Chapter Fifteen:
Even from the exterior of Home One, as he piloted the small shuttle with expert precision into the docking bay, Luke could feel Leia's indignation.
Judging by the way Mara squirmed in her seat beside him, she did as well.
"Luke?" she murmured.
He glanced at her. "Yes?"
"You're… not going to tell them… are you?" she asked almost timidly.
Luke tilted his head. "Which part, exactly?"
She threw him a mild look, but then noted he was completely serious, and softened. "About my past."
Luke nodded. "We will tell them whenever you feel ready. I promise to keep it to myself until then."
"Thank you." She reached over to lay a hand on his, and he gave her a gentle smile in return.
Nothing more had happened the previous night after they had begun kissing, as both sensed the other wasn't ready to take that step. But that was perfectly fine with Luke. He had no qualms about taking this at a more leisurely pace.
He had a burning desire to get to know Mara as deeply and intimately as possible first… and then, if things were meant to progress further, they would take that step together.
But only when they were both ready.
His thoughts were mirrored by Mara, he sensed, even as he returned his attention to landing. When he spotted the waiting form of his sister, Han, Lando and Chewie, he couldn't help the spike of apprehension… especially when Leia was standing there with a hard gaze, daring him to exit the shuttle.
"Maybe you should let me go out first," Luke suggested mildly. "Let me talk to Leia."
"Fine," Mara agreed quietly.
Luke placed a reassuring hand on her forearm. "Hey, everything will be alright, you'll see."
Mara tried to give him a smile, but she couldn't quite manage it. Luke sensed her hesitation to leave the relative safety and comfort of their shuttle, but knew that she wouldn't let that stop her.
Mara was a fighter, not one to cower in the corner needlessly.
Luke kissed her on the cheek and exited the cockpit. Artoo was already lowering the ramp, and he chuckled when the squat droid whizzed outside to greet Threepio, who was waving his stiff golden arms animatedly.
Luke descended the ramp, though when his boots touched the deck of the hangar bay, he paused.
A stalemate occurred for the space of several heartbeats
Chewie was the first to rush forward, grabbing the Jedi up in his hairy arms and crushing him to his chest.
Luke laughed into the cinnamon fur. "It's good to see you too, Chewie."
"Kid, it's good you see you home in one piece," Han said as the Wookiee released him.
The two men embraced tightly, and Han smoothed Luke's Wookiee-ruffled hair for him.
"Thank you." Luke spotted Lando next, and accepted his offered hand.
"Welcome back, Buddy," Lando greeted.
"Thanks for all your help, guys," Luke said earnestly. "Your goodie bag really came in handy."
Han chuckled. "I guess you owe us all one, huh Kid?"
"I guess so." Luke grinned, though it dimmed when he noticed that the only member of the welcoming committee who hadn't moved was his sister.
Leia's eyes bored into him, and Luke met her gaze calmly, waiting for her outburst even as the men all stood back.
She slowly ambled up to him, her chocolate eyes never leaving his. Luke saw the rest of the welcoming party watching with barely veiled concern, and he sensed they were all glad not to be in his shoes.
"And just what do you have to say for yourself, Luke Skywalker?" Leia finally demanded in a startlingly calm voice.
Out of the corner of Luke's eye, Han flinched.
"I'm sorry I did not tell you, Leia," Luke murmured, not backing down.
Her eyes flashing, Leia's hand lashed out as though to slap him… and Luke held still, ready to take it. However, she stopped just before actually striking him, and instead tenderly placed her palm to his cheek.
"I was so worried about you, Luke!" she whispered fervently, and only then did her true emotions become physically apparent. "How could you just take off like that… and to Nar Shaddaa of all places?!"
Luke covered her hand with his right limb, tenderly wiping away at her tear-streaked cheek with his left thumb.
"I'm sorry, but I did not want you to be involved. I couldn't let you talk me in to letting you come as well," Luke told her. "But I had a sensitive timeline, and if I hadn't gotten there when I did, I would have been too late."
"You could have been killed Luke, or worse!" Leia glared at him.
"But I wasn't."
"Lucky for you," Leia declared. "Because if I'd had to come for you, you'd be in a hell of a lot more trouble!"
Luke smirked. "I don't doubt it."
He drew her close to him, wrapping his arms about her. He felt Leia cling to him in turn, needful of his presence. Then she tensed, and Luke sensed her attention shift.
"Who is that?"
Luke pulled back, glancing up to the interior of the ship where Mara stood with an odd expression on her face.
"And… are those my clothes?" Leia shot Luke a mild look.
"Yes, they are. I needed to borrow some women's' clothes, and… well, I'd rather borrow from you than say… Mon Mothma." Luke lifted a pointed brow.
Leia thinned her lips, even as Han and the others moved in closer to the siblings.
Luke turned toward Mara and offered his hand in an inviting gesture. She gazed at it warily for a moment, and then slowly descended the ramp to stand beside him.
"Everyone, this is Mara Jade," Luke presented as Mara slid her hand into his. He gave it a gentle squeeze while he finished the introductions. "Mara; this is Leia, Han, Lando, and Chewbacca."
"Hello." Mara nodded politely.
Leia did not miss the fact that the pair of them was holding hands, nor did Luke fail to notice Mara's unease at his attention to Leia.
Was she jealous?
"Hello, Mara," Leia said courteously.
"I did not know these were your clothes." Mara looked down self-consciously.
Leia shook herself. "No, that's alright. I'm more miffed that Luke went behind my back than anything." She threw her brother a pointed look.
Luke did not apologize again, but began to lead Mara away. "We'll meet up later; I need to get Mara situated."
00000
It was dinner by the time Luke was able to get Mara into private quarters, and once she was in her room, she settled onto the bed with a world-weary sigh.
Luke paused in the doorway, studying her. She'd been unusually subdued since the reunion with his family and friends.
Coming to a decision, Luke closed the door and approached gingerly. "Mara, is everything okay?"
She didn't move for a long moment; but when her lips twitched, Luke saw her making an effort to control her emotions. He settled beside her on the bed, allowing his concern to show.
"Mara?"
She sighed more softly, and finally met his gaze. He was taken aback to see a sliver of raw fear there, and the expectation of betrayal from him.
"What's the matter?" Luke asked earnestly. Then, recalling her odd expression when she'd been watching him and is sister, he ventured a guess. "Are you worried about Leia?"
Mara blushed a little, biting her lip. "I know it's childish, and I feel like a pre-teen who wanted the handsome shockball team's captain… but…" she hesitated before getting it out in an almost desperate rush. "You two looked so… so intimate and, I don't want to come between you if… even though you and I are starting to get close." Mara's eyes hardened a touch. "Though if you already have someone, I don't know why you were kissing me…"
"Mara." Luke took her face in his hands, halting her tumbled waterfall of words, each syllable more timid than the last. "Leia and I are close, yes, but it's not romantic in any way."
Mara gave him her utter and complete attention, daring to hope, yet not knowing how the pair of them could be so close, and not romantically involved.
"Leia is my twin sister," Luke said straight up. "She and I found out during the war. We grew up separated from each other for the safety of ourselves and the galaxy. And, I suppose, our father's safety."
Mara was speechless. Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa… twins? But, that meant that Leia was also related to Vader.
Mara abruptly blushed to the roots of her hair while Luke released her. "Oh, Luke, I am so sorry! I feel like such an idiot for fearing you were playing me…"
"I would never do that to you, Mara," Luke declared with finality. "Or any other woman."
"I know…" Mara was shamefaced still, unable to meet his gaze. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed… but after years of training with him, it's hard not to be defensive when it comes to my heart."
Luke felt his own organ reach out to her, and his hand followed suit, tipping her chin gently.
"Mara, I will never forsake you. I won't ever use you; I will never toy with your emotions in a hurtful manner. And, I promise to protect your heart to the best of my abilities," he pledged.
Mara's eyes leaked a few tears, and she leaned in to his palm, kissing it softly. Luke pulled her head to his chest, kissing her hair. She allowed him to hold her until she felt a growing need.
"I'm going to get cleaned up and then I'd like to get some sleep." Mara pulled back.
"Okay." Luke glanced toward the door. "I need to have a talk with Leia anyway. I owe her an explanation."
"Yeah, I think you do." Mara paused. "Um, I don't suppose there are fresh clothes anywhere I could have, are there?" She gave him a wry grin. "Preferably not borrowed from another female friend of yours?"
Luke grimaced, shaking his head. "Just rub it in, why don't you?"
"Don't mind if I do." Mara winked at him, and he chuckled.
"I'll have Threepio bring you a change of clothes," he promised.
"Thank you." Mara stood with him. "And Luke?"
"Yes?" He met her gaze steadily.
"I can't say this enough, but… thank you— again— for coming to get me." She touched his face gently. "And for taking care of me ever since."
He covered her hand with his. "I don't regret any of it."
She smiled unrepentantly. "Well, you do look rather spiffy in your shining armor. Where'd your noble steed disappear to?"
"I think he's blathering to Threepio about how he helped save the day," Luke quipped.
They shared a laugh, and then Luke leaned down to kiss her lightly on the lips. "I'll see you later."
Mara still wasn't used to how her knees turned to jelly and her lips tingled incessantly for minutes after his mouth pressed to hers. She also knew she didn't wish to.
She wanted to be swept away by his kisses for a very long time to come: naysayers be damned.