Chapter Sixteen:

Luke found Leia in her office, grateful that she was alone when he walked in. She glanced up at him from the datapad she was reading, though it was clear to him that her attention wasn't really on the device.

"May I come in?" Luke asked from the doorway.

Leia nodded wordlessly and Luke shut the door, moving over to sit in the chair opposite hers. Leia wasn't looking at him, but he could feel her swirling emotions. He closed his eyes briefly before he ventured into the silence.

"Leia, she needed my help."

Leia's eyebrow lifted at that, but she otherwise did not react, so he continued.

"About a week before I left I had this vision: it was of Mara, trapped in a brothel and crying for help," he spoke softly, cringing inside at the unpleasant memories of seeing Mara like that. "I heard her call from halfway across the galaxy, and I just knew that I was meant to help her. So I gathered what facts I could, but it wasn't until Han found out what I was doing that I really got answers."

Leia was giving him her full attention now.

"When I arrived, Mara was in horrible shape." Luke's voice caught slightly, and he did not try to hide his disgust at his next revelation. "I had to pretend to be some sick pervert just to get in to see her. I was almost ill by the way the owner talked the place up.

"But when I got to Mara, I knew everything had been worth it. We found a way to get her out, and I brought her here." Luke looked Leia in the eye. "There is one more thing you need to know about Mara. She used to be an Imperial; she worked in the Imperial Palace, and can give us a good deal of information."

"And why would she do that?" Leia spoke for the first time, obviously suspicious.

"Because: Mara would like to become a member of the Alliance," Luke informed her. "And I trust her completely. She will not betray us."

Leia looked thoughtful, and then pursed her lips. "Well, I can give her a chance at least. If she's willing to give us what she can, I won't be a hard-heart and deny that." Leia pitted him with a harsh stare. "But that still does not mean I am happy with you."

"I know." Luke sighed. "Leia, if I had told you before hand, would you have insisted on coming? Even knowing where I was headed?"

Leia opened her mouth to deny it, but then paused, knowing he deserved the truth… one he already knew, as did she.

"Yes." She closed her eyes. "I would have."

"Then you know why I didn't say anything to you. I didn't want anything to fall back on you if something went sour." Luke leaned forward, reaching across the desk to touch her hand. "Please try to understand."

"I do understand, Luke," Leia whispered, turning her hand over so their palms touched. "But you had to know how worried I'd be for you." She squeezed her eyes shut, a few tears escaping her control. "What if something had happened to you? What would I have done if we'd lost you?" She hiccupped a sob. "I mean: Nar Shaddaa, Luke, of all places?! You know how horrible a place that is! What if you'd been… been…"

Luke moved around the table to gather his sister to him, deftly removing her from the chair and taking it so he could cradle her in his lap.

"I'm sorry Leia," he whispered into her hair. "I didn't mean to upset you like this."

She shook her head where her face was burrowed into his shoulder. "It's not just that…"

"Then what?"

"I… I can't lose you Luke… not now, not ever." Leia clung to him. "Everyone I love is gone; all I have are you and Han. Please don't leave me like the others did!"

Luke's heart cracked as he realized what she was referring to. Of course! This week was the anniversary of Alderaan's destruction. How could he have forgotten?

"Oh, Leia…" Luke's voice cracked, and he let his own tears flow for her. "I'm so sorry. I didn't realize…"

She nodded shakily, weeping into his tunic while he held her, whispering words of comfort. When she'd calmed again, they simply held each other until Leia shifted a bit.

"You like her," Leia said into the companionable silence.

"What?" Luke asked, not entirely following.

"Mara," Leia clarified. "I saw the way you two were with each other. You like her… maybe even love her."

Luke couldn't deny it, especially to his twin. "Yes, I do."

Leia looked up at him without lifting her head. "Are you sure it's… real?"

Luke felt her tense in readiness for him to take offense, but he sensed the honest concern behind her words, in her Force presence. Leia was sincerely worried that he had fallen for Mara because he thought she needed him to care for her. She wanted to make sure he and Mara weren't making a mistake that would hurt them both later.

"I'm positive," he affirmed, meeting her eyes solemnly.

Leia held his gaze, reading him the way only a twin could, before she nodded slowly.

"I believe you," Leia murmured. "And, she loves you too?"

"Yes," Luke replied evenly.

Leia sniffled once, and then touched his face gently with her palm. "I'm glad for you. You deserve to be happy, Luke. I don't think I have ever seen you so content and at peace."

Luke smiled. "Mara has certainly brightened my life." He grimaced as he realized how that sounded. "Not that I didn't already have it great with you guys, it's just… you know, with Mara… and all…" he trailed off awkwardly, flushing in embarrassment as he ran out of explanation material.

Leia seemed to find his harried elucidation amusing, and didn't hide that fact. Finally, however, she took pity on him.

"It's fine, Luke; I understood what you meant." She chuckled, moving her hand from his cheek to his shoulder to squeeze affectionately.

Luke smiled at her, leaning over to kiss her forehead. "I love you."

"I love you too, Luke." Leia snuggled against him again, still in need of his soothing presence. She loved Han, but as wonderful and charming as he could be— and despite his support of late— he wasn't Luke.

He wasn't her brother. Her twin.

And she had needed Luke this week: needed is calm reassurance, the sense of peace he radiated like no one she'd ever met.

But most of all, she just needed the arms of her brother around her, loving her as only he could.

For the first time all week, she truly felt home… complete. And she wanted it to stay that way a while longer.

Innately understanding this, Luke simply held her; no questions asked, not judging.

Because he was home too.

It was a good feeling.