The Wedding of Luke Skywalker

Chapter 2

By Ash Darklighter

Disclaimer: The characters and situations used in this story are the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. I am only using them for some entertainment and will not even make one republican credit from this endeavour.

Luke eased out of the palace pool, the water dripping from his firm, tanned body. He'd been exercising for hours trying to exhaust himself totally so that he would sleep and not dream. He rubbed a towel roughly over his hair and headed for the steam room. The residents' private gym was deserted at this time of night and he needed his solitude… he needed to think. Unfortunately, he didn't think that an immediate solution to his problem would suddenly appear.

'All this time,' he thought derisively. 'She was there under my nose and I did nothing. She would have laughed me off the planet or taken a saber to my gut if I had. Besides, I still ruined her life. She's not going to forget that.'

Luke Skywalker was in the unenviable position of finding out that the woman the Force told him it was his destiny to marry was the one woman in the galaxy who wouldn't have him. An even bigger problem to the beleaguered Jedi Master was that, after resigning himself to spending his life alone, he'd suddenly realised that he wanted the prospect of a wife and possibly a family very much. Hell, he'd always wanted it. He'd just buried his feelings very deep inside and got on with his life the best that he could.

The Force had indicated that she was his destiny and what was even more disquieting, Luke wasn't unhappy at the idea.  Just the fact that she was bound to reject him out of hand was distressing. She was too cynical, too knowing, and too... Luke's heart missed a beat. Mara Jade was too beautiful for a farmboy turned Jedi from a tenth rate world. Despite all his achievements Luke felt that he didn't measure up when it came to a woman like Mara. Yes, the Force had tempted him with the one woman in the galaxy he would gladly give up his self-imposed emotional isolation for. The Force had paired him with Mara Jade. Was ever a vision so wonderful and so terrible at the same time?

Beautiful Mara, who couldn't even bear to be in the same star system as him for any longer than a few days. It didn't bode well for a lifetime commitment to one another.

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When Leia had commed him several hours ago, he suspected she was up to something. The most adept political diplomat in the galaxy couldn't fool her own brother. He had been giving Artoo his monthly diagnostic when his communications centre had lit up like the Coruscant entertainment district. It had to be Leia. No one else managed to make the console behave quite like she did.

"Yes?" He kept his voice cool. Nothing would irritate her more.

"Luke!" His sister's voice sounded clear and bright and it sent warmth into his aching heart. "Switch to visuals."

Luke grinned, forgetting his reserve and made the necessary modifications. "Hey! Madam Senator." He smiled warmly at her. "I didn't think you'd be back quite so soon. How was Khomm?"

"It was fine. It was just a routine meeting with the ruling council. I haven't been there in some time."

"There was a lot of damage."

"They have managed to rebuild much of their cities over the past few years, but the cloning tanks will never be as they were."

"Perhaps that's not a bad thing. Even with the cloning process there were always some differences." Luke's voice was sombre as he remembered one of his former students, Dorsk 81, who had given his life to save the Jedi on Yavin.

"You're thinking about Dorsk?"

"Of course. I think about all the students I've lost."

"You didn't lose Dorsk. He willingly sacrificed himself to save the Jedi. You'd have done the same."

"I know."

Leia's dark eyes studied her brother carefully. "I wondered…" She hesitated. "Would you like to come over for dinner tonight? Han and I bumped into Karrde and Mara and invited them over."

"Mara's on Coruscant!" Luke exclaimed. His face flushed as he tried not to think about the red haired trader.

"Yes, I thought she would have contacted you by now."

"I've just turned the power back on," he mumbled.

"Power?"

"I was upgrading some wiring. Had to switch the power off."

"There are palace technicians and maintenance droids for that kind of thing." Leia shook her head. Her brother was unbelievable at times. "Just call maintenance and…"

"I'll do a better job myself," Luke rejoined. "At least it will be done properly."

Leia closed her eyes. He wasn't to be argued with in the mood he was in. She could feel his intractability through their bond. She returned to her original subject. "Didn't Mara contact you through the Force?" she questioned persistently.

"I've not been receiving that way either. Put my shields up."

"Luke!" His sister was clearly getting exasperated with him. A bad mood was one thing. The Jedi Master not receiving through the Force was sheer stupidity. "Is that wise? Suppose there was an emergency. A new sith lord or something equally as terrible?"

"Then someone else could have dealt with it for a change. I needed peace to think and I can't get that with all the Force sentients in the galaxy sending me little messages," he whined petulantly. "I don't think I can make it tonight for dinner."

"Suit yourself," Leia snapped. "Just wallow in whatever mire of self-pity you're wallowing in. So the Force has told you to get married – you've always wanted a family."

"Not like this, Leia," he thundered. "What else do I have to sacrifice…?"

Then a stray thought crossed Leia's mind. "You haven't fallen out with Mara, have you?"

"I haven't seen her to fall out with her. When I do see her that's when I'll 'fall out' with her. Jade and I rarely see eye to eye about anything these days. It wouldn't be a good move for me to arrive tonight. I would ruin all your digestions with my bad mood."

"You're certainly not your even-tempered self this afternoon," Leia returned trying to refrain from snapping at him. He could try anyone's patience when he was in this frame of mind.

"I can't be the saintly Jedi master all the time, Leia. I am privy to the usual human failings." With that, he waved his hand and abruptly cut the connection.

"Fine by me, son of Vader," Leia snapped back angrily at the blank holo receiver but her brother had taken his ill-temper and cut the connection

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Luke grimaced. He owed his sister an apology – a big one. He'd been self-pitying and horrible to her and he knew it. He relaxed against the wooden bench and took a deep breath as the hot steam began to build around him. Hunger pangs began to gnaw at his stomach. 'Serves you right,' he told himself. 'You turned down Leia's invitation to supper.' Perhaps he could mediate on his… problem. "Relax, Skywalker," he muttered to himself. "Clear your mind of all trivialities and…"

"So this is where you're hiding yourself?"

Luke jumped. His hand going automatically to where his belt should have been and wasn't. He was only dressed in a pair of dark blue, conservative, swim shorts. No place for a lightsaber there. His problem had arrived in the flesh to test him. No time for meditation then, this was obviously full-out, immediate war on his resolve. The Force was in motion and wasn't wasting any time.

"Mara!" His voice cracked as he jerked himself into a sitting position.

"What's wrong, Skywalker?"

Luke peered through the billowing steam and saw the figure of Mara Jade standing at the entrance to the small room.  He said the first thing that came into his mind. "You coming in or are you just going to stand there?"

"How about you come out," Mara suggested mockingly. "I'm not dressed for these surroundings."

Luke stood up and wandered slowly towards her, his feet making little splashing sounds as he stepped over the warm, wet tiles. The slightly opaque door slid open. "Neither you are," he murmured, looking her up and down. Mara was dressed in a flowing dark green tunic, her hair drawn back from her face and coiled at the nape of her neck. She looked serene and beautiful but her attire was not suitable for a pool or steam room.

"I've been to a rather interesting dinner at your sister's," Mara commented, giving Luke's well-toned, nearly naked body a rather thorough scrutiny as she did so. 'Well, well,' she thought. 'Very nice, farmboy, if I say so myself, although a little thinner than you should be.'

"Oh!" he muttered, suddenly finding his bare feet worth studying. "I couldn't make it."

"That's not what Leia said." Mara's keen green eyes narrowed. She thought she had just glimpsed something approaching panic in Luke Skywalker's guileless blue gaze. He had also not been aware of her approach and she'd not hidden her presence from him. It was not like the Jedi Master to be taken by surprise. "She's worried about you," she said aloud. And I'm beginning to agree.

Luke almost smiled. "When isn't she?" His hope that Leia wouldn't interfere in his life and that he wouldn't regret telling her about his vision vanished. He should have known better. Leia couldn't help but interfere. She only wanted the best for him.

"True," Mara replied reflectively. "But now that I see you myself…" She paused and tilted her head to one side assessingly. "You seem… distracted."

Luke took a deep breath. "We've been friends a long time, you and I – we know each other well."

"Too well sometimes," Mara muttered. "I just wanted to know if I could help you?"

"Help me?" his voice rose warily.

"Yes," she said. "You've helped me out many times in the past…"

"We make a good team," he said bravely.

Mara snorted lightly. "Once I would have carved a rude message on your skin with my lightsaber for suggesting such a thing, but on the occasions we work together – we do make a good team."

"Nice to have your vote of confidence, Jade," Luke mocked. "The therapy has obviously done you good. You can almost say those words without grimacing too much. I think I'll broadcast on the next holo-news. 'Jade says Skywalker is not such a nerf after all.'"

"Mm," Mara murmured, green eyes narrowing dangerously. "Someone is touchy this evening. Leia said she invited you to dinner but that you refused. You never refuse free food usually."

"I don't have to live in my sister's pocket, Jade," he snapped.

"According to Leia, she hasn't seen you for more than an hour since you landed."

Luke grabbed a white towel lying on a fijisi wood bench and headed towards a warm bubbling pool. The potted plants and Ithorian ferns surrounding it, gave it a private air. "I needed some quiet time."

Mara frowned. Luke was being very calm. More calm than usual if that was possible. Yup, Leia was right to be worried about him. She reached out with her Force senses, tried a gentle probe and winced as the Jedi Master's barriers slammed down hard - but not before she sensed his general disquiet and unrest. Luke Skywalker was nervous about something and she had a strange feeling that it centred on herself. She watched him carefully as he dropped the towel onto the heated tiles surrounding the pool and stepped into the warm, whirling water. He sank down until it lapped around his shoulders and closed his eyes, a thankful sigh emerging from deep inside his chest.

Suddenly his eyes snapped open. "You going to stand there all night or are you going to join me? It's very difficult to relax with you standing there like an Imperial guard."

Mara hesitated. The water did look good and the wretched steam had already made some of her hair escape from its confinement and curl around her face. "I don't have a suit," she muttered suddenly, feeling a little self-conscious.

Luke pointed towards the changing area. "Leia has spare suits in a locker. They should fit you. I can't remember the last occasion she was able to be here. She never really has the time." He grinned and waved a wet hand airily in the direction of the changing rooms. "I've just opened the locker for you." A mischievous twinkle lit his eyes. "Or you can do without one and just come in nude."

"No way, farmboy." Mara was definite on that.

"I promise not to peek," he said.

"Leia's suits?" Mara was not amused.

"Open locker in changing area."

"Thanks, I think," Mara muttered and fled towards the changing rooms. Luke was certainly different this evening. His sister was right to be concerned.

Sure enough, a locker gaped open and a selection of swimming attire was presented for her use. Mara selected a plain, black one piece and carefully stripped off her tunic, her mind busy as she recalled the conversation she'd had with Leia about Luke.

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Dinner had been over and they were lingering over cups of fragrant caf when Leia had drawn Mara aside.

"I'm worried about Luke."

"What, again?" Mara had answered tartly.

Leia gave a small smile. "Yes, I suppose so. But he came to me with this problem and I don't know how to help him."

"What problem – the dark side claiming too many of his students again? Or more serious than that – the Jedi have banned the wearing of the colours brown and black. The new colour is pink."

"Not funny, Mara," Leia said shortly. "He had some sort of Force vision. Said something about his destiny."

Mara groaned. "The Force! Figures. I don't think Skywalker can do anything without using his Jedi powers."

Leia watched her carefully and said, "He takes these visions seriously."

"I know, that's what scares me," Mara muttered.

Leia frowned. "You're being unfair to Luke, Mara. The Force is strong within you, too. You've had dreams and visions. Why are you so down on my brother for following what he believes in?"

"Perhaps," she made the half apology grudgingly. "Perhaps I'm envious of his conviction. I don't know."

"Most of his visions come true. Did you know that?"

"I… ah… never considered it. Most of them?"

Leia nodded. "He has seen the future on a number of occasions. Of course, that future is always in motion but sometimes there is nothing he can do about it. He sometimes sees what happens to people he cares about. It is something he has no control over."

"Oh, sithspawn!" Mara's caf lay ignored, gently steaming in front of her. "Is it a bad one?"

"Difficult to say," Leia commented. "It's not apocalyptic… the dawn of another dark empire or anything like that."

"He told you what it was." Mara's voice was certain.

Leia nodded. "He told me part of it. It refers to him and what is supposed to be his future. He sees this as something he is supposed to do. Normally this 'thing' he has to do would make most people happy…" Leia hedged around the topic trying not to give too much away.

"But not Skywalker." Mara's voice was dry.

"No, not my brother. He seemed really distressed by it all." Leia gave a heavy sigh. "I wanted him to come here tonight. I thought that if he wouldn't talk to me, he might to you. He almost bit my nose off. The rancor at Jabba's had less bite. I sense there is more to this than he's telling me and he's not telling me very much."

"He sees all the ethical and moral problems that may occur even with something that affects only himself."

Leia looked startled. "Yes," she murmured. "That's a good part of the problem." She tipped her head to one side and regarded Mara thoughtfully. "You understand him."

"I suppose I do."

"But he wouldn't come to dinner. I think he guessed my motives." Leia's voice was forlorn.

"It was worth a try," Mara consoled her hostess. "Where is he?"

"Don't know," Leia said. "He's been shielding himself very tightly all day. He was apparently rewiring his apartment earlier on today. When I tried him again later this evening there was no answer."

"If he won't talk to you, there's no way he'll say anything to me," Mara stated and wondered why she felt a tiny pang at the thought. "I could beat it out of him," she offered.

Leia's eyes widened in horror.

Mara chuckled wickedly. "Just kidding." She took a mouthful of caf. "What exactly has got his stuffiness so worked up in any case?"

"I can't tell you. Luke would think I was interfering."

"But you are interfering," Mara said. "You really can be manipulative. I sometimes forget there's a politician lurking alongside the Jedi. You've told me enough to whet my appetite and you know I won't leave Skywalker to suffer unnecessarily. I owe him that much and you know it."

"Guilty as charged," Leia said with a shrug. "My brother's welfare is important to me. I think you can help him. He won't tell me anything more but I think he will tell you. He's different with you… more open. More like he used to be when I first met him."

"Hence the dinner invitation." Mara's green eyes narrowed to vivid emerald chips. "I don't like being manipulated, Leia."

"You're not above such things yourself, Mara Jade." Leia's dark eyes narrowed. "I wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for Luke. I will do anything and use anyone to help solve any problems he has."

Mara swallowed. She had the feeling that Leia's shrewd brown gaze was seeing right inside her.

"I love him," Leia continued. "But he needs your help."

The dinner had ended not long after that. Yes, Leia Organa Solo had cleverly manoeuvred her into dealing with the farmboy and his problems. She turned and stared at herself in the mirror dressed in Leia's swimming costume. Yes, this would do. Besides, now seeing Luke, Mara was convinced something was bothering him. Leia was right.

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