Chapter 6

by Saber Girl Leia

(Most Definitely Not a Date)

Mara look-a-like: I'm so glad you like it and you take the time to review! Many thanks! As for Luke and Mara, they should be going out to dinner in this chapter or at latest the next one... so there will definitely be some building of their relationship going on there... the romance is coming :)

I'm also really happy to hear that you like the whole plot with Ellie. I was a little concerned that it would be too confusing.

And your spelling really isn't that bad- but trust me, I totally sympathize with any spelling/grammar issues. (I was the editor of the school newspaper last year and I have grammar issues! lol!) Spell check was a wonderful invention...

Saber Girl Amidee: Thanks for the detailed and extensive review. LOL. S'kay, you were sick.

Thanks for a name for the restaurant... even if it is rather lame...

Many thanks for help with the gift thing!

Ariapaige: I'm glad you liked Luke asleep on the table. That scene was really fun to write :).

Yay! You liked Leia! That's good- it really bugs me how there's a lot of stories out there where she leans so heavily on Luke and Han or gets upstaged by Mara. We love them all, so why not keep her in the spotlight as well? And I agree, I have always seen her as intuitive. And Mara too! Awesome! I really wanted to show her from a different- but believable- angle.

Ellie is totally the hardest part of writing this story. Nothing makes me happier than hearing someone say I wrote her well. And thank you again for being the first to bring up the issues with the timing. As I continue to write this, I find more and more reason why a significant amount of time needs to have passed.

Good luck on 'cordings! (Trust me, Darth Writer's Block is no stranger to me... lol)

Thanks again for your reviews! It is great to get such nice feedback.

WOW! "Baby Mine" is on your favorite stories list! Bows deeply You deserve candy for that. :oP

ZXZ

Disclaimer: See earlier chapters, send chocolate to George Lucas, Timothy Zahn, etc.

This chapter: Luke and Mara's dinner date! Which they of course insist is a 'friendly meeting.'

Luke woke, and soon recalled the recent disaster. He groaned, wanting nothing more than to put the pillow over his head and go back to sleep at the thought of the mess he would have to face...

Wait. He had no recollection of going back to bed. Had he forgotten to put Ellie in her playpen? What might she have gotten into? He was fully awake now, and halfway to the door before it registered in his mind that three other Force signatures were present in the house. Luke didn't even have to pause to identify the other two. Leia and Mara. What in all the worlds were they doing here?

Had he completely botched his shielding because he got hit by a load of topato? Luke mentally groaned, though he supposed he ought to thank Leia at least for coming to help out. He would thank Mara too, but she would likely just ridicule him.

The two women were chatting like sisters when he finally reached the kitchen. Ellie sat on the floor between them with her models and dolls. All three looked up when he entered.

"Hey." Man, that was lame, Luke thought.

"Hey, yourself," Mara smiled back, "we were just wondering when you'd get out here."

"Sorry about the mess..." Please, don't let her think me a fool. Please, please. Leia was his sister, she knew him; she understood. Mara, on the other hand... She was looking at him; expecting him to continue. "I guess I'm just not used to dealing with kids," he finished.

Leia answered. "It's fine Luke. Everything's taken care of."

"It wasn't that big a deal, Skywalker. Stop blaming yourself." He wanted to yell 'get out of my mind,' but figured she could tell that much just from his face.

"You know Luke, you'd get used to taking care of her easier if you take it a little at a time. Let us do some of the work. You know we'd love to." Now his own sister didn't think he was capable? Luke knew that wasn't true, but in his present mood he didn't feel like being agreeable.

"Yeah," Mara said slowly, "let's go out to dinner tomorrow night. Leia and Han can stay with Ellie. You're overworking yourself and if you die of it, who is going to periodically interrupt my boring life needing to be rescued, eh?"

"Oh, Luke, Mara, that's a great idea!" Leia squealed. Luke briefly wondered if they were planning something, but discarded the idea. This was Leia and Mara, not two high school flirts.

"All right."

The next day; late afternoon

Mara painstakingly waged war with each and every red-gold tangle in front of the mirror. She would look good for the dinner. Not that it was anything all that special... just going out to dinner with Skywalker.

Er, no. Not 'going out to dinner.' 'Taking some time off to enjoy a meal, coincidentally in each other's company.' Yes, that definitely sounded better, to Mara's mind. Well... perhaps not better... but safer. What stupid pubescent kid's idea was is it to decide that every word or phrase needed to have at least three meanings? Mara wondered. One can't even 'go out' with a friend anymore. And I am certainly not dating Skywalker. No, no, no.

He used to be my enemy, for one. Now we're friends, good enough, but he's still a hero while I'm despised. Not to mention he's pining for his dead girlfriend and has a daughter, now. No point carrying this train of thoughts any farther.

She secured a few pins in her hair, and smoothed her skirt a little. It was pale blue, with a filmy top layer, and contrasted well with her plain black top. Mara hoped she wasn't overdressed. She hadn't been able to resist dressing up; she so rarely got to truly enjoy herself at something like this.

Hopefully Luke would be wearing something nice... and much more importantly, Mara hoped that he would enjoy himself. More than likely he would be too worried about Ellie to have any fun. Well, it was his own fault for falling in love with a ship's computer.

Luke was worried. He was very much looking forward to a rest, and a chance to meet Mara for dinner. But he was so afraid that he would say something wrong. Mara so rarely stayed in one place for any significant amount of time. It was always just as they were beginning to understand and truly enjoy each other's company, one would say something and set the other off, and it could be months before they saw each other again.

And Luke did not think he could bear it if she left so soon after coming. Not this visit.

He knew that she, being Mara, would not judge him by outer appearances, but took care dressing anyway. He had spent the standard time in mourning for Callista, a luxury rarely affordable in such a volatile galaxy. But the mourning period had ended, and so Luke wore colors. Too long had everything been black or white- the world was not that clear cut. It was full of grays, and the brighter colors too. One could not forget the brightness, or he would die of emotional blindness.

Luke hurriedly finished getting ready and ran to the backyard to wait for his friend.

Leia, Han, Chewbacca, the Solo kids, the droids, and Ellie were already in the front yard. It was a breezy spring day, and they all, excluding Threepio and Ellie, were romping around in a game of chase. The twins seemed to have teemed up with Artoo. In exchange for hiding behind the little droid, they would help push and steer him over the grass.

A thrill ran through Luke's heart, at seeing them as they were now. This was a side of his family not often displayed to the public. They all looked, and felt through the Force, carefree.

Carefree. It was not something any of them, except the children, could usually afford to be. Each time a friend had died, Luke had felt that the little part inside of him that held onto his inner child and his hope had died with them. But somehow, it had always been drawn back. At the Battle of Endor. By his family. By his friends. Perhaps the hurt from Callie's death would too begin to dissipate in time.

Luke longed for a day when he might play as they did- not only with siblings, but with a wife, and a group of children.

"Luke!" a shout broke through his thoughts.

"What?" he turned, startled, to see his sister smiling up at him and poking his shoulder.

"You're it!" she yelled with obvious glee as she ran away.

Luke gave chase.

Mara Jade leaned on the doorcom for the third time. Her temper was stretched thin, and she fought hard to keep it from breaking. The woman was having many second thoughts about the dinner plan, and Skywalker not answering his door really was not improving her mood.

She heard noise in the backyard, and went to investigate. Mara shielded her Force presence, so Luke would not know she was there yet. He hadn't answered the door; so she was going to get back at him. How, she was not yet entirely sure, but she knew she would think of something. That was the way things worked. If Luke Skywalker snubbed Mara Jade, he would be snubbed back.

There was a little mossy wall extended from the house a bit to the side. Mara guessed that it may have once encompassed the garden, but only this small piece was left. It blocked the view of part of the backyard from the street.

Mara swung herself up into a position where she could rest against the house and see over the wall without being seen. She was quite surprised by what she saw. After all this, she mused, you'd think I'd be used to strange things, especially around the Skywalker and the Solos... the Skywalkers and Solos.

The three adults appeared to be playing tag. Luke lunged and grabbed his sister's braid, prompting her to shout, "No fair!" Anakin was looking on and attempting to clap. Jaina and Jacen appeared to be playing with Artoo across the lawn. Ellie sat by Threepio, who was cautioning her on the dangers of running about. She was playing with the grass. Chewie leaned against a tree near the twins.

Artoo swiveled his dome in Mara's direction for a second, and she held her breath. Although she had the distinct feeling that he saw her, the little droid did not alert anyone. Mara was grateful. She was reluctant to interrupt. Her anger began to dissipate slowly, as she watched them.

But she had to jump in eventually. The Master Trader looked at her wrist-chrono; it was time to go. Mara pushed off against the house and vaulted the stone wall. Unfazed, she uncovered her Force signature and began to speak as soon as the others had turned around. "Hey. It's almost time to go, Farmboy. You apparently weren't bothering to answer your door, so I came back here to get you."

Luke, Han, and Leia all looked slightly guilty, and were not eager to meet the fiery-haired woman's eyes. Leia looked at the ground as she worked to regain her composure; Han strolled a bit in the other direction; Luke tugged his jacket straight.

The fleeting thought crossed Mara's mind that it had been rather rotten of her to disturb them, but it was cut off when Leia spoke. "It's great you're here Mara. I guess we'll expect you and Luke back in a few hours?"

"Sure, why not. Okay with you, Skywalker?"

"Yeah."

"Let's go then."

Luke embraced Ellie and whispered something to her, then followed Mara out of the yard. "Bye everybody, we'll see you soon!" he called over his shoulder with a wave.

"Goodbye," Mara added, "good luck."

"Wait a second, Mara," Luke said as they rounded the corner of the house, "I left something inside."

Mara nodded curtly, "Hurry back." Luke nodded and disappeared inside the house.

Mara toyed with the edge of her skirt, surprised and a little disturbed at the sudden butterflies in her stomach. What the Sith did she have to be nervous about?

Luke came out, finally. He didn't appear to have anything more than when he had entered. Mara looked at him quizzically. "You got it?" she asked softly, appalled at how she could not make her voice sound angry. He nodded. The two friends walked off towards the restaurant.

Luke tried to make conversation. "So, you made any good deals here?" Mara nodded half-heartedly.

"A few; nothing special." The silence resumed.

"So where are we going?" Mara asked, "Your sister made the reservations, but she didn't get a chance to tell me where."

Luke pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket. "'The Nerf Steak Grill,' apparently. The directions are on here. It's not far." They continued to walk in silence, and to study one another.

Mara's hair was pinned in a half-ponytail, and fell in waves about her shoulders. She was wearing a pale-blue skirt, and Luke thought she was dressed in a much more feminine style than usually. Though it was an odd thing for him to even notice. If she knew what he was thinking... ouch. Luke actually winced at the thought of a 'Jade tirade.' Then he nearly laughed at his own bad pun.

His companion, for her part was too preoccupied in studying Luke to notice. He was dressed in blue and yellow and brown, not the all-black ensemble she had become accustomed to seeing him in. He looked well.

Luke had been correct. They reached the restaurant- a small place in the middle of town- soon. It was dimly lit inside. A Zenriffian waitress showed them to a table in the back. The pair ordered and sat back to wait for their food.

Luke reached into his jacket pocket. "Mara, I have something for you," he said. His voice was calm and clear, but Mara could sense the nervous stutter he was repressing. "I wanted to give you something to thank you for taking me out. It's all been really hectic at home."

"Not necessary, Skywalker," she murmured as her handed the small box to her, "but thank you." Mara opened the box to discover a multi-colored pendant on a thin, almost transparent chain. It was beautiful. Even she, who did not day to day waste time, as she saw it, accessorizing, knew that this was valuable and immediately imagined herself wearing it.

"Luke... I didn't get you anything..."

"It's all right, really. A thank you gift, like I said." The gem on the necklace was closely related to those used in lightsabers, but he did not think she knew that. Judging by her reaction, she did not.

"It's beautiful."

"Put it on."

She gave him a strange look, but complied. Their conversation was cut off as the waitress brought their nerf steaks.

"You know, Luke," Mara ventured as the waitress took their bill, we don't need to go straight back to your house. You need to relax- I really don't feel like cleaning up your kitchen again." He started to apologize, but Mara cut him off. "Hey, I'm kidding, it's fine. Really. But where would you want to go?"

"I don't know. I suppose we could just walk around town. Or we could catch a taxi-speeder down to the beach or something. It's getting dusky, so there probably won't be many people there."

"I don't think we're really dressed for that," Mara commented as she looked him up and down, "but just walking around town sounds good."

"Okay." Luke rose and donned his jacket. He held out Mara's as she stood up. A little reluctantly, she turned and allowed him to help her slip into it. Luke lifted her hair out from underneath it and let it fall gently. "Thanks," Mara whispered. They left the grill.

"So," Mara said as they strolled through the strip mall, "how have you people been since I left? I never really got a chance to ask you."

"Pretty good," Luke shrugged, "Ellie's been doing really well. We're a little worried about what's going to happen once Leia needs to go back to Coruscant for a long period of time. I mean, we could all just move back there, but I'm not sure the general public is ready for Ellie yet. Nor she for them. And I really like it here."

Why was everything always about the kid? "You're lucky to have such a close family," Mara said, a little sadly.

"And such good friends."

She turned her head and looked at Luke to see him staring back. They both slowed their pace. Something passed between them for a split second- and then it was gone. "Really, Mara," Luke continued, "you are always welcome here. Or wherever we are. I love-"

Mara nearly choked; then held her breath. Was he actually going to say he loved her? Did he love her? Did she want him to?

"-how you are always there for me. More than anyone, except maybe Leia and Han. I can trust you with my life."

Mara let out her breath, the air now stale, and it left a bad taste in her mouth. But I really shouldn't care. In fact, this is better. For goodness' sake, imagine what would happen if he did love me. it would be so awkward... and I'd have to convince him that I wasn't interested...

Luke was still looking at her. Waiting for a response? Mara avoided his gaze. "Thank you, Luke. That means a lot to me." He put a hand on her arm. What now?

"Are you all right, Mara? Suddenly you don't look so well."

"I'll be all right."

I must have embarrassed her, Luke thought. He wanted to slap himself. Why the galaxy had he said something to embarrass her! She was a dear friend to him. He would never hurt her on purpose. But why did he have to forget how much she hated it when he praised or thanked her. He wished she would be herself and yell at him or something. In retrospect, he was surprised she had not when he touched her arm.

"Are you sure? Don't stay out just because of me."

"I'm sure." Good, Mara was sounding more like herself. "Come on, let's go in here," she said firmly, pulling him into an art shop.

It was warm inside, and Luke noticed that Mara made it quite obvious that she could take off her jacket on her own. He really hoped he had not just alienated her. What in the world had he said?

The pair walked together through the shop for a while, speaking only to comment on the various art pieces. Luke suddenly stopped in front of one in particular. Mara, slightly behind him, noticed and walked over to see what had affected him. It was immediately obvious.

He was staring at a painting of a smiling couple with a young woman, presumably their daughter, between them. She had long hair, but it was the same shade as Ellie's. Tearing her eyes away from the picture, Mara looked at Luke. He was trying to hide his emotions, but he couldn't hide feelings of that magnitude. Not from Mara. Not when she was two feet away. Nor could he hide the involuntary speckling of tears that began to trail down his face.

Luke wasn't looking at her. He was trying to be strong on his own. But there is no try. Silently, Mara held out her arms to him. He had said earlier that she was always there for him, and she didn't want to disprove that, even if this was a section of his life she felt a little uncomfortable intruding in.

Mara supported Luke both physically and emotionally as he leaned into her awkward embrace. He was shaking, and the little part of him left over to rationalize felt he was being very foolish. "You're not a fool," Mara murmured in his ear, "you lost someone very important to you, less than a year ago. This is natural. Let it take its course."

Soon the crying slowed, but Luke did not step back. "Come on," Mara finally said, let's go outside. I'm sorry I pulled you in here."

They walked slowly out of the store. Mara handed Luke a handkerchief, which he took and used to daub at his face. "I'm sorry. I-" he took a long breath. "Thanks for being there, though."

Mara gave him a little smile, which he tried to return. "It's okay, Farmboy. Let's get you home."

"No! Not yet, please. If they see I've been crying..."

"They only want the best for you. Have you talked to Leia about everything, at all?"

"Yes... well some. I want to talk, and if I talk to anyone I want to talk to her. But every time I start to say something... Mara, she sacrificed herself for the people she loved and people she didn't even know. Twice. She sacrificed herself twice. Most people don't even have the courage to do that once."

"I sure hope you're not getting suicidal on me, Skywalker," Mara muttered under her breath.

"Mara..."

"I'm sorry."

Luke was stunned. Mara Jade was not someone who apologized lightly. "You ready to go home yet, Farmboy?"

"Yes, I think so." They walked back to the house in silence, stretching out with the Force in the darkness to keep from tripping. Any more conversation was trivial and light.

So I hope you all like chapter six! Please review; your comments mean a lot to me.