1 Family of the Light: Chapter Fourteen
2 By Jayde Star
After lunch everyone had places to go so one by one they left the Skywalker apartment. Jayde and David were one of the last to leave, but before they did, Luke said "David, can I talk to you for a moment? That is, if you don't have somewhere you have to be."
Both Jayde and David looked worried, especially David, but he just shrugged and said "I don't have to be anywhere for a day or so. Sure, what's up?"
"I just want to talk." Luke replied and led David into another room so they could talk in private.
Jayde turned round to Mara, "Mum! What does dad want to talk to David about?"
Mara gave her daughter a half smile, "Don't worry, he won't hurt Dave."
Jayde raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, he won't kill him at least." Mara conceded. "He only wants to talk to him. He just wants to be sure in his mind that Dave doesn't consider you just another one of his bimbos."
"Of course he doesn't, mum. He loves me."
Mara sighed, her youngest child had both hers and Luke stubbornness. Combined. She had also picked up Luke's patience, but when she got angry she had Mara's temper and Mara really didn't feel like arguing with her about this, but it looked as though she didn't have a choice. "Jay, honey, I don't want to argue about this. You only split up with Steve less than two days ago, you need time to heal from that."
"I don't need to heal, I didn't love him. I was hurt by what he said, but I'm not upset by us not being together any more. Besides, Dave and I plan to take things slowly." Jayde didn't want to argue either, but she was sick of people thinking that she didn't know what she was doing.
"If you didn't love Steve, then why did you stay with him for a year?"
Jayde shrugged. "I don't really know. I never really planned to go out with him for more than the one date. But he kept asking me out and I never really had a reason to say no. I mean, I thought he was a nice guy, he treated me well and I wasn't seeing or interested in anyone else. After a few dates everyone thought we were a couple and it was easier to just go along with it." Jayde shrugged again. "I know it was stupid, mum, but it just didn't seem to matter."
Mara was surprised by this revelation. In a family full of Jedi, how had Jayde been able to hide her feelings from them so well? The older Jayde got the more she seemed to surprise Mara. "Why didn't it seem to matter?"
Jayde didn't answer that at first, she just looked at her feet. Mara cupped her face and made Jayde look at her, looking her in the eye and just waited for Jayde to speak. "I didn't think I deserved anything better." Jayde admitted quietly after a minute or so, tears evident in her eyes.
Mara was extremely upset to hear her daughter say this. "Why?"
Jayde only shrugged once more. "Cos."
"You don't still blame yourself for losing the baby do you?" Mara asked, already knowing the answer but hoping she was wrong.
"I guess. Dave and I talked a little bit about it last night. I'm going to try and stop blaming myself, but it's going to be hard after so long but I'm going to try. With Dave's help." Jayde looked at her mother defiantly, almost daring her to contradict her about David.
"Do you think you love him?" Mara asked softly.
"No, I don't think I love him." Jayde said immediately, Mara looked surprised. "I know I love him. I always have, didn't you ever see that?"
"Of course I did, at first I just thought it was a crush. I didn't want to accept the fact that you were growing up. Don't worry; no matter how much your father tries to scare Dave, we won't try to stop you from seeing him. In fact, as long as you're truly happy we'll be happy. We both love you and your brothers and sister very much, we want all of you to be happy."
"Oh mum." The tears in Jayde's eyes finally spilled over and Mara hugged her tight.
They stayed like that for a few minutes, neither of them speaking, until Jayde finally said, "What do you think is happening between dad and Dave?"
"I don't know, but I can't hear anything being broken, so that must be a good sign."
Jayde laughed.
* * * * *
Mara couldn't hear anything being broken, because nothing was. Luke had led David into another room and as soon as they were in private Luke had said to David, "Well?"
David wasn't quite sure what he was expected to say, so he said, "Well what, sir?"
"Well, what is going on between you and my daughter?"
David hesitated, before deciding the truth was the best way to go. "We are seeing how things go."
Luke looked at him for a moment. "And what, exactly, does that mean?"
David sighed, he had a feeling this could take a while. "It means we are dating, but we are taking things slowly, not forcing anything. Just letting things happen naturally. If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out and we'll will accept that."
"And how would you like things to work out?" Luke crossed his arms over his chest.
"I would like us to stay together. I thought that was obvious. If you're trying to ask me what my intentions are towards Jay, then that's easily answered."
Luke raised an eyebrow. "Okay then, what are your intentions towards my daughter?"
"I intend to marry her one day. To make her happy always, to give her anything and everything she could possibly want and to love her eternally." David didn't break eye contact with Luke, "Is that good enough?"
Luke held David's gaze for a moment or so, then sighed. He sat down in a chair. "It's not that I don't think you're good enough for my daughter. Understand that Dave. I think you're a good kid; it's just that you've never seemed to want to settle down and I'd prefer to not have you treat my daughter like one of your usual girlfriends. Then there's also the fact that I noticed what was happening between you when she was fifteen. At the time the age difference was too much and I didn't want her to get involved in something she couldn't handle. Then there was everything that happened when she was seventeen."
David looked down at the ground, "Yeah I know, I'm not proud of what happen then, but I don't think I would change it even if I was given the chance. If I did it might mean that I wouldn't be with her today. Believe me when I say that I love her. I would do anything for her." David looked back up at Luke, hoping he wasn't going to do anything to stop them from being together.
Luke sighed again, "She's 21, she's an adult. There is nothing I could do to stop the two of you being together, not that I would. I want to see Jayde happy just as much as you do, and I can see that that's how you make her feel. It's just hard to accept the fact that any of my children are grown up, let alone my youngest. It's even harder to let them make their own decisions about things." Luke grinned, "Just don't even think of hurting her, otherwise I think you'll have a line up of people willing to hurt you right back. Consider this your first and final warning."
David grinned back. "I will definitely take that to heart. And, sir, thank you."
"And one more thing, stop calling me sir and start calling me Luke."
"Yes..' David hesitated, "Luke."
"Now, I'm guessing your dad doesn't know about that stunt you and Jayde pulled earlier. I'm also guessing he's heard about the news cast from someone, so maybe you should call him and let him know what's going on. I leave you to talk to him alone." With that Luke left the room and went back to Jayde and Mara.
* * * * *
Jayde and Mara were sitting at the dining table when Luke entered the room.
"Dad," Jayde said, "Where's David? You haven't killed him have you?"
Luke laughed, "Of course not, he's just letting Wedge know about that little joke you played earlier."
Jayde's eyes widened, "Oh no. We forgot to tell him. I bet he's going to be mad."
"Probably at first, but he'll get over it soon enough. And if he doesn't, then I'll talk to him." Luke assured her.
'Now, you said you wanted to tell me something." Mara joined in the conversation.
"Um, yeah." Jayde looked uncomfortable. "Karrde asked Dave to do a job in two days time. I said I wanted to go with him. It's okay only if I tell you. Note, that is 'tell' you not get your approval."
"Don't you want to be here when Cassie has the baby?" Mara asked surprised. "And what about the job Leia wanted you to do?"
"I'll make sure I'm back in plenty of time for that. And as for being here for the birth, I'd rather not." Jayde looked even more uncomfortable.
"I understand." Mara said after a moment, she then pulled Jayde in for a hug. "Go, have fun."
"But not too much." Luke added. "And be careful, last time you and David went anywhere we had to rescue you, I'd rather not have to do that again."
"Neither would I." Jayde agreed solemnly. "I'd better go see how Dave is getting on with his dad. And then we'd better get going because I have to pack."
"We'll see you before you go though, won't we?" Mara asked.
"Of course." Then Jayde went to find David.
Luke put his arms around Mara's waist, hugging her gently. "Our kids are all grown up." He said quietly.
"I know." Mara replied just as quietly. "Only Padmae isn't with anyone and I'm sure she will be sooner or later."
"Then we'll be surrounded with grandchildren." Luke smiled wistfully.
"Do you think you can handle that? I mean, you're not getting any younger. In fact, you're down right old." Mara fought to keep a straight face.
"If I'm old, then what does that make you?"
"Mature." And before Luke could reply, Mara kissed him and totally took his mind off of what they had been saying.
tbc
Lots of reviews people. I'm almost beginning to think that you're all losing interest. I hope you're not. And, yes I did like AOTC, I liked the purple lightsaber. Though I have to admit, Anakin didn't seem too bothered to be missing an arm, that just can't be normal. Can it? Anyway I definitely think I'll write another story after this one about Padmae.
2 By Jayde Star
After lunch everyone had places to go so one by one they left the Skywalker apartment. Jayde and David were one of the last to leave, but before they did, Luke said "David, can I talk to you for a moment? That is, if you don't have somewhere you have to be."
Both Jayde and David looked worried, especially David, but he just shrugged and said "I don't have to be anywhere for a day or so. Sure, what's up?"
"I just want to talk." Luke replied and led David into another room so they could talk in private.
Jayde turned round to Mara, "Mum! What does dad want to talk to David about?"
Mara gave her daughter a half smile, "Don't worry, he won't hurt Dave."
Jayde raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, he won't kill him at least." Mara conceded. "He only wants to talk to him. He just wants to be sure in his mind that Dave doesn't consider you just another one of his bimbos."
"Of course he doesn't, mum. He loves me."
Mara sighed, her youngest child had both hers and Luke stubbornness. Combined. She had also picked up Luke's patience, but when she got angry she had Mara's temper and Mara really didn't feel like arguing with her about this, but it looked as though she didn't have a choice. "Jay, honey, I don't want to argue about this. You only split up with Steve less than two days ago, you need time to heal from that."
"I don't need to heal, I didn't love him. I was hurt by what he said, but I'm not upset by us not being together any more. Besides, Dave and I plan to take things slowly." Jayde didn't want to argue either, but she was sick of people thinking that she didn't know what she was doing.
"If you didn't love Steve, then why did you stay with him for a year?"
Jayde shrugged. "I don't really know. I never really planned to go out with him for more than the one date. But he kept asking me out and I never really had a reason to say no. I mean, I thought he was a nice guy, he treated me well and I wasn't seeing or interested in anyone else. After a few dates everyone thought we were a couple and it was easier to just go along with it." Jayde shrugged again. "I know it was stupid, mum, but it just didn't seem to matter."
Mara was surprised by this revelation. In a family full of Jedi, how had Jayde been able to hide her feelings from them so well? The older Jayde got the more she seemed to surprise Mara. "Why didn't it seem to matter?"
Jayde didn't answer that at first, she just looked at her feet. Mara cupped her face and made Jayde look at her, looking her in the eye and just waited for Jayde to speak. "I didn't think I deserved anything better." Jayde admitted quietly after a minute or so, tears evident in her eyes.
Mara was extremely upset to hear her daughter say this. "Why?"
Jayde only shrugged once more. "Cos."
"You don't still blame yourself for losing the baby do you?" Mara asked, already knowing the answer but hoping she was wrong.
"I guess. Dave and I talked a little bit about it last night. I'm going to try and stop blaming myself, but it's going to be hard after so long but I'm going to try. With Dave's help." Jayde looked at her mother defiantly, almost daring her to contradict her about David.
"Do you think you love him?" Mara asked softly.
"No, I don't think I love him." Jayde said immediately, Mara looked surprised. "I know I love him. I always have, didn't you ever see that?"
"Of course I did, at first I just thought it was a crush. I didn't want to accept the fact that you were growing up. Don't worry; no matter how much your father tries to scare Dave, we won't try to stop you from seeing him. In fact, as long as you're truly happy we'll be happy. We both love you and your brothers and sister very much, we want all of you to be happy."
"Oh mum." The tears in Jayde's eyes finally spilled over and Mara hugged her tight.
They stayed like that for a few minutes, neither of them speaking, until Jayde finally said, "What do you think is happening between dad and Dave?"
"I don't know, but I can't hear anything being broken, so that must be a good sign."
Jayde laughed.
* * * * *
Mara couldn't hear anything being broken, because nothing was. Luke had led David into another room and as soon as they were in private Luke had said to David, "Well?"
David wasn't quite sure what he was expected to say, so he said, "Well what, sir?"
"Well, what is going on between you and my daughter?"
David hesitated, before deciding the truth was the best way to go. "We are seeing how things go."
Luke looked at him for a moment. "And what, exactly, does that mean?"
David sighed, he had a feeling this could take a while. "It means we are dating, but we are taking things slowly, not forcing anything. Just letting things happen naturally. If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out and we'll will accept that."
"And how would you like things to work out?" Luke crossed his arms over his chest.
"I would like us to stay together. I thought that was obvious. If you're trying to ask me what my intentions are towards Jay, then that's easily answered."
Luke raised an eyebrow. "Okay then, what are your intentions towards my daughter?"
"I intend to marry her one day. To make her happy always, to give her anything and everything she could possibly want and to love her eternally." David didn't break eye contact with Luke, "Is that good enough?"
Luke held David's gaze for a moment or so, then sighed. He sat down in a chair. "It's not that I don't think you're good enough for my daughter. Understand that Dave. I think you're a good kid; it's just that you've never seemed to want to settle down and I'd prefer to not have you treat my daughter like one of your usual girlfriends. Then there's also the fact that I noticed what was happening between you when she was fifteen. At the time the age difference was too much and I didn't want her to get involved in something she couldn't handle. Then there was everything that happened when she was seventeen."
David looked down at the ground, "Yeah I know, I'm not proud of what happen then, but I don't think I would change it even if I was given the chance. If I did it might mean that I wouldn't be with her today. Believe me when I say that I love her. I would do anything for her." David looked back up at Luke, hoping he wasn't going to do anything to stop them from being together.
Luke sighed again, "She's 21, she's an adult. There is nothing I could do to stop the two of you being together, not that I would. I want to see Jayde happy just as much as you do, and I can see that that's how you make her feel. It's just hard to accept the fact that any of my children are grown up, let alone my youngest. It's even harder to let them make their own decisions about things." Luke grinned, "Just don't even think of hurting her, otherwise I think you'll have a line up of people willing to hurt you right back. Consider this your first and final warning."
David grinned back. "I will definitely take that to heart. And, sir, thank you."
"And one more thing, stop calling me sir and start calling me Luke."
"Yes..' David hesitated, "Luke."
"Now, I'm guessing your dad doesn't know about that stunt you and Jayde pulled earlier. I'm also guessing he's heard about the news cast from someone, so maybe you should call him and let him know what's going on. I leave you to talk to him alone." With that Luke left the room and went back to Jayde and Mara.
* * * * *
Jayde and Mara were sitting at the dining table when Luke entered the room.
"Dad," Jayde said, "Where's David? You haven't killed him have you?"
Luke laughed, "Of course not, he's just letting Wedge know about that little joke you played earlier."
Jayde's eyes widened, "Oh no. We forgot to tell him. I bet he's going to be mad."
"Probably at first, but he'll get over it soon enough. And if he doesn't, then I'll talk to him." Luke assured her.
'Now, you said you wanted to tell me something." Mara joined in the conversation.
"Um, yeah." Jayde looked uncomfortable. "Karrde asked Dave to do a job in two days time. I said I wanted to go with him. It's okay only if I tell you. Note, that is 'tell' you not get your approval."
"Don't you want to be here when Cassie has the baby?" Mara asked surprised. "And what about the job Leia wanted you to do?"
"I'll make sure I'm back in plenty of time for that. And as for being here for the birth, I'd rather not." Jayde looked even more uncomfortable.
"I understand." Mara said after a moment, she then pulled Jayde in for a hug. "Go, have fun."
"But not too much." Luke added. "And be careful, last time you and David went anywhere we had to rescue you, I'd rather not have to do that again."
"Neither would I." Jayde agreed solemnly. "I'd better go see how Dave is getting on with his dad. And then we'd better get going because I have to pack."
"We'll see you before you go though, won't we?" Mara asked.
"Of course." Then Jayde went to find David.
Luke put his arms around Mara's waist, hugging her gently. "Our kids are all grown up." He said quietly.
"I know." Mara replied just as quietly. "Only Padmae isn't with anyone and I'm sure she will be sooner or later."
"Then we'll be surrounded with grandchildren." Luke smiled wistfully.
"Do you think you can handle that? I mean, you're not getting any younger. In fact, you're down right old." Mara fought to keep a straight face.
"If I'm old, then what does that make you?"
"Mature." And before Luke could reply, Mara kissed him and totally took his mind off of what they had been saying.
tbc
Lots of reviews people. I'm almost beginning to think that you're all losing interest. I hope you're not. And, yes I did like AOTC, I liked the purple lightsaber. Though I have to admit, Anakin didn't seem too bothered to be missing an arm, that just can't be normal. Can it? Anyway I definitely think I'll write another story after this one about Padmae.