The Arrangement
By Rhea Jediknight
Disclaimer: I'm not making any money from this work. Thanks go to George Lucas and Timothy Zahn for creating such wonderful characters.
This story is dedicated to Ash Darklighter for her friendship and infinite patience and to Veronica for her unflagging encouragement. Thank you!
Thanks go to Lacy_1, Mike Vanden Berg, aniamifan_1988, star_rebel, and of course Angel Tsuiraku. Thanks for your feedback and keeping me going on the postings here! I really appreciate it!
Rhea
**********
Part Nine
Mara stood up abruptly and said, "It's getting hot in here. I think I'm going to take a walk." She rubbed the slight bruises on her arms as she walked away.
Before Luke could say anything Mara was out the door.
Luke jumped up, called his lightsaber to his hand, and clipped it to his belt as he dashed after her. The dense jungle pressed up against the three sides of the retreat and he couldn't see her in the clearing.
"Mara!" he yelled into the thick growth.
"Oh no," Luke moaned to himself. He had the finesse of a Hutt, he told himself.
He stretched out with his feelings latching on to the thin line that connected him to Mara. It tugged him to the North and he set off after her in a run.
It felt good to gain some distance from Skywalker, but Mara couldn't help but wonder if it had been a mistake to leave. There was only one way that he could interpret her departure. He had to know that his reaction to Callista's name bothered her. It was normal, Mara supposed, even if she didn't love him for her pride to be wounded at the thought of her current lover pinning away for a past love.
Mara decided she would be upfront about her feelings. They would be honest. Besides, she knew he would sense her emotions soon enough. She sat down on a large rock jutting from the ground and waited.
When Skywalker caught up to her she said, "I'm here."
His searching gaze immediately flew to her. His hair was disarrayed, his eyes wide and worried. "Mara!" He came to her side. "I'm so sorry Mara."
He tried to say more, but she shook her head and began to speak. "I'm sorry too. It hurt my pride that she can still get that kind of reaction from you. I know" she took a deep breath and continued, "I know that it shouldn't matter. We've always been honest with each other. We both knew that this was a marriage of convenience. So I think it's best if we just put this discussion behind us."
"Mara, You must believe me when I tell you that she's in the past." Luke assured her.
"Don't Skywalker. I know how much she means to you, you don't have to try and spare my feelings."
Luke wanted to deny Callista's hold on him, but he didn't want to let this opening drop. "Your feelings?" he prompted.
She sighed heavily. This was the point of no return. Mara squared her shoulders and met his gaze as if he were her executioner. "I guess I can't keep if from you any longer, and I certainly didn't plan it, but I find that I've fallen in love with you."
Incredible joy and relief filled him. At last! She was acknowledging her love. Things could finally be set right. "I know." Luke said smiling softly, "I'm glad that we can finally be open with each other."
Mara winced and Luke eyebrows drew together.
He continued "I've already told you my feelings, but I'll say it anyway, I love you."
He had already told her that he loved Callista but he would say it anyway to her as well? What kind of response was that?
It was just as she feared. He was trying to spare her pain, not wanting to hurt her. She didn't deny that he felt something for her, but his feelings for her did not compare to what he felt for Callista. They were not of the same magnitude. Luke might want to love her, after all she was his wife, but wanting and actually doing so was another thing. He wanted a family so desperately he'd do anything. . . believe anything to acquire it.
Mara watched him silently, trying to remain detached, not wanting to allow her hurt to show.
He waited expectedly for some sort of reaction, a softening in her expression, a lightening of the darkness that clung to her. Something was wrong here, he could feel it. Luke was confused about this shared declaration. Had he misheard her? Hadn't she just said that she loved him and he told her the same in kind? Why then, did she seem colder, more remote than ever? He moved toward her, intent on pulling her into his arms, but Mara raised a hand stopping him. He tried to sense her, but she was a duracrete wall.
Mara asked, "Then why did you react the way you did back there?"
Her green gaze pierced deeply into his blue. Mara wanted to believe him, she really did and the irony was that if Luke were a less honorable person, she would have. But Luke always put others first. Why would she be an exception? She could see his confusion, and wondered if he really did believe that he loved her. But he couldn't not really. No matter what his feelings for her, he loved Callista more.
She could appreciate what he was doing. He was trying, he really was. He wanted them to be happy. He wanted her to be open about her love for him, and he would cultivate the passion and friendship between them to try and build something more. They were married. They intended to have a family together and to live the rest of their lives together. Perhaps it was best to put Callista in the past, to allow her memory to fade in his mind. Perhaps Luke's feelings for Mara would grow, his love would deepen to be equal to the one he shared with his lost love.
Luke guessed that she was angry with him, and he couldn't blame her. Why had she even brought up Callista in the first place? It didn't take too much thinking to have his answer. Mara was jealous. She really did love him. Perhaps, she just wasn't sure how to go about expressing her emotions for him. It's not as if she ever had a true example during her upbringing.
The closest thing Mara ever had to a father, was the Emperor. This was certainly not an ideal upbringing to learn the ability to express love. Luke was more than happy to show her his love. He would give her time to relax and to become more open with him. Perhaps the Emperor was also the reason for the perpetual Force shields she maintained against him. Mara had told the Jedi that she could hear the Emperor anywhere in the galaxy. He doubted that rasping voice was always a welcome sound inside her head. He shuddered at the thought.
He focused on responding to her question. Why had he reacted in the way that he had? "I didn't realize that it still hurt. I guess I was still reeling from my bad luck with love."
Mara's eyes widened, shocked that he admitted this to her.
Luke saw her reaction and quickly amended, "I'm not talking about us. We have some things to work out, but we both love each other. I have no doubt that we will be a happy together."
She nodded her head, almost reluctantly. She did not regret their decision to marry, regardless of everything. Mara had wanted him when there was no love in the mix. Now that she knew her own heart, she would be damned if she gave up on them. The specter of Callista would be banished forever. That body stealing ghost was long gone and Mara was here. She would not allow Callista to ruin her only chance at true happiness.
**********
It took a day or two but Luke and Mara eventually resumed the easy banter between them. They talked for hours mostly centered on practical subjects such as their living arrangements and their various obligations. They agreed to make Luke's apartment their new home because he had a larger place, and Mara professed to have no real attachment to her place.
"The Jade's Fire is my home." She declared.
Mara did not go so far as to say that she would give up her work for Talon Karrde, but she expressed an interest in suspending it for awhile to finalize her Jedi training. She knew this would please Skywalker, and it would encourage him to resume his association with the Academy. Luke was fully aware of her motivations and loved her all the more for them.
They told each other stories of their youth and with each story that Mara shared, Luke's understanding of his wife grew, hardening his resolve to give her all the affection she had been denied as she was growing up. He reminded himself that her lack of wiliness to reciprocate his love was not due to a lack of feeling, but that she was unaccustomed to expressing herself in such a manner. He hoped that in time she would trust him enough to lower her shields, and finally release the bonds of the past. They made no more mention about their arrangement, although there was no denying that they both thought about it often. It had a tendency to color their reactions or comments at the oddest moments.
They explored the surrounding area of the retreat and even made love on the soft ground beside a winding river. They had fallen asleep only to awaken when one of the indigenous life forms paused to take a drink beside them. Warily, they watched as the creature departed, and they quickly gathered their clothing and made their way back to the retreat.
Each day their passion grew. The memory of the pleasure they shared served to fuel their inexhaustible craving for the other. On some occasions, their exchanges would be slow and sweet. On other occasions, the passion would explode between them and their lovemaking would transport them beyond the realm of reason, leaving them exhausted but incredibly satisfied.
It was only after their supplies began to dwindle that they decided it was time to leave. Mara urged Luke to stop at the Academy before they left the planet. Only after ascertaining that she really was not adverse to going there did he agree. After all, they were already on Yavin, it seemed a shame to come all that way without at least making an appearance.
Once they had left the retreat, Skywalker seemed eager to return to Coruscant. Their visit at the Academy was brief, little more than a refueling and restocking stop, before they were back in space again.
Once they reached Coruscant, Luke made a great show of giving her the entry code. "But if you forget there's always the window." He joked.
Mara was not in the habit of acquiring objects for the sake of possession, never staying in one place for an extended time. It took little effort for her to move her meager collection of belongings into Skywalker's apartment. Eager to have some time alone with her thoughts, Mara encouraged Luke to accept Han's invitation to lunch.
Mara had met Leia for lunch that very afternoon. Leia had given Luke and Mara a wedding gift with the express instructions not to open it until a week before their first anniversary. Leia then gave Mara a small box. When Mara opened it she found an Alderaanian friendship token, the other half to the one that Leia wore.
Mara absently touched the medallion at her neck. The red head had felt the tears gather in her eyes, and the two women had hugged. Mara had said that they were both friends, but she until that moment really felt it for the first time.
Once alone in Skywalker's apartment, Mara moved her computer next to Luke's com unit, and plugged it into the desk. Then, she hung her clothes in the closet alongside Luke's, laughing softly to herself at the numerous dark Jedi tunics and cloaks hanging inside the closet. As she touched the cloth of one tunic, she reflected on how amazingly intimate and binding it seemed to be placing her clothes alongside her husband's wardrobe.
She pulled one of Luke's tunics from the closet, exploring the texture of the dark cloth with her hand. She remembered the last time she had seen him wear this particular outfit. It had been more than a year ago. Mara and Talon Karrde had arranged to meet Han Solo to get some insight into the routes around Kessel and Luke had decided at the last minute to tag along.
Mara remembered the way she had felt when she saw the Jedi. The moment she stood within his presence, she had become incredibly aware of her environment. He had always made her feel more attuned to things, more alive. Mara pressed the cloth to her nose inhaling deeply. It had been laundered, but she could still detect the slightest hint of Luke's scent and an afterimage of his vibrant presence through the Force.
She replaced the tunic and moved to the dresser. She pulled open drawers, attempting to find space for her undergarments. She chuckled when she discovered an old worn, Tatooine desert outfit. She wouldn't be the least surprised if when she pulled the brown, sun-beaten cloak from the drawer, to see the sand of his desert home world tumble to the floor.
She closed the drawer, moving to the next one and found a bunch of keepsakes Luke had collected from numerous worlds. Among the assortment of items, there was an odd red crystal shard that glimmered enticingly in the back corner, a dismantled lightsaber hilt, a droid restraining bolt, a collection of delicate shells, and a holoplate. It was obvious that this collection had sentimental value to Skywalker. Mara pulled the holoplate, grinning slightly and activated the holoprojector.
Her mouth froze in place, her skin becoming icy. An image of Callista appeared, slightly bluish in the holographic rendering. Callista was smiling warmly, and Mara had no doubt that Luke had captured this image. Mara moved to jab the projector off, and hit the wrong button. The images began to shift in a montage of scenes. Some included Luke, but all of them featured Callista. Mara sobbed when she saw an image of them kissing.
A whistle drew her attention to the doorway and she saw Artoo regarding her with his main sensor array. He warbled a definite question.
She dropped the holoplate back into the drawer.
Mara forced a smile onto her face, that wavered only slightly, "It's alright, Artoo. I was just finishing with my stuff." She realized how much she had changed in the last few weeks as she tried to comfort the little astromech droid.
She slammed the drawer closed with unnecessary force, and found a drawer Luke had emptied for her use. She pushed the rest of her belongings inside, resisting the urge to snatch them back and return to her old apartment.
When Skywalker returned, she made no mention of her unwitting discovery. She did not want him to become aware of how this evidence of his inability to let his former love go had hurt her. Luke gave her a long look sensing her distress, but when he questioned her about it she did not answer. The subject was quickly forgotten when Mara launched herself at him, kissing him. Mara wanted to erase that woman's memory from Luke's mind. Surely, over time Luke would release Callista to the past. They made passionate love that night, and Luke never thought to ask again about Mara's odd mood.
It was many weeks later that Mara realized that their love making continued on a nightly basis, unhindered by her monthly flow. Mara arranged for a medical examine the following day. She didn't tell Luke about her appointment, not wanting to share her suspicions until she was certain. She didn't feel sick in the mornings, but she did notice that she seemed to be more hungry of late. Mara had found herself snacking at the oddest hours, but when she sat down to consume a meal, she was oddly full. Well, she would learn the truth soon enough.
*********
Even through the transparisteel roof, Mara could make out the faint lights of the orbiting space traffic. Not quite as high as the honeymoon suite at the Grande Hotel, the Corellian Club Atrium was still a respectable height. Mara observed the family of the bride and groom performing the final preparations for the ceremony. They arranged the chairs into neat rows and placed bouquets of blue aquatic flowers to the sides of the center aisle. Their sweet odor drifted by at sporadic intervals, caught on the eddies of air swirling around the Atrium. Natural gas flames jetted from tall columns along the four transparent walls, and large fountains sprinkled flame like water at artistic intervals throughout the garden. Large birds with iridescent wings fluttered overhead, reflecting the flickering blaze as they past. Their mating calls provided a music that was more haunting than any orchestra could produce.
Luke stood at the end of the small clearing reviewing his notes for the final time. He had agreed to perform this wedding ceremony for a promising young Jedi student, Greere Larrsion. Greere had met his bride to be, Kriliana Phi, when she substituted for the regular pilot who made regular supply runs to Yavin IV. Their attraction had been instantaneous, and their courtship brief, but no one doubted the purity of the love they shared. Krilliana was a young Corellian, who made no effort to hide how very much in love she was with her shy Jedi groom, and from the first moment they had met, she had managed to put him at ease with her charming mannerism and ready wit. No one was very much surprised when the couple announced their betrothal.
Mara was never fond of these affairs, but she enjoyed seeing the happy couple and besides, Luke looked incredibly handsome in his finery. She looked forward to dancing with him at the reception. The air was oxygen rich, making her feel slightly light headed, or perhaps it was the new life form growing inside of her that was the cause of her slight dizziness. A baby. They were going to have a baby.
This knowledge filled her with great anticipation, but it also made her feel unaccountably nervous. Mara had only learned that she was expecting this afternoon, and hadn't shared the news with Skywalker yet. She didn't want to disrupt his concentration from the wedding. Besides, she would never again get the chance to tell him that he was going to be a father for the first time. She wanted to make it a special moment for the both of them. She would wait until the wedding was over. Maybe she would tell him in the quiet moments after their lovemaking.
Mara grinned to herself. Yes, she would wait until later tonight. Skywalker glanced up just in time to catch her grin. He smiled in response, a light question in his sense.
*I'll tell you later, flyboy.* She sent to him in reply to his unasked question.
He nodded slightly, still smiling. Luke continued to watch Mara as she slowly strolled among the tall plants and burning fountains. The light of the fire seemed to make Mara's hair a living flame. Her black dress glimmered with her movements, clinging to her form, making him ache to hold her. Mara was breathtakingly beautiful and she was his. Not entirely, a little voice mocked in his head. He basked in her glowing presence. There was something about her that seemed more alive somehow. Her Force presence was amplified, stronger, and her very proximity soothed his parched soul like a cool drink of water.
Mara found that she could think of little else, but the fact that in seven months she would give birth to a baby boy. Once she became aware of his impending arrival, she could feel his Force signature blaze within her. Their baby would be strong in the Force. He was so much a part of her, and yet she could distinguish his life form individual from her own. She wondered if Skywalker had already detected his presence, but somehow she doubted it. There had been nothing in his mannerism to indicate that he was aware of the baby. Besides, Mara had a feeling that if Luke had discovered this fact, he would have felt compelled to inform her.
She imagined Luke's response to the news. Would he be elated? Happy? Or resigned to the knowledge that his fate was set with a woman that he didn't love? No matter what happened now, she knew the moment Skywalker was aware that he was to be a father, he would never leave her. His honor would never let him abandon his child, so she had won in the end. Callista could never really claim him now.
Why did this victory feel so hollow?
Mara wandered toward the back area, watching with some amusement as some of the groom's men encouraged the shy groom to drink some liquor. Greere reluctantly took a flask from his best man, downed the drink in one large swallow, and then smiled widely as they other men cheered. He was a pale man with light brown hair and sparkling gray eyes, garbed in a dark blue suit. A lightsaber hung from his belt. He seemed to relax as the spirits hit his system and Mara could feel his happiness swirl around him.
She ducked away. The seats were filled and the air around them had become hushed. Luke smiled at Mara, when he saw her return. Luke gestured for her to sit in the front row, and after some debate she finally agreed. She took the seat at the far end, leaving the remainder of the chairs for the couple's immediate family.
Luke was the picture of composure, but she could sense his nervousness.
*Relax* she soothed him, projecting to him an air of calm. *You've done this before.*
*I know but it seems so very important.*
He smiled at her, feeling her attempt to put him at ease and he was encouraged by her skillful manipulation of the Force. The chairs filled, and Mara saw the moment Luke's attention was drawn to the end of the aisle. Mara swiveled in her chair to see the groomsmen file down the aisle to wait in front of Luke. Then the bridesmaids completed their processional, followed shortly by a very pretty young woman dressed in pale blue.
The groom's eyes locked onto the woman's gaze and their love was a palpable presence to the gathering. When Mara glanced up at Luke, she saw that his gaze had shifted to examine her face, and she blushed at the intense look in his eye. He smiled, actively refocusing his attention on the waiting couple.
Luke began the ceremony. Mara had no idea what the coupled did, she only had eyes for Luke. She felt incredibly attuned to him at this moment, aware of the slightest variations of his moods. She felt the small life within her flutter through the Force and she knew that her intense focus on the baby's father had stirred the child within her. Luke was made for this kind of thing. His voice was strong, carrying to the furthest reaches of the Atrium, its resonance causing tiny ripples of pleasure to shiver down her spine.
Luke gazed out at the gathered assembly and faltered. His features tightened and his face blanched. Mara felt a tidal storm of shock erupt from him, and then a hastily erected barrier that blocked further thoughts or feelings from her. He stared into the crowd. The silence becoming awkward. The bride and groom exchanged quick looks with each other and then glanced over their shoulder trying to ascertain what had caused the Jedi Master to react so strongly, but they could see no cause for his distraction.
Mara turned in her seat, her eyes going to the place where Luke was staring and felt as if her entire world had exploded, leaving her adrift in the icy reaches of space. There, seated among the groom's family, sat Callista Ming.
By Rhea Jediknight
Disclaimer: I'm not making any money from this work. Thanks go to George Lucas and Timothy Zahn for creating such wonderful characters.
This story is dedicated to Ash Darklighter for her friendship and infinite patience and to Veronica for her unflagging encouragement. Thank you!
Thanks go to Lacy_1, Mike Vanden Berg, aniamifan_1988, star_rebel, and of course Angel Tsuiraku. Thanks for your feedback and keeping me going on the postings here! I really appreciate it!
Rhea
**********
Part Nine
Mara stood up abruptly and said, "It's getting hot in here. I think I'm going to take a walk." She rubbed the slight bruises on her arms as she walked away.
Before Luke could say anything Mara was out the door.
Luke jumped up, called his lightsaber to his hand, and clipped it to his belt as he dashed after her. The dense jungle pressed up against the three sides of the retreat and he couldn't see her in the clearing.
"Mara!" he yelled into the thick growth.
"Oh no," Luke moaned to himself. He had the finesse of a Hutt, he told himself.
He stretched out with his feelings latching on to the thin line that connected him to Mara. It tugged him to the North and he set off after her in a run.
It felt good to gain some distance from Skywalker, but Mara couldn't help but wonder if it had been a mistake to leave. There was only one way that he could interpret her departure. He had to know that his reaction to Callista's name bothered her. It was normal, Mara supposed, even if she didn't love him for her pride to be wounded at the thought of her current lover pinning away for a past love.
Mara decided she would be upfront about her feelings. They would be honest. Besides, she knew he would sense her emotions soon enough. She sat down on a large rock jutting from the ground and waited.
When Skywalker caught up to her she said, "I'm here."
His searching gaze immediately flew to her. His hair was disarrayed, his eyes wide and worried. "Mara!" He came to her side. "I'm so sorry Mara."
He tried to say more, but she shook her head and began to speak. "I'm sorry too. It hurt my pride that she can still get that kind of reaction from you. I know" she took a deep breath and continued, "I know that it shouldn't matter. We've always been honest with each other. We both knew that this was a marriage of convenience. So I think it's best if we just put this discussion behind us."
"Mara, You must believe me when I tell you that she's in the past." Luke assured her.
"Don't Skywalker. I know how much she means to you, you don't have to try and spare my feelings."
Luke wanted to deny Callista's hold on him, but he didn't want to let this opening drop. "Your feelings?" he prompted.
She sighed heavily. This was the point of no return. Mara squared her shoulders and met his gaze as if he were her executioner. "I guess I can't keep if from you any longer, and I certainly didn't plan it, but I find that I've fallen in love with you."
Incredible joy and relief filled him. At last! She was acknowledging her love. Things could finally be set right. "I know." Luke said smiling softly, "I'm glad that we can finally be open with each other."
Mara winced and Luke eyebrows drew together.
He continued "I've already told you my feelings, but I'll say it anyway, I love you."
He had already told her that he loved Callista but he would say it anyway to her as well? What kind of response was that?
It was just as she feared. He was trying to spare her pain, not wanting to hurt her. She didn't deny that he felt something for her, but his feelings for her did not compare to what he felt for Callista. They were not of the same magnitude. Luke might want to love her, after all she was his wife, but wanting and actually doing so was another thing. He wanted a family so desperately he'd do anything. . . believe anything to acquire it.
Mara watched him silently, trying to remain detached, not wanting to allow her hurt to show.
He waited expectedly for some sort of reaction, a softening in her expression, a lightening of the darkness that clung to her. Something was wrong here, he could feel it. Luke was confused about this shared declaration. Had he misheard her? Hadn't she just said that she loved him and he told her the same in kind? Why then, did she seem colder, more remote than ever? He moved toward her, intent on pulling her into his arms, but Mara raised a hand stopping him. He tried to sense her, but she was a duracrete wall.
Mara asked, "Then why did you react the way you did back there?"
Her green gaze pierced deeply into his blue. Mara wanted to believe him, she really did and the irony was that if Luke were a less honorable person, she would have. But Luke always put others first. Why would she be an exception? She could see his confusion, and wondered if he really did believe that he loved her. But he couldn't not really. No matter what his feelings for her, he loved Callista more.
She could appreciate what he was doing. He was trying, he really was. He wanted them to be happy. He wanted her to be open about her love for him, and he would cultivate the passion and friendship between them to try and build something more. They were married. They intended to have a family together and to live the rest of their lives together. Perhaps it was best to put Callista in the past, to allow her memory to fade in his mind. Perhaps Luke's feelings for Mara would grow, his love would deepen to be equal to the one he shared with his lost love.
Luke guessed that she was angry with him, and he couldn't blame her. Why had she even brought up Callista in the first place? It didn't take too much thinking to have his answer. Mara was jealous. She really did love him. Perhaps, she just wasn't sure how to go about expressing her emotions for him. It's not as if she ever had a true example during her upbringing.
The closest thing Mara ever had to a father, was the Emperor. This was certainly not an ideal upbringing to learn the ability to express love. Luke was more than happy to show her his love. He would give her time to relax and to become more open with him. Perhaps the Emperor was also the reason for the perpetual Force shields she maintained against him. Mara had told the Jedi that she could hear the Emperor anywhere in the galaxy. He doubted that rasping voice was always a welcome sound inside her head. He shuddered at the thought.
He focused on responding to her question. Why had he reacted in the way that he had? "I didn't realize that it still hurt. I guess I was still reeling from my bad luck with love."
Mara's eyes widened, shocked that he admitted this to her.
Luke saw her reaction and quickly amended, "I'm not talking about us. We have some things to work out, but we both love each other. I have no doubt that we will be a happy together."
She nodded her head, almost reluctantly. She did not regret their decision to marry, regardless of everything. Mara had wanted him when there was no love in the mix. Now that she knew her own heart, she would be damned if she gave up on them. The specter of Callista would be banished forever. That body stealing ghost was long gone and Mara was here. She would not allow Callista to ruin her only chance at true happiness.
**********
It took a day or two but Luke and Mara eventually resumed the easy banter between them. They talked for hours mostly centered on practical subjects such as their living arrangements and their various obligations. They agreed to make Luke's apartment their new home because he had a larger place, and Mara professed to have no real attachment to her place.
"The Jade's Fire is my home." She declared.
Mara did not go so far as to say that she would give up her work for Talon Karrde, but she expressed an interest in suspending it for awhile to finalize her Jedi training. She knew this would please Skywalker, and it would encourage him to resume his association with the Academy. Luke was fully aware of her motivations and loved her all the more for them.
They told each other stories of their youth and with each story that Mara shared, Luke's understanding of his wife grew, hardening his resolve to give her all the affection she had been denied as she was growing up. He reminded himself that her lack of wiliness to reciprocate his love was not due to a lack of feeling, but that she was unaccustomed to expressing herself in such a manner. He hoped that in time she would trust him enough to lower her shields, and finally release the bonds of the past. They made no more mention about their arrangement, although there was no denying that they both thought about it often. It had a tendency to color their reactions or comments at the oddest moments.
They explored the surrounding area of the retreat and even made love on the soft ground beside a winding river. They had fallen asleep only to awaken when one of the indigenous life forms paused to take a drink beside them. Warily, they watched as the creature departed, and they quickly gathered their clothing and made their way back to the retreat.
Each day their passion grew. The memory of the pleasure they shared served to fuel their inexhaustible craving for the other. On some occasions, their exchanges would be slow and sweet. On other occasions, the passion would explode between them and their lovemaking would transport them beyond the realm of reason, leaving them exhausted but incredibly satisfied.
It was only after their supplies began to dwindle that they decided it was time to leave. Mara urged Luke to stop at the Academy before they left the planet. Only after ascertaining that she really was not adverse to going there did he agree. After all, they were already on Yavin, it seemed a shame to come all that way without at least making an appearance.
Once they had left the retreat, Skywalker seemed eager to return to Coruscant. Their visit at the Academy was brief, little more than a refueling and restocking stop, before they were back in space again.
Once they reached Coruscant, Luke made a great show of giving her the entry code. "But if you forget there's always the window." He joked.
Mara was not in the habit of acquiring objects for the sake of possession, never staying in one place for an extended time. It took little effort for her to move her meager collection of belongings into Skywalker's apartment. Eager to have some time alone with her thoughts, Mara encouraged Luke to accept Han's invitation to lunch.
Mara had met Leia for lunch that very afternoon. Leia had given Luke and Mara a wedding gift with the express instructions not to open it until a week before their first anniversary. Leia then gave Mara a small box. When Mara opened it she found an Alderaanian friendship token, the other half to the one that Leia wore.
Mara absently touched the medallion at her neck. The red head had felt the tears gather in her eyes, and the two women had hugged. Mara had said that they were both friends, but she until that moment really felt it for the first time.
Once alone in Skywalker's apartment, Mara moved her computer next to Luke's com unit, and plugged it into the desk. Then, she hung her clothes in the closet alongside Luke's, laughing softly to herself at the numerous dark Jedi tunics and cloaks hanging inside the closet. As she touched the cloth of one tunic, she reflected on how amazingly intimate and binding it seemed to be placing her clothes alongside her husband's wardrobe.
She pulled one of Luke's tunics from the closet, exploring the texture of the dark cloth with her hand. She remembered the last time she had seen him wear this particular outfit. It had been more than a year ago. Mara and Talon Karrde had arranged to meet Han Solo to get some insight into the routes around Kessel and Luke had decided at the last minute to tag along.
Mara remembered the way she had felt when she saw the Jedi. The moment she stood within his presence, she had become incredibly aware of her environment. He had always made her feel more attuned to things, more alive. Mara pressed the cloth to her nose inhaling deeply. It had been laundered, but she could still detect the slightest hint of Luke's scent and an afterimage of his vibrant presence through the Force.
She replaced the tunic and moved to the dresser. She pulled open drawers, attempting to find space for her undergarments. She chuckled when she discovered an old worn, Tatooine desert outfit. She wouldn't be the least surprised if when she pulled the brown, sun-beaten cloak from the drawer, to see the sand of his desert home world tumble to the floor.
She closed the drawer, moving to the next one and found a bunch of keepsakes Luke had collected from numerous worlds. Among the assortment of items, there was an odd red crystal shard that glimmered enticingly in the back corner, a dismantled lightsaber hilt, a droid restraining bolt, a collection of delicate shells, and a holoplate. It was obvious that this collection had sentimental value to Skywalker. Mara pulled the holoplate, grinning slightly and activated the holoprojector.
Her mouth froze in place, her skin becoming icy. An image of Callista appeared, slightly bluish in the holographic rendering. Callista was smiling warmly, and Mara had no doubt that Luke had captured this image. Mara moved to jab the projector off, and hit the wrong button. The images began to shift in a montage of scenes. Some included Luke, but all of them featured Callista. Mara sobbed when she saw an image of them kissing.
A whistle drew her attention to the doorway and she saw Artoo regarding her with his main sensor array. He warbled a definite question.
She dropped the holoplate back into the drawer.
Mara forced a smile onto her face, that wavered only slightly, "It's alright, Artoo. I was just finishing with my stuff." She realized how much she had changed in the last few weeks as she tried to comfort the little astromech droid.
She slammed the drawer closed with unnecessary force, and found a drawer Luke had emptied for her use. She pushed the rest of her belongings inside, resisting the urge to snatch them back and return to her old apartment.
When Skywalker returned, she made no mention of her unwitting discovery. She did not want him to become aware of how this evidence of his inability to let his former love go had hurt her. Luke gave her a long look sensing her distress, but when he questioned her about it she did not answer. The subject was quickly forgotten when Mara launched herself at him, kissing him. Mara wanted to erase that woman's memory from Luke's mind. Surely, over time Luke would release Callista to the past. They made passionate love that night, and Luke never thought to ask again about Mara's odd mood.
It was many weeks later that Mara realized that their love making continued on a nightly basis, unhindered by her monthly flow. Mara arranged for a medical examine the following day. She didn't tell Luke about her appointment, not wanting to share her suspicions until she was certain. She didn't feel sick in the mornings, but she did notice that she seemed to be more hungry of late. Mara had found herself snacking at the oddest hours, but when she sat down to consume a meal, she was oddly full. Well, she would learn the truth soon enough.
*********
Even through the transparisteel roof, Mara could make out the faint lights of the orbiting space traffic. Not quite as high as the honeymoon suite at the Grande Hotel, the Corellian Club Atrium was still a respectable height. Mara observed the family of the bride and groom performing the final preparations for the ceremony. They arranged the chairs into neat rows and placed bouquets of blue aquatic flowers to the sides of the center aisle. Their sweet odor drifted by at sporadic intervals, caught on the eddies of air swirling around the Atrium. Natural gas flames jetted from tall columns along the four transparent walls, and large fountains sprinkled flame like water at artistic intervals throughout the garden. Large birds with iridescent wings fluttered overhead, reflecting the flickering blaze as they past. Their mating calls provided a music that was more haunting than any orchestra could produce.
Luke stood at the end of the small clearing reviewing his notes for the final time. He had agreed to perform this wedding ceremony for a promising young Jedi student, Greere Larrsion. Greere had met his bride to be, Kriliana Phi, when she substituted for the regular pilot who made regular supply runs to Yavin IV. Their attraction had been instantaneous, and their courtship brief, but no one doubted the purity of the love they shared. Krilliana was a young Corellian, who made no effort to hide how very much in love she was with her shy Jedi groom, and from the first moment they had met, she had managed to put him at ease with her charming mannerism and ready wit. No one was very much surprised when the couple announced their betrothal.
Mara was never fond of these affairs, but she enjoyed seeing the happy couple and besides, Luke looked incredibly handsome in his finery. She looked forward to dancing with him at the reception. The air was oxygen rich, making her feel slightly light headed, or perhaps it was the new life form growing inside of her that was the cause of her slight dizziness. A baby. They were going to have a baby.
This knowledge filled her with great anticipation, but it also made her feel unaccountably nervous. Mara had only learned that she was expecting this afternoon, and hadn't shared the news with Skywalker yet. She didn't want to disrupt his concentration from the wedding. Besides, she would never again get the chance to tell him that he was going to be a father for the first time. She wanted to make it a special moment for the both of them. She would wait until the wedding was over. Maybe she would tell him in the quiet moments after their lovemaking.
Mara grinned to herself. Yes, she would wait until later tonight. Skywalker glanced up just in time to catch her grin. He smiled in response, a light question in his sense.
*I'll tell you later, flyboy.* She sent to him in reply to his unasked question.
He nodded slightly, still smiling. Luke continued to watch Mara as she slowly strolled among the tall plants and burning fountains. The light of the fire seemed to make Mara's hair a living flame. Her black dress glimmered with her movements, clinging to her form, making him ache to hold her. Mara was breathtakingly beautiful and she was his. Not entirely, a little voice mocked in his head. He basked in her glowing presence. There was something about her that seemed more alive somehow. Her Force presence was amplified, stronger, and her very proximity soothed his parched soul like a cool drink of water.
Mara found that she could think of little else, but the fact that in seven months she would give birth to a baby boy. Once she became aware of his impending arrival, she could feel his Force signature blaze within her. Their baby would be strong in the Force. He was so much a part of her, and yet she could distinguish his life form individual from her own. She wondered if Skywalker had already detected his presence, but somehow she doubted it. There had been nothing in his mannerism to indicate that he was aware of the baby. Besides, Mara had a feeling that if Luke had discovered this fact, he would have felt compelled to inform her.
She imagined Luke's response to the news. Would he be elated? Happy? Or resigned to the knowledge that his fate was set with a woman that he didn't love? No matter what happened now, she knew the moment Skywalker was aware that he was to be a father, he would never leave her. His honor would never let him abandon his child, so she had won in the end. Callista could never really claim him now.
Why did this victory feel so hollow?
Mara wandered toward the back area, watching with some amusement as some of the groom's men encouraged the shy groom to drink some liquor. Greere reluctantly took a flask from his best man, downed the drink in one large swallow, and then smiled widely as they other men cheered. He was a pale man with light brown hair and sparkling gray eyes, garbed in a dark blue suit. A lightsaber hung from his belt. He seemed to relax as the spirits hit his system and Mara could feel his happiness swirl around him.
She ducked away. The seats were filled and the air around them had become hushed. Luke smiled at Mara, when he saw her return. Luke gestured for her to sit in the front row, and after some debate she finally agreed. She took the seat at the far end, leaving the remainder of the chairs for the couple's immediate family.
Luke was the picture of composure, but she could sense his nervousness.
*Relax* she soothed him, projecting to him an air of calm. *You've done this before.*
*I know but it seems so very important.*
He smiled at her, feeling her attempt to put him at ease and he was encouraged by her skillful manipulation of the Force. The chairs filled, and Mara saw the moment Luke's attention was drawn to the end of the aisle. Mara swiveled in her chair to see the groomsmen file down the aisle to wait in front of Luke. Then the bridesmaids completed their processional, followed shortly by a very pretty young woman dressed in pale blue.
The groom's eyes locked onto the woman's gaze and their love was a palpable presence to the gathering. When Mara glanced up at Luke, she saw that his gaze had shifted to examine her face, and she blushed at the intense look in his eye. He smiled, actively refocusing his attention on the waiting couple.
Luke began the ceremony. Mara had no idea what the coupled did, she only had eyes for Luke. She felt incredibly attuned to him at this moment, aware of the slightest variations of his moods. She felt the small life within her flutter through the Force and she knew that her intense focus on the baby's father had stirred the child within her. Luke was made for this kind of thing. His voice was strong, carrying to the furthest reaches of the Atrium, its resonance causing tiny ripples of pleasure to shiver down her spine.
Luke gazed out at the gathered assembly and faltered. His features tightened and his face blanched. Mara felt a tidal storm of shock erupt from him, and then a hastily erected barrier that blocked further thoughts or feelings from her. He stared into the crowd. The silence becoming awkward. The bride and groom exchanged quick looks with each other and then glanced over their shoulder trying to ascertain what had caused the Jedi Master to react so strongly, but they could see no cause for his distraction.
Mara turned in her seat, her eyes going to the place where Luke was staring and felt as if her entire world had exploded, leaving her adrift in the icy reaches of space. There, seated among the groom's family, sat Callista Ming.