Ok guys, sorry this took so long but DRL has a way of sneaking up with you. I hope you like this next bit and there's really only two more "chapters" left. Ps sorry about the sort of cliffie I leave you hangin on in this one. All I can promise is that it won't be months before the next bit. No more then a week and maybe even tomorrow

"So I'm the bait then?" Luke asked as he took an aggressive stance as well next to Mara.

"You bet."

"Is this how it's always going to be?"

She didn't even have to look at him to know that he is smiling. She heard the teasing tone even in the situation and she couldn't stop herself from turning to give her answer with a gentle smile in return.

"Forever."

That one word held so much promise, so much meaning now, that Luke feel her warmth surround him. All he wanted to do is to kiss her and never let her leave his side again but a cackle interrupted his loving thoughts—that's right, they still had to save the galaxy.

"Ready Luke?" Mara asked tightening her fists around the hilt of her lightsaber in anticipation for the fight—the most important fight of her life. Right now she fought for the future—Luke's future with his family—and if she had anything to say about it her future with him.

"Sure I am," he muttered as Palpatine lit his red lightsaber and the both jumped fiercely. They both drew their blades up as one deflecting his attack opening as defensive side in order to tire him. Slash or slash they met his blows, red lightsaber crackling against blue and green and even as they began to deliver their own attack Luke couldn't help but feel apprehensive. He hadn't been able to defeat Palpatine not with his father and his love that drove him to sacrifice. Now as he seemed to lose focus slightly the visions of Mara being struck down bombarded him.

It only took a moment for Palpatine to work himself in Luke's mind, to plant the seed of doubt and weaken his resolve. Mara couldn't comprehend what was happening until Luke was forced pushed through the air slamming into the wall. She held back a curse and strengthened her attack not giving in to her old master.

He will not win.

As she repeated this new mantra over and over in her head it seemed to calm her, made everything seem so clear. She saw the perfect moment to knock him off balance and she didn't hesitate to take it. Her blade managed to penetrate his shoulder and even before he could yell out in agony she knocked his lightsaber away and force pushed him against the opposite wall.

Sparing a quick glance at Luke's unconscious form she approached her evil past cautiously. The blue blade down at her side as every step brought her closer and closer to her fear. Her eyes hardened into green steel and as she stood only a few feet away she couldn't help but feel triumphant looking down upon her nightmare; as she watched the small man growl and glare below her.

"I sense your fear," he spit out with a twisted smirk as he noticed her checking on Luke before turning her hard eyes to him once again.

"Really I was sure you'd sense my anger," she replied caustically causing him to pause at a loss. Obviously he hadn't been expecting that.

"Strike me down then! Use your anger to become even more powerful," he taunted her with a wicked laugh and Mara didn't move to comply. She continued to glare as he struggled to stand watching for any trick he might pull.

"Love," he spat finally while giving a look of disgust towards Luke's prone figure.

Mara raised her chin defiantly not willing to let anything he had to say unnerve her, not willing to let the ghost of this monster win.

"Love is a pitiful emotion! It only weakens you, makes you helpless and dependent. What could ever come of it? He'll only gain control of you," he growled moving closer in an attempt to intimidate and make her believe him.

Mara tried to keep her doubts at bay but visions of the past bombarded her. Her former master's voice tore at the memories ordering her to kill Luke Skywalker in the emperor's name.

"Luke," she thought desperately trying to shake the visions away. Her lonely childhood only served to replace them.

No friends.

No family.

A life of anger and fear, hate and sorrow; a life surrounded by millions of people but always alone. A life filled with pain and ignorance. No mother to cry with or father to love—just him.

He alone had a power over her making her his right hand. To make her into a cold hearted assassin ready to do whatever he bid of her.

"No!" she cried out as her lightsaber dropped to the floor. Reaching up she clutched her head willing the visions away. The visions of long days of training, of punishment when she failed, of torture becoming a norm and just before the memories seemed to engulf her she fell to her knees and saw Luke lying there.

A light rushed through her clouded brain, a light filled with visions of only him; his trust and friendship, his loyalty, and above all else his love. He smiled at her in her mind and all at once she realized that even unconscious he helped her. His force presence was so far intertwined with her that it couldn't be separated. Of course he had been with her, fighting along side of her, making her faster, lending his strength and patience.

"Luke," she breathed out with a smile tugging at her lips as she saw him pushing himself up to his knees and calling his lightsaber. He looked up at her and in the moment she knew something was wrong. Hardly thinking at all she grasped her lightsaber from where it fell, cutting off her nemesis' leg as blue lightening shot from his fingertips.

He fell as she stood and in the back of her mind she knew Luke approached from behind. Palpatine yelled out fiercely in anger and pain, summoning all of his strength into the darkness willing the energy toward Mara.

Luke pushed her out of the way of the blue sparks and watched as Palpatine's head fell in exhaustion and defeat. Mara choked out His name while half sobbing into his neck but before he could wrap his arms even more firmly around her to comfort she pushed him away. She stood up quickly and urged him to follow and if he was surprised by her change of attitude he didn't let it show.

"Time to go!" She yelled tugging on his arm to lead him through the hole she had blasted earlier and into the tunnels.

"We can't just leave him! He's too evil to just be left Mara," Luke exclaimed shrugging her off slightly and making a move to go back. She wouldn't let him and with only one glare he was following her once again.

"Sure we can! It's not like he can follow us with one leg anyway and we really need to get to the roof."

"The roof," he shouted the question but didn't really expect an answer when she was in angry Mara mode. He had learned long ago never to challenge any of Mara's plans.

"Yeah well that or get blown up with the rest of this place," she bit out sarcastically still running.

It struck him then, exactly what she had been doing before he had shown up. He had wondered of course, but never did he imagine that she would really…

"Don't stop!" She yelled angrily and ran back to grab him and propel him forward once again just as explosions began within the tunnels. The sound startled her slightly and with one glance at her face he knew something went wrong.

"What is it?"

"The timing is off! I hadn't expected to have a little chat with Palpie and a panic attack. I was really on set on blowing the man up, I didn't allow extra time for all of that," she said even more sarcastically and halted abruptly as even more explosions erupted over head.

"We're not going to make it to the roof."

"Let's try the hanger," she argued back and began to sprint with him hot on her heels. The moment they set foot inside another set of the bombs exploded from the hallway they had just vacated.

"Luke," she said sorrowfully looking about the empty hanger. Luke didn't even think before pulling her in the direction of an opening of the hanger. The many lights of the underworld of Coruscant greeted them from below as they approached it.

"What are you doing," she asked as if he had gone crazy and he gave her a tender smile as he held out his hand.

"Trust me," he called out when she hesitated and her hand clasped his at once as they leap from the tall building just as explosions from above and inside the hanger blew. The force propelled them even farther away from the building.

We're too high to slow down he heard in his head and couldn't help but wonder if he had thought that or if it had been Mara. They both used the force to slow the descent. Come on he urged fervently knowing what was to come but hoping the timing was right. As if hearing his call—which is probably exactly what happened—the Falcon appeared below them. They slowed even further and landed on top if it with little impact at all and hastily climbed inside both panting heavily.

"I thought I made it clear in my message that the Solos' were to stay on Naboo," Mara bit out after finally catching her breath. She couldn't hide her joy and smiled when Luke only shrugged in response.

"I thought we might need some help."

"You bet you did," Leia retorted coming closer for a hug from both—much to Mara's surprise—followed instantly by the kids.

"Auntie Mara!" Jaina giggled out happily and threw herself into her arms for a strong hug before reaching over and giving Luke the same greeting while Jacen took his turn. When she handed him off to Luke as well the twins spoke excitedly and she laughed at Luke's confusion at trying to understand them. She felt a slight tug, more of a poke, on her leg and looked down with a smile.

"Up!" little Anakin demanded and she responded almost instantly lifting him and tussling his blond hair in order to gain a laugh. He finished giggling and reached out both hands to place them on her cheeks softly. Mara ignored the prickling sensation behind her eyelids still unwilling to let anyone see her tears. She pulled him close to her, hugging him tightly.

"Bad man gone," he said firmly and Mara nodded not really knowing what else to say. Yes, she had felt Palpatine's anger and death in the explosion but it didn't mean the galaxy was safe from him. She was a perfect example of that, of what she had represented after his death, the grudge that had not been her own, the nightmares, the cynicism that she felt and finally the freedom after killing the clone and being free of the command. Most importantly however, was that it just felt way too easy. Yes, he had a way of coming back to haunt you, she thought darkly and Anakin seemed to nod along with her.

"Lukie?" he asked holding out his small arms to his uncle and Mara handed him over smiling when the little guy had the grace to blush when Luke asked if he had been good. Ah, so that's what the twins had been frantically trying to explain. What did they do now she thought with a smirk?

"Have you heard word from Obi-wan and Anakin?" Luke asked his sister after amusing the kids. Leia smiled and nodded in answering. Luke waited for more to come but it never did. She was too busy looking after her kids, making sure they didn't break anything else. When she glanced back up at him he raised his brows and Mara snorted as she mimicked little Anakin's embarrassment from only moments earlier.

"Sorry, we don't really know much. They called to inform us that Dooku is in fact there and that they were going after him. That's it."

"Of course he is there! I said so didn't I" Mara rolled her eyes and walked away to look out at the view. Luke laughed softly then turned to Leia once again expecting her to continue.

"They haven't called back yet but I'm sure everything is fine…"