye for a split second, and he arched his eyebrows ever so slightly as she turned back toward Leia.

"It's an exhibition for Silenia Tritas, Naboo's artist laureate," Padmé Skywalker said in a gentle voice that simultaneously – and a bit miraculously, in Luke's opinion - brooked no room for argument. "It's a great honor to have been invited, and we will all dress accordingly."

Leia's mouth snapped shut as she stared back at their mother, her gaze flitting briefly to meet Luke's. He could sense her desperate, unspoken plea for help; but he knew better than to question his mom when it came to fancy social engagements. He followed his dad's lead in that area.

The front door slid open, and Luke had to force himself not to react – outwardly or in the Force – as Mara Jade walked into the foyer.

She was wearing the training uniform typical of Jedi apprentices: loose-fitting pants in a light shade of beige, tucked into dark brown boots, and a sleeveless, cream-colored top that hugged her petite frame. Her wavy, red-gold hair was pulled back in a tight braid, and sweat had plastered several stray locks to her forehead.

Mara looked back and forth between Leia and his mom as she readjusted the bag hanging from her shoulder. "Hey," she said. "Am I interrupting?"

His mom's face lit up as she turned toward Mara. "Of course not, sweetheart. We were just discussing our plans for this evening."

Leia tilted her head forward and raised a hand to rub between her eyes. "If you'd told me ahead of time that this was some exclusive event, I wouldn't have agreed to go."

There was a slightly dangerous undercurrent to the careful tone of his mom's voice. "You think you have a choice in the matter?"

Leia looked up, and her big brown eyes softened as she stepped toward their mother. "Mom," she said calmly, as if she'd suddenly transformed into the most reasonable and diplomatic person in the galaxy. "I know these are your people, but they're not mine."

Luke perked up at that. "Hey!" He twisted around to face his twin. "Don't lump me in with those people. I was only going because you were going!" He noticed Mara watching him out of the corner of his eye, and he tried not to look at her directly.

Leia tilted her head to one side and gave him a look that told him exactly how much of an idiot she thought he was being. "I wasn't even talking about you, Luke. And I'm not going."

"I already paid for the tickets," Mom said, blowing out a weary breath.

"I'll go."

The three Skywalkers turned in unison toward the sound of that quiet voice, and Mara looked back at them, her green eyes suddenly wide.

"If that's okay," she finished.

His mom's presence suddenly radiated an overwhelming warmth as she smiled at Mara. "More than okay, Mara. That would be perfect." She spun around and smiled at Leia. "Looks like you're off the hook."

Leia gave their mother a look he could only classify as suspicious. "You're taking this really well."

Mom shrugged and touched a hand to Leia's cheek. "I figure why fight it? Besides, Mara appreciates a nice evening gown, so I know she won't be griping about wearing one all night."

Luke glanced over at Mara, who was doing her best not to smile as she scooted past the two Skywalker women. "I can wear the green one again," she said. She caught his eye, and this time she did smile, just a little. Without even meaning to, he felt a huge grin light up his face. He ducked his head to keep the others from seeing, mentally chastising himself for being so obvious.

His mom caught Mara by the elbow before she could escape. "Nonsense, sweetheart, I'll have my dressmaker take in one of my gowns. You come with me and pick out whichever you'd like."

Mara couldn't hide the shine of excitement in her eyes, nor could she conceal that happiness in the Force. It radiated from her, much as it had those many months ago when he'd watched her on the dance floor with Master Obi-Wan. She kept so much to herself, he knew, but some things were just too big for her to contain. And when that happened… well, he just really enjoyed being near her when she was that happy.

Mara tried to convince his mom that she was perfectly fine wearing the dress from their previous mission, but the former galactic senator was a hard woman to say no to, and his mom ultimately triumphed. She led Mara away, leaving Luke alone in the living area with his twin.

Leia walked around the edge of the sofa and plopped down next to Luke. "So that worked out pretty well for you, didn't it?"

Luke pretended to watch the holofeed on the wall. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Leia nudged him in the shoulder, then leaned against him, propping her chin up with one hand. "Uh-huh. You know, between the whole twin thing and my training bond with Mara, there's not really much that you two can sneak past me." She tapped a finger against her temple. "You're welcome, by the way."

He laughed and looked over at his sister. "Thanks," he said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. "You're the best."

"I know." Leia gave him a quick peck on the cheek, then bounced to her feet. "I think Uncle Obi-Wan is going to take me with him to Alderaan for the day, so I won't see you until tomorrow or maybe the day after."

"It's Master Obi-Wan," Luke corrected.

Leia huffed indignantly and crossed her arms in front of her. "Maybe to you it is, O serious and dedicated young learner; but to me he's Uncle Obi-Wan, and as long as we're away from the Temple, that's what I'm calling him."

Luke rolled his eyes affectionately. "Say hi to Uncle Bail and Aunt Breha for me. And Winter, too."

Leia swung around and threw him a mock salute. "Will do. Have fun."

Luke settled back into the sofa, the holofeed forgotten, and thanked the Force for twin sisters who hated fancy dresses.

.

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The moment she stepped out of the speeder, Mara Jade realized this art exhibition was a much bigger deal than she'd originally anticipated.

The walkway outside the gallery was jam-packed with people of a variety of species decked out in their finest, waiting to get inside. She'd thought this was going to be a small, private affair for Naboo natives, but it seemed she was wrong. As her eyes swept the crowd, she glimpsed Mon Cals, Zeltrons, Rodians, Kiffar, Twi'leks, and a couple of Chadra-Fan, in addition to the many native humans and Gungans she'd expected to see.

So much for her secret first date. Luke had mentioned wanting to be discreet around his parents, and that was looking less and less likely the more she examined the crowd. She knew Luke's hesitance was more because of his dad than anything else. She'd chided him about trying to imitate his parents' secret courtship, but she knew how protective Master Anakin was of her. Unlike some of the other masters and apprentices, Master Anakin truly seemed to consider her a daughter, as bonded to him as his own flesh and blood. Having never known her real family, she felt the same toward her master, looking on him as a father.

Mara sighed and braced herself for the inevitable jostling of the gathered throng of art enthusiasts.

Then Padmé stepped out of the speeder, and the sea of people parted; and Mara realized – not for the first time – that she had underestimated the reach of the former queen and senator's influence. She also realized, as she listened to the excited murmurs of the crowd, that with Padmé and Master Anakin around, no one was likely to notice the small sixteen-year-old girl shadowing them. With any luck, they also wouldn't notice if she slipped off with the famous couple's only son…

"Oh, Mara," Padmé said with a happy sigh as she turned to her and grasped her hands, "that dress really did turn out perfect on you."

Mara looked down at her dress and smiled. It was a midnight blue gown with a long, full skirt made of soft shimmersilk, overlayed with sheer tulle in the same shade. The bodice was fitted, with detailing in silver and gold that reminded her of a starry night, and a corset back that made the whole thing feel much more daring than her first experience with an evening gown. But the feature she thought she might love the most were the asymmetrical flutter sleeves fashioned from the same gauzy, deep blue tulle that made up the overskirt.

She looked up at Padmé, aware of the color creeping into her cheeks. "Thank you for letting me wear it. It's very beautiful."

Padmé reached out and twirled a finger through one long ringlet of Mara's hair. "A beautiful gown for a beautiful young lady." Somehow, the Skywalker matriarch had convinced her to wear her hair down, and she'd even styled it for her, emphasizing Mara's natural wave with soft, loose curls. It might not be totally practical on a daily basis, but Mara had to admit she sort of loved how it looked.

She felt a gentle nudge through the bond she shared with her master, and she glanced over at the gallery doors where Anakin Skywalker and his son were waiting for them. She responded to Master Anakin's mental greeting with one of her own, smiling a little. Then she finally allowed herself to make eye contact with Luke, and she felt her breath catch.

He was nearly a head shorter than his father, but he still looked every bit as sharp in his slim gray suit. He'd already taken off his jacket and slung it over one shoulder – she could practically hear Padmé scolding him for being so casual in such a formal setting – and she noticed his shirt was a shade of blue that almost perfectly matched the color of his eyes.

Master Anakin strode forward and offered his arm to Padmé. "My lady," he said with a wry, dashing grin. He winked at Mara over his shoulder as they walked on ahead.

Luke stepped over to her side and lifted a hand to play with the sheer, fluttery material of her sleeve. "Fancy," he said.

Mara playfully swatted his hand away, her eyes darting over to her master and his wife. "You act as if you haven't seen your mom wear stuff like this a hundred times."

He shrugged, and his fingers grazed her arm as he released her sleeve. "It's not exactly the same," he said with a grin.

Force help her, but she felt her stomach tangle in knots at the sight of Luke Skywalker's smile. How did he do that to her? And why was it that knowing he had feelings for her made her own reactions more intense? Shouldn't it be the opposite? And what in the worlds had made her think she could do this anywhere near Master Anakin, without giving them both away? She was usually pretty good when it came to controlling her emotions, but Luke had always managed to get under her skin, even before she'd realized she had feelings for him.

"Your hair looks nice," Luke said as they walked through the doors to the gallery.

She shot him a sidelong glance and smirked a little. "Are you going to tell me I should wear it down more often?"

"If you want to." He held out his arm to her, and she took it, allowing him to lead her toward the first display of artwork. "It looks nice any way you wear it."

She thought of how it must have looked earlier today, when she came in from training, all sweaty and bedraggled.

He grinned and leaned closer. "Yep. Even then."

She looked up at him, startled. "How did you…?"

"I know you better than you think, Mara. I could see the snarky comeback sparkling in your eyes."

She tilted her head to one side and raised an eyebrow at him, trying to distract from the sudden heat spreading across her cheeks. "Sparkling?"

There was something almost shy in his expression as he smiled and stopped in front of a large painted landscape, but he said nothing in return.

They wandered the gallery for the next hour, snagging extra hors d'oeuvres and holding back laughter as they studied each piece of art and quietly imitated the often pretentious commentary of the adults around them. Eventually, though, Mara started to grow tired of all the noise and the bright lights illuminating every corner of the gallery.

"Hey," Luke said in a quiet voice as he took her hand in his. "Found something I think you'll like."

She glanced in the direction he'd indicated and realized he was moving toward an open door that led outside. Beyond the door was a small courtyard.

"This way," he said, pulling her gently by the hand.

She looked past him at the courtyard. A stone fountain lay at the center, and the perimeter was lined with hedges nearly twice her height and tall lanterns that cast a golden-orange glow over the entire scene. There were at least half a dozen girls back at the Temple who would definitely swoon if they found themselves in a setting like this.

Mara stopped walking and felt Luke's hand tug against hers as he, too, came to a halt. "I thought you said we should be discreet?" she said, heart suddenly in her throat. It wasn't that she was worried about being alone with him; she'd just never actually been alone with him. Not like this. All the significant glances and furtive handholding over the last couple of weeks had been fun and exciting, but she hadn't really allowed herself to imagine anything else. She wasn't even sure what she was imagining now.

Luke drew closer to her, and she sensed his uncertainty. "We can go back," he said gently. "I just thought… I mean, I know you don't like crowds."

Mara smiled a little to herself, then met his suddenly serious gaze. "I don't," she said, shifting even closer as she looked into his clear blue eyes. "But I thought you were worried about your parents finding out."

She saw a tiny spark of mischief in his eyes as he nodded his head toward the secluded courtyard. "Less chance they'll find out if we go somewhere private."

Mara arched one eyebrow. "Subtlety really isn't your forte, is it, Padawan Skywalker?"

He dipped his head toward hers quickly, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek. "I guess not, Padawan Jade," he murmured.

Her eyelids fluttered for a second as his lips lingered against her skin. She wasn't sure she would ever get used to that feeling, or the warmth that filled her every time they touched.

He pulled back and smiled at her. "What do you say?"

She squeezed his hand. "Lead on."

They found a stone bench on the other side of the fountain, tucked in among the hedges. Mara spread out the skirt of her gown as she sat down, running her hands over the silky, dark blue material. "Your mom really shouldn't have," she said quietly, eyes still on the dress.

"She loves being able to dote on you," Luke said. "And you look beautiful." He reached out to play once more with her sleeve, but this time instead of mischief, she saw something else in his expression. Something she didn't quite recognize but that nevertheless sent a warm shiver through her.

"You're always beautiful," he continued. "No matter what you wear."

Mara inhaled quickly and put on a smirk. "You're so full of flattery tonight."

His fingers left her sleeve and rose to gently trace the line of her jaw. "It's not flattery if I really mean it," he said, and she saw a small smile quirk his mouth.

She shook her head a little at that, even as she leaned into his touch, wondering for the thousandth time how this obnoxiously perfect boy had managed to charm his way into her heart. She didn't have very long to wonder, however, as he took her face in his hands and pressed his lips to hers.

It was only the second time they'd ever kissed like this. The first had been about two weeks ago, when they'd arrived back on Naboo for their holiday. She and Luke had been training near the lake, and when she complained about the summer heat, he'd scooped her up in his arms and begun to carry her toward the water. She'd threatened all manner of bodily harm, in a very undignified manner, and he'd finally stopped before the water could reach her. Just as she was realizing how close they were and how good it felt to be in his arms, he'd kissed her.

This was everything that first kiss had been, and more. Soft and slow and surprisingly sweet. She leaned into him, felt his fingers brush lightly against her neck and through her hair as the kiss deepened. She'd really never given much thought to how this would feel, and she'd always privately rolled her eyes a little at the girls who waxed poetic about romance and dates and love—

Oh no, she thought. That wasn't what this was, was it? She had enough experience with people of various species and cultures to know that emotions were complex and that intense feelings often led to rash judgment. She also knew – she knew – that you couldn't fall in love with someone so quickly, and that if you did, it definitely wasn't real.

Luke pulled back, and she thought he looked a bit dazed. She felt him clearly in that moment, as open and honest as always; and she knew what he was going to say before he opened his mouth.

"Mara," he whispered. "There's something I want to tell you."

She gripped his hand, fingers twining with his. "You shouldn't," she said softly. "Not yet."

Was she imagining the leap of his heart at those words? Not yet. She knew what she'd said. She wasn't ready to hear him say it, and she wasn't ready to reciprocate out loud… but somehow it had become less a matter of if and more a matter of when.

Even if she couldn't say those three words yet, even if she was a little afraid of the enormity of his feelings – and hers – she knew the truth deep down.

Mara inched closer to Luke and leaned her forehead against his, feeling the pure contentment that filled him in that moment. "Soon," she whispered.

She kissed him again, and knew that there would never be anyone else.

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Padmé watched Luke and Mara from inside the gallery, the fragments of conversation behind her fading to white noise. She was so engrossed that she didn't notice the wrap being placed around her shoulders.

She looked up to find Anakin gazing down at her, a knowing and faintly mischievous smile lighting his face. "Did you enjoy the exhibit?" he asked.

Padmé returned the smile and leaned back against his chest. "It was lovely," she said as he wrapped his arms around her. They watched in silence for a moment as Luke leaned over to whisper something in Mara's ear.

"Were we ever really that young?" Padmé asked a bit wistfully.

She felt Anakin's chin rest atop of her head. "Technically, we were younger."

Padmé turned in his arms and smacked him lightly on the shoulder. "Stop it. You know what I meant."

Anakin laughed under his breath, then looked over her head at the kids. "What I want to know is if we were ever that obvious."

"I'm pretty sure we were."

She heard him laugh again; then he bent his head to the side and pressed a soft kiss to her temple. "I love you."

Padmé closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the simple pleasure of hearing her husband murmur those three words. She reached up one hand over her shoulder to stroke his cheek. In the garden, Luke took one of Mara's hands in his.

"Do you think he told her?" Padmé whispered, as if speaking any louder would somehow break the spell that seemed to have fallen over the two teenagers.

"Not yet," Anakin replied, equally quiet. "I don't think she's quite ready for that."

"Are you ready?"

Anakin's arms tightened around her. "Less than I'd thought I would be, and more than I can express."

"Still," Padmé said, "they're just babies, really. Best not to rush them."

They watched for a minute longer, then made their final rounds through the gallery. When it was time to leave, Luke and Mara finally reappeared, and Padmé pretended not to notice the fleeting seconds when their fingers intertwined, or the way they gazed at each other when they thought no one could see. She wouldn't begrudge them their secrets now, not while their feelings were still so new. And even though she couldn't touch the Force to glimpse the path ahead or gain insights into their futures, she knew – in a way that went beyond knowing – that the end of this story was a good one.

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Fin