Chapter 3

"I'm going to make me something to eat, do you want anything?" Gracelin asked.

"I'm fine." Luke answered.

As Gracelin left the common room and went to the kitchenette she heard the main door hiss open. She quickly ran to her mom before she would walk into the common room.

"Mom!" Gracelin said as she hugged her mother.

"Gracelin, are you okay?" Nomi said skeptically.

"I have a surprise for you."

"I have a surprise for you too. Please tell me it isn't like the last surprise you gave me." Nomi remembered that Gracelin had said she had cleaned her room. Then she opened the closet to have a mass of stuff fall at her. Nomi smiled at the thought.

"Nope, its way better. What's my surprise?"

"Go look on the veranda. Where's mine?"

"In the common room," Gracelin yelled as she ran to see.

Nomi waited until she heard her daughter squeal. The two soon walked inside.

"Ramey what are you doing here?" Gracelin gave her 'brother' a hug. "I thought you weren't coming for a few more days."

"Well I got here sooner than I thought." He hugged her back. "Come on, help me with this stuff."

Nomi turned back to grab a bag. The three continued to walk toward the common room. As they made their way, Gracelin pulled Ramey back.

Nomi walked past the couch that was hidden a plant. She dropped the bag she was carrying when she heard a voice from the past.

"Hi, Nomi." Luke said, and remained sitting.

Nomi felt like she was about to have a heart attack. She slowly turned to see an older version of Luke sitting on her couch. "Luke?"

Luke walked over to her. "Surprised?"

"Yeah, I am." Nomi could barely make her mouth form words.

Gracelin watched excitedly. Ramey however watched in worry. He knew some but not all the story. He was surprised that Luke would come here. And what does Gracelin know?

"Mom, would it be okay if Luke stayed with us for a little while?" Gracelin asked.

The discomfort soon appeared on both Luke and Nomi's faces, though Luke's only for a second.

"We'll ask Greyton when he gets home." Nomi didn't want to be rude but it felt weird to have Luke staying there with them.

"I don't want to impose." Luke replied.

"Nonsense, you should stay here to your family gets here." Gracelin said.

"Family?" Nomi almost whispered to herself.

Ramey saw the short silence as good time to get out. "Gracelin, why don't you help with this stuff? That way Mom and Luke can catch up."

"Okay," Gracelin took a bag and followed him to his room.

Luke returned to sit on the couch. Nomi followed him. Family?

"We have a lot to talk about, huh?" Luke said.

"You have a family?" Nomi couldn't get over it. She of course didn't expect Luke to remain single forever but she still saw him as her Luke.

"Gracelin was referring to everybody that's coming on the mission. My wife, Jacen, and Jaina. That's all."

"So you finally got married?" Now the words were forming properly.

"To somebody you know, too."

Nomi shot him a skeptical look. Someone I know. "Are you sure I know her?"

"Yes, I'm sure." Luke said with a grin.

Nomi sat and thought. She came up with nothing. "Just tell me!" She was surprised at the way she said it. It was just like they were playing some guessing game.

"Mara." Luke stated simply.

"Mara? Mara Jade?" Nomi was shocked. They had talked a little bit over the past seventeen years but not much. "Last thing I heard you two couldn't stand each other. And then you married her? An interesting twist in the life of Luke Skywalker."

Luke laughed at the way she said it. "You never know what's going to happen."

"True. I'm guessing Gracelin told you about Greyton?"

"She did. She looks almost exactly like you, you know."

Nomi glanced at the floor and then to the door Ramey and Gracelin had disappeared into. She blushed a bit. "She has her father's straight, blonde hair."

"It suits her though. Mainly because she's a lot like you, personality wise. Although she doesn't seem too big of a trouble maker." Luke smiled.

"She has her moments. Believe me when I say she does." Nomi turned to look back at Luke. "I don't think Greyton will have a problem with you staying here."

"Does that mean you don't?"

"It's a little weird, but I'll be fine. What about you?"

"I'm fine."

"So when are Mara and the twins getting here?"

"Here's a hint. Don't refer to them as 'the twins.' It gets on their nerves. Plus-"

"It also makes them sound as if they are the same person. When in reality they are two separate individuals, with two different personalities." Gracelin said from the door way cutting Luke off.

"Your right. She's smart too, Nomi. How did you know that?"

"Psychology. I took it in a Palace course a few years back."

Luke wondered did she know that was the exact wording he was going to use. Nah.