Chapter 1

Tattooine is a desolate planet. It is a ball of silicates, with few native animals, little vegetation, and even less water. Yet even in the bleakest wastes the galaxy and this planet offer, beauty is there for someone willing to take the time to find it.

For Luke Skywalker, the time between first and second twilights, is that beauty. He remembers growing up on this moisture farm, standing in this spot, staring into the distance as these suns set. With a smile he remembers the longing and desire to be off this rock, to be away, out in the wider galaxy doing things.

And for nearly forty years, he did things.

When Luke Skywalker first left this planet, he was an unhappy, grieving youth. Untried, untrained, thrust out into the galaxy long before he was truly ready. He was barely given a glimpse of the Force, before his mentor was taken from him. Trials and troubles have calmed him, given him patience and peace. Marriage has given him joy and contentment and children.

Of course those nearly forty years held pain as well. He gained and lost a father. He lost a hand and then an arm. Wounds, too many to count are in his medical files. Of course the worse pain would have to be that his son was forced to take the Force from him.

It is a scar that will never fully heal. Every second of every day, he longs to once more touch the Force. He longs to feel its warm embrace, just one more time. It is a need that fills every fiber of his being.

That is part of the reason why he loves the setting of the suns. While standing here, at this time of day, watching, he can almost hear the song of the galaxy, he can almost feel the Force again as it hums that eternal song of life.

"Luke! Lu-uke!"

Luke chuckles to himself. The more things change, the more they stay the same. "I'm over here."

He turns around, to once more behold beauty.

Before three years ago Mara Jade Skywalker had only spent fleeting moments, small missions and other such things on this planet, yet much like her husband she has found a peace of sorts here. The twin suns have lightened her hair, changing it from the fiery red of when he first saw her, to the color of molten bronze. As striking as the physical changes, are the emotional ones. Gone is the caustic tongue, gone is the fiery temper. In its place is compassion, a soft-spoken manner which the old Mara could never have understood. To Luke, the new Mara reminds him of his Aunt Beru, strong, good-hearted, compassionate, and self-assured.

Mara Jade smiles at him as she finds him standing in his usual spot watching the suns set. Beside her is another Skywalker.

"Daa - Dee!"

The pure delight in the young voice is enough to make both of the adults smile, as a blur of a two-year old rushes to her daddy. Luke bends down to pick up his daughter, the wind whipping her blonde hair around, laughter dancing in her green eyes, as he spins her around.

"How's my little princess?"

"I mades the rock move!"

Padmé Skywalker does not know how much her simple joy at the Force hurts her parents. She cannot understand the pain and feeling of loss that permeates their souls. She is merely happy that she can make the rocks dance.

Two years ago, when Mara told him that she was pregnant again, he wondered at what the Force was thinking. The pain and suffering that he and Mara had been through was still fresh and an open wound in them both.

Yet now, after two years with his little girl, he can understand. She is the soothing balm that is slowly healing their wounds and scars. At least those scars that are healable.

Padmé squirms out of her father's arms, and does a happy little dance, pointing towards the sky, where the first stars are appearing.

"Jella comin' dada, Jella comin'!"

With that simple pronouncement, Luke looks towards the sky as and notices the ship heading towards his homestead. It's a Baudo-class star yacht, and as familiar to him as the Millennium Falcon ever was. For the past four years, that ship has been home to his son.

The Pulsar Skate slowly settles to the sand beside Mara's Jade Shadow. Luke, Mara and Padmé walk that way, arriving at the Skate, just as the ramp settles to the ground. From the depths of the ship, come her owner and their son, walking hand in hand, each with a smile on their face.

Luke does not need the Force to see that these two are in love.

"Jella! Jella! Jellaaa!"

Padmé launches herself at Jysella, who is only to happy to grab her and spin her through the air. Luke watches with amusement, and considers that this young lady might have stolen the hearts of both of his children.

As he stands there, watching Jysella spin Padmé , he feels a hand slap onto his shoulder. "Hi Dad, I've missed you."

"I've missed you as well son."

"How have you been? How's mom? I mean, how is she really?"

Luke turns so that he is able to see his son's eyes. "Actually, Tattooine agrees with us both. The daily tasks of living keep us busy, the amount of work, keeps us happy, and Padmé, well, she keeps us tired. How about you?"

Luke notices as Ben lowers his head ever so slightly. "Things are happening out there, something's coming, and I don't think the Council or the Federation is prepared for it."

"Are you having visions again?"

"No, it's more of just a bad feeling whenever I'm meditating or dealing with the Council, and then there's the scuttlebutt that I hear in outer and mid rim cantinas. Whenever people are talking about the Senate, they speak in odd tones. I think the people out here are actually afraid of what the Federation is becoming."

Luke frowns, and looks toward his wife, noticing that she is heading into the house. "Come on Ben, Your mom has made some dinner, and they've already gone inside."

"Dad, there's just one more thing. This is personal and I need you to keep quiet about it, but I've got to know what you think. I'm. I'm going to ask Jysella to marry me."

As he says this, Ben pulls out a small box, within is a small titanium band, with a corusca gem attached.

"I'm really, really nervous dad. Do you think I'm doing the right thing?"

"I think only you can decide that. But if your question is do I think Jysella is right for you? I think she is a perfect fit for this family, and I can't think of anyone better for you." Luke smiles as he wraps his real arm around his son. "Now let's go eat some dinner."

"So has Tattooine improved mom's cooking any?"

At this, Luke can only laugh.