"Are we there yet?"
The question came once again from the back of the group as they trekked across the lush green hills. It was the third time that question had been asked since they started the journey to Padmè's home.
Unlike the other times though, this time the answer was different. Padmè rolled her eyes then smiled looking behind her, "Yes, Mara."
Mara gave a sigh of relief then glanced at Luke who was grinning in amusement. "What!" She blurted out irritably and her consternation grew when she realized he was going to laugh.
Mara shoved him aside slightly and smiled softly not really blaming his mirth at her questioning. It sounded like something Jaina would say. It was something Jaina said, as do all children on a trip, she just beat the little one to it. So to hear it coming from an ex assassin was surprising yet funny, even to her.
"I'm spending way too much time around these people," Mara muttered frowning at her antics and looking towards Jaina and Luke. They both gave her a cheeky smile and Mara rolled her eyes heavenward before moving to walk beside R2 ignoring them.
"Look, there's my house!" Padmè exclaimed all of a sudden startling everyone out of the new found silence.
The excited Senator didn't wait for a response as she grabbed the all-of-a-sudden-shy Padawan's hand and began dragging him towards the beautiful serene structure.
Everyone else followed them at a slower pace, not really sure of how to take the situation. As if realizing Anakin was slowing her down Padmè gave him a look and let go continuing on alone towards the two squealing forms not that far ahead.
"Aunt Padmè, Aunt Padmè!" They called out as they reached her side. Padmè picked them both up into her arms and swung them round and round causing them to giggle madly.
" Ryoo, Pooja! I'm so glad to see you!" She exclaimed smiling and she finally set them down hugging and kissing each in turn. After that was settled she led her nieces over towards everyone else.
"Anakin, this is Ryoo and Pooja," Padmè said motioning towards the hesitant Jedi Padawan.
The two girls craned their little necks up in order to look at his tall form and blushed shyly before murmuring a hello.
"This is Luke and Mara Jade, and their niece Jaina," Padmè finished and they gave Jaina a curious glance. The curiosity didn't last though, as they spotted R2 in the back of the group and ran to him giving the droid a hug. Jaina's brows furrowed slightly and she went to stand beside her friend, the happy blue Astromech.
" You friends?" Jaina questioned quietly unsure if they were nice. Ryoo and Pooja looked at her, then back at R2 and smiled seeming to understand.
"He's our favoritist," One said and Jaina finally returned the smile happy with the answer. She knew R2 was the bestest, she just had to make sure they knew it also.
The group then headed for the house and with each step Padmè's smile grew brighter. Approaching them was a woman that looked a lot like Padmè only a little older and… different. Contrasting to Padmè's fresh, smooth, youthful face the woman's face held a depleted look. Like her life hadn't been all fun and games, not that Padmè's was, but the look seemed to fit her.
She looked happy, full of life. Content with how her life has turned out so far. As Padmè hugged her tightly the resemblance between her smiling face and the young Senators became apparent. It was a family full of happiness and love.
Family. A love Mara had never experienced in all her years. She'd like to believe that she didn't need anyone, that she didn't mind pushing everyone away and being alone. She should be used to being alone by now. But the truth of the matter was she knew she'd be lying if she believed it.
No one likes to be alone. These past few days she's realized even more so that having family, someone you can count on through hard times, is something she wanted.
She might never find out who her parents were; if they hadn't wanted her, or did but were murdered by Palpatine, or maybe they were even still living. But she was beginning to see that just because her past was something she really wanted to forget it didn't mean she should rule out all hope for a better future, one with a family.
Mara gave a look to Luke watching him chat with the three little girls and felt her chest constrict. She's also felt that maybe…only maybe, she wouldn't push him away if he tried to break her barriers down. If he tried to get in she'd let him…
"It's been a difficult few weeks," Sola explained solemnly and Padmè's expression went from happy to concerned to angry in a matter of seconds.
It was obvious to all that she was worried about her family and that she wished they hadn't heard of the assassination attempts. Just by looking into her hardened eyes and at the frown now covering her face it was clear that she didn't care about her life as much as she does that of her family's and she didn't like bringing pain home with her.
"Moms making dinner," her sister supplied wanting to lighten the mood once again. "As usual your timing is perfect."
Sola started for the house happy that Padmè now had a bright smile across her face. The happy Senator took Anakin's hand in her own and dragged him into her home. Mara and Luke were unsure but quickly followed when Padmè glanced back at them with a disapproving stare.
As they entered the house everyone was introduced to her father, Ruwee and her mother, Jobal. Mara studied Padmè and Jobal watching them greet each other with a big hug. She smiled, these two women, mother and daughter, were very much alike. They both seemed very happy and kind. Mara knew Padmè was nice from the beginning, when she took in Skywalker's crazy family without any questions. But now she knew where Padmè got her compassion and generosity.
After a polite greeting from Jobal she returned back to the kitchen dragging Sola with her and motioning for everyone else to stay put.
"I think we might need some more chairs," Ruwee commented smiling at Mara, Jaina, Luke and Anakin.
"Are you sure you have enough food?" Luke asked when they all sat at the dinning room table moments later. Padmè and Ruwee both burst into laughter and Luke looked on confused. He was about to question it when he heard pans and pots clanking from the other room followed by frustrated moans and growls of "Too much mom!" Luke looked at Mara, who sat beside him, brows raised. She smiled and shrugged not sure of what to make of it either. Sola came quickly out of the kitchen looking very annoyed with her mother. She struggled to carry the big bowl filled with food in her arms as she maneuvered to the table. "Enough to feed the town?" Padmè asked with not even a bit of sarcasm laced in her soft voice. Sola rolled her eyes and set the bowl down with a relieved sigh.
"You know mom," was her quick answer and she flashed everyone a smile and explained, " No one has ever left this house hungry."
"Well, one person did once," Padmè corrected, " But mom chased him down and dragged him back in." She finished semi-seriously.
"To feed him, or to cook him," Anakin retorted with a big grin. Mara and Luke burst out laughing at his joke but the others just seemed to stare at him. Finally as if realizing he was kidding they joined the 'Jades' amusement.
They settled back down once again into a happy silence. Jobal came in, carrying an even bigger bowl than Sola's, and that just made everyone start up laughing some more.
Jobal shot everyone an imposing stare, one that meant business, one that Padmè used herself to get her way and it did it's job and quieted everyone down.
"I hope you guys are hungry," Jobal said, now smiling at her guests like the perfect hostess.
"A little," Anakin admitted softly looking at the food with an appreciation. Padmè didn't miss his gratitude and gave him a wink before arguing his statement. "He's being polite mom. We're starving."
As if right on cue Luke's stomach let out a loud growl. Mara laughed and Luke blushed and gave a sheepish grin embarrassed.
"I'm starving," He confirmed and that earned him a smile from Jobal and a bowl of food. Everyone began to help him or herself and the table conversation turned into a comfortable silence.
"Honey, it's so good to see you safe. We were so worried," Jobal said with a hesitant brave face. Padmè answered her with a glare and the tension in the room grew thick. Sola rolled her eyes to the ceiling and Ruwee gave a long sigh. Luke continued to eat unfazed by the topic of conversation and Mara waited in anticipation to see how Padmè would react. She hoped she would do something to ruin the picture of perfection the family was, because with them Mara found herself wishing for a better life at home, and she hated to feel that sort of yearning.
"Padmè, member you said I could fly your ship?" Jaina blurted out happily. Padmè's frown instantly disappeared and was replaced by a look of bafflement at the child.
Mara couldn't help but laugh at her partner in crime. She was good at changing the subject. Jaina continued convincingly, "Auntie Mara said I could fly her ship when we got back home and since you're like… my family I can fly yours—right?"
Family.
If only Jaina realized she hit the target head on with that comment. Mara wasn't completely sure yet but Padmè and Anakin seemed awfully close…maybe Jaina did notice it. Padmè's eyes softened and she grinned looking towards Anakin. "Maybe Anakin will let you fly…he's the best I've been told," she suggested and laughed at Anakin's look-what-you've-done-now look. Sola cleared her throat ready to change the subject and Anakin was grateful. That is, until she began. "Do you know, Anakin, you're the first boyfriend my sister has ever brought home."
" Sola!" Padmè exclaimed but the halfhearted objection wasn't lost on anyone. "He isn't my boyfriend," she argued rolling her eyes.
"He's a Jedi sent to protect me." Padmè winced as she finished realizing her mistake too late.
"A bodyguard," Jobal murmured with concern and Padmè gave a forlorn sigh that sounded almost like a frustrated growl. "It's not that serious mom. Anakin's a friend; I've known him for a long time. Remember the little boy with the Jedi during the Blockade?" Everyone nodded and Padmè gave Anakin a soft grin. "Well, he's grown up." Mara couldn't help but notice the way she looked at him and told everyone that. It held a double meaning. Something else she seemed to be oblivious of. Something she most likely wanted to keep hidden, even from herself.Mara could tell Padmè cared deeply for Anakin. She had warmth in her eyes whenever she spoke of him or looked his way. Some of the time when they argued and the way they acted reminded her of Luke and herself—not that she cared for Luke or anything, Mara quickly corrected her thoughts.
"Is it serious?" Ruwee asked and Mara noted with amusement that Padmè no longer looked at him kindly but her eyes held anger in them, even though she held her smile, as he answered.
"Yes, I'm afraid it is…but not too bad," he added quickly glancing at Padmè as if in pain. Maybe Padmè gave him a good kick for his stupidity. Anyone could see Padmè didn't want her family dragged into her problems.
"Don't say that Anakin! You know that it's not that serious. The assassin sent wasn't even semi good at her job. I mean how many blotched attempts were there? If that was me, I would have…" she trailed off as Luke grabbed her hand on the table squeezing it gently in attempt to stop her blabbering…
"But Ben, Anakin's Master, has most likely already discovered who was behind it all so there's nothing to worry about. Besides, she's got us!" Mara finished strongly and everyone calmed down. Padmè flashed Mara a grateful smile and she just shrugged indifference.
Anakin, Luke and Ruwee all decided to slip away for a moment leaving the girls to clean up. Mara just kind of watched on with no intention of helping as they began to work. Her plans changed though, when Padmè deemed her the 'Dryer'.
"Why haven't you told us about him?" Sola asked with a sly knowing grin. Mara listened in, very interested.
"What's there to tell?" Padmè asked with a casual shrug. "He's just a boy." Even as the words left her mouth Mara was sure that even she didn't believe them.
"A boy! Have you seen the way he looks at you?" Sola swiftly argued with a laugh. Padmè blushed slightly "Sola, stop it!"
Mara tried not to make a witty remark but she couldn't help but voice her opinion. "Oh-he's definitely not a boy Padmè, definitely not." She finished with a laugh.
Padmè sent a hard look her way. "That's easy for you to say, you've got Luke!"Mara's laughter ceased and she looked at the door from which Luke left from with a soft, sad smile.
"That I do," she muttered and Padmè grinned at the opportunity to change the subject not catching Mara's solemn look. "So, how did you two meet anyway?" Mara snapped her gaze back to the three women who waited curiously for her answer.
"Well…" She started hesitantly then grinned. "I was sent to kill him."
Mara could tell they weren't sure if she was joking or not so she continued careful not to give away secrets of the future.
"I was an…assassin and my mission was to kill Luke. I thought it was going to be easy. All I had to do was get on the…ship, and shoot him. Force was I wrong!" All three leaned forward to listen more intently but when they realized she wasn't going to continue Padmè softly added the rest for her. "You couldn't do it because you loved him."
"No!" Mara snapped out offensively and Sola and Jobal chuckled.
Mara smiled and continued, "Actually I couldn't find away to get aboard so I missed my opportunity all together. Then My Ma…the guy I was working for died so…" She trailed off leaving them to assume what happened in that space of time. "We hated each other for awhile…err, at least I hated him. He doesn't hate anyone, not even when they have a blaster against his forehead." She shook her head ruefully and continued, "After awhile he grew on me. I would trust him with my life, he's my best friend." She finished softly.
"How did you know you were in love with him?" Padmè asked timidly and Mara caught the double meaning. She snorted and tried to avoid the question
" Love, who can explain it?"
Jobal gave a bright smile obviously agreeing and Sola nodded grinning slyly at her sister. Padmè let out a sigh and rolled her eyes, " Mom, tell her to stop it!" Padmè burst out exasperated like a little child.
Sola laughed but Jobal gave her a look and she quieted some. "She's just concerned dear." Padmè gave Mara a help me look but Mara didn't go for it.
"What I'm doing is important," She argued finally.
Jobal gave her daughter a pat on the shoulder and a gentle smile, "You've done your service. It's time you had a life of your own." With that said she left the room leaving no room for arguments.
Sola was still grinning and Mara stepped forward. She knew how it felt not to have a life, or to have a busy life…but no one to share it with.
"Padmè," she said getting her friends attention. Padmè looked at her confused and Mara gave a sad smile
"To love someone, means giving him the power to hurt you," she finally offered softly, the answer to Padmè's unspoken question from before.
Mara's smile brightened as Luke walked into the room. At that moment her gaze locked with his and she continued as if seeing the truth herself for the first time.
"But in the end, it's worth it."