"Ten days!" How could I have possibly been unconscious for that long?

Luke nodded soberly and grabbed hold of my hand as he sat facing me on the bed.

"The med technicians, they tried to tell me you were…" the Jedi's voice wavered slightly and I read the anguish written plainly across his face, "that you were…gone…" he paused for a moment to collect himself, "…but I knew…"

I gazed into eyes that sparkled with moisture and tried to imagine how I would feel if our roles had been reversed. My heart twisted when I realized how shattered I would be to lose such a dear friend and I squeezed Luke's fingers to show my understanding.

A renegade tear slipped down his cheek and without thinking, I reached up to wipe it away. Luke closed his eyes at the touch of my hand to his face and brought one of his own hands up to hold mine in place.

"Mara," he choked out, "what would I have done if I'd lost you?"

A voice echoed in my mind, distant and solemn, "Take care of my son."

The mixture of grief and despair that had been his constant companions these past ten days slowly washed over me. I felt his ripples of sorrow flow past me and sent comforting thoughts as he released his pain with a quiet sob.

"Hey," I said gently, and waited for him to look me in the eye, "It's going to take a lot more than some silly Force tantrum to take me out."

My attempt to lighten the mood was not lost on the Jedi and I was rewarded when Luke conceded a small smile. With a familiar twinkle in his eye, he pulled my hand down from his cheek to grasp it with both of his own hands. I felt my face relax into a smile, an expression that came naturally to me, but one that I had tried for so long to abandon. Right now, I couldn't remember the reasons why.

"Mara, I don't want to waste any more time playing games with you." Luke said, giving my hand a slight squeeze.

I felt his caress through the Force and wondered at the warm feeling it left in me. "Sounds like a plan, Skywalker," I agreed sending him thoughts of reassurance, "No more games."

Immediately I sensed the hope building in the now-eager young man sitting with me, and my smile widened encouragingly. He took a few deep breaths and centered himself in the Force before he asked me.

"Mara Jade, will you marry me?"

My smile broke into a toothy grin that I hadn't used since childhood and made him wait all of two-and-a-half heartbeats before replying, "Of course I will, Luke."

Another tear found its way down the Jedi's cheek and he laughed, collecting me into his arms in a fierce hug.

I took comfort in his embrace and for once didn't try to shield my emotions through the Force. I was just about to exclaim how liberating it felt not to constantly hold myself in check, when a quiet knock sounded from the bedroom's door.

"Leia," Luke announced to me, reluctantly releasing me from his hold. I nodded, motioning for him to open the door for his sister.

Skywalker acquiesced and let his twin enter the room.

"Mara! I'm so glad you're awake! I felt a surge of relief from Luke and thought there must have been a change. I came straight away."

I smiled at Leia, "Yes, there most certainly was a change," I glanced at Luke and gave him a private wink, then added through the Force, "A change of heart."

Skywalker beamed.

"Would you like to tell her?" I sent to my fiancé with the emotional equivalent of a loving squeeze on the arm.

"Only if you're ready to share the news…my Love"

I nodded and sent my affirmation, then turned my gaze back to Organa-Solo, who had been watching our exchange quizzically. She folded her arms in front of herself and demanded answers from her brother, "Okay, what was all that about? What's the big secret, little brother?"

Skywalker's smile didn't waver, if anything it grew wider. "It's just that…"

When he hesitated, I sent a wave of encouragement.

"…Mara and I. Well…she agreed to marry me, and…" Luke trailed off at the sight of his sister's shocked expression.

Resentment edged its way into a corner of my mind, and I scowled. "What? Is it that unbelievable that someone could want to share a life with your brother?" I knew that wasn't true, but I was hesitant to voice the alternative, that it was unbelievable for someone to want to share their life with me.

Leia looked at me with her mouth agape and blinked.

"Now Mara," Luke said, attempting to placate, "I'm sure she didn't mean…"

"Or maybe…," I interrupted, narrowing my eyes and returning Luke's warning look, "Maybe it's your choice of partner."

Leia pulled herself up to her full height and faced her accuser. "Of course not!" She exclaimed, indignantly, "Why shouldn't I want my brother to be happy?" She took Luke's hand and squeezed, "And I am happy for the two of you."

Sheepishly I looked away, feeling my cheeks burn.

The councilor's eyebrows raised in a cocky 'I-told-you-so' kind of way when she elaborated haughtily, "I was just surprised at your timing, is all. I mean, I was just trying to get the two of you to date, I didn't expect a proposal. I was going to give the two of you some time before I coerced that course of action."

Organa-Solo turned to her brother and gave him a hug, "I really am so very happy for you, Luke. I know how you feel about her." She released him with a kiss on the cheek and then sat next to me on the bed.

"You too, Mara," Leia said with a soft smile, "I know my brother will be in good hands with you."

She placed a small hand on mine and grinned, "Stars! I'm going to have a sister!"

Luke stifled a laugh and my grimace twisted into an odd sort of smile.

With a firm squeeze of my hand, Organa-Solo stood up and gave her brother another quick hug. "I'll let you two be alone, now." She made her way to the door and turned just before leaving, "I'm so glad you're alright, Mara…and welcome to the family."