Hope everyone like this next bit. I only have the epilogue to post still so we're nearing an end. Sorry it took me so dang long

Obi-Wan was thrown against the far wall, it seemed to be a habit of his. As he tried to lift himself up off the floor Anakin gave a sympathetic wince and continued to press on with the battle against Dooku. His enemy gave a harsh laugh and knocked him back with force lightning.

The death of his Master only seemed to make him stronger. Palpatine's death could be felt even on Kamino and when it happened all three opponents had fallen to their knees. Now it seemed that Dooku had the advantage over the younger Jedi. With both now weaker he pushed harder and used words to win. The mind is a powerful thing and so Dooku began to tempt Anakin with the Dark side. He began to flaunt all his weakness and the attributes once admired by all Jedi now became something to fear. Without control of these emotions, he is lost.

"You are compassionate!" Dooku spat out bringing his blood red lightsaber up to strike the fallen Jedi…

It was true—the power of the darkness encompassing everything around them as they flew through the air. Anyone that could feel the force would have felt his death but the light that had surrounded their descent that surrounded her and Luke seemed to push it away. Their love seemed to create a strong force field and for that Mara had been greatly relieved. She has spent enough of her life with that evil in her head and she just didn't need it again. One question however, still remained; what next?

Two arms wrapped around her from behind and she sighed happily as Luke nuzzled her neck. She tried to push her worried thoughts to the back of her mind. Tried to think of anything else but the future but it seemed to be impossible. What is to happen of them now? They had finished the task sent forth to them, changed the future as they had once known it to be. She knew in her heart that they wouldn't just be sent back to the original timeline that they had come from, and they would not be able to stay in the past. Turning in Luke's arms she buried her face in his neck and held in the sob she felt.

What now?

"…a weakness."

Anakin raised his saber to counter the blow, then force jumped around him to begin the defensive once again.

"Too caring," Dooku smirked and picked up a beam using the force to throw at Obi-Wan's prone form. Anakin couldn't stop the beam's descent completely so it rested on Obi-Wan's legs. Anakin grit his teeth and pushed harder not willing to let him win. At any cost this chase will end here.

"Do you honestly think you will win?" The older Sith asked in amusement and flashes of his family seemed to bombard him; first Padme, followed by Obi-Wan then Luke and Mara, and finally Han, Leia and the children.

"I have to," he said and forced pushed him away.

"Ah yes!" He cackled, "Just as my Master predicted. You WILL fail Anakin—you will lose her and in turn everyone you hold dear."

"No!" Anakin cried out fearfully and strengthened his resolve….

Luke pulled away slightly but kept an arm firmly around Mara's waist from the side and she allowed herself to snuggle a bit closer to Luke's warmth. Finally she didn't have to be strong; she didn't have to go through everything alone…

But how long will this newfound peace last?

Even as the words entered her mind she felt a strange fleeting brush of the force.

A warning.

They had completed the forces intent and now it was time to return home—a new home—hopefully a better one…

"It's not fair," Luke whispered fiercely pulling away and she realized that he had felt it too. He began to pace giving her a lost look then turning towards Leia before beginning his pacing once again.

"Luke," Mara said softly approaching as Leia and her children went in search of Han. They all understood it would happen soon.

But what?

"Time is changing," he stated looking at her desolately.

"Yes."

"The future as we know it is no more."

"That was the plan…"

"I don't want to lose you Mara," he choked out hoarsely and she could do nothing but nod. She just stood there staring at him sadly not knowing what she could do or say to make him feel better. Her heart hurt as well, so how could she offer him false words of hope. She had no idea what the future would be like now, but she did now that nothing could keep her away from him. Taking tentative steps toward him she slowly raised her hand and placed it softly on his chest above his heart. He let out a deep breath and pulled her into a tight embrace causing tears to cloud her vision.

"I don't want to lose you," he cried out again and buried his face in her neck. Mara reached up to stroke his head offering comfort.

"You won't!" She promised fervently even though it was a promise she didn't know how to keep. He seemed to accept that as he clutched her tighter to him and she could do nothing but let her tears fall with him. Luke is the strongest person she knew and it killed her to see him like this. She loved him so much and would fight forever to keep that love.

They both looked up as the Solos' joined them in the room. Luke gave Han a questioning look and he just shrugged.

"The Falcon's gone all funny—it's flying itself."

"I didn' touch nothin'," Jaina said firmly as her brothers gave her a look.

Luke nodded and hugged Mara tighter never willing to let go. The Solos walked over to the game console—Leia with tears running down her cheeks hugging Anakin to her as she slid in to sit as close to Han and Jaina and Jacen as she could…

He met each parry with his own, red on blue as each block sizzled into one before separating again. Anakin's blade whirled with such speed and force that for the first time in this battle the Count's smug grin vanished. He worked furiously to keep up with the younger Jedi, so much so that he began to stagger slightly. His steps in the dance were careless now and Anakin pressed his advantage even more.

Dooku fought hard to regain his fighting stance, but Anakin didn't give him a chance. The older master slashed out viciously and violently hoping to catch him unaware but it was to no avail. He stabbed straight ahead interlocking the blades once again and twisted but met with nothing but air as Anakin flipped out of the way.

"Not this time Dooku," he said with a little smirk looking down at his gloved hand. At the older man's growl Anakin's eyebrow quirked before he moved forward to begin again.

"Point for you," Dooku conceded with a glare and jumped forth to meet him breathing heavily. It was obvious who was in control now and both of them knew it. Dooku tried to switch to an offensive strike but once again it was Anakin was charged faster.

"Compassion is not a weakness!" Anakin recited slashing down burning through the black cape then aiming higher and meeting his next swing. Another vicious strike knocked the older man to the ground and Anakin twisted the blades just so, capturing Dooku's red with his and twisting again to remove both of his hands. He finally held both lightsabers scissor crossed at his neck.

"I care for my friends and family and no one will hurt them…

"I told Mom," she said to Luke as an after thought and paused at the title with a smile. "I told her to never let us forget who we are."

And that was it. Leia leaned over to kiss Han gently and Luke understood. He turned hopeful eyes to Mara and she stroked his cheek gently.

"She won't let me forget you!" He said ardently and she couldn't help but smile. She had no idea what her fate was to be now but she knew in her heart that she would never forget this man in front of her.

"The morning will come," she said softly letting her fingers trace gently over his eyebrows.

"The suns will always rise and life will continue on," she paused and ran her fingertips down his nose before tracing his lips.

"I will always love you," she whispered firmly and passionately and wiped a lone tear that ran down his cheek.

"We will be together again—this I know and will make certain of. My love for you will never fade. It will never change. Like the morning we shall begin again, a new chance at family and love."

"I love you," he whispered hoarsely and she nodded letting her own tears fall now. This was not a time for a front, for false bravery but rather a time for solidarity. She had no reason to hide from this man anything. She had hidden her love for too long and as she clutched him to her, she made a vow to herself that in this new life, if she is fortunate enough to find his love again she'll never let him go.

/Never/ she heard whispered through the force and let loose one sob into his shoulder.

"The morning will come," he repeated and kissed her gently but firmly as if stamping it to his memory. Their love will survive and as they embraced something happened. First a slight pain gripped them both and then it soothed. A blinding light blurred everything and they knew at once that the end was just beginning.

"…Not even me," Anakin finished hoarsely and lowered the lightsabers slightly before giving a look in Obi-Wan's direction. His master was already rising slowly to his feet so Anakin returned his attention to the beaten Sith.

"The morning will come...for you as well," Anakin drawled out and disengaged both blades.

"You're under arrest of course," Obi-wan commented limping slightly to join them and putting a hand on Anakin's shoulder.

Anakin knew he had made the right decision. He felt at peace in the Force and brushed against the light that surrounded him. He still had much to learn, much to prove to himself in order to believe in himself but for once the fear that always clouded his future was not present. He left Obi-Wan to deal with Dooku's arrest and turned to walkout the glass doors and into the falling rain.

"The morning will come and we shall meet again soon…" he whispered into the wind with a smile.