A Thread of Gold – Part 7

Disclaimer - The characters in this story are owned by Lucasfilm. I'm only borrowing them for my amusement and hopefully yours. My thanks to JT, Angela and Mona for suggestions and help. This story is for Sheyla as she once told me she liked it.

Ash

Solo Apartment

"I'm sorry, Leia. I fell asleep and forgot the time." Luke held his hands out apologetically, his blue eyes earnest. Leia could no more be angry with him than shoot an ewok cub. Strangely, despite his apologetic air there was an unexpected air of satisfaction about his sense. There was this impression of the supreme male animal at work. A bizarre thought to be having when faced with Luke. Han - yes. Both husband and brother had healthy male egos but they manifested themselves in different ways.

"We were so worried Luke," Leia said quietly. "How could you be so thoughtless? You've been really ill. Suppose you'd had a relapse?"

He had the grace to look discomfited and Leia nearly succumbed to the helpless little boy expression which lurked in his demeanour. "Aw, Leia don't fuss," he whined with practised ease, but she was the mother of three lively Force strong children and had learned over the years.

Leia sighed and stared at him sternly. She almost caught the twinkle and Luke knew he'd been rumbled. "I'm sorry."

"The whine was a little over the top, brother dear," Leia raised a mocking eyebrow, unable to be really angry now that she knew he was safe. "You're not sorry in the least. Now why don't you tell me what you were really doing or I'll have you back in that medicentre quicker than you can say Obi Wan Kenobi."

Luke grimaced inwardly. She would do it too. He shrugged his shoulders resigned to his fate. "I went to see Mara last night"

Leia's head shot up in complete shock. "You went where?" Then she remembered, Mara had said he'd called. Still, she was picking up a peculiar feeling from her brother's sense in the Force.

"I went to Mara's apartment very late last night." He held his sister's deep brown eyes and continued steadily. "I had to see her. You know that." He took a deep breath and confessed. "I went to Mara's… and I stayed."

Leia opened and shut her mouth without a sound coming out.

Luke waited.

Eventually Leia managed to stutter. "You… you stayed?"

"Mm hmm."

"All night?"

"All night."

"Were you still there this morning?" Her mind flashed to the naked figure in the bed. "You were still there this morning." With a bit more information, Leia was able to see now that it had been her brother after all in Mara Jade's bed. "Why did she lie?"

"Mara?"

"Yes - why did she lie? She knew I was frantic with worry about you."

"She was…. er… in a state of shock and didn't want to admit to you or herself, at that point,  what we'd been doing. You… er… woke us up. She didn't actually lie to you."

"Doing? What were you doing at Mara Jade's apartment all of last night?" Leia exclaimed, then blushed scarlet with mortification as she realised what she'd said. "You just stayed over… slept on the sofa?"

"Leia…" Luke drawled in a passable imitation of her husband.

"No, I suppose you didn't stay on the sofa." Luke's air of male satisfaction became all too clear. Leia twiddled anxiously with one of her coiled braids. "No actually, I suppose she didn't lie. She just looked at things from a certain point of view."

"I've heard that before and it's a reasonable assessment of the situation."

"So how do you feel about her and don't act like a Hutt, brother mine?"

Luke opened his eyes wide portraying a picture of innocence. "Who me?"

"Yes you. I want to know? You slept with her and for you to go that far usually means something serious."

"I like her… a lot, but I'm not exactly sure how she feels about me."

"I can only repeat that you've slept with her and add one small but not unimportant fact, brother dear. You're still alive. That must count for something." Leia arose from behind her desk and came to stand directly in front of Luke. "She's coming round for dinner tonight, Luke. I think you need to make a better impression." She eyed his shabby black Jedi uniform critically. "I've sent Han to get you some new clothes."

"I'm not wearing anything Han picks out for me. I'll end up looking like a multicoloured…." He projected the perfect picture of outrage. "What's wrong with my clothes?"

"Do you want me to give you a list?" Leia arched a perfectly groomed eyebrow. "He's been given strict orders on what to get. If he mixes things up he's on the couch for the next month and he's getting too old to sleep on our sofa."

"You're a heartless woman."

"No - I'm a determined one."

She pushed him back onto the offending sofa on which Han did occasionally spend the night if Leia was ticked off at him about something. "Look at you - you're a mess. When was the last time you bought anything new? Don't answer that. It was for my wedding and I went with you to make sure you picked it out." She paced backwards and forwards in front of a bemused Luke. "We have to make you presentable."

"Now, Leia, I'm fine as I am… "

"Not if you're courting Mara Jade."

"I'm not courting Mara, besides if I were… Perish the thought. She knows what I'm like. Mara would never expect me…"

Leia laughed. "Won't work. That tunic and pants have seen their last. Get used to it." She tapped her chin and grinned triumphantly. "I know just the place."

"But I thought you'd sent Han?"

"Send Han! You must be joking? You'd end up looking like a bazaar merchant from the shores of Hesperedis VI. I'm coming with you myself."

"You were setting me up with Mara before you knew that we… that I…. that we'd spent…"

"Quality time together? Yes."

Luke's mouth dropped open. His sister had stitched him up neatly.

"And you could do with a haircut."

"Aw, Leia."

*************************************

Mara activated the door com to the Solo's apartment. The security in this part of the palace had been tightened recently but Mara had been waved through with an ease and speed that was frightening. She stood tensely waiting to be admitted to the Solo residence and something coiled in her stomach. The corridor was wide but unpretentious. Palpatine hadn't got around to tarting up this part of it. The marble on the floor and the tiled walls were plain and dignified. There was no indication that anyone important lived on this level. Well there were the enhanced security checks and this was the Imperial palace. Not just anyone was gifted a residence here. The door slid aside.

"Good evening, Mistress Mara." Threepio stood waiting, his golden head cocked at an enquiring angle. "They are waiting for you in the lounge. Do come this way. I trust you are well?"

"Yes, Threepio."

"Most pleasant to hear that, Mistress Mara."

"And yourself."

"Never better thank the maker. I had a complete overhaul and lubrication bath just the other day why…."

"Can I come in?"

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry Mistress Mara."

"It's fine," she murmured placatingly. "Honestly, it's fine." Mara relaxed fractionally as the droids prattle put her at ease.

"This way." He shuffled down the corridor.

"Tell me Threepio," she said quietly, falling into step with the droid. "Is Luke here?" She couldn't sense him.

"Master Luke?"

Mara nodded. "Yes - Master Luke."

"He's resting. Mistress Leia helped him into a healing trance. He's still not in control of his circuits, if you get my meaning?"

"Oh, I do."

"Mistress Mara?"

"Yes."

"General Solo told Artoo and I that it was you who helped awaken our Master. We are both grateful."

For some reason the precisely worded thanks from the golden droid touched her in a way that was unexpected. Luke had more people caring about him than he believed. Mara knew he thought of Artoo and Threepio as people not droids.

"In here," Threepio extended his arm and showed Mara into the lounge.

"Oh but…"

"Mistress Leia said you had come for dinner."

"Well…" She flushed a little. It was true she had dressed up but not for a dinner at home with an Alderaani princess and her husband. She'd dressed up to affect the pulse of a Tatooine farmboy.

"Can I take your outer apparel?"

"Oh no, thank you." Mara clutched at her forest green cloak. Something was up. Her Force sense was twitchy.

"Mara!" Leia glided into the room her brown eyes a little guarded. "So good you could come. I did say dinner, didn't I?"

"Did you? Yes, you did."

"You haven't eaten? Good - Han's been slaving away all afternoon. He likes to cook and thankfully it is edible."

"I came to talk about the contracts and licences for Farion."

"That's all been dealt with. I sent the required data permits to your ship just after I spoke with you this morning."

Mara couldn't help it, she felt her face warm. What had she looked like this morning?

"Mara!" Leia asked softly. "Credit for your thoughts?"

"Wha…what?"

Leia smiled. One was as bad as the other. "I'll take your cloak."

"No!"

"You'll be far too warm." And reached up to deftly untie the clasp holding the cloak closed. Mara continued to clutch at it as if it were her lifeline. But Leia Organa Solo had defeated others as powerful with a determined smile and a firm look in her dark eyes.

Leia gaped for a second, then grinned, tonight might prove to be interesting. Mara looked superb in a casual, deadly kind of way, dressed from head to foot in a close fitting suit of black leather. The black contrasted with creamy skin, fiery hair and the amazing green eyes. Round her neck was a choker necklace of Bnach emeralds. The pagan contrast between the leather and the jewels wasn't lost on Leia. Nor on the two men who entered from the dining room. Han went red then winked at his wife and Luke…. Luke stood like a man turned to stone. His face white, his blue eyes glittering as he stared as if hypnotised. Leia held her breath, her doubts disappearing faster than a Jawa caught in a Tusken village.

Mara became aware of Luke's Force presence when he stopped cloaking himself. The lights had come on, the sun had come out and all the birds on Ithor had started to sing. That's what she felt when Luke's presence became visible to her through the Force. This was going to be more difficult than she had thought. Maybe she didn't want to assert her independence quite so strongly after all.

Luke… Mara blinked. He stood awkwardly, his eyes boring into hers, his face still pale. He'd had a decent haircut and was formally dressed into a dark blue suit. The tunic fitted him perfectly. There was a hint of his Jedi tunic about the styling, but the cut could only have come from a top Coruscant designer. Even the intricate subtle golden embroidery, a mere glittering of colour along the edge of the tunic bespoke quality.

"You look…" he said and spread his hands.

"It's functional," she muttered embarrassed, knowing she'd given herself away to Leia and Han. Luke, the mynock already knew.

'It's more than functional. It's… sensational. But she looked better out of it.' "I like your hair like that."

Mara self-consciously patted the tumbled curls. "I was in a hurry. You look smart." 'Force knows he looked good. In fact he looked good enough that her fingers were itching to get him out of it. This wasn't good. She'd never been like this before.'

"Leia decided I needed some new clothes."

"Leia decided?" Mara echoed.

"I've never been one for clothes."

It was funny, Han mused listening to the stilted conversation. These two were eating each other with their eyes, but what was coming out of their mouths made them sound like barely tolerated acquaintances. He moved closer to his wife and pulled her the general direction of the kitchen. "We'll just check on dinner. Luke get Mara a drink," and he towed his grinning spouse from the room.

"You're a wicked woman." Han enfolded her in his arms and kissed her on her cheek. Leia laughed up at him.

"If I'd any doubts I think they've gone flying out into hyperspace."

"How long did it take for you to get him into a new suit?"

"Not long," she replied airily.

"Leia!" Han's voice rose.

"I told him he had a choice. I would choose his clothes with him there so he could say no. Or you would choose them without him being there." She shrugged. "Easy - he capitulated at once."

"And the haircut?"

"Took him into the place I go. Very private and left him with Jaal. I'd already contacted Jaal. He's very persuasive. By the time I'd picked out his clothes his hair was cut. With Luke you prepare the ground first and then steamroller him into it. When he's had enough he will let you know and that will be it. But he's not been well so I don't think the Skywalker willpower was at its full, bantha-headed best."

"I knew I married you for a reason." His mouth descended and he kissed her hard. "Now we'd better serve dinner. I hope they're not still standing where we left them."

They were - exactly where Leia and Han had left them.

"It's a while since I've seen that outfit." Luke gestured to the clinging leather suit she wore.

"It's practical."

"I'm sure it is. You were wearing that the first time I saw you."

"You were in an orange flight suit. I suppose it isn't the thing to wear to dinner in the Organa Solo household."

"If I did my sister would accept it. She wanted me to make a good impression."

"On me?" Her face hardened as comprehension chased its way across her features. "You told her we slept together."

Luke shrugged. "Didn't have to say too much, she knows me well. So yes, I admitted it and she actually saw me on the holo when she spoke to you this morning. Well, a glimpse of my naked chest. She thinks I ought to tidy myself up a bit - hence the suit. I did need a new one, but I wasn't planning on refurbishing my wardrobe just yet. However Leia was most persuasive."

"She threatened to send Han to choose your clothes." Mara murmured amused.

"How did you…"

"It's not black."

"You don't need to sound so surprised."

"It's still not colourful."

"Mara I don't want to look like a bazaar merchant from the shores of Hesperides VI."

"I suppose…. Just once I'd like to see you with something as blue as your eyes."

Mara blushed in horror and then noted that Luke had done the same. He stared at the floor, his blond head glinting in the lamplight.

"You feeling better?"

Luke lifted his head, the colour receding into normality. "Depends…"

"On what?"

"I'm having trouble sleeping. I keep having these dreams…"

"Well dinner shouldn't be long now." Han barged into the lounge, his voice overloud and over hearty. The two Jedi stood exactly where they'd been, but Mara had this expression on her face. One that spelt trouble for a certain Jedi Master.

Luke swallowed; he was feeling rather ill at ease. He'd returned from Mara's apartment feeling distinctly out of sorts. He hadn't wanted to leave her. Being ushered around design studios for clothes tired him out completely and several hours in a healing trance hadn't helped much. But he didn't want Leia to worry any more about him; she'd gone through more than enough on his behalf.

Dinner was strained with both Luke and Mara saying little and avoiding the other's gaze. This went on for the first two courses until Leia reached her limit of patience.

"Okay. Enough of this."

"Enough of what, Leia?" Luke enquired, but his face had reddened again.

"I'm a diplomat, but I'm past diplomacy here."

Han frowned. "Sweetheart…"

"Can the pair of you stop avoiding each other, making excuses and convincing every one but yourselves that it's your destiny to be together?" She faced her brother. "Luke - Mara was the first person you asked for when you recovered consciousness. Not me, nor Han or the children. It was Mara you wanted."

Leia fixed her attention to the woman sitting opposite. "Mara, you broke into the top medicentre on Coruscant to try and heal the man you once tried to kill. You've avoided him because you're scared of how he makes you feel. He came to you for help. He can't stay away from you. Nor you from him but you try. There's this tie, this bond between you…" her voice rose as she made her impassioned plea to the couple. "Oh for Sith's sake! Stop denying yourselves a life. Neither of you haven't had it easy. Both lost parents at a young age, both fought for everything you have. You're ideally matched, both caring, intelligent people and strong with the Force. You're both stubborn, idealistic, did I say stubborn? Oh yes and there's stubborn. Mara, I thought you were blessed with common sense we both know Luke has little of that. Luke, you have tolerance and a loving heart. Why…"

Luke and Mara gave each other their first real look of the evening and continued to stare at each other as Leia slammed her wineglass onto the Alderaanian dining table.

There was a stunned silence.

"Why did Luke have one of your hairs sewn into the suit he's wearing tonight?"

"Leia!"

"What!"

Luke and Mara exclaimed in unison.

Mara was out of her seat and around, dragging Luke from his. "Where?" She gritted.

Luke pointed to a detail on his collar. The tunic had a thread of gold embroidered faintly at the neck edge.

Mara looked up and saw in Luke's eyes something she recognised just as she became aware of his arms snapping shut around her and his mouth capturing her lips. He held her tightly against him, his hands digging into her, deepening the kiss. They were no longer Jedi, they were man and woman communicating on the most basic level of all.

Han coughed loudly. "Excuse me, kids. Did you plan on having an audience?"

Luke and Mara broke apart both with the stunned expressions of Philokian Fire Moths hitting the centre of the Coruscant laser lights show.

Mara's mouth, with the ripe look of being kissed dropped open in horror and she ripped herself from Luke's embrace and sprinted for the door.

"Mara!"

Luke gave Han a despairing look before giving chase on suddenly wobbly legs.

"Leaving already, Mistress Jade?" Threepio stood at the door his bemused expression augmented by the way his head swung between the empty doorway and the Solos standing helplessly in front of the entrance to the lounge.

"Mara! Wait!" Luke could feel his heart pounding in his ears. He tried to concentrate on getting his body to co-operate fully. But it wouldn't obey his commands, he felt stiff and sluggish. He leant against the wall dizzily for a second before moving on. It was imperative he got to Mara before she did something stupid like blasting off Coruscant. He couldn't let her leave yet.