Chapter 10
Sitting back in her chair, Mara checked her board. They had this last short jump then they would be back home. She was almost sorry to see this trip end. Being in a relationship with Skywalker, and she was sure that's what they were starting, would be a new experience for her. Having everyone around was bound to make things harder for the two of them.
"You know, we should have stopped somewhere and sent a message," Luke said, interrupting her thoughts. "There are a lot of people that are worried about you."
"If everyone was so worried, then why were you the only one that came to help?" She asked, checking her board once more before turning to look at him.
"Trust me, they wanted to," he said, not quite looking at her. She wanted to tell him that she was starting to worry about him. He had said he was going to rest for a while after they had finished cleaning the day before, but when she went in to check on him, he was deep in a healing trance. He had not told her hat anything was wrong, but he had to have been hurt in some way to feel the need to put himself in one. He woke late in the morning, and had only mumbled something about not meaning to sleep in so late. He had not mention the reason at all. Deciding he would probably tell her when he was ready, she stuck to the topic at hand.
"So, what stopped them?" she asked him. She found it hard to believe that anyone would be concerned about her.
"Well, that would be me. I took off, saying that I could handle it on my own," Luke said, his head hanging slightly in shame.
"You did what?" Mara exclaimed. "Of all the stupid things… Why would you do that? How did you find out where I was?"
"Karrde got hold of Leia who found me and they both told me. I overreacted and took off. From what Han said, Karrde is not too happy with me."
"I would have shot you," she said, and meant it. This was a perfect example of how people did not know how to deal with the Jedi Master, Mara thought, even his own family. During the times when he needed them to control what he was doing the most, they tended to let him go on his own.
"I know," he said, smiling. "If you had been there, I might point out, I would not have had a reason to act that way."
"That's not what I mean," she said, smiling despite the frustration she was feeling.
"If it were someone else and you were the one that told me?" He asked, his brow creasing as he thought about it. "Yeah, I can see you not letting me go alone, but letting me tag along with you."
"Tag along with me?" she asked, unable to keep the laughter out of her voice. "Yeah, I like that. Good answer." She looked at her board, smiling. "Ok, here we are. Let's get this thing down."
They busied themselves with the procedures to land the ship. Neither talked, it was all business now as they went about the familiar tasks of landing the ship. Twenty minuets later, the Jade's Fire set down on one of the many docking platforms on Coruscant.
Mara was just beginning to unfasten her restraints when she saw Luke tense slightly.
"Oh boy," Luke said, glancing towards the exit of the ship.
"What's wrong?" Mara asked, not feeling anything but a slight annoyance coming from Luke.
"Looks like Leia has decided to pay a visit," he told her, shutting down his control board and unfastening the belts holding him in place. "She's waiting outside the ship."
"What's wrong with her being here?" Mara asked, finding it interesting that he did not always enjoy the presence of his overbearing sister. She was also dreading the initial conversation for her own reasons.
"Nothing, I guess," he admitted. "I am just not in the mood to deal with it if she goes off about the way I live my life."
"Oh, but you need to listen to someone," Mara kidded him.
"Oh no, you can't side with her!" he said in mock horror.
"Well, someone needs to get you to listen," she told him, then kissed him lightly. "So, what are you going to tell her?" It was important that she know exactly what he was willing to talk about so that she would not find herself stepping on his toes.
"Unless she asks, nothing," Luke stated. He hurried to explain when Mara started to protest. "On a public docking bay is not the place to tell her. There are too many people listening. Could you imagine the headlines if we are found out that way?"
"I would rather not think about it," Mara admitted. She tried not to think about what would happen if the announcement of a relationship between the two of them were not handled right. The last thing she wanted was for people to get the wrong idea. "Do you think she won't ask?"
"Well, only one way to find out, let's get this over with." They both stood and walked together to the exit ramp. Leia's excited face could be seen as the ramp slowly lowered. Luke had barely reached the bottom before he was trapped in a loving hug from his sister.
"Luke, I'm glad to have you back," Leia said, letting him go and looking at his companion. "And you Mara. I am glad you are safe. Everyone has been so worried."
"It's good to be back," Mara told her. Leia's com beeped and she looked at them apologetically. Stepping away, she talked quietly. A few minutes later, she shut it down and joined them once again. Luke was leaning casually against Mara's ship, talking quietly with Mara.
"I am so sorry you two," she told them, drawing their attention back to her. "I have to get back to work."
"It's alright Leia. I'll meet you at your place in just a little while," Luke assured her.
"Great. Bye you two. Once again, it's good to see you safe, Mara. We have been so worried." With that, she left the bay.
Leia was just outside the landing bay when something occurred to her. She turned around, meaning to invite Luke to dinner. When she reentered the hanger, Luke was still leaning against the hull of the Fire. He and Mara were talking, but they were standing much closer they normally did. Closer then a normal conversation called for. Deciding her question could wait, she left the two of them alone. She would definitely ask Luke about that one though.
"They would not have been worried had the little Jedi controlled himself now would they," Mara asked, stepping in closer, just shy from actually making physical contact with him. He backed up slightly but just encountered more of the hull of the Jade's Fire.
"Yeah and then we could have had three people in the room. That would have been fun," Luke teased.
She could feel her heart start to race from just being near him. Why did I never notice that before? She asked herself. "Hum, then maybe it could have been Han or Talon that helped you through that dream. I can see the fun in that."
"Ok, maybe not," he said.
"Maybe not," she agreed. Dreading the thought that suddenly occurred to her, she frowned because she knew there was no way she could really get out of it. "Well look, I just thought of something. Unless he found someone else to take care of it, I am going to need to make a run for Karrde. Nothing dangerous, but I was the one that was doing it."
"I would not want to keep you," Luke said, looking around, pretending to be scared. "I wouldn't want to get any further on Karrde's bad side," he whispered. She could not help but laugh.
"So, what will you do?" she asked. Mara wished that she could just invite him along, but knew that would just be a distraction. She wanted to get this done and over with as fast as she could. "Are you going to hang out here or go back to Yavin?"
"No. I was thinking about taking Leia, Han, and the kids to Tatooine. I guess it's past time."
"Yes," Mara agreed. "I would think so."
"I would ask you to go," Luke said, taking hold of her hands.
"And I would probably say yes," she said, honestly wishing she could go. "If I didn't have to work." It didn't bother her that they were talking about visiting the parents of his dead wife. She was more intrigued to get a glimpse of what he was like when he was young. Where he grew up, and maybe even some of the friends he had.
"So will I see you when I get back?" He asked her, his voice taking on a slight pleading tone.
"I think that can be arranged," she told him. He is so incredibly gorgeous when he is like this, she thought.
"Well, when do you have to leave?"
"Tomorrow morning." She hated having to leave again so soon, but she had missed a lot during the few days she was gone. She had to get caught up on her work.
"So, what are your plans tonight?" he asked, taking hold of her hands.
"I don't have any," she told him, wondering what he was up to.
"Would you consider going out with me?" he asked, barley hiding the smile that tried to appear on his face.
"A date?" Mara asked, shocked but delighted all at the same time. She had never seen this side of Luke Skywalker. He was playful, outgoing, even chipper, and she could admit that she liked it very much. She knew that she too did not act the same when it came to Luke. She had always told herself that she would rather be shot then to ever act in such a manner. However, her opinion had changed suddenly, when she realized that Luke Skywalker shared her feelings.
"Yes, a real date," he said, his eyes dancing as he watched her.
"Sure. Where would you like to go?"
"Your choice," he decided, letting go of her and running his hands through his hair.
"Wow, you are brave," she announced, idea's flooding her mind of the different places she would like to take him.
"I think I can handle anything you can pick out," he told her.
"You think so?" she asked, rubbing her hands together. She started mentally listing places that she just knew that a farmboy like him would never set foot into. "Oh, I love a challenge."
"You pick the place," he said, a sly smile lighting up his face. "And I get to pick what you are going to wear."
"Sounds acceptable," Mara agreed. What could he possibly pick out that would be worse then what I am planning, she thought to herself.
A few hours later Leia was in her bedroom picking clothes out of her closet. She selected a pale blue dress from her selection and pulled it on. Dropping the towel she was wearing next to Han, she fastened up the dress.
"I'm telling you, something is going on with those two," she told her husband as she sat at the mirror to fix her hair and makeup.
"Just because you thought they were standing too close?" Han asked, while buttoning up his shirt and grabbing his shoes. "Maybe they just couldn't hear each other."
"Then they would have used the Force like they always do. They were standing close because they wanted to."
There was a buzz from the door, and Han stood up to answer it, throwing an amused look at his wife.
"It's Luke," Leia told him. She followed him out of the bedroom. She went to the kitchen while Han let her brother in.
She had just finished filling three glasses of wine when the two men joined her. Handing them their glasses she took a sip of hers.
"It's good to see you, Luke. I was hoping you would get here before we left."
"Yeah, well it's been a long week," he said, smiling. "I had to unload the X-Wing out of the Jade's Fire. Then I went home for a while."
"Well, I am glad you made it," Leia told him. There was something different about him, but she could not put her finger on it.
"Did I interrupt anything?" he asked, indicating their state of dress.
"No, not really, I was just fixing myself up."
"Yeah kid, you know how long that can take," Han said, then ducked the dishtowel Leia sent his way.
"So, what are you two planning?" Luke asked, hiding his laugh behind his wine glass.
"We have a dinner meeting with someone. Oh, I know," Leia exclaimed, throwing her free hand up. "Luke, why don't you come with us? You have time before we have to be there. It'll be fun."
"It sounds like it," he said, the sarcasm only slightly evident in his voice. "But I'll have to pass this time."
Leia watched him, and could now plainly see the difference in her brother. Whatever had happened to him on this mission had a positive effect on him. He was calm, even happy. Now she wanted to see if he would tell her what exactly happened.
"Why?" she asked. "So you can sit alone in your apartment?"
"No," he said, the smile never diminishing from his face. "As a matter if fact, I have a date tonight."
"You do?" she exchanged a knowing look with her husband. Time to confirm, little brother, she thought. "Care to tell us with whom?"
"I am sure you would find out even if I did not tell you. I am going out with Mara."
"Good for you," Han said, slapping him on the back. Totally ignoring the 'I told you so' look he got from his wife. "About time you found someone that can challenge you. So where are you going."
"I don't know," Luke said. "I'm going to let her decide."
"Good luck," Han told him.
"I don't think I'll need it, but thanks." The room down the hall suddenly exploded in loud screams and laughter. Han excused himself and went to check it out. "When did the kids get back?"
"Yesterday. Chewie brought them back so that he could have some time alone with his family."
"Speaking of that," Luke said, looking a bit uneasy. "I know you mentioned taking some time off, are you still planning on doing that?"
"Well, yes. I start my vacation tonight, why?"
"Do you two have any plans?"
"Just some quiet time hiding out," Leia told him. She was really looking forward to spending some time alone with her family without her job getting in the way. If need be, they would lock their doors and never leave the apartment. "What's on your mind, Luke? Why are you asking?"
"I had an idea, that's all. Arielle's parents have been pushing to meet you. I thought this would be a good time."
"You wanted what, just me to go…" He finally decides to open up this part of his life, but would he really want to take me away now, when I finally have time to spend with Han and the kids?
"No, all of you," Luke assured her with a smile. "They want to meet my family."
"I would love to Luke, but I'll have to talk to Han about that."
"Talk to me about what?" Han said, reentering the room, from the now quiet hallway.
"Luke wants to take us to Tatooine," Leia explained to him.
"Why would you want to do that?" Han asked, glancing at Luke.
"To meet his in-laws," Leia told him.
"Now that's a whole different story isn't it?" Han said, smiling, cheerfully. "Is that really what you want, kid?"
"I think it's time," Luke told him.
"When are you planning this exciting adventure?" Han asked.
"Well when ever you guys are ready, my calendar is open."
"Hey, kid, give yourself some credit. Mara may still want to see you again after the first date. Don't go making escape plans so soon."
Luke laughed at that. Han could always get a reaction out of him. "It's not that. I already know that Mara is leaving tomorrow morning."
"So, she has her escape plan mapped out already so you thought you should too?" Han asked.
"No, not that at all," Luke said, his good mood still apparent. Leia had expected Luke to get upset at Han's teasing, but he was taking it well. Smiling to herself, Leia figured Luke had made a good choice this time. Mara seemed to have a good affect on him.
"I know," Han said. "I was just messing with you."
"When would you guys be free to go?" Luke asked.
"Well seeing how we all have plans already tonight, how about we leave sometime tomorrow?" Leia asked. Now that she thought about it, she couldn't wait to meet some of the people Luke grew up with. She had met Biggs, but only briefly. She had to see a picture of him before she even remembered who he was. It did not give her any insight on Luke's childhood.
"And seeing how you have no idea what time you are going to be getting in tonight," Han said, interrupting her thoughts, "We can make it later in the day so you can get some rest."
Luke shook his head. "Something tells me I am going to regret telling you about this."
"If you had not told me, I would have found out anyway."
"I'm sure you would have."
