The Emerald Price Chapter 34
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. This is set around eight to ten years after Luke and Mara met each other for the first time. This one is for all the girls on the AA list and of course for Mona – what would I do without you? My thanks also to Niqella and Rhea for their encouragement and invaluable suggestions.
Mara cursed inwardly as a composed Luke seated himself on one of the comfortable sofas; his discarded cloak draped carelessly across the back of one of his red greel-wood dining chairs. She watched with barely concealed interest as he shuffled around nervously until he settled into a comfortable position. 'So he's not as self-assured as he would have me believe,' she thought. 'It doesn't make me feel any better – suppose I was wrong and I misconstrued what I overheard. What do I do if…?' It was then that she put a stop to her wayward thoughts before they threatened to run out of control. 'No, I know he loves me,' she thought. 'I can feel it. I'm just nervous.'
She hadn't sensed his approach, hadn't even noticed him until he'd been standing directly behind her. That wasn't good news if he'd been an enemy. Nor, if she was being tested by a Jedi Master reluctant to love because it was a distraction. She'd been too intent on finding a bottle of wine – too intent on what she was going to say to him when they finally faced one another again. It had been easy to concentrate on the wine. She'd shipped several crates to Yavin IV and knew she had placed several bottles for Luke's own use in amongst his stores. He wasn't a heavy drinker but occasionally relaxed with a glass in the privacy of his own quarters. He took far too much upon himself when it came to the Yavin Jedi Academy even when he was now officially no longer head of the school, she thought. A pile of data cards she'd removed from the occasional table to his desk earlier were evidence of that. He needed to relax more. She'd seen him so many times at the end of a mission looking pale and exhausted. But she supposed it was better than having him fished out of the bacta tank. That had happened far too many times for her liking also.
"Well, there's something you don't see every day."
The slowly drawled words had been admiring. Mara scowled and gingerly rubbed her aching skull. Why hadn't she felt him approach? That was an easy one to answer. She'd been far too intent on how Luke made her feel just by being close to him and he was probably cloaking his presence. She'd told him everything – she had no secrets left. What was she expecting to happen – what was he going to do? He hadn't turned and opened his arms to her like they did on all the daytime holo-dramas. Instead he'd looked hunted and had run away to hide at a meeting of the Academy's directors…or had he? He had returned to his quarters rather quickly. In Mara's experience, these meetings could, and did, go on for hours. So where had he been? Had he spoken to anyone?
The effect on her when they'd kissed had been wonderful but it didn't do much for her concentration and she had the feeling that she would need all her wits about her if she was to proceed with her plan to seduce him. Force, it sounded so cold and calculating when it was anything but. He did love her – she just had to get him to admit it. He'd gone through so much – they both had – that she understood how hard it could be for Luke to admit something so close to his heart. Getting kindness from Palpatine might have been easier to attain. She collected the glasses she'd found and took them through to the lounge area, placing them on the low table which sat in between the two sofas.
There was an awkward silence. They'd crossed the imaginary line which marked their friendship. It would lead to either something more or something less. They would never again be as they had been. They could not go back – could not unlearn what they already knew - and they both understood it but for now, they both needed a little calm - the eye in the centre of the storm. Mara pushed the bottle opener across to Luke, needing the awkwardness to end. "If you would do the honours?"
"Of course," he replied. "One of your cache?"
"Yes," she said. "I know you like red wine."
He gave a little smile, her consideration of his needs warming his heart. She always looked out for things he liked. He had enough hot chocolate supplies to last him for the rest of the year. "I do like," he said as he opened the bottle. "Borleias?" he queried, identifying the planet where the wine originated.
Mara nodded as Luke handed her a glass of the deep red liquid. She took a grateful sip letting her taste buds absorb the rich flavour. "Yes. That's one from the Alderaan biotics installation. They produce a good vintage."
He swallowed the mellow liquid and closed his eyes momentarily in satisfaction. "Yes, they do. This is a nice wine. One of the few good things Ysanne Isaard and the Empire did set up was that facility using the techniques and plant species from Alderaan. But the rest of her supposed output…" Luke gave a shake of his head.
"You're right. She was a horrible woman," Mara said with a shudder. "She caused a lot of misery and strife throughout the galaxy. Grand Admiral Thrawn had his mind set on order and stability. 'Iceheart' wanted what being Palpatine's mistress had failed to bring her – real power. In the end, she gave the galaxy total chaos."
"I agree."
"Luke…" She hesitated, her tongue touching her lips briefly. "We need to talk. About what I said earlier…"
Luke couldn't believe the sudden dread that swept through him. She hadn't meant it and wanted to retract her statement. "Its okay, Mara." He prepared himself for the emptiness her next words would bring.
"No, it's not okay," she snapped. Damn him, he wanted to make everything easy for her. There is no emotion there is peace sounded loudly from somewhere inside her head. She ignored it. "I wanted to…"
"Apologise, take it all back?" Luke retorted, his manner surly.
"No, that's not it at all. I'm not sorry for any of what I said and I meant every word. I'm not taking back one syllable."
Luke blinked. That was clear enough. "So..." he muttered. "You meant it."
"Have you ever known me to say things that I didn't mean to you?"
"Uh…no. But Tionne…"
"Has been offering me quarters in the main temple complex ever since I arrived here."
"Then you should go. You are a Jedi Knight now, not my apprentice, and it is fitting that you should have your own quarters." He tried to sound calmly sensible but inside his mind was screaming at him. 'She meant it. She does love you. Force, Skywalker! Do something about it and quickly.' But he didn't. He just sat there, gripping the slender stem of his wineglass so hard that he thought it might break.
"You want me to go?" Mara asked. "You know how I feel about you and are of the opinion that it could be awkward if we're still living together. Perhaps I shouldn't have said anything but I had to be honest. I couldn't keep my feelings to myself any longer."
"I want you to do what you want to do," he said irritably. "It cannot have been pleasant for you cramped in that tiny bedchamber." He took a fortifying swallow from his glass, letting the liquid swill around his taste buds.
Mara heard Luke's words, heard his reasonable tone and restrained her natural knee-jerk reaction to immediately pack her things and move out. But somehow, she knew that he was unhappy about this turn of affairs. It was then that she totally understood how he thought. Tionne was right. If she left him, he would see her as abandoning him, even though he had given her leave to go.
He was doing it again – sacrificing his own happiness for her. Luke was the only one who had ever done such a thing for her. No matter how hard this could become, she now knew that she hadn't any choice. She loved him and had told him so. By the way of the natural order of things, Mara should wait for Luke to take some sort of step towards her but she was unsure of his emotional readiness. Occasionally Luke needed time to sort out the tangled thoughts that scrambled around inside his sandy head. He had no idea how much he really needed her. She was going to have to play this one out to the very end.
"All I need is a place to sleep." Her green gaze caught sight of the white-knuckled grip he had on his wine glass. He was caught in an emotional trap. He loved her very much even though he hadn't wanted to love another woman. Jem, Gaerial…Callista – he saw as failures on his part. He was wrong.
He had resolved to weather things alone, never to be hurt again but neither did he want Mara to leave him and fall in love with someone else. She had to make him see that she wasn't like other women – that she wouldn't hurt him the way these others had. She swallowed and reached over, easing his fingers from the glass and placing it on the table in front of them. "I think Tionne thought that I had designs on your body. I underestimated her."
"Why?" Luke asked, his face a perfect picture of puzzlement.
"Because she was right. I do have designs on your body," she stated boldly, her pulse fluctuating wildly as she thought about the form of the man she had admired for so long. Mara moved to sit beside him and grasped his real hand with her own.
"You do? You…"
His voice rose and then drifted away as Mara began gently rubbing the back of his hand with her thumb. Luke's gaze focused on the tender motion. "I don't want to move out," she said. "Not unless you want me to go?"
Luke closed his eyes. "You should," he said roughly, the words sounding as if they'd been torn from his throat. "But, no. I don't want you to go."
"I did wonder if you wanted your privacy back – your own space?"
He opened his eyes and in them, Mara could see the feelings he was fighting to suppress. "I've been with the Alliance since I was eighteen. It's very rare I have enough space to call my own but no, I'd like you to stay."
"Why?"
"I've got used to having you around, Jade."
"Is that all?" she queried.
"I would…miss you."
"You would?"
Luke's eyes darkened. "Of course I would."
She moved a little closer. "Then I'll never go."
"Never?" He asked quietly, the pain he held deep in his vividly coloured eyes tearing at her heart. "Don't make promises you can't keep. It's not fair to either of us."
"I'll tell Tionne tomorrow. I think she guessed anyway."
Luke sat motionless; his eyes straying to where Mara's small pale hand linked with his larger sun-browned one. "Mara, I…"
She sighed. "I'm not abandoning you. I'd never do that," she said. "Whatever happens, wherever we go, no matter how far away it is, I will never abandon you. I love you. We are bonded through the Force."
"Bonded?" Luke sat up.
"This thread that binds us together is like no other the Jedi have seen in my admittedly limited experience – it seems unique. I tried to find out why this was so but could find out very little. The Jedi did not mate often in the past but when they did and the Force accepted the union, it was something to be wondered at and treasured."
"But there is nothing… I searched all my records."
"There is very little but there was enough for me to read between the lines. It was a rare occurrence and even though the members of the Jedi Order did not usually mate there were always exceptions to their rules. This was considered to be so special that it was like a gift from the Force itself. I wonder if Kam could shed any more light on this? He grew up amongst the Jedi. We should be together – will be together. I'm fighting for us, Skywalker."
"What if I don't fight back?"
"You are fighting." Mara gave him a cocky, sensual smile. "And you are losing that fight because you badly want to lose." She leaned forward and hissed into his ear, her breath making him shiver with a delicious anticipation. "When we make love for the first time, Farmboy, I will remind you of how you lost this battle but you won't care."
"Mara, I can't deal with the pain any more," Luke said wearily, the strain showing on his face. A Jedi bond? He had thought this to be the stuff of legends and not truth. "I cannot deal with…"
"Pain?" She jerked her hands from his. "Pain? What can't you deal with? What pain? What's wrong, Luke. Tell me, I can help."
There was a strained silence then he whispered, "Love."
"But you can," she murmured softly, again pressing herself close to his side in comfort. "I've never met anyone else with so much love in them. I know you love me. The Force is with us in this. I've never known you not to follow the dictates of the Force before. Do you not believe me?"
He made a sudden little movement at her words. "Mara…"
"No," she said. "Don't deny it any more. I know you do love me. I can feel it – I can feel how powerful it is. You knew I was in trouble because of our bond. I was at the other side of the galaxy, not in the next room. You came for me when no one else would. You gave me your strength to help me live."
"Gratitude," Luke bit out harshly. "I don't want…"
"You know me better than that, Skywalker," she retorted. "I'm grateful to Karrde for a job and the chance to feel useful and respected once more but I don't love him in the way that I love you. He is a respected colleague and trusted friend but that's where it ends. He doesn't make my body sing by its closeness to his. He cannot hear me call to him across the stars. You can. He does not love me and I do not love him. There has never been love between us. How can there be when there is only one man in the entire galaxy that I could ever feel so strongly for." She grasped his hand again and resumed her stroking, sending little quivers of feeling along his nerves.
With a deep breath Mara decided that now was the time. He still hadn't admitted to her that he loved her but he had admitted as much to Han Solo. He couldn't hide it from her now – she could see the depth of feeling on his face. Yes, he loved her. She stretched out her hand and touched his smooth-shaven cheek, trailing her fingers across it in a gentle caress. Her eyes darkened to sage and Luke could read her intent. Hell, he could feel it. The bond they shared shimmered sensuously between them. It was as if it was meant to be. It had always been there between them even when she'd hated him. She'd never been able to ignore who and what he was. Luke had always assumed that she'd transferred her link after Palpatine's death to the nearest Jedi. He'd been the only Jedi. She'd had no choice.
Mara knew that wasn't the case. Her abilities could have died with the Emperor but instead they had lain in abeyance until she'd connected with Luke. One of her hands cupped Luke's face, the other curved around the back of his neck bringing his head down until it was mere inches from her own.
Luke's heart began to beat a little faster. Force, she actually intended to try to seduce him. He'd been on the receiving end of such attempts from various women across the galaxy but he'd always managed to resist them before. Most of them hadn't even realised they'd been turned down. Mara was different from all of those other women. He hadn't been in love with them so resisting hadn't been like a fight against the Rancor. It had been easy to say no to something you didn't want. But Mara? Luke could feel his resolve wilting. He loved every part of this girl and wasn't sure about his ability to withstand the onslaught of her potent presence. He could feel her joined to him at all times and if he were honest about his own feelings, he didn't want to say no. Was she right – were they Force mated? Did such a phenomenon even exist?
Their lips parted and Luke could see Mara's small pink tongue dart out to moisten her sweetly curved lips. He could feel her tension and knew the exact moment when she pushed herself against him, her lips capturing his. It didn't make the effect any less surprising or less wonderful.
It was as if he'd gone into the centre of a star. He didn't want to resist her. He couldn't resist her.
This was far more than any of their other kisses. That's all they had ever been – just kisses. This one had danger written all over it. Luke Skywalker had flirted with danger before, often going as far as courting it. But this time he was embracing it wholeheartedly.
With a satisfied sigh, Mara slid onto his lap, straddling his body with her thighs as she pressed herself against him, their mouths fused together as they continued to learn the taste of each other. She lifted her head and gazed at him, her eyes dark with some emotion he couldn't fully comprehend. Her lips parted only inches from his own - soft, ripe and lushly inviting.
Luke made a sound low in his throat, part anguish, part desire and for the first time sought Mara's mouth willingly. As his lips finally covered hers, Mara felt a shiver of triumph run through her.
Her lips parted allowing Luke's tongue access to the moist cavern of her mouth. His whole body was on fire, his barriers dissolving in the face of the raging need that surged in him for the woman in his arms. He could feel the swell of her breasts as they pressed against him and he let his hands trail down over her shoulders to rest on her leather-clad hips.
"Mara…" he muttered hoarsely between frantic kisses.
"No talking, Farmboy. Just feel." She pressed her body against his, her mouth fastening to his well-shaped lips. Mara's hands began to wander, to gently stroke and caress, finding the fasteners to his tunic, the catch to his belt. Her lips lingered against his cheek, softly bestowing tender kisses.
Luke's blood began to warm; he could feel himself reacting to the skilful seduction of Mara's lips and hands. This wasn't part of his plan. He was to maintain his Jedi control. He had not meant to show that her touch affected him so strongly. He had vowed never to let a woman cast her spell against him once more but he had not reckoned on the woman being Mara Jade. All coherent thought began to disappear as her power over him began to take control and he began to respond freely to her passion.
Mara's hands disposed of his utility belt and then undid the final fastener on his tunic, leaving him in his pale blue undershirt. The soft blue of the material made his eyes more mesmerising than ever. Beneath that item of apparel lay his smooth, tanned skin. Mara quickly removed his shirt, pushing it from his strong shoulders, letting her hands linger. Luke was not objecting. He was too involved in finding the hidden pulse at her throat. He lifted his shoulders, helping her get even closer to him. His mouth engaged on a journey of discovery as it tasted her sweetly scented skin.
Her hands splayed over his taut stomach muscles. Mara wanted to move them lower, to touch what lay beneath his long black Jedi pants but he wasn't ready yet. She could feel the bulge of his manhood against her body but resisted the temptation to push herself against it. Soon, she promised herself.
As Mara's hands covered his naked chest, Luke's libido moved into hyperspace, his hands suddenly fumbling for the fastenings that would release her from the corset-like top of her black leather jumpsuit.
"Mara…"
"Luke…I…"
The chime of the door announcer shocked them both into sudden stillness. They glanced warily at one another, the swift moment seeming like an age, the effects of their passion visible on each other's face.
"You are joking," Mara muttered, casting her eyes skywards. "This is not my fault." This really wasn't fair. She thought she had completed her Jedi trials.
"Force," mumbled Luke, almost pushing Mara from him. He stood upright, with a bewildered air, his eyes quickly seeking the whereabouts of his shirt and over tunic.
The door chime sounded again more insistently. Casting a regretful look at Luke, Mara moved into automatic mode, pulling her top back into place from where the Jedi Master's hands had managed to dislodge it. Swiftly fastening it, she made for the door sensing the urgency of the being on the other side. Running her hands hastily through her wild mane of red-gold hair, Mara hit the door control.
It was one of the younger students from her early morning class. "Shenara?" Mara queried, sensing that the young woman was distressed.
"It's Foss!"
Mara tried to think of the students she had seen with the girl. "Your friend…the Quarren?"
"Mistress Jade… I think he's sick!"
"Why didn't you contact the healers – use the Force?"
The young girl looked confused. "I don't know…you were the closest."
"Closest?" Mara echoed. Shenara hadn't been on Yavin for very long and hadn't quite mastered a natural use of the Force. She was also younger than many of the other students. "You weren't in the temple?"
"No…we meet in the clearing…it's very near to this part of the Academy. Sometimes we get lessons there."
"I know where it is," Mara said. "Is Foss still there?"
"Yes… Bekk is with him." Shenara lifted her head, and relief coloured her pale face. "Master Skywalker…"
"I heard. Are you all right?"
Mara looked over her shoulder to see Luke standing behind her holding out her dark green Jedi cloak. She shrugged into it, her pulse speeding up when his fingers brushed her skin as he fastened the clasp at her throat. He only had to touch her and she felt her body react.
The girl nodded shakily. "Yes, Master Skywalker. I think something bit him."
"You did well to think of coming here first," he reassured her. "Probably one of the Juna spiders. They can cause an allergic reaction. It's unpleasant but not fatal."
Mara was impressed how he calmed and comforted and also gave the student confidence. She stepped forward and placed her arm around the shaking girl. "We'd better go and see what's wrong."
"I have just contacted the healers," Luke said, radiating composure. "They are waiting. Lead the way, Shenara."
Mara pulled her cloak from her shoulders and hung it on a hook beside the door. Luke had remained in the medical centre with the sick student. Shenara had been right; Foss had been bitten by one of the Juna spiders. He was in good hands and would make a complete recovery. Dilys Van Osten had immediately taken charge like the born healer she was, as soon as she had been summoned.
Mara's shoulders slumped and her face relaxed into the troubled expression she kept hidden from all around her. She was beginning to wonder if perhaps the Force wasn't with her after all. She'd really thought that she had worn Luke down this time. The intervention had been timely.
She trailed wearily through to the main living area avoiding the sofa where she had tried to seduce Luke. Her element of surprise had gone. But then, she'd never kept her intentions secret from him. Once Luke had recovered his savoir faire, he'd been totally in control of the situation with Shenara and Foss. Despite her frustration, Mara had been impressed.
She wandered over to open the balcony doors and as she did so, glanced at Luke's desk. There was a light blinking on Luke's private communications console and Mara wandered over to activate the link. The image on the screen started forming into the one person Mara didn't think she could talk to right at this point in time.
"Luke… Oh, hello, Mara." The image wavered a little.
"Leia?"
Leia Organa Solo's beautifully composed visage finally coalesced in front of her on the vid-screen. "I just felt this sudden need to contact Luke. He is okay?"
"Yes, he's fine."
"Can I talk to him?" Leia pressed.
"He's seeing to one of the students. The boy was unexpectedly taken ill."
"Not seriously?" Leia's voice rose in alarm.
"No. Foss is recovering in the care of the Jedi healers," Mara hastened to say. "Luke is just being…"
"Luke?" Leia said dryly.
"Yes."
Leia assessed the red-headed woman she could see on her monitor. "What is it?" she asked gently. "You're upset about something. I can see it in your eyes. No, don't argue. I can." Her smile was sympathetic. "Maybe it wasn't Luke I needed to contact, it was you. He's being stubborn, isn't he?"
"Leia…I'm getting nowhere. I thought that if I achieved my knighthood and stayed here on Yavin with him, then the fact I loved him would be enough. Then I think we're getting somewhere and there's an interruption. A student or a meeting or…" She stopped and let out a disgruntled sigh. "The Force is not with me."
Leia pursed her lips for a moment. "With Luke the obvious is never enough. He thinks too much these days. Where is the impetuous boy I met on the original Death Star?"
"He's still there."
"Of course, he's there but he's being difficult."
"No…yes…no…I don't know." Mara's voice rose upwards. "He's Luke."
"And you still love him?" Leia interrogated. This was her brother's happiness after all. She had to be sure. "The feeling hasn't changed any?"
"Of course, I love him and no, nothing's changed. It's just grown stronger on my part."
"Have you told him?"
"Yes," Mara's voice dropped. "I told him."
Leia's brown eyes widened. She'd actually told him. "And…?"
"And…" Mara's face told the entire story without words. "It was wonderful until…"
"The ill student." Leia guessed, her face falling.
The red-headed woman nodded. "Yes, the ill student. It's not that I would deny any being help but why did it have to be right at that moment."
"Just dumb luck as my husband would say." Leia's voice was warm with sympathy.
"Why didn't I realise how I felt about your brother years ago? It's too late for me now."
"No, Mara. It's not too late," Leia's voice rang across the vast depth of space. "He loves you. You both know it to be true. You have to keep strong and trust in the Force."
"I'm trying." She levelled her green gaze on Leia and laughed. "I'm trying and don't add Farmboy's favourite quote about doing." She examined her hands, surprised at how steady they were. "He won't be long if you want to speak to him," she said.
"I'd like to give him a piece of my mind," Leia stated firmly. "Mara…you do love him?"
Luke keyed in his code and watched with impatience as the door slid open too slowly. Foss was going to be fine. The boy and his friends had been given a bit of a fright but that was all. He could have returned to his quarters with Mara half an hour ago but he hadn't been ready to do so. He was still trying to assimilate the way he had come apart in her arms. Again and again he heard her voice in his head telling him that she loved him.
"Of course I love him," Mara answered Leia, her voice plain and true.
"Well, do something about it," Leia ordered. "It's no good just sitting there feeling sorry for yourself."
Luke could hear her voice, clear as the sunrise on Tatooine. Luke blinked. Was she hearing his thoughts? No, she was telling his sister. He rushed forward aiming to… He stopped. What was he aiming to do? Mara wasn't telling Leia anything that he or Leia didn't already know. He loved Mara and he wanted her. He had to be careful with this.
Mara immediately sensed him as his turbulent emotions flooded towards her. "Luke…"
"Luke!" Leia's soft alto voice carried across the room.
The Jedi Master schooled his face into its habitual calm expression and approached the monitor. "Leia."
Mara slipped out of the seat and left Luke to face his sister. The Jedi Master stared at Mara but she averted her eyes from his and moved into the kitchen to give him some privacy.
"Luke!" Leia said sharply to gain his attention. "I just felt that I had to speak to you."
"Sorry," he muttered.
"What are you playing at?"
"What am I…?"
"That girl loves you," hissed Leia.
"This is my business," Luke snapped quietly. "Stay out of it."
"I'm your sister and I love you and I want you to be happy." She gave him a mocking grin. "It's my duty to interfere. You love her. You told me so. Why are you doing this to yourself and her? Mara doesn't deserve this. You are punishing her for something she hasn't done. Mara is not Jem, or Gaerial or Callista."
"I know but I can't help it," Luke confessed quietly. "I will do what the Force wills."
"No, brother. Do what Luke Skywalker wills. You never know; it could also be what the Force wants too. She hasn't left you yet. She's still on Yavin. The old Mara Jade would have left long ago. The old Mara Jade valued her freedom. She would not have made a commitment to the Jedi or to you."
Luke glanced down at his hands and watched as they shook slightly. "I know. It scares me. I can feel how much she loves me."
"Can't you take a leap of faith? You, who walked into the Death Star and rescued me without a thought for your own safety? You, who still believed there was good in our father when the entire galaxy could not? You, who travelled to the other end of the galaxy when you felt that a friend was in trouble? Mara is the friend who you love more than anyone else. This is more than platonic love you've said so yourself."
"A leap of faith," he echoed, his head turning away from the monitor to follow the direction that Mara had taken.
"Yes, little brother. A leap of faith. You gave her your heart long ago. You took the heart out of your lightsaber. Your lightsaber crystal bought Mara's freedom. The heart of a Jedi is strong - it has to be. The lightsaber is the symbol of the Jedi and you took yours apart for Mara. That is a very strong statement to make to anyone who knows you."
"I know. How did you…?"
"Han guessed."
"Leia…I do love her."
"Then tell her. None of the other Jedi would begrudge you happiness. I would suspect that they all already know how you feel about Mara. There is something about the pair of you when you are together. The Force radiates from you both in this wonderful glow of brilliant light. Let Luke Skywalker, the man, and not the Jedi decide…"
"But we are one and the same," Luke interrupted.
"Trust your feelings, Luke. All I want is for you to be happy. The Force doesn't want you to be unhappy."
Luke stood up and walked away leaving Leia speechless. Had she said too much? For a moment she frowned and then she gave a soft smile and turned her head to gaze at the love of her life who slouched, half-sleeping, in an armchair, an almost empty glass of Corellian Whisky in his hands. A tender smile crossed her face.
"You gave him some good arguments, sweetheart."
Leia disengaged the com and slipped into her husband's arms. "We both have. I just hope he acts this time. He needs her, Han. I don't know what he would become without her."
"We have to rely on his good sense or that rather effective little blaster Mara has up her sleeve. I know he has some sense in him…deep down."
Luke took a deep breath and reached for his centre of balance in the Force. He could feel his love for Mara through the Force and hers for him in return. The Force affected all things and yes, even love itself. He had been a foolish coward and now it was time he put things right. "Mara!" With a sense of purpose he hadn't felt since he'd set out for Elrood to rescue Mara Jade, he walked into the kitchen and, grabbing the startled women, kissed her breathless.
"Luke!"
"No interruptions," he muttered.