Dating Luke is nothing short of magical. The man sees the world in a idealistic standpoint that puts most of their generation to shame. He says what he believes and stands by it. Even if no one else does. With Luke championing a lost cause doesn't seem bleak, it seems inevitable if nobility of spirit demands it. Personality wise, he would thrive in King Arthur's Court. For Luke the definition of love is unconditional loyalty, respect and affection. He defines friend as someone unrelated who will die for you. And you call yourself a realist. If anything farmboy, you're a modern day Jefferson Smith. He treats her like a queen. On their fifth date he kisses her, so softly it resembles a prayer, an angel's whisper. She caresses his face and he weeps for joy. By mid-September Mara finally convinces Luke to stop wearing those coats. The turtle necks are a work in progress. All things considered, she hasn't been this happy since great-uncle Palpatine was alive. Which is Lando's comments in the gym right now are really grating her nerves.
"Did you and Winter switch bodies or something cause your behavior lately is OOC to the max."
"Calrissian, you're the one that's OCC. I set you up with beautiful women and you rejected them all."
"Are you hearing yourself? You wanna dance with nerds and fatties? Fine but hook me up with someone hot damnit !"
"The last three dates I arranged for you weren't hot?"
"I'm not into giraffes, hippos or laughing hyenas. And neither were you last month. The woman I've known since college wouldn't let herself be courted by a one armed Justin McLeod !"
"Careful Lando, I hit a lot harder than little Miss Celchu."
That has the desired effect of shutting him up. His co-workers think his black eye came from a bar fight, not a five foot, 110 pound pacifist and he wants to keep it that way. Stupid male bravado. He mumbles that if the rest of Winter's family is like Luke, the girls should use birth control. Calrissian, this is exactly why I let you think I'm not a virgin. Her Emperor taught her the value of purity. How it is irreplaceable and can only be given to the right individual. And how this individual had to love her as much as he did. She's lost quite a few love interests by refusing to sleep with them. Is it too much to ask for men that they propose or introduce her to their parents before trying to take her clothes off? So far Luke hasn't made any advances. He seems content without sex. Every time they kiss, he's still in awe. Maybe they do teach something worthwhile in Naboo. Her cellphone rings, she hears Luke telling her he has to cancel their dinner reservation tonight. Which would be fine with her if she didn't hear another man's voice in the back asking if there's any alcohol in his apartment.
She gets Luke's address from Winter and takes a taxi. Okay, maybe it's nothing. It could just be the TV in his apartment. She could be exaggerating. Luke wouldn't cheat on her with a man, right? The happy bubble she's been in all month is dangerously close to breaking. She knocks on the door and is met with a six foot, brown eyed, scruffy looking man who could be voted sexiest man alive in an instant. At least Luke cheated on her with someone a lot hotter than miss Phasma. Said man asks if she's the pizza delivery girl. She answers no and he slams the door. She kicks it open and the scruffy man warns her not to step any further unless she wants a knuckle sandwich. He looks tired, but no less determined. And clearly he has no qualms about beating up a girl. This'll be fun.
The scruffy man tries to hit her, she blocks his punches every time. He's stronger than her but not faster. His technique tells her he's military, his rapid pace indicates he's been itching for a fight. Something's frustrating him. Whatever it is makes him sloppy. He lands a punch in the stomach, she slams his head on the table. He calls her a psycho bitch, she calls him a worthless scoundrel.
"Han, what's going on over there? Wait, Han? As in brother in law Han? Oh shit.
"Luke, we're being invaded by a redheaded ninja in a sundress!"
"Mara, I'm sorry for canceling but I can't walk."
"That's Mara?! I thought you said she was sweet, not lethal !"
She doesn't hear Han's insult, her mind shut off everything that isn't Luke's voice after his apology. He sounded like he was in pain. It reminds her of great-uncle Sheev's agonizing speech before he went to heaven. She follows the echo and dreads the possibilities. Please don't die, please don't die farmboy. She finds him in what she assumes to be his bedroom. It's full of photographs depicting family and friends, overflowing with old books. A Legion Of Merit insignia is hung on the wall next to a purple heart. He's lying awkwardly in a full-size bed, a Shetland Sheepdog is nuzzling his stump and whimpering as if his master's pain was his own. There's an empty bottle of whisky on the chair.
"Artoo, stop whining: you're embarrassing me in front of the lady. "
" The lady embarrassed herself by nearly killing your brother in law. "
" Good, his ego could use a little deflating. "
" So what happened? "
" I ran out of medication for my chronic pain. So I risked a Tylenol overdose and waited all day for my prescription and drove to the pharmacy which was closed by the time I got it. So no meds today. Han panicked when I didn't call him and drove all the way from Montana to see if I was alright. Then he got me drunk to lessen the pain. "
" He drove all this way nonstop to see you?"
"That's an inch compared to the time he carried me thirty miles across enemy territory.* Han's the only reason I survived that blast. He puts on this tough guy act but underneath he's a marshmallow."
"Sounds like a good friend."
"The best. Could you please check if he's alright? You pack a mean punch Dea."
"I still haven't read that book farmboy."
"Please check on him ."
Typical Luke behavior, trying to heal the world without tending to his wounds. She kisses his hand and tells Artoo to take good care of his master. The dog barks and jumps to the empty space in Luke's bed. When she leaves the room Han is leaning his ear to the wall. And holding a bag of frozen peas to his head. In light of the circumstances, it's kinda cute to see him so protective. Luke is lucky to have him. He heard the whole conversation, obviously. She receives her first official death threat, which she takes as a sign that her relationship is serious. He doesn't accept her apology, what he wants is for Luke not to get his heart broken.
" I mean it Red, you cause one tear and I'm burying you in the backyard. Last thing the kid needs is Callista 2.0."
"His high school girlfriend Callista? Luke said they went their separate ways, not that she dumped him."
"Luke is incapable of bad-mouthing anyone ! Bet he didn't tell you they were engaged, am I right?"
"No, he didn't."
"Luke somehow managed to get a fiancée without losing his cherry. Damn kid was born a couple of centuries too late if you ask me."
"I think this century needs more people of his caliber."
"You and me both, Red."
"Back to Callista."
"Kid stays faithful to her all through the war and sends letters that make the females in our regiment swoon. We get bombed, I carry him to safety and hitch a ride to make sure he lives. His sister and I bonded while he was in a coma. We visited him every day. Callista went once and she threw up at the sight of him. Thank God he hadn't woken up yet. When he did, she broke their engagement right there in the hospital and the kid cried himself to sleep that night. Three years of war and Luke was still innocent until that day. I'll never forgive the bitch for that."
"And you let her get away with it?!"
"No, I stole the hospital tapes and showed the whole town how she dumped him. Turned her into a social pariah. Leia broke into her bank account, stole the witch's life savings and donated them to the Girl Scouts. No evidence was found. Of course back then, we were amateurs. These days we're a lot meaner."
"I believe you 100℅ and I will not let go of my Prince Charming."
"I wanna trust you Red. I want the kid to be happy."
"He's in good hands. Go home Han, you got a wife and two kids who miss you."
Notes: please read and review, I need proof that people actually like this story.