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Chapter 9
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It was a fresh rainy morning. The chilled breeze came into the bed chamber through the open vents that had been left open, forgotten. The steady sound of rain drops falling was muffled by the heavy vegetation.
Luke woke up to the soft smell of female scent, sensing the sleeping figure in his arms. He slowly opened his eyes to find a familiar face before him. He smiled. Last night… he remembered. He took his time admiring her features, noticing her mouth was still slightly swollen from last night's endless kissing. He gently stroked the silky red hair, she always looked beautiful and while asleep she looked particularly peaceful this morning.
His beautiful Mara. She had been struggling with her own feelings too and had had a hard time to openly admitting them, while he had had a hard time not showing his. He chuckled at the thought, maybe they were not so different from one another after all.
A distant beeping from the com unit brought him back from his contemplation. Mara stirred in his arms and slightly opened her eyes.
She smiled at him, "Morning…" she whispered. She closed her eyes back and laid still, cuddling against him, enjoying the warmth of his body, slowly drifting back into sleep.
"Morning my love…" Luke softly answered kissing her on the forehead, feeling her warmth on his lips.
Luke carefully got out of bed trying not to disturb her sleep, and headed to the com unit in the den, closing the door behind him. He answered the device keeping it in voice mode only; he preferred to keep his privacy.
"Skywalker."
"Sorry to interrupt you this early Luke," Kyp apologized "but there's something I need to consult with you before you get busy with your daily schedule."
Luke knew Kyp would not interrupt him unless it was something important. "All right, I'll be down in a minute Kyp."
He went back to the bed chamber. Sitting on the bed, he passed his hand along Mara's side.
"What's wrong?" She asked in a sleepy voice, half awake.
"Nothing is wrong, but I do have to meet Kyp." He answered, deeply regretting he had to leave her. "Go back to sleep, it's still early. I'll meet you later at the Library."
Mara nodded and smiled while closing her eyes. Luke quietly got ready.
When he stepped out of the fresher he found her sleeping soundly. She was laying face down, her head turned on its side, her long red mane wildly spread on her pillow. He approached and kissed her softly on the cheek. She didn't move. He pulled the bed sheets up to her shoulders. Mara wasn't a deep sleeper, but after a whole night of incredible love making probably she was a bit extenuated. Luke smiled at the thought, a bit maliciously and with great satisfaction.
Reaching into one of the compartments of his utility belt, Luke took out the lightsaber crystal he had picked up from the study table the night before. The one he had given to Mara. Leaving the small gem on the empty pillow next to her, he quietly left the room.
Mara slept for a couple of more hours. When she woke up she noticed a small glitter next to her and tried hard to focus her sleepy eyes. She reached out and took the small stone.
'Skywalker…' She smiled to herself. Mara played with the gem with her fingers. She lay in bed thinking and remembering. She remembered him last night, the fire in his eyes, his handsome features, his passion and his caring for her. He was so giving. There was so much joy in her heart she could feel it spilling all over her entire being. Luke Skywalker… the man she loved. And, where was he? She wondered when not sensing him nearby. Oh, yes! The call… Kyp's call. She realized that she hadn't noticed him leave. Could that be possible? Her not noticing something like that? Something that was so ingrained in her survival instincts? As a matter of fact, she couldn't remember when the last time was she had slept this soundly! She smiled at her oversight. Skywalker was good for her, he made her feel safe.
So, this was indeed what had been troubling him. Well, at least he had acknowledged his feelings. Not the same could be said about her, she had lived in oblivion of hers for years. She couldn't help but to blush at the memory of her terrible mistake, of her lecturing Luke about him going dark. But it had turned out all right after all. Yes, it had turned out unexpectedly right!
A roguish grin showed on her face. It had been an incredible night!
She got herself ready and headed to the Library. It was late, and Luke should be waiting for her already. She reached the Library.
"Good morning." Luke welcomed her with a sparkling smile on his face.
"Morning." Mara greeted smiling back at him.
"You're late," he teased holding her by the waist and kissing her long and tenderly. "Don't tell me that a little nocturnal activity is enough to make you blow up your impeccable punctuality record." He added still holding her close to him.
"Well… I wouldn't call last night's activities 'little'." She said with a mischievous grin.
"I guess you're right." He answered with a grin of his own.
Now she kissed him invitingly. Oh, stars! He wished they had more time.
Reluctantly he let go "And I also guess that if we keep using our time to make out then you'll be the holder to the record of the longest training time in Jedi history." He teased.
"Yeah, you're probably right." Mara said a bit reluctant to let go too.
"I'm sorry I had to leave you this morning." Luke apologized "I got an early call from Kyp; there were a few things I had to see to."
"You owe me, Farmboy." She challenged him "Big time!" she kissed him again.
"Well, I expect to be repaying my debt very soon." He countered with a roguish sparkle in his eyes.
She broke the embrace and took her place at the study table, "I found the gem."
"Good. You'll be using it today." Luke grinned.
They headed to the workshop area. The place was filled with work tables, computer units and all kinds of tools; all meant for appropriate weaponry construction. Luke showed her around indicating where all the materials where kept.
'So, this is it!' Mara thought, 'The beginning of the end.'
With an eager look on his face Luke nodded at her, and Mara set herself to work.
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oOo
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The next couple of days were focused on the construction of Mara's brand-new lightsaber. The crystal had to be cut to shape and she had to carve the right number of facets on it. The handle had to be assembled from scratch and all the pieces had to be hand cut and shaped. There was a lot of wiring to do, circuits to attend to, power cells, focusing lenses and so on. Lots of little pieces that needed to be put together, and everything had to fit inside the cylindrical and slender handle. It was quite a chore, Mara realized.
For Luke, things at the Academy had turned a bit hectic with the arrival of new padawans, a matter that he liked to oversee very closely, leaving him no choice but to leave Mara to continue the lightsaber construction mostly on her own.
This particular day had been a very busy one. It was almost evening and Luke had just reached the workshop. Mara had been working on her own the whole day and he really wanted to check on her. He had started to take a look at Mara's progress on the hilt when his com link beeped.
"Skywalker." He answered into the com link, giving Mara a weary look.
"Master Skywalker, good evening. This is Streen." The voice came from the little speaker.
"Hello, Streen. What can I do for you?" Luke greeted back.
"There's a matter that needs your attention." The other's voice sounded serious now.
"Can it wait?" He asked eyeing Mara when sensing her slightly annoyed mood.
"No, I'm afraid it can't, sir. It's one of the younger padawans."
"I see." Luke paused taking things into consideration. "I'll be there shortly." Luke finally told the other. Switching off the com, he turned to Mara with a pleading look on his face. "I have to go." He explained.
"It's all right. Go!" she answered; after all she had monopolized his time for months already.
"I'll take a look at your progress first time tomorrow." He promised. "You also better go ahead and have supper without me."
"I can wait for you." Mara offered.
"Thanks, but no. I rather if you don't, I don't know how long this is gonna take. Sorry."
"Don't worry about it. Those are the drawbacks of being the boss." She had a position of command in her job too, and she perfectly knew how things could be sometimes.
Luke left, and Mara was left to do with her time as she pleased. She decided to leave it for the day and go ahead with her meal, then headed back to her quarters to get cleaned up and try a bit of meditation. She had been feeling so relaxed for the past few days, some strange pressure she now realized she had been feeling for a long, long time had just vanished from her heart and soul. It was incredible how happy she had become just by accepting her own deep feelings towards Luke, now that she had let her pride yield to the needs of her heart.
She was way into her meditation when she felt a familiar touch on her sense. Smiling she headed to the door, when opening it she found a very welcomed sight leaning on the doorframe.
"I sensed you were still awake, so I decided to drop by and kiss you good night." Luke smiled at her, and then kissed her.
"Come on in," Mara invited him, stepping aside to let him in. "So, how did it go?" she asked.
"It went fine." Luke told her walking into the room. "It was Nimios, the Corellian boy." Luke told her walking into the room.
"Blond hair, grey eyes, tall, with a smart look on his face and an extreme aura of self-confidence, if I recall correctly?" Mara asked. Luke nodded. The boy remained her of some other Corellians she knew already. What was it with Corellians and that self-sufficiency attitude? She thought. "What was the problem?" Mara inquired, interested on what Luke had to tell.
They both sat in the den, next to each other.
"Well, he had a hard day today and his self-confidence got pretty shaken." He explained.
"Is he leaving?" Mara asked concerned.
"He's going to go back home for a couple of weeks, rest for a while and then come back to the Academy to continue training if he doesn't change his mind of course. Though I'm pretty sure that he'll come back to stay for good." Luke said with confidence in his voice.
"You're going to lose a lot of Jedi if you just let them leave whenever they choose to." Mara told him.
"Things cannot be forced into someone." Luke calmly stated.
"I guess not." She answered while thinking about it.
"Besides, I rather have ten Jedi who are truly committed to a life of service, than a hundred who are not quite sure if that is their calling, and who choose to stay merely for the status of it or because they want to please someone."
"You have a point there." Mara had to give him that.
"Being a Jedi it's a huge responsibility, one needs the most serious mind." Luke continued while remembering Yoda's words. "It is hard to follow Jedi training, especially when they are young. They get frustrated, home sick… Sometimes they just get tired and worn out, and when they don't have the maturity to focus on the goal ahead it gets hard for them to find sense and purpose to what they are doing or going through."
"Yeah, I know what you mean." She was an adult and had firmly set in her mind the intention of becoming a Jedi when she first arrived, but that didn't mean that sometimes she hadn't wondered what had possessed her to make her be willing to outstand such physical and mental demands. "Training can get to you, it adds up a lot of psychological strain."
"Right, when this happens to a padawan I have instructed every teacher to let me know immediately. Then I like to talk to them and help them find a way out of it. Some have decided to leave, many more have decided to stay. So, it's worth it. I don't want them just to quit and leave because of a sore body and a tired mind, and then regret it later in their lives."
"Well, but you have never claimed Jedi training to be an easy task, so they pretty much know what they are getting themselves into right from the beginning."
"It can seem that way, but reality is that they don't." Luke explained. "They really don't realize the amount of work that it's involved into becoming a Jedi until they are actually training."
"So, when it starts to get nasty they have second thoughts." Mara filled in.
"Yes, although the training is already designed to purge groups in its first stages. Of the ones who decide to leave at this point I don't give that much importance, but when they have reached the next stage it's because they have great potential, and it is then when I decide to act when someone wants to drop. This is the case of Nimios; he's already in the fourth stage which is when things start to get very serious. Since he's gotten this far, I believe he's meant to become a Jedi, but in the end it's really up to him." Luke shrugged. "Being a Jedi it's a life of commitment and it's not an easy life, so everybody has the right to decide whether they want out or not before the serious training begins. After all, not all Force sensitive beings are meant to become Jedi."
"Free will." Mara added thoughtfully.
"Yes, free will." He stated.
"So much different from the Old Jedi Order." She remarked.
"Well, the Old Order lasted several millennia, so its own ways worked at the time. But I have the feeling that things need to be different now. Times change."
"Yes, they do." She smiled at him cupping his face in her hand. Of course times changed, thanks the Force they did! That was the very reason why she was right now and there with a life full of opportunities unfolding before her, deeply in love with the man she had once believed to be her greatest enemy. She just felt so proud of this wonderful man of high moral ground. The man who had helped her find the light within her. He also loved her and wanted to be with her. "Do you want to stay?" She asked him running her fingers through his blond hair.
"Not tonight, as much as I want to say yes..." Luke answered, his eyes closed while enjoying Mara's touch. "I still have some data work to do. I'll be getting up very early and I don't want to disturb you." He let out a sigh, "Tomorrow you just go ahead into the work shop and continue with your lightsaber. I'll catch up with you there." He opened his eyes and held her hand, kissing it softly.
"You look tired." Mara added sympathetically.
"I am." Luke assured "May be is lack of sleep…" he added innocently, while the memories of their passionate encounters danced in his mind "…we both haven't had that much sleep for the past nights." He gave her a mischievous grin. Mara grinned back. "And you look just as fresh as an alderaanian lily. How can you do that, Mara?"
"Imperial training. Several nights without getting sleep when running assault missions." She added, bragging about it a little. "You get used to it."
"Right." Luke nodded. Well, if he was to leave he should do it before he changed his mind, or Mara made him do so. "I better get going."
"Well, get a good sleep Farmboy." Mara told him hugging him and kissing him softly on the lips.
"You too, see you tomorrow." He told her kissing her back and lingering on her warm touch.
With much reluctance, Luke left Mara's quarters thinking about the many things he had done in the past two days, with the arrivals of the new padawans and all that. He really wanted to spend his time with Mara, but he had responsibilities and he could not let his personal matters get in the way. He knew things would settle down in a few more days, once all the new students and teachers had gotten used to each other and to the Academy's own pace. He also was grateful that Mara seemed to understand his position, which had made things a lot easier for him. He was gonna have to make it up to her.
He reached his quarters and set himself to work on his data pad. It was close to midnight when he felt Mara's sense vanishing as she drifted into sleep, sending him loving reassurance. Luke smiled to himself and sent her his own love back. Yes, he was going to have to make it up to her.
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oOo
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It was early morning and the sound of tools and machinery could already be heard inside the shop, along with the eventual smuggler's curse when something dropped onto the floor with its particular clanking sound. Mara was diligently continuing with the construction of her lightsaber, it had taken her a few days to build it. This particular morning, she had given it the last touches and by midday it was ready.
"Well, it seems there's nothing more I can do with it." Mara thoughtfully told Luke who was standing beside her, while admiring her handiwork. "I have to turn it on, I guess." She added a bit nervously.
"Be careful of not blowing us up in the process," Luke teased, remembering his own doubts when he had to try his own lightsaber for the first time many years ago back in Tatooine.
Of course, there wasn't any danger now; and knowing Mara, the lightsaber was bound to work to its perfection. Nowadays the procedures were perfectly established in the manuals available at the Academy so new Jedi wouldn't have to struggle the way he had. The average construction time was in between six to ten days for most new Jedi, not nearly the month that had taken him to construct his own. Back in those years Luke hadn't had any help, or the materials available, or the instruction to do so. He even had had to cook his own lightsaber crystal! After losing his father's lightsaber in Bespin, getting a new one had been a hard trick to accomplish. Since the founding of the Jedi Academy he had overseen the construction of so many lightsabers that now he could construct one right from scratch in a matter of two days.
"Here goes nothing." Taking a deep breath, Mara hit the ignition button.
With its characteristic snap-hiss a brilliant white-orange blade came into existence.
"It works!" Mara exclaimed triumphal.
"Sure it does!" Luke congratulated her, feeling very proud of her. She had accomplished to construct her lightsaber in record time: four days. He held his hand near the blade. No sensation of heat; that meant the superconductors were working properly. "Shall we give it a try?" Luke grinned.
"Sure." Mara answered eagerly.
They reached the Gym and set themselves for their practice match. It was midday meal time, so the place was completely for them. Taking the far end of the facility they set themselves into combat positions.
Mara stroke first and Luke parried her blow experimentally. The blade of her new lightsaber was working perfectly. After a few blocks, Luke took the offensive hand and started offering blows of his own.
"The blade is perfect, Mara." Luke let her know.
"It is, isn't it?" she proudly answered. "And I really like the grip on the handle."
To her own surprise, Mara was feeling pretty playful that afternoon. Maybe she just felt very happy about finishing the construction of her lightsaber.
They continued their practice, letting themselves fall in the heat of saber combat. Mara could sense Luke's concentration while they parried. She was trying hard to concentrate, but there was something in the back of her mind that kept her on noticing his beautiful blue eyes and graceful, accurate movements. She knew how he looked underneath those clothes… A smirk showed on her face, she wondered how one could make a Jedi Master misbehave…
"Be serious Mara," Luke warned her when sensing her thoughts, trying very hard to not let himself follow her intentions. "You're not shielding…" Luke warned her, explaining the reason why he had been able to read her that clearly.
"All right, Skywalker." Mara smiled, shielding her senses and trying to set her mind into serious combat.
Luke knew she was having a hard time concentrating and decided to push on her a little, just enough to make her bring her attention back to the training session. He took the offensive hand and started to force her to step back towards the far wall of the area where they were training.
'He knows I'm not concentrating, so he's getting tough on me.' Mara thought while taking one step back at a time.
Well, and it was certainly true. She was just too distracted today. Unable to match Luke's advances she soon found herself trapped against the wall, in a way that she couldn't move anywhere else. Luke gave her a scolding look. She just rolled her eyes and switched off her lightsaber in a gesture of defeat but keeping a combat stance.
Luke switched off his own lightsaber, not representing a threat to Mara anymore. This was the opening she was expecting, it had just slipped his mind that her specialty was hand to hand combat, the naïve and trusting Farmboy! With a quick sudden movement, Mara stepped towards Luke and got him right on his solar plexus with a good aimed frontal punch. Luke grimaced and managed to grab the hand that had connected on his chest and block the next punch from Mara's other hand, but he didn't have a chance to avoid her swift sweep. He could feel himself suddenly falling on his back. She had just gotten him, again! Luke thought with a bit of frustration.
When knocking him down he didn't let go of her. Mara let herself fall with him landing on top, trapping him against the floor.
"I guess I won this match, Jedi." She said seductively and with a cocky attitude. Something glittered in her eyes.
"Yeah, I guess you did." Luke told her in a low voice, admiring the look in her eyes "It was my fault that I dropped my guard for a pair of beautiful green eyes."
"If I won, then it means I make the rules now." She stated.
"Really?" He asked peering down to set his eyes on her inviting mouth.
"Yes." Mara answered kissing him deeply.
As they kissed Mara started to think of the possibilities. Maybe they could just skip lunch and help themselves to a different kind of appetizers, she thought while kissing his mouth. Maybe head back to their quarters and spend the rest of the day there… and not exactly in training, she wickedly thought to herself. It seemed like Luke had picked up her intentions since he was responding to her kiss with much intensity and since his hands were already everywhere. She could sense his thoughts and emotions like a vibrating blur of energy. By that moment, Luke was having the exact same thoughts. He sat up keeping Mara on his lap, still kissing each other, Mara's hands mirroring Luke's actions. Luke was so aroused already that he couldn't exactly be aware of what happened around them, even less sense the approaching presence.
"Master Skywalker." A voice called.
His own name echoed strangely in Luke's mind, like if he was a billion light years away. A distance his brain managed to cover in less than a split second when he recognized the voice calling him. He immediately let Mara go. Luke noticed she had done just the same, sensing her annoyance at the other's intrusion.
When he looked up, Luke could feel his face fiercely blushing. "Tionne! … Oh, yes? … Ah … What is it?" Luke stuttered trying to compose himself. While stuttering, he managed to lift Mara to his side and pull her up with him as he stood up. They got on their feet rather awkwardly.
The look on Tionne's face changed rapidly from one of fluster and surprise to one of delighted understanding, and although she tried hard to hide it, it didn't escape Mara's well-trained eye. Both women could sense the other's awareness of the situation, something that had to do with their –let's say, meaningful conversation of some nights ago.
The Master Trader gave the Scholar a warning look.
"I'm sorry to intrude…" Tionne noticed the wince on Luke's face "…but you have a call from Councilor Organa-Solo, and she asked me to make sure you took her call." She explained eyeing Mara, who was implacably staring at her. "I have relayed the call to one of the com units at the communications center for your convenience."
"Thank you, Tionne. I'll be on my way." Luke answered still recovering from his embarrassment.
Tionne looked back at the red head with what seemed to Mara like an 'I told you so' in her eyes, then slightly bowed her head and left the Gym. Luke watched her leave as the gym door silently slid close behind her.
"She just found me making out with my padawan!" He muttered in a calm, but worried tone of voice, slowly shaking his head. "…During training time." He could not believe himself being that reckless.
"I think it's obvious to all of them that I'm not the regular padawan, Luke." Mara added matter-of-factly, trying to make him see the reality of the situation.
"I cannot let staff find me fooling around, Mara." He countered.
Mara was still staring at the door through which their visitor had left the place, feeling a slight fury building up in the bottom of her stomach. From all the staff members it had to be Tionne the one that showed up at that particular time. Mara knew she would never hear the end of it, she had just seen it on the other woman's face: that smirk of self-sufficiency… But for now, it was more important to have Luke to calm down. She turned to see him, trying to calm herself too.
"Relax, Farmboy. It's not the end of the universe. It's Tionne we're talking about."
"Yes… I know." He let out a sigh, "I'm sorry." He apologized. She was right, it could have been worse… It could have been one of the students popping in… He let the disturbing thought go away. "It's just that I'm supposed to be an example here, and I have to watch what I do, I have to be careful…."
Mara reached out putting a finger on his mouth and making him stop, "I know." He just had that look, a look she had often seen on him; the look of someone carrying the whole universe on his shoulders.
Luke looked into her eyes, trying to put things into perspective. She was right; it was not the end of the universe, but all he knew for now was that he wanted to be with her.
"We should get out of here, go somewhere. Take a vacation away from everything. Just… go." Luke said stroking her cheek gently.
Mara really felt surprised of his willingness to make some time for them. He talking about a vacation? Just to spend time with her? She should feel flattered indeed.
"We will," she gave him and affirmative look "After my ordering." A good rest would be more that deserved and they certainly could use some time together.
A broad smile showed on Luke's face. "All right, it's set then. We're leaving the very next day."
"But now, you have a call from your sister, remember?"
"Oh, the call! Yes! I better go." He kissed her on the lips. "See you later."
"See you, Farmboy!"
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oOo
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He found the com unit with the incoming call light flashing. He switched it on, and the face of a beautiful woman, with expressive brown eyes and an elaborated alderaanian hairstyle appeared on the screen.
"Hello, Leia!" Luke greeted his sister.
"Hello, Luke!" She greeted back "I've been wondering about how you're doing, and since Han didn't tell me much, and the call you promised to make didn't happen… then I decided to call you."
"Sorry, I've been kind of busy…" Luke started and then stopped "I know it's a lame excuse…" he smiled sheepishly.
"Yes, it is." Leia answered trying to sound serious, without succeeding "But I forgive you." She told her brother smiling broadly.
Luke smiled back.
"How are things going with Mara?"
Luke felt a bit taken aback from the sudden question, but of course he knew this was the main reason why Leia was calling.
"Good." He answered showing a mischievous grin.
"How good?" Leia insisted.
"Very good." Luke gave her a big smile.
"Are you telling me what I think you're telling me?" She asked carefully.
"Yes, Leia." He answered, appeasing his twin's curiosity.
"Oh, Luke! It's so good news! I'm so happy for you!" Leia exclaimed with uncontrolled happiness. "Everybody is going to be so happy when hearing this!"
Luke rolled his eyes, "It rather seems like everybody else knew that something was going on between Mara and myself, but us." he said, cooling his tone of voice a bit.
"Well, not everybody. Just Han, myself, Karrde, Wedge, Lando and the others."
"Isn't that everybody?" Luke asked in disbelief.
"Well, yes. Pretty much it is." Leia admitted, while blushing a little.
"How come nobody said anything?" he protested.
"I guess nobody wanted to cross a Jedi Master… or the former Emperor's Hand." Leia joked. "No, seriously Luke, I guess none of us knew how to bring up the subject to either one of you."
Luke let out a sigh, "I didn't even know how to bring it up myself…"
"Oh, Luke, you have to tell me how it happened!" Leia interrupted him "I want details. When are you coming to Coruscant?" she eagerly inquired.
"Details?" he asked blushing hard.
"Yes, details." Leia warned.
"You're gonna have to ask Mara for that. That's girls talk!" Luke complained to his sister.
"Mara is not the regular girl and I don't think she's going to be too willing to talk, so that rules her out… leaving just you."
"We'll discuss that when we get to Coruscant." Luke answered trying to have his sister to slow down a little.
"We? So, you're bringing Mara with you?" She asked noticing his brother's tongue slip.
"Leia!" he complained.
"You said it yourself!" she added innocently.
"Yes, I'll be bringing Mara with me." Luke told her giving in.
"When?" Leia insisted.
"I don't know yet. Right after Mara's ordering." Yes, that seemed like a good time. He had promised some time on their own to Mara already. "I was thinking about taking some time off and Coruscant seems like a good place to start. That'll make YOU happy, I guess."
"It will! And the kids will love it too." Leia told him feeling very excited. "Just let me know when. And make it soon!"
"I will." Luke reassured his sister.
"And you know something, YOU thinking about taking a vacation is really a break through! I can tell Mara is going to be good for you already." She pointed out.
Luke simply smiled.
"I love you, little brother."
"I love you too, sis."
The communication ended. Luke stared at the empty screen, with a warm feeling in his heart. Leia… his dear sister. Maybe, after all these years, he was close to having something similar to what Leia and Han had -a committed relationship, a family, a life together. And now he and Mara… He shook his head, he was getting ahead of things… Well, he had his heart set already. He had had it set even before realizing it! And he also knew he only had half a saying on this. It was up to Mara then.
And thinking about Mara, he wasn't sure how much she would like the idea of hanging around his family. Well, he would have to ask her. He left the com center and headed towards the gym area.
He found her still practicing with her newly constructed lightsaber. He silently watched her execute the complex exercises. 'Pass on what you have learned…' Yoda's words echoed in his mind. That was indeed what he had been doing over the last years, fulfilling his own master's last command. And he now was a very proud Jedi Master. His padawan had mastered the art of the saber, so it was time. She would become a Jedi.
Sensing his presence, Mara smiled at him from the distance. Luke smiled back at her. Pleased with her mentor's approval, she went back to her practice. After a few minutes, Luke joined in. They ended the day sparring together. It had been a day full of rewards for both, Master and Padawan.
That night, back in their quarters, he made love to her with his most passion and dedication. A dedication equal to the one he intended to commit to the life he wanted to build with her, a life he hoped she wanted for herself too. They played the lovers game, until they both had enough of one another. Holding each other, they drifted into sleep. The quiet night casting its peaceful spell over the two lovers.
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