Disclaimer: I'm just a poor college grad with no job yet….Star Wars isn't mine.

Chapter Three: Viva Forever…

Luke had never felt as useless as he did now. He was an emotional wreck. First off, Mara was teetering in between life and death. Secondly, Cray was missing. No, Cray had been kidnapped. He didn't know if he should leave and try to find Cray or stay by Mara's side.

He chose to stay by his wife's side. Mainly because of Caylee. She wasn't doing very well. She just couldn't grasp the fact that someone hurt her mommy and took her brother. But at the moment, Caylee was sleeping on the bench next to him. Leia and Han had gone to get some fresh air for a few minutes.

"Any news yet?" Leia asked softly, as she sat down next to Luke. She wrapped her arm around him and pulled her brother close to her. Han stood above them.

"Not yet. The cut went almost all the way through her. The doctor's don't know why she didn't die right then and there." Luke said running his hands through his hair.

"She's a Jedi, kid. That's why." Han said putting a hand on top of Leia's that was already resting on Luke's shoulder.

"And don't worry about going after Cray's kidnappers at the moment. I sent the Rouge Squadron to see what they could dig up for you." Leia said softly.

That seemed to make Luke feel a little better. He knew that Wedge Antilles would look for Cray just as hard as he would. Wedge had always been a good friend to Luke. That was why he was one of Cray and Caylee's honor parents.

"Thanks," Luke barely whispered.

That was when a doctor came up to the group and asked to speak to Luke off to the side. He wearily got up and let Han sit down next to Leia and let Caylee's head rest on his lap. Han wrapped his broad arm around Leia's slender shoulders. She gently rested her head on his shoulder.

"I hope she'll be ok. For Luke and Caylee's sake." Leia whispered to her husband.

"Me too."

They watched as the doctor softly talked to Luke then walked off. Leia let herself flow into the Force and gently touched her brother's mind. She could feel his despair. She gave him a mental nudge of reassurance. Luke looked up at her as he walked back over to the group.

"What did the doctor say?" Han asked.

"Mara isn't going to make it through the night." Luke said sadly. "He said that Caylee and I can spend the rest of the time with her."

"We'll stay here and wait." Leia said. Han nodded in agreement.

Luke gently picked up the sleeping figure of his daughter and walked towards Mara's room.

"Daddy?" Caylee tiredly asked, waking up in his arms as he carried her.

"Yes?"

"Is mommy going to be ok?"

"No sweetie she isn't."

"What's going to happen to her?"

"She's going to become one with the Force."

Caylee still didn't understand. She just wanted her mommy to be ok.

They entered Mara's room. Luke sat down next to her bed and put Caylee on his lap. She reached out and softly touched her mommy's arm. "Mommy, mommy please wake up." Caylee said crying.

Mara turned her head slowly turned and looked at Luke and Caylee. She reached out and softly touched her daughter's face. "I love you Caylee. Never forget that. I will be watching over you always. Take good care of your daddy. He needs you now." Mara softly said.

Tears began to flow down Caylee's cheeks. She leaned up and softly kissed her mommy's cheek and let some of her tears fall onto Mara's face. She gently wiped the tears from her daughter's cheeks. Then her focus turned to Luke.

Luke moved Caylee so she stood by her mom's bed and he moved closer to his beloved wife. His love for Mara was overwhelming, as was hers for him. He softly kissed her forehead then looked into her deep green eyes. They didn't need to speak any words. Their love went through the Force and Force sensitive beings near and far, could sense their love. And that included Cray…

------

"Mommy. Daddy. Caylee." Cray whispered as he lay in a dark room. He didn't know where he was and he was scared. He could barely feel his parents warm presences along with Caylee's. He closed his eyes and remembered their hugs and kisses. He hoped that everything was all right.

That was when a tall young man opened the door and entered the room. "And how are you feeling?"

"Where's my mommy and daddy?" Cray asked scared.

"There was an attack. I'm sorry. They both died."

Cray looked at this guy with a blank stare on his face. "What about Caylee?"

"Your sister will be joining us soon. My name is Namon. Are you hungry Cray?"

Cray nodded yes.

"Well come with me." Namon said holding out his hand to Cray. The little boy took ahold of Namon's hand and left the cold, dark room. But he still had many questions…

------

The Falcon and Jade's Shadow dropped out of hyperspace. The red planet of Yavin appeared in front of them. The mood on both ships was somber. This wasn't a happy trip, but a heartbreaking one. They were all coming back for a funeral.

Luke sighed heavily as they approached Yavin 4, the location of his Jedi Academy. He still couldn't believe it -- his wife was gone. It felt like part of his soul had been extinguished. But he had to be strong. He had to be strong for Caylee.

Caylee seemed to be taking this a lot harder then Luke was. She had cried the entire time they were in hyperspace and a day prior to that too. All she knew was that her mommy wasn't going to be there any more for her and her daddy. No more hugs, no more kisses, no more bedtime stories. And even worse, Caylee's best friend was gone too. She had lost both her mommy and her twin brother.

Luke had spent a lot of time with Caylee since Mara died. Which was practically every moment. She had lots of questions for her daddy and he tried his best to answer them. But mostly, he held her as they both cried.

"Luke you ok?" Leia asked from the copilot's seat. She had flown with him and Caylee.

"Yeah. Just thinking."

"About?"

"How Caylee and I are going to make it through this."

"One day at a time." Leia said smiling. "I know it's hard, but I know that you will make it through. Besides you always have myself, Han, the kids, and Chewie."

"Thanks sis."

------

As night fell upon the planet of Yavin 4, the funeral for Mara Jade Skywalker began. Various Jedi students spoke, Leia did and so did Luke. They even let C3PO talk a little.

"Daddy, is mommy happy?" Caylee softly asked, during the funeral.

"I'm sure she is. Now do you remember what she told you before she died?"

"That she would be watching over us for now on."

"That's right. Now what do you see when you close your eyes and stretch out into the Force?"

Caylee closed her eyes and reached into the Force like her daddy had taught her to do the past few days. "I see our family -- me, you, mommy, and Cray."

"Just always keep that vision with you and she will never leave your heart." Luke whispered into his daughter's ear and softly kissed her forehead.

"Ok daddy."

No one left the site of the funeral pyre until it was completely burned out. That was hours later, deep into the early morning. Even Caylee stayed up the entire time.

------

"So what are you and Caylee going to do now?" Leia asked the next morning. She and Luke were out on a walk around the Jedi Academy.

"Well first off, I'm going to go look for Cray. Do you think that you could ask Winter to watch Caylee on Courscant while I'm gone?"

"Sure. But you know that Caylee isn't going to want to leave your side. She barely wanted to let you go for a walk with me."

"I know. But she knows who Winter is. So it may help some. Oh and do you think that Han and Chewie would come with me?"

"I don't see why not."

------

Later that afternoon, Luke and Caylee went for a walk. He had a few questions to ask her. They walked to a small stream and sat down by its banks.

"Caylee remember a few days ago when you didn't want to go with your mommy and Cray to Courscant?"

She nodded yes.

"Did you have a feeling that something was going to happen?"

"A little. But also a man told me not to go."

Luke looked at her funny for a second. "Who was this man?"

"I don't know. He just said not to leave your side."

"What did he look like?"

"He was tall and old and had hair about to his shoulders and he wore a robe and cloak like you do sometimes and was really nice. He's come and talked to me before."

"How many times?"

"A few times. Mainly he is just watching over Cray and I as we play. Cray's seen him too!"

Luke was startled by what his daughter was telling him. "Wait. Caylee was he shinning?"

Caylee nodded yes.

"So it was a Jedi spirit -- but who?" Luke thought to himself. Then he asked Caylee if she knew this man's name.

"No daddy. But he was really nice. But he looked like you daddy."

That was when Luke knew who it was. It had been his father that told Caylee not to go to Courscant.

"Caylee do you want to know who that man is?"

She nodded yes to her father again.

"He's your grandfather. He died a long time ago."

"Is mommy with him?"

Luke nodded yes.

That was when Caylee smiled big. "Then grandpa is going to take care of mommy now!"

And for the first time in days, Luke smiled. "Yes he is."