Mara was led to the room she and Luke would be staying in and as soon as
she could she fell onto the bed, the single bed, with a sigh. Padmè said
something about wanting to talk about something but right now she was too
tired to think and even if she could a lot of other things were already
occupying her mind. Like Luke Skywalker, she reflected with a grimace and
covered her face with her hands. The farmboy had kissed her, really kissed
her. It made her angry, not because he had the nerve to do it but because
she realized with a start.she wanted him to. That scared her.
Mara Jade, ex Emperor's hand assassin was afraid of Luke Skywalker. Not him, but her feelings towards him. Her emotions seemed to be very jumbled because of this trip to the past. She was feeling things she'd never felt before, never imagined before. Why did this Farmboy have such an effect on her? Why did she care about him so much?
As soon as Mara finally let her tired eyes drift close the door slid open then shut. She didn't open her eyes to look at who it was, she knew who it was. She could feel him before he got to the door. So instead she let out a groan in agitation and threw the pillow onto her face.
His rich laughter echoed throughout the room and Mara couldn't fight off the smile that found its way onto her face. She was just happy that the pillow hid it well.
"Mara," he started when his laughter ceased and took a few steps towards the bed. With each step he took his clothes made a wet sloshing sound. Curious, Mara lifted the pillow slightly to gaze at him with one eye. She didn't expect him to be a breath away.
Squealing, since when did she squeal? Mara sat up quickly causing them to knock heads. "Owe! Sith Skywalker!" She growled standing up away from him.
"Sorry," he muttered rubbing his head and moving towards her. She held up a hand to ward him off and he wisely complied.
"Mara we need to talk," He started with a soft smile. She nodded once and looked him over.
"Why are you drenched?" She quickly interjected when he opened his mouth to speak again.
Luke gave her a look that clearly said I-went-swimming-did-you-expect- me-to-stay-dry? And instead of voicing the obvious he grinned sheepishly and rolled his eyes.
"Jaina pushed me over."
The comment had the effect he was hoping for and Mara smiled. "The girl's sneaky," she commented her voice laced with a bit of pride.
"Mara about the k-" he started and once again she cut him off. " I don't want to talk about," Mara said her voice firm as she began to pace slightly.
"Fine we won't talk." he trailed off and she froze mid pace and gave a relieved grin. "Yet," he added and she frowned.
"I knew you'd be difficult, I just knew it!" She muttered and went to the door to leave.
Mara hit the release button but nothing happened. After five more tries she turned her death glare on Luke.
"What did you do?" she snarled and he held up his hands in innocence.
"I didn't do anything," Luke quickly told her and tried to open the door himself. " It's locked!" He finally concluded and Mara rolled her eyes to the ceiling.
"You just figured it out?" He glanced down at her and their eyes locked.
"Let me out!" Mara yelled and pounded on the door as if imprisoned. "Padmè, Anakin, Jaina.R2?" She glanced over at Luke and he gave a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, Jaina'll find us."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Did you do it??" Jaina asked walking up to R2. He let out a few affirmative bleep bloops and the little girl grinned wickedly.
"Do what?" Padmè asked from behind standing with Anakin. At the sound of her voice Jaina gave a startled cry but quickly put on a calm façade.
"O-nu-thing," she told them in an angelic voice looking at a spot on the floor. R2 beeped and whistled and Jaina smiled stepping closer to the two adults.
"Uncle Lukie and Auntie Mara have 'retired' for the evening," she told them mimicking her mother's tone of voice when speaking formally. The seven year old pulled it off sounding way past her age.
"Oh," Padmè said softly not really connecting it then glanced at Anakin and blushed. "Oh!" She said again with more power and Jaina gave her a bewildered look. Sometimes adults could be so silly. What's so great about going to bed early? Nothing! It's way better getting to stay up late.
Luke sat on the couch and Mara sat on a chair on the opposite side of the room distancing herself as far away from him as she could.
" Play with me!" Luke said and Mara's head shot up, her gaze locking with his.
"What!" she snapped all but shouting back and Luke continued, "I'm bored," he stated calmly and she held his gaze still waiting for a better explanation. He motioned with his hand to the table.
"They have Space Ship Battle Attack of the Federation Army." Now fully understanding the comment Mara felt it safe to answer.
"No."
Luke looked dejected then his eyes lit up. "Dance!" He exclaimed and Mara frowned, "I will not!"
"Sing!" He shot right back and her scowl increased. "I'm not some performer here to entertain you Skywalker," she growled out and he grinned.
"Tell me more about your past," he tried but she responded with a short 'no'.
"Well." he started with a mischievous look in his bright blue eyes. "There are only so many things a man and woman can do together when they're alone." He trailed off his voice taking on a suggestive tone.
Mara leapt to her feet and walked over to sit across from him. "Space Battle ship it is." Luke grinned like a little boy and turned on the game. The music started and he gave her a smug smile.
"You're going down Mr. Skywalker," she said putting emphasis on the 'Mr.'. Luke gave her a wink and argued back making sure to make the name he used for her stand out as well.
"You're wrong Mrs. Skywalker!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" I won!" Mara cried out happily and Luke frowned and glanced down at the game surprised.
Obviously he hadn't been really involved with playing, but instead staring at the woman across from him. He hadn't noticed she was beating him but when she was thinking she'd bite her lip or tap her fingers lightly on the table. He also noticed that each move she made was precise and well thought out. Shaking his head out of his musings he glanced at her smirking face and gave a soft smile.
"So you did," he murmured and stared at her.
"I should get a prize," Mara told him happily glancing back down at the game.
When he didn't answer right away she lifted her green eyes to his blue and her smile faded. He was still staring at her and she shifted in her seat uncomfortable.
"Well, what do you want?" He answered finally his voice sounding hoarse. Mara opened her mouth to say something but when he grabbed her hand what she was going to suggest fled from her mind.
" Food!" She exclaimed shrugging his hand off and stalking away. "I'm pretty hungry.. I need food. There isn't any in here, is there? What if we're stuck in here for days!" She continued pacing the room babbling, sounding an awful lot like a little girl.
Luke laughed and stood up standing in her path halting her strides. "Mara! It's nighttime; we'd be in here anyway. We'll get out of here in the morning." He reassured her wondering where the calm ex assassin ran off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Younglings!" Yoda called out in a voice that didn't match his usual calm Jedi façade.
"Touch that do not," he grumbled hobbling back and forth arranging his things while looking for the little boy terrors. Giggling was heard then silence. Yoda looked around the room his gaze resting on the couch.
"Solos'?" he called out and chuckled when they giggled again. He force raised the little couch finding the boys underneath arms covering their heads.
They both looked up at the couch in the air. Jacen frowned standing up and glared at the Jedi Master.
"No fair! You used your mind powers to find us," he complained puffing his chest out. Anakin nodded and matched his brothers' glare with one less threatening.
"You're not 'spose to in hide n' peek," he accused pointing at the troll with a chubby finger.
"It's hide n' seek Anakin," Jacen muttered shoving at his brother. Anakin blushed and giggled. Yoda looked up and muttered something then glanced back at the boys. "Ready the stew is," he told them and they made a face.
Since they've been there that's all the troll has cooked. You'd think that at 800 or so he'd know how to make something different.
"Yucky!" Anakin told him scrunching up his nose in disgust. Yoda grinned and they stepped back.
"Get something better you will, if my stick you return," he blackmailed. Earlier they had gotten a comm from Mara and she had secretly confided in them the perfect plan to take the troll's stick. It worked and Yoda's been searching ever since.
"Nope," Anakin said happily shaking his head. Yoda's smirk disappeared and Jacen smiled wider.
"Make us somethin' better and we'll give you your stick," he argued back.
Grumbling Yoda walked back into the kitchen. The score now at; Yoda 2, terror boys 12.Windu 3?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Did you find anything?" Luke called out from his place slumped on the chair.
Mara came in from the fresher grinning. "Yeah, let's see." She said dropping her findings on the floor and sitting crisscross beside them.
Luke leaned forward chin on hand watching amused.
"I found Nubian red berry flavored teeth floss, a pair of boots, edible bubble bath, 10 credits," with that she gave a smug smile happy at her findings so far and continued on, "hair pins, extra blanket, a 'I'm with stupid hat' .and complimentary chocolate mints," she finished and Luke got up to sit next to her.
"Bubble bath?" he asked wiggling his eyebrows and Mara shoved him away tossing the edible bubble bath over her shoulder. She took the chocolates in her hand and counted them.
"There's five so. two for you and three for me." Luke frowned and gave a little whine playing along. "How come I only get two?"
Mara popped one in her mouth and chewed it slowly then answered his question with no hesitation. "I found them." She stated firmly leaving no room for arguments.
He grumbled but took his portions storing them away in his belt on the table. Mara ate her second on and he gave her a look and stated matter-of- factly "You don't seem too worried about starving now."
She gave him a bewildered look and he explained; "Now you only have one." Mara shrugged not worried and it was obvious to Luke she didn't really care at the moment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Who was that?" Anakin asked walking into the room noticing Padmè switching off her Holocom.
"That was just Leia checking up on Jaina and Luke. She seemed more concerned about Luke though," Padmè smiled and Anakin laughed plopping down on the seat next to her.
"We talked for a long time. She commed to talk with Mara but I told her they already went to bed." She continued sending Anakin a sly smirk. He gave her an intense look back and she glanced away.
"She seems familiar," Padmè said softly breaking the silence. "So does Luke," Anakin said nodding in agreement.
"I'm still confused about them," he admitted and Padmè looked at him waiting an explanation. "They're both Jedi, or at least almost Jedi-and married! They seem happy and if Luke was right." he trailed off softly and before Padmè realized what she was doing she took his hand in hers.
That move made Anakin confidant and he continued, "He's right, I know he's right! A life alone isn't one worth living. Love isn't a weakness.but a gift." He finished strong and squeezed her hand back.
Padmè leaned back resting her head against his shoulder watching their intertwined hands with fascination. She drew tiny patterns on the outside of his and he smiled down at her. She didn't return it when she looked up instead her face was thoughtful.
"Something about them doesn't add up. The whole family seems to be hiding something.and for some strange reason I feel as if somehow, it involves me." She finished tentatively with a sigh as if thinking her own thoughts foolish and feeling stupid for admitting them to Anakin.
"I feel it too, Padmè," was his soft reply as he rested his head atop of hers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok, there it is. I hope you all liked it
Thanks to everyone who reviewed, I really appreciate it.
Those who haven't well.
::cough, cough::REVIEW::cough, cough::
Mara Jade, ex Emperor's hand assassin was afraid of Luke Skywalker. Not him, but her feelings towards him. Her emotions seemed to be very jumbled because of this trip to the past. She was feeling things she'd never felt before, never imagined before. Why did this Farmboy have such an effect on her? Why did she care about him so much?
As soon as Mara finally let her tired eyes drift close the door slid open then shut. She didn't open her eyes to look at who it was, she knew who it was. She could feel him before he got to the door. So instead she let out a groan in agitation and threw the pillow onto her face.
His rich laughter echoed throughout the room and Mara couldn't fight off the smile that found its way onto her face. She was just happy that the pillow hid it well.
"Mara," he started when his laughter ceased and took a few steps towards the bed. With each step he took his clothes made a wet sloshing sound. Curious, Mara lifted the pillow slightly to gaze at him with one eye. She didn't expect him to be a breath away.
Squealing, since when did she squeal? Mara sat up quickly causing them to knock heads. "Owe! Sith Skywalker!" She growled standing up away from him.
"Sorry," he muttered rubbing his head and moving towards her. She held up a hand to ward him off and he wisely complied.
"Mara we need to talk," He started with a soft smile. She nodded once and looked him over.
"Why are you drenched?" She quickly interjected when he opened his mouth to speak again.
Luke gave her a look that clearly said I-went-swimming-did-you-expect- me-to-stay-dry? And instead of voicing the obvious he grinned sheepishly and rolled his eyes.
"Jaina pushed me over."
The comment had the effect he was hoping for and Mara smiled. "The girl's sneaky," she commented her voice laced with a bit of pride.
"Mara about the k-" he started and once again she cut him off. " I don't want to talk about," Mara said her voice firm as she began to pace slightly.
"Fine we won't talk." he trailed off and she froze mid pace and gave a relieved grin. "Yet," he added and she frowned.
"I knew you'd be difficult, I just knew it!" She muttered and went to the door to leave.
Mara hit the release button but nothing happened. After five more tries she turned her death glare on Luke.
"What did you do?" she snarled and he held up his hands in innocence.
"I didn't do anything," Luke quickly told her and tried to open the door himself. " It's locked!" He finally concluded and Mara rolled her eyes to the ceiling.
"You just figured it out?" He glanced down at her and their eyes locked.
"Let me out!" Mara yelled and pounded on the door as if imprisoned. "Padmè, Anakin, Jaina.R2?" She glanced over at Luke and he gave a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, Jaina'll find us."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Did you do it??" Jaina asked walking up to R2. He let out a few affirmative bleep bloops and the little girl grinned wickedly.
"Do what?" Padmè asked from behind standing with Anakin. At the sound of her voice Jaina gave a startled cry but quickly put on a calm façade.
"O-nu-thing," she told them in an angelic voice looking at a spot on the floor. R2 beeped and whistled and Jaina smiled stepping closer to the two adults.
"Uncle Lukie and Auntie Mara have 'retired' for the evening," she told them mimicking her mother's tone of voice when speaking formally. The seven year old pulled it off sounding way past her age.
"Oh," Padmè said softly not really connecting it then glanced at Anakin and blushed. "Oh!" She said again with more power and Jaina gave her a bewildered look. Sometimes adults could be so silly. What's so great about going to bed early? Nothing! It's way better getting to stay up late.
Luke sat on the couch and Mara sat on a chair on the opposite side of the room distancing herself as far away from him as she could.
" Play with me!" Luke said and Mara's head shot up, her gaze locking with his.
"What!" she snapped all but shouting back and Luke continued, "I'm bored," he stated calmly and she held his gaze still waiting for a better explanation. He motioned with his hand to the table.
"They have Space Ship Battle Attack of the Federation Army." Now fully understanding the comment Mara felt it safe to answer.
"No."
Luke looked dejected then his eyes lit up. "Dance!" He exclaimed and Mara frowned, "I will not!"
"Sing!" He shot right back and her scowl increased. "I'm not some performer here to entertain you Skywalker," she growled out and he grinned.
"Tell me more about your past," he tried but she responded with a short 'no'.
"Well." he started with a mischievous look in his bright blue eyes. "There are only so many things a man and woman can do together when they're alone." He trailed off his voice taking on a suggestive tone.
Mara leapt to her feet and walked over to sit across from him. "Space Battle ship it is." Luke grinned like a little boy and turned on the game. The music started and he gave her a smug smile.
"You're going down Mr. Skywalker," she said putting emphasis on the 'Mr.'. Luke gave her a wink and argued back making sure to make the name he used for her stand out as well.
"You're wrong Mrs. Skywalker!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" I won!" Mara cried out happily and Luke frowned and glanced down at the game surprised.
Obviously he hadn't been really involved with playing, but instead staring at the woman across from him. He hadn't noticed she was beating him but when she was thinking she'd bite her lip or tap her fingers lightly on the table. He also noticed that each move she made was precise and well thought out. Shaking his head out of his musings he glanced at her smirking face and gave a soft smile.
"So you did," he murmured and stared at her.
"I should get a prize," Mara told him happily glancing back down at the game.
When he didn't answer right away she lifted her green eyes to his blue and her smile faded. He was still staring at her and she shifted in her seat uncomfortable.
"Well, what do you want?" He answered finally his voice sounding hoarse. Mara opened her mouth to say something but when he grabbed her hand what she was going to suggest fled from her mind.
" Food!" She exclaimed shrugging his hand off and stalking away. "I'm pretty hungry.. I need food. There isn't any in here, is there? What if we're stuck in here for days!" She continued pacing the room babbling, sounding an awful lot like a little girl.
Luke laughed and stood up standing in her path halting her strides. "Mara! It's nighttime; we'd be in here anyway. We'll get out of here in the morning." He reassured her wondering where the calm ex assassin ran off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Younglings!" Yoda called out in a voice that didn't match his usual calm Jedi façade.
"Touch that do not," he grumbled hobbling back and forth arranging his things while looking for the little boy terrors. Giggling was heard then silence. Yoda looked around the room his gaze resting on the couch.
"Solos'?" he called out and chuckled when they giggled again. He force raised the little couch finding the boys underneath arms covering their heads.
They both looked up at the couch in the air. Jacen frowned standing up and glared at the Jedi Master.
"No fair! You used your mind powers to find us," he complained puffing his chest out. Anakin nodded and matched his brothers' glare with one less threatening.
"You're not 'spose to in hide n' peek," he accused pointing at the troll with a chubby finger.
"It's hide n' seek Anakin," Jacen muttered shoving at his brother. Anakin blushed and giggled. Yoda looked up and muttered something then glanced back at the boys. "Ready the stew is," he told them and they made a face.
Since they've been there that's all the troll has cooked. You'd think that at 800 or so he'd know how to make something different.
"Yucky!" Anakin told him scrunching up his nose in disgust. Yoda grinned and they stepped back.
"Get something better you will, if my stick you return," he blackmailed. Earlier they had gotten a comm from Mara and she had secretly confided in them the perfect plan to take the troll's stick. It worked and Yoda's been searching ever since.
"Nope," Anakin said happily shaking his head. Yoda's smirk disappeared and Jacen smiled wider.
"Make us somethin' better and we'll give you your stick," he argued back.
Grumbling Yoda walked back into the kitchen. The score now at; Yoda 2, terror boys 12.Windu 3?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Did you find anything?" Luke called out from his place slumped on the chair.
Mara came in from the fresher grinning. "Yeah, let's see." She said dropping her findings on the floor and sitting crisscross beside them.
Luke leaned forward chin on hand watching amused.
"I found Nubian red berry flavored teeth floss, a pair of boots, edible bubble bath, 10 credits," with that she gave a smug smile happy at her findings so far and continued on, "hair pins, extra blanket, a 'I'm with stupid hat' .and complimentary chocolate mints," she finished and Luke got up to sit next to her.
"Bubble bath?" he asked wiggling his eyebrows and Mara shoved him away tossing the edible bubble bath over her shoulder. She took the chocolates in her hand and counted them.
"There's five so. two for you and three for me." Luke frowned and gave a little whine playing along. "How come I only get two?"
Mara popped one in her mouth and chewed it slowly then answered his question with no hesitation. "I found them." She stated firmly leaving no room for arguments.
He grumbled but took his portions storing them away in his belt on the table. Mara ate her second on and he gave her a look and stated matter-of- factly "You don't seem too worried about starving now."
She gave him a bewildered look and he explained; "Now you only have one." Mara shrugged not worried and it was obvious to Luke she didn't really care at the moment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Who was that?" Anakin asked walking into the room noticing Padmè switching off her Holocom.
"That was just Leia checking up on Jaina and Luke. She seemed more concerned about Luke though," Padmè smiled and Anakin laughed plopping down on the seat next to her.
"We talked for a long time. She commed to talk with Mara but I told her they already went to bed." She continued sending Anakin a sly smirk. He gave her an intense look back and she glanced away.
"She seems familiar," Padmè said softly breaking the silence. "So does Luke," Anakin said nodding in agreement.
"I'm still confused about them," he admitted and Padmè looked at him waiting an explanation. "They're both Jedi, or at least almost Jedi-and married! They seem happy and if Luke was right." he trailed off softly and before Padmè realized what she was doing she took his hand in hers.
That move made Anakin confidant and he continued, "He's right, I know he's right! A life alone isn't one worth living. Love isn't a weakness.but a gift." He finished strong and squeezed her hand back.
Padmè leaned back resting her head against his shoulder watching their intertwined hands with fascination. She drew tiny patterns on the outside of his and he smiled down at her. She didn't return it when she looked up instead her face was thoughtful.
"Something about them doesn't add up. The whole family seems to be hiding something.and for some strange reason I feel as if somehow, it involves me." She finished tentatively with a sigh as if thinking her own thoughts foolish and feeling stupid for admitting them to Anakin.
"I feel it too, Padmè," was his soft reply as he rested his head atop of hers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok, there it is. I hope you all liked it
Thanks to everyone who reviewed, I really appreciate it.
Those who haven't well.
::cough, cough::REVIEW::cough, cough::