Chapter 13
Deep in the Force, Luke wandered, searching. Callista was nowhere to be found, instead he found only memories. Memories that he knew were the happiest of his life, but felt cold and distant. They weren't just bittersweet, there was something almost . . . ominous . . . about them.
His hands were trembling, though not because he was nervous. He might have expected to be a bit gun- shy after Mara's caustic rejection of his last proposal. But instead he was only excited. The next chapter in his life was about to begin. It had been twenty-three days since Callista had come back to him. He'd been ready to propose the minute he'd realized she'd returned for good. But somehow he'd managed to wait until the moment was perfect.
He knew there had been candlelight and sweet-smelling breezes, but now he found he couldn't immerse himself in the detail, he could only focus on the words.
"Callista, will you marry me?"
She inhaled sharply with delight. It was delight wasn't it? It had to be. "Yes, of course, yes!"
No. That wasn't what she said. Not at first.
"Are you sure?"
What? How could she ask that? Or course he was sure. He'd never been more sure of anything in his life!
She must have sensed his confusion. "I mean, what about our children?" Oh. She was still worried about that. That, he could handle. "Are you sure you won't be disappointed if they aren't Jedi?"
"Of course I won't be. It doesn't matter who or what they are, I'll love our children. Not because they're Jedi, but because they came from you," he assured her.
"You're certain you won't mind, not even a little, if they aren't Force-sensitive?"
"I promise you, that doesn't matter to me. Not one bit."
And he meant it, he meant every word. He remembered leaning in to kiss her, but before their lips met the scene evaporated. Now it was two years later . . .
In the delivery room, newborn Benji was nestled in Callista's arms. Mother and son gazed at each other as Luke rested his chin on Callista's shoulder and wrapped his arms around both of them. Then, for the first time, Luke touched his mind to his son's. Tiny Benji nudged back, in the way only a Force-sensitive could.
"He's going to be a Jedi," Luke breathed, ecstatic. "My son is going to be a Jedi."
Callista leaned back against him, resting her head on his shoulder. Soon she was fast asleep, with her body pressed against his he could feel her breathing becoming deep and steady. Through the Force he felt Benji growing sleepy and peacefully drifting off. His life was perfect. Perfect? Well, as close to perfect as anything could be. There was that moment, but it was only a moment . . .
Before she fell asleep, Callista adjusted herself so she could look back at him. She was smiling, but there was the slightest shadow in her eyes, a twinge of heartache to know she would never be connected to their son the way Luke would be. Yes, Benji's birth had reminded her of the power she had lost. There was the slightest pang of sorrow, but that shouldn't ruin the otherwise perfect moment, should it?
Unless . . .
"I'll love our children. Not because they're Jedi. "Because they came from you."
Not because they're Jedi.
What if that shadow in her eyes wasn't sadness for herself and a future she wouldn't have? What if it was because of Luke, and the promise he'd made before they got engaged—
"That doesn't matter to me. Not one bit."
He'd said it wouldn't matter to him if his child was Force-sensitive. But had it?