Solarstorm: Thanks so much for you review. I'm glad you like my story so far. There will be some surprises along the way, but I hope you'll still like it.

Chapter 2

From some time, the presence of the spring at the windows made the joy of life being something no longer only in his home. Every time he came home from the Academy, Luke filled the house with flowers, without feeling guilty. He loved Mara and he wasn't cheating on her. He wasn't looking at any woman with desire, he knew they did not have anything he couldn't find in Mara.

But Mara was losing somehow her oneness. She was no longer unique. Marelai was a name and an unseen song at the windows of the spring.

Mara. Marelai. Sound. Echo. The same sound, and yet, there was something different. He could see Mara, he could have her anytime he wanted to. But he was looking for Marelai without any hope and maybe without any desire to find her.

He received more letters, but he did not show them to Mara anymore. He was trying to convince himself that she won't notice anything. After all, she was six months pregnant, and he didn't want to disturb her anymore. Mara was more passive lately, not willing to talk to him, and he preferred to elude to discuss anything with her. Instead, he just loved her, spoiling her with flowers and gifts, trying to be gentle and caring.

Long silences were gathering between them, but Mara never asked for an explanation. She tried once or twice to convince him to go to Coruscant, to visit his sister, but he refused. He was feeling good here, on Yavin. He did not want to leave the planet with Mara, knowing that another letter could arrive in his absence.

"A long time ago, I believed that Gods created you for me, but it seems that there is someone who gives you more love than I could ever give you, so the Gods had no reason when they created me.

I feel like something inside me is dying slowly. I lived in your shadows for years and I don't know anymore if I love you, if I ever loved you at all. What I know for sure is that I will never love again.

I'm leaving now. But if a star would fall every time I'll think of you and if you'll see some day that are no stars left in the sky, you'll know that's all my fault.

A good-bye is painful only if you know you'll never say hello again.

Maybe this is not our time, maybe we'll meet in another life, another love.

So I say good-bye for now and forever.

Marelai."

Luke's eyes were filled with tears after he read this letter. The last one. He knew there will never be another. She was gone, forever.

He entered his apartment slowly, not really wanting to be there. Mara was in the living room, a cold look in her eyes, her face pale.

"Mara…"

"Callista and Kam were here, she interrupted him. They wanted you to go with them to see a child they think it's suitable for the Academy. They are waiting for you."

"Where?"

"Callista left you a note with the meeting place and the child's name. Here…" and she gave him a piece of paper. After that, she turned on her heels and entered the bedroom, slamming the door after her.

"What's the matter with her again?" Luke mumbled and looked at the paper. Suddenly, the blood drained from his face. He could not see the words, only the handwriting. Her handwriting. Marelai's handwriting. Callista's handwriting… Callista… Callista was Marelai?

"No, he thought. That's not possible. Callista doesn't love me anymore. I don't love her anymore."

Luke was more than confused. The letters did not sound like Callista, they were not her style at all. When he received the first letter, he briefly thought about her being the sender, but he rejected the idea. He KNEW it wasn't Callista. Something wasn't right, but he couldn't figure what.

And Mara… Mara knew as well. Probably she did recognize the handwriting, too.

He had to talk to her, without knowing what to tell her. Suddenly, he felt something terrible through the Force. He rushed to the bedroom and opened the door, only to see Mara lying unconscious on the floor.

Luke was leaning against the medcenter's door, his face as white as the wall behind him. He knew something was terrible wrong but he wasn't ready to admit it to himself. By the time he arrived with Mara at the medcenter, he already knew that it was too late for the baby. The only thing that remained to hope for was Mara's life, and he felt trough the Force that this was in vain, too. Cilghal, the Jedi healer, was the first to inform him that Mara's body was invaded by a strange infection, and that nobody could help with that. She had to reassure him twice that it was just a coincidence that she collapsed after hearing some distressful news, that it had nothing to do with it, it would have happened anyway, sooner or later.

Cilghal opened the door and hushed him inside.

"She is barely conscious. But you may stay with her, it will certainly help, as long as there is no medicine that can do anything for her. Try to talk to her, maybe she'll hear you."

Luke stopped near Mara's bed, but was unable to say anything. Just seeing her like that, helpless, and knowing that she'll be gone soon, blocked his mind, and he could not utter a single word.

"Please, let her be well" he pleaded silently, putting his hands on her temple. He tried to feel her through the Force, but her signature was weak and distant. He knew there was nothing to do.

"Mara, please, try to fight, don't let go", he begged her, and Mara shifted a little, opening her eyes. Hope flickered for a moment in his heart, but quickly died away. She tried to smile, and failed. But she certainly recognized him.

"Mara, I love you, please don't leave me alone!"

She was too weak to speak, but he heard her voice through the Force:

"Aren't you a little selfish, Master Skywalker?"

"Of course I am. I would do anything to keep you near me, my love"

"Even I know that's not possible anymore, Luke. I love you, I always have, that's what I wanted to tell you before I go."

"No, he pleaded, tears clouding his vision. You can't go, you can't leave me now. This can't be the end."

"What sometimes appears to be the end is really just a new beginning, Luke. We didn't predict this, but everything happens with a reason."

"There is no reason for this. This is not happening to us", he whispered, but she closed her eyes, without hearing him anymore.

He could not stay there any longer and watch her die, without being able to do anything to prevent her death. He opened the door, rushed past the Jedi already gathered there and went straight home, not wanting to see anyone, hoping that this was just a bad dream and that he will wake up soon, seeing Mara next to him.