On the morning of Mara's life day, she found a vase of beautiful red roses on her night stand along with a note wishing her a wonderful life day and many more happy ones in the future. She smiled as tears of happiness flowed from her eyes; it was from Master Skywalker and Lady Padmé. Mara made her bed and after dressing she went downstairs. Anakin was standing on the porch admiring the sun rise, his arms were behind his back and he sensed Mara behind him.
"Good morning, Mara."
"Morning, master; thank you for the roses, they are beautiful."
"You are welcome, young one."
"Hmm, why do I get the feeling that no matter what age I reach you are still going to refer me as a 'young one'?"
"You are correct, Mara." Anakin pulled her into an embrace.
"So how many are coming to my party?"
"The Naberrie family and some surprise guests."
"Who?"
"Ah, if I told you it wouldn't be a surprise would it?"
Mara sighed deeply and crossed her arms. Han came out to the terrace and told them that breakfast was ready. Han smiled at Mara and she wondered what he was up to, it seemed he only smiled when he was sneaking or conniving.
"All right, nerfherder what are you planning?"
"Nothing." Han lied as he continued to smile.
"Liar and a lousy one at that." Mara laughed.
After breakfast, Mara was blindfolded and taken to the garage. She stretched out with the force and knew where they were headed but didn't know why. Han stood her in front of her swoop bike and pulled off the cover as Anakin removed the blindfold. Mara saw a bright red swoop bike resting on its kick stands. Mara gasped and jumped into Han Solo's arms and thanked him repeatedly as she hugged him.
"Okay, kid, jeez. Wow, I'm glad you like it. I had a hand in repairing it, you know."
"It was mostly your work, Han." Anakin replied.
"May I go for a ride?" Mara asked.
"Yes, but be back before noon, Padmé has to get you ready, okay?"
"Thanks!" Mara hugged Anakin and Han, and then jumped on the bike. She eased it out of the garage and then hit the accelerator. Han and Anakin heard her yell of pure joy as it kicked up into gear and continued to go faster. Mara felt so free especially since her long red hair was blowing in the wind. This was definitely the best life day she has ever had. She now knew why Han working even on the weekends to get her bike together. When his life day would come around she would have to do something for him as well. Padmé was teaching her how to cook. Han loved freshly baked chocolate chip cookies out of the oven with a large glass of milk.
Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke and Leia Skywalker, Adi Gallia boarded the ship and would be flying to Naboo for Mara's life day.
"How old is Mara now?"
"She's twelve, Obi-Wan." Adi replied.
"And we will be six in a few months, Master Obi-Wan." Luke replied.
"How could I forget?" Obi-Wan smiled.
"We won't let you forget." Leia replied.
"Yes, I know Leia. Even if you did, I'm sure your father would remind me. It's funny he can remember dates and calibrations for all things mechanical but always had a hard time holding onto his lightsaber."
"What?" Luke asked.
"He never told you? The multiple times he's lost his lightsaber only for me to find it again?"
Obi-Wan told the twins the tale of Anakin losing his lightsaber, especially over Coruscant when it flew from his grip when they were chasing an assassin; it was when they were assigned to protect Senator Amidala. He also lost in the droid foundries on Geonosis.
Luke and Leia were amazed by the amount of times their own father did lose his lightsaber, they thought it was funny.
Mara returned home and Anakin asked, "How was your ride?"
"It was intense! Wow, I never thought a swoop bike could go so fast! Han must have juiced it for all its worth."
"He did, but like he said, he had a hand in it."
Mara hugged Anakin and Padmé entered the garage, "I hate to interrupt this tender moment but we need to get you ready, Mara."
Mara sighed deeply and followed Padmé into her room. As soon as the transport landed, Obi-Wan and Adi rented a vehicle that would get them to the house on time. Mara was dressed in a dark blue dress.
"Lady Padmé, was all this really necessary? I mean really, it's only my friends and family."
"You are becoming a very beautiful young lady, Mara."
"But where am I going to put my lightsaber?"
"Surely you can leave it off for the evening?"
"Master Skywalker says that a Jedi should never be without it."
Padmé rolled her eyes at this, "You aren't going anywhere anyway, and if you do then you can change."
Mara walked downstairs, Anakin was wearing his formal Jedi attire. He of course had his lightsaber on him.
"Master?"
"Mara, you are very beautiful."
"You are very handsome, too. Lady Padmé won't let me wear my lightsaber." Mara sighed.
"Don't worry, I will protect you, not that you need much protecting."
"Thanks, I think."
Han Solo was having some struggles with his own attire, why did he have to wear a tie and a suit? Grant it he looked pretty smooth in a suit, but he hated it! If Lando were here he would be laughing his ass off. "Han?" Padmé knocked on his door.
"Yea, come in." Han sullenly replied.
"You look very handsome, Han."
"Thanks, Lady Padmé, but damn why do I have to wear this get up? I ain't out to impress anyone."
"Having problems with the tie?"
"Yea, it feels like someone is choking me!"
"Let me see." Han tossed her the tie and sat on the edge of the bed. Padmé wrapped the tie around him and started to tie it.
Padmé smiled gently and patted his shoulder when she was done.
"Ugh, the things we guys go through." Han sighed as he rolled his eyes.
Han came downstairs and saw Mara standing in the living room, she turned around and she started laughing at Han.
"Hey! What's so funny?"
"You sure clean up nice, nerfherder, so did Master Skywalker have to wave his hand around at you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Did he have to use a mind trick to get you to take a shower and get dressed decently?"
"No. I could ask the same about you, Mara Jade." Han laughed.
"Very funny."
"Actually, Mara you look very pretty. You clean up nicely too."
"Thanks."
The Naberries arrived and Ryoo, Pooja, and Mara went off to the garage so they could see Mara's red speeder.
"Wow, it's beautiful. Is it fast?"
"Yea, it sure is."
Luke and Leia were very excited to be going home not only for the party, but to also see their parents again. Luke could barely contain his excitement; Leia was a bit calmer. Once they arrived, Luke ran to find his father who was sipping on a glass of red wine talking with Ruwee.
"Father!" Luke came running and leaped into Anakin's arms.
"Luke, it's good to see you again." Anakin hugged him. Leia calmly approached and waited for Luke to finish.
"Always the lady, my Leia."
Luke went to find Mara she was sitting outside talking with Pooja and Ryoo. Luke greeted her with a hug, "Happy life day, Mara." Luke stated.
"Thanks, Luke. Yours is coming up soon isn't it?"
"Yea, in a couple of weeks; do you think you and father can come to our tournament?"
"Tournament?"
"Yea, Master Obi-Wan is entering me it's for all six and seven year olds. It's going to be levitation, lightsaber dueling, and some telekinesis and other fun games. I really want you to be there."
"If Master Skywalker, says we can I know that I would love to come."
Luke hugged Mara once again and approached Pooja.
Anakin greeted the other guests and soon the party was in full swing. Luke, Han, Leia, Mara, Ryoo, and Pooja were outside. Han approached Leia and gave her a flower out of Mara's garden.
"Thank you, Han. It's very pretty." Leia smiled.
"Shh, just don't tell Mara. She's very finicky about her garden." After presents were opened and cake was served, most of the guests left to return home. Luke, Leia, Mara, Han, Ryoo, and Pooja were playing until bedtime. The adults were upstairs talking and laughing. Luke was getting bored and he left to go find Anakin sitting on the sofa. Luke crawled up into his lap and sat quietly as he listened to the conversation. He fiddled with Anakin's leather inlays; eventually he grew drowsy and fell asleep laying against his father's chest listening to his heart beating.
"Looks like a little Jedi need to be put to bed." Padmé whispered to Anakin.
"Okay, Padmé. I find your tone patronizing and I believe I can stay up as late as I want."
"I wasn't referring to you oh great Master Jedi, I was referring to your son." Padmé sarcastically replied.
Obi-Wan and Adi laughed.
Anakin gently lifted his son up who wrapped his arms around his neck, "I love you, father." Luke murmured in his sleep.
"I love you, too son."
Anakin laid him on his bed and lay beside him as he wasn't letting go of his tunic. Eventually Luke fell into a deeper sleep and Anakin managed to get his son's fingers from the leather inlay to only finding him gripping it harder. Luke curled up closer to Anakin and refused to move. He sensed a wave a of anxiety come over his son, he didn't know where it was coming from. Anakin sent waves of love and warmth through to Luke's bond. It was tiring and eventually Anakin fell asleep. Padmé took Leia to bed and when she opened Luke's door she saw the most adorable sight. Luke was curled up next to Anakin who was also asleep. She pulled a blanket over the top of them and kissed them good night.
When she returned to the living room she saw Obi-Wan and Adi cleaning up some of the mess.
"Oh, no please, don't worry about this mess."
"Where's Anakin?"
"He's sleeping with Luke. It's so cute." Padmé sighed.
Meanwhile Prince Xizor of Black Sun Criminal Syndicate was plotting his revenge against Jedi Master Anakin Skywalker and his beloved, Senator Amidala. His informants told him of the twins he had, Luke and Leia Skywalker as well as Mara Jade. He was a patient crime lord; his revenge would cost the Skywalker family their precious children. He was quite irate that his shipment of spice had been confiscated and that he lost all that profit. He took the time to study Anakin Skywalker's habits and his dislikes, he also knew that he was the same boy that won the Boonta Eve Classic all those years ago, he learned that Skywalker absolutely despised Tatooine because of his years there as a slave and losing his mother. It would be poetic justice if Luke or Leia could be sold into slavery, it would help him to recoup some of his losses. The time would be right soon, as the Skywalker Twins were on Naboo, the same pacifist system that Senator Amidala had ran when she was merely a child.
Author's Note:Hope this will add to some excitement into the plot line. Let me know what you think. Thanks for all your reviews.—Darth Gladiator45.