Luke woke slowly from the Jedi healing trance that his father, Anikan Skywalker had put him in. It was dark outside, though there were many lights that flickered. Judging by the smells and sounds, Luke could tell he was back on the forest moon of Endor. With a groan, Luke sat up and was elated to feel no pain, just a little stiffness from lying still for so long. "Luke!"

Looking towards the voice, Luke saw Leia sitting there. She was smiling and tears began to flow from her eyes. They both stood and she threw her arms around him. In a voice that was little more than a whisper, Leia said, "I'm so glad you're okay."

Luke held her and said, "I'm glad YOU are, Leia."

They separated and Luke asked anxiously, "Where is Mara?"

His sister pointed to another bed. On the wood frame covered with firs was Mara Jade, looking peaceful. Instinctively, Luke reached out and felt that she still lived. Leia was gazing at him. "Vader – I mean – Anikan Skywalker was right. It WAS a healing trance. He DID save you."

Her voice held a small note of wonder in it. Luke smiled and said, "You got to speak to him before he died."

Leia nodded and sat down in a chair. Luke sat on his bed. After several moments of silence, Leia said, "He said that it was probably best that he died from his injuries since the Alliance would have executed him for his crimes. He also begged me to help you finish undoing all of his dark deeds which I promised to do. Finally, he apologized. Can you believe it, Luke? The man who was Darth Vader apologized. I can't forgive him but at least I no longer hate him."

Luke nodded. He was glad to hear this. With a sigh, Leia stood and rubbed her temples tiredly. "I'm going to go get the others. They wanted to see you as soon as you woke up. We also had a funeral pyre built for Anikan Skywalker. It's waiting for you to light it."

A tear came to Luke's eye and he smiled. "Thank you, Leia. I'm going to wake up Mara."

Leia looked a little hesitant. "Are you sure you should? It looked like she was much worse off and the medical droid we had transported from the medical frigate Redemption said that we should let her sleep a few hours longer than you."

Luke looked over at the beautiful young woman. After a few moments, he said, "You're probably right. Let's go find the others and let's set Father's funeral pyre."

Leia nodded and they ducked out of the ewok house that Luke had been lying in. Outside, quite a party was going on. Ewoks, rebel commandos and some of the fleet's personnel were dancing on the platforms and among the structures of the village. It wasn't long before Luke saw Han Solo, Chewbacca, Lando Calrissina and several other familiar faces. Smiling, they all rushed towards him. Han wrapped him in a big hug and pounded his back. Chewie did the same, followed by Lando, Wedge Antilles and many others. It was some time before he was able to go down to the pyre that had been set up for Anikan Skywalker. The former dark lord lay face up on the stacked wood. Luke reached up and took the lightsaber from Anikan's belt and looked at it. After a moment, he clipped it next to his own weapon. Leia took his left hand and gave it a squeeze. Looking around, Luke was surprised to see that there were quite a few people around him. Han, Leia, Chewie, Lando, Wedge and over a dozen commandos and pilots from Rogue Squadron. One of the furry little ewoks waddled up to Luke and handed him a torch with a stream of chattering. C-3PO, who came up with R2-D2 and R3-L9 behind the ewok, translated for him, "He says that it is sad when a warrior falls but that if his fall is honorable then he should be remembered with reverence."

Luke nodded. "His fall was honorable. If not for him, I would be dead and so would Mara Jade. He saved our lives and defeated the emperor."

Stepping forward, Luke thrust the torch into the wood. Quickly, the fire spread until the whole pyre was engulfed in flames. No one said anything. No one knew what to say. In singles and pairs, the rebels drifted back to the celebration until only Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, Lando and the droids remained. R3-L9 beeped and whistled and Luke knelt down in front of her. C-3PO translated the little droid. "She wants to know Mistress Mara Jade's condition."

Luke smiled and patted R3's dome. "She's going to be okay, R3. I'm about to go back and have the medical droid check on her again. As long as he says she is okay to waken, then I will wake her up."

The droid whistled excitedly and bounced from leg to leg. "She says that she would be most grateful if you would, Master Luke."

Standing, Luke turned one final time towards the fire and sighed. The armor was alight itself and gave off a bitter, acrid scent. Luke breathed it in and then turned away. "Come on. We can't miss the party;" said Han Solo, throwing an arm around Luke's shoulders and Leia's waist and gently guided them back towards the village. Luke went straight to the house that he had woken up in. The medical droid was already checking on Mara. "Whatever it is that is being used to heal Lieutenant Jade is working a miracle. According to my scan all internal and external damage is completely healed. My only concerns are that her vitals are impossibly low and that she will not wake up, Colonel Skywalker."

Luke smiled at the droid and said, "I can fix that." He knelt down next to Mara and brushed a few locks of red-gold hair off her face and murmured to her. "Anikan Skywalker says thank you for saving his son."

Mara's eyes flickered open and she sat up slowly and stretched with a groan. For over a minute, without a word or a thought passing between them, they gazed at each other. Twin smiles crossed their faces and Mara burst into joyful laughter. With a lunge, she tackled Luke with a huge hug, still laughing. Luke sat up with his arms around her. "We did it! We did it, Luke! Emperor Palpatine is dead and..."

She suddenly, leaned back and looked at him with absolute wonder on her face. In a voice barely above a whisper, she said, "… and you were right! Darth Vader had good in him. He saved us and got us off the Death Star, didn't he? You were right about him all along!"

She just stared at him in open-mouthed wonderment. With a chuckle, Luke used his left hand to lift her jaw before pulling her to him again. You saved my life. While Palpatine was attacking me, you saved me.

Mara savored the touch of his mind and replied, I only returned the favor. Besides, no one like you should ever have to die for someone like me.

With a most serious look, Luke pulled away and gazed into her eyes. "Mara, you are no less or more important than I am and you are too important to me to let you die. I would gladly die for you if I ever had to."

Mara shook her head vehemently. "I would never let you." She placed a finger on Luke's lips, forestalling his argument and smiled impishly at him. "Why are we arguing? Is that a party I hear outside, Farmboy?"

Luke chuckled and they stood. "Yes it's a party. Let's go and join in the festivities. The emperor is dead and the Death Star is destroyed. It's a great day – or night I guess."

They both ducked out of the house and a great cheer went up from the rebels who saw them. Leia and Han walked up and, to her surprise, hugged Mara. Chewie did the same and Lando, as smooth as he ever was, took her hand and kissed it. Many of the other rebels came and shook her hand, congratulating her on her heroic part. Apparently the news that she had saved Colonel Skywalker's life during the battle with the emperor had spread and she was treated as a hero. "I'm no hero;" she muttered to herself. Luke chuckeld beside her and said, "You're my hero, Mara."

She blushed deeply and looked down. "I can't be your hero, Luke."

The Farmboy was a little confused. "Why can't you be?"

Mara looked him in the eye and placed a hand on his arm. "Because you're my hero, Farmboy."

Luke blushed and averted his eyes. He didn't feel worthy of title. He never had.

Mara wrapped her arms around him and whispered in his ear, "No one is more worthy of it."

Luke smiled and was about to disagree when he suddenly stared away from her towards the forest. "Luke what..."

Mara didn't finish her question as she saw the three ghostly figures on the edge of the platform. She recognized Yoda but not the other two. "Who are they?"

Luke smiled and a tear rolled down his cheek. "The older looking one is Obi-Wan Kenobi and the younger one is my father before he became the dark lord."

Mara looked in wonderment. After a moment, she looked back at Luke and put her arm around him in a half hug. As the celebration continued late into the night, Mara Jade began to cry tears of joy and relief. Finally, she was safe from Emperor Palpatine's will and from his wrath. Mara Jade was her own person now. She had friends, good ones who would help her when she needed it and who would not judge her for her past deeds. Looking at Luke Skywalker, her first and closest friend, she realized that the possibilities for the future were endless.

After the celebration in the ewok villages, an award ceremony was held on board the Alliance flagship Home One. Luke, Mara, Han, Leia, Lando, Wedge and many others were given high commendations for their parts in the Battle of Endor. General Solo and his command staff were a little distressed to hear that, after the destruction of the Death Star, most of the Imperial fleet fled, including the former Darth Vader's flagship the Executer. Their worries were forgotten quickly, however. Most of the Imperial ships that stayed were destroyed and a few were even captured – Imperial Star Destroyers being in the hands of the Rebel Alliance added to the reason to celebrate.

After the ceremony, the hanger bays of Home One had all of its fighters, gunships, shuttles, landing craft and freighters pushed and racked tightly to the sides or moved to other cruisers or external docking hatches, leaving large areas of open space. It was there that the Alliance celebration was after the ceremony was held. Everyone – pilots, soldiers, commandos, marines, officers, techs and other various service personnel milled about but the vast majority were dancing to the beat of music blasted over one of the ship's intercom systems.

Mara had been standing next to Luke as person after person came and shook their hands, offering congratulations, gratitude and other various praises for their parts. After the umpteenth official, Mara had stood up on her toes and murmured in Luke's ear, "I'll be around, Farmboy. Come find me when you're done."

Luke wanted nothing more to go with her immediately but he knew that it would offend any who he ignored or left before greeting. Over a hundred handshakes, backslaps and other forms of greetings and pleasant words, Han decided that Luke had had enough and said in a loud voice, "Look, I know the kid took on Vader and the emperor but that was just one part of a larger battle. Let's not forget Lando and Wedge."

Any who had not already done so converged on Lando, Wedge and Han, wanting to meet them also and leaving Luke to his own devices. With a grateful sigh, Luke picked up a tumbler from a tray carried by a passing protocol droid and took a sip, pulling a face at bitterness of Correllian whiskey. As he sipped the drink, he strode over to the edge of dais where the ceremony had been conducted and looked over the crowds of revelers. His eyes wandered until they fell on the groups of dancers. In their midst, Luke caught sight of the fiery red-gold hair of Mara Jade. She was surrounded by a group of eager young Alliance males, all of which were wisely keeping their distance strictly at arm's length, hoping that she would invite one of them to dance with her or maybe accept their invitation to dance with them. In an instant, Luke saw her turn to him and he heard her in his mind. Meet me on the Ouster, Luke. I need to tell you something.

Still holding his mostly full tumbler of whiskey, Luke quick-marched to the Suwantek TL-1800 freighter that belonged to Mara Jade. The ramp was lowered when he got there and he strode in. R3 whistled and beeped cheerfully at him as she rolled away from the engine compartment. Luke gave a quick scan of the ship through the force and found Mara in the recreation area of the freighter. She was in there, leaning against the bulkhead and wearing a leather jumpsuit identical to the one that she had warn when they had first met. It hugged her figure snuggly and Luke privately liked it when she ware them. Mara cocked an eyebrow at him and said, "Whiskey? You? I thought you said you never drink, Farmboy."

Luke chuckled and replied, "I think this occasion warrants a single celebratory drink. Everything okay, Mara?

Mara nodded but didn't meet his eye. Luke didn't push the issue. When she wanted to tell him, she would or else she wouldn't have brought him on board. After several minutes of silence, Mara took a deep breath and said, "I'm going to be leaving soon, Luke."

Luke nodded slowly, digesting what she had just said and what it meant. After moments of silence, he simply asked, "Why?"

Mara hesitated as if she had expected more than that. Then she said, "I need to go out and find my own way in this galaxy. I need to be completely free to make my own decisions without an immediate authority over my head. I need to be free from the rules of organizations."

Luke gazed into her emerald eyes as she spoke. With a harsh bark of laughter, she said, "I don't know how to explain it, Luke. I'm trying but I'm making a mess of this."

Luke nodded his head and said in a quiet voice, "I understand. I wish I could convince you otherwise. I wish you could find your place here with the Alliance. You know we could use you. And I…" but he stopped himself. The silence stretched and Mara finally whispered, "and you what?"

Luke sighed deeply and looked into his tumbler. "I'm going to miss you, Mara."

Mara's heart skipped a few beats and she immediately began to rethink leaving. After just a moment, she shook off the doubt. She had to do this. Straightening up, she walked over and put a hand on his arm. "Hey, buck up, Farmboy. I'm not leaving right now. I'm not leaving for a few days at the very earliest. Alliance Intelligence and Special Operations asked me to stay and help them work with the data I provided and with the data they gathered from the Imperial ships they took."

Luke tried to cheer up but the idea of Mara leaving was too depressing. She reached up and placed a hand on his cheek, forcing him to look at her. "Hey. I'm going to miss you too. This isn't going to be forever, Farmboy. I just need this time. However long it is, I promise, I won't forget about you and I'll stay in contact."

Luke sighed again and took another pull at his drink. This elicited a chuckle from Mara, causing him to look at her with a small frown. "What's so funny?" Luke asked a little sulkily, which only made her giggle more. "You, Farmboy, trying to drown your sorrows in Correllian whiskey before we're even actually parted."

Luke didn't think it was funny. Finally, with a dramatic sigh, Mara said, "Finish your drink, Farmboy."

He looked at her quizzically. Mara explained, "I want to dance with you. You can't dance with a glass in your hand so finish it up."

Luke shook his head. "Mara, I'm not much for dancing. I'm not very good at it and I don't enjoy it too much."

With a dazzling smile, Mara pulled herself closer to him and whispered in his ear, "Really? You don't think you would enjoy dancing with me, Farmboy?"

Luke felt his heart begin to race. To make it worse, she placed a gentle hand on his chest and said, "It isn't hard. I can show you some of the simpler movements and that's all you'll need to do."

Luke felt his resolve wavering. Slowly, he shook his head and said, "I don't know, Mara…" and he took another large gulp of his drink, leaving less than a third of it left. With an exasperated sigh, Mara took the tumbler and downed the rest of his drink before saying, "Listen, Farmboy, you and I both know how this is going to end."

Luke smiled himself but didn't quite concede. Mara wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in, whispering in a silky purr, "Please, Luke. Please dance with me."

With that, Luke knew there was no way he was going to get out of it. More surprising to himself, he found he didn't want to get out of it anymore. Blushing fiercely and with a nervous smile, Luke nodded. Mara tried to hide the triumph she felt but it still shown in her emerald eyes. She took his hands and led him out of the ship.

On the dance floor, Mara didn't bother trying to speak. The music was too loud. Instead, she used their link to talk. Listen to the music, Luke. Let it surround you and flow through you. Let it penetrate you and let it help guide your actions. You see, music is a lot like the force in that it can do so, albeit to a much lesser extent. There, you're getting it. Just sway a little and step in time with the music. See, that's not so hard.

Luke took her advice and allowed and music to flow through him. Once she was certain he was getting it, Mara began to dance too. While he was just stepping and shuffling to the music, she was swaying and twisting and bouncing in a way that left Luke utterly hypnotized. Time, space and events ceased to matter as he and Mara danced closely together. She turned away from him but did not move any further away. Instead, she moved closer with the turn until she was only about a half a meter away. Luke could smell her hair and it was even more intoxicating than the whiskey he had been drinking. As if of their own accord, his hands moved forward and placed themselves lightly on Mara's swaying hips. In response, she move even closer, her own hands running through her hair. They were mere centimeters apart now and Luke felt as though he was on the very edge of a deep lake. He saw the clear water and it looked utterly beautiful but had no idea what was waiting for him there.

Mara slowly moved her hands from her hair, down her body until they rested on his own. Using her hands to hold his in place, she spun to face him before slowly drawing her hands up his forearms, his upper arms and his shoulders. Finally, they wrapped loosely around his neck and with a single gentle pull, their bodies touched. Close your eyes, Luke. Listen to the music. Let it wash completely over you.

As if in a trance, Luke obeyed. He closed his eyes and gave himself over to the music. Nothing mattered to him in that moment except the music that played and the woman he held. The feeling of euphoria was indescribable. Luke felt as though he would never feel so alive as he did at that very moment – that is until he felt a pair of soft lips press to his own. Slowly, he opened his eyes in a state of partial shock. After a moment, just one single moment, he closed them and returned Mara's kiss. His right hand moved from her hips to the small of her back where he pulled her even more tightly against him while his left hand moved quickly, yet gently up her back and her neck to tangle in her glorious main of red – gold hair. He felt more than heard a low moan escape her lips. Suddenly, the moment ended as a dozen Correllian whoops filled the air. Snapping back to reality, they both looked to see Han Solo, Lando Calrissian, Wedge Antilles and a group of other rebels clapping, laughing and looking at them with delight.

Luke blushed and was about to separate when Mara's grip around his neck tightened somewhat and one hand moved to his cheek to move his face and eyes back towards her. Farmboy, why are you looking at those idiots?

Luke didn't answer. He just gazed into those magnificent eyes and, as she moved in to kiss him again, he moved faster and pressed his lips against hers. The music, the passion and the atmosphere all added to the fire that filled them both. After what seemed both like an eternity and all too short a time, they separated again, gasping for breath. They had stopped dancing altogether and so had all of the other rebels in the immediate vicinity to them. Luke Skywalker gazed into Mara Jade's eyes and asked through the force, Are you sure you have to leave?

There was no denying his mind was clouded. Mara had to think about the question for several minutes, her own mind none to clear. When she had registered it, she smiled and pulled Luke back in. As their lips pressed together once again, she had to ask herself, do I really have to leave?

I hope you enjoyed this story. I would first like to state that I do not own Star Wars or any of the characters, places or objects in this story. The components of this story were a combination of the work of George Lucas and Timothy Zahn. I will not make any money from this.

Yes, this is the last chapter of this fanfiction. As always, please read and review. In your reviews, please inform me if you want me to continue this story's line with another. If enough people request it, I would be happy to write another one. Thank you all for reading, reviewing, favorite-ing and following. Sharing a love of the Star Wars legends universe with others is the reason I write and if no one enjoyed it, I wouldn't write it.

So I have started the next part of this story. It takes place six months after Endor and, I have to say, I pretty proud of it. It's called "A host from the past". Please read it and review on what you think.

Update May 24, 2016