X I have decided to lower the rating of this story to R since there's nothing too graphic in the story.
CHAPTER SIX
It had been two weeks since Han's surprise visit, and so far he had kept the secret rather well. Leia had no clue that her brother had started a secret affair with one of the Galaxy's most wanted. It was three weeks after the visit when she started to suspect. Luke hadn't been in touch and she was unable to reach him through the force except for that morning. She had requested permission to visit with her twin, but he had hastily refused it. He said there was too much to do and would have little time to spend with his sister's family. She was disappointed and a bit baffled. Luke had never told her not to come before, no matter how busy the academy was. What was so different about now? The matter still bothered her that evening as her and Han went to bed.
"Night," Han kissed her, wrapping an arm around her tense frame.
"Han…what's with Luke? He's been so distant lately," Leia sighed.
Han's eyes blinked open. He knew perfectly well why Luke was keeping his distance, but he had made up his mind not to tell Leia. It was about time the Kid found happiness. Nothing should ruin that, especially not his overprotective wife. "The kid's been busy hun."
"Busy doing what? He runs an academy, but he has competent personnel to run it. What can be so important that it needs his personal attention and keep us at bay? I asked him if we can visit for a couple of months and he had said no. The academy would be too busy. He's never been to busy for us Han…never."
"Leia. You know the universe is changing. New Jedi are popping up everywhere now. Of course Luke is going to be busier. Maybe he's learned his lesson and decided to tell us to stay home instead of having us go all the way to Yavin IV just to set around, not see hide nor hair of him."
Leia sighed impatiently. She was buying none of it. She knew Han was hiding something. "Han what is it? What did you find out on that visit? Whatever it is is the reason he's keeping us away."
Han turned away from her, so she couldn't see his eyes. She would instantly know he was lying. "As far as I could tell, the kid was fine. Busy, but fine. He's healthy, eating well…plenty of work to do."
"Han…"
"Leia it's late. I have to get up early to help Calrissian with his ship, and you have a mass of Council meetings to get to. So give Luke a break and get some sleep," Han turned his back to her, trying his best to fall asleep.
Leia sighed irritably. The force told her that Han was hiding something and she needed to find out. Especially when it had to do with her brother. Looking as his backside, Leia ran a hand through his hair knowing what she was about to do was wrong. Her and Han had both agreed that She would stay out of his thoughts when it came to the force. It wasn't fair he had said. You can read my thoughts but I can't read yours. So she had refrained. But tonight…she couldn't resist. Her curiosity and worry for Luke was too strong. So without much hesitation, she closed her eyes and concentrated.
(I hope Leia doesn't put two and two together about Luke and Mara. Those two deserve their chance at happiness. I love my wife but she is so overprotective of Luke…and if she found out about Mara…)
"Mara!" Leia exclaimed angrily, surprising Han, who sat up bolt right in bed. "Is that the big secret?"
"W-what?" Han stared at his wife confused.
"What is it that I have to find out about Mara!"
Han's gaze of betrayal didn't phase Leia as she glared at her husband. "You eavesdropped on me! We had an agreement!"
"Yes and no secrets was one of them!" Leia angrily snapped. "Like the fact that a criminal is probably right now seducing my brother! He had better not be harmed or so help you Han!"
"Mara would never harm Luke Leia! She loves him!" Han gets to his feet. "I can't believe you did that! You totally violated my mind!"
"You violated my trust!" Leia threw on her robe. "I trusted you to take care of my brother on that visit and you leave him to an ex-imperial assassin who had tried to kill him!"
"She's not like that anymore Leia! She's changed and Luke trusts and loves her!" Han argued. "You would leave them alone if you cared anything about your brother!"
"Leave them alone? Leave them alone so Mara can take full advantage of him? You have got to be kidding!" Leia grabs her holonet and dials up the nearest NRI agent.
"Your highness," came the reply.
"You do this Leia and our marriage is over! I mean it!" Han threatened, not really meaning it. He could never divorce his princess. He loved her, but he would move out for a while. She was the one that violated his trust by probing his thoughts without his knowledge, causing him to betray his best friend.
"Agent Carmicheal! I have just had a lead on the fugitive Mara Jade! We need to move now!"
"Leia!" Han glared at her.
"Where to your highness?"
"Yavin IV. Do not, I repeat do not contact my brother. He is not to be disturbed."
"Yes your highness. Will you be joining us?" The agent asked.
"Of course. I want to glare this witch in the eye."
"Leia!" Han objected again. "I can't believe you're doing this! I'm telling you you're going to lose Luke forever!"
"I'm saving his life Han! Somehow that witch had convinced him to give her sanctuary and convinced him that they should be lovers! I'm not going to stand for it!"
"Leia! You're not going alone! I'm coming too!"
"Why? So you can help her escape?"
"So you won't botch your relationship with Luke," Han gently replied.
Leia glared at her husband as she began dressing. "You mean your relationship don't you?"
"No my relationship with Luke will be just fine when I tell him how you violated me."
Leia laughed. "You are unbelievable. I don't have time to argue with you about this. I have to save my brother."
Yavin IV
Luke and Mara laid in each other's arms, reveling in the afterglow of their lovemaking. It has been a magical three weeks for them. And today was the most magical. After two days of feeling ill in the mornings, Mara had seen the medical droid and found out she was pregnant. Her and Luke were going to be parents. The two lovers returned to Luke's chambers and had made hours of passionate love, not able to get enough of one another. Now they stare into each other's eyes, blissfully unaware of the coming turmoil.
"So what shall we name him or her?" Mara wondered aloud.
"Boy-Ben Kenobi Skywalker. Girl-Amidala Skywalker," Luke thoughtfully replied.
"I know Ben Kenobi is Obi-Wan. But who is this Amidala?" Mara asked, furrowing her brow.
"My mother," Luke smiled serenely. "It's only fair. Leia has Anakin, and now I should have Amidala."
"Sibling rivalry at it's worse," Mara laughed, tenderly touching his face.
Luke touched her face and kissed her passionately, pulling her closer to him. "I love you Mara. Marry me."
"What?" Mara's eyes widened. She wasn't expecting this. Her Mara Jade, ex-emperor's hand married to Luke Skywalker, rebellion hero. That was a thought. An impossible thought.
"Luke…this is impossible."
"How? I mean we're already having a baby. Don't you think our child deserves to have to parents that are married to each other?"
"Of course I do. But Luke…look at our situation here. I'm wanted by the NRI. Your sister wants my head. There's no way I can marry you!"
"Yes there is. We go take the vows and there. We're married. You're marrying me Jade. Not my sister."
Mara frowned. He wasn't getting her point. "Luke, what I mean is…how will you explain the reasons you don't date? Where the baby in your life came from? It'd be a life of total secrecy. Unless we disappear, and even then…you'll be giving up everything you know and love."
"For something better Mara. You and our baby. That's what matters to me now. The Jedi Academy is fine. I've done completed what was commanded of me. I restored the Jedi. Now it's on to building a life of my own and that life is you. Fugitive or not. Mara please. Do me the honor of becoming my wife."
Before Mara could answer, a ruckus was heard outside the door, Tionne was denying someone entrance.
"You can't go in there! Master Skywalker is not to be disturbed!" Tionne's protests were heard.
"This is an emergency!" Han's voice yelled as he pushed his way into the room.
"Han what are you doing here!" Luke covered Mara's half-nude body.
"Luke…I'm sorry…she probed my mind without my permission…Mara…she has to get off planet now!" Han hurriedly explained, grabbing a bag to toss Mara's belongings in.
"Han what are you babbling about?" Luke looked at his friend, almost amused.
Han stared at Luke in shock and exhaustion. It took all his energy to find the shortcut and run for the academy once the ship landed, he didn't waste a moment and still there was no time to lose. Han dropped the bag and rushed over to his brother in law/best friend. "She knows Luke! Leia knows!"
"What!" Luke and Mara both exclaimed.
"I knew we couldn't trust you!" Mara glared at Han hoping out of the bed quickly.
"Why Han?" Luke's voice filled with betrayal.
"I didn't tell her Luke, I swear. She probed my mind. She was worried about you…why you had refused her offer to visit. She guessed that I knew something about your attitude and since I wouldn't tell, she probed my mind…she broke our agreement…our trust…"
Luke sighed. He couldn't be angry with Han for something that wasn't his fault. He had tried to keep the secret. But he was helpless against the powers of a curious Jedi. "Ok Han. I'm not angry with you and neither is Mara. How far away are they?"
"I don't know! I hoped off the ship just as it touched ground! They can be right outside the building for all I know!"
"Luke! What are we going to do?!" Mara stood up, now fully dressed in the clothes she had come in. Her blaster ready, just in case.
"There's a secret passage in my closet. It leads to the back entrance! We'll take that one," Luke dressed himself, and quickly pushed both Mara and Han into the closet just as Leia and her task force arrive outside his bedroom door.
"Luke! Luke open up it's Leia! We're here for Mara!" She hurriedly knocked. "LUKE!"
No answer. She tried to sense his presence, but found none. "Where's my husband?"
"Don't know. We didn't see him after landing," An officer answered.
"Sith!" She cursed and decided to kick the door open. She gasped at the empty room. The bed was unmade, the covers thrown back. It looked as if they had left in a hurry. "Han must have warned them. Put a probe out for my brother, my husband and Jade. I want this planet combed until they are found!"
"Yes Madame President," The officer nodded taking out his comlink.
Leia narrowed her eyes. Oh no Jade. You're not getting away with my brother that easily.
Mara, Luke, and Han raced for the old hangar the alliance had once used. This was where Luke kept his ships that were needed for quick get away. The two lovers stood outside the one ship.
"You guys better hurry," Han warned. "By the looks of the Academy Leia's having the whole planet searched."
"I'll keep in touch," Mara touched Luke's face, not able to believe this was actually happening. She knew there was a chance, but with Luke it had seemed that it would never come to this. To her telling him goodbye. And now she wasn't even alone anymore. She was carrying his child with her. She allowed her tears to fall freely. Walking away from him was tearing her apart. "I love you and always will."
"Mara," Luke twirled a red strand around his finger. "What makes you think I'm letting you go without me. Like I said in the academy, my life is with you."
Han didn't like the sound of this. "Luke what are you about to do?"
"Yeah flyboy. What's going on in that head of yours?" Mara stared at him in disbelief? Was he offering to give everything he's worked so hard for up for her? She couldn't believe this.
Luke smiled sadly at Han. "I'll keep in touch with you somehow Han. Watch over Leia and the kids for me. Tell her I'm sorry, but I love Mara and my life is with her now. Maybe someday we'll see each other again."
"Luke," Han shook his head with denial. "I'll talk to Leia…we'll get her to change her mind…"
"I've tried that already Han. Besides I can't risk it now. Mara's pregnant with my baby. So it's not only her I'm protecting. You'd do the same if it was Leia."
Han bowed his head, knowing that Luke spoke the truth. He glared at Mara. "Take care of him Jade. And the baby. If it's a boy, don't hesitate to name it after me."
Mara and Luke laughed. "We'll have to think about that one," Mara leaned her head against Luke's shoulder. "Thank you Han. You won't be forgotten for this."
"Just make the kid happy. That's all I can ask for. Now go! Before Leia catches up," Tears streamed from his eyes as he watched the young man he had grown to respect and love like his own little brother climb into the ship behind Mara and take off into the horizon. They're a little dot in the horizon when Leia finally arrived.
"Where are they Han!" She demanded, glaring at her husband.
"They're free," Han simply shrugged. "Free to be together."
Hot tears spring from Leia's eyes. She somehow knew it'd be a good long time before she'd see her brother again. She closed her eyes and reached out for him one last time, not really expecting to get a connection, but was pleasantly surprised when she touched her mind.
(Luke. Come back)
(I love you Leia. But I can't. Forgive me.)
The connections then broken. As hard as she tried she couldn't reconnect to her brother. Mara must have broken their link. As long as she lived, Leia will never believe that Mara and Luke truly loved each other and he went with her willingly. She decided on another strategy. She made a connection with Mara.
(Let him go Jade. Kidnapping my brother will not help you in the least. Come back with Luke now and no additional charges will be added to your list of crimes)
(Charging me with kidnapping are you Madame president. That will not bring Luke back to you) again the connection is broken. Leia screamed in frustration.
She hissed into the comlink. "She's gotten away and this time she's taken my brother with her! Add kidnapping to the list please and place a bounty on her head as well. The capture of Mara Jade dead or alive and the recovery of Luke Skywalker! Ten million credits is the award!"
"Leia!" Han glared at his wife. He knew all too well what life was like with a bounty hunter breathing down your neck.
Leia just glared at her husband and spoke again into the comlink. "Get in touch with Bobba Fett. He's well known for getting his man."
"Yes Madame President" Came the offer.
"Leia are you insane! Bobba Fett…he's the same scum that Vadar turned me over to!"
Leia doesn't answer. She just glared at Han.
Han shook his head. "You really are your father's daughter aren't you?"
Leia's eyes narrowed and she slapped him across the face. "You better pray Solo that that imperial witch doesn't harm my brother. If she does it will be on your head!"
Han shook his head as she storms away. He looks up at the now empty star-filled sky and prayed for the best. "May the force with you two." He then followed his wife, not sure if his marriage had a chance or not.