Chapter 153

"It's about time," Han remarked.

"What?" Ari was caught off guard. She hadn't expected that reaction. She expected someone to be surprised, but that wasn't the case. Han didn't seem surprised at all. Neither did Leia, who was smiling. Even Chewie didn't seem to show the slightest hint of shock.

"It is not a secret, the way you two feel about each other. Anyone looking at you could tell," Leia responded.

Ari sat down at the table where there was already food on the plate in front of her. "It was that obvious?" she asked.

"Yes," Leia answered, though she was not looking at Ari. Following her gaze, Ari saw a piece of fruit move out of the bowl, which was at the center of the table. She glanced at Luke and saw that he was focusing on it. It was set down on her plate. She was about to pick it up when her knife moved and cut a piece of the fruit. Ari smiled when she saw the inside of the fruit. The seeds looked like small stars, which is why this was called star fruit. Her favorite from Naboo, which she hadn't had eaten since she was a child. She was a little surprised that Luke remembered that.

She picked up the piece of fruit with her fingers and she glanced at Luke, who was smiling at her. She smiled back and took a bite, savoring the crisp crunch and the sweet taste.

"Is that why you learned to use the Force?" Han asked with a shake of his head. Chewie gave a barking laugh and even Leia smiled a little at this.

Luke shrugged a little. "Every little bit of practice helps," he answered.

"There is a lot we have to get done with," Leia said, taking charge. "A dress for Ari, a suit for Luke, then suits and dressed if you have anyone in the wedding party, invitations, food, a place have the ceremony and a reception, someone to make it official, flowers, rings. Music if you want to have dancing. Ari, you will probably want your hair done for a wedding. I feel like I am forgetting something," she says. "But we can work that out when we come to it."

Ari and Luke both exchanged amused glances.

"Leia, we don't need anything fancy," Luke told her.

"But you are known for saving the Alliance and helping start this new republic," Leia reminded her twin.

He nods. "I know. If you want we can do something fancy there, some party. I really want something simple though."

"Me too," Ari answered. "We can contact Lando and invite him. Your family as well. The droids. Taylor if I can reach her. That will be big enough for us."

Luke nodded in agreement. "This is a special day, but we don't want to make a large production over it, Leia."

His sister sighed. It was clear she wanted them to both have a large wedding, but she wouldn't go against their wishes. "Well, either way, we better get started with the preparations.

"Let's eat first," Han commented.

The rest of the meal passed quickly with Leia making comments about all the things they needed to work out, even if it was just a small wedding.

"We need to tell people too," Ari pointed out. "I think the best way to do that would be over the comm." Before anyone else could respond, she continued. "I can do that. You'll probably want to greet your family when they get here."

"Soon to be your in-laws," Han remarked.

"True. I will talk to them soon. This won't take me long," she assured them, getting to her feet. She offered Luke a smile left the table, going back to her room. She couldn't believe that she and Luke would be getting married in just another day or two. Yet, it seemed right. Fast, but right for them.

Ari sat down at the comm unit and contact Lando on his personal comm unit. It didn't take long to connect and soon she was looking at a smiling Lando. "Hey there, Ari. You're a sight for sore eyes."

Ari couldn't help but laugh when she saw him.

"How are you doing, Lando?"

He shrugged. "I can't complain. People are still celebrating, but the real work's going to start soon. How is your vacation on Naboo going?"

"You know about that?"

He chuckles. "Only those of us in the high ranks know. If people knew, you'd be contacted all the time."

Ari smiled a little at this. It was kind of nice to have some peace and quiet. "Well, if you're not too busy with official business, do you think you might be able to sneak away for a little while and come to Naboo?"

"I could, though I have to say, Naboo isn't really my sort of place," Lando admits.

"Even for a wedding?" Luke asked crossing over to stand beside Ari. Ari hadn't heard him approached or even sensed him until he spoke, but it hadn't startled her.

Ari glanced at him and smiled then turned back to Lando, who seemed surprised. "A wedding?"

Luke put one hand on Ari's shoulder. Ari laid her hand over top his. "Luke proposed to me and I said yes. We decided to get married while we are here. We thought about tomorrow but I suppose we might need another day to take care of everything." She glanced at Luke when she said this and he nodded.

"So you are getting married in two days?"

"And we'd like you to be here," Ari told him. "You and a few others. It will be small though."

"For now," Luke responded. "I think Leia wants us to have a fancy celebration when we all go back to Coruscant."

"We'll see," Ari answered. She wasn't completely opposed to sharing this happiness with others, like Biggs and the other pilots, but she wasn't sure how she felt about having a lavish affair.

"Yeah, I'll leave right away."

Ari smiled. "We will send you the directions of how to get you. We're not in Theed. I do have one favor to ask of you though."

Lando flashed a grin. "For the bride to be, anything."

"Have you seen Taga lately?" She hadn't thought she would be gone for Coruscant so long and worried about him.

"You mean this little guy?" Lando moved out of view briefly then came back, holding Taga, who must have been just out of view.

"Hey, Taga," Ari spoke to him. She noticed that the alien looked sad. "I am sorry that I left and that I was gone longer than I planned, but Lando is going to come to where I am and he will bring you too."

Taga seemed to perk up at this. Ari knew that the alien probably couldn't speak to her from so far away, but she was glad he didn't seem to be upset.

"I'll make sure to take care of him," Lando assured her. Most still thought he was her pet and that seemed to be the best thing to do for now.

"Thank you. We'll see you both soon."

The communication ended and she turned to face Luke again.

"So, he's pretending to a pet?" Luke asked.

Ari smiled a little. "Yes. For now at least. Considering most can't hear him."

Luke nodded in response, seeming to think that was also a good idea. "You mentioned contacted other people. Who else?"

"If I can reach her, Taylor. I know that we don't know her very well, but I would like her there. She is one of the last Jedi and I suppose I feel a connection to her. Besides, I was there for hers. Right before Siri died. Is there anyone else you would like to contact?"

He shook his head. "Just contact Taylor. I'll let you do that privately. The Naberries will be here soon, though I imagine Leia will try to convince you to start wedding planning as soon as you leave this room."

"I'll be ready," she assured him.

Luke leaned over and kissed her forehead. "I'll see you in just a minute then."

With another small smile, he turned and left, shutting the door behind him.

Ari entered the information for Taylor's comm unit but she didn't answer it. Ari sighed, but ended the connection. Then she entered in the information and the code to leave a message. "Hello Taylor, it is Ari. Luke and I will be getting married at the Lake Retreat on Naboo the day after tomorrow. I would really like if you could be here for it. May the Force be with you."

She ended the comm, then sat for a moment, listening to the quiet around her until she heard voices that announced the arrival of the Naberries.

Ari got to her feet and took one last look at the comm unit, as if hoping to see the light signaling a message. There was nothing though so she left the room and went to join the others.