Welcome, GeneralTabris and Skywalker's Girl! You're both coming in at the tail end of this story, and I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the previous parts. Thanks for the compliments. And most of your questions will be answered in this chapter.

Thanks, everyone else, too. Second-to-last post, coming right up.

A Journey of Discovery ― Book Three: Prism

Chapter Sixteen

"You three look like you're about to go before a firing squad." Slouching against a bulkhead, Han shook his head at Leia, Luke, and Mara, all clustered around the dejarik table in the Millennium Falcon's hold. "Hard to believe I'm the only one here without any deep dark secrets to reveal."

Mara gave an unbelieving snort. "With your smuggling background?"

Han waved a hand dismissively. "Ah, they know all about my past," he said with a lazy grin. "All the pertinent parts, anyway. It's what makes me so endearing to 'em."

"Are you sure we have to report to Mon Mothma immediately?" Luke asked. "Can't we at least—"

"She said immediately, Luke," Leia returned, rubbing her forehead wearily. "The Inner Council will be waiting as soon as we land."

"But you're on the Inner Council," Luke pointed out unnecessarily.

Leia shook her head. "General Rieekan has been standing in for me during my absence. He's agreed to stay on a few more days."

"You shouldn't have told them you needed to talk to them right away," Han said. "Or at least that you had a matter to discuss other than Lorrd."

"Quit reminding me," Leia said, a touch of irritation in her voice. "But I've been living with this guilt since Endor, and it will almost be a relief to come clean."

"You have no reason to feel guilty, Leia," Luke disagreed. "There's no way anyone can hold us accountable for the choices our father made."

"No, but some people will use our relationship to Darth Vader as an excuse to discredit us. They will spread rumors and outright lies just to ruin our reputations. Some may even suggest that we'll turn to the dark side also."

"She's right, you know, Luke," Mara said. "The political backstabbing may not be as prevalent in the New Republic as it was in the Empire, but it does exist."

"Only Rieekan, Ackbar, and Mon Mothma will be at this meeting, right?" Han asked. "So you only tell those three, and leave it at that for now. I don't see any need to announce dear ol' dad's identity to the entire galaxy."

"I suppose," Leia said slowly. "Though eventually it's bound to come out."

"That'll just give you time to come up with a game plan, plus more time to demonstrate what do-gooders you two are," Han said with a snort. He nodded his head toward the cockpit. "You know Lando and Chewie can be trusted."

"The question is, what are we telling them about me?" Mara glanced sideways at her husband. "Dancer or assassin?"

"I don't like continuing to lie," Luke murmured, his head cupped in his palms, elbows resting on the tabletop.

"Would you like being a young widower?"

"Mara, they're not going to execute you."

Mara gave a long-suffering sigh. "Is it painful, having that much optimism stuffed inside your head?"

"We have to think positively," Leia said. "All Luke's persuasive arguments on Lorrd were valid. Half the Alliance is composed of Imperial defectors. Your case shouldn't be any different."

"I thought her being a dancer was partly true," Han put in. "One of those certain-point-of-view Jedi truths."

Luke frowned at Han's flippant remark, but didn't refute it.

"You did say you danced at court on occasion," Leia said, turning to Mara. "And didn't Palpatine have you trained without your consent when he recognized your Force potential?"

"And did I not assassinate countless beings?" Mara returned. "Luke and I conveniently left that part out when talking to Mon Mothma two months ago."

"You said yourself that you never killed any Rebels."

"No, but I killed Imperials who were trying to defect to the Rebellion. Imperials with valuable information that might have made a difference in shortening the war."

"You were only following orders," Leia rationalized.

"I could've went against those orders."

"You didn't realize they were wrong," Luke spoke up. "Besides, Palpatine would've had you hunted down and killed. You were ... coerced ... into obeying his orders."

"Hold on!" Han waved his hands to halt the conversation. "Who's on whose side here?"

"No one's taking sides, Han," Leia said. "We simply have to decide how to tell the truth without jeopardizing Mara's freedom." She turned to face Mara. "We will have to downplay your role with the Emperor; stress that you were just a pawn. It may sound ... well ..."

"You think it will bruise my ego, to be described as a mere puppet," Mara said matter-of-factly. "But that's exactly what I was."

"Think of all the information you could tell them about the Empire," Han said. "They'll be grateful to have you on our side."

"Are you thinking they'll grant me clemency if I spill all of Palpatine's secrets?"

"It's possible," Leia said.

"And they'll want to keep me in their midst, to squeeze as much information as possible from me." Mara grimaced at the thought.

"Yes, I—" Luke stopped abruptly, his expression changing to match Mara's.

"But you'd supply intelligence on the Empire when requested, wouldn't you?" Leia asked.

"Yes, of course," Mara bit out. "But I don't want to end up a virtual prisoner of the New Republic," she continued. "Mon Mothma and the others will want me to stay close at hand. They'll expect me to be at their beck and call constantly."

"We can't be certain that would happen," Leia said.

"We can't be certain it wouldn't," Mara returned.

Luke rubbed a hand over his face in frustration. He nearly blurted out that this whole situation wasn't fair, then bit back the words as he realized how childish that would sound. He so wanted to be done with secrets. But he didn't want to risk having Mara's life manipulated by the New Republic. I wonder if Ben felt this guilty when he was telling me how Darth Vader murdered my father, or Owen and Beru when they were saying that my father was a navigator on a freighter. Probably so.

"Maybe we should ..." Luke began, holding Mara's gaze.

"Rethink this?" Mara finished, unblinking. She looked Leia in the eye. "If a situation comes up in which you think I may have helpful knowledge, you can ask me. I'll relay whatever data I can to you. But I won't be chained to the Inner Council's table leg as their pet informant."

"I don't think we can ask for any more than that," Leia said, sighing. "In fact, if you know where in Imperial records that a particular fact could be substantiated, we could always make it look like one of our own slicers found the information."

"Fine." Mara relaxed back into her seat. "I'll even give you what codes I know for Palpatine's own files."

"So, you are gonna tell 'em you stopped off on the way to Lorrd and eloped, aren't you?" Han asked.

"We didn't elope," Luke corrected.

"Oh, that's right," Han said. "Elopement involves planning ahead to sneak off and get married."

"I suppose tomorrow you'll want to file your documentation," Leia said, ignoring Han's jibe and glancing at her brother.

"My what?"

"Your marriage documents." Leia frowned at Luke's worried look. "You didn't lose your datacard, did you?"

"No. Well, that is ..." Luke hemmed and hawed. "We—"

"We don't have a data-record of our marriage," Mara interjected.

"But you were married by an officiator. I saw him in the vision of your wedding."

"Leia, we told you it was a primitive village," Luke said. "They didn't have technical equipment."

"But surely he at least gave you a hand-written record," Leia persisted. "Every officiator in the galaxy knows to supply proper documentation when he or she performs a civil bonding."

Luke bit his lip. He and Mara had agreed not to reveal the background of Zembuhl. Yet another secret to feel guilty over.

"Leia? You have enough pull in the government to do a favor for us?"

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Mon Mothma, Admiral Ackbar, and General Rieekan had all taken the newly disclosed revelation concerning Anakin Skywalker better than Luke and Leia could have hoped for. They had agreed to keep the information under wraps, and promised to support Luke and Leia when the twins felt the time was right to make a general announcement. Mara's involvement with the Empire was only lightly touched upon, with Luke reiterating that Mara was coerced into serving Palpatine.

All the Council members were satisfied with the outcome of the proposed trade agreement with Lorrd, and congratulated Leia, Luke, Han, and Mara on their contribution to the resolution of the Lorrdian/Argazdan conflict. It was the personal announcements, though, that both startled and delighted the government officials. Mon Mothma assured Leia and Han that she had foreseen their upcoming union for quite some time, and she insisted that Leia's idea of an engagement celebration should be carried out without delay. The news of the marriage of Luke and Mara met with quite a bit more surprise, especially since it occurred while Luke was supposed to be en route to Lorrd.

Luke's last bit of news to the Council, however, came as a shock to even Han and Leia. He submitted his official resignation from the New Republic military, painstakingly written, with Mara's help, during the trip back to Coruscant. Luke wasn't really sure why he hadn't confided in Leia about his career plans. Perhaps it was a fear that Leia would try to talk him out of it, in order to keep him close by. Perhaps it was merely the notion that he wanted at least one confidence that he could share solely with his wife. Leia's reaction was mixed ― she was supportive, though not thrilled to hear he and Mara were planning on traveling the galaxy for months at a time to research the Jedi Order.

Further briefings on the Lorrdian treaty took up the remainder of their arrival day, and it was late in the evening before Luke and Mara wearily set foot in her apartment. Much of the next morning for the pair consisted of reviewing the logs of Rogue Squadron's recent missions, more meetings with the military brass, and touching base with Leia on details for that evening's hurriedly arranged party.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

The Grand Ballroom was alive with light and color as Luke approached. He certainly felt more alive than the last time he'd been here ― receiving a commendation for his part in the deaths of Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine. Tonight's celebration was a much smaller affair. Only friends and acquaintances of the guests of honor were invited, and then only under the pretense that the fete was to observe another successful inter-planetary treaty.

Since the majority of Luke's wardrobe was still at his own apartment, he and Mara decided to rendezvous at the celebration shortly before dinner. When Luke walked through the ornate doors of the ballroom, he was mildly surprised to discover that Mara had not yet arrived, especially considering it had taken him an entire standard hour to decide what to wear. A brief inquiry through the Force resulted in a terse suggestion that he surely had better things to do than worry about how long she took to get ready.

"Hey, Commander!" Wedge Antilles waved from a table near the orchestra stand. "Come join us!"

Weaving through the mingling guests, Luke made his way over to his fellow pilots and acknowledged their rather casual salutes. They all wore their dress uniforms, making him feel relieved at his similar choice of attire. "Hi, Wedge, Wes, Hobbie. I saw that you were out on patrol today."

"We just got back," Wedge said.

"And were we ever relieved to find out you finally made it back, Boss," Hobbie said. "This guy," he jerked a thumb in Wedge's direction, "has been a regular slave driver."

Luke smiled weakly. He knew Hobbie was only joking, but he also knew that his coming resignation was going to come as a shock to the Rogues.

"You been over to headquarters yet, Boss?" Wes Janson asked.

"No, I downloaded your mission logs from home. Mostly I've been in briefings since I landed."

"Well, guess what?" Wes's voice cracked with a strange mix of disappointment and excitement. "Mara Jade disappeared!"

"She what?" Luke didn't have to feign confusion. Hadn't anyone in the squadron known that Mara accompanied him?

"Disappeared," Wedge confirmed. "As soon as you left for your mission. She didn't show up that day, and no one has seen her since. Command sent over a replacement supply jockey, but they've been mum about what became of Jade."

"We figure she took your absence as a chance to desert," Wes continued. "We all saw how you and her were on the outs the day before. She— Blazing stars!" Wes' astounded gaze was fixed on the staircase leading to the ballroom's floor. With one slim hand lightly skimming the polished balustrade, the latest newcomer gracefully descended the marbled steps. "She's back."

Luke didn't have to follow Wes' gawking stare to know who had just entered, but he was glad he did. His heart skipped a beat as Mara reached the floor. The crowd parted as if by magic as Mara sauntered across the floor with the air of an empress.

"Shards of Alderaan ..." Hobbie breathed.

But Luke paid little heed to the astonished murmurs of his comrades. His eyes were riveted on his wife, and her curve-hugging shimmersilk dress ― the one with the emerald sparkles that perfectly matched her brilliant eyes, the one that he'd pressured her to not discard when they'd traveled through Coruscant's underground. Luke started forward when Mara reached their table, but her inconspicuous wink stayed his motion. He gripped the back of the nearest chair as she circled around the wide-eyed pilots.

"Hello, Janson," Mara purred, running her fingers lightly through his hair.

"Uh, why, hi, Mistress Jade," Wes stammered, his usual blustering swagger nowhere in sight.

"Oh, you can call me Mara," continued Mara, trailing one hand down his arm. "Did you miss me? Or did you even notice I was gone?"

"Of course we missed you. You're a beacon of light around the squadron, a ray of sunshine." Wes gulped hard as Mara brushed across his backside before moving to Hobbie's side.

(You don't have to overdo it,) Luke sent silently, watching his wife's every move.

(Don't spoil my fun,) was the teasing reply.

"How about you, Klivian?" Mara stroked Hobbie's shoulder. "Were you pining away for me, too?"

"Yes, ma'am. I ... I mean, no, ma'am." Hobbie's face was turning as bright red as Mara's hair.

"And Captain Antilles." Mara pretended to straighten the medals on Wedge's uniform jacket. "I heard you did an exemplary job leading the Rogues while the farmboy was away."

"You did?" Wedge's nervous gaze met Luke's shuttered one. "Won't ... won't you have a seat?" He gallantly pulled out a chair directly in front of him.

"Hmmm..." Mara put one finger to her lips in thought. "Let me see ..." She slowly glanced around the table. "I believe I see an open lap right here." Mara pushed Luke into the nearest chair, then unceremoniously plopped onto his lap. As she crossed her shapely legs, causing her skirt to hike up, Luke nonchalantly let one arm fall to cover her exposed thigh. "And how about you, Commander? Have you told your fellow Rogues what a naughty boy you've been while you were away?"

"Haven't gotten around to it yet."

"Luke? Naughty?" Wes snorted loudly. "This I'd have to see."

"Wait a minute." Wedge narrowed his eyes at Mara. "How would you know what Luke did on his mission? Unless ..."

"Unless I was the one he was being naughty with?" Mara threw back her head in unbridled laughter. She smoothed back Luke's hair with one hand, then looped both arms around his neck.

Luke self-consciously glanced around the nearby tables, noticing the myriad of gazes turned their direction. (Mara, people are looking.)

"Let them look, sweetie," she said aloud, provocatively running a finger around the collar of his jacket. She grinned when the orchestra began playing the pre-dinner serenade. "Hey, let's dance."

Luke tightened his hold on his wife to keep her from leaping from his lap. "No one else is dancing," he said, not even looking at the dance floor.

"Yes, they are," Mara countered. "Look, I see Han and Leia dancing."

Not bothering to stifle his groan of dismay, Luke relented and rose to his feet as Mara slid to a standing position.

"I'll be sure to save a dance for you boys after dinner." Mara winked at the slack-jawed pilots still sitting at the table.

As Luke pulled Mara into his arms in a rhythmic sway, he sniffed warily at her face.

"What are you doing?" she whispered.

"Just seeing if you've been drinking."

"Why? Do you think I'd have to be drunk to flirt with your comrades-in-flight?"

"Well ..."

Mara laughed lightly. "I'm just going for shock value. Janson and Klivian have been ogling me since the first day I walked into the hanger bay." She stroked his cheek with one finger. "Am I embarrassing you?"

"No." Luke shook his head. Leia caught his eye as she and Han twirled nearby. She cocked one eyebrow in amusement, then poked Han when he pretended to pant in lustful desire. Luke did his best to ignore them, guiding Mara to what he hoped would be a safe distance across the floor. "I'm glad to see you enjoying yourself. Though ..." He tilted his head and perused Mara's dress once more. "Do you think this is how the female Jedi of the Old Order dressed? I'll have to review those datafiles from the Regent more closely."

"Someone begged me to keep this dress, and I assumed that meant he wanted me to wear it." Mara slipped one hand under the lapel of Luke's dress uniform. "Besides, I don't see you wearing Jedi robes yourself."

"I figured this would be my last time ever wearing this," Luke replied, a glimmer of nostalgia passing through him as he spun them out of the way of another couple.

Mara laid her head on Luke's shoulder, melting against his side. "I guessed as much," she said in a low voice. From out of nowhere a shiny bit of metal appeared in her hand, and she deftly pinned the object onto the front of Luke's uniform. He peered down at the new medal now lined up with his previous laurels. "I hope you don't mind," Mara said. "I thought someone might notice its absence, and, well ..."

Luke gently clasped her now empty hand. "It's all right." He hugged Mara tighter, brushing his lips across the top of her head. "I overreacted that night ― not one of my finer moments."

"Mine either," Mara whispered.

The couple danced on in silence, oblivious to everything and everyone but each other.

―――――

A melodic chime signaled the end of the pre-dinner dancing. Couples drifted back to their tables, with Luke and Mara bypassing the still-flabbergasted Rogues and heading instead to join Han and Leia at the head table.

Just before the waiter droids served the meal, the entire room fell silent when Mon Mothma rose from her place, elegant as always in her long white robes of state.

"Greetings, my friends," she intoned. "I'm sure you are all hypothesizing on the circumstances behind this impromptu celebration. Certainly, we wish to take note of the good news that the planet Lorrd has submitted a formal petition to join the New Republic, and has agreed to supply us with the much-needed norumite crystals." Mon Mothma paused and gave Leia and Han a warm smile. "But there are much more joyous announcements to be made this evening." She gestured for the couple to stand. "I am delighted to announce that Princess Leia and General Solo are engaged to be married!"

An ovation of applause rolled through the ballroom, its occupants rising to their feet in an acclamation of approval. Luke squeezed Mara's shoulders a little tighter as Han leaned over and gave Leia a smoldering kiss, with Leia putting on a feigned show of mortification. Luke had been as relieved as Leia when the Inner Council gave their blessings to his sister's revelation of her proposed nuptials.

Luke was jolted out of his thoughts when Mara suddenly nudged him with her elbow. He looked up to see Mon Mothma giving him a questioning look. Half guessing what the Alliance leader was asking, Luke nodded back. At his request, the Council had agreed to keep silent on Luke's resignation until he could talk to Rogue Squadron in private. So that left only one revelation ...

Raising her hands to quiet the crowd, Mon Mothma continued, "Gentle beings, there is further reason to celebrate this night." A sly grin crept onto the regal woman's face. "It seems our own Commander Skywalker not only brokered a successful treaty with the Lorrdians during his absence, but tenured a life-long bonding with the lovely lady currently nestled in his embrace as well. Would Mr. and Mrs. Skywalker please stand and take a bow?"

Fighting back a blush of embarrassment, Luke slowly stood, pulling Mara to her feet beside him. As they both nodded in acknowledgement of the new chorus of applause, Luke's gaze couldn't help but stray toward the table where his fellow pilots were now whooping in exultation. Wes Janson animatedly stuck two fingers in his mouth. His shrieking whistle pierced Luke's ears even across the spacious room, and his subsequent thumbs-up gesture caused a tittering of laughter from the rest of the head table. Wedge's reaction was more subdued, but no less welcome. He smiled widely at his long-time friend, then raised his glass in salute. Luke had no doubts that Wedge would flawlessly fill the vacancy as permanent leader of Rogue Squadron.

―――

As the dessert plates were being cleared at the end of the meal, the orchestra began tuning up for the second go-round of dancing and revelry. Guests began mingling again, many coming up to congratulate both Han and Leia, and Luke and Mara. Even though Mara was still a mystery to a majority of the celebrants, no one hesitated to extend their warmest wishes to the newlyweds.

Mara made good on her promise to dance with the pilots, and also whirled across the floor with Han, Lando, Generals Rieekan and Madine, and, in Luke's estimation, three-quarters of the males in attendance. Much to Luke's humiliation, she also didn't hesitate to explain in lurid detail to the Rogues just why she thought it best to limit Luke's intake at the bubbling fountain of Garwillian champagne.

The festivities were still going strong when Luke finally finagled his way into the rotation of Mara's dance partners. As the mellifluous waltz came to an end, the newlyweds decided, by mutual agreement, that they'd had enough partying for the night. Stopping by Han and Leia's table, they began offering their good-nights.

"Just a moment, before you leave." Leia reached under her seat and brought out two small boxes tied with silver bows. "Even though I'm still miffed that you got married without me ..." She handed a box to Luke and Mara each. "Han and I wanted to get you wedding presents."

"But, you didn't have to get us presents," Luke protested as he and Mara stared at the elegantly wrapped gifts.

"Nah, but we did anyway," Han drawled. "Go ahead and open 'em. They're not going to bite."

Mara was a bit quicker undoing the wrappings on hers, and she let a small gasp escape as she lifted out a jeweled pendant on a silver chain. The pendant was shaped like a winged insect and was studded with a multitude of glittery gems.

"It's exquisite!" Mara exclaimed, carefully fingering the intricate piece of jewelry.

"It's fashioned after a Chandrilan chrysirifly," Leia said. "In its early life, the insect larva is enveloped in a cocoon. When the chrysirifly breaks out and escapes its prison, it emerges as a beautiful, multi-colored winged insect, free to fly away as it pleases." Leia reached over and gently squeezed Mara's hand. "It reminded me of your life ― transformed from a virtual prisoner to a reborn, free spirit."

"A rebirth," Mara murmured quietly, holding her hair to one side as Luke fastened the necklace's clasp behind her neck. "Thank you so much," she said to Leia and Han. "I will treasure it always. Though I can't imagine how you found the perfect gift when we just returned yesterday."

Leia grinned. "It helps to have the most efficient aide in the galaxy. I commed Winter before we left Lorrd."

"Your turn, junior," Han said, motioning to the box still sitting in front of Luke.

"Oh, yes." Luke turned his attention from his wife to his own present, finishing the last of the unwrapping. His eyes widened as he pulled out a small hooked stand, upon which hung a sparkling crystal prism.

"Regent Ke'lor's analogy stuck in my mind," Leia said. "You are a prism of the Jedi, Luke. You glow with an inner light, and that light splays out from you to touch everyone that you come in contact with. It was your light that saved our father, and that brought Mara to your side. It will be your light that will continue to shine through your children, your students, and your fellow Knights." Leia got up from her seat and hugged both Luke and Mara. "I'm so happy for both of you. I know that whatever the future holds for you, you two have what it takes to overcome any obstacle, and to build a wonderful life together."

"Thank you, Leia," Luke returned, letting his joy radiate out through the Force as he smiled at his sister and future brother-in-law. "Thank you both."

"You can't know how much it means to us that you accepted our union," Mara added.

"Hey, I'm just glad that I won't be the only one shackled ... I mean, bonded to a life of wedded bliss," Han said with a wink to Luke.

"Nerf," Leia mumbled under her breath, shaking her head. "You two had better make your exit while you can," she continued, unobtrusively gesturing to a group of diplomats heading their way. "Not you," she said sharply, pulling Han back down when he tried to rise. "You're shackled to me, remember?"

Chuckling quietly, Luke and Mara gathered their gifts and quickly slipped out a side exit. As they strolled arm-in-arm down a nearly deserted corridor, Luke guided Mara toward an unoccupied chamber.

"I noticed one day that this room has a balcony with an impressive view of the city," he said to her unspoken question.

"It is spectacular," Mara agreed a few moments later, leaning into Luke's embrace as they gazed out over the twinkling lights of Coruscant and its streaming lines of never-ending traffic.

"The most beautiful sight is right here in my arms," Luke whispered.

"Now, don't get all mushy on me, farmboy," Mara returned, even as she snuggled tighter against him. Luke could feel her love for him radiating through the Force, and he didn't hesitate to return the sensation.

"There's one more gift to be given tonight," Luke said, turning Mara in his arms so that she faced him.

"Another gift? But—"

"An overdue present for my ravishing bride." Luke smiled mischievously as he pulled a tiny jewel case from his pocket. "It isn't easy to keep a secret from you, you know."

"It's not wise, either," Mara said with a mock-stern smirk. "How did you manage this?"

"Clean living and strong Force shields," Luke said with a laugh. He raised an eyebrow as Mara eyed the box warily. She finally gave in to his mental nudges and cracked the box open.

"Oh, Luke!" she exclaimed, letting the now empty case fall into his hand as she held the precious surprise. He gently pried the object from her grasp, and slipped it onto her finger. Mara held out her hand, admiring her new gift with speechless awe ― a delicate gold band with an emerald and a sapphire embedded in its top. "Sweetheart, you didn't have to get this," she finally squeaked out.

"I wanted to," Luke said softly. "I know it's not as flashy or expensive as Leia's ring, but ..."

"Luke, love, you should know that keeping up with the Solos would never be a priority for me," Mara chastised. "Besides, I know quality jewelry, and this was not cheap." She narrowed her eyes in challenge. "How can we afford this? We need to be saving for a ship."

Luke shrugged self-consciously. "I had a few credits put back. Don't worry, the jeweler made me a good deal." He twirled a lock of her hair with his fingers. "We'll get a ship of our own someday, I promise. But we'll explore the galaxy regardless, even if we have to travel steerage on a freighter. We have a new life waiting for us out there, Mara. A new life, together."

"Yes, together," she echoed. "Always together."

The couple fell silent, their foreheads touching in shared contentment. But Luke could feel Mara's mind churning with unanswered questions.

"By the way, Skywalker," she finally asked, "when did you have time to go shopping? Or were you off comming Winter on the sly, too?"

"No, no one else knows about this yet." He smiled smugly. "Where did you think I disappeared to this morning?"

"I thought you were going over to Rogue headquarters."

"They were still out on patrol." He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her slim waist.

"Even so, you shouldn't—"

Luke cut her off mid-sentence, capturing her lips with his own. Mara's protests disappeared almost immediately as they melted into the kiss ― a kiss at once both lingering and desperate.

Distant strains of music echoed into the room, and falling into a comfortable embrace, the couple swayed gently to the soothing melody. His eyes tightly squeezed shut, Luke savored this moment. His relationship with Mara had been like a pendulum, and he pledged silently to himself that he would never, ever, let her swing out away from him again.

THE END

Wait! It's not quite the end. There's still a short epilogue to come. So, Celtic Cross, you have one more chance to say "Update soon."