Hola! (that's the extent of my Spanish!) Here's my next chapter! The cruise was amazing, especially the food! I hate to say it, but we are quickly coming to the end of this story. :-( Only about 5-6 more chapters (however that could change possibly) to go. Thanks to all my faithful reviewers, you guys have helped me to continue with this story! As always, please read and review:-)

And now for...

CHAPTER 12: DUTY OVER LOVE?

Laila stood in front of the Rebel base waiting for Luke to come out. She tapped her watch impatiently and looked up into the dark windows.

Where is he, she thought frantically. It was their one-year anniversary, where was he?! I did not get in this get-up to be stood up, she thought, anger level boiling. He was over an hour late.

She decided she wasn't going to stand around and wait anymore so she stormed into the Rebel Base and straight up to Luke's room. She flung open the door, ready to scream and yell at him, but stopped when she noted that the room was, empty.

The sheets on the small bed were still tossed about, showing he had had a sleepless night. She walked over and touched the pillow; it was damp with what appeared to be tears. Her heart jumped into her throat, guilt washing over at the anger she had just felt for him. Luke didn't cry, she knew that, something big had to have happened for him to cry.

She picked up the pillow and hugged it to her chest and went out into the bleak hallway and looked around. She saw Han walking down the hallway.

"Han," she called down to him, "where's Luke?"

Han looked at his feet and rubbed his arm, still sore from their "escape plan" from Cloud City.

"He's uh, in the medical bay, Laila, but I don't think you should go-" he started, but Laila was already half way down the hall to the medical bay, the tear-stained pillow still clutched in her hand.

Han watched her small form get smaller and smaller as bewilderment overtook him. She had looked so worried and scared. Could it be that she really did love Luke?

That can't be, I heard what she said that day, she said she was a Sith, Han didn't know what was going on, but he had a feeling things could only get worse from here.

Laila's pace quickened as she got closer to the medical bay. At the secretary's desk she tried to keep her franticness in check, "Um, could you tell me where Commander Luke Skywalker is?"

The secretary looked up from her magazine and smacked her gum loudly as she glanced at Laila's dark emerald knee-length dress, "He's in room 258, the doc should be in there with him right now." She started to read her magazine again.

Laila was praying with all her might he just had a case of the stomach flu when she stopped herself.

What am I saying? I want him to be all right? I should want him dead! Or at least on the dark side! She sunk to the floor right outside his room, what am I doing? I've fallen in love with a Jedi. Now what?

She knew in her mind that she should turn around, go back to Vader and get his help, but her heart told her to go check on Luke. She sat there for a full 10 minutes trying to decide what to do. Stepping into that room meant she truly loved Luke, meant she would have to give up the Dark Side, embrace the light, be with Luke. Going back to Vader would ensure her spot as a Sith, making sure she had all of that dark power she reveled in, everything she had ever worked for in life.

She smiled, remembering the power and strength the dark side gave her. Her eyes gleamed yellow at the thought. Then though, she remembered being in Luke's arms, the taste of his lips, and the happiness she felt when his hand found hers under the table.

She stood up and slowly opened the door to Luke's room; her eyes went wide when she saw him. He was hooked up to some kind of scary machine, his right hand made up completely of wires and metal.

She gasped loudly and Luke's head whipped around, "Laila! What are you doing here?"

She placed her hands on her hips and glared at him, upset at him for forgetting, "We had a date, remember?"

Luke blushed and her senses returned to her. She rushed over to him, her eyes a bright turquoise, "What happened? Yesterday you said you had only stubbed your toe. You lied to me." She added quietly (even though she shouldn't be the one to talk about lying).

Luke opened his mouth to tell her the story but closed it. He couldn't tell her that the Dark Sith Lord was his father, she would hate him. He wouldn't risk losing her like that.

His left hand grasped hers, "I did lie to you, but only because I didn't want you to get worried. I know you've been practicing a lot and didn't want to put anymore stress on you." He said, not meeting her eyes.

Laila sighed, she had been stressed lately, "Ok, but then, what did happen?"

"I was helping Han with the Falcon, when a wire snapped and electrocuted the wrench I was holding, thus burning my hand so much it had to be amputated." He looked at her, praying she would buy it, "but, when I'm done here, you won't even be able to tell it wasn't real. It will look, feel, and function like a real hand. Like I never lost it in the first place."

Laila wasn't sure if she should believe him or not, but, he hadn't given her any reason not to trust him (unlike me, she thought sadly), she decided to go with it. After all, she was just glad he was all right.

"Ok, Luke." She bent down and kissed him gently, lingering for just a moment on his lips; reminding herself of why she had made the decision she had.

"I'm sorry about our date." Luke said when she had pulled a chair up.

"It's ok, I'm just happy you're ok," she squeezed his hand tightly, "You know you can tell me anything, right? Never be afraid too, because, no matter what…I'll always love you."

He smiled at her and kissed her hand sweetly, "I know, Laila," as he spoke he remembered his conversation with Han a few days ago, "and you know also that you can tell me anything too, right? Because, I will always love you Laila, always."

Laila gulped, "Well, actually, there is something I'd like to ask you."

Luke nodded, and then winced as the machine poked his new hand to test the nerves.

"I was wondering, if I could move into the Rebel Base with you, and Han, and Leia," she said slowly, "you know, if it's alright, I mean if, not that's ok too. I won't take up much space." She started rambling.

Luke grinned widely and kissed her hard, "Laila, it is perfectly alright for you to move into the Rebel Base. You can come in next week, a band of troops are leaving, so there'll be plenty of room for you."

"Next week?" Laila didn't know if she could control herself not to change her mind if she stayed with Vader and Palpatine for a whole week more.

"Laila, is everything ok with you?" Luke asked her.

"No, and I'd rather not talk about it. But I'd feel more comfortable if I got here as soon as possible. I would even sleep in the mess hall if I had to." She confessed.

Luke pulled her into a hug as best he could, "Nonsense, you can stay with me." Laila smiled and snuggled into his strong embrace and both fell asleep in each other's arms.

When Laila woke up she was in Luke's room, alone. She found Luke in deep meditation and the floor next to the bed.

When he heard her get up he jumped up from his sitting place and looked down at her, "Have a good sleep?"

She smiled groggily, "Yes, I did."

"I talked it over with Leia and she said it was a fine idea for you to join us in our fight against the evil you-know-what. You are free to come stay with us whenever you see fit."

"Really?" Laila asked, her eyes bright.

"Really." Luke answered.

"Yes!" she jumped up on the bed and started dancing.

Luke laughed and pulled her down, holding her bridal style, "You know I love you more than anything, right?"

She wound her hands around his neck, "Yeah, I do."

She giggled as Luke spun her around.

Vader paced in his office. Laila was 20 minutes late for their sparring lesson. She never missed a sparring lesson.

He sat down in his stiff chair and reached out into the Force to locate her. When he found her he noted that her Force signature was abnormally bright. It was next to the brightest Force signature he had ever seen, his son's. Vader tried to call out for Laila to get her butt down here through the Force, but she had shielded him so she couldn't hear him.

Vader was shocked. Laila had never shielded him from her. He had always had access to all her thoughts and feelings, always. This was getting to serious; something needed to be done, now.

Vader sighed as he finished his story to Palpatine, "So what do you think we should do Master? How are we to get him over to our side when it is obvious he has won her over to their side."

"Don't worry, Lord Vader, I have it all figured out." Palpatine smiled evilly and pushed a small button on his desk.