Chapter Nineteen:

"Leia, no!" Mara exclaimed as the brunette presented the gown.

Mara had loved Leia's idea for the design, and had readily agreed once Leia assured her future sister-in-law that the fabric was already in her possession. What Leia had neglected to say was that the fabric for Mara's wedding gown would come from her favorite senatorial dress.

"It's already done, Mara; and I really don't mind," Leia said as she held the gown aloft.

"But…"

Leia released the hangar with one hand to rest it upon Mara's shoulder.

"Mara, there is no senate anymore, remember? So then where am I going to wear this dress? Yes, we've won the most important battle, but the war itself is far from over. We both know that." Leia looked fondly at the material. "I would much rather my gown be used for something this special than for it to just sit in my wardrobe collecting dust."

Mara couldn't hide her tears. "You did this… for me?"

Leia's smile was soft. "For you… and Luke. I see how happy you've made him: I have never seen him this alive, Mara. You have truly awakened something in him I don't think even he knew was dormant. He's much livelier now… it's almost as though you've brought out more of that adorable farmboy we all first met and fell in love with."

Mara's smile was warm. "He's completed me in a way no one ever has."

"I trust that you are in this for the right reasons," Leia said leadingly.

"I am," Mara vowed. "I am not using him: I love Luke dearly. The day I break his heart is the day I die."

"Then I support this wedding completely." Leia squeezed Mara's shoulder. "Now, let's make sure the fit is correct."

Mara nodded and they proceeded to get the bride-to-be into her wedding gown. It slid over Mara's frame like the silk it was, and Mara had never felt so... right in a dress before.

She'd had a lot of lovely gowns in her time: Palpatine had spared no expense in making sure Mara got the best of the best to either make her blend in or, if the job needed it, the most desirable woman in the ballroom.

She'd had the most precious silks and the lushest velvets. Mara had worn the most prestigious designer's in the galaxy, some of which only catered to the filthy-rich and nobility.

But every single one of those amazing dresses paled in comparison to the one she wore now.

This dress fit her correctly in every way possible. It defined perfect.

But… this gown was special, and it took the rychate because this dress had been made out of love.

Her sister-to-be had sacrificed her favorite senatorial outfit to make sure Mara had a wedding gown on her most important day. It was an expression of sisterly affection that Mara had never been privileged to before.

Mara had to sit down, so overcome was she.

"Leia…" she choked. "I… I can't…"

Leia frowned, concerned. "What's the matter?"

Mara looked up to her, holding out a hand. "This," she indicated first the gown, and then gestured between herself and Leia, "is a first for me. I had nothing like this growing up, and certainly never as an adult."

Mara looked away. "I cannot tell you how grateful and touched I am for this." She returned her gaze to Leia's and took the brunette's hand. "I've never had a sister."

Understanding lit Leia's eyes, and she settled beside Mara. "It's a wonderful thing. Winter and I are as close as sisters, and we tell each other everything. I'm grateful you decided to tell me the full truth about your past, Mara. I am glad we can all go into this with total understanding."

Mara's gaze darkened at that, and Leia tilted her head. "Mara?"

The red head thinned her lips. "At least you've been understanding."

"What happened?" Leia asked, her voice taking on a hard edge.

Mara hesitated. "I… don't want to put you in a hard place…"

"Tell me, please," Leia insisted.

Mara eyed her for a moment, and then sighed. "We went to Alliance High Command... to Mon Mothma… and told them the truth too."

Leia tensed. "You mean of your past?"

Mara nodded.

"How'd that go?" Leia was almost afraid to ask.

"It could have gone better… but it could have gone so much worse." Mara grimaced. "They were silent for my story… but once I finished, they launched into all sorts of questions ranging from my loyalty to the Alliance versus the Empire, to whether I was seducing Luke into marrying me." Mara snorted. "I didn't know Luke could get so furious… he just about exploded on Madine for that theory."

Leia had to take a moment to process that. "Well… when he loves something or someone— when he finds a cause he truly believes in— nothing can shake him from that. He would be furious for Madine trying to oust you like that."

Mara nodded. "He frankly told the entire board that he loved me and trusted me with his very life, and with the lives of the entire Alliance. He also said that he planned to marry me with or without the approval of the council, and if they tried to bring me to trial for the past… he would walk away from the Alliance."

Leia had a mini heart attack at the thought of Luke leaving the Alliance, but she relaxed when she realized that he was still very much a member of it.

"I take it the council eventually saw thing his way?" Leia mused with some amusement.

"They don't entirely trust me now that they know who I am… or was… but as Luke pointed out to them, I have given them everything I could, and have done nothing to harm the Alliance since my arrival." Mara looked down. "Surprisingly, it was Mon Mothma who said I had earned her respect. She appreciated my honesty, since this information— had it been kept secret and come to light later— would have done a great deal of damage in the future. At least now they can prepare for whatever fallout happens should any of the Imperials recognize me and try anything."

"Yes, I think you and Luke made the right choice as well," Leia agreed.

"Well, I don't care if they like me or not, so long as I get to be with Luke," Mara declared.

Leia had to ask. "Did you tell them about the child?"

Mara actually smirked. "Yes… and the looks on their faces was priceless. Actually, I think it was Luke's expression— he was practically daring them to comment on my state of being— that kept them in line."

Leia smiled too. "That man: he plays humble, but he sure knows how to work a room when he wants or needs to."

Mara nodded. "That he does."

A moment of quiet descended, in which the two women were lost to their thoughts. Finally Leia broke the quiet by standing.

"Let's get this dress done."

"It's outstanding… and it fits like a glove." Mara stood also and eyed herself in the mirror. "You've really done amazing work, Leia. Thank you so much."

"Consider this my wedding present." Leia was only half-joking.

"Well, I'll never be able to return the favor, 'cause I can't sew to save my life," Mara informed her.

Leia chuckled. "My aunts insisted on teaching me."

"It must have been nice," Mara said wistfully.

Leia touched her chin. "Hey, you're starting a whole new life with Luke in twenty-four hours. Focus on that, and release your past. I'm not saying forget it entirely, for it made you who you are today. Just don't let it hinder or control you."

Mara smiled gratefully. "Thank you… Sister."

"I like the sound of that."

"So do I," Mara murmured.

00000

Luke stood at the front of the small assembly in the smaller of the two gardens onboard Home One. There were a small collection of chairs filled with those he and Mara had invited to share in their special day.

Rogue Squadron filled up most of the left side of the seating area, while other friends such as Lando and Chewbacca, and even a few of the Alliance High command like Mon Mothma sat on the right.

Admiral Ackbar would be doing the actual ceremony, and he stood just behind Luke, who tried not to fidget in his dress uniform.

Luke smiled secretively when he recalled their conversation on what Luke should wear. Since he did not have any formal attire, and with the war still in session, they had no way of getting him a tuxedo. Mara had mentioned how in some of the Imperial weddings she'd seen, the grooms had worn their military dress uniforms.

I have to admit I always enjoyed seeing men in their dress uniforms… Mara had said conspiratorially. There was just something extra handsome about the servicemen…

So Luke had agreed when she suggested he wear his uniform instead of a tux. Now he just wondered what Leia had managed to do as far as a dress for his bride. His sister had tried to overtake their wedding, from the reception and food, to flowers and even attendance… insisting on inviting the entire Alliance.

Luke had put his foot down on the ceremony being that public. Neither he nor Mara wanted a monkey show.

They'd compromised by agreeing to allow their wedding ceremony to be broadcast to the Alliance, but the reception would be by invitation only.

Soft music played in the background as the assembled guests conversed quietly. At last, movement caught Luke's eye from the back of the garden, and the music changed.

Leia and Han walked up the aisle together, and Luke smiled lovingly at his sister. She was resplendent in her floor-length light green strapless gown made of a satiny material. It was a simple dress that did nothing to diminish Leia's natural grace and beauty. Her complimentary sheer-brown shawl rested loosely about her shoulders. Leia carried a simple bouquet of three Ithorian carnations in her grasp to complete the ensemble.

Her eyes glittered with love as she found his gaze, and they shared a joyous smile. Han winked at Luke, who laughed softly.

Han, who like Luke had nothing close to a tuxedo in his wardrobe, had instead agreed to wear a formal uniform as well, since he was a general.

The pair took their places on either side of Luke and Ackbar, and the attention of the room was drawn to the aisle as Winter Retrac and Artoo Detoo came down the aisle. Winter, who followed behind the astromech, was spreading flower petals along the aisle in Artoo's wake so the droid's wheels wouldn't disturb their placement.

As for the droid himself, he carried Luke and Mara's rings with the utmost pride and care. Luke smiled at the 'noble steed'— as he and Mara had taken to calling him in private— glad that the faithful droid was with them today.

Once the ring bearer and flower girl were situated the music shifted once more, and the audience rose… as did Luke's anticipation. He swallowed nervously… and then tried unsuccessfully to swallow again when his bride stepped into view.

He was pretty certain his jaw dropped a few centimeters, but he didn't care.

Mara looked like an angel as she slowly but purposefully made her way down the aisle toward him, clutching a bouquet of five ivory trumpeted flowers. Her gown was elegant but simple, being of the purest white, with an asymmetrical neckline that fell behind Mara's right shoulder in a back-ruffle.

However, as simple as the gown was in that it wasn't gaudy or showy, with the way it hugged Mara's curves, and clung to her body in all the right places…

… Luke couldn't breathe…

The pathway, which hadn't seemed so long before, now suddenly appeared as though it would never end.

All Luke wanted was for her to be by his side already. Finally her hand touched his, and as he guided her gently to his side, he saw that the back of her gown was a cowl, yet accented with two separate strips of cloth at various angles.

Luke couldn't take his eyes off of her as Admiral Ackbar proceeded through the opening words and such. He tuned in just in time to receive the go-ahead to present Mara with his chosen vows.

Taking Mara's ring in hand, Luke turned to face her fully, gazing straight into those gorgeous emerald eyes of hers.

"Mara," he began solemnly. "If someone were to ask me to express in words my love for you, I would ask them to in turn stop a star from going supernova. Know that my love for you is now, and will forever be untarnished. Nothing will cause me to turn away from you. I will never shun you, nor will I ever take you for granted. You are my everything, and I couldn't imagine my life without you in it. I vow that whatever lays ahead, good or bad, I will stand beside you and face it with you. I will be your friend, your lover, and your husband for the rest of our lives, in sickness or health, for richer or poorer… until every star in the galaxy burns out. And even then, my love for you will go on."

With a shuddering breath, Luke slid the ring onto Mara's finger. She squeezed his hand before releasing him to pick up his band. She took his hand as he'd done to hers and held his gaze again.

"My dearest Luke," she said, almost too softly for anyone but him to hear. "You may never truly know just how much you have saved me. I was lost in the darkness; I was literally floundering and utterly alone… until I heard your voice. And then you came to me in my darkest hour of need, and you did not judge me as others have. You accepted me both for who I was, and who I am without question. You healed me; and not just from my ordeal. You filled the aching void that had been my life for two decades with the soothing balm that is your spirit. I cannot adequately describe the love I feel for you, but I will try. You are the sun to my day, and the moon to my night. Without you, I am half a person. I ache whenever I am apart from you, and I never want to be separated from you again. I love you with everything I have, and I give my all to you; wholly, and forever in fidelity."

After Mara had placed Luke's ring on his finger, they turned back to Ackbar, who smiled upon them.

"Let the love these two share and openly express today be an example to the rest of us of what we too should seek for. Love knows no bounds, and you two truly embody that phrase. It is my honor to pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Luke and Mara turned simultaneously, and their lips came together in a kiss. Mara's arms wound their way about his neck and drew him closer, while Luke enveloped her in his arms in turn.

They lost themselves in each other as applause and cheers from the Rogues sounded from the guests. Finally— when air became an absolute necessity— they broke apart, resting their foreheads together.

"I love you Mara," Luke breathed for her ears only.

"Oh, Luke…" Mara whispered. "I love you too."

"Forever…" Luke murmured.

"Always…" Mara agreed, kissing him again.

Finally they broke apart when a few throats cleared, and it was with an enormous grin that Luke led his newly-minted wife down the aisle.

"I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Skywalker," Admiral Ackbar said loudly.