Chapter Eleven:
Luke woke to something warm and soft pressed close to his side. He yawned, glancing at the mouth of the cave. It was still raining, but the intensity was nothing more than a light sun-shower now.
The soft thing pressed to him sighed quietly, and Luke turned his face… into a halo of red-gold hair. He blinked, startled. He did not remember falling asleep last night. He did, however, remember Mara and him huddling together to keep warm for hours while they talked. He wondered if he had been the first to drift off.
Mara shifted against him, and Luke kissed her head gently, not wanting to wake her. His back and legs were stiff from lying on cold, hard stone all night. Having Mara here with him though more than made up for it and he would gladly continue like this forever if it meant she stayed with him.
Luke breathed softly, picturing how Mara might look when she walked down the aisle toward him. He imagined there would be no prettier bride, though he suspected he was not the first groom to think that.
He closed his eyes, imagining what he would say to her during the exchange of vows, and then how their lips would meet for their kiss. Luke's lips curved into an almost slap-happy grin as he remembered kissing her last night.
Make out session, Mara had called it.
Luke suppressed a chuckle in another effort to leave his fiancée undisturbed.
Fiancée… wife…WIFE! Luke could not hold back the surge of joy that lifted his spirit to the heavens just then. And as if to match his joy, a random break in the clouds allowed the morning sun to peek through, bursting into the cave. Luke's breath caught in his throat as the natural light literally made Mara glow. Her hair turned into a smoldering fire, while her creamy skin emanated a honey gleam. Never had a woman looked so utterly… beautiful.
No, that word doesn't even begin to describe it… her! Luke thought, as he raked his brain for a more suitable synonym. Magnificent… dazzling… elegant…glorious!
Luke relaxed his mind when the clouds closed back up, stealing the image from him. Mara stirred, and cracked open one very green eye.
They're like jewels! Luke thought.
He craned his neck to meet her gaze, offering her a warm smile.
"Good morning Beautiful!" He greeted her.
She blinked, trying to focus, and when her gaze cleared of sleep-induced fog, she bedazzled him with a brilliant smile.
"Morning yourself, Handsome!"
She stretched against Luke, the movement sending thrills through him despite his numb backside. Luke released his hold on her as she struggled to rise into a sitting position. She grimaced from her own aching muscles.
"Are you as stiff as I am?" She inquired with a sour expression.
"I can't feel my back half, but I suspect I will when I stand." Luke answered.
He slowly forced himself to sit up, trying to ignore his protesting body. He was indeed quite stiff. Mara eyed him, allowing her gaze to wander as he shifted. She had known for a while now Luke Skywalker was a good looking man, and obviously very fit. But being pressed against him like she had been last night, and then while they'd talked and slept… he was indeed an extremely well-built man.
Luke sensed her scrutiny and glanced her way, blushing slightly. Mara smirked, allowing her amusement to show, and Luke snorted softly. Mara turned around, leaning forward to stretch her back muscles. When she straightened, Luke was there against her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and began a soothing massage. Mara relaxed gratefully into his ministrations, leaning her head first one way, and then the other. She could feel the tension leave her as he slowly increased pressure, working out the stress. Mara groaned in delight, and he leaned into her a bit more, moving his hands down her arms.
He caressed her arms slowly, lovingly… and placed feather-light kisses along her outstretched neck. She shuddered happily at his touch, feeling her body responding of its own accord. Mara moaned as he reached the spot between her neck and shoulders, realizing that this site seemed to be extra-sensitive.
Luke must have sensed her exhilaration, because he lingered there for a moment before continuing down to her half-bare shoulder. He broke from her and moved his lips to her ear, playfully nipping at it.
Mara could stand it no longer; she twisted in his grasp and captured his lips in a passionate kiss. Her heart swelled, and she felt her mind tell her to dump all caution, but some small part of her really wanted to save that for their wedding night. Instead, Mara contented herself with pressing sensually to him, playfully teasing.
After a long minute, they broke apart, resting their foreheads together. Mara moved her head to rest on his shoulder, and Luke wrapped his arms around her.
"When do you want to tell my family?" Luke asked softly.
Mara considered. "Whenever you want, I guess. But we should do it in person."
"I agree." Luke released her. "But for now, why don't we head back to the Academy? I don't know about you, but I could go for a hot shower, clean clothes, and a bite to eat."
She nodded emphatically, and they struggled to their feet. Luke led the way out of their cave, pausing once outside to stretch more fully. Mara took his hand and they walked side by side back to the Massassi temple.
Mara glanced up in time to see a flock of multi-colored avians burst through the canopy in an eccentric dance before they disappeared from sight.
"Amazing!" She breathed. "I never cared to mention this before, but the life here is always worth seeing."
Luke nodded. "One of the things I love most about Yavin VI: the wildlife."
Mara craned her neck to look through the trees, and caught a glimpse of the far away structure Luke and his students called home.
"I didn't realize we were so far out." Mara commented. "Tionne said you came out here almost every night." She hesitated, not wanting to stoke those unpleasant memories for him.
"Yes, I did come out here frequently. Sometimes I would simply wander, others I would work myself to exhaustion, leaving only enough energy to make it to my bed. I was desperate for anything to help me not dream or think at night when I was alone." Luke responded, his mood tinting for the moment.
"Yes, Tionne told me that they found you asleep in the turbolift." Mara jibed, trying to ease the tension.
He chuckled at that. "Yes, I imagine it was quite the sight; Master Skywalker unconscious in the lift."
They continued on for several moments in silence. The temple loomed larger now, and Mara knew they would arrive soon.
"Mara." Luke took her arm gently, halting her progress.
She turned a curious gaze to him.
"Thank you, for last night I mean." He said earnestly. "I know it wasn't easy for you to own up to what happened. It really means a lot to me that you did so. And I want you to understand that not once did I ever hate or resent you."
Mara turned her body to him.
"I may have been angry for a little while, but that anger slowly melted away the more I thought about it. That is why I couldn't sleep, and why I drove myself to such extreme weariness. I didn't want to dwell on it anymore." Luke finished. "And… I'm sorry… for your… losses."
His voice was so soft that Mara had to strain to hear him, and she did not miss his use of plural. Only Skywalker would ask her to marry him and then offer sympathies for a baby from another man's DNA.
Only my Skywalker. Mara thought with an inner smile. My Farmboy.
"Thank you." Mara said, kissing his cheek.
00000
A week later, Luke and Mara walked through the door to the Solo suite in the Imperial Palace in Coruscant. Jaina, Jacen and Anakin immediately jumped him, showering their uncle with kisses and hugs.
Jaina was the first to welcome Mara, who stood back nervously. Mara warmed up as Jaina began to talk piloting with her.
"Luke!"
The Jedi Master glanced over the bobbing heads of his nephews to see Leia hustling forward, her arms outstretched. Luke broke away from the children and met her halfway, wrapping her tightly in a loving embrace.
"Leia!" Luke whispered, holding the embrace. "I'm so glad to see you. I've missed you."
"I've missed you too, Luke." Leia responded in kind, her voice also low. "Are you doing better now? You look happier."
"I am more than better." He said, finally releasing her to place a gentle kiss on her cheek.
She studied him intently for a long minute, and then nodded. "You do look good."
A hand slapped Luke on the back. "Luke, good to see you!"
"Han!" Luke turned to slap his brother-in-law into a bear-hug, though this embrace didn't last nearly as long as the one he'd shared with his twin.
"Mara, it's great to see you again." Leia was saying when the men broke apart. She drew the redhead further into the room, and led her into the dining area. "Better grab a good seat while you can."
"I'll bet." Mara responded, trying to sound warm and friendly.
This family business was far from her know-how, and she was worried if they would accept the news she and Luke had come to tell them. If they would accept her.
Luke sent her reassuring thoughts, and sat beside her when Mara was seated. Jaina placed herself on Mara's other side, determined to keep up their earlier conversation. The rest of Luke's family took their seats, and the meal was served.
"How is the trading business going Mara?" Han asked.
She smiled. "Not too bad. I've made several profitable shipments just this past year. In fact, I even got a bit of a bonus for delivering rare jewels to Imperial Space."
Han grimaced at the mention of the Imperials, but otherwise said nothing.
"Mara, how is the Jade's Fire?" Jaina asked eagerly.
"As lively and reliable as ever." Mara said proudly.
"Can she go faster than the Falcon?" Anakin asked earnestly.
Not surprisingly, it was Han who answered. "Not a chance! The bird's the fastest hunk of junk in the known galaxy!"
Mara's eyes flashed for a brief second, but she quelled it, realizing that Han was merely defending his own beloved ship. Instead she opted for playful banter.
"Well Solo, if you want to find out for sure, we could always have ourselves a little race."
Han looked at her, his face alight with challenge. "You're on!"
Leia just shook her head. "This should be interesting."
Luke was grinning, happy that Mara was taking well to his family so far, and vice-versa. He took her hand under the table and gave it a little squeeze. Jaina noticed this and stared at him in astonishment.
"Jaina?" Leia prompted when she noticed her daughter's expression. "What is it?"
But Jaina's eyes were glued to her uncle, who didn't seem the least bit ashamed.
"Uncle Luke, why are you holding Mara's hand?" She asked quietly.
Luke chuckled, and turned to see the rest of the table's occupants gazing at them in various stages of disbelief. Except Han, who was smirking mischievously.
"Well, I guess now's as good a time as ever." Luke murmured to Mara, who chuckled softly.
Luke stood, pulling Mara up with him… and still holding her hand.
"Everyone, Mara and I have something to tell you." He looked lovingly at his fiancée. "I've asked Mara to be my wife."
There was a stunned silence, and Luke had the personal satisfaction of seeing the smirk momentarily wiped off of Han's face.
"And she said yes?" Jacen asked with all the tact of a child.
"Jacen!" Leia barked.
"I didn't mean it like that!" The boy protested.
"It's okay Jacen." Luke said with a laugh. "Yes, Mara accepted my proposal."
There was another moment of silence before Jaina sprang from her seat to throw an exuberant hug around Mara.
"YAY!" She squealed, bouncing up and down in Mara's arms.
Mara's surprise was genuine, for she hadn't expected such a warm reaction. But she quickly quelled it and returned the hug. Leia stood from the table and came around to embrace her twin.
"I'm so happy for you Luke!" She said with misty eyes. Then she extracted Jaina from Mara so she could have her turn welcoming her.
"Welcome to the family, Mara." The women embraced, though it was more reserved than Jaina's hug had been.
"Way to go, Kid!" Han clapped Luke on the back, and with that the meal was forgotten as the rest of the Solos each welcomed the news.
They all retreated to the living room to talk wedding plans.
"Have you set a date?" Leia inquired seriously. "Or a place?"
Luka and Mara exchanged a glance.
"We don't want a galaxy-wide wedding ceremony." Mara said firmly. "We would much rather it be a private event with a much smaller guest list."
"And as for a date, we set it for three months out." Luke added. "We haven't quite figured out a location though."
Leia took this all in with her usual political poise. "You know that when the news of your engagement gets out, the galaxy will go nuts." She said gingerly. "And if you wed before you tell anyone, it won't be pretty."
"Hang what the galaxy thinks!" Luke almost snarled. "The galaxy is not the one getting married."
Leia's brow shot up, taken aback by his sudden outburst. "I understand Luke; I'm just trying to help you see what might happen. If it comes out suddenly that Luke Skywalker got married, it could start riots."
Mara placed a calming hand on Luke's arm, and he sighed.
"I know, Leia. I just want this to be special without the entire population of each of the galaxy's governments breathing down our necks." Luke said, throwing his sister an apologetic glance.
"Let me make the announcement." Leia offered. "And you guys make the guest list for those invited to the reception. I might suggest you leave the actual ceremony open to the public. It might instill healing."
"Or cause those riots you mentioned." Mara stated.
"True. But if we control all the pieces here, we can control the fallout better." Han replied. "I agree with Leia: let whoever wants to watch the actual wedding, while the reception is by invitation only."
Luke and Mara looked at each other, seeming to be communicating. Leia caught Han's eye, and he lifted a questioning brow. She just shrugged.
Finally the engaged couple turned back to the regular conversation.
"Alright, we can live with that." Luke said. "We will get the list to you as soon as we finish it." Luke glanced at Han. "Han, I'd like it if you would be my best man."
Han blinked in surprise. "Of course!"
"And Leia, would you be my matron of honor?" Mara asked, looking at her future sister-in-law.
"I'd be honored!"
The children could contain their excitement no longer and interjected themselves between the serious adults, each eager to be with their uncle and soon-to-be aunt.
Later that evening, Luke and Mara made a special comm. call to Talon Karrde to tell him their news. He laughed and told them it was about time, and then signed off before Mara could lay into him.