Luke dozed lightly. There was no point in running if the end result would be Luke finishing the job for Abeloth. He desperately needed some rest.

"Damned Jedi."

Luke smiled at the memory. This forest could very much resemble Myrkr if not for the Force's grand presence here. Mara Jade had been so angry back then. Bitter and sarcastic and incredibly murderous. But also resourceful, oddly funny and she knew when to begrudgingly admit she needed Luke's help. Most of the time. Something beautiful and unique hid under all that hurt and anger. Not an ideal match at the time, Luke admitted to himself. But even so, he had gifted his old lightsaber to her. A weapon with vast significance and even value to him. That act sealed their fate. That act sealed Mara's fate.

Taking a deep breath Luke pulled himself out of his doze. Only to be startled by a familiar woman standing in front of him. Luke quickly got to his feet. Had Abeloth really found him so quickly?

The red haired woman just smiled. "Come here often?" She asked, almost flirtatiously.

Luke frowned at her. That did not sound like something Abeloth would say. Well, not after their last interaction. "Who are you?"

"I'm Emperor Palpatine." The woman said, rolling her eyes.

"Cute."

The woman shook her head. "C'mon Skywalker." She turned and began to make her way into the forest, only to stop when Luke did not follow. "What now?"

Luke shrugged. "Last time I followed someone without question I ended up dying."

"Ah," The woman nodded and came back. "but you don't trust your own wife?"

"You're not my wife."

"That's hurtful."

Luke folded his arms. "What are you?"

The woman gestured around. "Isn't it obvious? You're losing your marbles."

"Now that is hurtful."

The woman laughed slightly. "Well it's true. Now come on, I'm trying to save your stupid farmboy ass."

Luke rolled his eyes and leaned back into the tree behind him. "I'm not going anywhere with you." Luke told what he believe now to be a figment of his imagination. His mind was not something he trusted in this environment.

"Luke, you're going to die if you don't come with me." The woman said, losing her charming facade. "Seriously. If Abeloth doesn't kill you dehydration will." She then snorted. "And don't tell me you can sustain yourself with the Force. That can only go on for so long."

Luke frowned, only now noticing he was in fact thirsty and had not had a proper drink for a very long time.

The woman sighed. "Ask me anything. Ask me something only your Mara would know."

Luke only shook his head. "My Mara is dead."

The woman frowned, alarm crossing her face. "What?" She asked.

Now that was odd, Luke decided. The woman looked scared and shocked. "But... I'm right here." She insisted.

Confusion started to roll off the woman, Luke narrowed his eyes. He should not be able to sense emotions coming from an imagined figure.

The woman bit her lip. She raised her hands. "Luke... Luke, it's me."

Luke shook his head. "No."

She huffed and seemed to try and regain her composure. "Look, I'm not going to try and understand any of it. I was on a mission with Karrde-"

"Karrde?" Luke interjected.

The woman nodded. "Something spoke to me. Reached out to me. Next thing I knew I was with some glowing, tall freaks and they explained everything the best they could. Took a while and you know I'm not stupid." Mara bit her lip and shook her head, her gaze wandered the dark forest around them. "They didn't tell me about whatever it is you're going through... please Luke, please come with me." Mara Jade offered her hand. "I'm just trying to get you out of this mess, we can figure it all out later."

Luke could only stare. He could not believe this was happening. The Father had pulled Mara into this. His Mara, from a time she was still alive. He felt sick, faint. Luke could not see straight, his vision swam. Mara's hand suddenly touched his, grounding him. Luke took a deep, shaking breath, wrapping his hand around hers. Tentatively he reached to the dead bond he had shoved to the furthest corner of his soul. It burst with sudden life, bright and full of joy. A closeness he had only ever experienced with Mara Jade-Skywalker. Luke's breath was taken away, tears pricked his eyes. It was Mara. It was his wife. He squeezed her hand and nodded, swallowing the ball in his throat. "I'll come with you."

Mara smiled, holding his hand tight as she led the way. There was no time to waste.

"I'm dead?" The question came out soft as they maneuvered through the dark forest.

Luke bit the inside of his cheek. He would deny it but like Mara said, she wasn't stupid. "Yes."

Mara glanced back at him. In the faint light he could make out a sadness. "Is Ben okay?"

Luke nodded. But his voice was blocked by that ball again.

Mara took a deep breath. "I... how did it happen?"

"A Sith." Luke whispered hoarsely. "Darth Caedus."

Mara pursed her lips, suddenly stopping in her tracks. "Did I get to see Ben grow up?"

To her question Luke offered a pained smile and nodded. "You did."

At this, Mara smiled back, an impossibly joyful smile. "It's not about how I died. It's about how I lived." She said, reaching up and laying her hand over Luke's cheek, her thumb brushed aside a tear. "Sounds like I got to live the life I wanted."

Luke laid his hand over hers. She moved closer and gently pressed a kiss to his lips. "I'm so sorry, Luke."

"I am too." Luke murmured, resting his forehead against Mara's and basking in the quiet, intimate moment. How he wished it would never end.

But they had to keep going, and finally the moment was broken in the name of survival. They continued in silence, only using their bond to communicate. Until suddenly the stillness of the Force was gone. And ahead just a few yards from the tree line was the Father and Daughter. Daughter looked sick and infinitely weary. But she still stood tall and resolute.

Luke let Mara go, stalking up to the Father. "Why- how did you bring her here?"

The Father frowned. "This world exists on a different plain from the rest of the living Force. As evidence by your presence here alongside that of your friends."

Luke shook his head. "I don't understand."

"There is no time to explain that further." The Father said. "Mara Jade has a great bond to you. She was the only one we could reach who would be able to find and lead you out of Abeloth's growing realm. I count it the Force's will you had come so close already."

All this time Mara had stood by Luke, frowning at the two of them. "Where's that damned dagger Daughter told me about?" She cut in.

Luke sighed and dropped the topic with the Father. The dagger. "Last time I saw it it was with the Son."

"It is with Anakin Skywalker now. They're well on their way." The Daughter said, gesturing down a path that led into a twisting valley of rocks. She sounded awful, the powerful echo to her voice fading.

Luke nodded in relief, then stiffened. "Ben? Where's he?"

"Ben's here?" Mara exclaimed.

Luke nodded. "You didn't know?"

Mara looked at him in realization. "Oh Luke, Ben's just a baby."

Luke bit his lip, casting a baleful glare at the gods. The Father raised a hand. "He is safe and unharmed with your Jedi friends."

Mara shook her head. "This is a lot, even for us."

"I know." Luke murmured, just glad that Ben was not alone. "It's okay, I'll get us out of this."

Mara nodded and sighed. The sun was coming up. She looked at Luke, the did a double take and tilted her head, suddenly reaching a hand up to caress his face and run her fingers through his hair. "Look at that." She whispered.

"What?" Luke asked.

"You're greying, Farmboy." She said fondly, her fingers gently tugged at the peppering of grey against dark blonde. "I like it."

A soft laugh touched Luke's lips. He settled his hand on the side of her face, thumb stroking her cheek. Luke leaned forward for a kiss, but a voice interrupted.

"Mom?"

Luke and Mara straightened and looked ahead. Ben and the others were visible on the path. Suddenly the boy bolted forward. Mara never hesitated as she stepped forward. Even if she knew Ben only as a small child, she was ready to embrace the man her baby would become. Ben practically slammed into his mother, his face a mixture of shock and confusion and full of questions. But mostly, to Luke, he looked like a boy again, through and through as he clung desperately to his mother, his face buried in her shoulder. Mara held him tight, her hands stroking Ben's red-gold hair. She then gently pulled him back, looking at his face in wonder as Luke approached his reunited family.

Mara shook her head. "Look how handsome you've grown." She said, stroking her fingers down Ben's teary cheeks. "Oh my Ben, look at you." She breathed, pulling him into another tight embrace.

Luke smiled broadly as he came closer. Ben looked up to him in question, but Luke only shook his head. They could enjoy this moment without dwelling on the why or the how or when it would be over. They had now what they never had a chance to have. A proper goodbye.

Mara pulled away again and pressed several kisses to Ben's head. Ben laughed hoarsely and leaned into the affection of his mother.

By now Anakin, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka had joined the group. Anakin came to Luke. "Are you okay?" He asked immediately, a hand reaching out as if to touch Luke, only to suddenly pull away.

Luke ignored the odd gesture, instead he smiled and looked to his wife and his son. "I'm okay. What about you?" Luke asked with a frown. "I sensed something, some sort of disturbance. It was only a moment, but it felt like you."

Anakin shook his head. "I'm fine." He brushed Luke's concern aside and turned his attention to Mara. "Is this...?"

Luke nodded. "It was the Father, he brought her here to find me."

"You said she died." Anakin pointed out for a moment, lowering his voice.

Luke bit his lip. "The Father said something about Mortis existing outside of time. Explains how we're here together."

Anakin shook his head and blinked in awe. "That's..."

Luke nodded in agreement to the unspoken awe of it all.

Mara was still holding Ben, her gaze now wandering to the three Jedi that had come with him. She pressed a final kiss to Ben's head. "Who're your friends?"

Ben laughed nervously. "You're gonna get a hoot out of this."

Luke grinned and came forward. He gestured to Ahsoka who offered Mara a friendly wave and smile. "This is Ahsoka Tano. This is Obi-Wan Kenobi," Mara gaped immediately. Luke then gestured to Anakin. "And this is Anakin Skywalker."

Mara looked between the two men. "Kriffin' hell." She muttered.