Lando and Chewie reached Jaron first. Not because they were the closest; Leia, Luke, and Rabé were directly in front of him. Calrissian and the Wookiee had to squeeze past them to reach the throne. But the three closest were too drained by what they just went through to move.
Everyone in the room was the same, except for Han. He moved the same instant Chewbacca and Lando did. He had his blaster aimed at Jaron's head even as the other two did. It wasn't until he felt they had the King secured that he turned to the stunned Gavit. They had promised to stay out of the situation and let the Naboo handle this, but Han'd be damned if Jaron'd slip away while everyone was shellshocked. If the Naboo couldn't handle this, the Republic would.
If only Jaron himself would realize the danger he was in with Solo and the others training their weapons on him. But the man just stood there, smiling at Rabé in the same chilling, insane way as when he had announced her husband deserved cold blooded murder.
"Captain of the Guard!" Han barked. "Captain!"
Gavit blinked, still lost in the blow of what happened, then turned towards the Council. "Orders?"
Han watched as the Council tried to fathom what their King just confessed to. The liegemen scattered amongst them were obviously numb; their weapons dropped to the floor from fingers that could no longer grasp them.
"Orders!" Han snapped.
Diseks' jaw worked but she closed it after no sound came out. Semay and the others glanced to each other, waiting, unable to make the first move. Rabé finally turned and stared down at them all. Her eyes were bloodshot from the tears making raw tracks down her face.
It galvanized Pormet. Like an innocent victim crawling out from the shreds left of his home after a battle, he shakily took a stance behind her at the head of the two lines of Council seats. That is, what was once two lines of seats and now saw chairs overturned and people dotted amongst the damage.
"Take him," he said quietly to the guard. He barely found the energy to form the words.
Han never took his blaster off Jaron, but shot Gavit a look from the corner of his eyes giving the other man someone to focus on as he took orders to arrest his King. The captain gestured to two of his people, signaling them to let the other squad in the door. The rest followed him as he took the few steps next to Han. But he did not raise his weapon; he couldn't as he just looked at Jaron and tried to piece together which of the men he had seen in his King was the real one.
The other guards rushed in, blasters drawn, and came to a standstill at the sight of the Republic generals and the Wookiee with their own weapons bearing down on the Naboo King. They snapped as one to aim at Solo, Calrissian, and Chewbacca. For the first time, Jaron moved.
He turned his head to Lando and then Han. He smiled again, that same twisted, cruel turn of his mouth. "I...am in...control...here."
Han's fingers tightened on his blaster and Lando glanced across to him. Solo knew Calrissian and the Wookiee were ready to back whatever move he made. But Jaron started laughing and Han felt cold spikes stab his chest. The laugh was silent, just convulsions shaking Jaron. And with no warning, the eerie laughter turned to a snarl. "Guard!" the King ordered. "Remove-"
"Stop!" The frightening change in Jaron cleared Gavit's head. He brought his blaster up in a swift motion, moving up next to Han. When Solo saw the captain had it, he moved away. Lando and Chewbacca did the same as other guard came next.
To set it straight, Gavit called, "Confirming orders!"
Diseks, Semay, and Pormet nodded and he repeated, "Take the prisoner."
The guards from door reacted in obvious surprise, but Han noted with approval that they didn't break. "Charges?" the squad leader asked.
"Murder," Gavit said, now snarling himself. "On so many counts, it'll sicken you."
Jaron dumbfounded them again. He pulled himself up, an air of control, regalness, and refinement settling into place. He appeared as he always had before the last few unreal moments. "You must be mistaken. You have proof?"
"Threepio!" Lando called. The golden droid walked from the back corner where he had stayed out of place the whole time. Obviously forgotten since Han had gone with the plan to order him out of the way - not that it was so out of character for him, Han noted - Threepio now connected a small unit he held in his hand onto Artoo. Artoo's holo projector activated and a replay of the whole room became visible. Rabé's accusations and Jaron's quick slide into terror started all over again. "Freeze image," Lando said and Artoo stopped the projection. "You see, we came prepared. We thought you might suspect Artoo so we had Threepio take care of it."
Staring at his own downfall, Jaron fell to his demons again. The unsettling smile returned to his face and stayed there, even as Gavit and the guards took him, dragging him from the room. He stared at Luke and Leia with a mixture of psychosis and loathing even as he sweated with fear of the sabers. The silent threat, though nothing, hung eerily in the air after he was gone.
Han wanted to shoot Jaron more than he had anyone else in a very long time. He didn't think the man could ever hurt them, but he still didn't feel safe with the King alive.
"He's not worth it, Han." Luke was stiff and stared straight ahead. He just now snapped off his lightsaber, but he still managed to speak. "You got him. I knew you would." A sudden shudder racked his body before he could control it. Lando and Han were instantly there to support him.
"Kid?" Han asked, a wealth of meaning in the nickname.
"It was pouring off him," Luke mumbled. "When he was reliving that day, when he murdered all those people, when my mo mother - You can't imagine what it felt like." He pulled himself up abruptly. "Leia. Han, she's not trained for this."
Chewie was taking care of Leia, but Han was at her side within the next heartbeat. He'd wanted to go to her first, get her out of here, and wrap himself around her until they could forget this day. But if he could ever leave without making sure Luke was okay, his love would never forgive him for it.
He tried slipping his arm around her; he might as well have tried to embrace one of the marble statues. "Come on, Leia."
She didn't relax or soften. She was shaking, he didn't know if it was from rage, exhaustion or grief. He whispered to her, "Don't give a damn who's looking and how it looks, sweetheart. Come on, Leia."
She looked at him from far away, her throat raspy from impersonating Amidala's tones as Rabé had so carefully taught her. "No. I don't care about that."
"Sweetheart "
From behind him, he heard Faren call softly, "Mama." She reached out but the liegemen were still blocking her. Han never knew if Rabé thought her daughter was right behind her, but she finally collapsed. She had brought them all through this whole plan, never once cracking under the weight of her pain and what she needed to do. Now the adrenaline left her and her knees gave out.
Luke moved, faster than Han could see him, and caught Rabé, cradling her until Faren got there. And as if the strings that were holding them all up were cut, Leia now sagged into Han.
She glanced up at him with that familiar expression of too much pain in her life. Han hated every person who caused his young love to look far older than her years. "The hate and his insanity the way he murdered-" She caught herself, the steel returning, but so did the anger. It swelled, rising behind her eyes, and then broke, leaving only exhaustion. "We're getting out of here."
She walked out of the room, and Han didn't know if he supported her or she him. She must have sent some unheard signal to Luke because he escorted Rabé out between he and Faren. They left the traumatized Council and the moment behind them.
It was days before the Council regrouped themselves to face their people. In that time, they faced the horror of that morning and rose to the challenge of dealing with both Jaron's crimes and the hole left in their government. They put Diseks on the throne temporarily, as she was Governor of Theed, but she announced she would not seek the position permanently. And they issued statements to the populace of what had happened, preparing them as much as possible.
Marnin, in an effort to redeem himself and distance himself from his former monarch, officially handed over the secreted weapons cache Han and Lando first found blocking the burial room. Fearing the populace would find it and use it on Jaron, all of it was hurriedly removed to the Republic.
On the chosen day, the Council ordered Gavit to bring Jaron out to the steps in front of the palace. Forewarned, citizens packed the streets and windows, and the media broadcast the momentous occasion all around Theed and even into the Republic itself. Jaron's liegemen stood to one side of the Council, still dressed as they would for court. Rabé and Faren stood in front of them. The Republic party, including the droids, stood off to the left. Once more, they left uniforms and official garb behind to show they were here as the family of one of Jaron's victims, not as representatives of the Republic.
Diseks stepped forward and Jaron was dragged to the front of the steps. In a clear, ringing voice, the interim Queen spoke. "We are here today to make the public pronouncement of the charges against the prisoner, the former King Jaron." The crowd stirred. "The Naboo first bring a charge for two counts of treason. The initial account for the day Amidala's handmaidens, Captain Panaka and his guards, and their families were betrayed to the Imperial strike force, and the second for betraying the late Queen Amidala on her return to Naboo. This second account happened while Jaron was King of Naboo, adding to the treason charge a betrayal to the throne and his duty to his people."
Shouts of alarm and growing outrage bounced off the walls. Diseks swallowed hard before continuing. "The Naboo make a second charge for a total of thirty counts of murder that include our former Queen Amidala, all her captured handmaidens, Captain Panaka and his guards, plus the handmaidens' and the guards' families. Does the accused have any words?"
Jaron tried to stand tall, but the public hostility had his eyes darting back and forth. "I have much to say in my defense!" he called out. "But I will not add to this communal lynching."
"The Naboo always bring pronouncement for the thankfully rare times we have such an accused traitor." A clamor went up agreeing with Diseks. "If you wish to say something, you are free to do so."
Jaron threw his head back in a ghost of his former regal manner. "I'll wait for my trial. There will be a trial?"
"Of course. Four weeks from today."
"And I'll be taken back to the hole within the palace where you're keeping me?"
Diseks smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "No. Captain Gavit has told us of your frequent complaints. You're being moved. Captain?"
Before the guard acted on her order, the liegemen as a group strode forward. Every pair of eyes immediately riveted on them. They threw their uniforms to the ground, stripping them off in front of the gathering, making sure Jaron watched them. The action, along with the bitter disappointment and betrayal warring in their expressions, denounced a King that never deserved their service. They walked away as individual men, melting into the crowd in different directions, never looking back.
Gavit and his people dragged Jaron down the palace steps and out into Theed to his temporary prison where he would await trial. People grabbed at him, screaming, tearing at his clothes.
The man cowered. "Mother of All, Gavit!" he begged. "Please! Keep them back! You're supposed to keep me safe!"
"I'll try to remember that," the captain snarled.
Jaron's confession caused a fallout that cast a terrible pall over the planet. The Naboo struggled under their own grief and shock, and felt the galaxy once more focus on their small world that many had never heard of before and would never forget again. Everyone lived in a daze, casting their eyes to Theed Palace where the Council worked to rebuild, where people shouted protests that no one was safe any longer, and where the Republic party gave what support they could as Naboo's membership was being completed.
But the strain didn't limit itself to government. The Naboo, from the Council to the populace, demanded a decent burial for Amidala and the others Jaron murdered. As the victims weren't preserved when buried, no one could tell which body was which in the burial mound, and Rabé and the Council decided not to prolong the emotional suffering by waiting for detailed genetic exams. Luke and Leia agreed with everyone else to have the bodies reburied as a group. Individual stones were being made for each of the dead as well as a monument to the late Queen and those who died in her service.
All Faren could remember was her mother, who was only in her forties, whispering to her, "Promise me, when my time comes, you'll put me here."
She had looked so old, so tired, that it terrified Faren. "Mama, please! Don't think such things," she implored her. She held Rabé tighter, and as her mother huddled in herself, she suddenly saw Leia and Luke hunched against each other at the foot of Amidala's temporary gravemarker. They had looked lost, so very lost. In trying to know their mother, they had buried her instead, and had no more memories - no more good memories - then when they first came to Naboo and left Tanen at the mountain village. Faren looked down at her father's grave and felt every bit as forlorn.
Rabé was mourning all over again, now that she knew the fate of her husband and friends, and Faren never left her side. She struggled with her own loss, but grieving for a father she never knew paled next to her mother's pain, so she kept silent and watched as her mother's strength returned. Rabé finally turned to her, with a ghost of her smile, and firmly ordered her daughter away to take care of herself, but it was another day before she did so.
She sought out the main marketplace in Theed, deliberately going at the busiest time of the day, wanting to drown in regular people, be a part of something normal after the chaos of the last few days. She saw the same purpose in everyone here: to get past the King's betrayal, and return to something from their day to day lives. To get out into the sunshine, see everyone, and discuss normal things.
"Hello."
Or have a Jedi Knight come up behind you instead, she thought as she identified Luke. She couldn't mistake the thrill shooting through her at the sound of his voice. She'd ached to see him, to talk to him alone. But the Council swamped the Republic party for help, and she and her mother were called to lend aid in other areas.
She looked over her shoulder, smiling. It was a relief to just smile again. "Hello yourself."
He returned the smile. "Can I help with anything?"
"Since you offered-" She dumped her packages from her arms into his.
He stared at the mound of wrapped things he couldn't identify before he asked bewildered, "Is this something they teach girls when they're growing up? How to turn men into pack animals? Because Leia's done this to me a lot of times and so did my aunt."
She laughed, and even though he hadn't been that funny, she laughed for a while. His expression turned serious and he asked carefully, "Are you okay?"
She blinked, taken aback by the sudden switch in topics. She was on edge, and of course he noticed. "I'm as okay as you probably are," she said finally.
He smiled, gentle and sad, and she knew she felt everything he felt. "I'm escaping it today. So," he said with deliberate cheerfulness, "are you done, or are there more Naboo you must clothe and feed?"
She followed his lead. "What's the matter? Too heavy for you?"
"Not at all, because I'm cheatin'." He abruptly moved his arms out, but the bundle of packages stayed where they were, floating in midair. He put his arms back underneath and grinned at her boyishly. She could only stare at him, surprised for a moment, and then a fit of giggles overtook her that turned into a full laugh. A real laugh this time.
It was so good to see him, to feel that lightening strike of attraction when he was near, to feel anything positive again. His strength, the spark of returned chemistry in his eyes, and the way he could so easily make her laugh made her feel alive again, and started pulling her out of the darkness of the last few days.
She was still chuckling as she asked, "Is that what they teach Jedi? How to use the Force to carry things?"
"Oh yeah. Master Yoda had me carry things all the time."
She knew she was supposed to ask. "Like what?"
"Him."
She grinned one last time before turning back to the market stalls. Please let him come with me. He did. "We definitely have more stops to make. But don't worry. It's for a good cause."
"Such as?"
"Cheering up my mother."
"Ah. And what things are good for cheering up a mother?"
She wasn't stepping into that topic. "You tell me. What would you buy your aunt?"
He tossed that idea around. "Anything frivolous that she wouldn't buy herself."
"Excellent choice. And your sister?"
"Easy. Anything to do with Alderaan. And then carry it for her." The boyish smile was back.
"Another excellent choice." She steered him to a stall with women's clothing, some with traditional styles even in the casual lines. Mama could use something casual. Get her out of those robes for a change. She searched for something else to say. "See, you're better at this than you thought."
He seemed not to agree as he doubtfully watched as she held up different blouses. But he said, "Lots of practice, that's the key. I've fumbled through plenty of birthdays and such for Leia and Aunt Beru."
Faren noticed he only mentioned his women relatives. There must've been women in his life. I wonder if someone is waiting for him to come back now. The thought made her insides clench. "Birthdays. I never thought of it before. Do you know who is older, you or Princess Leia?"
He nodded. "Oh yeah, we've always known. She is. Her birthday is the day before mine."
Faren's eyebrows shot up to her hairline. "The day before?"
He chuckled. "It's not as bad as it sounds. We're not sure exactly how far apart we are, but Leia was told by Bail Organa that she was born very late at night. And my aunt and uncle told me that I was born first thing in the morning. So however many minutes are between us, they crossed into the next day."
He leaned forward, drawing her in. "Besides, I always knew Leia was older even without the birthday difference. Between you and me, she's makes a great bossy, older sister." He winked.
She almost dropped the dress she was holding. His expression changed from boyish to wicked conspiracy. Oh, yeah, she definitely had missed him. "How terrible for you."
His mood changed again. His voice softened as he looked back at years of memories. "Yeah, how terrible for me and Han. To have her pushing us into things we wanted but wouldn't admit to, or going out and getting them for us herself. To worry over us and fuss when something was wrong, and to do the drudge work that someone had to do but we didn't want to since we were too busy playing hotshots."
"Still, you and the princess are a lot alike, aren't you?"
He came back from the past and focused on her, teasing once more. "You think so? I guess we are in some ways. We have the same feelings on a lot of things, and we've always been close. But we're different too, like-" He deepened his voice dramatically. "I'm taller."
She snorted. "Yeah, that's hard not to notice."
"And definitely intimidating," someone said from behind them. Leia and Han walked up to join them, she giving Luke a scathing glance that phased him not at all. "Bragging that you're taller. Really, Luke."
Faren smothered a smirk as Solo deliberately stood next to Skywalker, looking down at him. "How you doin', Junior?"
"I'm doing great, old man."
Han puffed up in mock fierceness, and Leia hastily interrupted. "And how are you doing, Faren?"
The other woman caught the look of feminine mirth in the princess' eye which she felt herself. In addition to that, she was happy for this opportunity. She'd wanted to discuss something with Leia for days, looking for her for very different reasons than why she'd looked for Luke. "Actually, I'm glad we ran into you. I was hoping I'd get a chance to talk to you, but it's been so busy. Is now okay?"
Leia nodded. "Anything to miss what these two will argue about next." The two women moved away to talk in private. Faren looked back once, hoping this didn't mean Luke was leaving.
But he was busy hissing at Han. "Junior!"
"Old man?"
"You deserved it."
"Call as I see 'em, Luke. And will you look at this. Faren's got you more loaded down than some banthas I've seen."
"Don't be so cocky. I've seen Leia lead you around like a string of dewbacks while you just say, 'Yes, dear'."
"I've never said 'Yes, dear'," Han snarled. He gestured obscenely to Luke who yelled something back. Han smirked, and then surprised him by leaning closer. "You really like her, don't you? Faren."
Luke thought of blustering an act, but he liked having a chance to just talk with Han. "Yeah, I do."
"Good taste, kid." The Corellian punched his shoulder. "And good for you. Just make sure she treats you right."
Luke was touched by Solo's warmth. But then, Han was always watching over his and Leia's safety while completely disregarding his own. "Thanks, Han."
Solo just nodded and suddenly found some far off point, someplace that wasn't looking at Luke, of great interest. "Uh, kid... when you and Leia had that fight - you coulda came to me, you know, to talk."
"But you and Leia are together."
"Yeah."
"I didn't think you'd - I mean, it's not right if I-"
Han smirked. "We're real good at this, aren't we? You still can come to me, Luke, really." He shrugged. "You'd just have to listen that both of you were partly wrong."
"Did you tell Leia that?"
"Yup."
Luke now smirked. "You know you never come to me. I always have to drag something out of you."
"Yup. 'Cause you're good at it."
"I'll remember what you said, Han. Thanks again."
They were interrupted by someone clearing their throat. The merchant for the booth they stood in front of was a middle-aged woman, her skin darkened and toughened by the sun like old leather; it made her violet eyes jump startlingly from her face. "Excuse me-"
Luke jumped up from leaning on her tables, hastily recollecting Faren's bundles. "Sorry. I didn't mean to block-"
But the woman shook her head. "No, no, that's not what I meant." Her gaze pierced his. "You're Amidala's boy, right?"
He felt himself straighten up while Han grew more wary. There was no telling why she wanted to find one of the former Queen's children, but Luke didn't sense anything wrong. "Yes, I am. Can I help you?"
She reached out and patted his hand. "I'm real sorry about your mother. Real sorry. No one deserves that, no one. I just wanted to tell you that."
Luke's throat tightened and his voice came out husky. "That's nice of you. Thanks."
Faren and Leia came back. The princess immediately took in Han's guarded stance and a strange woman touching her brother. Luke reassured her, whispering mentally to her, and Leia went into her diplomatic form, smiling herself at the merchant.
The older woman brightened at seeing her. "I thought that was you, Your Highness." The emphasis on the title escaped no one. "I've heard the Council will offer you the throne."
"Not quite," Leia disagreed kindly. "For one thing, I'm not Nubian."
The merchant completely disregarded this, turning to her table. "Your mother was Naboo," she declared as she went through her merchandise. "So you are Naboo, you and your twin." Triumphantly, she suddenly reached out, swiping at Leia's mouth, and taking them all by surprise. Han lunged for her, but Luke threw up a restraining arm. He knew his sister was all right. "So you think about that offer." And she walked away so she couldn't hear anymore.
Brow furrowed, Leia reached up to her mouth, about to go off on the other woman's behavior, when Luke felt his eyes grow wide. He grabbed a mirror hanging nearby and held it up.
A crimson stripe of makeup ran down Leia's lower lip: the scar of remembrance, the symbol of Naboo's monarchs.
Leia's face struggled with too many emotions for Luke to identify, even as they poured through the link they shared. She reached for the image in the mirror, then abruptly turned away, pulling her lip between her teeth. In a second, the red stripe was gone.
Luke put the mirror back. "Leia, she didn't mean-"
"I know," she said. She suddenly looked very tired, and Han dropped an arm around her shoulders, sharing a look with Skywalker that he understood immediately. Leia was once more pushing herself too much. "Maybe coming here wasn't a good idea. But I had to get away. You know."
He certainly did.
"And we're not stayin' anyway," Han drawled.
"Where are you going now?" Luke asked.
"Somewhere quiet," Leia answered, and her voice was heavy with thankfulness for the change of subject. She looked past him to Faren. "Your mother told me about a place I just have to see."
Luke saw Faren make an intricate hand movement and Leia showed surprise at the sight of it. It took a moment before she nodded at the other woman in response. When she had, Faren relaxed and spoke casually. "I think I know what place you mean. She said she wanted to tell you both about it."
"Why don't you two tag along?" Han asked. Luke alternated smiling at Faren with darting killing glances at Solo. He finally got a chance to be with Faren - away from Rabé's protective stares - and Han was going to ruin it? The Corellian only smirked back, and Luke gleefully thought of doing him bodily harm.
Leia ended the discussion decisively, slipping her arm around Han's waist. "Sorry, but I'm taking this one away by myself. Be glad I am."
"Very," replied Luke.
Han abruptly snapped his fingers, then jabbed them at Faren. "Wait a minute. I wanted to talk to you. You took out that liegeman - make that liegemen - pretty good. You said you only had self-defense training."
"Yes, so? I may not be a rebel soldier, but I never said I was a slouch."
Some of the tired ache dropped off Leia as she bit her cheek to keep from laughing. Luke winked at her, and Han stared at Faren in surprise, but then respect crossed his face. One corner of his mouth pulled up lopsidedly. "Right, you never said that." He shot a quick scowl at the gloating Luke before speaking to Leia. "Ready?"
"Yes," she said quickly. "We'll see you later, Luke."
Leia leaned up to kiss his cheek, and turned to leave when Han started whispering loudly to Faren. "Get him to tell you about the time on Oulloq when Leia had to buy underwear, and Luke and I had a slingshot fight and got thrown from the store when one pair ended up hanging on his ear."
Luke went red to his scalp while Leia groaned. "Don't remind me. I've tried to blot that day from my memory." She started tugging Han with her, tossing a wave goodbye.
Han yelled, "Have a good night, Junior!"
Luke purposely looked in the opposite direction of Faren until he heard her delicately cough. "Maybe we should leave the market," she suggested.
He eagerly agreed, happy to get away. With some determination, he avoided thinking of women's underwear with her standing so close. He thought he heard her sniggering under her breath, but studiously ignored it.
Another merchant approached her, speaking in rapid Nubian. She replied in the same and the man nodded. He turned to go, stopping at Luke first. "Jedi Skywalker," he said, being respectful, and Luke registered yet another person's display of not seeing him as Vader's son anymore.
"What was that all about?" he asked her.
"He has a delivery service throughout Theed. He's going to take these things back to the palace for us."
"You're not going back to the palace?"
"No... not yet. I thought we could... I was going to get something to eat. Would you like to come with me?"
Would he? I didn't track you down out here just to play pack animal. But I'd play pack animal for as long as you wanted me to. He practically threw the bundles into the speeder the merchant brought up, and then stood waiting for her, beaming. She explained she wanted to go to a restaurant nearby, within walking distance, and he indicated she should lead. They walked in amiable silence for a few moments.
"So," she finally said, "this thing that was hanging off your ear-"
"Never mind," he interrupted.
They reached the restaurant right after that, and he placed a hand in the small of her back, steering her in first. He secretly delighted in the gesture, and did it as casually as he could. He saw some of the other men look up admiringly at Faren as they moved past, and he felt the same thrill anyone does when in the company of an attractive partner.
The restaurant was set out in the open air, tables spread throughout a private courtyard off the main thoroughfare of the marketplace. Faren once more conversed in Nubian with the host, and they were seated in a quiet, intimate table off by themselves. He wondered if the intimacy showed she wanted to be with him as much as he wanted to be with her. The excitement of being alone together pounded in his veins.
He had a moment to drink in the beautiful sight of the waterfall sparkling in the sunset, the palace bathed in the same rose tinted light, and most beautiful of all, Faren's soft glow. The dark hair spilled around her shoulders, and her blouse of bronzed gold brought out both her dusky skin and her fiery eyes.
"Are you enjoying the view, sir?" a voice suddenly spoke at his elbow. The man that belonged to it was small, what hair remaining on his head was graying at the temples, and he was almost jumpy with excitement.
Luke glanced up. "It's perfect."
The older man went from quizzical to understanding. Male perception passed between them. "I quite agree." And then to Faren, "With both the palace and the waterfall in view, it is the best seat here. I'm the owner of the restaurant, and it's going to be my pleasure to serve you both this evening. How can we start the meal for you?"
Luke searched for an answer. He actually didn't know anything about Nubian cuisine. Everything had been chosen and placed in front of him in one diplomatic setting after another.
Faren said, "Liel wine for me, and Commander Skywalker has been wanting to try your local ale. A lot of people have been telling him about it."
"Excellent! You're going to enjoy it." The owner left menus and bustled off, still beaming.
"A little starstruck, don't you think?" Faren nodding at the wake of the owner.
"Hmmm?" Luke was reading the menu, written in Basic and Nubian thankfully. "You think so?"
"Oh no, I'm sure the owner dotes on every customer personally."
"Oh that. He knows what anyone who sells something knows. My sister is rich and spoils me rotten." He glanced up with only the corner of his eyes, the twinkle still obvious.
Delighted, Faren said, "I'll remember that if I go into business for myself. Do you mind if I ask, the princess... I'd have thought the Empire-"
Luke was already nodding. "They did. Leia lost a lot with Alderaan gone. And what offworld accounts she could get hold of, she poured into the Rebellion. But with the war over, the accounts the Empire held are now released. Of course with Leia, it's not the money itself, it's getting back anything of Alderaan. Some of the things she got back are antiques, jewels, and heirlooms that were held in safety around the galaxy."
"Poured into the Rebellion," Faren whispered to herself. She played with the utensils and napkin at her place setting. "You don't know how many times I wanted to join the Alliance. But I always had this fear that I'd lead the Empire back to my mother somehow, or something would happen to her if I left. That sounds so idiotic, but..."
Force help me, she looks good when she fidgets like that. But she looks good all the time. "You think you did something wrong? With what we know about Jaron now, who knows what might have happened to Rabé if he or the Emperor found out where she was. Faren, you didn't sacrifice the last family you had, that's all you did. That makes you normal. I wish I knew more normal people. I could use some normality in my life." Feeling bold and wanting to soothe her, he took her hand in his, leaning forward on his elbows so that even more it was only the two of them. He heard her sharp intake of breath. "And you did nothing many of us didn't, including me." She glanced up sharply from their entwined hands, and his mouth twitched. "You didn't know that, did you? No one talks about that part of the great Luke Skywalker biography. I turned down the chance to be a part of the Rebellion - or at least to get off Tatooine - time after time. My best friend, Biggs, asked me to go with him. Ben - Obi-Wan - asked me after watching a holo of Leia pleading with him to help her. And I said no. I wouldn't go with my uncle and aunt so upset about it, no matter how much I wanted it. They were all I had and I wasn't giving them up. I didn't go until they were dead. So you did more than me. You protected your family. Don't be ashamed of it."
She slipped her fingers with his one hand that now held both of hers, and he laid his other hand over their intertwined fingers. "Thank you." He squeezed, enjoying the moment. It was quiet in the best sense. Her voice lowered with throaty tones that sent a delighted ripple up his back. "I think we've talked business long enough."
"I think so too." She moved closer to him.
At that exact moment, a different voice spoke at his elbow. "Excuse me, Commander Skywalker?"
How is everyone sneaking up on me today? Luke thought grouchily. Faren's eyes of warm gold held his a second more, before her mouth fought not to laugh at their situation. Oh yeah, that's why. He again looked over his shoulder.
Two pilots in off duty uniform stood waiting for his attention. He never expected that. One was a man, the same height and age as Luke but very thin, delicate in fact. Amazing for a pilot who had to battle g-forces and the strain of handling a powerful ship. The other, a woman, was more stocky in build. They eagerly held out their hands to him, and he reluctantly dropped his one hand from Faren's so he could shake theirs. "We've been looking for a chance to talk to you," the man said. "Sorry, my name is Duvan."
"Cetix," the woman introduced herself. "I hope we're not interrupting anything."
Luke and Faren made polite, declining noises. "Did you need me for something?" Luke asked.
"No, no, we just wanted to say hello. After all, how often do you meet one of the galaxy's best pilots?" Duvan said. Luke shifted uncomfortably, but hoped no one noticed.
Cetix was too excited to notice anything but what she wanted to say. "We kept hoping they'd show you our ship bays. Every squadron is dying to get a chance to talk shop with you. But we all know you're busy with uh everything. Um, but maybe you'll have time in the next few days?"
Luke had perked up as soon as they mentioned the hangers. "Definitely!"
Cetix visibly relaxed after her earlier blunder. "Great. In fact-" She exchanged a look with Duvan who suddenly got the same idea. "One of our pilots is down. Small injury, nothing serious. We have a stand-in from another squadron, but - would you like to fly patrol with us in the morning?" She rushed the last part out hurriedly.
Luke was on the edge of his seat. "I'd love it! When and where?"
Duvan spoke. "We'll meet you at your quarters first thing, how about that?"
"Perfect. Listen, would you mind if I ask Han and Lando - uh, General Solo and General Calrissian - to come along? They'd want a chance as much as me."
Duvan looked like he was asked if he minded being alive. "Of course, please ask them! We were hopin' - could we get a look at the Falcon?"
Luke snickered. "Get Han to show off his ship? I think I can get that done."
The three talked back and forth a bit more before the Nubian pilots left them alone. Luke felt like nothing could make this night better. The owner was bringing their drinks, and Faren again smiled with that light of laughter filling her eyes. She obviously didn't mind his talking business after all, he was glad to see.
He apologized anyway. "Sorry about that."
"Don't be. I'm not. I learned all the benefits of the new M5 conductor for a XOP-38."
"Something everyone should know."
The owner set their drinks down as he went into raptures over the special meal he was preparing for them. Luke didn't understand half of what the man was talking about, and prayed to the Force he would get the food down without choking.
Faren murmured wickedly after the little restaurateur had bustled off. "You know, you have to be delirious with ecstasy over this meal or you'll crush that man forever. On the other hand, I owe you an apology if you don't like your drink. But after that dinner the other night, I thought the ale suited your tastes better."
"It's perfect, thanks. What's that you have?"
"Liel wine? I like it. It's light and has a crisp berry taste to it."
Luke scrunched his nose. "Girly drink."
"Hey!"
He chuckled at her mock outrage and sipped his ale again. "Faren, back in the market, what was that gesture you made? To Leia?"
"This?" She repeated the intricate sign in the air. "Halken symbol. It was used at the Alderaani royal court."
He frowned. "I never saw Leia do that."
"Probably not. You never knew her when she lived on Alderaan, did you? And how many people in the Alliance would know about it?"
"But what's it mean?"
"King Halken created it . oh, centuries ago. You would use it as a request to speak off record with the royal family, or to act without formalities. Or a member of the royal family would use it to ask you not to be formal. It allowed the Family to step out of their official role."
"So I should have been using it all this time?"
"Well, I doubt your sister expected you to use it, even before she knew she was your sister. Plus, it's a very ceremonial gesture, and - I know it's a sad thing to say but - there's no Alderaani court anymore."
"So why did Faren make that gesture then?" Han was saying as he and Leia traveled in a speeder to - he didn't know where they were going. Who cared? He and Leia were off by themselves.
"My guess is, she wanted to emphasize that the discussion we had before - when you and Luke were happily insulting each other - was professional, and not a request for a personal favor. I respect her for that."
"What did she ask for?"
"Would I write her a recommendation if we reinstated the Cultural Studies program. I was already going to suggest to Mon Mothma that we should. Faren's certainly saved us more than once with her experience - don't tell Luke that. I'm still teasing him. Oh, did you tell Chewbacca to get the records on -"
"Yeah, yeah. You heard me on the commlink. I gave the Wook the whole shopping list. Start tracking Vader's records for the day the Naboo were attacked, and so on and so forth. Or get us access to everything and we'll have Artoo go through it. Make Threepio earn the space he's taking up." He suddenly turned sideways in the passenger seat, dropping his head into her lap without preamble. "Much better."
"That makes it very tough to drive."
He watched the underside of her profile framed by the sky. "But wonderful for me. And I'm worth the trouble, right?"
"The first checkpoint is up ahead."
"I said, I'm worth the trouble, right, sweetheart? What checkpoint? Where the hell are we going anyway?"
"Rabé told me that my mother and - Anakin had a cabin up here. Still close enough to the palace if she was needed, but someplace private. And if I hear you make that crack again about how many bedrooms does a Queen need, I'll-"
"No need getting violent. I wasn't going to say it. So what's the checkpoint for?"
"Security. I think Rabé told them we were coming. Don't worry, it's automatic so you don't have to get up," Leia said dryly.
"I wasn't going to get up anyway." He settled himself happily and she reached for his hand. This might be a quick visit, he thought, and just enjoyed his vantage point for the rest of the ride.
The cabin was idyllic, a small home surrounded by trees with its face to the meadow from which they approached. After visiting Amidala's home village, Han could see why she'd pick such a setting.
Her daughter was having a difficult time seeing it. Han saw Leia swallow a few times, imagining parents who'd want to escape away from duty and be off by themselves.
As he and Leia were doing now. Han swallowed against emotion once himself.
He was amazed the place looked so good. Granted, someone at the palace had sent a cleaning crew out here. No weeds grew over the property and the house sparkled in the fading light. But why Vader never destroyed it
Could the bastard actually have had a heart? Han wondered, then remembered the pains of the torture grid he had been strapped to, the first blast from the carbon freezing unit, and Leia's cries during the night from her own nightmares. And then he tried, forced himself to try, and compare all that with the man-machine that let this place stand, and had saved Luke's life on the second Death Star. He felt more confused than ever. And if he was confused - he kept a hold of Leia's hand as they went in.
The first room off to the right was a small living area, the walls bright to catch the natural light, the floor a dark wood. A couch of rich maroon, overstuffed for comfort, wrapped around two walls. It faced a combination holo and communications unit that filled another wall with a rocking chair to its right.
Han nudged it into moving. I bet Amidala planned to rock her kids in this. He imagined a baby Leia falling to sleep here and tried to hide his smile.
The adult Leia was playing at the wall unit. After a few tries at the controls labeled only in Nubian, a bright burst of music suddenly flowed into the room. "That's a court piece," Leia said. "I recognize it from the other night." A shadow fell over her as she imagined Amidala and Anakin listening to this and other music. She stabbed at the control to shut it off.
"Sweetheart-"
"No, I'm okay. Let me let me just soak this in."
He nodded, curious about the rest of the cabin. He moved off down a small hallway; the first door off his right lead to a bedroom. He quickly shut the door; that was too private. Going in there just didn't feel right.
The middle door was for the refresher - nothing spectacular there - followed by Amidala's office. I wonder if Leia wants to see this, he thought and noted the windows here faced the mountains peeking through the trees. Maybe later.
At the end of the hall, the kitchen was off to his left with a dining area on one side and a hallway on the other, leading back to the main room completing the circuit. Off to his right - he poked his head in and his lips pulled back in a delighted grin.
Workbenches lined three walls of the room, covered in tools and parts. His expert gaze picked out speeder components, some droid workings, and a variety of ship pieces. Catching sight of one particular tool, Han hurriedly crossed the room in a few strides, snatching it up.
Look at this! A Laxboken micropick, you can't get these anymore! They ruined it with the newer models. He blew off the accumulated dust. Why didn't they clean up in here? They got the rest of the house.
He stopped cold. Amidala had no need for a workshop. Her workshop was next door in her office. And this wasn't just her home. The cleaning crew ignored this room because it wasn't hers.
Ah, damn it to hell. He'd expected that if he found anything of Anakin Skywalker, it'd be a room with lightsabers and other Jedi mumbo jumbo stuff, things he saw Luke use. Not this, not a room he himself would like, a place where a regular man, not a Sith Lord, would putter for hours.
The room had no windows as if they took up too much precious space from the workbenches, but Han began to feel heat on his head and looked up to a skylight. Amidala looked to the mountains and Vader looked up to the sun? Why?
Luke'd love this. He still feels the cold more than anyone after living in the des - That was it. He'd forgotten. Vader was from Tatooine.
Not Vader, Anakin. Han looked down at the micropick still in his hands, and rolled it back and forth. He didn't hear the snatches of music coming from the other room. He just sat there in the sun, staring at the tool for timeless minutes, and then stood up, looking around on the shelves. He finally found a toolbox, a large one, and then searched in the spacer's vest he had put on today over the casual fatigue shirt of a Republic pilot. Locating a small cylinder of compressed air, he carefully cleaned the dust from each tool and packed it in the toolbox. Luke would want them.
When he had all the box could hold, he snapped it close. The kid'd be here himself in the next few days and could get the rest, but this would mean a lot, that he got this much right away.
A sudden shriek sent him bolting from the room back to Leia. Long years of experience snapped the blaster from its holster on his first stride. It's got to be bad for her to yell!
He reached the end of the hall in mere seconds, dropping to a crouch and swinging the blaster in first, keeping the wall as a cover as he scanned the room.
Leia hadn't yelled. She stood still in the center, a holovid playing directly in front of her. The figures were set to full size and Leia was almost nose to nose with the woman in the holo.
Amidala was in the foreground, beaming into a camera she either held out or had on automatics right in front of her. Her hair was unbound and flowed out of sight behind her shoulders, the same chestnut as Leia's with its red and gold highlights caught by the sunlight.
She was speaking, and it took a moment before it dawned that her mouth didn't quite meet the words. She used Nubian but Leia must have turned the translation circuit on.
"The cabin is finally done," Amidala announced happily. "So we're not stuck-"
A broad chest filled the space behind her and two arms came down, grabbing her. She shrieked playfully, and the world spun as she was whirled around.
"Ani, put me down, put me down!" she yelled and the holo bounced as she was unceremoniously dropped. It straightened out as she got her balance back, the view swinging from her to the owner of the chest previously behind her.
"My attacker," she said and framed the young man in the holo from head to toe. He grinned and waved, then mockingly stalked her and the holocam. His light brown hair turned gold as he moved into the light, the top cropped short and a long braid flung over one shoulder. As he got closer, his sky blue eyes glanced curiously into the holocam.
"Why are you holding it?" he asked her.
"The automatics are broken."
He frowned, turning back to the house. "Why didn't you say so? I can take care of that." He disappeared inside and Amidala spun the camera back to her, rolling her eyes.
"Personally, I think he broke it so he could fix it. But back to the cabin-"
Leia stopped the holo, rewound it, and started it again. Now Han knew why he had heard Amidala shriek but made it here in time to see this from the beginning.
The holo played again to the same point where Leia once more stopped it, this time only rewinding to the shot of Anakin in full frame, and froze it there. He stood there, immobile in time, and stared back her.
Han came up to her, careful to do so from the side, not from behind her as Anakin had done with Amidala. Leia was in agony.
"Who is he, Han?"
He knew she didn't need the identity of the man in the holo, but an answer of which man was real: this one or the one that had haunted her through her whole memory.
"I don't know," he answered. He didn't. In the holo, Anakin was obviously headed for that tool room in the back, intent of fixing his wife's camera for her, as they celebrated the completion of this escape spot, a place where they weren't diplomat and Jedi, but husband and wife.
"There's no date for the holo," Leia whispered. "How much longer after this did he become "
He thought she'd turn away from the image, but she didn't. She stood mesmerized by it, trying to comprehend the man in it.
With quiet despair, she touched the image. It distorted as her fingers brushed it, then immediately righted itself. "How could he? He had everything. And he threw it away."
Her chest rose and fell with her contained distress, and her hand clenched against itself. Han wished she'd scream or cry, anything but this pain that obviously couldn't get out. In the next moment, he wished for it more.
"Why couldn't my mother see she was in love with a lie?"
Han was almost as shaken as she, so much so, he couldn't stand the slight against Amidala. Not after the other night of staring at her tapestry wondering if he'd find himself in her position someday. "You don't mean that, you know you don't. You can't blame her for what he did."
"What he did," she numbly repeated. The holo still stared at her. She met it, stare for stare. "Who is he?"
Han hated that guy staring at them. He hated the man for reminding him of Luke with his light hair and his blue eyes that had the same energy singing with life. He hated him because, right before that man entered the cabin in the holo, he had looked back with amused affection. That man loved his wife. He had a heart. "I guess he's the guy that's been down deep under that armor all these years."
"Like Luke said." She brought her fists up to her eyes, grinding them. "And I'm supposed to see him under that armor?" She returned to the holo, unyielding in understanding this young man who smirked mischievously, as he might have teased her over the years instead of becoming her greatest fear.
Han's heart ached with her as she stood unbending, looking and asking for no help in this battle. He kissed the top of the dark head that didn't even meet his chin. He laid his cheek on it and stared at the vibrant man in the hologram. "Do you love me?"
Her head flung back sharply and her eyes were wide. "How can you ask? You know I do."
He couldn't help it. He had to kiss that scowl on her forehead, down to the tip of her nose, and once on her lips. It took him three tries before he could speak. "I'm nowhere near a slime like Vader, but I did terrible things, Leia. I smuggled the galaxy's worst drug, rushing it as fast as possible so people like Jabba could get it quicker into some kid's system. I killed people cold blooded murder because someone paid me to do it, and I figured as long as it wasn't me- I'm not proud of any of it." He drew his fingers down her cheek and knew she felt him tremble. "When I told you I was a nice man, I lied. I'm not. But I figure that every day since I took Luke and the old man off of Tatooine, I'm making up for the crap I did. Someday, I might break even." He took a long slow breath, and repeated his earlier question hoarsely. "Do you love me?"
She leaned into his hand. "Han, don't do -"
"Say it."
"I love you. Always, as long as you want me and for years after that."
"A slime like me?"
Indignant, she started to yell, then caught herself. "Don't insult my taste in men, Solo. I don't love slime."
"Yeah, you wouldn't. So I changed, and I'm not going back."
She kissed the palm cupping her face, and then looked up, a spark of her temper returning. "Then why wasn't it enough for him? Having my mother, having all this?" She answered her own question. "Because maybe Luke was right. Maybe Anakin started falling without seeing what he was turning into until too late. He thought he could control it, but he couldn't. Maybe " She stared at the image of her father. "Was this some roundabout way of getting me to take another look at him?"
"I said it because it's true. And yeah, so you'd take another look, and I wish you would because I'm sick of defending the guy."
She didn't answer. She faced off against Anakin Skywalker, zooming in the image so he moved to the forefront, now his correct height. She forced herself to look up at him as she always did whenever she confronted him. Her expression became steel and her jaw iron as the struggle went on behind her defiant gaze.
Anakin Skywalker wanted to be a Jedi like her brother. He fell in love and planned a life with a woman, a life that would have included she and Luke. Vader destroyed that life, tortured her, forced her to watch as Alderaan was destroyed... the list was too long. But was Vader this young man?
Yes, he was. But was the young man Vader? He'd become him, yes, and decades later destroy the Sith Lord he became to save his son. But the conflict within Leia was... could she see the man that never knew what he'd turn into?
She let out a breath in an explosive blast, allowing her body to ease with its release. Han knew she'd won the first step in her war.
She wrapped his arms around her, guiding his head down to that spot from behind her ear to the curve of her neck that was so sensitive, and of course he found it right away. "All right, I promise."
They stayed that way for long eternal moments, not interrupting the fragile peace. At last, she switched off the holo, staring at Anakin as he faded out. "I want to get Artoo down here so he can copy all the holos I found."
"Okay," he mumbled, and his breath and lips were another delightful tickle on her skin. "Hey, Princess, wanna dance?"
She smiled, pressing their heads closer together. It was an obvious attempt to change the mood. "Of course."
"I'm not very good, never really learned anything fancy. Might step on your toes."
"Don't worry, I'm quick. I'll get out of the way before you do."
"Just don't go too far, sweetheart."
"Never. If I did, with the way you fly, you'd catch me."
"Always, sweetheart, always."
Luke and Faren walk down the moonlight street, making their slow way back to the palace. The blue-white light bathed everything in iced blue and shadows. As Luke walked in and out of the light, he went from darker hair with sapphire eyes to silver and crystal blue. Faren thanked the moon above for the delight in seeing him this way.
No one else seemed to be out, which was odd. They were on the outskirts of the palace and Theed itself was a city. Even this late at night, people should be about.
But as she only wanted to be alone with him, she didn't spare it another thought.
"Are you okay?" she asked in direct contrast to her admiring musings. At one point in the meal, he had jumped in his seat, his eyes overcome with an energy she saw him use that day in Jaron's throne room; they focused at a point she couldn't see. He had stayed that way for a moment, then shook it off, reassuring her then. Still...
"I'm fine." Then perhaps seeing she needed more of an explanation, he continued. "It was Leia. She had a jolt and I felt it."
"Should you get a hold of her?"
He shook his head, quite calm. "No, it's over already and she wanted to face it on her own anyway. Han was with her, and if she needs to talk it over with me, she'll do it later."
Glad to hear the princess wasn't in danger, she asked with less concern, "So it wasn't like she was in trouble?"
"Not in trouble, but - welll... uh, a jolt like I said." He shrugged. "I'm not sure how else to explain it, but something... took her off guard. Something to do with our father."
"...oh."
"Not Vader, Anakin. At least that what I think it was. I hope so. One of the reasons why she came here was to understand our father better."
"And, of course, your mother."
"Right. But Leia has some memories of Mother. Not a lot since Mother died when Leia was really little, but she has some. That's better than not having any," he said, his voice trailing off.
"Jealous?"
He started to deny it, then made a rueful twist with his face, rolled his eyes, and finally held up his fingers spread a bit apart. She grinned. "Well, that's healthy."
"I don't like thinking I'm jealous though. More like..."
"Wistful?"
"Yeah." Her breath caught at his smile. "That's better. Someday, Leia's going to show me those memories and I'm going to show her my last moment with our father. He had a message for her right before he died. Even though I told her it, it's better if she hears it for herself."
Faren felt her own wistfulness. If only someone could give her memories of her father... "Luke, that day in the throneroom with Jaron, could you really see into the past?"
He gave her an odd look that she couldn't interpret. "A Jedi, when he or she reaches a certain state of meditation, is shown things by the Force. The past and the future. I couldn't go that deep when we were in the throne room, but I could sense how people felt when they relived those days they spoke about. I could tell if they told the truth about it because I sensed their feelings." He stopped talking and walked quietly a few steps. "Plus, something on Naboo increases my ability to use the Force. It was there in the throne room that day. So I made the connection to the people talking very easily which left me plenty of energy to concentrate on Jaron's movements."
"But you can see the past? Haven't you ever used it to see Amidala? That would give you some memories of her."
He looked around the gardens they were now passing, at the empty streets, everywhere but at her. He shrugged. "No. I - uh - was afraid. To see how much Vader had hurt her. But I will - someday."
Wishing she hadn't brought it up, Faren went back to something he said earlier. "This thing that - increases? - the Force for you, what is it?"
"It's not a thing. It's a person."
Her jaw dropped a bit. "One of the Council members is a Jedi? Mother of all, no one's even mentioned-"
"Not a Jedi," he interrupted. "As far as I can tell, she can't ever be trained as a Jedi. She has this gift I never saw before, but she's an amplifier for a Jedi without somehow having the ability to connect herself to the Force."
"She? Who is it? Diseks? Semay?"
His lips thinned as he set his jaw. "I can't tell you. I haven't told her yet."
"You haven't told her? Luke, why not?"
"Because. With everyone being so afraid of Vader, I wasn't sure she'd want to hear about it." His bearing was straight and stiff, making her sorry for what he had obviously taken as an accusation. "If it was you, would you want to know?"
He's always asking me things like this. "This ranks up there with 'What if the Emperor were my father'. I honestly don't know. You're right. Even though Jaron... killed my father, it doesn't take away everything Vader did." She took a deep breath as she thought about it. "But then there's you and what you've done."
"Yeah. So you see what I mean."
The topic seemed to put a wedge between them, making her regret bringing up the subject even more. She tried to make light of it. "I'm always bringing up the tough points with women in your life, don't I? What to buy them, how to talk to them." His mouth curled up and his eyes sparkled again in the moon's light. She breathed easier and went for something she had wondered about all day. "Next thing you know, I'll be telling you that you should contact whomever you have waiting for you back home - just to let them know you're all right, I mean." Oh that was subtle, she yelled at herself.
Luke replied calmly, "If someone was waiting for me, I wouldn't be here now with you."
She kept the cheer to herself. Not subtle, but it worked!
The lane narrowed, moving closer to her, only a hand's breadth away, but nothing more. She made note of the distance he was keeping from her. In fact, she realized, he seemed to be going out of his way to hug the wall as they walked.
And why should it matter how far apart from me he's walking?
Because it does, that's why! came the unsolicited answer. Because I like him! Because I'd like him to like me as well. Because
"Why are you frowning?" he asked.
She hoped the darkness covered her blush. "Just getting mad at myself for... making you uncomfortable before."
"You didn't." He took the small step that separated them, his hand reaching up to ease the lines creasing her forehead. "And you shouldn't frown. I like it so much better when you smile," he whispered. His words had their desired effect and her lips curved in a soft smile. Encouraged, Luke slowly leaned down to kiss where his fingers had just touched her, causing her breath to catch in her throat.
His lips were very soft, more than she ever thought a man's could be, but still firm and so warm that the sensation alone sent lightning through her. His head lifted, then tilted and reached lower. His breath caressed her first in such a rousing, teasing motion she ached for the completion of his mouth on hers. The first kiss explored each other, then without breaking contact, he captured first her lower and then her upper lip in a separate embrace. His hands were entangled in her hair, the gesture adding to the intimacy, and they moved against each other's mouths with slow, longing strokes.
They broke apart, breathing heavily, their foreheads touching and their faces fitting into the curves of the other. Their eyes were closed, heightening the sensations between them.
Luke's hands slid slowly down and she instinctively arched against him. He stopped at the small of her back, his arms tightening around her, and he suddenly fell back. She gasped as she fell with him, her arms flat on his chest, the length of her body already against his.
He only dropped the small distance to the building wall behind him so her weight was fully on him as they leaned together, he on the wall and she on him. He took advantage of the slightly parted mouth before him, his kiss even more boldly exploring hers. He teased her lips with the barest touch of his tongue and her gasp this time was of pleasure. Beneath her hands, his heart pounded and her own was a roar in her ears. His touch was heady and her mind whirled with it, her touch clearly having the same affect on him. They drifted in a world of being with each other, at last free of the barrier keeping them apart.