CHAPTER ELEVEN
Day of Operation
Han stood in the doorway of Luke's room, holding the twin's hands. Luke had expressed the desire to see his children before he went into surgery.
"There's daddy. Go say hello," Han urged the children forward. The twins were very much aware of their father's weakening life force and they also felt something was wrong with their mother. The fear of being orphans was so great that it almost froze them in place.
"Daddy…" Amadala bursted into tears.
"Shhh. Don't be sad. Daddy's sick now but Aunt Leia's going to make him better ok?" Luke embraced his daughter, stroking her hair.
"But where's mommy!" Ben also cried. "We want mommy!"
"Mommy can't be with us right now. But each and every one of us is in her heart. I promise that as soon as I'm well we'll go see mommy ok?"
"Luke…I don't know if it's such a good idea to promise that," Han cleared his throat.
"I will take the kids to see their mother Han. We're all Jedi remember?"
Han sighed tiredly. "If you say so. Well I better go and check on Leia before the operation. I'll take the kids with me."
"You be good for Uncle Han ok?" Luke hugged his children one last time. "Don't use the force to make things difficult for him either."
"Yes daddy," Both children nod.
"See you in a couple of hours Luke," Han cleared his throat before escorting the twins out the door.
Fifteen hours later the surgery was a success. Both Luke and Leia shared the same room. It's Leia who first opened her eyes. She glanced over at her brother and smiled to see that he had gotten his healthy tan back. But he still looked weak and underweight.
"You owe Mara one Princess," Han stepped into the room. He had asked the nurse for a room for the twins to sleep in and she had readily agreed.
"I guess I do. For so long I've wasted time hating her. And now…I feel grateful to her for placing my brother ahead of herself. I guess she really does love him."
"Told you," Han messaged her shoulders, just like he did before their separation.
"Hmmm, that's nice. It's been so long since you've done that."
"I know. I've missed it. Leia…about our marriage. I know we've been separated for so long…but is there a possibility…"
"There always was Han. Come home. The children and I miss you."
"If I come home you're going to have to trust me. No more probing my mind. I mean it Leia, if I ever find out that you were in my head without permission again…then I'm gone for good. Ok?"
Leia nodded. "Agreed. And no more secrets. All right. Whatever it is, even if my brother decides to house another fugitive…I won't fly over the handle like I did with Mara. Ok."
Han smiled and leaned over to kiss her. "I love you."
"I know."
Meanwhile, Luke wass in his own dreamworld. He walked along a long white corridor, passing up people he knew from his past and present. Finally he found who he was looking for and readily embraced her.
"Looking good fly-boy. So I'm guessing the surgery was a success?" Mara pulled out of the hug.
"Flying colors," Luke smiled. His smile faded. "But I wish you hadn't gone to get Leia Mara. I rather die than lose you."
"No Luke. You don't mean that. The children need you. So does the Galaxy. They need you more than they ever needed me."
"Ben and Aim's been crying for their mother. I promised them that as soon as I'm well we're going to see you."
"Luke no! I don't want them to see me locked up like that."
"We're coming Mara, whether you want us to or not. The children deserve a chance to see their mother. Even if it is for the last time."
Mara nodded. "You're right. But how are you getting in? They're allowing me no visitors."
"Trust me Mara. We'll get in," Luke gently stroked her cheek. "I'm so sorry Mara. If I wasn't so weak…"
"Shhh," She placed a finger over his lips. "You are far from weak. If you were weak you would have turned me in the moment I crashed on Yavin IV or you would have let me go off by myself. No Luke, you are the most bravest, kindest man I've had the honor to know and I'm proud to say that I love you."
Luke pulled her into his arms, holding her for all it was worth. "I love you more and more each day Mara. I wish…"
"Don't wish Luke. It's useless wishing for what we don't have," Mara pulled away. "I better go…before I won't be able to. Besides, I think your sister and Han are waiting for you to open those baby blues."
"Let them wait."
"Luke…"
"No Mara. They have each other and their twins.."
"And you have our twins. Think about Ami and Ben. They're already losing their mother Luke. They can't lose their father as well. Why do you think I gave myself up so easily? Even if I hadn't turned myself in and you died, the NRI would have caught up with me eventually. Earth couldn't remain unknown forever. Then the children would become Orphans, with no one to teach them the correct way to use the force. Luke please…for our children wake up."
Luke bowed his head. She was right. The twins needed him to wake up. To live and be a father to them. "You sure know how to run a good argument Jade."
Mara shrugged. "Comes with the territory of marrying you."
Luke smiled, stroking her face. "I guess I better wake up before they assume that I'm never going to."
"See you soon I suppose farmboy."
"You know you will. Bye Mara. Always remember that I love you and hold onto that. Especially when things seem bleak."
"I will Luke. Tell Ben and Ami I love them," Mara wiped away a stray tear. "Tell them that if she could mommy would be right by their side."
Luke sadly smiled and nodded before waking up to meet the concerned brown eyes of his sister.
"Leia…" Luke replied, wishing it was Mara by his side instead.
"You're awake," The princess hugged her brother. "We've waited for twelve hours for you to wake up."
Luke frowned. "It didn't seem that long at all."
"I'll go get Ami and Ben. They've been crying for daddy for the past two hours now," Leia smiled, exiting the room to leave Luke to his thoughts of Mara. If only she was there. If only he hadn't gotten sick she'd be in his arms right now.
"Hey there kid. Glad to see that you've returned to the world of the living," Han forced a smile, knowing that Luke was anything but happy right now. By the look on his face he was missing Mara. "You know…Leia's going to talk to the council about letting Mara go."
Luke's eyes lit up with surprise. "Really? Do you think it'll work? That they'll let her go?"
"Only time and patience can tell," Han shrugged.
"Daddy!!!" Two little voices cried with happiness. Before Luke could brace himself two little bodies were squeezing him. "Daddy!!!"
"Ami! Ben! You two must have grown two more inches in the past couple of day!" Luke held them away from him so he can look at them fully. Ami especially looked like her mother. "And Ami, you're getting more pretty everyday."
"We're glad you're awake daddy," Ben hugged his father again. "When can we go see mommy?"
"Soon baby. Soon," Luke embraced both his children, glancing up at his sister who had an uneasy expression on his face. She hoped he wasn't planning to break Mara out of jail.