Dear Reader,
Hello, SailorLeia here, with chapter 6… wow those first five chapters flew by! But you don't want to hear me yammer on (like I tend to do). Let's get down to business! I'd like to, first, thank everyone who reviewed chapter 5…
Mistress Eden – YAH! I'm so glad you (and the little devil) enjoyed it! I hope you like this chapter too! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WRITING IN!
Preciousbabyblue – Oh good, I'm glad you liked it! Thank you for writing in!
Saber Girls (Leia) – YAH! I'm glad you like it! And don't worry the only reason Han and Leia didn't appear in that chapter is because they almost dominate this one! I really hope you like it! THANK YOU SO MUCH for your nice review!
Jelp – That is a good idea, and he might do some of that later… but not now. I hope you like what I have in mind. (wink-wink!)
Sweetdeath04 – Wow, I have transformed you! YAH! I'm really glad you like Mara now and I am so glad you like this story so much! I have no idea how I managed to write so much in one week! I mustn't have a life! LoL! Thank you so much for another fun review! They really keep me going! I hope you like this chapter too, there is gonna be a lot of Han and Leia (just like ya like it!)
Padawan Sydney Bristow – OH! I'm so glad you liked it! Thank you so much for writing in!
tensixtythree – I'm so glad you liked chapter 5, I hope you like chapter 6 too!
Sithspawned – You know, if you keep up that 'assassination' thing. We may have to put it in the story… if that's okay with you! Glad you liked chapter 5, I hope you enjoy this chapter too!
SoloKenobi – I'm glad you enjoyed it, I hope you like it.
Mara look-a-like – THANKS FOR WRITING IN! I hope work wasn't too hard on ya and I hope you like this chapter too!
Mara I Am – I am so sorry to hear about your grandfather (I lost both of mine and they were my best friends), I hope I can cheer you up a bit! Thank you so much for writing in!
Dedicated to my dear friend Sara… I never would have got through this chapter without you, LYLASG!
"Master Skywalker's Secret Admirer"
Chapter 6 – Luke's Plan
The Next Morning…
Luke Skywalker woke up from his comfortable position beside Mara. He was so glad he'd agreed to stay with Mara last night. She woke up in middle of the night, with a scorching fever and she was completely out of her head. Luke had stayed up with her all night until her fever broke. He didn't know how many trips around her apartment he'd made, changing the cool cloth on her head, getting up with her. She finally fell back to sleep after a couple of hours and a few hours later Luke finally fell asleep too.
The first thing he did once he became aware was feel Mara's forehead; her fever was gone! He breathed a sigh of relief and brushed the hair out of her face. She looked like an angel when she was asleep. She was so beautiful, a light smile resting on her lips, the soft sound of her breath.
'What did I ever do to deserve this beauty's attention?' He asked himself, 'Force knows, I'm so glad she does care and I don't know what I'd do without her… I've always loved her. It's very hard not to… but I never thought she could possibly feel the same way!' Sitting up with her all night had given him time to think about everything. He could understand, now, why she'd been so secretive for so long. And he wasn't going to punish her, for if she hadn't started this whole 'secret admirer' thing… He probably never would have known she cared. He was planning to merely teach her a lesson. Show her not to keep important things like that a secret.
He lie there, just watching her sleep for a long time, he just couldn't bring himself to wake her up. Deciding it was best she rested; he got up to make them both some breakfast.
A Good Thirty Minutes Later…
Mara was awakened by the wonderful smell of some kind of soup. Luke came in the room with a tray, just in time to watch her eyes drift open. "Good morning," he greeted kindly.
"Morning," Mara smiled, stretching out like a cat. "How long have you been up?"
"Oh, not long," he waved her off, "Let's sit you up and see how much of this, you can eat." Luke said propping her up against her pillows before she could argue.
"You don't have to baby me so much, ya know. I am much better – you made me soup?" She asked in disbelief.
"Yeah, I wasn't sure what you'd feel like eating, soup was a safe route." Luke said setting the tray with a steaming bowl and crackers.
"You made this… like from scratch?" She asked.
"Yeah, it's very easy… and you had the veggies in your preserving-unit."
"You did all of this… for me?" she asked getting tears in her eyes.
"Yeah, of course, I'm taking care of you Mara… remember?"
"I know it's just… no ones ever done that for me before." Mara said. "I mean, Karrde would always make sure I was in the best of care if anything happened. But no one's ever been there… for me, like you have."
"What are friends for," Luke nodded. "Not to mention I owe you, you've done so much for me over the years."
"Yeah," she nodded.
"You better eat your soup before it gets cold." He advised.
"Do I have to eat alone?" she asked glancing at him from the corners of her eyes.
"No, I'll go grab a bowl too, you go ahead though, see if you like it." Mara took a spoonful and blew on it, before taking a mouthful. He came back with a bowl for himself and asked, "Any good?"
"Excellent, But you've always been a good cook!" She smiled.
"Between my aunt Beru and Han I learned my way around a kitchen." He stated proudly.
"They taught you well." She said sipping some more.
It wasn't much… but it was a start.
Sometime Later… At The Solo Residence…
Han and Leia both were sitting in their family room enjoying the peace and quiet around them. "We're taking those kids to the aquarium more often." Han laughed.
"I know, they were all ready for their naps, with no whining!" Leia cheered.
"That's blessing if I ever heard one!"
"For sure," Leia chirped.
"Did we hear from Luke today?" Han asked patiently.
"No, nothing, he didn't even try to contact us while we were gone. I already checked."
"Not even Mara?"
"Nope, nothing from her either." Leia said sadly.
"Hey, that could be a good sign too. Maybe the date went a lot better than planned." He winked.
"Oh please!" Leia exclaimed, "This is Luke and Mara we're talking about, not only would that be far too easy for their complicated relationship… But they would never do something like that."
"Hey, we don't know… it's a possibility." Han pointed out, just then the door chime rang and Han got up to answer it. He opened the door to find a ragged looking Mara Jade. "Hey Jade."
"Hey Solo, how are you all doing?" Mara smiled a little, in greeting.
"We're all okay… Are you alright?" He asked concerned.
"Yeah, I'm okay-"
"Hey Mara," Leia greeted coming in the hallway giving one of her dearest friends a hug and pulling her into the living room. "Come on in and take a seat, we were just sitting down for a chat."
"You're sure I'm not intruding?" Mara said as she was easily pushed into a seat.
"Mara," Leia said with a sigh, "You are one of the family's dearest friends. When are you going to stop asking that?"
"I don't know, maybe never." She smiled sweetly.
"Comforting," Han said sarcastically from the doorway, he walked in and took a seat next to his wife.
"Are you feeling alright, Mara. You look so pail and I pushed you right down on that seat."
"Oh yeah, I'm fine I just had a rough night, last night. That'll teach me to try and cook for myself." Mara explained.
"You cooked for yourself, what happened to your big date with Luke?" Han asked.
"It didn't go quite as planned." Mara said a little awkwardly.
"Oh no, what happened?" Leia asked.
"Well, I went to the park, as planned, but by the time I got there… Someone else was with Luke, dressed up like I supposed to be dressed."
"Do you know who it was?" Leia asked, but Han stopped her and said. "Let me guess, Callista!"
"Yep," Mara said quietly.
"What a mess," Leia said quietly, "Did he believe it was her?"
"No, he knew by the end of the evening it wasn't her, he told her off too."
"Good for him!" Han exclaimed, "About time that slut was put in her place."
"He came to my place, needing some companionship and advice..."
"Oh you poor thing!" Leia exclaimed taking Mara's cool hand. "I'm so sorry, seeing him like that must have made it even harder on you."
"By that time I was so sick, I wasn't good company. Luke stayed with me all night… he took care of me."
"Of course he did, you're his best friend." Leia said.
"That's what he said too, but what you guys don't understand, is no one… no one has ever done anything like that for me before."
"Are you sure you're alright?"
"I'm alright, it's just… maybe it just isn't meant to be... Luke and me…" Mara explained to her friends.
"Don't give up, Mara," Han said pleadingly. "I know, you guys have been through a lot, especially lately. But all of the others quit, you've gotta hang in there."
"But Luke doesn't even know it's me, he won't get hurt."
"He lives for those letters you used to write him. If you stop… he'll just get worse." Han argued.
"I know," Mara looked down, tears appearing in her eyes. "But I just know if this goes any further than friendship… he'll just be much better off not knowing and going on with his life… I could never be good enough; I could never make him happy."
"Mara, don't talk that way!" Leia pleaded grabbing her attention. "Whenever you two are together, Luke's happier… You can make him laugh and cheer him up before any one else!"
"I know," her voice cracked a little. "I don't want to give up, not really… but I know he'd be much better off, not knowing." As the tears began to roll down her face. Han and Leia exchanged glances. "Please don't tell him it was me… If anyone tells him it should be me."
"Okay Mara, okay, calm down. I won't – we won't tell him… but he should know." Leia said.
"I want to tell him… but not now, I can't handle this right now. I won't hurt him."
"Okay," Leia agreed, Mara wiped at her own tears.
"I'm sorry you guys had to see me like this." Mara apologized.
"No," Leia sat next to her, draping an arm around her saying, "Don't be sorry, you've had a really hard time. And on top of that you've been sick."
"Yeah, I'm just not myself right now." Mara said in a miserable tone.
"Everything's gonna be okay, I know it doesn't look that way now, but I know everything is gonna be fine." Han said. "You probably shouldn't be out. Why don't you go home and take it easy for the rest of the night."
"Yeah, I think I'll do that." Mara sniffled, excepting a tissue from Han.
"Come on, I'll take you home."
"No Han, I'll be okay on my own-"
"There's no way I'm letting you walk back on your own. You not feeling well, upset… You're stuck with me." Han said determinedly.
"Okay," Mara gave a little laugh; Leia hugged Mara saying, "Hang in there okay?"
"Okay, thank you, Leia."
"Anytime," Leia smiled, Mara headed out the door. Han dropped a kiss on Leia's forehead, "Try and stay outta trouble princess." Han winked, leaving right behind Mara.
A Few Minutes Later…
Han came back and asked "Are the kids still asleep?"
"Yep, I haven't heard a peep from them." Leia comforted.
"Good, we're definitely taking them to the aquarium more often." Both of them laughed.
"Oh Han, I feel so sorry for poor Mara." Leia said sadly sitting down.
"I know, sweetheart, I do too. But there's not much we can do. It's all up to Mara." That's when the door chime rang again. "Now who is it?"
"I don't know, go ahead and see." Leia said dragging along behind him. Han opened the door and there stood his brother-in-law.
"Luke!" Both of them said.
"Hey guys, how're you doing?"
"Oh we're fine, how are you?" Han said as Luke came in dropped a kiss on Leia's cheek and pat him on the back.
"Oh I'm great, never better." Luke said, "It's been a great day, and a gorgeous night out."
"Luke, it a horrible night, it's raining and you're drenched." Leia said almost laughing at his drowned appearance.
"Have you ever though of rain as more than just droplets. My admirer called rain a way to washing away all of your troubles..." Luke said as he took off his coat and hung it to dry on a chair in the kitchen. Han and Leia exchanged a worried glance.
"Speaking of your admirer, how did your date go?" Han asked.
"Oh, the date was lousy, but the night after it, was great." Luke smiled.
"Mara told us what happened," Han admitted.
"I thought she would, she's great isn't she?" Luke breathed, making both Han and Leia raise an eyebrow. "I found out Callista was lying, and told her to move on with her life, like I had. I took a walk trying to clear my head, and ended up right in front of Mara's door. She's such a great friend."
"She's always there when you need her, kid." Han agreed.
"Yeah she really is, I don't know what I'd do without her." Luke admitted
"She wasn't herself when she was here earlier." Han nodded.
"She said she ate something that didn't agree with her, and it really made her sick." Leia said. "She also said you took care of her."
"Yeah, I couldn't just leave, she was sick, and she ran a high fever in the middle of the night. She actually asked me to stay too. She was that sick, she actually asked me to stay!"
"Wow," both Han and Leia said.
"Yeah." Luke said, "I need to go check on her after I leave here, and just make sure she's okay."
"I don't know if that's such a good idea Luke." Leia said quickly.
"Why?" Luke asked.
"Well, it's just that I think you should just leave her alone. I mean, she really needs to rest and if you keep going around her, you could possibly catch her illness." Leia said.
"Catch her illness, Leia, the only reason she's sick is because she ate something that didn't agree with her, made her sick."
"That what she thinks… but it could be more than that!" She pointed out.
"Yeah, like it could be a stomach virus, or one of those intestinal flues goin' around." Han helped.
"Oh, I get it," Luke laughed, "You guys are worried for her."
"Of course we are and you too. We don't want you to get sick like that."
"No I mean… you guys think I don't know, about this whole admirer thing-"
"WHAT!" Both Solos' shouted out. "YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT!"
"Sure… I'm not supposed to, but I do!" He laughed a little.
"But how, how did you find out?" Leia asked.
"Well, last night, I sleepover. I put her to bed, and started turning off all of the rest lights in her apartment. You've seen her home, she's neat as a pin, she very tidy."
"Yeah, go on," Han encouraged.
"Well I was almost done, when I noticed her coffee table was just cluttered with stuff. I was curious and went over to investigate. She accidentally left out the pen, her filmsy and she'd been writing out her frustrations. She had a few rough drafts balled up and lying around. After I got a look at her hand writing, and read a little bit… There was no doubt." Luke smiled.
"Are you mad at us, at Mara, for not telling you?" Leia asked cautiously.
"No, I was at first, but only for a moment. Then I took a deep breath and remembered this isn't Calli we're talking about. This is Mara, my best friend, who would never hurt me like that! So no, I'm not mad, but I am going to teach Mara Jade a very valuable lesson."
"What do you mean Luke? You're not going to hurt her, are you?" Leia asked.
"No, I'm not going to hurt her I promise. But my dear friend has been very sneaky, crafty and a romantic little thing. We could have been together years ago, but I didn't think there was a chance she could ever like me! So I'm gonna teach her lesson."
"Sounds good, but what do you have planned?" Han asked leaning in.
"I'll tell you and if you like my plan will you guys help me a little?" Luke asked.
"Sure, you know we're behind you." Han spoke for all of the Solo Family.
"If we like your idea," Leia reminded darkly.
"Of course," Luke smiled, "all right, here it is."
Uh Oh! Organa, Solo and Skywalker are teaming up again… this time on poor, unsuspecting Mara! So, like it, love it, hate it? Please let me know! Well I gotta go get to work on chapter 7! Till next time, TTFN!
-SailorLeia
