Who remembers chapter twelve? Okay, now who remembers my authors note? Well, for those of you that don't remember, I mentioned how there was a pattern of the chapters I liked. First chapter six, then twelve. Now here we are at eighteen, a multiple of six, and I love this chapter too!

Weird, huh?

I actually rewrote this chapter like three times. I ended up with the end result and it seemed less forced in my opinion, but I'll let you be the judge of that.

I barely touch on it, but I will delve deeper into Han's predicament and what took them so long to rescue him later. I will also be confronting Luke's paternity more later as well. But here is kinda the set up chapter so to speak.

DISCLAIMER: So I bought the making of SW book last night. I own a copy of that as well as a copy of the Making of ESB. But that's it. The movies belong to George.

Chapter Eighteen

A knock on the door tore Luke from his thoughts. He was laying on the bed in his quarters, going over a hundred different things in his head. He stretched out with the Force and grinned as he felt Mara's presence on the other side of the door. Jumping up, he palmed open the door and grinned as their eyes met.

"Heard you got released from the Med Bay," she said.

"Yep, an hour ago," he nodded, heading back towards the bed. He sat down and leaned against the wall, leaving plenty of room for Mara. She took a seat next to him, mimicking his position.

"Lando commed us half an hour ago," she said.

"Oh?"

"They arrived at Tatooine with no trouble," she said. "They'll be milling around Mos Eisely for a few days and see if anyone knows about whether or not Fett actually took Han to Jabba's."

"I'm sure he did," Luke said. "There's no way he could refuse the reward."

"That's my thought," she agreed. They lapsed into a comfortable silence again, perfectly content with just being in the other's presence.

"How's the hand?" Mara asked after a while. Luke lifted his artificial hand, turning it over and over to examine both sides.

"It's weird," he shrugged. "I can feel it, but at the same time it feels kinda numb from the wrist down. I have to get used to it."

"It'd be kinda complicated if you didn't," she joked. Luke chuckled and shook his head. His sandy blonde hair falling into his eyes. "You need a haircut."

He ran a hand through his hair, nodding. "I do."

"Don't cut it too short," she said and he looked at her. She reached her hand up and brushed his bangs to the side. "I like it long."

"Do you?" Luke asked with a smug grin.

"Yes, I do," she nodded. Her hand fell down and her eyes met his. They stared at each other for a long moment before she felt Luke's thumb running along her hand. Slowly, almost too slow for her to believe, Luke leaned in towards her. Her eyes focused on his lips, and how they looked. At that moment, all she wanted was to kiss him. She leaned back up to Luke and her eyes fluttered shut as their lips met. Kissing Luke was a hundred times better than she'd ever thought it would be. A thousand times, maybe even a million times better.

The hand that Luke wasn't running his thumb along raised up and clutched at his neck. Luke's other hand fell to her hip, content with just holding her there.

When they broke apart for air, they just grinned like teenagers and panted for air.

"Wow," Luke grinned.

"Yeah," she agreed, biting her lip.

"We should have done that way sooner," he joked and she rolled her eyes.

"You're pretty cocky for a Farmboy," she laughed.

"Been hanging out with too many Corellians, Red," he said.

She raised an eyebrow at the nickname. "Red?"

"You nicknamed me something obvious," Luke shrugged. "I feel the need to return the gesture. And it's named after your hair."

"I figured," she rolled her eyes. "But it's kinda unimaginative."

"And 'Farmboy' isn't?" he asked.

She shook her head and pulled his neck back towards her. "Shut up, Farmboy," she hissed before kissing him again. Luke leaned into her, and they leaned back on the bed. Mara's back hit the mattress, and Luke hovered over her, keeping his weight off her while still leaning against her.

"So eager to get me in bed," she panted against his lips jokingly.

"I've wanted you since that first audition with the Rogues," he admitted.

"Why didn't you say something?" she asked.

"Fear of rejection."

"I've been falling for you since you left that note in my datapad, the first night I joined the Alliance."

"Well, aren't we a pair?" he joked, and resumed kissing her. The door slid open and the two jumped apart guiltily. Wedge stopped right inside the doorway, grinning.

"I guess this means I won the bet," he grinned.

"What do you want, Antilles?" Luke asked annoyed.

"Calm down, I'll let you get back to fraternizing with Jade," Wedge shook his head and held up his hands in an innocent gesture. "I just came to see how you were."

"I'm fine," Luke said shortly.

"I can see that," Wedge nodded and looked between the two of them.

"Is that all?" Luke asked.

"Yeah," Wedge nodded, starting to head out. He stopped and ducked back in, snapping his fingers. "Oh, make sure your shots are up to date."

"Get out, Antilles!" Luke yelled and Wedge grinned and closed the door behind him. Luke groaned and leaned his head back against the wall with his eyes tightly screwed shut. "Ten minutes."

"What?"

"Ten minutes until the entire base knows we're together," Luke said, opening his eyes and looking down at Mara.

She grinned widely. "We're together?"

"Unless you kiss all your Commanding Officers like that, yes," he joked. She swatted at his arm.

"Crazy Farmboy," she rolled her eyes, standing up. "Doesn't even know I only have eyes for him."

"Where you going?" he asked, pulling onto her arm.

"Unlike some of us on sick leave, I actually have base duties to do," she joked.

"You should hide out here," he said, tugging her back towards his bed.

"As much as that sounds like an amazing idea, Wedge coming in was probably a good thing," she said, kissing him quickly.

"Wedge is never a good thing."

"But he did slow things back down for us," she nodded.

"Yeah, you're probably right," Luke sighed. "We should have dinner tonight, though."

"You asking me on a date, Farmboy?" she asked with a huge grin.

"You betcha, Red," he winked. "I'll meet you at your quarters at 1900."

"So formal," she said. "I'll see you later."

"See you then," he grinned, watching her back out of the room. As the door slid shut behind her, Luke leaned back on his pillows. He'd finally kissed her. They finally had taken that step forward.

He was happy. Probably the happiest he'd ever been. He tried to think back to when he might have been even close to this happy and he remembered his encounter with Vader.

"No, I am your father."

Luke squinted his eyes shut. His father. Anakin Skywalker was his father, not the monster who took his hand.

Luke went to reach for his lightsaber to look at it but then remembered he'd lost it with his hand. He sighed. Now he didn't even have one shred of evidence of who his father once was.

Ben, why didn't you tell me?

"A young Jedi by the name Darth Vader, he was a pupil of mine until he turned to evil. He helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights. He betrayed and murdered your father."

Was Vader telling him the truth, or was Ben? Luke groaned at the dueling truths in his head. He knew who he wanted to be true, but he also knew the undying sense of truth that had flowed off Vader.

Could Darth Vader have once actually been Anakin Skywalker? The man who Luke had looked up to and admired even when all he thought his father was a navigator on a Spice freighter.

Luke groaned and stood up. He had a lot to do before his date with Mara that night.

Mara. How would he tell her? Would she even be able to look at him the same if she knew his true parentage? Would Leia be able to stand his presence knowing that Darth Vader, the man who tortured her and allowed her home planet to be blown up, was his father?

He couldn't think about this now. It would only sour his mood. Today was a happy day for him, and he had a lot to accomplish.

Luke exited his quarters and started heading towards the kitchen area. He knew for a fact that there was a sweet older Tatooine woman who he'd met after the Battle of Yavin. They'd talked for hours over the different things they missed and didn't miss of the dustball.

The top of the list was Aunt Beru's Bantha Stew.

He entered the mess and leaned against the Transparisteel window that separated the kitchen area from the mess. He caught sight of her graying blonde streaked hair and grinned, waiting for her to see him. She turned and a smile lit up on face.

"Luke!" she called out, whipping her hands on a cloth and walking towards him.

"Hey, Sarhii," he smiled. "They working you to death here yet?"

"Not as much as you, I'm sure," she smiled warmly. "I heard about everything that went down with Vader."

Luke winced. She hadn't quite heard everything that was for sure. "Yeah, I guess word spread fairly quickly."

"Yes, but I also heard that Command sprung for a higher end hand for you," she told him. "Supposed to be top of the line."

Luke looked down at his new hand and shrugged. "I guess. It feels alright, y'know?"

"I don't but I'll take your word for it," she chuckled. "Now, you're not here to just talk about the latest in limb replacement. What can I do for you?"

"I need a couple of servings of your fine Bantha Stew," he said.

"So the rumors are true?" Sarhii asked playfully. "You and the pilot in your Squadron?"

Luke blushed. "Yeah, they're true."

"I'm so happy for you," she smiled. "I was worried when you were moping after the Princess those first few months."

"Leia is too much like a sister to me now, Sarhii," he laughed. "It feels weird to think about her that way."

"But not this pilot?"

"No, not Mara," Luke shook his head. "I'm having a date with her tonight and that's why I came to put in the order for the Stew."

"Well, I'm flattered," Sarhii smiled modestly. "I'm sure things will go fine for you. I'll have the stew ready by 1800, alright?"

"That's perfect!" Luke said. "Thanks so much, Sarhii! You're the best."

"And don't you forget it," she teased as Luke started heading off out of the room. She shook her head at the playful Tatooine native. It was good to see him smiling.

"I won't!" he called back and left the room.

"So, Mara," Wes Janson said coolly as he slid into the seat next to Mara as she fine-tuned her temporary X-Wing. When it was safe, they would return to Bespin, but until then she was issued an older model.

"What do you want, Janson?" she asked, tightening the connectors to the main thrusters.

"Just want to know if you knew along whether you knew you had the hots for Commander Skywalker before or after you rejected us months ago," he asked smugly. Mara's head snapped to him, anger brewing in her expression.

"Do you want children, Wes?" she asked evenly. He looked taken aback by the sudden change in conversation.

"Uh, sure," he said hesitantly. "Why? You offering or something?"

"Force no!" she laughed darkly. "I just wanted to know before I punch you so hard you can't have children anymore."

Wes's face paled. He took an automatic step back and shifted his hands to guard his groin discreetly.

"Uh, right," he choked out. "So, I guess I'll see you at the next Squadron meeting then."

"Guess so!" she grinned darkly. "So long, Janson."

"Uh, bye, Mara," he smiled weakly before spinning on his heel and walking directly out of the hangar. He brushed past Leia on his way out, barely acknowledging her presence as he passed.

Leia looked after him curiously, before shrugging and finishing her walk to Mara.

"You messing with Wes again?" she asked with a touch of humor in her voice.

"He started it," Mara shrugged, laughing. She checked the different power couplings, adjusting them to work more efficiently.

"Of course," Leia laughed. "So how are you doing?"

Mara looked up and gave the Princess a pointed look. "If you're here to ask me about Luke, yes, the rumors are true. No, I will not give you the inside scoop."

"Actually, I wasn't here about that," Leia admitted, a little shocked at Mara's prepared speech. "But I am happy for you. I actually came to see how you were doing."

"Honestly?" Mara asked, sighing. "I'm annoyed at everyone assuming they know everything that is going on between Luke and me. But for the first time in my life, I am insanely happy. Really."

"Well there's something," Leia smiled. She leaned against the landing gear and crossed her arms.

"What about you, Leia?" Mara asked carefully. Leia's expression flashed with pain quickly before she composed herself.

"I'm alright," she said evenly.

"That's a load of poodoo and you know it."

Leia looked off distantly and her expression scrunched up.

"I miss him so much, Mara. You have no idea how much I miss him," she choked out. Leia's head turned to Mara, and Mara saw how red Leia's eyes were with potential tears.

"I honestly don't know what to tell you that isn't either brutally honest or something you've heard a hundred times over," Mara admitted.

"That alone tells me you care," Leia smiled weakly.

"I do care."

"Thanks, Mara."

"Anytime, Leia. Anytime."

This chapter was also going to be longer, but I didn't have the muse to write it. Also, I'm at my mom's right now, so I'm working off my laptop. For those of you that read my AN and remember, I moved to my dad's. Actually, I'm not fully sure I mentioned that now. . . Anywho, if you don't remember, don't sweat it. An inconsequential detail, really.

NEXT CHAPTER: The Date

Oh, and guess how excited I am to be playing not only God, but Cockblocker to them as well? Haha!