I'm glad most of you weren't too disappointed in last chapter's fight scene. Thanks for the vote of confidence. In this chapter you'll get to finally see Lando's and Chewie's reactions to 'the news.'

A Journey of Discovery ― Book Three: Prism

Chapter Thirteen

As soon as Regent Ke'lor left with a contingent of his sentinels and aides, Luke wanted to pull Mara into his arms and shower her with kisses. But the apprehensive look on her face as workers swarmed all around them put a crimp in his actions.

(Later,) Mara sent, along with a mental promise of things to come.

Luke let out a frustrated sigh, and he and Mara began making their way out of the besieged building. He frowned as he quickly saw that Mara was limping slightly.

"Can't let you out of my sight, can I?" he said, shaking his head.

"Why would you want to?" Mara responded with a smile. "Though obviously you didn't need my help here. I was all ready to knock some heads, but you went and saved the day without me."

"Sorry." Luke grinned sheepishly. "I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities in the future for you to knock lots of heads." He focused once more on Mara's ankle and slowed his pace. "Do you want me to see if I can reduce the swelling?"

"You mean, kiss it and make it better?" Mara laughed teasingly, a sparkle in her emerald eyes. "Let's wait until we get back to the ship. A healing trance takes awhile, and I don't feel like plunking down right here for several hours." She glanced around at the rescue efforts winding down in the open courtyard.

"You mean, back to the Falcon?"

"Of course. You don't think I'm anxious to get to that B-wing, do you?"

"I didn't think I'd ever hear you say that you were anxious to get to the Falcon." Luke grinned, fondly picturing the beat-up freighter. "Han still drills me with a reproachful stare when anyone refers to her as a piece of junk. It's like he's accusing me of planting that description in other people's minds."

"Believe me, people don't need your help in accurately characterizing that rust bucket."

Still mindful of Mara's injury, Luke looked out over the plaza, trying to judge how far they would have to walk. "But isn't it berthed several kilometers from here? Have you already been to it?"

"It's not, and I have," Mara replied succinctly, shivering slightly as a slight evening breeze wafted over her bare arms. "Follow me, flyboy."

"You're cold!" Luke quickly removed his outer tunic and helped Mara put it on, gallantly even rolling up the sleeves for her.

"Thanks. I guess I was too busy worrying about you to notice earlier."

"You were worried about me?" Luke said, his heart gladdening at the sentiment. "I was worried about you, too," he added tentatively, wondering if Mara would be offended by his concern.

"Thanks," she said quietly, putting his mind at ease at once.

Luke squeezed her hand. He was back with Mara, it looked like they wouldn't have to participate in this war, and he was happy. Any further attempts at conversation were cut short as the two Jedi were called upon to give aid to the few remaining injured beings along their route. It was nearly an hour later when they wearily reached the deserted Millennium Falcon.

"Hmm ... Nobody's home," Luke muttered, reaching out with the Force. "Wonder where everyone is?"

"I half expected the ship to be gone."

Luke felt Mara scan the surrounding area, as he had, but neither of them found any familiar sense. "Think they might've joined the fray?" he asked.

"You know how Solo is," Mara said. "Shoot first, ask questions later."

"Now, Mara. That's not fair. Han's not nearly as trigger happy as when I first met him."

"If you say so." Mara shrugged, glancing at the closed hatch and then at Luke. "Well, we may as well make ourselves at home."

"Right." Luke punched in the code to lower the ramp. They were no sooner inside the hatchway when Luke acted on his earlier desire, bending his head to lay a much-anticipated claim on his wife's lips. Now this is more like it! Mara fervently returned Luke's overtures with a matched enthusiasm, winding her fingers through his tousled hair and holding him tightly against her. They shared a feeling of delight and gratitude that the ship was void of its usual occupants. In fact, they could probably even—

"Mistress Le— Oh ... Oh, my!" Threepio's shuffling came to an abrupt halt as soon as he saw who had boarded. "Excuse me." His head swiveled to Luke. "Master Luke, thank the Maker you're safe."

"Uh, yeah," Luke mumbled, his eyes riveted on Mara as she silently pulled out of his arms and brushed past the golden droid without a backward glance.

His photoreceptors also following Mara's retreat, Threepio began moving warily in the opposite direction. "I shall return to the cockpit," he announced formally before disappearing from sight.

Bracing his hands on the cool inner wall, Luke slowly rapped his head against the curved bulkhead. This had to be one of the most frustrating honeymoons on record.

Shaking off his disappointment, Luke followed Mara down the ring corridor to the forward hold. He scrunched up his face in confusion as vague mechanical mutterings drifted in from the cockpit. "What's up with Threepio? He usually talks my ear off. I didn't even get a chance to ask him where the others are."

Mara chewed on her lower lip a bit before answering. "I think maybe someone frightened him earlier this evening."

"Frightened him? Mara!"

"It was a misunderstanding," Mara muttered. Pulling off her boots, she sat down heavily on the acceleration couch, stretching out her injured leg and closing her eyes. "This would be a good time for that healing trance."

Luke shook his head, settling himself at the other end of the padded bench, ignoring the cracks in the worn covering from which stuffing occasionally escaped in scrappy clumps. Propping Mara's foot in his lap and removing her splint, he began sending healing vibes to her ankle, but refrained from actually putting her in a trance.

"I told Han," Luke said without preamble.

"About us?"

Luke raised one eyebrow and gave her his best 'What do you think?' look.

"Hmmm. What was his reaction?"

Luke was silent a moment. Han's reaction hadn't quite been what he'd hoped. "Mixed," he finally said.

Mara reached over and clasped Luke's hand, sending comfort to him in her own unique way.

"And I thought Leia would be the hard sell." He let out a resigned sigh, giving Mara's hand a quick squeeze. "Well, guess I better get it over with as soon as she gets here." He felt Mara's emotional sense shift. "What?"

"You don't have to worry about telling Leia," Mara confessed.

"Why, did Han tell her?"

"No."

"You told her?" Luke found it hard to hide his surprise.

"I wouldn't have had to if you'd told her outright," Mara pointed out, poking him with her toe. "The subject came up, and I wasn't going to lie to her."

Luke privately wondered how the subject had just happened to come up, but he didn't ask. "Sorry."

"Don't be. Leia and I had quite an interesting conversation about you."

This time Luke knew he didn't want any details. "So you're ... getting along with Leia all right? How did she take the news?"

"Better than Han apparently did." Mara shifted her weight on the creaking couch. "She was bewildered and a bit upset that you would get married without her being invited." She gave Luke an admonishing look. "I warned you this could happen."

"Yes, you did." Luke sighed, slumping back in his seat as he continued to hold Mara's foot in his hands. "I'll have to smooth things over with her somehow." He looked at Mara hopefully. "Since you're on such good terms with my sister, I don't suppose you'd want to tell Leia that I volunteered her to mediate the peace negotiations?" Luke gave her the most innocent smile he could muster.

Mara's laughter fell gently on his senses. "And I thought I married a brave man!" She wiggled her foot experimentally, and gave Luke a pleased smile. "Why didn't you do this when I twisted my ankle on Zembuhl?"

"I did. You were unconscious."

Mara frowned in obvious skepticism. "It still hurt after I woke up."

"Maybe I was hoping you'd lean on me," Luke teased, backing off when he received a mock glare in reply. "My healing abilities are sporadic, at best. It would've helped if you could have stayed off your feet at the time."

"But we needed to reach the village," Mara concluded for him. "And now ..."

"Now you can take the time for some rest."

Mara rubbed her heel lightly over Luke's upper thigh. "You did pretty well healing your own wound."

"It seems easier to work on myself than someone else. Though you're practically an extension of myself, now." Luke leaned forward for a kiss, ignoring the sound of the ship's hatch opening.

"Hey, you two," Han said as he and Leia entered the hold. "Get a room."

Luke and Mara pulled apart, and Luke gave his friend and sister a wry grin. "We've been trying. People keep barging in."

Leaning back once more, Mara shot Luke a subtle wink as Lando entered next. Sighing contentedly, she trailed one toe up the front of Luke's tunic as he stroked her leg with a tender familiarity.

"Hey!" Lando cried, his eyes widening in disbelief. "How come you're not pointing a blaster at his nose?"

"Because shooting one's husband is generally considered bad form in polite society," Mara replied with a smirk.

"Hus ... husband?" Lando gaped at the pair, then narrowed his eyes at Han and Leia. "Did you two know about this?"

"We found out earlier this evening," Leia said.

"Why didn't you warn me?"

"Because watching you make a fool of yourself is too much fun, ol' buddy." Han grinned, slapping Lando on the back.

"Don't worry, Lando," Leia put in. "She had the blaster on stun."

"An assassin keeps her blaster on 'stun?' You must really think I'm a fool."

The last to trail on board, Chewbacca set the satchel of medical supplies he was carrying in a corner of the hold.

"Did you know about this?" Lando questioned the Wookiee. "Am I the last to know anything?"

/Know what?'/ Chewie grunted.

Lando waved a hand toward Luke and Mara, now sitting upright and doing their best to maintain straight faces. "They're married!"

Chewie studied the pair with his discerning blue gaze, then roared his approval. Pushing through the crowd, he leaned over and grabbed Mara in a durasteel hug.

"Let go of me, you overgrown mop!" Mara screeched, struggling to escape and glaring at Luke when he began to laugh.

"You're now part of his honor family," Luke informed her. He looked up at his furry friend. "Better watch it, Chewie. It's not wise to upset an Imperial assassin."

"You actually sleep with her, kid?" Han said, shaking his head at Luke. "And you claim that Jedi don't crave danger."

"Pay no attention to him," Leia advised, moving forward to favor her brother with a much gentler, but no less enthusiastic, hug. "I am happy for you, Luke. However ..." She gave Luke a reproachful frown.

"I know, Leia." Luke smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry. I wanted you to be there. And I should have told you as soon as you arrived on Lorrd."

Leia pursed her lips in reflection. "We didn't exactly give you a good opening for an announcement like that."

"But still ..." Luke looked down at Leia's splinted wrist. "Mara told me you'd hurt yourself, but I didn't realize ... I could practice my healing skills on you, if you'd like."

"I doubt it would be as much fun for you as you seemed to be having with Mara's ankle," Leia answered with a laugh. "I'll be fine, Luke. Doctor Solo took good care of me."

"You're not the only one who can dole out tender loving care, junior," Han put in. "Now I want to hear what kind of trouble you managed to get yourself into when you went off by yourself."

With a strained grimace, Luke related to the others how the Force had drawn him into the Regent's office. Mara rubbed his shoulders in sympathy as he described the death of Prime Aide Meend. Luke gave an abbreviated account of rescuing the royal family with the help of the sentinel Roget. He then insisted that Mara and Leia reveal to him their adventure in the bombarded dormitory.

"I think we need some fortification while listening to that tale," Han said, digging into his stash of Whyren's Reserve and setting glasses out on the nicked-up game table. As he poured the amber liquid into Luke's glass, Mara shot Luke a hard, questioning look.

"Don't you dare!" Luke whispered to her, knowing she was thinking of his alcoholic imbibing in Zembuhl, and fearing she would bring it up.

"Is there another story worth hearing?" Han asked, perceptive as always.

"No," Luke said quickly, a split second before Mara's "Yes."

Though Luke was expecting the worst, Mara was mercifully lenient as she described his unfortunate experience with the village's local brew.

"Sounds like he was nearly as sick as the time we took him to a little cantina on Kaal," Han said. "Remember that, Chewie?"

/How could I forget?'/ Chewbacca chortled. /He spent the night in the refresher./

Luke buried his face in his hands, doing his best to ignore the good-natured ribbing. "I thought we were going to hear about Mara and Leia," he said between his fingers.

"Ah, yes," Han said dramatically. "The tale of the two fallen women." He refilled his and Lando's glasses, the only ones emptied so far. He gave Leia a lop-sided grin. "Wouldn't mind hearing that one again."

Leia shook her head in exasperation, then launched into her version of the detour she and Mara had taken through the servants' quarters. Luke squeezed Mara's hand upon hearing about her raising the wardrobe with the Force.

"Very good, my padawan," he said. "I knew you could lift something that big if you needed to."

"I have an excellent teacher," Mara returned softly, love shining in her eyes.

Luke lowered his head until his forehead was brushing Mara's. "And I have an excellent, and beautiful, student," he murmured.

"Oh, sheesh," Han drawled. "Is the mush level starting to rise in here? Get on with the story, Leia, before these two melt into a saccharin puddle of romantic sap." He took a long swig of his whiskey, muttering under his breath "Newlyweds."

Luke didn't miss the slight frown that Leia sent Han's way. He still felt bad that his sister and friend hadn't been able to come to an agreement about marriage yet. Never in his wildest dreams had Luke thought he would be married before the two of them. Mara apparently heard his thoughts, as she snuggled closer under his outstretched arm and laid one hand lightly on his leg.

"... and then the floor gave way, and we fell through to the sub-basement," Leia was continuing. She raised her splinted arm. "Which is how we received these badges of courage." Leia smirked sideways at Mara. "Or should I say, badge of foolhardiness, at least on my part."

"Nonsense," Mara returned. "It was an accident, and you contributed quite well in our extrication."

"You're being generous," Leia said. "Anyway, we stacked up crates to use to climb out, and then Han came along, and we made our way back to the ship." She glanced around at the others. "I think you all know the rest from there."

"We were surprised to find the Falcon still here when Mara and I returned," Luke said, sipping his drink slowly. "We thought you might have joined the battle."

"And we thought you might be leading the battle," Lando said.

"Nope," Mara spoke up, raising her glass in salute to Luke. "In a dazzling display of grown-up Jedi finesse, Skywalker here convinced the Regent to call for a cease-fire."

"I'm impressed, little brother," Leia complimented.

"That's good, because I volunteered you to mediate the peace negotiations."

"What? Luke, the Lorrdians don't even know I'm here."

"They do now." Luke gave his sister a strained smile. "You're so much better at that sort of thing than I am. And I'm sure Mon Mothma would approve, since I wrangled a promise of norumite crystals out of the Regent if the negotiations are successful."

"In other words, you're dumping your assignment onto my shoulders." Leia crossed her arms and exhaled in resignation. "And I though Han was the devious one."

"I learned from the best." Luke's grin evolved into a long yawn. "Didn't realize I was so tired." He squeezed Mara's shoulders warmly. "You about ready to head back?"

"To our quarters?" Mara frowned. "You think either of our suites survived?"

"That's right, Luke," Leia said. "The whole ambassadorial wing could be structurally unsound."

"Stay here tonight," Han offered. "Your cabin is still empty." He glanced at Leia, as if wanting her confirmation that she wasn't planning on moving into the spare bunk. Leia nodded back with a concurring smile. "Then it's settled. You kiddies go enjoy some unsupervised playtime." He gave Luke a sly wink. "Unless you plan on sleeping out here in the lounge again."

"No!" Luke said quickly, blushing slightly as the others began chuckling at his expense. He stood up, pulling Mara up beside him. "Just remember, all of you, we'll be able to tell if anyone tries listening outside our door."

Mara brushed a soft kiss across Luke's lips, then got a teasing glint in her emerald gaze. "Last one there ..."

Luke caught her memory of the time they raced through his suite in the Emperor's palace. "...is a rotten Hbuuga egg," he finished, taking off first.

"No fair!" Mara called. "My ankle isn't that healed."

Luke's grin vanished as he suddenly stumbled over an invisible obstacle. "Hey! Illegal use of the Force," he complained when Mara raced past him.

"Then get down here and show me some legal uses," Mara's voice echoed from the end of the corridor.

Luke didn't need a second invitation.

―――

The remaining occupants of the forward hold stared at each other, dumbstruck.

"Was that really Luke Skywalker?" Han asked, shaking his head in astonishment. He reached down to pick up Luke's tunic, which had fallen from Mara's shoulders in her mad dash, and placed it by her discarded boots.

"Never mind him," Lando said. "Was that Mara Jade?"

"No, it was Mara Skywalker," Leia said, smiling to herself. "Luke and Mara Skywalker. The galaxy may never be the same again."