Star Wars: Cross Paths Part 3

Thanks to Anon, Guest, Daisy, LOVEM, Elen, Sue, DirksTalia, RedLigth16, JediLukeSkywalker, princesselsamidala22 and Connors for reviewing. And to everyone who took your time to read it. You guys are great. Love you all.

Chapter 42 – The Proposition

The party continued through the night, while outside the first drops of rain started to fall, indicating that it would be another rainy and cold night in the Capital of the Galaxy.

Right now, Luke and Ines were talking to Naluma Fau, the Senator of Naboo and with Admiral Ackbar, while Padmé and Ken were talking with the Mon Mothma.

"This is being a great night my friend," Padmé smiled at Mon, who was happy to talking to two of her old friends, since before the Empire take over years ago.

"Thank you. I'm glad that you two are here. For years I thought you were gone, and then with the news of the destruction of Alderaan, I was again devastated that I had just lost another great friends. So when I found out that you were alive all along, and then you also were alive in Naboo, I have to say it was the greatest news I could ever had."

"Thank you, my friend," Ken replied, and glaring at his daughter and son in law, he couldn't help to smile. "At least we knew they were near you."

"I saw the relationship of those two grew up over the years we were part of the rebellion. And I have to say I never saw something like that. The connection they share, to the point that even being in different places they could feel each other right away. Which I'm not surprise that they are together and still love each other just like years ago, and have 4 kids," Mon Mothma said with a smile looking at Luke and Ines.

"Well I don't think they will end with 4 kids," Padmé laughed.

"Really?"

"I believe sooner I will have two new grand kids, or granddaughters," Padmé replied at her.

"Well I'm not surprise if that happens, to be honest," Mon Mothma said. "Especially with Luke and Ines."

"Well they were meant to be together even before they were born," Ken said. "And I'm happy my daughter found a guy that loves her and do anything to make her happy and protect her. I couldn't ask for a better son in law in Luke. After all I saw his birth and knowing he and my, at the time, unborn daughter, would be together, I was happy I have to say."

"I didn't know Naboo and Alderaan also have the betrothal tradition like Chandrila," they heard behind them, as they realize Perrin, Mon husband was near them listening their conversation.

"They don't," Mon Mothma replied with a harsh tone, since she knew her husband very well.

"But I thought I heard that they," he said pointing at Luke and Ines. "Were meant to be together before they were even born."

"And you heard right, but it was not a betrothal thing. It is a different thing that we can't even explain the right away," Ken answered him.

"What do you mean?" Perrin insisted.

Glare at Padmé, Ken sighed.

"It was the Force will. As you know our kids and grand kids are force sensitive."

"Oh right, the Jedi thing," Perrin said taking a sip on his drink.

"Not all force sensitive people are Jedi," Padmé said, "But yeah normally the Force is kind of relate to the Jedi and the Jedi Order. So somehow the Force choose our kids to be together in the future."

"That's sound like a betrothal to me."

"It is not, because unlike a betrothal, Luke and Ines actually fell in love when they got together and got married. Something that I can't say the same thing when we got married," Mon said making Padmé and Ken looked at their drinks feeling a little uncomfortable at the moment with the tension that was built between Mon and Perrin.

"I see, but we are still together over the years, so I see as a success," he said. "Excuse me," he bow and left making Mon taking a deep breath.

"I'm really sorry for this."

"It is fine my friend, don't worry. He was just curious," Padmé said with a smile, holding Mon's hand.

"I know my husband, he is trying something."

"We know from the first moment he asked how old were the twins. But trust us, so did Luke and my daughter. And I hate to say, but your husband is making a big mistake if he goes to Luke and try something like that."

"Maybe he deserves that," Mon said with a smile.


Meanwhile:

Perrin was approaching Luke with a smile on his face.

"Master Skywalker."

Luke looked at him and made a small head bow towards the man.

"Mr. Fertha."

"Please call me Perrin," he smiled at the young Jedi Master, who smiled back.

"Then call me Luke." He replied back.

"Fair enough," Perrin nod. "Are you enjoying the party?"

"Oh yes, it is very nice. My wife and I are having a great time. Your wife is a great friend of ours from a long time."

"I know. Since the time of the all famous Rebellion/Alliance, that my wife is part of it for many years."

"And you should be very proud of her. It is also thanks to her that we are here gathering in a democracy and freedom galaxy," Luke said right away, gaining a look from Perrin who took a sip of this drink.

"But it is not my family that is universally famous," he laughed, making Luke glare at him.

"It is something I didn't ask for."

"Of course, I'm not saying other wise," Perrin said right away. Then after a few minutes of awkward silence, he glare at Ines who was happily talking to some Senators from other systems. "It was back then that you met your wife, right?"

"We met in my planet when we were 11 but we didn't know who we were at the time. But we saw each other later, on my planet when she was sent by my sister to find our old mentor Obi Wan Kenobi. So that's when we finally met each other." Luke explained. "Why, may I ask?"

"I was curious cause I heard the conversation my wife was having with your mother and your father in law, about the fact that you two were meant to be with each other before you were born."

Luke nod. He knew what this man was up to, but he continue to pretend he didn't know what he wanted.

"That's right."

"So you two were betrothal?"

"Not exactly. The force chose us to be together but when I met her, I fell in love with her right away, and so did she. So the fact that we are married and together it was because we wanted, not because someone wanted."

"And because of that you are still very much in love, like it is easy to see."

"Yes we are. We are both together since 3ABY and we married right after the Battle of Endor and we have 4 beautiful kids."

"And you still young."

"Not like I used too, but I'm 29 at the moment. Going to reach the famous 30 in 3 months."

"And is your wife also 29?"

"Yes. She is 4 months younger than me, but she born in 19BBY like I did."

"29 and 4 kids already. Congratulations."

"Thank you, well we got two in the same pregnancy but we are very happy and lucky to have 4 beautiful and amazing kids," Luke smiled thinking of his kids that were at home, probably sleeping in their bed, under their warm covers.

"I know the twins are 4, but how old are the other two?"

Luke was starting to get annoyed by so many questions, but he continue to answer.

"Our older son will make 6 in 2 weeks. And our youngest son made 9 months today."

"Two boys and two girls. How great. I have two grandsons, age 5 and 7, you know."

"Congratulations. I'm sure they are fine kids too," Luke smiled.

"They are, and I was thinking that maybe someday we could…" Perrin said but Luke stopped him in middle sentence. He knew from the beginning that Perrin was with that in his mind since the moment he asked how old were the twins, so Luke was prepared for that right away.

"Mr. Fertha, with all due respect I will stop you right there. I'm sure your grandsons are wonderful kids, but my daughters happiness are not for sale, from a certain point of view. All of my kids will marry with who they want and for love, just like I married their mother. So a betrothal between my twin daughters and your grandsons will not going to happen. Not now, not never."

"I didn't mean to offend you. It was only an idea. Of course I know they are very young, but maybe when they grew up."

"My answer is no and I just want to warn you that don't talk that to my wife cause, I'm the polite of the two. Now if you excuse me," Luke said, and putting his glass on the nearby table, he walked towards Ines, who knew something happened the moment she looked at his face.

"Is everything okay?" she asked him.

"Yes, but maybe it is time for us to go home. It is already midnight."

"You are right. I really think it is time to go home," she agreed and after both say goodbye to the senators Ines was talking, they walked towards their parents who were still talking to Mon Mothma.

"Look you is here, we were just talking about you and your trip to Tatooine and how everything went well," Mon told, which made Luke nod.

"Gladly yes."

Looking around, Mon Mothma lower her voice.

"Do you think we can trust him, after all he worked for a long time for the Empire?"

"He is a change man, trust me. We got a good ally." Luke replied, making her nod in relieve.

"What I'm worried is this silence. If they do something like an attack, we will have to inform the Senate and I fear that day," Padmé said which they all agreed.

"Well Luke and I are leaving. It is late and we want to check on the kids. I think Ahsoka needs a rest," Ines laughed.

"But if you want to stay you can. You don't need to worry," Luke said to his mother and father in law.

"We actually wouldn't mind to stay a little longer," Ken said looking at Padmé who nod. "Do you mind?"

"Of course not father. Stay and have fun."

"Hard to believe that we the old ones are the ones who want to stay, while the young ones want to go home," Ken said laughing.

"That is because your kids are adults and you don't have to worried about them anymore," Ines replied to her father making Mon Mothma laughed at that.

"I will ask my driver to take you," she said.

"Thank you," Luke nod with a smile.

"But before you go, I have something for you," she said and leaving, she return a few minutes later with a small advice on her hand, that she handle to Luke, who look at it with a questionable look on his face.

"What is it?"

"I have this for a long time. Like 5BBY to be exact. It is a message from the Marva Andor, the mother of one the crew of Rogue One: Cassian Andor." Mon Mothma explained.

"The rebels who stole plans of the first Death Star," Ines said right away, which made Mon nod.

"Exactly. She recorded this message before she died. It was a tradition from Ferrix, and I think what she says in that message, I have to say this is the first big action of the Rebellion and made Cassian join it. It is an inspiration I have to say, and I think you need to hear too."

"Thank you, we will," Luke said.

Perrin approached them.

"Leaving already?"

"Yes it is time to be with our kids," Luke told him.

"I hope was not because you got upset about the proposition I just made minutes ago."

"Of course not."

Mon looked at her husband right away. What he had done this time?

"What proposition?" she asked right away, fearing the worst.

"Nothing bad. I was thinking that maybe Master Skywalker was interested to arrange a meeting between his girls and our grandsons. Nothing else."

"You did what?" she said not believing what she had heard.

"It is okay. Mr Fertha already know my answer and like I said, mine and my wife's answer is no."

"Of course and I respect that," he said.

Saying goodbye to their parents with a kiss and hug, and hugging Mon, Luke and Ines left.

The moment they left, Mon looked at her husband with a furious look. Noticing the tension, Padmé and Ken decided to leave the couple alone.

Walking towards the sofa area, Mon glare at her husband.

"I cannot believe you just had the audacity to make a betrothal proposition, just like that without even warn me." she said right away with a furious tone. "You had to ruin the night for me, didn't you?"

"How? It was just an idea. Like you didn't want our grandsons to be married with their daughters? The most famous family in the galaxy."

"And your brilliant idea was betrothal? Did you really think they would say yes to that? Are you that stupid?"

"Now I know their answered. I don't get why are you that angry. They are not."

"You really don't understand, do you? That is why they love each other in a way that we will never have or ever had," and before Perrin could answer, she left towards the small group of guests that were still in the party, even if deep inside all she want was to end this party and get to bed, thanks to her husband.

So that was what Perrin was thinking. What did you guys think of Luke's answer and reaction?