Title: Clear As A Bell
Author: Sw (aka Jeditheskyisblue)
Rating: Teen
Summary: Mara waited too long to accept Luke's offer of marriage or did she?
Author's note: I wrote this for a challenge I believe from a yahoo group about how the Emperor got Mara Jade as a child. I have a whole outline of that but never did get around to actually putting it into the story. Perhaps one day I will.
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars and am making no money off of this story. I just wrote it for fun.
Part 12:
Mara found the anger boiling inside herself at the look of disbelief on the faces of Leia and Callista. "Am I that hideous? That it's impossible to think Luke might find me attractive?" Mara asked as Luke pulled her into his arms. She was about to struggle against his pull but she felt his love wrap around her as well.
(I think you're beautiful.) Luke sent through their bond. Mara took her eyes off the two women to turn her head and look at Luke.
(You have to Skywalker, you're my lover.) Mara replied through that same bond. A smile appeared on her face as she saw the Jedi Master's cheek's turn a bright red.
"You are beautiful, Mar," Luke said as he pulled her closer towards him, forgetting all about their company. "And I never want to hear a word to the dispute that coming from your lips." Luke stated as he was being drawn to those same lips. Seconds before his lips touched hers, Mara and Luke pulled back at the sound of Leia clearing her throat.
Both turned sheepishly and noticed the glares coming from both women.
That wasn't something the force strong couple enjoyed having done to them. Luke had known since the beginning that once Leia found out about Mara and their relationship, Leia wasn't going to like it. But given time, he knew she would come around. Or so he had thought until Callista had reappeared out of nowhere. Before Callista returned, Luke knew that Leia wanted him to marry and have children.
While Mara Jade wouldn't have been her pick for sister-in-law, Leia would have backed down and would have just been happy that he wasn't alone anymore.
But that wasn't to be now. Callista's return brought back with it all Leia's hopes for Luke being the perfect Jedi Master with the perfect Jedi Master's wife.
Only problem with that being Luke didn't want or feel the need to be that. Leia and Callista both had plans for him. Plans he wanted no part of. Luke wasn't going to be the almighty, always right, Jedi Master. Perhaps they didn't see how dangerous that would be, but he did. Having people think you knew everything could only lead to wanting power.
It wasn't until after Callista had left, that Luke realized this. Mara had come for one of her very brief visits while Callista was there. Mara had challenged Luke's teachings. Bluntly telling him that the Jedi Master was wrong about some things, something Luke found his other students would never do.
Mara had just treated him like the one thing he really needed at that time.
She had treated the Almighty Jedi Master like a friend. Luke found he liked that a lot more than being treated like the Jedi Master. The only other person who did that was Han. So for the last year Luke had found himself spending more time with his brother-in-law then with his sister or students.
Leia of course didn't see that at all. What the Chief of State saw was her brother, the last Jedi Master. Someone who was different than everyone else and who deserved respect. To Leia, Luke was above all the petty human emotions and all he wanted to give was love.
That was why it came as such a shock to her that he twin brother, for a better word, shacked up with Mara Jade. Jade who was the Emperor's hand, Smuggler and was known to have a temper. Leia had always known they were friends but never did she dream more. It wasn't until this very moment that Leia realized what a huge mistake she had made.
"I'm sorry" Leia whispered to her twin, but not for interrupting Luke or Mara that afternoon. But for forgetting that Luke was a person, and had the same feelings as everyone else. How could she have been so stupid? While she didn't like the idea of Luke and Mara, Leia knew that now was not the time to discuss that. Now was the time to think about Callista. The poor woman was in love with Luke. This had to have killed her to witness this --whatever Luke and Mara were.
"I think we should go." Callista stated as she turned towards the door. Thoughts of how she could steal Luke were playing in her mind. Leia followed Callista out, leaving Luke and Mara alone still sitting next to each other on the sofa.
Luke stood up and reached a hand out to Mara as he was saying." I don't know about you, but I could use a nap." Mara smiled as she took his hand "I'm not that tired, but I'm all for going back to bed." Mara said as she followed Luke back towards her bedroom. Luke just smiled and shook his head as he thought he wasn't that tired himself.
Sleep was overrated Luke thought as he once again watched Mara sleeping on top of him. He was about to try once again to claim some sleep of his own when he felt Mara starting to stir on top of him.
"No...Please...No!" Mara yelled out.
Luke knew what was happening. It was her memories again. Using the force Luke entered her dreams.
Mara could see both the child her, and the woman she came to believe was her Mother running forward towards each other.
Then she watched as the woman's arms scooped up the child, both jaded green eyes were locked on Vader as he yelled at the troops before them.
"Did I not order you not to shoot?" Vader yelled at the stormtroopers before him.
"But, My Lord, he was going to attack you." The commanding officer stated.
"This man," Vader said as he bent down and looked at his one time friend who was now dead. "What could he have done to me He's unarmed!" The Dark Lord yelled at the stormtrooper.
"Tell me, Commander. Do you know how it feels to watch a parent killed before your very eyes?" Vader asked and sensed a shiver of cold run through the man before him.
"No, my lord" The man replied.
"Well I do, you've scared the poor child for life. If they Emperor finds you've damage his new apprentice he wouldn't be forgiving." Vader stated, fully aware that the Emperor wouldn't care. But the stormtrooper didn't know that and the man did deserve some kind of punishment, if the only discipline he received was the fear for his life, then so be it.
"Vader, I will not allow you to take Mara." The woman holding the child Mara stated.
"Don't make the same mistake your husband did. The Emperor will be pleased to see you." Vader almost begged. If Vader could even do that, Mara though. Luke also picked up on that. It almost sounded as they he was hoping no one else would die that day.
"You know me too well for that, Ani I will not turn." The green eyed woman spoke with strength in her voice.
"Think of the child, Jade." Vader again said in a tone both Luke and Mara thought of as begging.
"I am," was the reply Vader received.
"So be it, if that is your destiny. Say hi to all your fallen comrades for me." Vader said then pulled the crying child out of the woman's arms.
"Ani, please watch out for her. Don't let Palpatine turn her. She hasn't done anything wrong. Mara is just a baby." The woman pleaded as she was being dragged away to meet her doom.
The second the woman was gone Vader looked down at the crying child and whispered so only the child Mara could hear. "I promises Palpatine will not turn you, Mara."
Both Mara and Luke felt the other's shock at that simple statement. Had Vader been the reason Mara hadn't been trained as a dark Jedi? As the image disappeared and both woke from their shared dream, they still couldn't find their voices. Mara had learnt in the last hour how her parents had died and how Palpatine had gotten her. Not only that but that she once had looked up -- no it was more then that. From Mara's other vision or memories Mara knew that as a child she had loved Vader as a replacement father.
Luke and Mara's eyes locked, both wondering the same thing. If what they just witness was true, why hadn't Mara been able to remember it before? Or was it something the Emperor had planted in Mara's mind? Both closed their eyes knowing neither felt like talking tonight.
Tomorrow was going to be a very full day, Mara thought as she felt sleep over take her.
TBC….
Author's Note: God willingly I will be posting the last chapter and Epilogue tomorrow.