Chapter 7

by Saber Girl Leia

ARGH! Sorry this took so long- I have had one bad case of writer's block, especially on this story. Coupling that with a science project and test didn't help much...

So I got smart (or crazy, depending on your viewpoint) and am actually doing some minor research on baby development, so hopefully Ellie will be semi-accurate... Then again, there really is not accurate in her situation...

This is kinda random, but has anyone noticed how the Solo kids' schooling is so rarely mentioned? In fact, the only time I remember is in the Coreillian trilogy, when they had a temporary tutor during their trip.

Is it just me or is Zenriffi turning into a... I dunno what you'd call it, the planet version of a Mary Sue? It seems to have everything right there... but I guess that's my fault. blush

Ariapaige: YAY for a loyal reviewer! I'm so glad you liked this chapter. It was pretty difficult to do- I needed to make sure they weren't moving ridiculously fast, but on the other hand, there had to be some stuff leading into a possible romance, or all you readers would have killed me. LOL!

And I'm glad you liked the tag scene, too. I was afraid that might come out corny, but apparently it didn't. I like the part where Luke grabs Leia's braid. (Having long hair myself, I'm no stranger to that tactic...;P)

Thank you sooo much for the comment about writing people. That is my favorite part of writing- telling people's stories and getting inside their characters. I love I and it's a lot of why I want to be a novelist someday... That would be such a great job.

Colors! Hooray! I think the Jedi outfit in RotJ may have been alluding to priests or something... which is cool, and the symbolism is cool, but Luke in the same black uniform every day is getting overdone...

Saber Girl AmiDaala: Yay! You read this chapter without me holding a gun to your head! (Figuratively speaking, of course...) Luke and Leia are going to dinner together this chapter, or if it doesn't fit in here, next chapter, so you should like that.

Mara look-a-like: Glad you like it! I'm not sure exactly how long it has been... blush and little guilty smile I'd say definitely more than six months but less than a year; probably somewhere around eight months, possibly nine.

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The next day, morning

Luke, who was still in the process of figuring out the basics of handling Ellie around food, was cooking her oatmeal in the kitchen. Ellie was playing with a soft stuffed bantha toy at the table. A nice, mess-free bantha toy. "Da, da, da, dee, dah, dadee, da, dah, da," she chanted. Luke smiled at her antics.

Tonight Mara, Han, Chewie, the droids, and the Solo kids were going to stay with Ellie, while he went to dinner with Leia. The basic idea was good; Luke just hoped that Mara and Han would get along all right. The grouphad all gone out this morning, and were supposed to come back around lunchtime.

The stove made a whirring noise, and Luke went to get the oatmeal. He carried it back to his foster daughter, and set it on the table, too far away for her to reach. As he started to sit down next to Ellie, she squealed and grabbed at his arm. "Eee! Aiee! Dai!" Luke babbled a little, glad Han wasn't around to tease him. Or Mara, for that matter.

Carefully, Luke fed nearly infinitesimal spoonfuls of oatmeal to Ellie. She drooled a little, but thankfully did not send anything across the room. He managed to feed her all of the oatmeal, and got her to drink a good amount of water. As he got up to clean the dishes, Ellie once again threw an arm in front of him. This time, her speech was clearer. "Da-dee! Daddy!"

And suddenly Luke knew what she had been trying to say all morning. He fell back into his chair in joyful shock. "Ellie, you said Daddy! You called me Daddy!" He ruffled her hair with uncontained excitement. She was his baby. Blood was thicker than water, but love was much thicker than blood.

Ellie seemed a little overwhelmed by her stepfather's attentions, but giggled at him nevertheless. Luke laughed back. "I love you, baby," he murmured. He carried her, aided by the Force, into the kitchen, where she played on the floor while he washed the dishes.

He tried to contain his excitement, at least a little. Much as he wanted to share the news with everyone, Luke didn't want to others to come rushing home and ruin their time out. All of them but Leia were to be trapped in the house on babysitting duty that night. Though in his present mood, Luke did not consider himself trapped.

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He finally sensed their prescences heading towards the house. Luke ran for the door, unable to contain himself any longer. He threw it open, just soon enough that it did not hit any of the Solos in the face.

"She spoke! She called me Daddy!" he yelled, "Ellie called me Daddy!"

It took a moment, understandably, for the meaning of Luke's yells to register. It suddenly dawned on all of them. "Luke, congratulations!" Leia yelled, and threw herself into his arms. Han slapped his brother-in-law on the back so hard that both Luke and Leia would have gone tumbling to the ground had Chewie not steadied them. The wookie growled his congratulations.

The Solo twins were jumping up and down. "She talked! Ouwe cousin talk-ed! Right Uncle Luke? Do you thinkn she'd talk to us!" Anakin was laughing and clapping his hands in the air. "Ellie talkie!" he screeched.

"So," Leia said after a moment, "do we get to see the miracle girl?" Luke laughed, and it was wonderful to hear. He shut the door behind them and motioned them all along into the family room. His one regret was that Mara was missing this. But perhaps it was for the best. She was always uncomfortable with strong emotions.

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The group ate lunch together, and Mara showed up not much later. Around midafternoon, Luke and Leia left.

Mara heard them talking just before they went out. Luke didn't feel like going out for something fancy again, so the twins were going to get a picnic and take it to the beach. Mara was surprised to find herself feeling a bit cheated. Luke had asked her to go to the beach first. So? Mara asked herself, since when do I care? This is Skywalker we're talking about. And he's a heck of a lot closer to his sister than he is to me. So why shouldn't he take her to the beach?

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The Skywalker twins were very much enjoying their time together, and it had barely started. They bought sandwiches in town and caught a shuttle-bus to the edge of the beach. They chatted about anything and everything. Until Leia had to ask the inevitable.

It happened as they were spreading the beach blanket in a choice spot. "So how did last night go? We didn't really get to hear about it yesterday. You seemed pretty worn out when you got back."

"Oh. Yeah, it went really well. It's nice to have Mara around for a change."

"Mm-hmm," Leia nodded as she took a large bite out of her sandwich. "I saw the necklace. Did you get that for her?"

Luke blushed. "Yeah, it was just a thank you for taking me out and all. And helping with Ellie the other day. I got you some flowers, right?" He referred to a small bouquet he had given her just before they left.

"Not quite up to par with that necklace," Leia teased.

"You, little sister, do not know the entire story behind that necklace."

"Oh really, little brother? Care to tell me?"

"The gem is very similar to those used in lightsabers..." Luke said. He did not meet Leia's eyes, but she thought she detected a bit of laughter in his voice. "You know, just as a kind of little hint... I don't think she noticed anyway. Surely she would have rejected it if she had."

"Luke Skywalker!" Leia cried in mock anger, "How dare you?" He looked up worriedly, to see her laughing at him. He slapped her arm lightly. "Hey! You'll turn darkside doing that!"

"Oh shut up, Leia," he teased, "you deserved it." She raised her eyebrows. "Okay, okay, it was sort of a mean joke. I'll apologize if she ever finds out, okay?" Leia covered her mouth with one hand to keep her food in as she laughed. "What's so funny?"

"You and Mara," Leia replied with a smug little grin, "you're always trying to show each other up, but if you'd just agree to get along, you could be the best of friends."

"We are best friends! Er,.. I think... I mean... you know..."

"Yeah," Leia responded, "I know."

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Back at the house, the humans were congregated in the family room. Han sat on the couch with a newspaper, and Mara was building block towers for Anakin. The twins were watching cartoons on the Holo, and Ella was playing with stuffed animals in the corner.

A loud crash sounded outside. Both Mara and Han were instantly on their feet, motioning the children away from the window. Mara, all senses on alert, crept to the window and peered outside. The others watched her for a tense moment.

Suddenly, the woman began to laugh. At first Han was nervous, but it did seem to be normal laughter, and not of the evil-genius variety. "All right, what is it?" he inquired testily.

"Someone's moving in next door- the movers dropped something. Looks like a desk, from here." Han came over to see, as did the Solo children.

"So is that our new neighbor?" he asked, motioning, "the Zenriffi who's yelling at them now?"

"I would think so," Mara chuckled as she made way for the exuberant twins who were jumping for a view. "I'd guess by the clothing that it's a female, but I can never tell age with that species."

A yell from across the room interrupted them. "Ma!" Ellie repeated as they all turned to face her. She waved a toy at them, "Maaaaa," she repeated pleadingly.

"What is she trying to say now?" Mara groaned.

Han looked from his niece to the woman next to him and back again. A sly smile took shape on his face. "You know, I have a sneaking suspicion that she's calling you 'Ma.'"

"You think she learned my name already? I'm honored," she began, walking to Ellie, "but I must say I don't know why me. She knows you and Leia much better."

Han smirked openly now. "Actually I meant that I think she's trying to call you 'Mama.'"

Mara stared at him, mouth open.

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Leia and Luke had finished their dinner and were wading in the shallow water. Leia glanced at her brother. He looked so happy. She hated to break her news to him now... but she had to, and soon.

"Luke?" she began quietly.

"Yeah, sis?"

She took a deep breath. "Listen, I'm really sorry, I... Wait, let me start over.

"You know that com-call I got just before lunch?" He nodded. "They want me back on Coruscant. And not for a day or two. For a long time. There's some dispute in the Senate-"

"Isn't there always?" Luke muttered, trying to crack a joke, but looking at his feet.

"Yes, it does seem that way. But apparently this is rather big and Gavrisrom and Mon Mothma and the others want me there. I truly am sorry Luke, I tried to talk them out of it. I know how much you need us all here now, and I told them, but..."

Luke stopped walking, and Leia followed suit. "Leia, it's all right. This is your job- your duty if you will. I've left plenty of times, at the worst of times. I understand."

"Thank you," Leia said softly. He put his arms around her, and Leia hugged her brother back. "So I was wondering, will it be easier on you if Han, Chewie, the kids, and the droids, or some of them come back with me, or harder?"

The Jedi Master sighed. "When do you have to leave?"

"Tomorrow, if at all possible. I'm thinking maybe everybody but Artoo goes to Coruscant. I mean, Han could be a help, but if I take the kids back I'm going to need him. The others would be more of a nuisance than a help, I would think. I can see if Winter's still available to come help out, but it sounded like they're all busy. Hopefully Mara can stick around a little longer..."

"It's all right, really. We'll get by. We could all go with you, but I'm still not sure if Ellie and Coruscant are quite ready to meet each other..." Leia grinned at that. "You had all better make sure to call us every night, though, you hear me?" They both chuckled a little.

"Yes, Master."

"Oh, stop. And I will ask Mara about staying a little longer. Hopefully she won't bite my head off."

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Love? Like? Dislike? Hate? Completely indifferent? Review! Constructive criticism welcome.