Chapter Nine
by Saber Girl Leia
To my amazing reviewers: THANK YOU! I love you all! Keep it up!
Sorry it's been a while. This chapter was hard to focus on for some reason. Probably 'cause Jeria isn't all that interesting... yet.
So I fought off Darth Writer's Block, but the apprentice, The Evil Writer's Block of Doom, is now upon me...
What this chapter taught me: My speling iss wirse then I thut it wass. (Don't worry, I used spell check on it.)
SoloKenobi: You like it! Awesome! Last line... sure it was very true... naughty little smile...
Saaber Giirl Amidaala: Don't ask why I felt like doing funny things to your name, I just did. Yeah, you're right, I should have named the chapter "Mara moves in" or '"LUKE AND MARA! YAY!"' Definitely no spoilers there! lol
Okay... the review I didn't get, and my response...
You said: "Yay! Now Mara has to stay with Luke for a while to help with Little Callie- I mean Ellie- and Luke can show Mara the Force... complete her Jedi training."
I said: Little Callie? NO! Wow, I just realized how close 'Callie' and 'Ellie' are. That wasn't intentional... And what's with the second bit? She already knows about the Force, at least basically, and I don't think she particularly wants to complete her training... yet, anyway.
Yay! You reviewed right away! Which means you read it as soon as I told you :). If you remind me, I'll give you a cookie next time school isn't canceled for snow... (Luv snow). Or better yet, remind me so I can bring a type you don't like, offer it to you, and then eat it myself when you reject it. ;P Hmm, maybe a peanut butter cookie...
What I say now: AGH! I get it now... blushes
Ariapaige: Was the "and yet we love them both" comment good or bad?
ARGH! Overlapsthe bane of my existence! How does one write them well? If you have any suggestions, I'd be more than happy to hear them. Good to hear the rest of the timing went well.
LOVE the ending! Glad you do too:D
Leia isn't actually my first name... but that would be really cool! (It does sound good with Marie, too, you are right about that) and I would get mixed up with all the other people with my name a lot less often... my real first name is quite popular, at least where I live.
Whoa! Your middle name is Paige? Now I am seriously weirded out... There's a girl in my English class, Phys Ed class, and history class whose middle name is Paige and that's what she goes by... I don't know her very well though...
DWB, indeed he is a tricky beast... lol
SailorLeia: Awesome! Two reviews in one night! You like it! It's so cool you reviewedyou, the author of the hilarious "Take Your Pick" (which I am still desperately trying to get SG Amidaala to read elbows AmiDee. (whose arm isn't dust and bone on the gundeck floor... lol)
YES! They kissed twice! I've been waiting to write that since the very beginning... strange too, since this is like the only romance story I've ever written...
You recommended me in MSSA:D :D I'll have to reciprocate...
Mara look-a-like: I'm very sorry about your grandfather. May he rest in peaceI will pray for him and your family.
Thanks for the review! It's great to know that you like this story, and that it is helping you through your hard time.
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To my amazing reviewers: THANK YOU! I love you all! Keep it up!
And thanks, SG AmiDee for not running away at lunch when I bounced ideas off you... especially the painful, not-so-bouncy ones. ;P
Everybody! I also suggest that you check out the stories by my wonderful, amazing reviewers! "Take Your Pick" by SailorLeia, "Holo'cordings" by ariapaige, and "We're Watching You," by Saber Girl Amidaala are my favorites. I also recommend "Master Skywalker's Secret Admirer" by SailorLeia.
Has anyone noticed that I was really hyper while writing these responses! lol
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After the kiss, Mara and Luke did not talk much. They enjoyed each other's company and shared a few laughs as they cooked pasta, but for the most part were wrapped in their own thoughts. The two brushed each other gently as they walked past, deliberately but tentatively.
When Ellie called Mara "Ma" as they were setting the table, Luke threw his arms around the redhead from behind. Her heart soared. "She learned your name!" he yelled. Her heart sank. Perhaps Han's interpretation had not been so bad after all...
If Artoo noticed anything different in the behavior of his master and Mara Jade, he did not mention it.
When the meal was over, Luke helped to clear the table and wash the dishes, without any prompting from Mara. She was pleased that he did not think of her as some sort of housewife-
Wife! Where had that come from? Mara felt her face go hot, and turned her head away, desperately hoping that Luke had not noticed. But would it truly be that unpleasant to be his wife? Mara tried to cut off her train of thought but it was all in vain.
I can't think this way, she admonished herself. If he does feel anything more than close friendship for me, it's probably just flailing after losing Callista...
He would never do that, came another voice in the back of her mind.
Not on purpose.
He kissed me!
Mara bit her lip. A hand on her shoulderLuke's handstartled her. "What?" she nearly jumped.
Her gave a crooked smile. "We're done with the dishes."
"Oh. Right. Thank you for helping." He smiled and ruffled her hair a little, almost subconsciously. Mara trembled at his touch.
"Hey, I've been thinking. It's too late again tonight, but we should make a point tomorrow of dropping in on our new neighbor. Maybe bake her some cookies or something. You were a great cooking partner tonight," Luke smiled down at Mara with his kind eyes.
"Sounds good," Mara murmured, her eyes never leaving his face.
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It was still rather early for bed, so the Jedi Master and the Master Trader shared some hot chocolate and played with Ella for a few hours. When the time finally came for the child to go to bed, Mara and Luke felt like begging each other and their better judgments for the proverbial '5 more minutes.'
Eventually, Luke did need to put Ellie to bed. Mara needed to get ready herself, but allowed the two some time alone together. She did not want to intrude.
When Luke came back out, he enveloped her in a warm hug. Mara hoped against hope that he would kiss her again... but he, afraid of another outburst, did not. His breath was warm and comforting on her cheek. And though Mara dearly wanted to place her lips over its source, she, Mara Jade, could not find the nerve, and so she kissed his cheek instead.
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The next day, after only a few fairly minor, though rather sticky, messes, Luke and Mara had a fresh batch of cookies ready to be delivered to their new neighbor. The little group trudged over; Luke and Mara in front with Ellie, and Artoo behind with the cookies.
"We're really going to need to devise some other way of getting her around, Luke," Mara suggested, "maybe a wheelchair or something like that."
Luke nodded, considering the suggestion. But deep down he hoped that Ellie would learn to walk, and soon, rendering such a need obsolete.
A Zenriffian woman of indeterminate age answered the door. She was slightly taller than Luke and Mara; probably about the height Ellie would be if she were standing on her own. All three of her eyes were a deep brown, which contrasted nicely with her pale red skin.
"Hello," she greeted them, "who might you be?"
Luke was rather surprised, but somewhat relieved to meet someone who didn't know who he was already. It was a fairly rare occurrence for him. "Luke Skywalker, your neighbor," he introduced himself, holding out a hand. He gestured towards the others. "This is my daughter Ellanore, my friend Mara Jade, and my droid Artoo. We brought you some cookies as a housewarming present."
"Why, thank you." Her manner was that of one in control as she glanced at them and the cookies. If she recognized their names or faces, she gave no sign. "I'm Jeria Corvida. Pleased to meet you. You can come in, if you like."
Mara did not voice her feelings, but did not entirely like what she could sense of the other woman. Corvida seemed almost... well, nothing really. There was no logical reason for her to put Mara on edge. I'm probably just tense from everything that's been going on these last few days...
There were many boxes in evidence, but otherwise the house seemed pleasant. Corvida led them into her kitchen and set the cookies on the table. She motioned to them to sit, then went to get something. Mara noted that there were both human-style chairs and the style favored by most Zenriffis in evidence. She and Luke set Ellie in a chair and then sat themselves, one to each side of her.
Luke smiled at her across the table. She leaned over a reached out to brush his bangs back from where they fell in his eyes. He caught her wrist as she did so, bringing their joined hands to the table and massaging her's gently. Mara smiled back.
Ellie began to chatter, and they did not hear when Corvida returned. She stood for a moment, watching them, then cleared her throat loudly. Mara and Luke sprang apart. Ellie frowned.
Corvida gave them each, including Ellie, a glass of some drink. Luke, not wanting to offend their host, waited until she had turned from them to nudge it further away from her with the Force. Mara, contrary to her usual 'unnecessary use of the Force' stance, struggled to hide a giggle. Luke flashed her a little smile.
The Zenriffian turned to them again and sat. She took a long drink and began to eat a cookie, crunching somewhat.
"So, how long have you three lived here?" she asked.
"Well... Ellie and I have been here for... um, I'd say somewhere around nine months now? Mara was with us when we first moved, but had left for a while; she just recently got back. She's been a big help with Ellie ever since my sister had to go back home because of her work."
"Mm. How old is she?"
"Who, Mara?"
The red-head shoved him from across the table, a goofy smile on her face. "No, idiot." He looked sheepish.
"Ellie's... well... it's kind of complicated. Her body is an adult's, as you can see... but her mind is that of a baby. She actually just learned her first words a few days ago."
Corvida raised her eyebrows. "I see," she said. Mara was getting more and more uncomfortable. She raised her glass to cover her expression, but did not drink.
There was an awkward silence. "So..." Luke began, "what brings you here?"
"I lost my job recently, so I decided to move back to my home planet for a while. I've got enough credits to support myself for a bit, but I suppose I'm only here until I can find myself another job."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Mara commented. "Do tell us if there's anything we can do to help."
"I will. Don't let me be a burden to you, though. I couldn't bear to be a burden."
Mara nodded. "Right. We should probably be going... we'd hate to impose." She stood up, glad when Luke followed her example. They got Ellie, and Corvida ushered them out the door.
"You come visit again soon," she said before closing the door.
"She seemed fairly nice, if a little nosy," Luke murmured as they crossed back to his house. Mara nodded. Her unease had been ungrounded, and if any of it had been rational, surely Luke would have sensed it too.
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That evening
The group had just finished dinner when the com rang. "I'll get it," Luke mumbled as he stood. It irked him that someone had to pick this moment to interrupt. Mara and he had been chatting. She was such a good companion. Of course, by the time he was off the com she would probably have moved on.
He answered with a heavy heart, but was pleasantly surprised. "Leia!" Luke's face broke out in what Mara would have affectionately called his 'Farmboy grin.'
"Hey! Thought I'd check in. Have you been having any problems with Ellie?"
"No, not at all. Actually, Mar-" Luke cut off and looked at his sister strangely. She was craning her neck as if straining to see something far off, or behind him.
"Is that-?" she gasped.
"What?" he yelled, and spun to look behind him. His jaw dropped. Ellie was crawling towards him!
The giant grin returned. Luke felt a little foolish when Mara walked in behind his daughter, but felt better about it when he realized that Mara was making little effort to hide the similar smile she wore.
"Hey, Leia," she murmured, giving the woman a wave. Leia had scarcely gotten out a response when she saw something she had not at all expected.
Luke had initially squatted down to hug Ellie, but he had not been fast enough. Before any of them knew it, Mara was hugging him. It appeared completely platonic to Leia; just a hug between friends. But Mara gave out hugs about as often as others gave out petitions of undying love. So Leia was taken aback. She thought about hanging up and calling back later, but her curiosity and knowledge of Mara Jade and Luke Skywalker got the better of her.
She was right. The hug was over in seconds, as if it had never happened. Everyone was too busy congratulating Ellie to think of much else. Or so it appeared.
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Reviews will be loved and showered with praise. hinthint! Constructive crticism welcome!