CHAPTER SEVEN
Luke and Mara cuddled together as their ship glided amongst the stars on autopilot. Both knew how lucky they were at that moment to be together. They had barely escaped with Mara's and the unborn baby's life.
"Are you scared?" Mara looked at her husband curiously. "Being on the run and all."
Luke laughed. "Are you forgetting Mara that this isn't the first time? Vader was on the hunt for me for years. So this is just a return to an old lifestyle, that's all. No. I'm not scared."
"I am. For both you and the baby. I don't want you two caught in the crossfire Luke."
"I'm won't be," Luke stroked her cheek. "I'll protect you and our child. I promise."
Mara smiled sadly and leaned her head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.
"Now that we have that settled, how about an answer to my earlier question. Marry me."
"Luke…"
"May I remind you that I'm in this along with you now…for the long hull."
Mara laughed. "You are persistent. Ok. Fine Flyboy. I'll marry you. Just stop hounding me about it."
Luke laughed.
"You know, your sister has added kidnapping to my long list of crimes. She is so furious," Mara turned serious.
"Don't worry. You can't kidnap someone if they come willing," Luke rubbed her tense shoulders.
"She can say I brainwashed you."
"That's funny. I'm a Jedi Knight. She should know better than anyone that it's impossible to brainwash a Jedi. You can seduce them to the darkside, but you can't brainwash them. The force guards against that."
"Luke, what are we going to do? I have a feeling that things have gotten a lot more heated…like maybe bounty hunters. Your sister is probably that desperate to use them. She wants her brother back."
"She wouldn't do that. She knows what those thugs did to Han back in the Vader days. She wouldn't hurt him like that."
Mara laughed. "Are you serious? She's probably hopping mad at Han right now for helping me escape with you. You know I still can't believe she probed his mind like that, with out a real reason to do so…"
"That's Leia. If she wants something, she'll find a way to get it. Poor Han, he was so betrayed. I could feel his hurt feelings pouring off of him in waves…I still do."
Mara nodded. "You wouldn't know it, but your brother in law has a heart made of gold. He cares about the people close to him and only wants what's best."
"I think he knew from the start that I loved you. Even with the whole Callista thing he knew. I was the one with blinders on."
"Well those blinders finally came off. I love you Luke. You're everything to me. I won't lose you."
Luke smiled. "I love you too Mara. And soon as we land, we'll marry."
Mara sighed happily, pulling him closer. "Me you and little Ben or Amidala."
Luke smiled and places a hand on her stomach. Suddenly he just knew… "Ben and Amidala you mean."
"What?" Mara looked at him furrowing her brow.
"Mara…you're with twins. We're having twins," Luke smiled.
Mara laughed and hugged Luke tightly. "Can it get any better than this?"
"Nope. I don't think so," Luke laughed.
"By the way Luke, where are we going?"
"We're going to a nice little planet called Earth. It's in a galaxy far from here, but it's beautiful I hear."
"Earth?" Mara frowned. "I never heard of such a planet."
Luke smiled. "That's why I chose it. Only a select few has heard of it. It's not a part of the new Republic or Empire. It's a planet all too itself and is just perfect for two refugees from the NRI. But we have to keep our space travel experiences to ourselves Mara. Word has it that these people are pretty primitive when it comes to space travel. They've been no further than their own moon."
"What! You can't be serious!"
Luke nodded grimly. "Afraid so. Not only that, but if they found out we were from another planet, we'd be considered aliens."
"But we're human."
"To them we won't be. So we have to keep everything on the down low. Ok."
"It'll just make it that much harder for Leia to find us."
Luke sadly nodded. "I know."
Mara frowned detecting the note of sadness in Luke's voice. "You're going to miss her aren't you?"
"Of course. She is my twin sister. Plus I didn't get to say good-bye to the kids, especially Anakin. We have a special connection, him and I."
"They'll know you love them Luke. Especially Anakin. Hopefully someday we can return."
Luke smiled at her sadly. "I hope so. But if not, it was how it was meant to be."
Mara sighed and leaned her head against Luke's shoulder, drifting off to sleep. It was going to be a long flight and she wanted as much rest as possible.
*
"No daddy don't go!" Jaina, Jacen, and Anakin all cried as Han closed his suitcase. Han bent down to embrace his children.
"It's alright kids. We'll still see each other every weekend remember? Just stay and take care of things here. Your mother's going to need you right now," Han kissed each child on the cheek. "I love you guys and always will."
"But daddy we'll be good! We promise! We're sorry, just don't leave," Jaina wailed.
Han wiped away both her tears and his own. "Shhh darling. This isn't your fault. You've done nothing wrong. These things happen at times. Besides, who knows, your mother and I may be able to work it out that I can come back. Ok?"
Jaina tearfully nodded.
"You're all packed I see," Leia coldly stared at her husband. "Where will you be staying?"
"Luke's old apartment. He said if I ever needed to crash there I can," Han shrugged.
"Han I really wish you wouldn't…"
"I have his permission Leia. And what you wish right now isn't important. Maybe if you respected both me and Luke more we'd still be here, but you just had to have things your way."
"Where are they Han? Where did Jade take my brother?"
"Don't know and even if I did, I certainly wouldn't tell you," Han picked up his bag and stormed out of the room.
"She won't get away Han! No matter how hard you try to protect her! I will catch up with Mara Jade and she will be punished for not only her past crimes but for dragging my brother along with her!"
"Leave them alone Leia. Luke loves her and she loves Luke. Drop it."
"No!"
"Well then I'm not going to argue with you. It's a shame. You've lost both your husband and brother all in one night," Han stormed out of their quarters and headed for Luke's apartment.
"Mommy when is Uncle Luke coming home?" Anakin tugged on his mother's skirt.
"I don't know darling, but I promise you he will come home. One way or another," Leia tearfully embraced her son.