Chapter 76:

Anakin awoke to an aching head. "What happened?" he mumbled to Padmé, who had stayed to watch over him. "Feels like… I got hit by a drop ship…"

Padmé nodded. "You were pretty badly hit by Luke's… Force storm. Leia managed to get you patched up pretty well, but you'll probably be sore for awhile."

Anakin grimaced. "Our son. What…?"

She shook her head. "We're not sure. Just that something happened to Mara, and it involves Palpatine somehow."

"The Hands." Anakin's expression was one of regret. "The Emperor's Hands. She found his dossier of personally trained assassins, herself among them. But Palpatine" he said the name with a trace of loathing. "Palpatine told each of them they were the only one of their kind. I'm sure that was painful to come across unexpectedly."

"Yes," Padmé agreed softly. "I'm sure it would."

"You have no idea," Mara breathed softly behind them. Both turned to see the young woman glaring at them, cold fury in her eyes. "You didn't tell me."

Anakin winced. "Mara, I…"

"You let me go on this whole time without ever realizing that my life was a lie. All of it was a lie!" She snarled, then continued, deathly calm. "You have always kept the truth from us, Anakin Skywalker, Darth Vader. About the visions, about the… the Hands. I don't know what else you've kept from us, but I'm not going to tolerate it any longer."

Atrox became restless as he slept, starting to toss and turn as Mara's anger reached him through their bond.

"Mara." Padmé's voice was gentle, but firm. "Don't fight in here, not now. Luke needs to rest, and he'll wake if you become much angrier."

She turned her glare on the older woman, then gave a curt nod. "Very well." She turned and looked Anakin in the eye, and said softly, "This isn't over."

Anakin shivered at the tone in her voice, and nodded. "Indeed."

Mara returned to sit by Atrox's bedside, stroking his hair to soothe him. Leia entered a few minutes later, and with a glance at her father went to check on her brother. Mara watched his still features, wistfully, and as if in response, his eyes opened and met hers.

"Wha- what happened?" Atrox whispered sleepily.

"Nothing happened," Mara said softly, bending to kiss his cheek. "How are you feeling?"

"You're lying." Atrox said bluntly, sensing the deception instantly even in his weakened condition.

"It's not important," she retorted. "How's your head?"

"What happened?" Atrox growled, somehow sensing his father was involved and turned his eyes towards him, narrowing them as he did so. Would you care to explain, he demanded through the Force.

I believe it's best if Mara tells you herself. Anakin answered calmly. Only she knows the full details.

Atrox slowly turned his eyes back to Mara, his expression demanding an answer.

She refused to meet his gaze. "I just found an old file that… annoyed me. It's nothing serious."

"Jade, I'm warning you." Atrox growled, the temperature in the room dropping rapidly.

She winced at the tone of his voice, sensing the threat more keenly than his verbal warning. Finally, she said in such a low voice it was barely audible: "He told me I was the only one." Already as the memories returned, sharp and painful, she began shaking with rage and pain.

"Who told you? What are you talking about?" he asked quietly.

Mara's eyes unfocused, though her voice was deceptively calm. "He told me I was the only one. The… the only Hand of the Emperor… his trusted servant… his weapon of choice when he needed a scalpel rather than a sword…" Her whole body seemed tense, strained to the breaking point. "Everything I am is a lie." Her voice sank to a whisper, as if she couldn't force the words out. "He had other Hands."

Atrox glared at his father, Force pushing him into a wall and pinning him there with his rage. "You knew, and held this from her? Just like everything else?" He demanded with a deadly calmness as he slowly got into a sitting position.

"I had no desire to cause her pain," Anakin replied quietly. "There was no guarantee she would ever discover it, and it would bring unwanted stress upon her pregnancy if she had been told."

Atrox dropped Anakin to the floor, "And what do you suggest to do to remove this… stress?"

Anakin looked at his son, simply. "Show her she has value outside of what Palpatine made her to be."

Atrox locked eyes with Mara. "You know what you mean to me, Mara. Do not live in the past, live here and now and know that I love you... with all of my being."

"As I love you," she whispered. "F- forgive me, milord. As I said, it was not worth bringing to your attention."

Atrox slowly rose, pulling her into an embrace. "It was, Mara. It was something that mattered greatly to you and we worked through it together," he said softly. "We will always have each other to work through things. Remember that."

She buried her face in his shoulder, still shaking from emotion. After a while, she murmured quietly, "You shouldn't be up, milord."

"Not my fault your anger woke me up." Atrox teased softly, bracing for her response to the smirk now present on his face.

She swatted him lightly, glaring at him in mock annoyance. "Back in bed, now," she ordered, giving him a gentle shove.

Atrox allowed her to push him back down into the bed and smiled at her. "You are so... beautiful." He murmured.

She blushed at his words, and her eyes softened as she dropped back into the chair by his bedside. "You're not so bad looking yourself, Skywalker," she retorted softly.

The second she had sat back down in her chair, Atrox sat back up, his challenging eyes locking with her own. He smirked at her once more, knowing that this would annoy her to no end.

Her eyes narrowed. Skywalker…

His smirk widened. Jade.

She glared at him. You're supposed to be resting.

So? Atrox glared back.

Suddenly she smirked at him. So… you'll just have to stay there until you can prove to me you're well enough to resume your… duties.

Oh, I can prove it to you... you're just in no condition for it, Jade. Atrox sent back, beginning to smirk at her again.

Her expression darkened. And just what did you have in mind, Skywalker?

I think you know.

Do I? she allowed a smirk to play with the corners of her mouth, teasing.

Yes, you do. However, since I am required to rest I guess I cannot accommodate you. Atrox sent back as he lay back down onto the bed.

She leaned back in her chair, smirking. Ah, so you admit you aren't up to it.

I am, but technically you are not up for it. You are with children. Atrox said back, opening his eyes as he did so.

She glared at him. And whose fault is that?

"Yours," Atrox said aloud, waiting for Mara's reaction.

"Is that so?" Mara's voice was dangerously soft.

"You have a... different opinion Mara?" Atrox asked softly, the smirk never leaving his face.

"Perhaps my memory is simply faulty, milord." Mara's eyes glittered. Tell me… who was it who… impregnated me?

It seems... we both had an equal share in the matter if I recall, Jade. Atrox's eyes mirrored Mara's as he spoke through the Force.

She smirked. It does seem that way, doesn't it, Skywalker. I was beginning to think you had forgotten.

"How could I?" Atrox whispered.

Mara chuckled, amused. "Lucky for you you're the Dark Lord of the Sith, farmboy, or you would have gone through a wall... you would have gone through a wall... several times."

Atrox chuckled in return. "It seems there is definitely some of my apprentice still in there, Jade."

A smirk tugged at the corners of her mouth. "You'll find I'm… full of surprises, milord."

"No doubt, I'm sure." Atrox glanced towards his apprentice and motioned for him to come forward.

Invisus advanced toward the bed, cautiously. "Yes, master?"

"I sense... you have had training, since I was... incapacitated." Atrox said softly, his tone demanding an answer.

"Yes master," Invisus replied, feeling strangely at ease despite his questioning. "Princess Leia taught me a healing technique she said would be useful."

"Show me, apprentice." Atrox commanded, knowing full well that the bruise on his forehead was not fully healed yet.

Suddenly very nervous, Invisus reached out as Leia had showed him, willing the bruised skin to be repaired. It took him several tries to grasp the Force as he had been taught, and when it finally began to heal, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well done, my apprentice." Atrox said, touching his apprentice's mind with the Force. "As you already know, there is more than one way to heal yourself using the Force." He continued, using his hand to touch where the bruise had once been.

"Yes, master," Invisus said, glad that he had passed the test.

Atrox glanced towards his sister and nodded towards her, silently sending his gratification to her through the Force.

Leia smiled at him and nodded, letting him know that she had been happy to do it. Mara frowned at Atrox, slightly annoyed. "Hey farmboy, no holding court in medbay," she said softly.

"I think I have a right to after that... bump you gave me, Jade" Atrox hissed in return, glaring towards her.

She glared back at him. "If you think I'm going to let you kill yourself because you're too filled with hate to let it go you've got another thing coming, Skywalker," she muttered.

Leia stepped in calmly, with a glance at her brother. "Mara, he was acting as he has been trained."

Mara glared at her. "That's no excuse."

"You did the exact same thing!" Invisus burst out before he could catch himself.

The look in Mara's eyes was deadly. "This is none of your concern, boy," she snarled viciously, sparks crackling at her fingertips.

"He is correct, Mara. You relied on my training when you originally found out. Do not criticize me for following my own training, when you yourself just did!" Atrox snapped, returning the deadly glare to her, the Force sending a clear warning to everyone in the room.

"It's not that," she snarled angrily. She slammed Invisus into the wall, knocking him unconscious, and stormed toward the door before pausing to look at Atrox again, her voice soft, but with a hard edge. "You could have died, and I will not allow that to happen, even if it means I have to use… extreme measures." Then she turned and left the room.

Atrox stared at the place where she had once been standing, stunned by what she had just said. Beginning to realize how much he had just hurt her, and so had his apprentice, he slowly began to withdraw into himself, a cold anger forming inside him. Slowly, he turned towards the rest of his family, "Get out," he commanded coldly.

Padmé opened her mouth as if to speak, then thought better of it and followed Anakin and Leia out of the room. She hurriedly sought out Mara, who had withdrawn to one of the training areas she had spent hours in as a child. She watched Mara as she mechanically slaughtered the practice droids, having set them up so they doubled each time she defeated them.

"Mara." Padmé called softly, trying to attract her attention.

"What now?" Mara spat as she took down another droid.

Padmé sighed. "I'm worried about Luke. I… I've never seen him like this before, it scares me. I'm afraid of what he will do."

"Why are you telling me this?" Mara snapped as two more droids assaulted her. "My interference is clearly unwelcome."

Padmé frowned. "Don't underestimate your influence with him. You're the only one who could get through to him, especially at times like this." She paused, hesitating. "I just thought you should know. Forgive me for disturbing you." She turned and walked slowly out of the room, her heart foreboding that something was very wrong.

Atrox had summoned two troopers into his room in the medical bay; when they arrived he was out of his bed, now fully dressed in his robes and cloak, and motioned towards his apprentice. "Bring him." He commanded coldly before storming out of the room, heading towards one of the hangars.

The stormtroopers followed Atrox to an unmarked shuttle in the palace's hangar. They deposited the youth aboard, and stood by for further orders. As Atrox prepared to enter the ship, a voice spoke quietly behind him.

"You're leaving." It was a statement, not a question.

"Very astute," Atrox muttered, not turning towards the voice.

Mara didn't move, her expression frozen. "Will you be coming back?"

"Unlikely," He responded as he slowly continued to ascend the boarding ramp of the shuttle.

"The children will not understand."

"Then they will search for me… if I allow them to reach me." Atrox whispered in return, now nearly to the top of the ramp.

"Is that what you want? For them to grow up never knowing their father, the way you did? You no longer want to see your children born, see them take their first steps, see the love in their eyes?" Her stomach twisted uncomfortably, as if to emphasize her point. "So be it," she whispered, turning away.

"That would be better than seeing the hurt in their mother's eyes." He replied, stopping at the top of the ramp. "Pain caused by me." he added, his voice barely a whisper.

She stared at him, at a loss for words. "You… you're leaving because you hurt me?" she said at last, her voice quiet. "But I thought…"

Atrox finally turned to look her in the eyes, his face tear-stained and miserable. He simply nodded, watching her for one last time before he departed, burning her image into his memory.

She ran up the ramp then, embracing him as tightly as she could. "Don't… don't go," she whispered, brokenly. "Please…"

Atrox returned the embrace just as tightly, placing a kiss on her forehead. "I- I can't do it, Mara. I- I love you too much to leave." He whispered.

"Forgive me," she murmured, tears spilling from her eyes. "I drove you to this, with my blasted lack of control."

"As did I," he whispered back.

She shook her head, but didn't want to fight him any longer. "I love you," she whispered, shaking with emotion as she realized how close she had come to losing him forever.

"I love you too, Mara." Atrox whispered, no longer withdrawing into himself. Slowly, he reached out through their bond, pouring soothing energy into her, calming her.

Mara gradually quieted under his calming influence, and eventually she murmured, "You should see your mother. She was worried about you, and… and if she hadn't warned me…"

"I would have tried to escape the Emperor's Hand, whom, to my knowledge, nobody has escaped so far." Atrox said teasingly, knowing full well that in reality he would not have escaped her.

Mara swatted him, playfully, then winced as she remembered. "I am not the Emperor's Hand," she said quietly.

"Then… what are you?" Atrox inquired.

She looked away. "I don't know."

"You are my future wife… if you accept my… proposal." Atrox whispered into her ear, then knelt in front of her.

She stared at him for a moment, stunned. "Yes," she finally whispered, a smile starting to blossom on her face. "Yes, I will."

Atrox picked up one of her hands and kissed it. "I love you, Mara Jade." He whispered against her hand.

Invisus woke, his head throbbing. Finding himself in a strange ship, he climbed to his feet and stumbled into the passage, almost running into Atrox and Mara on the boarding ramp.

Mara's expression darkened the moment she saw him. "Out, Kyo," she snapped, her free hand rising to blast him with Force lightning.

"Give us a moment, apprentice." Atrox said softly, calmly as he slowly got up from his kneeling position.

Mara looked up at him, retaining her hold on his hand. "Perhaps we should save our celebration for somewhere a little more… private," she suggested with a trace of a smirk.

"Perhaps," He whispered back. "However, I do believe I need to see the rest of the family first, Jade. To inform them of… recent events."

"Hmm, I believe you do, farmboy." Mara agreed. She led him out of the hangar, shooting one last glare at Invisus before they left.

You must excuse her, my apprentice. She is quite protective of me. Find me a little later and I will have you meditate with me. Atrox whispered through the Force to his apprentice.

Mara nudged him hard in the side. I heard that. And look who's talking.

Return to your quarters, my apprentice. Get cleaned up and rest, I will have further training for you later this evening. Atrox continued through the Force to his apprentice, showing no sign of being hurt by Mara's nudge.

Yes, master. Invisus got back to his feet painfully, aching all over from Mara's assault.

Do not let the pain slow you down, Lord Invisus. Embrace it, transform the pain into something that you have already learned will give you strength. Be warned, control your emotions, do not allow them to control you. Atrox lectured through the Force as he left the room, heading towards his parent's quarters. And if you even think about betraying me in any way, let this be a warning to you. He sent a short burst of dark energy into Invisus's pain centers, forcing him to his knees once more.

Yes… master. Invisus muttered as they left, resentment building in him again.

Padmé looked up as the door opened, and her eyes filled with relief. "Luke!" she exclaimed. "Thank the Force."

"Mother," Atrox greeted, striding up to her and embracing her. As he embraced her, he mentally called out to his father, wanting to tell him of the critical new s that had just happened between himself and Mara Jade.

Anakin appeared in the doorway a moment later, a smile spreading across his face. "Son," he greeted. "You seem in much better spirits than when we last met."

"Indeed. It might have something to do with the fact that Mara Jade and I are getting married." Atrox replied softly, meeting his mother's gaze, then his father's.

Padmé's eyes widened with surprise, and she broke out in smiles. "Oh, Luke, that's wonderful!"

"Congratulations, son," Anakin said, letting Atrox feel how proud he was. Turning to Mara, who had hung back a little, he embraced her gently, and whispered, "You're a truly good wife for him, Mara, I'm very happy for you."

"Thanks," she murmured, touched by his words.

No... thank you, Mara, Anakin said through the Force. You are leading him towards redemption even if you do not know it... surely you can see the changes from the... creature Vader had created.

"Welcome to the family, Mara," Leia said from behind them, smiling.

Mara simply stared at them, awed by their acceptance. "Thank you," she said at last, lightness in her heart she had not felt in some time.

"Our family might have some… issues to work out, but we are still a family at heart." Leia continued, glancing towards her brother. "Nonetheless, you are and always will be welcome into it Mara."

"Thank you," Mara said softly. "I've… never had a family of my own. It… honors me to be included in yours."

"You have always had a family of your own Mara, you just needed to find it." Atrox whispered, pouring all of his love and feelings for her into their bond.

Mara reflected her love and gratitude back to him, overcome, tears glistening in her eyes. There had been a time when she was sure she would never be accepted by his family, but Anakin was right, so much had changed since then.

"Welcome home, Mara." Atrox said out loud, his voice full of emotion as tears began to fall from his eyes from the emotions he sensed within her as though they were his own.

She reached out to embrace her fiancé, too overcome to speak. The events of the past few hours had been physically and emotionally exhausting, and his words caused her tears to flow freely, even as she tried to let him feel that it was the happiest day of her life.

As they embraced, Mara sensed one of the twins move inside her womb, too slight to be felt physically. She looked up at Atrox, wonder in her eyes, to see if he had sensed it as well.

"I sensed it," Atrox said excitedly, locking eyes with her, too overcome with emotion to say more.

She smiled weakly, feeling she could not bear to experience any more joys or sorrows for that day. Behind them, a quiet voice mumbled from the doorway, "Master?"

"Come here, my apprentice. What brings you here?" Atrox asked calmly, meeting his gaze with his own as he calmly warned Mara not to overreact, that he was protective of his master just as she was.

Invisus approached his master uneasily. "I… I sensed… strong feelings from you, and… wanted to make sure nothing was wrong," he muttered.

"Reach out with your senses. Tell me, what do you sense within this room?" Atrox guided, as he watched carefully, preparing to defend his children at a moment's notice.

Mara eyed Atrox, disliking his choice to include his apprentice in their family celebration, and even less the veiled invitation to reach out to their children.

Even more nervous, Invisus reluctantly did as he was commanded. What he sensed blew away his caution, as he exclaimed, "They… they're alive!" Almost immediately he felt foolish for saying such a thing, and the mask fell over his features again.

"Indeed," Atrox commented, locking his eyes with Invisus's.

Invisus was forced to look away by the intensity of his master's gaze. Forgive me, master. I… understand now why you guard her so closely.

Mara raised an eyebrow at Atrox. "Yet another touching exchange between master and apprentice?"

Forgive me, master. Invisus muttered through the Force before snapping back at Mara. "The same could be said for Lord Atrox and his fiancée."

Mara glared at the youth. "Are you ever going to learn your place, Kyo?"

"Just because you are my master's fiancée, does not make you my master, Jade." Invisus glared back as both Sith added, "Dan Kyo does not exist anymore, Jade."

"Why would I want to be your master, Kyo?" Mara snapped, pointedly ignoring their last remark.

Atrox set a silent warning to his apprentice, knowing exactly what he was about to say. "Why would he want to be your fiancé?!"

Mara slammed Invisus against the wall, gripping him by the throat with the Force. "I'm going to make my last gift to you look like a paper cut, Kyo," she snarled, as she summoned her lightsaber to hand.

An instant later, Atrox had ripped the lightsaber from Mara's hands. "You will not!" Atrox said sternly, his voice absolute and not allowing her to argue.

She glared at him. "Someone's got to cure his tongue if you won't, Skywalker," she snapped. "In fact, that's not a bad idea."

"Or I put you both in restraints with a ysalamir and shove you two in the closet for some quality time together," Atrox growled.

Mara's eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't," she said icily, both of them knowing that even without the Force she could easily kill him.

"Oh, I would. I would also ensure you both could not destroy each other." Atrox continued, sending them both the warning through the Force as well as commanding Mara to release his apprentice.

Reluctantly, she released her hold on Invisus's throat, allowing him to collapse to the ground. "Very well. But I assure you I will not be responsible for his wellbeing if he cannot control his tongue," she added darkly.

"However, Jade, you will have to answer to me if his wellbeing is… threatened," Atrox warned, his voice as cold as ice.

"Then I shall simply have to count on your ability to control him, for both our sakes," she retorted.

"Or you will have to learn to accept his presence, Jade." Atrox snapped back, his tone unchanged.

"Accept his presence, maybe. Tolerate his insults, never." Her eyes glittered with resentment as she glared at the boy.

"You seem to tolerate my own, find a way." Atrox commanded, admiring Mara's pride, sending his admiration to her through their bond.

"I had a way," she muttered, but more subdued in her defiance than she had been.

"Save your… creativity for when you need to discipline our children… I'm sure they will be troublemakers. They are Skywalkers after all." Atrox muttered in return, smirking at her.

She eyed him. "And you're the worst of the lot, aren't you, Skywalker," she returned dryly.

"Of course, someone needs to keep your life interesting," he replied, continuing to smirk at her.

"And you think you're the man for the job, is that it?" she retorted, slowly walking toward him.

"I'm sure my apprentice would be up for the job as well," Atrox replied teasingly, but there was a note of seriousness in it.

Mara's expression darkened, then a wicked gleam came into her eye. "So you think I would have better luck marrying Darth Invisus here?" she commented, turning to regard the youth still sitting up against the wall.

"No offense to my apprentice, absolutely not!" Atrox replied instantly.

Mara smirked, both at Atrox's words and the revolted expression on Invisus's face. "But milord, you did say he would be up for the job…"

"If you want him so badly, take him." Atrox said as he used the Force to hurl Invisus crashing into her feet, storming out of the room, his hurt tangible in the very air. "You two make a good couple," he muttered darkly as the door hissed shut behind him.